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Proportion
Kinds of Proportion Selected AbstractsEffect of daytime, weekday and year of admission on outcome in acute ischaemic stroke patients treated with thrombolytic therapyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2010M. Jauss Background:, Since doubts were raised, if a challenging medical procedure such as acute stroke treatment including thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) is available with identical standard and outcome 24 h and 7 days a week our aim was to examine if acute stroke patients defined by onset-admission time (OAT) of , 3 h were treated differently or had distinct outcome when admitted during off duty hours (day versus night and weekend versus weekdays) and if any differences in treatment or outcome were apparent when comparing patients admitted in the year 2003 with patients admitted in the year 2006. Methods:, We analyzed 2003,2006 data of a prospective registry and grouped patients by time, day, and year of admission. The evaluation was limited to patients that were diagnosed with ischaemic stroke and with OAT of , 3 h. Medical and sociodemographic items, use of thrombolytic treatment, complications during clinical course and place of discharge were obtained. Clinical state on admission and discharge was assessed using the modified Rankin scale. Comparison with chi-square test, t -test and logistic regression was performed. Results:, Patient's characteristics, rate of thrombolysis, and outcome were independent from time or day of admission. Proportion of patients with good clinical state at discharge increased significantly from 2003 to 2006 together with a higher rate of rTPA treatment without increase of intracranial hemorrhage. Proportion of patients discharged in good clinical condition after rTPA treatment increased from 34% to 44%. Conclusions:, Stroke treatment in potential candidates for thrombolytic therapy revealed no impairment on weekend or at night already in 2003. During 4 years, it was possible to increase rate of rTPA treatment from 8.9% to 21.8% without increment of complications or death, confirming that rTPA is safe and can be implemented with full daily and weekly coverage. [source] Proportion in the Design of Women's Fashionable Clothing: A 50-Year RetrospectiveFAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES RESEARCH JOURNAL, Issue 2 2007Diana Saiki Proportion is a major element defining the appearance of apparel. This study identifies the proportions found in women's daywear. Data from 4,026 advertisement and main feature photographs in Vogue magazine from 1945 to 1995 are analyzed. Clothing ensembles are measured from left to right (horizontal proportion) and top to bottom (vertical proportion). The greatest number of observed horizontal proportions is in the 50/50 category, which is a proportion that is well balanced. The most frequent vertical proportion is 35/65, which is close to the golden section or ideal proportion. The proportion most equal to the golden section (40/60) is not the most frequent vertical proportion. In the 1960s, a time marked by social unrest and transition in women's roles in the United States, findings indicate that apparel meeting the guidelines of good proportion were not as common as other times. The study of proportion has application in teaching and critiquing design. [source] Assessing macroinvertebrate metrics for classifying acidified rivers across northern EuropeFRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2010S. JANNICKE MOE Summary 1. The effects of acidification on ecological status of rivers in Northern Europe must be assessed according to the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). Several acidification metrics based on macroinvertebrates already exist in different countries, and the WFD requires that they be comparable across northern Europe. Thus, we compiled macroinvertebrate monitoring data from the U.K. (n = 191 samples), Norway (n = 740) and Sweden (n = 531) for analysis against pH. 2. We tested new and existing acidification metrics developed nationally and used within the Northern Geographical Intercalibration Group. The new metrics were based on the acidification sensitivity of selected species and are proposed as a first step towards a new common indicator for acidification for Northern Europe. 3. Metrics were assessed according to responsiveness to mean pH, degree of nonlinearity in response and consistency in responses across countries. We used flexible, nonparametric regression models to explore various properties of the pressure,response relationships. Metrics were also analysed with humic content (total organic carbon above/below 5 mg L,1) as a covariate. 4. Most metrics responded clearly to pH, with the following metrics explaining most of the variance: Acid Water Indicator Community, Number of ephemeropteran families, Medin's index, Multimetric Indicator of Stream Acidification and the new metric ,Proportion of sensitive Ephemeroptera'. 5. Most metrics were significantly higher in humic than in clear-water rivers, suggesting smaller acidification effects in humic rivers. This result supports the proposed use of humic level as a typological factor in the assessment of acidification. 6. Some potentially important effects could not be considered in this study, such as the additional effects of metals, episodic acidification and the contrasting effects of natural versus anthropogenic acidity. We advocate further data collection and testing of metrics to incorporate these factors. [source] Clinician's use of the Statin Choice decision aid in patients with diabetes: a videographic study nested in a randomized trialJOURNAL OF EVALUATION IN CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 3 2009Roberto Abadie PhD Abstract Objective, To describe how clinicians use decision aids. Background, A 98-patient factorial-design randomized trial of the Statin Choice decision vs. standard educational pamphlet; each participant had a 1:4 chance of receiving the decision aid during the encounter with the clinician resulting in 22 eligible encounters. Design, Two researchers working independently and in duplicate reviewed and coded the 22 encounter videos. Setting and participants, Twenty-two patients with diabetes (57% of them on statins) and six endocrinologists working in a referral diabetes clinic randomly assigned to use the decision aid during the consultation. Main outcome measures, Proportion and nature of unintended use of the Statin Choice decision aid. Results, We found eight encounters involving six clinicians who did not use the decision aid as intended either by not using it at all (n = 5; one clinician did use the decision aid in three encounters), offering inaccurate quantitative