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Recording System (recording + system)
Selected AbstractsA validation analysis of two self-reported HAM-D6 versionsACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2009P. Bech Objective:, The six items of the clinician-administrated Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D6) cover the core items of depressive states reflecting the antidepressive effect of medication. In this study, the two self-reported versions of the HAM-D6 have been psychometrically validated to ensure the unidimensionality of this administration form in patients with mild-to-moderate depression. Method:, The item response theory analysis of Mokken was used to test the unidimensionality of both the Interactive Voice Recording System (IVRS) version of the HAM-D6 and a paper-and-pencil self-reported version (S-HAM-D6). Patients with typical major depression and with seasonal affective disorder were included. Results:, The Mokken analysis showed that the two self-reported versions of the HAM-D6 obtained coefficients of homogeneity above 0.40, similar to the clinician-rated HAM-D6 and thus implying unidimensionality. By contrast, the full HAM-D17 versions (self-reported as well as clinician-rated) obtained coefficients of homogeneity below 0.40, implying that the HAM-D17 is a multidimensional scale. Conclusion:, The analysis show that both the IVRS version and the S-HAM-D6 version are unidimensional self-rating scales for the measurement of depressive states. [source] Oral health status in relation to ethnicity of children in the Municipality of Copenhagen, DenmarkINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY, Issue 3 2003A. Sundby Summary. Approximately 25% of children under the age of 18 in the Municipality of Copenhagen have a non-Danish ethnic background, and it is suspected that there may be major inequalities in oral health as a result. Objectives. The objectives of this study were to describe the occurrence of dental caries in different ethnic minorities, and to analyse whether the dental caries experience of the children may be affected by cultural and behavioural differences. Materials and methods. The study was conducted in Copenhagen as a cross-sectional investigation of 794 children, aged 3 and 5 years old (preschool), 7 years old (Grade 1) and 15 years old (Grade 9). Children of Danish, Turkish, Pakistani, Albanian, Somali and Arabian backgrounds were selected by convenience sampling. Epidemiological data were retrieved from the Danish Recording System for the Public Dental Health Services (SCOR) and sociological data were collected by postal questionnaires. Results. Marked differences in dental caries prevalence were observed when different ethnic minorities were compared to Danish children. These were most prominent for the primary dentition. At age 7, 53% of the Danish and 84% of the Albanian children were affected by dental caries, the mean caries experience was 3·5 dmfs (decayed, missed and filled surfaces) and 13·8 dmfs, respectively. Caries in incisors and/or smooth surfaces was observed in 10% of the Danish children and 48% of the Albanian children. There were cultural differences in dental attendance and self-care practices of children and parents. These socio-behavioural factors may help to explain the differences in dental caries prevalence and severity. Conclusions. Development of appropriate oral health promotion strategies is urgently needed to improve oral health behaviour and attitudes of parents and children of ethnic minorities. Preventive programs should be organized at local community level in close collaboration with key persons of ethnic minority societies. [source] Linked electronic medication systems in community pharmacies for preventing pseudoephedrine diversion: A review of international practice and analysis of results in AustraliaDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 6 2009CONSTANTINE G. BERBATIS Abstract Introduction and Aims. Pseudoephedrine is a precursor often diverted into the illegal manufacture of amphetamine type substances (ATS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a linked electronic medication recording system (LEMS) established in Australian pharmacies in 2005 for preventing the diversion of pseudoephedrine. Design and Methods. The number of illegal ATS laboratories detected in each jurisdiction of Australia from 1996,1997 to 2004,2005 were analysed by linear regression nationally and by each jurisdiction. The statistical significance of seizures in 2005,2006 was based on the comparison of the observed value to the 95% prediction confidence intervals calculated from the historical data for each jurisdiction and nationally. Results. Pharmacies in Queensland commenced an LEMS in late 2005 to minimise retail pseudoephedrine diversion. The number of ATS laboratories seized in 2005,2006 in Queensland was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than predicted by historical data. For all other jurisdictions and nationally the totals of laboratories seized in 2005,2006 were not significantly different from predicted values. Discussion and Conclusions. The significant decline in ATS illegal laboratories seized in Queensland in 2005,2006 suggests the effective use of LEMS in pharmacies to minimise pseudoephedrine diversion. In order to evaluate a national LEMS, more frequent data on numbers of linked pharmacies, ATS laboratories seized and indicators of pseudoephedrine sales and misuse are required. Testing the use of LEMS by pharmacies for preventing the diversion of other medicines seems appropriate.