Implications of Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Combat Veterans

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

disorders , psychotic disorders , anxiety disorders , personality disorders , and "other" mental disorders (including, but not limited to, eating and sleep...of diagnoses spread across major diagnostic catego- ries. For example, participants with both an anxiety and personality disorder diagnosis were...other disorders (« = 751, 30,3%), and mood and personality disorders (n = 687, 27,7%). Pearson chi-square tests were used to compare the observed

Multivariate normality

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Crutcher, H. L.; Falls, L. W.

1976-01-01

Sets of experimentally determined or routinely observed data provide information about the past, present and, hopefully, future sets of similarly produced data. An infinite set of statistical models exists which may be used to describe the data sets. The normal distribution is one model. If it serves at all, it serves well. If a data set, or a transformation of the set, representative of a larger population can be described by the normal distribution, then valid statistical inferences can be drawn. There are several tests which may be applied to a data set to determine whether the univariate normal model adequately describes the set. The chi-square test based on Pearson's work in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries is often used. Like all tests, it has some weaknesses which are discussed in elementary texts. Extension of the chi-square test to the multivariate normal model is provided. Tables and graphs permit easier application of the test in the higher dimensions. Several examples, using recorded data, illustrate the procedures. Tests of maximum absolute differences, mean sum of squares of residuals, runs and changes of sign are included in these tests. Dimensions one through five with selected sample sizes 11 to 101 are used to illustrate the statistical tests developed.

Prospective Molecular Characterization of Burn Wound Colonization: Novel Tools and Analysis

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-02-01

from patients with endocarditis and wound/soft tissue infections, have been sequenced and an initial analysis performed. Finally, enrollment in the...Price LB. Analysis of S. aureus isolates from endocarditis and skin/soft tissue infections A strict blast search was performed on the S. aureus...targets differentiating the cellulitis and endocarditis isolates. This was followed with a basic Pearson’s Chi-squared test with Yates’ continuity

A note on the misuses of the variance test in meteorological studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hazra, Arnab; Bhattacharya, Sourabh; Banik, Pabitra; Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi

2017-12-01

Stochastic modeling of rainfall data is an important area in meteorology. The gamma distribution is a widely used probability model for non-zero rainfall. Typically the choice of the distribution for such meteorological studies is based on two goodness-of-fit tests—the Pearson's Chi-square test and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Inspired by the index of dispersion introduced by Fisher (Statistical methods for research workers. Hafner Publishing Company Inc., New York, 1925), Mooley (Mon Weather Rev 101:160-176, 1973) proposed the variance test as a goodness-of-fit measure in this context and a number of researchers have implemented it since then. We show that the asymptotic distribution of the test statistic for the variance test is generally not comparable to any central Chi-square distribution and hence the test is erroneous. We also describe a method for checking the validity of the asymptotic distribution for a class of distributions. We implement the erroneous test on some simulated, as well as real datasets and demonstrate how it leads to some wrong conclusions.

Risk, Politics, and Money: The Need for a Value-Based Model for Financing Public Health Preparedness and Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

determine the proper investment in public health preparedness to assure value for money spent? A. PROBLEM STATEMENT Our federal, state, and local...in the survey. It assured the respondent that their identity would be protected and their responses remain anonymous and confidential. Questions two...preparedness level. D. DATA ANALYSIS The Pearson Chi-square test was used to examine the significance of the association (contingency) between

Evaluation of bond strength of various epoxy resin based sealers in oval shaped root canals.

PubMed

Cakici, Fatih; Cakici, Elif Bahar; Ceyhanli, Kadir Tolga; Celik, Ersan; Kucukekenci, Funda Fundaoglu; Gunseren, Arif Onur

2016-09-30

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bond strength of AH plus, Acroseal, and Adseal to the root canal dentin. A total of 36 single-rooted, mandibular premolar teeth were used. Root canal shaping procedures were performed with ProTaper rotary instruments (Dentsply Maillefer) up to size F4. The prepared samples were then randomly assembled into 3 groups (n = 12). For each group, an ultrasonic tip (size 15, 0.02 taper) which was also coated with an epoxy resin based sealer and placed 2 mm shorter than the working length. The sealer was then activated for 10 s. A push-out test was used to measure the bond strength between the root canal dentine and the sealer. Kruskal-Wallis test to evaluate the push-out bond strength of epoxy based sealer (P = 0.05). The failure mode data were statistically analyzed using Pearson's chi square test (P = 0.05). Kruskal-Wallis test indicated that there were no statistically significant difference among the push out bond strength values of 3 mm (p = 0.123) and 6 mm (P = 0.057) for groups, there was statistically significant difference push out bond strength value of 9 mm (P = 0.032). Pearson's chi square test showed statistically significant differences for the failure types among the groups. Various epoxy resin based sealers activated ultrasonically showed similar bond strength in oval shaped root canals. Apical sections for all groups have higher push out bond strength values than middle and coronal sections.

Plant selection for ethnobotanical uses on the Amalfi Coast (Southern Italy).

PubMed

Savo, V; Joy, R; Caneva, G; McClatchey, W C

2015-07-15

Many ethnobotanical studies have investigated selection criteria for medicinal and non-medicinal plants. In this paper we test several statistical methods using different ethnobotanical datasets in order to 1) define to which extent the nature of the datasets can affect the interpretation of results; 2) determine if the selection for different plant uses is based on phylogeny, or other selection criteria. We considered three different ethnobotanical datasets: two datasets of medicinal plants and a dataset of non-medicinal plants (handicraft production, domestic and agro-pastoral practices) and two floras of the Amalfi Coast. We performed residual analysis from linear regression, the binomial test and the Bayesian approach for calculating under-used and over-used plant families within ethnobotanical datasets. Percentages of agreement were calculated to compare the results of the analyses. We also analyzed the relationship between plant selection and phylogeny, chorology, life form and habitat using the chi-square test. Pearson's residuals for each of the significant chi-square analyses were examined for investigating alternative hypotheses of plant selection criteria. The three statistical analysis methods differed within the same dataset, and between different datasets and floras, but with some similarities. In the two medicinal datasets, only Lamiaceae was identified in both floras as an over-used family by all three statistical methods. All statistical methods in one flora agreed that Malvaceae was over-used and Poaceae under-used, but this was not found to be consistent with results of the second flora in which one statistical result was non-significant. All other families had some discrepancy in significance across methods, or floras. Significant over- or under-use was observed in only a minority of cases. The chi-square analyses were significant for phylogeny, life form and habitat. Pearson's residuals indicated a non-random selection of woody species for non-medicinal uses and an under-use of plants of temperate forests for medicinal uses. Our study showed that selection criteria for plant uses (including medicinal) are not always based on phylogeny. The comparison of different statistical methods (regression, binomial and Bayesian) under different conditions led to the conclusion that the most conservative results are obtained using regression analysis.

Adverse drug reactions induced by cardiovascular drugs in outpatients.

PubMed

Gholami, Kheirollah; Ziaie, Shadi; Shalviri, Gloria

2008-01-01

Considering increased use of cardiovascular drugs and limitations in pre-marketing trials for drug safety evaluation, post marketing evaluation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) induced by this class of medicinal products seems necessary. To determine the rate and seriousness of adverse reactions induced by cardiovascular drugs in outpatients. To compare sex and different age groups in developing ADRs with cardiovascular agents. To assess the relationship between frequencies of ADRs and the number of drugs used. This cross-sectional study was done in cardiovascular clinic at a teaching hospital. All patients during an eight months period were evaluated for cardiovascular drugs induced ADRs. Patient and reaction factors were analyzed in detected ADRs. Patients with or without ADRs were compared in sex and age by using chi-square test. Assessing the relationship between frequencies of ADRs and the number of drugs used was done by using Pearson analysis. The total number of 518 patients was visited at the clinic. ADRs were detected in 105 (20.3%) patients. The most frequent ADRs were occurred in the age group of 51-60. The highest rate of ADRs was recorded to be induced by Diltiazem (23.5%) and the lowest rate with Atenolol (3%). Headache was the most frequent detected ADR (23%). Assessing the severity and preventability of ADRs revealed that 1.1% of ADRs were detected as severe and 1.9% as preventable reactions. Women significantly developed more ADRs in this study (chi square = 3.978, P<0.05). ADRs more frequently occurred with increasing age in this study (chi square = 15.871, P<0.05). With increasing the number of drugs used, the frequency of ADRs increased (Pearson=0.259, P<0.05). Monitoring ADRs in patients using cardiovascular drugs is a matter of importance since this class of medicines is usually used by elderly patients with critical conditions and underlying diseases.

Rural versus urban Texas WIC participants' fruit and vegetable consumption.

PubMed

Ettienne-Gittens, Reynolette; McKyer, E Lisako J; Odum, Mary; Diep, Cassandra S; Li, Yan; Girimaji, Asha; Murano, Peter S

2013-01-01

To explore fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption among urban and rural Black Texas WIC participants. The study included 673 WIC mothers and their 351 children from the TEXFAN study. T-tests, Pearson chi-squared test, and regressions were performed. Among children, differences were found for fruit consumption but not vegetable. Urban children were offered and consumed a greater variety of F&V. Mothers' F&V intake was related to age, pregnancy status, and breastfeeding status. This study provides insight into a subsection of the WIC population. Further research should be done regarding increasing the amount and variety of F&V consumed by WIC women and children.

[Association between health anthropometric indexes with physical fitness in physically active elderly women].

PubMed

Valdés-Badilla, Pablo; Godoy-Cumillaf, Andrés; Ortega-Spuler, Jenny; Herrera-Valenzuela, Tomás; Durán-Agüero, Samuel; Zapata-Bastias, José; Vargas-Vitoria, Rodrigo; Guzmán-Muñoz, Eduardo; López-Fuenzalida, Antonio

2017-01-01

To associate health anthropometric indexes with physical fitness of elderly women (EW) who participate in physical exercise workshops. 272 Chilean women over 60 years took part in the study. The variables studied were BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-height index (WHI) and physical fitness (PF). Correlations were made through the Pearson or Spearman coefficient, and bivariate associations using Pearson's Chi-square and the Fisher's exact test, considering p<0.05. 70.8% of the EW were overweight or obese; 68.8% and 96% were at cardiometabolic risk due to their WC and WHI, respectively. Their PF showed equal performance (53.5%) or higher (33.8%) according to their age and gender. Inverse correlations were found between nutritional status and cardiometabolic risk with PF tests (except for agility and dynamic balance [direct]), and direct association with back scratch test. Excess weight in physically active EW would not affect their physical-functional performance; however, cardiometabolic risk would be inversely associated with motor function.

Landslide susceptibility mapping using decision-tree based CHi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) and Logistic regression (LR) integration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Althuwaynee, Omar F.; Pradhan, Biswajeet; Ahmad, Noordin

2014-06-01

This article uses methodology based on chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID), as a multivariate method that has an automatic classification capacity to analyse large numbers of landslide conditioning factors. This new algorithm was developed to overcome the subjectivity of the manual categorization of scale data of landslide conditioning factors, and to predict rainfall-induced susceptibility map in Kuala Lumpur city and surrounding areas using geographic information system (GIS). The main objective of this article is to use CHi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) method to perform the best classification fit for each conditioning factor, then, combining it with logistic regression (LR). LR model was used to find the corresponding coefficients of best fitting function that assess the optimal terminal nodes. A cluster pattern of landslide locations was extracted in previous study using nearest neighbor index (NNI), which were then used to identify the clustered landslide locations range. Clustered locations were used as model training data with 14 landslide conditioning factors such as; topographic derived parameters, lithology, NDVI, land use and land cover maps. Pearson chi-squared value was used to find the best classification fit between the dependent variable and conditioning factors. Finally the relationship between conditioning factors were assessed and the landslide susceptibility map (LSM) was produced. An area under the curve (AUC) was used to test the model reliability and prediction capability with the training and validation landslide locations respectively. This study proved the efficiency and reliability of decision tree (DT) model in landslide susceptibility mapping. Also it provided a valuable scientific basis for spatial decision making in planning and urban management studies.

How-To-Do-It: Snails, Pill Bugs, Mealworms, and Chi-Square? Using Invertebrate Behavior to Illustrate Hypothesis Testing with Chi-Square.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biermann, Carol

1988-01-01

Described is a study designed to introduce students to the behavior of common invertebrate animals, and to use of the chi-square statistical technique. Discusses activities with snails, pill bugs, and mealworms. Provides an abbreviated chi-square table and instructions for performing the experiments and statistical tests. (CW)

Science dual enrollment: An examination of high school students' post-secondary aspirations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berry, Chelsia

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in science dual enrollment courses influenced African American high school students' post-secondary aspirations that will lead to college attendance. The investigation examined the relationship between African American students' learning experiences and how their self-efficacy and outcome expectations impact their goal setting. The goal was to determine the impact of the following variables on African American students' plan to pursue a bachelor's or advanced degree: (a) STEM exposure, (b) Algebra 1 achievement, (c) level of science class, and (d) receiving science college credit for dual enrollment course. The social cognitive career theory framed this body of research to explore how career and academic interests mature, are developed, and are translated into action. Science dual enrollment participation is a strategy for addressing the lack of African American presence in the STEM fields. The causal comparative ex post facto research design was used in this quantitative study. The researcher performed the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric analysis of variance and Pearson's chi-square tests to analyze secondary data from the High School Longitudinal Study first follow-up student questionnaire. The results indicate that STEM exposure and early success in Algebra 1 have a statistically significant impact on African American students' ambition to pursue a bachelor's or advanced degree. According to the Pearson's chi-square and independent sample Kruskal-Wallis analyses, level of students' science class and receiving college credit for dual enrollment do not significantly influence African American students' postsecondary aspirations.