and probabilistic information about the risks and benefits of statins (n = 2), or using the decision aid to advance the agenda that all patients with diabetes should take statin (n = 1). Clinicians used the decision aid as intended in all other encounters. Conclusions, Unintended decision aid use in the context of videotaped encounters in a practical randomized trial was common. These instances offer insights to researchers seeking to design and implement effective decision aids for use during the clinical visit, particularly when clinicians may prefer to proceed in ways that the decision aid apparently contradicts. [source] Meta-analysis: factors affecting placebo response rate in the irritable bowel syndromeALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2 2010A. C. Ford Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 144,158 Summary Background, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract with a significant placebo response. Aim, To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis examining the magnitude of placebo response rate in treatment trials for IBS. Methods, MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane central register of controlled trials were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing pharmacological therapies with placebo in adult IBS patients. Studies reported either global assessment of IBS symptom cure or improvement or abdominal pain cure or improvement. Data were extracted as intention-to-treat analyses with drop-outs assumed to be treatment failures and pooled using a random-effects model. Proportion of placebo patients experiencing symptom improvement or resolution was reported with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Effect of trial characteristics on magnitude of placebo response was examined. Results, In all, 73 RCTs were eligible, including 8364 patients with IBS allocated to placebo. Pooled placebo response rate across all RCTs was 37.5% (95% CI 34.4,40.6%). Rates were higher in European RCTs, RCTs that used physician-reported outcomes and RCTs using shorter duration of therapy. Conclusions, Placebo response rates across RCTs of pharmacological therapies in IBS were high. Future research should identify patient characteristics predicting placebo response. [source] Proportion of non-zero normal means: universal oracle equivalences and uniformly consistent estimatorsJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES B (STATISTICAL METHODOLOGY), Issue 3 2008Jiashun Jin Summary., Since James and Stein's seminal work, the problem of estimating n normal means has received plenty of enthusiasm in the statistics community. Recently, driven by the fast expansion of the field of large-scale multiple testing, there has been a resurgence of research interest in the n normal means problem. The new interest, however, is more or less concentrated on testing n normal means: to determine simultaneously which means are 0 and which are not. In this setting, the proportion of the non-zero means plays a key role. Motivated by examples in genomics and astronomy, we are particularly interested in estimating the proportion of non-zero means, i.e. given n independent normal random variables with individual means Xj,N(,j,1), j=1,,,n, to estimate the proportion ,n=(1/n) #{j:,j /= 0}. We propose a general approach to construct the universal oracle equivalence of the proportion. The construction is based on the underlying characteristic function. The oracle equivalence reduces the problem of estimating the proportion to the problem of estimating the oracle, which is relatively easier to handle. In fact, the oracle equivalence naturally yields a family of estimators for the proportion, which are consistent under mild conditions, uniformly across a wide class of parameters. The approach compares favourably with recent works by Meinshausen and Rice, and Genovese and Wasserman. In particular, the consistency is proved for an unprecedentedly broad class of situations; the class is almost the largest that can be hoped for without further constraints on the model. We also discuss various extensions of the approach, report results on simulation experiments and make connections between the approach and several recent procedures in large-scale multiple testing, including the false discovery rate approach and the local false discovery rate approach. [source] The pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of S-tenatoprazole-Na 30 mg, 60 mg and 90 mg vs. esomeprazole 40 mg in healthy male subjectsALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 6 2010R. H. HUNT Aliment Pharmacol Ther,31, 648,657 Summary Background, Racemic tenatoprazole 40 mg/day provides more prolonged acid suppression than esomeprazole 40 mg/day. Aim, To compare pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profiles of tenatoprazole and esomeprazole. Methods, A single-centre, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, 4-way, cross-over study was conducted in 32 healthy male subjects. S-tenatoprazole-Na 30, 60 or 90 mg, or esomeprazole 40 mg was administered once daily for 5 days with 10-day washout intervals. The 24-h intragastric pH was recorded at baseline and on day 5 of each period. Results, On day 5, median pH (5.34 ± 0.45 and 5.19 ± 0.52 vs. 4.76 ± 0.82, respectively, P < 0.002) and percentage time with pH > 4 (80 ± 11 and 77 ± 12, vs. 63 ± 11 respectively, P < 0.0001) for 24-h were higher with S-tenatoprazole-Na 90 mg and 60 mg than esomeprazole. In nocturnal periods, S-tenatoprazole-Na 90 mg, 60 mg and 30 mg were superior to esomeprazole with regard to median pH (5.14 ± 0.64, 4.94 ± 0.65, 4.65 ± 0.86 and 3.69 ± 1.18 respectively, P < 0.0001) and percentage time with pH > 4 (77 ± 12, 73 ± 17, 64 ± 17 and 46 ± 17 respectively, P < 0.0001). Proportion of subjects with nocturnal acid breakthrough with S-tenatoprazole-Na 90 mg, 60 mg and 30 mg was significantly less than with esomeprazole (54.8, 43.3, 56.7 and 90.3 respectively, P < 0.04). The proportion of subjects with >16 hrs with pH >4 was significantly higher with S-tenatoprazole-Na 90 mg and 60 mg than with esomeprazole (87.1%, 83.3% and 41.9% respectively, P < 0.02). Conclusions, S-tenatoprazole-Na produced significantly greater and more prolonged dose-dependent 24-h and nocturnal acid suppression than esomeprazole. S-tenatoprazole-Na may provide greater clinical efficacy compared with current PPIs for patients with ineffective once-daily therapy. [source] Quality assurance for oral anticoagulation self management: a cluster randomized trialJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 3 2008E. T. MURRAY Summary.,Background and aims:,External quality assessment (EQA) should be an inherent component of patient self management (PSM) of oral anticoagulation. The