[Berbatis CG, Sunderland VB, Dhaliwal SS. Linked electronic medication systems in community pharmacies for preventing pseudoephedrine diversion: A review of international practice and analysis of results in Australia. Drug Alcohol Rev 2009] [source] Emergency Medicine Resident Patient Care Documentation Using a Hand-held Computerized DeviceACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 12 2001Steven B. Bird MD Abstract Objective: To determine whether emergency medicine (EM) resident documentation of procedures, patient encounters, and patient follow-ups improved after implementation of a personal digital assistant (PDA) hand-held recording system. Methods: All first-year EM residents were provided a PalmV (Palm, Inc., Santa Clara, CA) PDA. A customized patient procedure and encounter program was constructed using Pendragon Forms (Pendragon Software Corporation, Libertyville, IL) and loaded into each PDA. Residents were instructed to enter information on patients who had any of 21 procedures performed or were considered to be clinically unstable. These data were downloaded to the residency coordinator's desktop computer. The mean number of procedures, encounters, and follow-ups performed per resident were then compared with those of a group of 36 historical controls from the three previous first-year resident classes who recorded the same information using a handwritten card system. Data from the historical controls were combined and the means of each group were compared by Student's t-test. Results: Mean documentation of three procedures was significantly increased in the PDA group versus the index card system: conscious sedation 5.8 vs. 0.03 (p < 0.000005), thoracentesis 2.2 vs. 0.0 (p = 0.002), ultrasound 6.3 vs. 0.0 (p = 0.002). The mean numbers of pericardiocenteses and unstable pediatric surgical patient evaluations were significantly decreased in the hand-held group [from 1.2 to 0.4 (p = 0.03) and from 9.1 to 2.2 (p = 0.02), respectively]. Patient follow-up documentations were not statistically different between the two groups. Conclusions: Use of a hand-held PDA was associated with an increase in first-year EM resident documentation in three of 20 procedures and a decrease in one procedure and the number of unstable surgical pediatric patient resuscitations. The overall time savings in constructing a resident procedure database, as well as the other uses of the PDAs, may make transition to a hand-held computer-based procedure log an attractive option for EM residencies. [source] Visual search and urban driving under the influence of marijuana and alcoholHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 5 2001C. T. J. Lamers Abstract The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of low doses of marijuana and alcohol, and their combination, on visual search at intersections and on general driving proficiency in the City Driving Test. Sixteen recreational users of alcohol and marijuana (eight males and eight females) were treated with these substances or placebo according to a balanced, 4-way, cross-over, observer- and subject-blind design. On separate evenings, subjects received weight-calibrated doses of THC, alcohol or placebo in each of the following treatment conditions: alcohol placebo + THC placebo, alcohol + THC placebo, THC 100,,g/kg + alcohol placebo, THC 100,,g/kg + alcohol. Alcohol doses administered were sufficient for achieving a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of about 0.05,g/dl. Initial drinking preceded smoking by one hour. The City Driving Test commenced 15 minutes after smoking and lasted 45 minutes. The test was conducted over a fixed route within the city limits of Maastricht. An eye movement recording system was mounted on each subject's head for providing relative frequency measures of appropriate visual search at intersections. General driving quality was rated by a licensed driving instructor on a shortened version of the Royal Dutch Tourist Association's Driving Proficiency Test. After placebo treatment subjects searched for traffic approaching from side streets on the right in 84% of all cases. Visual search frequency in these subjects did not change when they were treated with alcohol or marijuana alone. However, when treated with the combination of alcohol and marijuana, the frequency of visual search dropped by 3%. Performance as rated on the Driving Proficiency Scale did not differ between treatments. It was concluded that the effects of low doses of THC (100,,g/kg) and alcohol (BAC,<,0.05,g/dl) on higher-level driving skills as measured in the present study are minimal. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Efficacy of a nature-like bypass channel in a Portuguese lowland riverJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 5 2005J. M. Santos Summary Throughout Europe in the last decade there has been a steady shift away from more technical fish pass designs to more nature-like passes, such as nature-like bypass channels. Upstream fish passage in a nature-like bypass channel was investigated in a lowland river, the Lima River, for 117 days from March 2000 to May 2002. Fish passage was recorded using an automatic video recording system. Electrofishing samples within the bypass and below the weir were compared with species abundance found on the tape recordings. More than 7500 individuals of eight species passed through the bypass channel. Species composition was dominated by striped mullet (65.3%) and potamodromous species (34.3%), which used the bypass mainly at night. Of the environmental variables considered, bypass discharge explained most of the variation in the number of cyprinids, whereas water temperature was more important for diadromous species. Comparing species composition below the weir using passage recordings provided a useful tool to assess species efficacy of the bypass, although biological requirements should also be taken into account. This study proved the efficacy of the bypass for passage of almost all occurring species and life stages and also for providing suitable habitat for fish fauna, highlighting the use of these facilities for river restoration schemes. [source] Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in Patients with Malignancy: A Single-Center Study with Comparison to Patients Without MalignancyJOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 2 2009Nezihi Kucukarslan M.D. In this study, we compared the outcome of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in such patients with those without malignancy. Methods: The patients were selected from those who had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery in the last decade. The study group (group I) included the patients with malignancy in remission. The control group comprised those patients who were selected randomly from those without any malignancy. The patients were retospectively examined with regard to preoperative, operative, and postoperative data from personal files, computerized recording system, and operation reports. Results: Group I included 48 patients (age 48 to 69; 29 male) while group II included 50 patients (age = 38 to 73; 35 male). In group I, comorbidity rates were: renal dysfunction in 12 (25%), obstructive lung disease 10 (21%), congestive failure in four (8%) patients. The malignancy rates were: lung in 15 (31%), breast in 10 (21%), stomach in five (10%), colon in four (8%), renal in one (2%), Hodgkin's lyphoma in three (6%), leukemia in two (4%), ovarian in three (6%), and prostate in five (10%) patients. In group II, the comorbidity rates were: diabetes mellitus 18 (36%), renal dysfunction in five (10%) and obstructive lung disease in 13 (26%) patients. In group I, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were performed in 38 and 34 patients, respectively. In groups I and II, the CABG was elective in 47 (98%) and in 45 patients (90%); the off-pump surgery was performed in 27 (56%) and 12 (24%) patients, respectively. The total duration of bypass was 37 ± 6 minutes and 44 ± 5 minutes; the duration of aortic clamp was 26 ± 4 and 29 ± 7 minutes, respectively, in groups I and II. Posoperative complication rates were: infection in 12 (25%), bleeding in eight (17%), acute renal insufficiency in eight (17%), prolonged air escape in five (10%), and prolonged entubation in 17 (35%) patients in group I and atrial fibrillation in 11 (22%) patients in group II. Mortality rates in both groups were two (4%). Conclusion: CABG in patients with comorbid malignancy is as safe as the other patients. In patients with full remission of malignancy, the surgeons should be encouraged about the safety of CABG. [source] The effect of oral splint devices on sleep bruxism: a 6-week observation with an ambulatory electromyographic recording deviceJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 7 2006T. HARADA summary, This study investigated the effect of stabilization splint (SS) and palatal splint (PS), which had the same design as SS except for the elimination of the occlusal coverage, on sleep bruxism (SB) using a portable electromyographic (EMG) recording system. Sixteen bruxers participated in this study. The EMG activities of the right masseter muscle during sleep were recorded for three nights each in the following five recording periods: before, immediately after, and 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the insertion of the splint. The crossover design, in which each splint was applied to each subject for 6 weeks with an interval of 2 months for a washout period, was employed in this randomized-controlled study. The number of SB events, duration and total activities of SB were analysed. The number of SB events before the insertion of splints (baseline) was 2·98 ± 1·61 times h,1. Both splints significantly reduced SB immediately after the insertion of devices (P < 0·05, one-way repeated-measures anova followed by Dunnett); however, no reduction was observed in 2, 4 or 6 weeks (P > 0·05). There was no statistical difference in the effect on SB between the SS and PS (P > 0·05, two-way repeated-measures anova). Both splints reduced the masseter EMG activities associated with SB; however, the effect was transient. [source] Variation in masticatory muscle activity during subsequent, submaximal clenching effortsJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 6 2002F. Lobbezoo In previous studies to the relative contribution of the jaw closing muscles to the maintenance of submaximal clenching levels, a considerable variation in the electromyography (EMG) activities of these muscles during subsequent efforts was found. In this study, it was examined to what extent this variation could be explained by coincidental variations in mandibular positioning. From seven healthy individuals, a total of 90 EMG sweeps was recorded: three conditions (intercuspal position and two types of stabilization appliances) × three clenching levels (10, 30 and 50% of maximum voluntary contraction level) × 10 repetitions. Mandibular position was monitored with a six degrees of freedom opto-electronic jaw movement recording system. Variations in mandibular positioning during subsequent, submaximal clenching efforts explained up to 25% of the variance in the indices that quantify the relative contribution of the jaw closing muscles to the total clenching effort (P=0·000; ANOVA). Only a weak dependency of positioning upon clenching condition was found whereas during higher clenching levels, the positioning effect tended to be smaller than during lower levels. In conclusion small, coincidental variations in mandibular positioning during subsequent clenching efforts partly explain the variance in EMG activity of jaw closing muscles, especially at lower clenching levels. [source] Experimental model for analyzing cutting resistance by various knives for cataract surgeryCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Takeshi Ide MD PhD Abstract Background:, The trend in current cataract surgery towards clear corneal incision and sutureless procedures makes us realize the importance of wound construction. For optimal surgical outcomes, we need good surgical instruments. In this study, we employed a resistance recording system to analyze the characteristics of seven commercially available disposable cataract knives and to find clues for the future development of ,good' cataract knives. Methods:, The cutting resistance was recorded during perpendicular penetrations of porcine scleral tissues by cataract knives. This data was processed and analysed mathematically with MATLAB software (The MathWorks, Inc, Natick, MA, USA) to see the resistance wave shapes and their derivatives to show the products' differing characteristics. Results:, The wave shapes demonstrated product-dependent characteristics. The average maximum penetration resistance varied from 86.4 to 233 mN. The first order time derivatives also showed distinctive wave shapes. Conclusion:, We used an experimental model to analyze one aspect of a knife's character. This model can help give clues for future developments, although this is the initial step. [source] Vaccines and the changing epidemiology of autismCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2006B. Taylor Abstract Background The epidemiology of autism has been rather confusing, with very variable published prevalence figures and no clear incidence data. The cause of autism is unclear; vaccines have been incriminated. Methods Literature review and interpretation. Results The recorded prevalence of autism has increased considerably in recent years. This reflects greater recognition, with changes in diagnostic practice associated with more trained diagnosticians; broadening of diagnostic criteria to include a spectrum of disorder; a greater willingness by parents and educationalists to accept the label (in part because of entitlement to services); and better recording systems, among other factors. The cause(s) of autism remains unclear. There is a strong genetic component which, along with prenatally determined neuro-anatomical/biochemical changes, makes any post-natal ,cause' unlikely. Conclusions There has (probably) been no real increase in the incidence of autism. There is no scientific evidence that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine or the mercury preservative used in some vaccines plays any part in the aetiology or triggering of autism, even in a subgroup of children with the condition. [source] Image analysis and quantification in lung tissueCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2001W.I. De Boer On 9,10 September 1999, an international workshop on image analysis and quantification in lung tissue was held at the Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. Participants with expertise in pulmonary and/or pathology research discussed the validity and applicability of techniques used for quantitative examination of inflammatory cell patterns and gene expression in bronchial or parenchymal tissue in studies focusing on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Differences in techniques for tissue sampling and processing, immunohistochemistry, cell counting and densitometry are hampering the comparison of data between various laboratories. The main goals of the workshop were to make an inventory of the techniques that are currently available for each of these aspects, and in particular to address the validity and unresolved problems of using digital image analysis (DIA) as opposed to manual scoring methods for cell counting and assessment of gene and protein expression. Obviously, tissue sampling and handling, fixation and (immunohistochemical) staining, and microscope settings, are having a large impact on any quantitative analysis. In addition, careful choices will have to be made of the commercially available optical and recording systems as well as the application software in order to optimize quantitative DIA. Finally, it appears to be of equal importance to reach consensus on which histological areas are to be analysed. The current proceedings highlight recent advances and state of the art knowledge on digital image analysis for lung tissue, and summarize the established issues and remaining questions raised during the course of the workshop. [source] | ||||||||||