Physiotherapists' Beliefs About Whiplash-associated Disorder: A Comparison Between Singapore and Queensland, Australia.

PubMed

Ng, Tze Siong; Pedler, Ashley; Vicenzino, Bill; Sterling, Michele

2015-06-01

Healthcare providers' beliefs may play a role in the outcome of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), a condition which is proposed to be culturally dependent. Clinical practice guidelines recommend an active approach for the management of WAD, which is often delivered by physiotherapists. However, there is no data on physiotherapists' whiplash beliefs. Our primary objective was to determine physiotherapists' beliefs from Queensland (Australia) and Singapore, two cultures with differing prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain and chronic WAD. A pen and paper survey of musculoskeletal physiotherapists practicing in Queensland and Singapore was conducted. Participants completed questionnaires consisting of patient vignettes and statements inquiring knowledge and attitudes towards WAD. Chi-square tests of significance were used to compare the responses of physiotherapists from both samples. Ninety-one (response rate 45%) Queensland-based and 94 (response rate 98%) Singapore-based physiotherapists participated in the study. The beliefs in the management strategies for the patient vignettes were generally consistent with practice guidelines. A higher proportion of Queensland-based physiotherapists expected permanent disabilities for the patient vignette depicting chronic WAD (Queensland: 55% Singapore: 28% Pearson chi-sq 18.76, p < 0.005).Up to 99% of the physiotherapists from both samples believed in encouragement of physical activity, the effectiveness of exercise and multimodal physiotherapy for WAD. Significantly higher proportions of Singapore-based physiotherapists believed in ordering radiographs for acute WAD (Pearson chi-sq 41.98, p < 0.001) and also believed in a psychogenic origin of chronic WAD (Pearson chi-sq 22.57, p  0.001). The majority of beliefs between physiotherapists in Queensland and Singapore were similar but there were specific differences. Physiotherapists' whiplash beliefs in Queensland and Singapore did not clearly reflect the difference in prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal pain or chronic WAD in Queensland and Singapore. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Graphic Chi-Square Test For Two-Class Genetic Segregation Ratios

Treesearch

A.E. Squillace; D.J. Squillace

1970-01-01

A chart is presented for testing the goodness of fit of observed two-class genetic segregation ratios against hypothetical ratios, eliminating the need of computing chi-square. Although designed mainly for genetic studies, the chart can also be used for other types of studies involving two-class chi-square tests.

Your Chi-Square Test Is Statistically Significant: Now What?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sharpe, Donald

2015-01-01

Applied researchers have employed chi-square tests for more than one hundred years. This paper addresses the question of how one should follow a statistically significant chi-square test result in order to determine the source of that result. Four approaches were evaluated: calculating residuals, comparing cells, ransacking, and partitioning. Data…

Is ultrasound perfusion imaging capable of detecting mismatch? A proof-of-concept study in acute stroke patients.

PubMed

Reitmeir, Raluca; Eyding, Jens; Oertel, Markus F; Wiest, Roland; Gralla, Jan; Fischer, Urs; Giquel, Pierre-Yves; Weber, Stefan; Raabe, Andreas; Mattle, Heinrich P; Z'Graggen, Werner J; Beck, Jürgen

2017-04-01

In this study, we compared contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging with magnetic resonance perfusion-weighted imaging or perfusion computed tomography for detecting normo-, hypo-, and nonperfused brain areas in acute middle cerebral artery stroke. We performed high mechanical index contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging in 30 patients. Time-to-peak intensity of 10 ischemic regions of interests was compared to four standardized nonischemic regions of interests of the same patient. A time-to-peak >3 s (ultrasound perfusion imaging) or >4 s (perfusion computed tomography and magnetic resonance perfusion) defined hypoperfusion. In 16 patients, 98 of 160 ultrasound perfusion imaging regions of interests of the ischemic hemisphere were classified as normal, and 52 as hypoperfused or nonperfused. Ten regions of interests were excluded due to artifacts. There was a significant correlation of the ultrasound perfusion imaging and magnetic resonance perfusion or perfusion computed tomography (Pearson's chi-squared test 79.119, p < 0.001) (OR 0.1065, 95% CI 0.06-0.18). No perfusion in ultrasound perfusion imaging (18 regions of interests) correlated highly with diffusion restriction on magnetic resonance imaging (Pearson's chi-squared test 42.307, p < 0.001). Analysis of receiver operating characteristics proved a high sensitivity of ultrasound perfusion imaging in the diagnosis of hypoperfused area under the curve, (AUC = 0.917; p < 0.001) and nonperfused (AUC = 0.830; p < 0.001) tissue in comparison with perfusion computed tomography and magnetic resonance perfusion. We present a proof of concept in determining normo-, hypo-, and nonperfused tissue in acute stroke by advanced contrast-enhanced ultrasound perfusion imaging.

Re-recruiting young adult women into a second follow-up study.

PubMed

Mohan, Yasmina; Cornejo, Melissa; Sidell, Margo; Smith, Jessica; Young, Deborah Rohm

2017-03-01

Recruitment among young adults presents a unique set of challenges as they are difficult to reach through conventional methods. To describe our experience using both traditional and nontraditional methods in the re-recruitment of young adult women into the second follow-up study of the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG). 589 adolescent girls were re-recruited as 11th graders into TAAG 2. Re-recruitment efforts were conducted when they were between 22 and 23 years of age (TAAG 3). Facebook, email, postal mail, and telephone (call and text) were used. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize cohort characteristics. Discrete categorical variables were compared using Pearson chi-square or Fisher's exact test, while Wilcoxon rank sum or t-tests were calculated for continuous variables. Pearson's chi square test, analysis of variance, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were also used. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted models. All 589 cohort members were located and 479 (81.3%) were re-recruited. Participants who reported living in a two parent household or with their mothers only, and who did not perceive a lot of crime in their neighborhood were more likely to consent to participate in TAAG 3 (p = 0.047 and p = 0.008, respectively). Perceived neighborhood crime remained significant in the adjusted model (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25-0.90, p = 0.02). Early and late consenters differed by race/ethnicity (p = 0.015), household type (p = 0.001), and socioeconomic status (p = 0.005). In the adjusted model, Black participants were more likely to consent later than White participants (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.07-3.13, p = 0.03). A number of recruitment strategies and outreach attempts were needed to recruit young adult women into a follow-up study. Persistent efforts may be needed to recruit participants with race/ethnic diversity and lower socioeconomic status.

An Extension of the Chi-Square Procedure for Non-NORMAL Statistics, with Application to Solar Neutrino Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sturrock, P. A.

2008-01-01

Using the chi-square statistic, one may conveniently test whether a series of measurements of a variable are consistent with a constant value. However, that test is predicated on the assumption that the appropriate probability distribution function (pdf) is normal in form. This requirement is usually not satisfied by experimental measurements of the solar neutrino flux. This article presents an extension of the chi-square procedure that is valid for any form of the pdf. This procedure is applied to the GALLEX-GNO dataset, and it is shown that the results are in good agreement with the results of Monte Carlo simulations. Whereas application of the standard chi-square test to symmetrized data yields evidence significant at the 1% level for variability of the solar neutrino flux, application of the extended chi-square test to the unsymmetrized data yields only weak evidence (significant at the 4% level) of variability.

Reconnaissance On Chi-Square Test Procedure For Determining Two Species Association

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marisa, Hanifa

2008-01-01

Determining the assosiation of two species by using chi-square test has been published. Utility of this procedure to plants species at certain location, shows that the procedure could not find "ecologically" association. Tens sampling units have been made to record some weeds species in Indralaya, South Sumatera. Chi square test; Xt2 = N[|(ad)-(bc)|-(N/2)]2/mnrs (Eq:1) on two species (Cleome sp and Eleusine indica) of the weeds shows positive assosiation; while ecologically in nature, there is no relationship between them. Some alternatives are proposed to this problem; simplified chi-square test steps, make further study to find out ecologically association, or at last, ignore it.

Epidemiological characteristics and deaths of premature infants in a referral hospital for high-risk pregnancies

PubMed Central

de Freitas, Brunnella Alcantara Chagas; Sant'Ana, Luciana Ferreira da Rocha; Longo, Giana Zarbato; Siqueira-Batista, Rodrigo; Priore, Silvia Eloiza; Franceschin, Sylvia do Carmo Castro

2012-01-01

Objective To analyze the process of care provided to premature infants in a neonatal intensive care unit and the factors associated with their mortality. Methods Cross-sectional retrospective study of premature infants in an intensive care unit between 2008 and 2010. The characteristics of the mothers and premature infants were described, and a bivariate analysis was performed on the following characteristics: the study period and the "death" outcome (hospital, neonatal and early) using Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test or a chi-square test for linear trends. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed using a stepwise backward logistic regression method between the variables with p<0.20 and the "death" outcome. A p value <0.05 was considered to be significant. Results In total, 293 preterm infants were studied. Increased access to complementary tests (transfontanellar ultrasound and Doppler echocardiogram) and breastfeeding rates were indicators of improving care. Mortality was concentrated in the neonatal period, especially in the early neonatal period, and was associated with extreme prematurity, small size for gestational age and an Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes after birth. The late-onset sepsis was also associated with a greater chance of neonatal death, and antenatal corticosteroids were protective against neonatal and early deaths. Conclusions Although these results are comparable to previous findings regarding mortality among premature infants in Brazil, the study emphasizes the need to implement strategies that promote breastfeeding and reduce neonatal mortality and its early component. PMID:23917938

Chi-Squared Test of Fit and Sample Size-A Comparison between a Random Sample Approach and a Chi-Square Value Adjustment Method.

PubMed

Bergh, Daniel

2015-01-01

Chi-square statistics are commonly used for tests of fit of measurement models. Chi-square is also sensitive to sample size, which is why several approaches to handle large samples in test of fit analysis have been developed. One strategy to handle the sample size problem may be to adjust the sample size in the analysis of fit. An alternative is to adopt a random sample approach. The purpose of this study was to analyze and to compare these two strategies using simulated data. Given an original sample size of 21,000, for reductions of sample sizes down to the order of 5,000 the adjusted sample size function works as good as the random sample approach. In contrast, when applying adjustments to sample sizes of lower order the adjustment function is less effective at approximating the chi-square value for an actual random sample of the relevant size. Hence, the fit is exaggerated and misfit under-estimated using the adjusted sample size function. Although there are big differences in chi-square values between the two approaches at lower sample sizes, the inferences based on the p-values may be the same.

Predictors of burnout syndrome in intensive care nurses.

PubMed

Vasconcelos, Eduardo Motta de; Martino, Milva Maria Figueiredo De

2018-06-07

To identify the prevalence and analyse the existence of predictors of burnout syndrome in intensive care nurses. The quantitative, descriptive, cross sectional study with 91 intensive care nurses. Two instruments were used to collect data in July 2014: a sociodemographic form and the Maslach Burnout Inventory - Human Services Survey. Pearson's Chi-Square test or Fisher's exact test were applied to verify the association between the occurrence of burnout and the categorical variables. Burnout affected 14.3% of the sample. Of the studied variables, only the duration of holidays had a significant association with the occurrence of burnout (p = 0034/OR = 3.92). The prevalence of burnout in the nurses was 14.3%. Duration of the holidays was the only variable that showed a significant association with the occurrence of burnout.

Technology for performing ocular self-examination: comparison between printed and virtual booklets.

PubMed

Nascimento, Jennara Candido; Lima, Maria Alzete; Barros, Lívia Moreira; Galindo Neto, Nelson Miguel; Pagliuca, Lorita Marlena Freitag; Caetano, Joselany Áfio

2018-01-01

Comparing the results of the ocular self-examination performed with the aid of printed and virtual versions of an educational booklet. A quasi-experimental study carried out in a state (public) school of a capital in northeast Brazil, with 100 students equally divided into control and intervention groups according to age, gender, schooling and economic status. Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were applied with a significance level of 5%. The results of the self-examination obtained by the virtual and printed booklets were statistically similar, except for the item 'Alterations of the pupillary reflex', in which the virtual booklet was more effective for its identification (p=0.049). The printed and virtual versions of the ocular educational booklet have similar efficacy for performing ocular self-examination.

The chi-square test of independence.

PubMed

McHugh, Mary L

2013-01-01

The Chi-square statistic is a non-parametric (distribution free) tool designed to analyze group differences when the dependent variable is measured at a nominal level. Like all non-parametric statistics, the Chi-square is robust with respect to the distribution of the data. Specifically, it does not require equality of variances among the study groups or homoscedasticity in the data. It permits evaluation of both dichotomous independent variables, and of multiple group studies. Unlike many other non-parametric and some parametric statistics, the calculations needed to compute the Chi-square provide considerable information about how each of the groups performed in the study. This richness of detail allows the researcher to understand the results and thus to derive more detailed information from this statistic than from many others. The Chi-square is a significance statistic, and should be followed with a strength statistic. The Cramer's V is the most common strength test used to test the data when a significant Chi-square result has been obtained. Advantages of the Chi-square include its robustness with respect to distribution of the data, its ease of computation, the detailed information that can be derived from the test, its use in studies for which parametric assumptions cannot be met, and its flexibility in handling data from both two group and multiple group studies. Limitations include its sample size requirements, difficulty of interpretation when there are large numbers of categories (20 or more) in the independent or dependent variables, and tendency of the Cramer's V to produce relative low correlation measures, even for highly significant results.