aim of this study was to evaluate methods of EQA for patients within a cluster randomized trial. Method:,After development of methods, general practises were randomly allocated to a formal EQA scheme of patients performing the test independently at home or at their practise with supervision. The supervised group of practises was further sub divided to test two other EQA methods: (i) venous sample compared with patients' point of care (POC) device; and (ii) patients POC compared with reference POC. Primary trial outcome measure was reliability of results from the formal scheme taking into account adherence and test errors. Results:,Proportion of EQA scheme tests in range was 633/836 (75.7%). Proportion in range was significantly higher in group performing independently compared with supervised group, 80.1% vs. 71.5% respectively, P = 0.02. Sixty-six percent of tests were in range with venous compared with patients POC, and 88% in patients POC compared with reference POC. Conclusion:,Patients are able to undertake a formal EQA scheme and perform more reliably at home independently. There are satisfactory alternatives if a formal scheme is not acceptable. [source] A Recipe for Concept SimilarityMIND & LANGUAGE, Issue 1 2007TIM SCHROEDER When this is so, it is comparatively easy for me to understand what you say when you deploy your concept, for us to disagree, agree, and so on. But what if your concept and mine do not have exactly the same content? This question has occupied a number of philosophers, including Paul Churchland, Jerry Fodor, and Ernie Lepore. This paper develops a novel and rigorous measure of concept similarity, Proportion, such that concepts with different contents but sufficiently high Proportion scores will also conduce to understanding, agreement, and disagreement. [source] (204) Rofecoxib Was More Effective than Codeine with Acetaminophen in the Treatment of Acute PainPAIN MEDICINE, Issue 3 2001David J. Chang Rofecoxib (VIOXX®) is a selective inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and is indicated for the treatment of acute pain. Prior acute pain studies showed similar analgesic efficacy of rofecoxib 50 mg compared with analgesics doses of non-selective NSAIDs. We performed a randomized, double-blind trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rofecoxib, a standard fixed formulation of codeine with acetaminophen, and placebo in the treatment of acute pain. Three-hundred ninety-three patients with moderate or severe pain after surgical extraction of at least two 3rd molars were randomized to receive a single dose of rofecoxib 50 mg (n = 182), codeine 60 mg with acetaminophen 600 mg (n = 180), or placebo (n = 31). Efficacy was assessed at 11 pre-specified time points after dosing by pain relief and pain intensity scores. Patient global assessment of study medication was also performed. Baseline characteristics were similar among the groups. The mean age was 21 years; 69.0% were female; and 78.6% had a pain intensity score of "moderate." For the primary endpoint, total pain relief over 6 hours, rofecoxib was more effective than codeine/acetaminophen (p < 0.001) and placebo (p < 0.001). Proportion of patients who rated the study medication as good, very good, or excellent at 6 hours was 64.6% on rofecoxib, 36.4% on codeine/acetaminophen, and 10.3% on placebo (rofecoxib> codeine/acetaminophen; p < 0.001). The time to rescue medication was longer for rofecoxib compared to codeine/acetaminophen (p < 0.001). More patients on codeine/acetaminophen experienced clinical adverse events than rofecoxib (p < 0.05). Patients receiving codeine/acetaminophen versus rofecoxib had higher incidences of nausea (25.0% vs 6.0%; p < 0.001) and vomiting (18.3% vs 3.8%; p < 0.001). In this study, rofecoxib had superior efficacy and gastrointestinal safety compared to codeine/acetaminophen, which provides support for the use of rofecoxib as an alternative option to opioid analgesics in the treatment of acute post-surgical pain. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Women with Multiple Implantation Failures and Recurrent Pregnancy Losses have Increased Peripheral Blood T Cell ActivationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2010Kwang Moon Yang Citation Yang KM, Ntrivalas E, Cho HJ, Kim NY, Beaman K, Gilman-Sachs A, Kwak-Kim J. Women with multiple implantation failures and recurrent pregnancy losses have increased peripheral blood T cell activation. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010 Problem, We aim to determine whether peripheral blood T cell activation is associated with repeated implantation failures or recurrent pregnancy losses (RPLs). Method of study, Women with a history of repeated implantation failure (n = 18) or RPLs (n = 17) comprise the study group. Normal fertile women (n = 11) are included as controls. Proportion of activated peripheral blood T cells (CD69+, CD154+) and Th1/Th2 cell ratios are measured by flow cytometric analysis. Results, Proportions (%) of CD4+/154+ of CD4+ and CD8+/154+ of CD8+ cells were significantly higher in study group than those of controls. Proportions (%) of CD3+/69+ of CD3+ cells and CD8+/69+ of CD8+ cells were significantly increased in study group compared to controls. Proportion (%) of CD4+/69+ cells significantly correlated with % CD4+/154+ cells (P = 0.003). Activated cytotoxic T cells (CD8+/154+, CD8+/69+) inversely correlated with INF-,/IL-10 producing CD3+/4+ T cell ratios. Proportion of activated CD3+/8+/69 and CD3+/8+/154+ cells was inversely correlated with IFN-,/IL-10 expressing CD3+/4+ T cell ratios. Conclusion, Women with MIFs or RPLs have increased T cell activation in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and T cell suppressor activation seems to be associated with decreased Th1 immunity. Further studies on T cell activation may elucidate molecular mechanisms controlling Th1 effectors. [source] Correlation of Degree of Penile Curvature between Patient Estimates and Objective Measures among Men with Peyronie's DiseaseTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2009Vanessa Bacal ABSTRACT Introduction., Among men with Peyronie's disease (PD), the degree of penile curvature has significant implications on psychological well-being, sexual function, treatment planning, and posttherapy evaluations. Aim., The primary objective of the current study was to correlate patients' estimates of penile angulation with objective measures. Main Outcome Measures., (i) Proportion of patients over- or underestimating their actual degree of curvature; and (ii) degree differences between patient estimates and objective measures of penile curvature. Methods., At baseline, patients with established PD were asked to provide a "best estimate" of their degree of penile