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Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient (spearman + rank_correlation_coefficient)
Selected AbstractsPhoto-induced cytomorphologic changes in an advanced cancer phase I clinical trialLASERS IN SURGERY AND MEDICINE, Issue 1 2002Luis A. Santana-Blank MD Abstract Background and Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate whether the application of an Infrared Pulsed Laser Device (IPLD) photo-induced significant cytomorphologic changes during the monitoring of advanced cancer patients participating in a phase I clinical trial. Materials and Methods Patients were irradiated with an IPLD (904 nm pulsed at 3 MHz) under a one-dose, one-schedule, and one-procedure design. Total daily dose consisted of a Radiant Exposure of 4.5,×,105 J/m2. Thirty-one tissue samples from eleven patients with progressive solid neoplastic diseases (TNM IV, UICC) were obtained at three intervals: Time 0 (15,90 days pre-treatment, n,=,11); Time I (2,5 months post-treatment; n,=,11); Time II (6,12 months post-treatment, n,=,09). Three blinded pathologists evaluated samples; scores were determined by consensus. Data were evaluated by using the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test and Spearman rank correlation coefficient. The level of statistical significance was ,,=,0.05. Results Increased apoptosis (Time I, P,<,0.003; Time II, P,<,0.007), necrosis (Time I, NS; Time II, P,<,0.01), cytoplasmic vacuoles (Time I, P,<,0.03; Time II, P,<,0.02), and nuclear vacuoles (Time I, NS; Time II, P,<,0.01), reduced cell size (Time I, P,<,0.007; Time II, P,<,0.01) and intercellular adhesion (Time I, P,<,0.01; Time II, P,<,0.02) were present in neoplastic cells after IPLD treatment. No apparent changes were noted in non-neoplastic cells. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient between apoptosis, necrosis, nuclear vacuoles, cytoplasmatic vacuoles, intercellular adhesion, and cell size was positive and highly significant (P,<,0.006). Conclusions Although further research is necessary, our preliminary results support the novel possibility that the IPLD photo-induces chaotic dynamics that modulate complex physiologically reparative bioeffects. Lasers Surg. Med. 30:18,25, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Use of the Visual Analog Scale to Rate and Monitor Severity of Nausea in the Emergency DepartmentACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 12 2009FACEM, M Clin Epi, Robert Meek MBBS Abstract Objectives:, The objective was to describe the association between verbal descriptors of nausea severity and visual analog scale (VAS) ratings in an undifferentiated emergency department (ED) population and to calculate the minimum clinically significant difference (MCSD) in VAS rating of nausea severity in this population. Methods:, A prospective observational study was conducted at three EDs on a convenience sample of stable, consenting adult patients presenting with nausea as part of their symptom complex. Data included demographics, adjectival description of nausea severity (none, mild, moderate, or severe), and VAS rating (standard 100-mm line) at enrollment, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes. At 30 and 60 minutes they were also asked to describe any change in nausea severity from the previous rating ("a lot less,""a little less,""the same,""a little more,""a lot more"). The MCSD was defined as the average VAS change when a patient reported "a little less" or "a little more" nausea. Results:, A total of 247 patients provided 693 matched adjectival ratings and VAS scores. Median age was 45 years, and 100 (40%) were male. The median VAS measures for none, mild, moderate, and severe nausea were 2, 23, 53, and 83 mm, respectively. VAS distributions in the verbal categories were statistically different from each other (Spearman rank correlation coefficient = 0.90; p < 0.0001). The MCSD was 22 mm (95% CI = 20 to 24 mm). Conclusions:, There is very good correlation between verbal descriptors of nausea and VAS ratings. The MCSD for VAS nausea ratings in an ED population is 22 mm. [source] The interrelationship of complement-activation fragments and angiogenesis-related factors in early pregnancy and their association with pre-eclampsiaBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010AM Lynch Please cite this paper as: Lynch A, Murphy J, Gibbs R, Levine R, Giclas P, Salmon J, Holers V. The interrelationship of complement-activation fragments and angiogenesis-related factors in early pregnancy and their association with pre-eclampsia. BJOG 2010; 117:456,462. Objective, To determine the interrelationships during early pregnancy of complement-activation fragments Bb, C3a and sC5b-9, and angiogenesis-related factors placental growth factor (PiGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin (sEng), and their associations with pre-eclampsia. Design, Prospective cohort study. Setting, Denver complement study (June 2005,June 2008). Population, A total of 668 pregnant women with singleton gestations, recruited between 10 and 15 weeks of gestation. Methods, Using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis, concentrations of complement-activation fragments and angiogenesis-related factors were compared between 10 and 15 weeks of gestation in women who subsequently did or did not develop pre-eclampsia. Interrelationships between these variables were tested using the non-parametric Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Main outcome measure, Pre-eclampsia. The association of complement-activation fragments and angiogenesis-related factors with obesity was also examined. Results, The mean (±SD) levels of complement Bb in early pregnancy among women who did and did not develop pre-eclampsia were 0.84 (±0.26) ,g/ml and 0.69 (±0.2) ,g/ml, respectively (P = 0.001). Concentrations of PiGF were significantly (P = 0.01) lower (31 ± 12 pg/ml) in early pregnancy in the pre-eclamptic group of women, as compared with the normotensive group (39 ± 32 pg/ml). The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of Bb and PiGF were 2.1 (CI = 1.4,3.1, P < 0.0003) and 0.2 (CI = 0.07,0.7, P = 0.01), respectively. There was no significant difference in the levels of C3a, sC5b-9, sFlt-1 and sEng in early pregnancy among women who developed pre-eclampsia, compared with women who remained normotensive during pregnancy. Higher levels of Bb (P = 0.0001) and C3a (P = 0.03), and lower levels of sFlt-1 (P = 0.0002) and sEng (P = 0.0001) were found among women with obesity, compared with non-obese controls. No meaningful relationships were found between the complement-activation fragments and the angiogenesis-related factors. Conclusions, In this cohort during early pregnancy, increased concentrations of complement-activation factor Bb and lower concentrations of PiGF were associated with the development of pre-eclampsia later in pregnancy. [source] Correlation of Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter with Direct Measurement of Intracranial PressureACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2 2008Heidi Harbison Kimberly MD Abstract Background:, Measurements of the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) using bedside ultrasound (US) have been shown to correlate with clinical and radiologic signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Objectives:, Previous literature has identified 5 mm as the ONSD measurement above which patients exhibit either clinical or radiologic signs of elevated ICP. The goals of this study were to evaluate the association between ONSD and ICP and to validate the commonly used ONSD threshold of 5 mm using direct measurements of ICP as measured by ventriculostomy. Methods:, A prospective blinded observational study was performed using a convenience sample of adult patients in both the emergency department (ED) and the neurologic intensive care unit (ICU) who had invasive intracranial monitors placed as part of their clinical care. Ocular USs were performed with a 10,5 MHz linear probe. Emergency physicians (EPs) with previous ocular US experience performed ONSD measurements while blinded to the contemporaneous ICP reading obtained directly from invasive monitoring. The association between ONSD and ICP was assessed with the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, and a receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was created to determine the optimal ONSD cutoff to detect ICP > 20 cm H2O. Results:, Thirty-eight ocular USs were performed on 15 individual patients. Spearman rank correlation coefficient of ONSD and ICP was 0.59 (p < 0.0005) demonstrating a significant positive correlation. An ROC curve was created to assess the ability of ONSD to distinguish an abnormal ICP greater than 20 cm H2O. The area under the ROC curve was 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.84 to 0.99). Based on inspection of the ROC curve, ONSD > 5 mm performed well to detect ICP > 20 cm H2O with a sensitivity of 88% (95% CI = 47% to 99%) and specificity of 93% (95% CI = 78% to 99%). Conclusions:, Using an ROC curve the authors systematically confirmed the commonly used threshold of ONSD > 5 mm to detect ICP > 20 cm H2O. This study directly correlates ventriculostomy measurements of ICP with US ONSD measurements and provides further support for the use of ONSD measurements as a noninvasive test for elevated ICP. [source] Validation of the Mayo Dysphagia QuestionnaireDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 3 2007A. B. M. Grudell SUMMARY., While multiple instruments characterize upper gastrointestinal symptoms, a validated instrument devoted to the measurement of a spectrum of esophageal dysphagia attributes is not available. Therefore, we constructed and validated the Mayo Dysphagia Questionnaire (MDQ). The 27 items of the MDQ underwent content validity, feasibility, concurrent validity, reproducibility, internal consistency, and construct validity testing. To assess content validity, five esophageal subspecialty gastroenterologists reviewed the items to ensure inclusion of pertinent domains. Feasibility testing was done with eight outpatients who refined problematic items. To assess concurrent validity, 70 patient responses on the MDQ were compared to responses gathered in a structured patient-physician interview. A separate group of 70 outpatients completed the MDQ twice to assess the reproducibility of each item. A total of 148 patients participated in the validation process (78 [53%] men; mean age 62). On average, the MDQ took 6 minutes to complete. A single item (odynophagia) tested poorly with a kappa value of < 0.4. Otherwise, the majority of concurrent validity kappa values were in the good to excellent range with a mean of 0.63 (95% CI 0.22,0.89). The majority of reproducibility kappa values were also in the good to excellent range with a median kappa value of 0.76 (interquartile range: 0.67,0.81). Cronbach's alpha values were excellent in the range of 0.86,0.88. Spearman rank correlation coefficients to assess construct validity were also excellent in the range of 0.87,0.98. Thus, the MDQ is a concise instrument that demonstrates overall excellent concurrent validity, reproducibility, internal consistency, and construct validity for the features of esophageal dysphagia. [source] Validity and reliability of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) in Japanese elderly peopleGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2008Akiko Hagiwara Aim: In Japan, there are no valid and reliable physical activity questionnaires for elderly people. In this study, we translated