A Comparison of Lord's Chi Square and Raju's Area Measures in Detection of DIF.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Allan S.; Kim, Seock-Ho

1993-01-01

The effectiveness of two statistical tests of the area between item response functions (exact signed area and exact unsigned area) estimated in different samples, a measure of differential item functioning (DIF), was compared with Lord's chi square. Lord's chi square was found the most effective in determining DIF. (SLD)

Ethnobotanical study of wild edible plants of Kara and Kwego semi-pastoralist people in Lower Omo River Valley, Debub Omo Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background The rural populations in Ethiopia have a rich knowledge of wild edible plants and consumption of wild edible plants is still an integral part of the different cultures in the country. In the southern part of the country, wild edible plants are used as dietary supplements and a means of survival during times of food shortage. Therefore, the aim of this study is to document the wild edible plants gathered and consumed by Kara and Kwego people, and to analyze patterns of use between the two people. Methods A cross sectional ethnobotanical study of wild edible plant species was conducted from January 2005 to March 2007. About 10% of each people: 150 Kara and 56 Kwego were randomly selected to serve as informants. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire and group discussions. Analysis of variance (α = 0.05) was used to test the similarity of species richness of wild edible plants reported by Kara and Kwego people; Pearson's Chi-square test (α = 0.05) was used to test similarity of growth forms and plant parts of wild edible plants used between the two people. Results Thirty-eight wild plant species were reported as food sources that were gathered and consumed both at times of plenty and scarcity; three were unique to Kara, five to Kwego and 14 had similar local names. The plant species were distributed among 23 families and 33 genera. The species richness: families, genera and species (p > 0.05) were not significantly different between Kara and Kwego. Nineteen (50%) of the reported wild edible plants were trees, 11 (29%) were shrubs, six (16%) were herbs and two (5%) were climbers. Forty plant parts were indicated as edible: 23 (58.97%) fruits, 13 (33.33%) leaves, 3 (7.69%) roots and one (2.56%) seed. There was no difference between wild edible plants growth forms reported (Pearson's Chi-square test (d.f. = 3) = 0.872) and plant parts used (Pearson's Chi-square test (d.f. = 3) = 0.994) by Kara and Kwego people. The majority of wild edible plants were gathered and consumed from 'Duka' (March) to 'Halet' (May) and from 'Meko' (August) to 'Tejo' (November). Sixteen (41%) of the plant parts were used as a substitute for cultivated vegetables during times of scarcity. The vegetables were chopped and boiled to make 'Belesha' (sauce) or as a relish to 'Adano' (porridge). The ripe fruits were gathered and consumed fresh and some were made into juices. The seeds and underground parts were only consumed in times of famine. Thirty-seven percent of the wild edible plants were used as medicine and 23.6% were used for other functions. Conclusions The wild edible plants were used as supplements to the cultivated crops and as famine foods between harvesting seasons. But information on the nutritional values and possible toxic effects of most of the wild edible plants reported by Kara and Kwego, and others in different part of Ethiopia is not available. Therefore, the documented information on the wild edible plants may serve as baseline data for future studies on nutritional values and possible side effects, and to identify plants that may improve nutrition and increase dietary diversity. Some of these wild edible plants may have the potential to be valuable food sources (if cultivated) and could be part of a strategy in tackling food insecurity. PMID:20712910

F-Test Alternatives to Fisher's Exact Test and to the Chi-Square Test of Homogeneity in 2x2 Tables.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Overall, John E.; Starbuck, Robert R.

1983-01-01

An alternative to Fisher's exact test and the chi-square test for homogeneity in two-by-two tables is developed. The method provides for Type I error rates which are closer to the stated alpha level than either of the alternatives. (JKS)

Computer routines for probability distributions, random numbers, and related functions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kirby, W.

1983-01-01

Use of previously coded and tested subroutines simplifies and speeds up program development and testing. This report presents routines that can be used to calculate various probability distributions and other functions of importance in statistical hydrology. The routines are designed as general-purpose Fortran subroutines and functions to be called from user-written main progress. The probability distributions provided include the beta, chi-square, gamma, Gaussian (normal), Pearson Type III (tables and approximation), and Weibull. Also provided are the distributions of the Grubbs-Beck outlier test, Kolmogorov 's and Smirnov 's D, Student 's t, noncentral t (approximate), and Snedecor F. Other mathematical functions include the Bessel function, I sub o, gamma and log-gamma functions, error functions, and exponential integral. Auxiliary services include sorting and printer-plotting. Random number generators for uniform and normal numbers are provided and may be used with some of the above routines to generate numbers from other distributions. (USGS)

Mental health status following severe sulfur mustard exposure: a long-term study of Iranian war survivors.

PubMed

Khateri, Shahriar; Soroush, Mohammadreza; Mokhber, Naghmeh; Sedighimoghaddam, Mohammadreza; Modirian, Ehsan; Mousavi, Batool; Mousavi, Seyed Javad; Hosseini, Maryam

2017-06-01

This study aimed to describe the mental health status of sulfur mustard-exposed survivors suffering from severe respiratory and ophthalmological problems. Out of 450 invited Iran-Iraq War survivors of sulfur mustard exposure with severe symptoms, 350 participated in this cross-sectional study. Mental health status was assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, criteria. Fisher exact test, Pearson chi-square test, and chi-square test were used to assess any relationship, and the independent-sample t test was employed to compare differences between the veterans with ocular and pulmonary injuries. There were 60.9% (n = 213) survivors who suffered from mental disorders. Among them, 39.7% (n = 139) were previously untreated and required the initiation of psychiatric treatment. The prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders among all survivors was 40.6% (n = 142) and 32.0% (n = 112), respectively. The most common anxiety and mood disorders were posttraumatic stress disorder (32.9%, n = 115) and major depressive disorder (22.3%, n = 78), respectively. Psychiatric disorders were more prevalent in cases with severe pulmonary chemical injury than in subjects with severe ophthalmologic chemical injury. Significant relationships were found between the types of psychiatric disorders and age, education, and occupation (P < .05). The psychiatric morbidity in the chemically injured populations was remarkable and significantly different between the populations. The prevalence of mental illness in these groups highlights the need for the appropriate provision of mental health services. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Principles and Practice of Scaled Difference Chi-Square Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bryant, Fred B.; Satorra, Albert

2012-01-01

We highlight critical conceptual and statistical issues and how to resolve them in conducting Satorra-Bentler (SB) scaled difference chi-square tests. Concerning the original (Satorra & Bentler, 2001) and new (Satorra & Bentler, 2010) scaled difference tests, a fundamental difference exists in how to compute properly a model's scaling correction…

Swedish Consumers' Perception of Food Quality and Sustainability in Relation to Organic Food Production.

PubMed

Bosona, Techane; Gebresenbet, Girma

2018-04-01

Consumers' demand for locally produced and organic foods has increased in Sweden. This paper presents the results obtained from the analysis of data acquired from 100 consumers in Sweden who participated in an online survey during March to June 2016. The objective was to identify consumers' demand in relation to organic food and sustainable food production, and to understand how the consumers evaluate food quality and make buying decisions. Qualitative descriptions, descriptive statistics and Pearson's Chi-square test (with alpha value of p < 0.05 as level of significance), and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for analysis. About 72% of participants have the perception that organic food production method is more sustainable than conventional methods. Female consumers have more positive attitudes than men towards organic food. However, age difference, household size and income level do not significantly influence the consumers' perception of sustainable food production concepts. Regionality, sustainable methods of production and organic production are the most important parameters to characterize the food as high quality and make buying decisions. On the other hand, product uniformity, appearance, and price were found to be relatively less important parameters. Food buying decisions and food quality were found to be highly related with Pearson's correlation coefficient of r = 0.99.

Statistical analysis of multivariate atmospheric variables. [cloud cover

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tubbs, J. D.

1979-01-01

Topics covered include: (1) estimation in discrete multivariate distributions; (2) a procedure to predict cloud cover frequencies in the bivariate case; (3) a program to compute conditional bivariate normal parameters; (4) the transformation of nonnormal multivariate to near-normal; (5) test of fit for the extreme value distribution based upon the generalized minimum chi-square; (6) test of fit for continuous distributions based upon the generalized minimum chi-square; (7) effect of correlated observations on confidence sets based upon chi-square statistics; and (8) generation of random variates from specified distributions.

[Effects of bioclimatology on suicides].

PubMed

Gómez González, M J; Alonso García, C; Piñana López, A

1997-03-15

To verify the influence of the weather on suicides. A retrospective descriptive study. County of Cartagena. All the suicides recorded in the Anatomical Forensic Institute of Cartagena between 1986 and 1993. Creation of a data base with the essential features of each suicide and all the relevant bioclimatological variables of the exact moment they happen. A statistical description of each variable was made. The relationship between the different variables was defined by the Pearson chi 2 test and residual analysis. The sample data were compared with the population data (Neyman-Pearson and Pearson chi 2 tests), p < 0.05. 149 suicides were recorded. These suicides occur during the day, Monday and Saturday being the days with the highest number of them. Distribution throughout the month was homogeneous: July was the month with most suicides. There was an age band in the second and third decades of life and a peak in elderly people. Our sample had 77.9% men. Retired people and housewives predominated. Suicides are generally influenced by meteorological factors.

Using latent class analysis to model prescription medications in the measurement of falling among a community elderly population

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Falls among the elderly are a major public health concern. Therefore, the possibility of a modeling technique which could better estimate fall probability is both timely and needed. Using biomedical, pharmacological and demographic variables as predictors, latent class analysis (LCA) is demonstrated as a tool for the prediction of falls among community dwelling elderly. Methods Using a retrospective data-set a two-step LCA modeling approach was employed. First, we looked for the optimal number of latent classes for the seven medical indicators, along with the patients’ prescription medication and three covariates (age, gender, and number of medications). Second, the appropriate latent class structure, with the covariates, were modeled on the distal outcome (fall/no fall). The default estimator was maximum likelihood with robust standard errors. The Pearson chi-square, likelihood ratio chi-square, BIC, Lo-Mendell-Rubin Adjusted Likelihood Ratio test and the bootstrap likelihood ratio test were used for model comparisons. Results A review of the model fit indices with covariates shows that a six-class solution was preferred. The predictive probability for latent classes ranged from 84% to 97%. Entropy, a measure of classification accuracy, was good at 90%. Specific prescription medications were found to strongly influence group membership. Conclusions In conclusion the LCA method was effective at finding relevant subgroups within a heterogenous at-risk population for falling. This study demonstrated that LCA offers researchers a valuable tool to model medical data. PMID:23705639

Suicides in Visually Impaired Persons: A Nation-Wide Register-Linked Study from Finland Based on Thirty Years of Data

PubMed Central

Meyer-Rochow, Victor Benno; Hakko, Helinä; Ojamo, Matti; Uusitalo, Hannu; Timonen, Markku

2015-01-01

Focusing on seasonality, gender, age, and suicide methods a Finnish nation-wide cohort-based study was carried out to compare suicide data between sighted, visually-impaired (WHO impairment level I-II, i.e., visual acuity >0.05, but <0.3) and blind (WHO impairment level III-V, i.e., visual acuity <0.05) victims. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) of age- and gender-matched populations from official 1982–2011 national registers were used. Group differences in categorical variables were assessed with Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test and in continuous variables with Mann-Whitney U-test. Seasonality was assessed by Chi-square for multinomials; ratio of observed to expected number of suicides was calculated with 95% confidence level. Hanging, poisoning, drowning, but rarely shooting or jumping from high places, were preferred suicide methods of the blind. Mortality was significantly increased in the visually impaired (SMR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.07–1.61), but in gender-stratified analyses the increase only affected males (1.34; 95% CI = 1.06–1.70) and not females (1.24; 95% CI 0.82–1.88). Age-stratified analyses identified blind males of working age rather than older men (as in the general population) as a high risk group that requires particular attention. The statistically significant spring suicide peak in blind subjects mirrors that of sighted victims and its possible cause in the blind is discussed. PMID:26509899

Suicides in Visually Impaired Persons: A Nation-Wide Register-Linked Study from Finland Based on Thirty Years of Data.

PubMed

Meyer-Rochow, Victor Benno; Hakko, Helinä; Ojamo, Matti; Uusitalo, Hannu; Timonen, Markku

2015-01-01

Focusing on seasonality, gender, age, and suicide methods a Finnish nation-wide cohort-based study was carried out to compare suicide data between sighted, visually-impaired (WHO impairment level I-II, i.e., visual acuity >0.05, but <0.3) and blind (WHO impairment level III-V, i.e., visual acuity <0.05) victims. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) of age- and gender-matched populations from official 1982-2011 national registers were used. Group differences in categorical variables were assessed with Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's Exact test and in continuous variables with Mann-Whitney U-test. Seasonality was assessed by Chi-square for multinomials; ratio of observed to expected number of suicides was calculated with 95% confidence level. Hanging, poisoning, drowning, but rarely shooting or jumping from high places, were preferred suicide methods of the blind. Mortality was significantly increased in the visually impaired (SMR = 1.3; 95% CI 1.07-1.61), but in gender-stratified analyses the increase only affected males (1.34; 95% CI = 1.06-1.70) and not females (1.24; 95% CI 0.82-1.88). Age-stratified analyses identified blind males of working age rather than older men (as in the general population) as a high risk group that requires particular attention. The statistically significant spring suicide peak in blind subjects mirrors that of sighted victims and its possible cause in the blind is discussed.

Customers' satisfaction about prehospital emergency medical services in Lorestan, Iran.