curvature. Objective measures of penile angulation were then performed using standardized photographs and protractor-based measurement of penile curvature during full erection. Correlations were performed between patient estimates of penile curvature and objective measures of penile angulation. Results., Eighty-one men with established PD and a mean age of 52 years (range: 20,72 years) were prospectively evaluated. Mean duration of disease was 33 months (range: 6,276 months), and mean plaque size was 1.4 cm ± 0.1 standardized error (SE). The proportion of patients with dorsal, lateral, and ventral curvatures was 39%, 57%, and 4%, respectively. Patient estimates of baseline penile curvature (mean 51 degrees ± 3.1 SE) differed significantly from objective measurements (mean 40 degrees ± 2.4, P = 0.001). A significantly higher proportion of patients overestimate their actual degree of penile curvature (54% overestimate, 26% underestimate, and 20% are accurate within 5 degrees, P = 0.002). Compared with objective measures, patients' estimates of degree of penile curvature differed by an average of 20 degrees ± 2.2 SE. Conclusions., Patients with PD tend to overestimate their degree of penile curvature. Objective measurement of penile angulation is necessary to accurately counsel patients regarding disease severity, recommend appropriate treatment strategies, and objectively evaluate outcomes following therapy. Bacal V, Rumohr J, Sturm R, Lipshultz LI, Schumacher M, and Grober ED. Correlation of degree of penile curvature between patient estimates and objective measures among men with Peyronie's disease. J Sex Med 2009;6:862,865. [source] Relationship of Birth Weight with the Size, Number and Proportion of Fibres in the Pig Semitendinosus MuscleANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 4 2009F. Tristán Summary The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between body weight and the size, number and proportion of muscle fibre types in the pig semitendinosus muscle at birth. Based on weight at birth, 68 specimens selected from 21 different litters from the same farm were allotted in two equal groups (G1 and G2). G1 included 34 piglets ,1.1 kg and G2 34 pigs ,2 kg. Fifteen piglets per group were killed at birth and the remaining 19 piglets in each group were reared until weaning (21 days) and post-weaning (67 days). The weight and total cross-sectional area of the semitendinosus muscle were recorded at birth. Then, type I and type II fibres from the superficial portion of the muscle were identified according to histochemistry and immunohistochemistry techniques and percentages, average size of each fibre type, and the total number of muscle fibres were estimated by morphometry. Birth weight in G1 was 54.74% lower than that in G2. Correspondingly, the total cross-sectional area of the semitendinosus, as well as the size and number of muscle fibres, was significantly lower in G1 (P < 0.001). Weight at birth still influenced weights at weaning and post-weaning, hence it was 43.17% and 28.38% lower respectively in G1. It is concluded that pig weight at birth is associated with muscle cellularity of the semitendinosus muscle of pig, which may influence the postnatal muscle growth and final size of muscle fibres and meat quality. [source] Delayed Lung Maturation of Foetus of Diabetic Mother Rats Develop with a Diminish, but Without Changes in the Proportion of Type I and II Pneumocytes, and Decreased Expression of Protein D-Associated Surfactant FactorANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 3 2009M. Treviño-Alanís Summary Newborn children of diabetic mothers have an increased morbidity and mortality because of respiratory distress syndrome. We study lung histogenesis during intrauterine development of offspring of diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats at 18, 19 and 21 days of gestation (DG). Pregnant rats were grouped into diabetic (streptozotocin-induced), citrate, and control groups; five female and five male offspring were selected randomly from each group at 18, 19 and 21 DG, and a biopsy of the lung was taken and processed in paraffin for histological examination. The biopsy for the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis was taken at 21 days. A delay in alveolization of the offspring at 18, 19 and 21 days of the diabetic group was observed, which was confirmed at TEM level, and also less quantity of protein D associated to surfactant in diabetic group was detected (P < 0.001). The foetuses of the diabetic group presented a delay in lung histogenesis and in differentiation of the type II pneumocytes cells, but conserved the proportion with a decrease in 50% of pneumocytes, accompanied by a diminish of protein D associated to surfactant factor. [source] Phylogenetic analysis of hindgut microbiota in Hokkaido native horses compared to light horsesANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008Hidehisa YAMANO ABSTRACT The analysis of 16S rDNA sequence of bacteria in feces of Hokkaido native horses and light horses were performed to compare the hindgut microbiota between the two breeds. One hundred and four bacterial 16S rDNA clones (57 clones from four native horses and 47 clones from two light horses) were obtained. Only four sequences (3.8% of total sequences) showed 97% or more similarity to known species. The sequences were mainly affiliated with Cytophaga,Flavobacter,Bacteroides and low GC Gram-positive bacteria (LGCGP). Proportion of LGCGP was higher in light horses. Other phyla including Verrucomicrobia, Spirochaetes and Archaea were detected only for native horses, suggesting high diversity of microbiota in native horses. In LGCGP, clusters related to known cellulolytic species were found only for native horses, while a cluster related to soluble sugar-utilizing species was detected only for light horses. The library composition-comparing software LIBSHUFF showed significant (P < 0.05) difference of fecal microbiota between the horse breeds. The number of Fibrobacter succinogenes -related sequence and the frequency of detection of novel groups were found to be higher in native horses by selective amplification analysis. The results suggest that genetic diversity and population size of the F. succinogenes group are higher in the hindgut of native horses. [source] Effect of partial or total replacement of forage fish by a dry diet on the quality of reproduction in pikeperch, Sander luciopercaAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 3 2009Neil Wang Abstract The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the influence of different feeding regimes on the quality of reproduction in pikeperch. Three diets were tested: forage fish (FF), a commercial dry feed (DD) and a mix of both (FD). The diets were given