the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) into Japanese and assessed its validity and reliability. Methods: Three hundred and twenty-five healthy and elderly subjects over 65 years were enrolled. Concurrent validity was evaluated by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between PASE scores and an accelerometer (waking steps and energy expenditure), a physical activity questionnaire for adults in general (the Japan Arteriosclerosis Longitudinal Study Physical Activity Questionnaire, JALSPAQ), grip strength, mid-thigh muscle area per bodyweight, static valance and bodyfat percentage. Reliability was evaluated by the test,retest method over a period of 3,4 weeks. Results: The mean PASE score in this study was 114.9. The PASE score was significantly correlated with walking steps (, = 0.17, P = 0.014), energy expenditure (, = 0.16, P = 0.024), activity measured with the JALSPAQ (, = 0.48, P < 0.001), mid-thigh muscle area per bodyweight (, = 0.15, P = 0.006) and static balance (, = 0.19, P = 0.001). The proportion of consistency in the response between the first and second surveys was adequately high. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the PASE score was 0.65. Conclusions: The Japanese version of PASE was shown to have acceptable validity and reliability. The PASE is useful to measure the physical activity of elderly people in Japan. [source] The contributions of topoclimate and land cover to species distributions and abundance: fine-resolution tests for a mountain butterfly faunaGLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Javier Gutiérrez Illán ABSTRACT Aim, Models relating species distributions to climate or habitat are widely used to predict the effects of global change on biodiversity. Most such approaches assume that climate governs coarse-scale species ranges, whereas habitat limits fine-scale distributions. We tested the influence of topoclimate and land cover on butterfly distributions and abundance in a mountain range, where climate may vary as markedly at a fine scale as land cover. Location, Sierra de Guadarrama (Spain, southern Europe) Methods, We sampled the butterfly fauna of 180 locations (89 in 2004, 91 in 2005) in a 10,800 km2 region, and derived generalized linear models (GLMs) for species occurrence and abundance based on topoclimatic (elevation and insolation) or habitat (land cover, geology and hydrology) variables sampled at 100-m resolution using GIS. Models for each year were tested against independent data from the alternate year, using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) (distribution) or Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) (abundance). Results, In independent model tests, 74% of occurrence models achieved AUCs of > 0.7, and 85% of abundance models were significantly related to observed abundance. Topoclimatic models outperformed models based purely on land cover in 72% of occurrence models and 66% of abundance models. Including both types of variables often explained most variation in model calibration, but did not significantly improve model cross-validation relative to topoclimatic models. Hierarchical partitioning analysis confirmed the overriding effect of topoclimatic factors on species distributions, with the exception of several species for which the importance of land cover was confirmed. Main conclusions, Topoclimatic factors may dominate fine-resolution species distributions in mountain ranges where climate conditions vary markedly over short distances and large areas of natural habitat remain. Climate change is likely to be a key driver of species distributions in such systems and could have important effects on biodiversity. However, continued habitat protection may be vital to facilitate range shifts in response to climate change. [source] Influence of factor VIII:C and factor IX activity in plasmas of haemophilic dogs on the activated partial thromboplastin time measured with two commercial reagentsHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 3 2000R. Mischke The present study is based on 145 plasma samples with a reduced activity of factor VIII:C (range: 0.009,0.62 IU mL,1) and 28 samples with a reduced factor IX activity (range: 0.035,0.55 IU mL,1). The samples were collected from dogs with haemophilia A (n=22) or haemophilia B (n=3), some of these during substitution therapy. For all samples the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) was measured with two commercial reagents containing kaolin as a contact activator. In each case, the deficiency of factor VIII:C or IX was reflected in abnormal results of the APTT. This was true for both reagents. A significant correlation (P < 0.001) was found between factor VIII:C activity and APTT (reagent 1, Pathromtin®; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, rS=,0.731, reagent 2, PTT-Reagenz; rS=,0.875) as well as between factor IX activity and APTT (reagent 1, rS=,0.819; reagent 2, rS=,0.955]. In each case, the relationship between coagulation factor activity and APTT could be proven most precisely by geometric regression. The results of this study illustrate the applicability of commercial APTT test kits as a sensitive screening test of factor VIII:C and IX deficiencies in canine plasma. [source] Gingival changes during pregnancy: II.JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Influence of hormonal variations on the subgingival biofilm Carrillo-de-Albornoz A, Figuero E, Herrera D, Bascones-Martínez A. Gingival changes during pregnancy: II. Influence of hormonal variations on the subgingival biofilm. J Clin Periodontol 2010; 37: 230,240. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2009.01514.x. Abstract Aim: To determine whether the exacerbated gingival inflammation that develops in pregnant women is related to a change in the subgingival biofilm induced by the increase in hormone levels during pregnancy. Material and Methods: This open cohort study included 48 pregnant and 28 non-pregnant women without periodontitis. Pregnant women were evaluated in the first, second and third trimester and at 3 months after delivery. Non-pregnant women were evaluated twice, with a 6-month interval, assessing microbiological, clinical and hormonal variables at each visit. Total anaerobic counts and frequency of detection and proportions were calculated. The Friedman test with the Bonferroni correction was used for intra-group comparisons and Mann,Whitney U -tests for inter-group assessment. Correlations were analysed by means of Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Results: Proportions of the subgingival periodontal pathogens did not differ throughout pregnancy, although significant differences were found for all the pathogens after delivery. Porphyromonas gingivalis -positive patients presented an increase in gingival inflammation (p<0.001) that was not related to plaque. Correlations were found between maternal hormone levels and P. gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia. Conclusion: Qualitative differences in periodontal pathogens were found from pregnancy to post-partum. Patients harbouring P. gingivalis presented and increased gingival inflammatory status. [source] Population genetic dynamics in the French Guiana regionAMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Stéphane Mazières Three sets of genetic markers (blood group plus protein polymorphisms, mitochondrial DNA, and Y-chromosome) were compared in four French Guiana and one Brazilian Amerindian populations. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between five gene diversity statistics and historical or present-day population sizes showed significant values, indicating loss of diversity due to population bottlenecks. The three sets of markers furnished distinct admixture estimates, and the blood group plus protein polymorphisms could have overestimated the European contribution to their gene pool. Correspondence analysis distinguished the coastal from the interior populations, possibly reflecting past migration events. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] General obstetrics: Preterm birth and multiple pregnancy in European countries participating in the PERISTAT projectBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 5 2006B Blondel Objective, To compare rates of preterm birth among multiple births in European countries, to estimate their contribution to overall preterm birth rates and to explore factors which could explain differences between preterm birth rates. Design, Analyses of data from vital statistics, birth registers or national samples of births. Setting, Eleven member states of the European Union. Population, All live births or representative samples of births at national or regional level for the year 2000 or most recent year. Methods, Description of rates of preterm birth before 37 and 32 weeks, estimation of population attributable risks (PAR), study of associations between preterm birth rates in multiples and singletons and nonspontaneous labour using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Main outcome measures, Preterm birth rates, PAR, proportions of deliveries with nonspontaneous onset (caesarean sections before labour or induction of labour). Results, The proportion of multiple births before 37 weeks varied from 68.4% in Austria to 42.2% in the Republic of Ireland. In half of the countries, over 20% of all preterm births were attributable to multiple births. A strong association was found between the proportions of births before 37 weeks among multiple and singleton births (r= 0.81; P < 0.001). An association was observed between the rates of preterm birth and the proportions of deliveries with nonspontaneous onset among twins. Conclusions, Wide variations in rates of preterm births and deliveries with nonspontaneous onset were found between countries, suggesting marked differences in clinical practice which could have long-term implications for the health of children from multiple births. [source] Longitudinal patterns of new Benzodiazepine use in the elderly,PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 10 2004Gillian Bartlett PhD Abstract Purpose To characterize longitudinal patterns of Benzodiazepine use in the elderly. Methods Prospective cohort of 78,367 community-dwelling Quebec residents aged 66 years or more who were new Benzodiazepine users, was followed for 5 years, 1989,1994. Data acquired from four population-based, provincial administrative databases were used to create time-dependent measures of change in dosage, switching or adding Benzodiazepines for 11 drugs listed in the provincial formulary. Subject-specific Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between dose and time were used to measure the tendency of increasing dose with consecutive periods of use. Multiple logistic regression and generalized estimating equations (GEE) models evaluated subject characteristics associated with increasing dose. Results The mean duration of uninterrupted Benzodiazepine use was 75.5 days. The mean daily dose was about half the recommended adult daily dose but 8.6% of subjects exceeded the recommended adult dose. Some of them (28.8%) switched medications at least once and 8.2% filled two or more prescriptions concurrently. For women, older age at date of first prescription was associated with increasing dose over time (odds ratio (OR) for 10 year age increase,=,1.23, p,<,0.001). Conclusion Long periods of Benzodiazepine use are frequent among Quebec elderly. The evidence of increasing dose, particularly for older women, and long-duration of use has important implications for clinicians. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||