PubMed

Heydari, Heshmatolah; Kamran, Aziz; Zali, Morad Esmaiel; Novinmehr, Nasser; Safari, Mehdi

2017-03-01

Patient's satisfaction with health care in ambulance services is an important quality indicator and a helpful tool for managers of prehospital emergency services. This study aimed to measure patient satisfaction with health provided by prehospital emergency medical services (EMS) in Lorestan, Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients (n=450) transferred by EMS to hospitals of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in a two-year period (2013-2014). Data collection was performed by patient questionnaire, which is a standard LKFR tool. Validity and reliability of the instrument was confirmed by scientific method. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS Version 19. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi-square, paired-samples t-test, independent-samples t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient, and Fisher's exact test were used. One hundred ninety-two (42.8%) and 257 (57.2%) patients were female and male, respectively (mean: 41 years, r: 37-83). Patient satisfaction of the dispatcher was good, and satisfaction level in regards to the technicians' performance, physical situation, and facilities inside the ambulance was moderate. The Wilcoxon test did not show any significant difference between pain severity before and after arriving EMS in the cardiac and respiratory patients (p=0.691), but severity of pain in orthopedic patients after arriving EMS was decreased (p=0.001). Cardiac and respiratory patients had low satisfaction of EMS, and the Chi-square test was significant (p=0.001). Orthopedic patients had the most satisfaction of EMS. Generally, patients' satisfaction of EMS was low. Satisfaction with pain relief in orthopedic patients was better than pain relief in cardiac and respiratory patients. It is recommended to take necessary actions to improve the level of patient satisfaction of EMS.

On the appropriateness of applying chi-square distribution based confidence intervals to spectral estimates of helicopter flyover data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rutledge, Charles K.

1988-01-01

The validity of applying chi-square based confidence intervals to far-field acoustic flyover spectral estimates was investigated. Simulated data, using a Kendall series and experimental acoustic data from the NASA/McDonnell Douglas 500E acoustics test, were analyzed. Statistical significance tests to determine the equality of distributions of the simulated and experimental data relative to theoretical chi-square distributions were performed. Bias and uncertainty errors associated with the spectral estimates were easily identified from the data sets. A model relating the uncertainty and bias errors to the estimates resulted, which aided in determining the appropriateness of the chi-square distribution based confidence intervals. Such confidence intervals were appropriate for nontonally associated frequencies of the experimental data but were inappropriate for tonally associated estimate distributions. The appropriateness at the tonally associated frequencies was indicated by the presence of bias error and noncomformity of the distributions to the theoretical chi-square distribution. A technique for determining appropriate confidence intervals at the tonally associated frequencies was suggested.

Effect of tylosin on dogs with suspected tylosin-responsive diarrhea: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded, prospective clinical trial

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background The macrolid antibiotic tylosin has been widely used to treat canine chronic diarrhea, although its efficacy is based on anecdotal reports and experimental studies in dogs and not on strong scientific evidence. The term tylosin-responsive diarrhea (TRD) refers to diarrheal disorders responding to tylosin therapy within a few days. In TRD, the stool remains normal as long as tylosin treatment continues, but diarrhea reappears in many dogs within weeks after discontinuation. The aim of our trial was to assess the effect of tylosin on fecal consistency compared with a placebo treatment in dogs with suspected TRD and additionally to establish whether tylosin in dogs with recurrent diarrhea is as effective as empirical studies and anecdotal reports suggest. Methods Subjects comprised 71 client-owned dogs that, according to the owners, had previously been treated successfully with tylosin due to recurrent diarrhea of unknown etiology. At the initial examination, where there were no signs of diarrhea, the dogs were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to a tylosin or placebo group. During a two-month follow-up the owners evaluated the fecal consistency according to previously published guidelines. When diarrhea recurred, either tylosin (25 mg/kg q 24 h, 7 days) or placebo treatment was initiated orally. Treatment outcome was evaluated as the mean of fecal consistency scores assigned during the last three days of the treatment period. To test for differences between the tylosin and placebo group in the proportion of responders, Pearson's Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were applied. Results Sixty-one dogs met the selection criteria and were followed for two months. During the follow-up 27 dogs developed diarrhea and either tylosin or placebo treatment was started. The proportion of dogs with normal fecal consistency at the end of treatment was 85% (17/20) in the tylosin group and 29% (2/7) in the placebo group (Pearson's Chi-squared test p = 0.0049 and Fisher's exact test two-sided, p = 0.0114). Conclusions Our findings indicate that tylosin is effective in treating recurrent diarrhea in dogs. The dose of 25 mg/kg once daily appears sufficient. No changes specific to TRD were detected in the examinations. PMID:21489311

Effect of tylosin on dogs with suspected tylosin-responsive diarrhea: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blinded, prospective clinical trial.

PubMed

Kilpinen, Susanne; Spillmann, Thomas; Syrjä, Pernilla; Skrzypczak, Teresa; Louhelainen, Maria; Westermarck, Elias

2011-04-14

The macrolid antibiotic tylosin has been widely used to treat canine chronic diarrhea, although its efficacy is based on anecdotal reports and experimental studies in dogs and not on strong scientific evidence. The term tylosin-responsive diarrhea (TRD) refers to diarrheal disorders responding to tylosin therapy within a few days. In TRD, the stool remains normal as long as tylosin treatment continues, but diarrhea reappears in many dogs within weeks after discontinuation. The aim of our trial was to assess the effect of tylosin on fecal consistency compared with a placebo treatment in dogs with suspected TRD and additionally to establish whether tylosin in dogs with recurrent diarrhea is as effective as empirical studies and anecdotal reports suggest. Subjects comprised 71 client-owned dogs that, according to the owners, had previously been treated successfully with tylosin due to recurrent diarrhea of unknown etiology. At the initial examination, where there were no signs of diarrhea, the dogs were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to a tylosin or placebo group. During a two-month follow-up the owners evaluated the fecal consistency according to previously published guidelines. When diarrhea recurred, either tylosin (25 mg/kg q 24 h, 7 days) or placebo treatment was initiated orally. Treatment outcome was evaluated as the mean of fecal consistency scores assigned during the last three days of the treatment period. To test for differences between the tylosin and placebo group in the proportion of responders, Pearson's Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were applied. Sixty-one dogs met the selection criteria and were followed for two months. During the follow-up 27 dogs developed diarrhea and either tylosin or placebo treatment was started. The proportion of dogs with normal fecal consistency at the end of treatment was 85% (17/20) in the tylosin group and 29% (2/7) in the placebo group (Pearson's Chi-squared test p = 0.0049 and Fisher's exact test two-sided, p = 0.0114). Our findings indicate that tylosin is effective in treating recurrent diarrhea in dogs. The dose of 25 mg/kg once daily appears sufficient. No changes specific to TRD were detected in the examinations.

"Low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, cannot exclude high-grade:" TBS says "Don't Use It!" should I really stop it?

PubMed

Chiaffarano, Jeanine M; Alexander, Melissa; Rogers, Robert; Zhou, Fang; Cangiarella, Joan; Yee-Chang, Melissa; Elgert, Paul; Simsir, Aylin

2017-01-01

The Bethesda System uses a two-tiered approach in the diagnosis of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs). Occasionally, Papanicolaou (Pap) tests with evident low-grade SIL (LSIL) also have some features suggestive but not diagnostic of high-grade SIL (HSIL). This study reviews our experience with "Low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion, Cannot Exclude High-grade" (LSIL-H) and discusses the best approach to report such Paps if the LSIL-H interpretation is abandoned. Abnormal Paps were identified between January and December 2014 that had surgical follow-up within 6 months. Their biopsy outcomes were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's Chi-square and McNemar tests in SPSS software version 23. Statistical significance was defined as P ≤ 0.05. There were a total of 1049 abnormal Paps with follow-up. High-grade dysplasia/carcinoma (HGD+) was found in 8% of LSIL, 30% of LSIL-H, 52% of atypical squamous cells (ASCs), cannot rule out HSIL (ASC-H), and 77% of HSIL Paps. The detection rate of HGD+ for LSIL-H was between that of LSIL (Pearson's Chi-square test, P = 0.000) and ASC-H ( P = 0.04). If LSIL-H cases are reported as ASC-H, the rate of HGD+ for the ASC-H category would decrease from 51.5% to 37.4% (McNemar test, P = 0.000). Alternatively, if LSIL-H cases are downgraded to LSIL, the rate of HGD+ for the LSIL category would rise from 7.7% to 10.4% (McNemar test, P = 0.000). Nearly 86.7% of LSIL-H cases were positive for high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) in comparison to 77.5% of LSILs, 100% of ASC-Hs, and 75% of HSILs. The sample size for HR-HPV and LSIL-H was too small for meaningful statistical analysis. "LSIL-H" category detects more HGD+ than LSIL, and fewer than ASC-H and HSIL. If LSIL-H is eliminated, Paps with this finding are best reported as ASC-H to ensure that women with potential HGD+ undergo colposcopy in a timely manner. Reporting LSIL-H as LSIL may delay colposcopy since management of LSIL Paps depends on multiple factors (age, HPV status, etc.).

Joint analysis of binary and quantitative traits with data sharing and outcome-dependent sampling.

PubMed

Zheng, Gang; Wu, Colin O; Kwak, Minjung; Jiang, Wenhua; Joo, Jungnam; Lima, Joao A C

2012-04-01

We study the analysis of a joint association between a genetic marker with both binary (case-control) and quantitative (continuous) traits, where the quantitative trait values are only available for the cases due to data sharing and outcome-dependent sampling. Data sharing becomes common in genetic association studies, and the outcome-dependent sampling is the consequence of data sharing, under which a phenotype of interest is not measured for some subgroup. The trend test (or Pearson's test) and F-test are often, respectively, used to analyze the binary and quantitative traits. Because of the outcome-dependent sampling, the usual F-test can be applied using the subgroup with the observed quantitative traits. We propose a modified F-test by also incorporating the genotype frequencies of the subgroup whose traits are not observed. Further, a combination of this modified F-test and Pearson's test is proposed by Fisher's combination of their P-values as a joint analysis. Because of the correlation of the two analyses, we propose to use a Gamma (scaled chi-squared) distribution to fit the asymptotic null distribution for the joint analysis. The proposed modified F-test and the joint analysis can also be applied to test single trait association (either binary or quantitative trait). Through simulations, we identify the situations under which the proposed tests are more powerful than the existing ones. Application to a real dataset of rheumatoid arthritis is presented. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Calibration of Self-Efficacy for Conducting a Chi-Squared Test of Independence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zimmerman, Whitney Alicia; Goins, Deborah D.

2015-01-01

Self-efficacy and knowledge, both concerning the chi-squared test of independence, were examined in education graduate students. Participants rated statements concerning self-efficacy and completed a related knowledge assessment. After completing a demographic survey, participants completed the self-efficacy and knowledge scales a second time.…

The relationship between foot pain, anthropometric variables and footwear among older people.

PubMed

Paiva de Castro, Alessandra; Rebelatto, José Rubens; Aurichio, Thaís Rabiatti

2010-01-01

To verify the prevalence of pain among older people when wearing shoes, and the relationships between foot pain, high-heeled shoes and anthropometric variables. Both feet of 227 older women and 172 older men were evaluated with respect to anthropometric variables, arch index and foot posture index. The participants were also asked about the presence of foot pain while wearing high-heeled shoes. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, MANOVA, multiple regression analysis, t test, and analysis of probability. The prevalence of foot pain when wearing shoes was high and was associated with the female gender, however wearing high-heeled shoes was not associated with pain. The women with foot pain presented larger values for the circumferences of the metatarsal heads and the instep (after normalization with the foot length) than those without pain. The men with pain did not present different measurements from those without pain.

An assessment of primary care attributes from the perspective of female healthcare users1

PubMed Central

Lima, Eliane de Fátima Almeida; Sousa, Ana Inês; Primo, Cândida Caniçali; Leite, Francielie Marabotti Costa; Lima, Rita de Cassia Duarte; Maciel, Ethel Leonor Nóia

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVE: this study sought to assess the quality of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and investigated the association between primary care attributes (PCAs) and the sociodemographic characteristics of users. METHOD: a total of 215 female FHS users were interviewed for this descriptive and cross-sectional study. The Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCATool), Adult Edition was used, and the results were analyzed using Fisher's exact tests, Pearson's chi-square tests and logistic regressions. RESULTS: the lowest average score corresponded to the dimension "accessibility" (1.80), and the highest score corresponded to "access" (8.76). The results corresponding to the attributes "longitudinality", "coordination", "comprehensiveness", and "orientation" were not significant. No association was found between the participants' sociodemographic characteristics and the essential, derivative, and general attributes (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: several attributes must be improved across all the investigated services from the perspective of female FHS users. PMID:26155006

A meta-analysis of in vitro antibiotic synergy against Acinetobacter baumannii.