to fish throughout a complete reproductive cycle. During the spawning season, couples were injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and let to spawn on nests. Proportion of running males, spawning and hatching success and larval quality (weight, length, body protein, total lipid, fatty acid and lipid class compositions and resistances to osmotic shock and starvation stress tests at hatching) were evaluated. The proportion of running male was lower in the DD group than in the FF and FD groups (54% for DD against 76,89% for FF and FD). In addition, 25%, 62.5% and 75% of injected couples gave spawning that hatched in DD, FF and FD groups respectively. Larval quality parameters were not significantly different between treatments. The results indicate that overall quality of reproduction was higher in FF and FD treatments than in DD. It suggests that the dry feed used was not totally adequate for pikeperch reproduction. Relations between breeder reproductive performances and the feed compositions are discussed. [source] Linking frugivore activity to early recruitment of a bird dispersed tree, Eugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) in the Atlantic rainforestAUSTRAL ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2009MARINA CORRÊA CÔRTES Abstract Seed dispersal by animals is a complex process involving several distinct stages: fruit removal by frugivores, seed delivery in different microhabitats, seed germination, seedling establishment, and adult recruitment. Nevertheless, studies conducted until now have provided scarce information concerning the sequence of stages in a plant's life cycle in its entirety. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate consequences of frugivore activity for Eugenia umbelliflora (Myrtaceae) early recruitment by measuring the relative importance of each fruit-eating bird species on the establishment of new seedlings in scrub and low restinga vegetation in the Atlantic rainforest, Brazil. We conducted focal tree observations on E. umbelliflora trees recording birds' feeding behaviour and post-feeding movements. We also recorded the fate of dispersed seeds in scrub and low restinga vegetation. We recorded 17 bird species interacting with fruits in 55 h of observation. Only 30% of the handled fruits were successfully removed. From 108 post flight movements of exit from the fruiting trees, 30.6% were to scrub and 69.4% to low restinga forest. Proportion of seed germination was higher in low restinga than in the scrub vegetation. Incorporating the probabilities of seeds' removal, deposition, and germination in both sites, we found that the relative importance of each frugivorous bird as seed dispersers varies largely among species. Turdus amaurochalinus and Turdus rufiventris were the best dispersers, together representing almost 12% probability of seed germination following removal. Our results show the importance of assessing the overall consequence of seed dispersal within the framework of disperser effectiveness, providing a more comprehensive and realistic evaluation of the relative importance of different seed dispersers on plant population dynamics. [source] Surgical training in gastrointestinal procedures within a UK gynaecological oncology subspecialty programmeBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 1 2010R Naik Objective, An analysis of surgical experience in gastrointestinal procedures within a UK-based gynaecological oncology centre to which subspecialty fellows within the subject are exposed. Design, Retrospective study. Setting, Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Gateshead, UK. Population, All women undergoing bowel surgery over a six-year period, 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2005. Methods, Cases were analysed by specialty and grade of surgeon performing the procedure. Main outcome measure, Proportion of cases to which subspecialty fellows were exposed. Results, Two hundred and sixty-two women (11.5%) underwent bowel surgery out of 2280 women undergoing major surgery for gynaecological cancer. This included ovarian/primary peritoneal cancer in 186 women (71%). Of these 262 cases, 238 operations (91%) were performed by a gynaecological oncologist, 20 (7.5%) were performed jointly with the gastrointestinal surgeons and four (1.5%) were performed solely by the gastrointestinal surgeons. A gynaecological oncology subspecialty fellow performed 21 (8%) and assisted in an additional 204 operations (78%). Perioperative morbidity and mortality statistics in addition to overall survival outcomes were comparable to the published literature. Conclusions, A significant proportion of major surgical operations performed within a gynaecological oncology centre require gastrointestinal procedures. The majority of these procedures can be performed by gynaecological oncologists with an acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality rate. Subspecialty training has the potential to allow trainees significant exposure to these procedures. An accredited post-Fellowship Training Programme can provide the opportunity for hands-on experience to allow gynaecological oncologists the confidence and credibility to perform these procedures independently. [source] The future of prenatal diagnosis: rapid testing or full karyotype?BJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 10 2005An audit of chromosome abnormalities, pregnancy outcomes for women referred for Down's Syndrome testing Objective To assess the implications of a change in prenatal diagnosis policy from full karyotype analysis to rapid trisomy testing for women referred primarily for increased risk of Down's Syndrome. Design Retrospective collection and review of data. Setting The four London Regional Genetics Centres. Population Pregnant women (32,674) in the London area having invasive prenatal diagnosis during a six-year three-month period. Methods Abnormal karyotypes and total number of samples referred for raised maternal age, raised risk of Down's Syndrome following serum screening or maternal anxiety were collected. Abnormal karyotypes detected by molecular trisomy detection were removed, leaving cases with residual abnormal karyotypes. These were assessed for their clinical significance. Pregnancy outcomes were ascertained by reviewing patient notes or by contacting obstetricians or general practioners. Main outcome measures Proportion of prenatal samples with abnormal karyotypes that would not have been detected by rapid trisomy testing, and the outcome of those pregnancies with abnormal karyotypes. Results Results from 32,674 samples were identified, of which 24,891 (76.2%) were from women referred primarily for Down's Syndrome testing. There were 118/24,891 (0.47%) abnormal sex chromosome