PubMed

March, Gabriel A; Bratos, Miguel A

2015-12-01

The aim of the work was to describe the different in vitro models for testing synergism of antibiotics and gather the results of antibiotic synergy against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-Ab). The different original articles were obtained from different web sites. In order to compare the results obtained by the different methods for synergy testing, the Pearson chi-square and the Fischer tests were used. Moreover, non-parametric chi-square test was used in order to compare the frequency distribution in each analysed manuscript. In the current meta-analysis 24 manuscripts, which encompassed 2016 tests of in vitro synergism of different antimicrobials against MDR-Ab, were revised. Checkerboard synergy testing was used in 11 studies, which encompasses 1086 tests (53.9%); time-kill assays were applied in 12 studies, which encompass 359 tests (17.8%); gradient diffusion methods were used in seven studies, encompassing 293 tests (14.5%). And, finally, time-kill plus checkerboard were applied in two studies, encompassing 278 tests (13.8%). By comparing these data, checkerboard and time-kill methods were significantly more used than gradient diffusion methods (p<0.005). Regarding synergy rates obtained on the basis of the applied method, checkerboard provided 227 tests (20.9%) with a synergistic effect; time-kill assays yielded 222 tests (61.8%) with a synergistic effect; gradient diffusion methods only provided 29 tests (9.9%) with a synergistic effect; and, finally, time-kill plus checkerboard yielded just 15 tests (5.4%) with a synergistic effect. When comparing these percentages, synergy rates reported by time-kill methods were significantly higher than that obtained by checkerboard and gradient diffusion methods (p<0.005). On the basis of the revised data, the combinations of a bactericidal antibiotic plus Tigecycline, Vancomycin or Teicoplanin are not recommended. The best combinations of antibiotics are those which include bactericidal antibiotics such as Carbapenems, Fosfomycin, Amikacin, Polymyxins, Rifampicin and Ampicillin/Sulbactam. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Analysis of maxillofacial prosthetics at university dental hospitals in the capital region of Korea

PubMed Central

Lee, Jong-Ho

2016-01-01

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the demographic patterns of maxillofacial prosthetic treatment to identify the characteristics and geographic distribution of patients with maxillofacial prosthetics in the capital region of Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective analytical multicenter study was performed by chart reviews. This study included patients who visited the department of prosthodontics at four university dental hospitals for maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation. Patients with facial and congenital defects or with insufficient medical data were excluded. The patients were classified into three categories based on the location of the defect. Patients' sex, age, and residential area were analyzed. Pearson's chi-square test with a significance level of 0.05 was used to analyze the variables. RESULTS Among 540 patients with maxillofacial prosthetics, there were 284 (52.59%) male patients and 256 (47.41%) female patients. The number of the patients varied greatly by hospital. Most patients were older than 70, and the most common defect was a hard palate defect. Chi-square analysis did not identify any significant differences in sex, age, and distance to hospital for any defect group (P>.05). CONCLUSION The results of this study indicated that there was imbalance in the distribution of patients with maxillofacial prosthetic among the hospitals in the capital region of Korea. Considerations on specialists and insurance policies for the improvement of maxillofacial prosthetics in Korea are required. PMID:27350859

The Prevalence and Endemic Nature of Dengue Infections in Guangdong, South China: An Epidemiological, Serological, and Etiological Study from 2005–2011

PubMed Central

Guo, Ru-ning; Lin, Jin-yan; Li, Lin-hui; Ke, Chang-wen; He, Jian-feng; Zhong, Hao-jie; Zhou, Hui-qiong; Peng, Zhi-qiang; Yang, Fen; Liang, Wen-jia

2014-01-01

Objectives Frequent outbreaks of dengue are considered to be associated with an increased risk for endemicity of the disease. The occurrence of a large number of indigenous dengue cases in consecutive years indicates the possibility of a changing dengue epidemic pattern in Guangdong, China. Methods To have a clear understanding of the current dengue epidemic, a retrospective study of epidemiological profile, serological response, and virological features of dengue infections from 2005–2011 was conducted. Case data were collected from the National Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Network. Serum samples were collected and prepared for serological verification and etiological confirmation. Incidence, temporal and spatial distribution, and the clinical manifestation of dengue infections were analyzed. Pearson's Chi-Square test was used to compare incidences between different age groups. A seroprevalence survey was implemented in local healthy inhabitants to obtain the overall positive rate for the specific immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody against dengue virus (DENV). Results The overall annual incidence rate was 1.87/100000. A significant difference was found in age-specific incidence (Pearson's Chi-Square value 498.008, P<0.001). Children under 5 years of age had the lowest incidence of 0.28/100000. The vast majority of cases presented with a mild manifestation typical to dengue fever. The overall seroprevalence of dengue IgG antibody in local populations was 2.43% (range 0.28%–5.42%). DENV-1 was the predominant serotype in circulation through the years, while all 4 serotypes were identified in indigenous patients from different outbreak localities since 2009. Conclusions A gradual change in the epidemic pattern of dengue infection has been observed in recent years in Guangdong. With the endemic nature of dengue infections, the transition from a monotypic to a multitypic circulation of dengue virus in the last several years will have an important bearing on the prevention and control of dengue in the province and in the neighboring districts. PMID:24465613

Normal versus Noncentral Chi-Square Asymptotics of Misspecified Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chun, So Yeon; Shapiro, Alexander

2009-01-01

The noncentral chi-square approximation of the distribution of the likelihood ratio (LR) test statistic is a critical part of the methodology in structural equation modeling. Recently, it was argued by some authors that in certain situations normal distributions may give a better approximation of the distribution of the LR test statistic. The main…

False star detection and isolation during star tracking based on improved chi-square tests.

PubMed

Zhang, Hao; Niu, Yanxiong; Lu, Jiazhen; Yang, Yanqiang; Su, Guohua

2017-08-01

The star sensor is a precise attitude measurement device for a spacecraft. Star tracking is the main and key working mode for a star sensor. However, during star tracking, false stars become an inevitable interference for star sensor applications, which may result in declined measurement accuracy. A false star detection and isolation algorithm in star tracking based on improved chi-square tests is proposed in this paper. Two estimations are established based on a Kalman filter and a priori information, respectively. The false star detection is operated through adopting the global state chi-square test in a Kalman filter. The false star isolation is achieved using a local state chi-square test. Semi-physical experiments under different trajectories with various false stars are designed for verification. Experiment results show that various false stars can be detected and isolated from navigation stars during star tracking, and the attitude measurement accuracy is hardly influenced by false stars. The proposed algorithm is proved to have an excellent performance in terms of speed, stability, and robustness.

Chi-square analysis of the reduction of ATP levels in L-02 hepatocytes by hexavalent chromium.

PubMed

Yuan, Yang; Peng, Li; Gong-Hua, Hu; Lu, Dai; Xia-Li, Zhong; Yu, Zhou; Cai-Gao, Zhong

2012-06-01

This study explored the reduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in L-02 hepatocytes by hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) using chi-square analysis. Cells were treated with 2, 4, 8, 16, or 32 μM Cr(VI) for 12, 24, or 36 h. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) experiments and measurements of intracellular ATP levels were performed by spectrophotometry or bioluminescence assays following Cr(VI) treatment. The chi-square test was used to determine the difference between cell survival rate and ATP levels. For the chi-square analysis, the results of the MTT or ATP experiments were transformed into a relative ratio with respect to the control (%). The relative ATP levels increased at 12 h, decreased at 24 h, and increased slightly again at 36 h following 4, 8, 16, 32 μM Cr(VI) treatment, corresponding to a "V-shaped" curve. Furthermore, the results of the chi-square analysis demonstrated a significant difference of the ATP level in the 32-μM Cr(VI) group (P < 0.05). The results suggest that the chi-square test can be applied to analyze the interference effects of Cr(VI) on ATP levels in L-02 hepatocytes. The decreased ATP levels at 24 h indicated disruption of mitochondrial energy metabolism and the slight increase of ATP levels at 36 h indicated partial recovery of mitochondrial function or activated glycolysis in L-02 hepatocytes.

The Relationship of Core Strength and Activation and Performance on Three Functional Movement Screens.

PubMed

Johnson, Caleb D; Whitehead, Paul N; Pletcher, Erin R; Faherty, Mallory S; Lovalekar, Mita T; Eagle, Shawn R; Keenan, Karen A

2018-04-01

Johnson, CD, Whitehead, PN, Pletcher, ER, Faherty, MS, Lovalekar, MT, Eagle, SR, and Keenan, KA. The relationship of core strength and activation and performance on three functional movement screens. J Strength Cond Res 32(4): 1166-1173, 2018-Current measures of core stability used by clinicians and researchers suffer from several shortcomings. Three functional movement screens appear, at face-value, to be dependent on the ability to activate and control core musculature. These 3 screens may present a viable alternative to current measures of core stability. Thirty-nine subjects completed a deep squat, trunk stability push-up, and rotary stability screen. Scores on the 3 screens were summed to calculate a composite score (COMP). During the screens, muscle activity was collected to determine the length of time that the bilateral erector spinae, rectus abdominis, external oblique, and gluteus medius muscles were active. Strength was assessed for core muscles (trunk flexion and extension, trunk rotation, and hip abduction and adduction) and accessory muscles (knee flexion and extension and pectoralis major). Two ordinal logistic regression equations were calculated with COMP as the outcome variable, and: (a) core strength and accessory strength, (b) only core strength. The first model was significant in predicting COMP (p = 0.004) (Pearson's Chi-Square = 149.132, p = 0.435; Nagelkerke's R-Squared = 0.369). The second model was significant in predicting COMP (p = 0.001) (Pearson's Chi-Square = 148.837, p = 0.488; Nagelkerke's R-Squared = 0.362). The core muscles were found to be active for most screens, with percentages of "time active" for each muscle ranging from 54-86%. In conclusion, performance on the 3 screens is predicted by core strength, even when accounting for "accessory" strength variables. Furthermore, it seems the screens elicit wide-ranging activation of core muscles. Although more investigation is needed, these screens, collectively, seem to be a good assessment of core strength.

Cheiloscopy and dactyloscopy: Do they dictate personality patterns?

PubMed

Abidullah, Mohammed; Kumar, M Naveen; Bhorgonde, Kavita D; Reddy, D Shyam Prasad

2015-01-01

Cheiloscopy and dactyloscopy, both are well-established forensic tools used in individual identification in any scenario be it a crime scene or civil cause. Like finger prints, lip prints are unique and distinguishable for every individual. But their relationship to personality types has not been established excepting the hypothesis stating that finger prints could explain these personality patterns. The study was aimed to record and correlate the lip and finger prints with that of character/personality of a person. The lip and finger prints and character of a person were recorded and the data obtained was subjected for statistical analysis, especially for Pearson's Chi-square test and correlation/association between the groups was also studied. The study sample comprised of 200 subjects, 100 males and 100 females, aged between 18 and 30 years. For recording lip prints, brown/pink-colored lipstick was applied on the lips and the subjects were asked to spread uniformly over the lips. Lip prints were traced in the normal rest position on a plain white bond paper. For recording the finger prints, imprints of the fingers were taken on a plain white bond paper using ink pad. The collected prints were visualized using magnifying lens. To record the character of person, a pro forma manual for multivariable personality inventory by Dr. BC Muthayya was used. Data obtained was subjected for statistical analysis, especially for Pearson's Chi-square test and correlation/association between the groups was also studied. In males, predominant lip pattern recorded was Type I with whorls-type finger pattern and the character being ego ideal, pessimism, introvert, and dogmatic; whereas in females, predominant lip pattern recorded was Type II with loops-type finger pattern and the character being neurotic, need achievers, and dominant. Many studies on lip pattern, finger pattern, palatal rugae, etc., for individual identification and gender determination exist, but correlative studies are scanty. This is the first study done on correlating patterns, that is, lip and finger pattern with the character of a person. With this study we conclude that this correlation can be used as an adjunct in the investigatory process in forensic sciences.

Power of tests for comparing trend curves with application to national immunization survey (NIS).

PubMed

Zhao, Zhen

2011-02-28

To develop statistical tests for comparing trend curves of study outcomes between two socio-demographic strata across consecutive time points, and compare statistical power of the proposed tests under different trend curves data, three statistical tests were proposed. For large sample size with independent normal assumption among strata and across consecutive time points, the Z and Chi-square test statistics were developed, which are functions of outcome estimates and the standard errors at each of the study time points for the two strata. For small sample size with independent normal assumption, the F-test statistic was generated, which is a function of sample size of the two strata and estimated parameters across study period. If two trend curves are approximately parallel, the power of Z-test is consistently higher than that of both Chi-square and F-test. If two trend curves cross at low interaction, the power of Z-test is higher than or equal to the power of both Chi-square and F-test; however, at high interaction, the powers of Chi-square and F-test are higher than that of Z-test. The measurement of interaction of two trend curves was defined. These tests were applied to the comparison of trend curves of vaccination coverage estimates of standard vaccine series with National Immunization Survey (NIS) 2000-2007 data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

On Insensitivity of the Chi-Square Model Test to Nonlinear Misspecification in Structural Equation Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mooijaart, Ab; Satorra, Albert

2009-01-01

In this paper, we show that for some structural equation models (SEM), the classical chi-square goodness-of-fit test is unable to detect the presence of nonlinear terms in the model. As an example, we consider a regression model with latent variables and interactions terms. Not only the model test has zero power against that type of…

Evaluation of paper gradient concentration strips for antifungal combination testing of Candida spp.

PubMed

Siopi, Maria; Siafakas, Nikolaos; Zerva, Loukia; Meletiadis, Joseph

2015-11-01

In vitro combination testing with broth microdilution chequerboard (CHEQ) method is widely used although it is time-consuming, cumbersome and difficult to apply in routine setting of clinical microbiology laboratory. A new gradient concentration paper strip method, the Liofilchem(®) MIC test strips (MTS), provides an alternative easy and fast method enabling the simultaneous diffusion of both drugs in combination. We therefore tested a polyene+azole and an azole+echinocandin combination against 18 Candida isolates with the CHEQ method based on EUCAST guidelines and the MTS method in research and routine settings. Fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices were calculated after 24 and 48 h of incubation based on complete and prominent (FIC-2) growth inhibition endpoints. Reproducibility and agreement within 1 twofold dilution was assessed. The FICs of the two methods were correlated quantitatively with t-test and Pearson analysis and qualitatively with Chi-squared test. The reproducibility of the CHEQ and MTS method was 88-100% and their agreement was 80% with 62-77% of MTS FICs being higher than the corresponding CHEQ FICs. A statistically significant Pearson correlation (r = 0.86, P = 0.0003) and association (χ(2) = 17.05, df = 4, P = 0.002) was found between MTS FIC and CHEQ FIC-2 after 24 h. Categorical agreement was 63% with no very major or major errors. All MTS synergistic interactions were also synergistic with the CHEQ method. © 2015 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Measurement invariance via multigroup SEM: Issues and solutions with chi-square-difference tests.

PubMed

Yuan, Ke-Hai; Chan, Wai

2016-09-01

Multigroup structural equation modeling (SEM) plays a key role in studying measurement invariance and in group comparison. When population covariance matrices are deemed not equal across groups, the next step to substantiate measurement invariance is to see whether the sample covariance matrices in all the groups can be adequately fitted by the same factor model, called configural invariance. After configural invariance is established, cross-group equalities of factor loadings, error variances, and factor variances-covariances are then examined in sequence. With mean structures, cross-group equalities of intercepts and factor means are also examined. The established rule is that if the statistic at the current model is not significant at the level of .05, one then moves on to testing the next more restricted model using a chi-square-difference statistic. This article argues that such an established rule is unable to control either Type I or Type II errors. Analysis, an example, and Monte Carlo results show why and how chi-square-difference tests are easily misused. The fundamental issue is that chi-square-difference tests are developed under the assumption that the base model is sufficiently close to the population, and a nonsignificant chi-square statistic tells little about how good the model is. To overcome this issue, this article further proposes that null hypothesis testing in multigroup SEM be replaced by equivalence testing, which allows researchers to effectively control the size of misspecification before moving on to testing a more restricted model. R code is also provided to facilitate the applications of equivalence testing for multigroup SEM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

An abattoir survey of equine dental abnormalities in Queensland, Australia.

PubMed

Chinkangsadarn, T; Wilson, G J; Greer, R M; Pollitt, C C; Bird, P S

2015-06-01

A cadaver study to estimate the prevalence of dental disorders in horses presented at an abattoir in Queensland, Australia. Cadaver heads at a Queensland abattoir were examined for the presence of dental abnormalities and categorised into age groups. The prevalence of abnormalities was analysed by binomial observation of observed proportion, Pearson's Chi-square test or Fisher's exact correlation test. Strength of association was evaluated using Cramer's V test. Heads from horses (n=400) estimated to be between 1 and 30 years of age were placed into four age groups. The most common abnormalities were sharp enamel points (55.3%) and hooks (43%). The highest frequency of dental diseases and abnormalities were in horses 11-15 years old (97.5%). Common abnormalities were found in all groups and the prevalence increased with age. This study suggests that all horses should have regular complete dental examinations to detect and treat dental disorders in order to limit more severe dental pathologies later in life. © 2015 Australian Veterinary Association.

[Factors associated with the consumption of school meals by Brazilian adolescents: results of the PeNSE survey 2012].

PubMed

Locatelli, Nathália Tarossi; Canella, Daniela Silva; Bandoni, Daniel Henrique

2017-05-18

The aim was to study the association between socio-demographic and routine dietary variables and consumption of school meals by adolescents enrolled in public schools in Brazil. The study used data used from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE) 2012. To assess differences between schoolchildren based on whether or not they ate school meals, the study used Pearson's chi-square test, and associations were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Poisson regression models. Of the 86,660 students included in the study, 22.8% eat school meals. Higher consumption of school meals is associated with male gender, brown skin color, residence outside state capitals, working, and low maternal schooling, for those that ate breakfast and lunch with their parents. The findings are relevant for planning strategies to encourage consumption of school meals.

Is breast cancer in young Asian women more aggressive than in Caucasians? A cross-sectional analysis.

PubMed

Tea, Muy-Kheng M; Fan, Lei; Delancey, James W; Staudigl, Christine; Steurer, Stefan; Lang, Christina; Shao, Zhi-Ming; Singer, Christian F

2013-08-01

Ethnic differences in breast cancer are well described in studies comparing Hispanic and African-American populations to Caucasian populations. The aim of this study was to analyze the biological characteristics of breast cancer (BC) in the young Asian/Han Chinese population compared to Caucasians/Central Europeans. Histopathologies of 642 invasive BC in women at the age of 40 years and younger were analyzed in China and Austria. Pearson's chi-squared test was used to assess differences in the analyzed populations. Significantly larger BC >2 cm (p < 0.0001) and poorly differentiated BC (p = 0.02) as well as more triple-negative BC (p = 0.002) were identified among the Han Chinese group compared to the Central European group. This analysis will provide ethnic-specific insight into the biological characteristics of BC in young patients worldwide.

Pharmacy Students' Knowledge Assessment of Naegleria fowleri Infection

PubMed Central

Shakeel, Sadia; Iffat, Wajiha; Khan, Madeeha

2016-01-01

A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to August 2015 to assess the knowledge of pharmacy students towards Naegleria fowleri infection. A questionnaire was distributed to senior pharmacy students in different private and public sector universities of Karachi. Descriptive statistics were used to demonstrate students' demographic information and their responses to the questionnaire. Pearson chi-square test was adopted to assess the relationship between independent variables and responses of students. The study revealed that pharmacy students were having adequate awareness of Naegleria fowleri infection and considered it as a serious health issue that necessitates instantaneous steps by the government to prevent the general public from the fatal neurological infection. The students recommended that appropriate methods should be projected in the community from time to time that increases public awareness about the associated risk factors. PMID:26981318

A comparison of antenatal classifications of 'overweight' and 'obesity' prevalence between white British, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi pregnant women in England; analysis of retrospective data.

PubMed

Garcia, Rebecca; Ali, Nasreen; Guppy, Andy; Griffiths, Malcolm; Randhawa, Gurch

2017-04-11

Maternal obesity increases women's risk of poor birth outcomes, and statistics show that Pakistani and Bangladeshi women (who are born or settled) in the UK experience higher rates of perinatal mortality and congenital anomalies than white British or white Other women. This study compares the prevalence of maternal obesity in Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and white British women using standard and Asian-specific BMI metrics. Retrospective cross-sectional analysis using routinely recorded secondary data in Ciconia Maternity information System (CMiS), between 2008 and 2013. Mothers (n = 15,205) whose ethnicity was recorded as white British, Bangladeshi, Pakistani or Indian. Adjusted standardised residuals and Pearson Chi-square. Percentage of mothers stratified by ethnicity (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and white British) who are classified as overweight or obese using standard and revised World Health Organisation BMI thresholds. Compared to standard BMI thresholds, using the revised BMI threshold resulted in a higher prevalence of obesity: 22.8% of Indian and 24.3% of Bangladeshi and 32.3% of Pakistani women. Pearson Chi-square confirmed that significantly more Pakistani women were classified as 'obese' compared with white British, Indian or Bangladeshi women (χ 2  = 499,88 df = 9, p < 0.001). There are differences in the prevalence of obese and overweight women stratified by maternal ethnicity of white British, Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi. Using revised anthropometric measures in Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women has clinical implications for identifying risks associated with obesity and increased complications in pregnancy.

Normal tissue complication probability model parameter estimation for xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients based on scintigraphy and quality of life assessments.

PubMed

Lee, Tsair-Fwu; Chao, Pei-Ju; Wang, Hung-Yu; Hsu, Hsuan-Chih; Chang, PaoShu; Chen, Wen-Cheng

2012-12-04

With advances in modern radiotherapy (RT), many patients with head and neck (HN) cancer can be effectively cured. However, xerostomia is a common complication in patients after RT for HN cancer. The purpose of this study was to use the Lyman-Kutcher-Burman (LKB) model to derive parameters for the normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) for xerostomia based on scintigraphy assessments and quality of life (QoL) questionnaires. We performed validation tests of the Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic (QUANTEC) guidelines against prospectively collected QoL and salivary scintigraphic data. Thirty-one patients with HN cancer were enrolled. Salivary excretion factors (SEFs) measured by scintigraphy and QoL data from self-reported questionnaires were used for NTCP modeling to describe the incidence of grade 3+ xerostomia. The NTCP parameters estimated from the QoL and SEF datasets were compared. Model performance was assessed using Pearson's chi-squared test, Nagelkerke's R2, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and the Hosmer-Lemeshow test. The negative predictive value (NPV) was checked for the rate of correctly predicting the lack of incidence. Pearson's chi-squared test was used to test the goodness of fit and association. Using the LKB NTCP model and assuming n=1, the dose for uniform irradiation of the whole or partial volume of the parotid gland that results in 50% probability of a complication (TD50) and the slope of the dose-response curve (m) were determined from the QoL and SEF datasets, respectively. The NTCP-fitted parameters for local disease were TD50=43.6 Gy and m=0.18 with the SEF data, and TD50=44.1 Gy and m=0.11 with the QoL data. The rate of grade 3+ xerostomia for treatment plans meeting the QUANTEC guidelines was specifically predicted, with a NPV of 100%, using either the QoL or SEF dataset. Our study shows the agreement between the NTCP parameter modeling based on SEF and QoL data, which gave a NPV of 100% with each dataset, and the QUANTEC guidelines, thus validating the cut-off values of 20 and 25 Gy. Based on these results, we believe that the QUANTEC 25/20-Gy spared-gland mean-dose guidelines are clinically useful for avoiding xerostomia in the HN cohort.

A Theorem on the Rank of a Product of Matrices with Illustration of Its Use in Goodness of Fit Testing.

PubMed

Satorra, Albert; Neudecker, Heinz

2015-12-01

This paper develops a theorem that facilitates computing the degrees of freedom of Wald-type chi-square tests for moment restrictions when there is rank deficiency of key matrices involved in the definition of the test. An if and only if (iff) condition is developed for a simple rule of difference of ranks to be used when computing the desired degrees of freedom of the test. The theorem is developed exploiting basics tools of matrix algebra. The theorem is shown to play a key role in proving the asymptotic chi-squaredness of a goodness of fit test in moment structure analysis, and in finding the degrees of freedom of this chi-square statistic.

Probability analysis for consecutive-day maximum rainfall for Tiruchirapalli City (south India, Asia)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sabarish, R. Mani; Narasimhan, R.; Chandhru, A. R.; Suribabu, C. R.; Sudharsan, J.; Nithiyanantham, S.

2017-05-01

In the design of irrigation and other hydraulic structures, evaluating the magnitude of extreme rainfall for a specific probability of occurrence is of much importance. The capacity of such structures is usually designed to cater to the probability of occurrence of extreme rainfall during its lifetime. In this study, an extreme value analysis of rainfall for Tiruchirapalli City in Tamil Nadu was carried out using 100 years of rainfall data. Statistical methods were used in the analysis. The best-fit probability distribution was evaluated for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 days of continuous maximum rainfall. The goodness of fit was evaluated using Chi-square test. The results of the goodness-of-fit tests indicate that log-Pearson type III method is the overall best-fit probability distribution for 1-day maximum rainfall and consecutive 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- and 6-day maximum rainfall series of Tiruchirapalli. To be reliable, the forecasted maximum rainfalls for the selected return periods are evaluated in comparison with the results of the plotting position.

Age, Body Mass Index, and Daytime and Nocturnal Hypoxia as Predictors of Hypertension in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

PubMed

Natsios, Georgios; Pastaka, Chaido; Vavougios, Georgios; Zarogiannis, Sotirios G; Tsolaki, Vasiliki; Dimoulis, Andreas; Seitanidis, Georgios; Gourgoulianis, Konstantinos I

2016-02-01

A growing body of evidence links obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with hypertension. The authors performed a retrospective cohort study using the University Hospital of Larissa Sleep Apnea Database (1501 patients) to determine predictors of in-laboratory diagnosed OSA for development of hypertension. Differences in continuous variables were assessed via independent samples t test, whereas discrete variables were compared by Pearson's chi-square test. Multivariate analysis was performed via discriminant function analysis. There were several significant differences between hypertensive and normotensive patients. Age, body mass index, comorbidity, daytime oxygen saturation, and indices of hypoxia during sleep were deemed the most accurate predictors of hypertension, whereas apnea-hypopnea index and desaturation index were not. The single derived discriminant function was statistically significant (Wilk's lambda=0.771, χ(2) =289.070, P<.0001). Daytime and nocturnal hypoxia as consequences of chronic intermittent hypoxia play a central role in OSA-related hypertension and should be further evaluated as possible severity markers in OSA. ©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The blurred vision of Lady Justice for minors with mental disorders: records of the juvenile court in Belgium.

PubMed

Merlevede, Sofie; Vander Laenen, Freya; Cappon, Leen

2014-01-01

This study examined (1) the information present in juvenile court records in Belgium (Flanders) and (2) whether there are differences in information between records that mention a mental disorder and those that do not. The file study sample included 107 court records, and we used a Pearson's chi-square test and a t-test to analyze the information within those records. Information in juvenile court records varied considerably. This variability was evident when we compared juvenile court records with and without mention of a mental disorder. Significantly more information about school-related problems, the functioning of the minor, and the occurrence of domestic violence was included in records that mentioned a mental disorder compared with records that did not. The content of the juvenile court records varied, particularly with regard to the mental health status of the minor in question. We suggest guidelines to standardize the information contained in juvenile court records. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Nutritional status of elderly Brazilians: a multilevel approach].

PubMed

Pereira, Ingrid Freitas da Silva; Spyrides, Maria Helena Constantino; Andrade, Lára de Melo Barbosa

2016-06-03

The objectives of this study were to diagnose the nutritional status of the elderly Brazilian population and to identify associated factors. The study used data from the Brazilian Household Budget Survey (2008/2009) for 20,114 elderly, whose nutritional status was assessed by body mass index (BMI). Associated factors were tested with the Pearson chi-square test and multilevel linear models. The hierarchical analysis showed a significant effect of state of Brazil on BMI variance (p-value = 0.001). The individual level showed a negative association (p-value < 0.001) with Asian-descendant race, male gender, living alone, and older age and a positive association with per capita income. Underweight was more prevalent among elderly in rural areas (26.3%) and in the Northeast (23.7%) and Central regions (20.9%), and obesity was more prevalent in the South (45.1%) and Southeast (38.3%) and in cities (39%). The study suggests the importance of further in-depth research on nutritional status of elderly based on contextual variables.