karyotypes. Of the samples with autosomal abnormalities that would not be detected by rapid trisomy testing, 153/24,891 (0.61%) were in pregnancies referred primarily for Down's Syndrome testing. Of these, 98 (0.39%) had a good prognosis (46/98 liveborn, 3/98 terminations, 1/98 intrauterine death, 1/98 miscarriage, 47/98 not ascertained); 37 (0.15%) had an uncertain prognosis (20/37 liveborn, 5/37 terminations; 12/37 not ascertained) and 18 (0.07%) had a poor prognosis (1/18 liveborn, 2/18 miscarriage, 11/18 terminations, 4/18 not ascertained). Conclusions For pregnant women with a raised risk of Down's Syndrome, a change of policy from full karyotype analysis to rapid trisomy testing would result in the failure to detect chromosome abnormalities likely to have serious clinical significance in approximately 0.06% (1 in 1659) cases. However, it should be noted that this figure may be higher (up to 0.12%; 1 in 833) if there were fetal abnormalities in some of the pregnancies in the uncertain prognosis group for which outcome information was not available. [source] Genome-Wide Analysis of Subependymomas Shows Underlying Chromosomal Copy Number Changes Involving Chromosomes 6, 7, 8 and 14 in a Proportion of CasesBRAIN PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Kathreena M. Kurian Abstract Subependymomas (SE) are slow-growing brain tumors that tend to occur within the ventricles of middle-aged and elderly adults. The World Health Organization classifies these tumors within the ependymoma group. Previous limited analysis of this tumor type had not revealed significant underlying cytogenetic abnormalities. We have used microarray comparative genomic hybridization to study a series of SE (n = 12). A whole-genome array at 0.97-Mb resolution showed copy number abnormalities in five of 12 cases (42%). Two cases (17%) showed regions of loss on chromosome 6. More detailed analysis of all cases using a chromosome 6 tile-path array confirmed the presence of overlapping regions of loss in only these two cases. One of these cases also showed trisomy chromosome 7. Monosomy of chromosome 8 was seen in a further two cases (17%), and a partial loss on chromosome 14 was observed in one additional case. This is the first array-based, genome-wide study of SE. The observation that five of 12 cases examined (42%) at 0.97-Mb resolution showed chromosomal copy number abnormalities is a novel finding in this tumor type. [source] Retinal nerve fibre layer of perimetrically unaffected eyes of glaucoma patients: an optical coherence tomography studyCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Stefano Da Pozzo MD PhD Abstract Purpose:, The aim of this study is to evaluate whether optical coherence tomography (StratusOCT) may detect early changes in perimetrically unaffected (PU) fellow eyes of glaucomatous patients by assessing retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness parameters. Methods:, Thirty-seven glaucomatous patients with unilateral field loss and 34 age-matched controls were recruited. In glaucoma patients, PU and perimetrically affected fellow eyes were analysed separately. For each group, mean values (±SD) of RNFL thickness parameters were calculated and comparisons between fellow eyes of glaucoma patients and between healthy and PU eyes of glaucoma patients conducted with paired t -test and Mann,Whitney U -test, respectively. Proportion of clock-hour sectors flagged with probability <5% or <1% was collected and differences between healthy and PU eyes were evaluated on Fisher exact test. Results:, Global (Average Thickness) and sectoral parameters (Inferior and Nasal Average), Maximum thickness,minimum thickness (Max-min), as well as 2-o'clock (nasal side) and 6-o'clock sectors resulted significantly thinner in PU eyes than in control group. Proportion of eyes with clock-hour position flagged with probability <5% or <1% was not significantly different between healthy and PU eyes. Conclusion:, Despite a standard automated perimetry within normal limits, the StratusOCT detected both localized and diffuse RNFL thinning in PU eyes of glaucoma patients. These eyes should be considered at risk of developing functional damage over time and consequently require thorough monitoring for detecting any sign of progression. [source] A comparison of prognostic classification systems for differentiated thyroid carcinomaCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2010Frederik A. Verburg Summary Objective, To identify and compare prognostic classification systems based on basic tumour characteristics that were developed and/or validated for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Design, Retrospective chart study. Methods, Literature was studied using PubMed. Fifteen different prognostic classification systems were identified, of which seven were developed or validated for DTC patients and were based on basic tumour characteristics. These systems were applied to 1225 DTC patients who were treated in our hospital between 1978 and 2002. Results, Log-rank analysis of Kaplan,Meier cancer-specific survival curves showed that the curve of the Tumor, Lymph-Node, Metastasis (TNM) system had the greatest discriminatory power (log-rank test, log P = ,84·9). Cox-regression analysis showed that the TNM system was the most powerful determinant of cancer-specific survival curves. Proportion of variance explained (PVE) analysis showed that the TNM system had the highest PVE. Conclusion, Of the prognostic classification systems analysed in this study, the TNM system performs best in all the three analyses, and is therefore the most suitable for predicting outcome in DTC-patients. [source] Guidelines for the descriptive presentation and statistical analysis of contact allergy dataCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 2 2004Wolfgang Uter The present guidelines aim to support clinical researchers in adequately presenting data on contact allergy, and to use statistical tests appropriate for their data. A description of the mode of selection of patients, and of their relevant demographic details, is an essential prerequisite for the correct interpretation of study results. Proportions and rates, if regarded as estimate of these parameters of a target populations, should normally be supplemented with confidence intervals to address precision. Concordance, i.e., agreement between two ratings in a dependent sample, must be quantified with a chance-corrected measure such as Cohen's kappa coefficient. If the diagnostic quality of an outcome is being assessed, standard measures like sensitivity and specificity, as well as the prevalence-dependent positive and negative predictive values should be calculated. Often, contact allergy to a certain substance depends on several factors. In this