Liver Transplantation Outcomes Using Grafts From Donors Older Than the Age of 80 Years.

PubMed

Rabelo, A V; Alvarez, M J; Méndez, C S M; Villegas, M T; MGraneroa, K; Becerra, A; Dominguez, M; Raya, A M; Exposito, M; Suárez, Y F

2015-11-01

We performed a retrospective cohort study between 2002 and 2014 to compare liver transplantation outcomes between recipients of grafts from donors older than and younger than the age of 80 years. Numerical variables were compared with the Student t test when their distribution was normal and the Mann-Whitney test when it was not, whereas categorical variables were compared with Pearson chi-squared test or Fisher test, as appropriate; P < .05 was considered significant. The study included 312 patients with organs from donors younger than 80 years of age and 17 with organs from older donors. The 2 recipient groups did not significantly differ in weight, height, gender, body mass index (BMI), CHILD or MELD score, intensive care unit (ICU) or hospital stay, need for intraoperative hemoderivatives, postreperfusion syndrome, biliary or vascular complications, ischemic cholangiopathy, number of repeat surgeries, graft rejection, retransplantation, or survival at 6 months. Although earlier studies considered livers from elderly donors to be suboptimal, our results support the proposition that octogenarian donors can be an excellent source of liver grafts. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[The relationship between depressive symptoms and family functioning in institutionalized elderly].

PubMed

de Oliveira, Simone Camargo; dos Santos, Ariene Angelini; Pavarini, Sofia Cristina Iost

2014-02-01

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between family functioning and depressive symptoms among institutionalized elderly. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study of quantitative character. A total of 107 institutionalized elderly were assessed using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Geriatric Depression Scale (to track depressive symptoms) and the Family APGAR (to assess family functioning). The correlation coefficient of Pearson's, the chi-square test and the crude and adjusted logistic regression were used in the data analysis with a significance level of 5 %. The institutionalized elderly with depressive symptoms were predominantly women and in the age group of 80 years and older. Regarding family functioning, most elderly had high family dysfunctioning (57 %). Family dysfunctioning was higher among the elderly with depressive symptoms. There was a significant correlation between family functioning and depressive symptoms. The conclusion is that institutionalized elderly with dysfunctional families are more likely to have depressive symptoms.

Participatory assessment of the health of Latino immigrant men in a community with a growing Latino population.

PubMed

Documėt, Patricia I; Kamouyerou, Andrea; Pesantes, Amalia; Macia, Laura; Maldonado, Hernan; Fox, Andrea; Bachurski, Leslie; Morgenstern, Dawn; Gonzalez, Miguel; Boyzo, Roberto; Guadamuz, Thomas

2015-02-01

Latino immigrant men are an understudied population in the US, especially in areas with small yet growing Latino populations. For this community-based participatory health assessment we conducted four focus groups and 66 structured surveys with Latino immigrant men, and 10 openended interviews with service providers. We analyzed transcripts using content analysis and survey data using Pearson Chi-square tests. Overall, 53% of participating men had not completed high school. Our findings suggest that their social circumstances precluded men from behaving in a way they believe would protect their health. Loneliness, fear and lack of connections prompted stress among men, who had difficulty locating healthcare services. Newly immigrated men were significantly more likely to experience depression symptoms. Latino immigrant men face social isolation resulting in negative health consequences, which are amplified by the new growth community context. Men can benefit from interventions aimed at building their social connections.

Health care workers' hand decontamination practices: an Irish study.

PubMed

Creedon, Sile A

2006-02-01

The primary purpose of this quasi-experimental research is to observe health care workers' compliance with hand-hygiene guidelines during patient care in an intensive care unit in Ireland before (pretest) and after (posttest) implementation of a multifaceted hand-hygiene program. Health care workers' attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge in relation to compliance with handwashing guidelines were also investigated. A convenience sample of nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, and care assistants (n = 73 observational participants, n = 62 questionnaire respondents) was used. Data (N = 314 observations, 62 questionnaires) were analyzed descriptively and cross-tabulated using chi-square (Pearson's) and Mann-Whitney statistical tests. Results revealed that a significant shift (32%) occurred in health care workers' compliance with handwashing guidelines (pretest 51%, posttest 83%, p < .001) following the interventional hand-hygiene program. Significant changes were also found in relation to health care workers' attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge (p < .05).

Trend Analyses of Users of a Syringe Exchange Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 1999-2014.

PubMed

Maurer, Laurie A; Bass, Sarah Bauerle; Ye, Du; Benitez, José; Mazzella, Silvana; Krafty, Robert

2016-12-01

This study examines trends of injection drug users' (IDUs) use of a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, syringe exchange program (SEP) from 1999 to 2014, including changes in demographics, drug use, substance abuse treatment, geographic indicators, and SEP use. Prevention Point Philadelphia's SEP registration data were analyzed using linear regression, Pearson's Chi square, and t-tests. Over time new SEP registrants have become younger, more racially diverse, and geographically more concentrated in specific areas of the city, corresponding to urban demographic shifts. The number of new registrants per year has decreased, however syringes exchanged have increased. Gentrification, cultural norms, and changes in risk perception are believed to have contributed to the changes in SEP registration. Demographic changes indicate outreach strategies for IDUs may need adjusting to address unique barriers for younger, more racially diverse users. Implications for SEPs are discussed, including policy and continued ability to address current public health threats.

Modelling lifetime data with multivariate Tweedie distribution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nor, Siti Rohani Mohd; Yusof, Fadhilah; Bahar, Arifah

2017-05-01

This study aims to measure the dependence between individual lifetimes by applying multivariate Tweedie distribution to the lifetime data. Dependence between lifetimes incorporated in the mortality model is a new form of idea that gives significant impact on the risk of the annuity portfolio which is actually against the idea of standard actuarial methods that assumes independent between lifetimes. Hence, this paper applies Tweedie family distribution to the portfolio of lifetimes to induce the dependence between lives. Tweedie distribution is chosen since it contains symmetric and non-symmetric, as well as light-tailed and heavy-tailed distributions. Parameter estimation is modified in order to fit the Tweedie distribution to the data. This procedure is developed by using method of moments. In addition, the comparison stage is made to check for the adequacy between the observed mortality and expected mortality. Finally, the importance of including systematic mortality risk in the model is justified by the Pearson's chi-squared test.

Is Paternal Smoking at Conception a Risk for ADHD? A Controlled Study in Youth With and Without ADHD.

PubMed

Biederman, Joseph; Fitzgerald, Maura; Spencer, Thomas J; Bhide, Pradeep G; McCarthy, Deirdre M; Woodworth, K Yvonne; Saunders, Alexandra; Faraone, Stephen V

2017-02-01

Based on emerging preclinical findings suggesting that paternal smoking at conception may be a risk for ADHD in the offspring, we investigated whether a similar effect can be observed in humans. We analyzed data from an opportunistic dataset of girl probands with ( N = 140) and without ( N = 122) ADHD with available information on paternal smoking at conception. Data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression. ADHD probands had a significantly higher rate of paternal smoking at conception than controls (35% vs. 23%, χ 2 = 3.82, p = .05) with a significant odds ratio of 1.5. However, the association lost significance after controlling for paternal ADHD, most likely due to limited statistical power. While preliminary, findings suggest that paternal smoking at conception may be a risk factor for ADHD in the offspring.

Performance of the S - [chi][squared] Statistic for Full-Information Bifactor Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Ying; Rupp, Andre A.

2011-01-01

This study investigated the Type I error rate and power of the multivariate extension of the S - [chi][squared] statistic using unidimensional and multidimensional item response theory (UIRT and MIRT, respectively) models as well as full-information bifactor (FI-bifactor) models through simulation. Manipulated factors included test length, sample…

Infant and Child Oral Health Risk Status Correlated to Behavioral Habits of Parents or Caregivers: A Survey in Central Italy.

PubMed

Vozza, Iole; Capasso, Francesca; Marrese, Elisa; Polimeni, Antonella; Ottolenghi, Livia

2017-01-01

The aim of this survey was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of parents and caregivers about potential oral health risk factors for their children in their first months of life (3-30 months). The participation to the survey was proposed to all parents or caregivers of children attending the public consulting service in Latina for mandatory vaccinations during the period of June to August 2014. A self-administered questionnaire was completed to obtain information regarding demographic variables, infant feeding practice, maternal oral health during and after pregnancy, children's oral hygiene habits and risk behaviors (e.g., sharing cutlery, tasting of baby food, nightly using of baby bottles with sugared beverages, or sugared pacifier), and knowledge about caries and its transmission. The analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 14.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The variance analysis and chi-square test were used to investigate the relationship between the variables. Overall, the parents of 304 children consented to fill the questionnaire. Data analysis showed that about 50% of respondents considered dental caries an infectious disease, however, 53.6% was not aware of the potential vertical transmissibility of cariogenic bacteria through contaminated saliva. It is a common trend in the early stages of weaning to taste the baby food (53%) and sharing cutlery (38.5%). With regard to children oral health care, parents reported no toothbrushing for 53.1% of the children in their first 3 years of life. The relationship between the two variables concerning caries transmissibility and tools sharing carried out on through Pearson chi-square test identified P = 0.32. From this survey, the need for parental oral health promoting program emerged to control children oral health risk status.

Adverse Events in the Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients Treated With Samarium Sm 153 Lexidronam for Osseous Metastases

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Paravati, Anthony J., E-mail: Anthony.J.Paravati@dartmouth.edu; Russo, Andrea L.; Aitken, Candice

Purpose: To investigate adverse events after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam and the effect of pre- and post-samarium Sm 153 lexidronam external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and/or chemotherapy on myelosuppression in patients who received samarium Sm 153 lexidronam for osseous metastases. Methods and Materials: We performed a single-institution retrospective review of 139 patients treated with samarium Sm 153 lexidronam between November 1997 and February 2008. New-onset adverse events after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam were reported. The effect of samarium Sm 153 lexidronam on platelet and peripheral white blood cell counts and the duration of myelosuppression after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam plusmore » EBRT and/or chemotherapy were calculated. Differences in the prevalence of adverse events among patients with varying treatment histories were evaluated with the Pearson chi-square test. Results: Hematologic follow-up was available for 103 patients. Chemotherapy and/or EBRT had no effect on the magnitude or duration of myelosuppression. The most common nonhematologic adverse events were acute lower extremity edema (n = 27) and acute and transient neuropathy (n = 29). Patients treated with chemotherapy after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam had a higher prevalence of lower extremity edema (9 of 18 [50%]) than those who were not treated with chemotherapy after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam (18 of 85 [21.2%]) (p = 0.01, chi-square test). No adverse events were correlated with EBRT. Conclusions: Our observation of new-onset, acute and transient edema and neuropathy after samarium Sm 153 lexidronam and of a relationship between edema and post-samarium Sm 153 lexidronam chemotherapy suggests the need for re-examination of patients in past series or for a prospective investigation with nonhematologic adverse events as a primary endpoint.« less

Patients' perspective on dental aesthetics in a South-Eastern European community.

PubMed

Dudea, Diana; Lasserre, Jean-François; Alb, Camelia; Culic, Bogdan; Pop Ciutrila, Ioana Sofia; Colosi, Horatiu

2012-07-01

To assess the importance attributed to dental aesthetics by subjects from a Romanian community. In addition, the role played by dental color, the group-distributions based on the self-evaluation of dental color and the previous experience regarding whitening treatments are analysed. A multiple-choice questionnaire was administered to 540 patients in dental offices in Cluj-Napoca, Romania; the subjects were also asked to self-evaluate their dental shade, using a set of images as a comparison. Answers to the questionnaires were statistically analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS 13.00 (Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Kendall's tau b). From the participants, 17.96% were motivated by aesthetic reasons to ask for treatment; most of the patients evaluated their smile as "acceptable" (38.51%) or "having some defects" (29.44%) and were self-included in groups of medium and dark shades (33.7% and 33.89%, respectively). Whilst 22.40% of the subjects considered the dental color as being the most evident defect of their dentition, 39.07% indicated a self-perception of "an abnormal dental shade". A strong correlation between darker self-assessed tooth color-groups and the self-perception of an abnormal tooth color was found (Chi square p≪0.001, Kendall's tau-c=0.44, with p≪0.001). Previous whitening treatments were reported by 8.88% of the subjects. Among patients who wanted to improve one of their oral functions, the majority requested changes in aesthetics. Dental shade is one of the aspects recognized as problematic by the participants, but nonetheless the percentage of patients who had previously benefited by whitening treatments was moderate. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of health literacy of municipal employees in Shemiranat, Iran.

PubMed

Solhi, Mahnaz; Jormand, Hanieh

2017-12-01

Health literacy is one of the major determinants of health promotion among individuals and within society. The present study is aimed to determine the health literacy status of office employees in Shemiranat using the native instruments of health literacy for Iranian adults (HELIA). The present descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was done in 2016-17. It was conducted on 360 office employees in Shemiranat. The samples were selected using a multi-stage simple random sampling method. Data collection tools in this study included HELIA questionnaire. The data were imported into SPSS v.18 software and then analyzed using descriptive statistical indices (mean, SD, number, and percentage) and inferential statistics (Chi-square, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and Kruskal-Wallis test). Written informed consent was obtained from the employees participating in the study and they were assured about confidentiality. Also, they were informed that participation was voluntary. The mean and standard deviation of the total health literacy score among the studied individuals was 125.99±16.01. The mean score of health literacy in the areas of reading (15.36±2.89) and evaluation (5.01±2.8) among the studied individuals was lower than other dimensions of health literacy. Based on the Chi-square test, there was a statistically significant relationship between health literacy and education level, occupational rank, work place, and work experience (p=0.0001 in all the cases). The individuals with medium and good levels of health literacy acquired most of their health-related information through the Internet, friends, relatives, physicians, and health staff. Health literacy status was not sufficient among the studied staff. Thus, it is recommended to perform promotional interventions in order to improve the health literacy status and its dimensions among these staff.