situation, depending on the research question, techniques like stratification, standardization or multifactorial analysis should be employed. With increasing complexity of statistical description and analysis, consulting with a biostatistician is often mandatory. [source] Dental injury among Brazilian schoolchildren in the state of São PauloDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Sylvia Grimm Abstract ,,,To describe the distribution of dental trauma in Brazilian schoolchildren and its association with demographic, environmental and clinical factors. A random sample of 73 243 schoolchildren's oral examination records from private and public units, selected from 131 cities within the state of São Paulo, Brazil, was analysed. Trauma was assessed based on international methodological standards prescribed by the World Health Organization for Oral Health Surveys (1997). Proportions obtained were compared between urban and rural schools, as well as between private and public units. Oral health status indices were estimated based on the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index , the average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth; the proportion of caries-free 5-year-old schoolchildren and anterior maxillary overjet among 12-year-old schoolchildren. The prevalence of dental trauma in anterior dentition was of 2.4, enrolling average 1.2 teeth per child. A rate of 2.4 impaired anterior teeth per thousand was obtained, upper central incisors being those that were most affected , 7.7 in every 10. Among 8- to 11-year-old children, the rates grew regularly. The proportion of dental trauma was significantly higher in boys than in girls (P < 0.01), and gender prevalence ratio was of 1.58 for boys. The results showed positive associations between dental trauma and caries-free 5-year-old schoolchildren (P = 0.003), anterior maxillary overjet,3 mm (P < 0.001), and private school as a socio-economic proxy indicator (P = 0.048). [source] The epidemiology of cannabis use and cannabis-related harm in Australia 1993,2007ADDICTION, Issue 6 2010Amanda Roxburgh ABSTRACT Aims To examine trends in patterns of cannabis use and related harm in the Australian population between 1993 and 2007. Design Analysis of prospectively collected data from: (1) the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) and Australian Secondary Student Alcohol and Drug Survey (ASSADS); (2) the National Hospital Morbidity Database (NHMD); and (3) the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset (AODTS-NMDS). Participants Australians aged 14 years and over from the general population; students aged 12,17 years; public and private hospital in-patients; public and private in-patients and out-patients attending for drug treatment. Measurement Prevalence of 12-month cannabis use among the general population and secondary students. Proportions in the general population by age group reporting: daily cannabis use; difficulties in controlling cannabis use; and heavy cannabis use on each occasion. Number of hospital and treatment presentations for cannabis-related problems. Findings Prevalence of past-year cannabis use has declined in the Australian population since the late 1990s. Among those reporting past-year use, daily use is prevalent among 40,49-year-olds, while heavy patterns of use are prevalent among 14,19-year-olds. Hospital presentations for cannabis-related problems reflect similar trends. Past-year cannabis use has decreased among the 10,19-year age group, but those who are daily users in this age group report using large quantities of cannabis. Conclusions Despite declines in the prevalence of cannabis use, continued public health campaigns warning of the harms associated with cannabis use are essential, aimed particularly at users who are already experiencing problems. The increasing demand for treatment for cannabis problems in Australia suggests the need for more accessible and more effective interventions for cannabis use disorders. [source] Most Latino smokers in California are low-frequency smokersADDICTION, Issue 2007Shu-Hong Zhu ABSTRACT Aims We examine the phenomenon of low-frequency smoking (non-daily smoking or smoking , 5 cigarettes daily) among California Latinos and address its implications for addiction theory and population tobacco control. Design, setting and participants Data gathered in 2001 and 2003 through the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the largest general health survey in California. The present study focused on Latino current smokers (n = 1254 for CHIS 2001; n = 946 for CHIS 2003). Measurement Latino smokers reporting either non-daily smoking or smoking ,5 cigarettes daily were identified and grouped into one category: low-frequency smokers. Findings Weighted by population parameters, more than 70% of Latino smokers in California were found to be low-frequency smokers [70.7% (CI = 67.2%, 73.9%) in 2001 and 70.8% (CI = 67.1%,74.2%) in 2003]. This high proportion cut across all demographic dimensions in both surveys, suggesting pervasiveness and reliability of this phenomenon. Proportions for non-daily smokers and low-rate daily smokers were 48.6% and 22.1% in 2001 and 54.9% and 15.9% in 2003. In both surveys, more than 80% of non-daily smokers consumed , 5 cigarettes on their smoking days. Conclusions The fact that most Latino smokers are low-frequency smokers calls for a new theoretical framework,beyond withdrawal-based theories,to account for the prevalence of this behavior on the population level. It also calls into question the harm-reduction approach as a tobacco control strategy for California Latino populations. Strategies emphasizing that every cigarette can hurt, and encouraging complete cessation, seem more fitting for this group of smokers. [source] General practitioners' and family physicians' negative beliefs and attitudes towards discussing smoking cessation with patients: a systematic reviewADDICTION, Issue 10 2005Florian Vogt ABSTRACT Objective, To estimate the proportion of general practitioners (GPs) and family physicians (FPs) with negative beliefs and attitudes towards discussing smoking cessation with patients. Methods A systematic review. Study selection All studies published in English, in peer-reviewed journals, which allowed the extraction of the proportion of GPs and FPs with negative beliefs and attitudes towards discussing smoking cessation. Data synthesis Negative beliefs and attitudes were extracted and categorised. Proportions were synthesized giving greater weight to those obtained from studies with larger samples. Those assessed in two or more studies are reported. Results Across 19 studies, eight negative beliefs and attitudes were identified. While the majority of GPs and FPs do not have negative beliefs and attitudes towards discussing smoking with their patients, a sizeable minority do. The most common negative beliefs were that such discussions were too time-consuming (weighted proportion: 42%) and were ineffective (38%). Just over a quarter (22%) of physicians reported lacking confidence in their ability to discuss smoking with their patients, 18% felt such discussions were unpleasant, 16% lacked confidence in their knowledge, and relatively few considered discussing smoking outside of their professional duty (5%), or that this intruded upon patients' privacy (5%), or that such discussion were inappropriate (3%). Conclusions In addition to providing skills training, interventions designed to increase the implementation of smoking cessation interventions by primary care physicians may be more effective if they address a range of commonly held negative beliefs and attitudes towards discussing smoking cessation. These include beliefs and values that influence primary care physicians' judgements about whether discussing smoking is an effective use of their time. [source] Incidence of Traumatic Lumbar PunctureACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2 2003Kaushal H. Shah MD Abstract Objective: To determine the incidence of traumatic lumbar puncture (LP). Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at an urban, university tertiary care referral center with 50,000 annual emergency department (ED) visits. The study population included all patients who had cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples sent to the laboratory between August 15, 2000, and August 14, 2001. The numbers of red blood cells (RBCs) recorded in the first and last CSF tubes, the location where the LP was performed, and the discharge summary and the discharge diagnoses from the particular visit were obtained. All patients with intracranial pathology and CSF obtained via neurosurgical procedure or fluoroscopic guidance were excluded from the study group. Given no clear definition of traumatic LP in the literature, the incidence of traumatic LP was calculated using a cutoff of greater than 400 RBCs (visual threshold for bloody fluid) and 1,000 RBCs (arbitrary threshold selected by other authors) in CSF tube 1. Proportions were compared using chi-square statistics. Results: Seven hundred eighty-six CSF samples were recorded over one year. Twenty-four samples were obtained from patients with intracranial pathology or were obtained via a neurosurgical procedure. Of the remaining 762 CSF samples in the study population, 119 (15.6%) were traumatic using a cutoff of 400 RBCs, and 80 (10.5%) were traumatic, using a cutoff of 1,000 RBCs in tube 1. Five hundred three LPs were done in the ED and 259 were attributed to all other locations in the hospital. Using a cutoff of 400 RBCs, the incidence of traumatic LP in the ED was 13.3%, compared with 20% in the rest of the hospital (p < 0.025). Similarly, using a cutoff of 1,000 RBCs, the incidence of traumatic LP in the ED was 8.9%, compared with 13.5% in the rest of the hospital (p = 0.1). The incidence of "champagne taps" (defined as zero RBCs in the first and last tubes) in the ED was 34.4%, compared with 24.3% in the rest of the hospital (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The incidence of traumatic lumbar puncture is approximately 15% using a cutoff of 400 RBCs and 10% using a cutoff of 1,000 RBCs. In this study, the rate of traumatic lumbar puncture was significantly less (with a cutoff of 400 RBCs) and the rate of champagne tap was significantly greater for LPs done in the ED compared with the rest of the hospital. [source] Levels of pre-kallikrein in resting and stimulated human parotid and submandibular salivaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 5 2001Carol A. Francis Salivary tissue kallikrein is stored in an active form in human salivary glands. Pre-kallikrein has been demonstrated in mixed saliva, but it is not clear if the various salivary glands contribute equally. This study set out to determine if pre-kallikrein is present in human parotid and submandibular salivas at rest, whether levels change during stimulation, and to compare the pattern of pre-kallikrein and kallikrein secretion with that of total protein. Resting and citric acid-stimulated parotid and submandibular, and gum-stimulated parotid saliva samples were collected from 6 healthy subjects. Salivary flows were determined gravimetrically. Total protein concentration and kallikrein enzymic activity were assayed using standard techniques. Pre-kallikrein was assayed following trypsinisation of duplicate samples. Pre-kallikrein was present in parotid and submandibular ductal saliva. Proportions of pre-kallikrein and active kallikrein were similar in salivas secreted at rest and during stimulation, and both outputs mirrored protein output in both major glands. Gum-stimulated parotid saliva showed lower activity than resting, and no differences were seen between resting and stimulated submandibular samples. [source] Concentrations of Ag, In, Sn, Sb and Bi, and their chemical fractionation in typical soils in JapanEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2006H. Hou Summary We determined concentrations of Ag, In, Sn, Sb and Bi, and fractionated them by sequential extraction procedures, in five Japanese soils: Andosol-1 (grassland), Andosol-2 (forest), Cambisol (forest), Fluvisol (vegetable garden) and Regosol (forest). Average concentrations of Ag, In, Sn, Sb and Bi were 0.17 ± 0.08, 0.081 ± 0.019, 2.2 ± 0.5, 0.83 ± 0.32 and 0.32 ± 0.12 mg kg,1, respectively. Average distributions of the chemical fractions (omitting those with an abundance < 5%) were: Ag, residual (60%) > H2O2 -extractable, organically bound (H2O2 -Org) (18%) > metal,organic complex-bound (Me-Org) (10%) > amorphous metal oxide-bound (am-MeOx) (8.3%); In, residual (61%) > H2O2 -Org (12%) > Me-Org (8.7%) , crystalline Fe oxide-bound (cr-FeOx) (8.2%) > am-MeOx (7.4%); Sn, residual (40%) > Me-Org (19%) > carbonate-bound (12%) > cr-FeOx (9.0%) > H2O2 -Org (7.8%) > am-MeOx (6.9%); Sb, residual (34%) > Me-Org (18%) > am-MeOx (16%) > cr-FeOx (8.9%) , H2O2 -Org (8.7%) > easily reducible metal oxide-bound (re-MeOx) (6.8%) > carbonate-bound (6.1%); Bi, am-MeOx (26%) , H2O2 -Org (26%) > Me-Org (19%) > residual (17%) > cr-FeOx (12%). Proportions of the mobilizable (exchangeable + carbonate-bound + Me-Org + re-MeOx) metal fractions were in the order Sn , Sb > Bi > Ag ? In, and Cambisol > Andosol-2 > Regosol > Andosol-1 > Fluvisol. The proportions were predicted by multiple regression equations including pH, surface area, C contents, cation exchange capacity and clay content of the soils as independent variables (R2 > 0.96, P < 0.02). [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||