Complication incidence of two implant systems up to six years: a comparison between internal and external connection implants.

PubMed

Chae, Sung-Wook; Kim, Young-Sung; Lee, Yong-Moo; Kim, Won-Kyung; Lee, Young-Kyoo; Kim, Su-Hwan

2015-02-01

This study was conducted to compare the cumulative survival rates (CSRs) and the incidence of postloading complications (PLCs) between a bone-level internal connection system (ICS-BL) and an external connection system (ECS). The medical records of patients treated with either a ICS-BL or ECS between 2007 and 2010 at Asan Medical Center were reviewed. PLCs were divided into two categories: biological and technical. Biological complications included >4 mm of probing pocket depth, thread exposure in radiographs, and soft tissue complications, whereas technical complications included chipping of the veneering material, fracture of the implant, fracture of the crown, loosening or fracture of the abutment or screw, loss of retention, and loss of access hole filling material. CSRs were determined by a life-table analysis and compared using the log-rank chi-square test. The incidence of PLC was compared with the Pearson chi-squared test. A total of 2,651 implants in 1,074 patients (1,167 ICS-BLs in 551 patients and 1,484 ECSs in 523 patients) were analyzed. The average observation periods were 3.4 years for the ICS-BLs and 3.1 years for the ECSs. The six-year CSR of all implants was 96.1% (94.9% for the ICS-BLs and 97.1% for the ECSs, P=0.619). Soft tissue complications were more frequent with the ECSs (P=0.005) and loosening or fracture of the abutment or screw occurred more frequently with the ICS-BLs (P<0.001). Within the limitations of this study, the ICS-BL was more prone to technical complications while the ECS was more vulnerable to biological complications.

The Relationship between Self-esteem and Quality of Life of Patients with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura at Isfahan's Sayed Al-Shohada Hospital, Iran, in 2013.

PubMed

Hemati, Zeinab; Kiani, Davood

2016-04-01

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a chronic disease which is accompanied with hopelessness and loss of the sense of well-being due to its symptoms and treatment. It also affects patients' sense of social and spiritual well-being. This disorder decreases patients' self-esteem and their quality of life by changing their mental image and self-confidence. This study was performed to find the relationship between self-esteem and quality of life of patients with ITP. This was a descriptive-analytical study on 64 patients with ITP who referred to Isfahan's Sayed Al-Shohada Hospital, Iran. In this study, patients with ITP were selected randomly using a random number chart. The data collection tools consisted of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF and Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory (CSEI). Data were analyzed using SPSS and chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests and the Pearson and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. In total, 64 patients completed the questionnaires. RESULTS showed that 32% of subjects were over 36 years of age and 59% were women. In addition, 29.7% of ITP patients had low self-esteem and quality of life. Chi-square test showed a significant relationship between self-esteem and quality of life of patients with ITP. The results of the present study showed that considerable attention must be paid to self-esteem, as one of the most important factors influencing the promotion of quality of life. Therefore, it is suggested that patient's self-esteem be improved by the implementation of educational and psychological programs in order to decrease the consequences of poor quality of life.

Product Quality Research Institute evaluation of cascade impactor profiles of pharmaceutical aerosols: part 2--evaluation of a method for determining equivalence.

PubMed

Christopher, David; Adams, Wallace P; Lee, Douglas S; Morgan, Beth; Pan, Ziqing; Singh, Gur Jai Pal; Tsong, Yi; Lyapustina, Svetlana

2007-01-19

The purpose of this article is to present the thought process, methods, and interim results of a PQRI Working Group, which was charged with evaluating the chi-square ratio test as a potential method for determining in vitro equivalence of aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD) profiles obtained from cascade impactor measurements. Because this test was designed with the intention of being used as a tool in regulatory review of drug applications, the capability of the test to detect differences in APSD profiles correctly and consistently was evaluated in a systematic way across a designed space of possible profiles. To establish a "base line," properties of the test in the simplest case of pairs of identical profiles were studied. Next, the test's performance was studied with pairs of profiles, where some difference was simulated in a systematic way on a single deposition site using realistic product profiles. The results obtained in these studies, which are presented in detail here, suggest that the chi-square ratio test in itself is not sufficient to determine equivalence of particle size distributions. This article, therefore, introduces the proposal to combine the chi-square ratio test with a test for impactor-sized mass based on Population Bioequivalence and describes methods for evaluating discrimination capabilities of the combined test. The approaches and results described in this article elucidate some of the capabilities and limitations of the original chi-square ratio test and provide rationale for development of additional tests capable of comparing APSD profiles of pharmaceutical aerosols.

Statistical hypothesis tests of some micrometeorological observations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

SethuRaman, S.; Tichler, J.

Chi-square goodness-of-fit is used to test the hypothesis that the medium scale of turbulence in the atmospheric surface layer is normally distributed. Coefficients of skewness and excess are computed from the data. If the data are not normal, these coefficients are used in Edgeworth's asymptotic expansion of Gram-Charlier series to determine an altrnate probability density function. The observed data are then compared with the modified probability densities and the new chi-square values computed.Seventy percent of the data analyzed was either normal or approximatley normal. The coefficient of skewness g/sub 1/ has a good correlation with the chi-square values. Events withmore » vertical-barg/sub 1/vertical-bar<0.21 were normal to begin with and those with 0.21« less

Pain is prevalent among adolescents and equally related to stress across genders.

PubMed

Østerås, Berit; Sigmundsson, Hermundur; Haga, Monika

2016-07-01

Young people seem increasingly disabled due to pain and stress. Pain and stress are health risks with adverse long-term health effects. Traditionally, these health risks have been most prevalent and strongest associated in females, also regarding children and adolescents. Main objectives in this study were to investigate current gender differences in musculoskeletal pain and perceived stress in adolescents aged 15 and 16 years with respect to prevalence and group differences for various aspects of stress and pain, and to explore the relationship between stress and pain, specified for gender. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 17 participating public schools. The survey was administrated by the schools in accordance with given procedures, emphasizing the volunteer and anonymous participation of the pupils. Primary study measurements were pain and stress. The pain measurements addressed different aspects of musculoskeletal pain including pain sites, pain duration and pain intensity (measured by a Visual analogue scale; VAS). The stress instrument used was the Perceived stress questionnaire (PSQ) comprising different factors of stress, i.e. worries, tension, joy and demands. The secondary study measurement was body mass index (BMI). The study sample comprised 422 adolescents aged 15 and 16 years; 218 females and 204 males. The pain reporting was high in both genders, 57.3 per cent of the females and 44.6 per cent of the males. In general, the female adolescents reported more pain and stress, although several pain measures corresponded between genders. The pain prevalence was similar across genders with respect to lower extremity pain, back pain and arm pain. Lower extremity pain was the most frequent reported pain in both genders. More females reported head pain (Pearson Chi-Square 7.11, p=.008), severe pain (VAS≥7, Pearson Chi-Square 13.12, p=.004) and moderate to severe stress (PSQ≥0.45, Pearson Chi-Square 29.11, p<.001). Comparison analyses of the continuous pain and stress variables revealed significant mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) differences between genders for all stress variables with the highest mean scores in females. In both genders there were significant (p<.01) correlations between all the continuous pain and stress variables. In 9 out of 15 correlations, the stress-pain associations were strongest in males (Pearson product-moment correlation (r) between 0.34 and 0.38). Only in females, the body mass index (BMI) appeared associated (weakly) to pain and stress, in terms of pain intensity (VAS, r=0.19) and lack of joy (as a factor of stress, r=0.16). Pain and stress were prevalent in the adolescent sample, with generally higher reporting among females. Several pain measures corresponded between genders, but stress differed significantly between genders for all variables. Scrutinizing the relationship between pain and stress revealed significant stress-pain associations regarding all variables across genders, i.e. the pain complaints among the adolescents seemed equally related to stress in males and females in the sample. Copyright © 2016 Scandinavian Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of Factors Related to Army Delayed-Entry Program Attrition

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-11-01

level, gender , and tenure in DEP. Military classification and assignment are determined almost solely on cognitive factors, physical examinations...Between Gender and Responses to Question 13 for Voluntary DEP Losses . . . . . , . . . , . . . . o , o . ° . 99 P-2. Chi-square Tests for Independence...Between Gender and Responses to Question 13 for DHP Aooession/ Voluntary Active Duty Losses . . 9 0 4 . 0 0 0 0 a a 0 106 B-9. Chi-square Tests for

Saving time and money: a validation of the self ratings on the prospective NIMH Life-Chart Method (NIMH-LCM).

PubMed

Born, Christoph; Amann, Benedikt L; Grunze, Heinz; Post, Robert M; Schärer, Lars

2014-05-07

Careful observation of the longitudinal course of bipolar disorders is pivotal to finding optimal treatments and improving outcome. A useful tool is the daily prospective Life-Chart Method, developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. However, it remains unclear whether the patient version is as valid as the clinician version. We compared the patient-rated version of the Lifechart (LC-self) with the Young-Mania-Rating Scale (YMRS), Inventory of Depressive Symptoms-Clinician version (IDS-C), and Clinical Global Impression-Bipolar version (CGI-BP) in 108 bipolar I and II patients who participated in the Naturalistic Follow-up Study (NFS) of the German centres of the Bipolar Collaborative Network (BCN; formerly Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network). For statistical evaluation, levels of severity of mood states on the Lifechart were transformed numerically and comparison with affective scales was performed using chi-square and t tests. For testing correlations Pearson´s coefficient was calculated. Ratings for depression of LC-self and total scores of IDS-C were found to be highly correlated (Pearson coefficient r = -.718; p < .001), whilst the correlation of ratings for mania with YMRS compared to LC-self were slightly less robust (Pearson coefficient r = .491; p = .001). These results were confirmed by good correlations between the CGI-BP IA (mania), IB (depression) and IC (overall mood state) and the LC-self ratings (Pearson coefficient r = .488, r = .721 and r = .65, respectively; all p < .001). The LC-self shows a significant correlation and good concordance with standard cross sectional affective rating scales, suggesting that the LC-self is a valid and time and money saving alternative to the clinician-rated version which should be incorporated in future clinical research in bipolar disorder. Generalizability of the results is limited by the selection of highly motivated patients in specialized bipolar centres and by the open design of the study.

Risk analysis in cohort studies with heterogeneous strata. A global chi2-test for dose-response relationship, generalizing the Mantel-Haenszel procedure.

PubMed

Ahlborn, W; Tuz, H J; Uberla, K

1990-03-01

In cohort studies the Mantel-Haenszel estimator ORMH is computed from sample data and is used as a point estimator of relative risk. Test-based confidence intervals are estimated with the help of the asymptotic chi-squared distributed MH-statistic chi 2MHS. The Mantel-extension-chi-squared is used as a test statistic for a dose-response relationship. Both test statistics--the Mantel-Haenszel-chi as well as the Mantel-extension-chi--assume homogeneity of risk across strata, which is rarely present. Also an extended nonparametric statistic, proposed by Terpstra, which is based on the Mann-Whitney-statistics assumes homogeneity of risk across strata. We have earlier defined four risk measures RRkj (k = 1,2,...,4) in the population and considered their estimates and the corresponding asymptotic distributions. In order to overcome the homogeneity assumption we use the delta-method to get "test-based" confidence intervals. Because the four risk measures RRkj are presented as functions of four weights gik we give, consequently, the asymptotic variances of these risk estimators also as functions of the weights gik in a closed form. Approximations to these variances are given. For testing a dose-response relationship we propose a new class of chi 2(1)-distributed global measures Gk and the corresponding global chi 2-test. In contrast to the Mantel-extension-chi homogeneity of risk across strata must not be assumed. These global test statistics are of the Wald type for composite hypotheses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cheiloscopy and dactyloscopy: Do they dictate personality patterns?

PubMed Central

Abidullah, Mohammed; Kumar, M. Naveen; Bhorgonde, Kavita D.; Reddy, D. Shyam Prasad

2015-01-01

Context: Cheiloscopy and dactyloscopy, both are well-established forensic tools used in individual identification in any scenario be it a crime scene or civil cause. Like finger prints, lip prints are unique and distinguishable for every individual. But their relationship to personality types has not been established excepting the hypothesis stating that finger prints could explain these personality patterns. Aims: The study was aimed to record and correlate the lip and finger prints with that of character/personality of a person. Settings and Design: The lip and finger prints and character of a person were recorded and the data obtained was subjected for statistical analysis, especially for Pearson's Chi-square test and correlation/association between the groups was also studied. Materials and Methods: The study sample comprised of 200 subjects, 100 males and 100 females, aged between 18 and 30 years. For recording lip prints, brown/pink-colored lipstick was applied on the lips and the subjects were asked to spread uniformly over the lips. Lip prints were traced in the normal rest position on a plain white bond paper. For recording the finger prints, imprints of the fingers were taken on a plain white bond paper using ink pad. The collected prints were visualized using magnifying lens. To record the character of person, a pro forma manual for multivariable personality inventory by Dr. BC Muthayya was used. Statistical Analysis Used: Data obtained was subjected for statistical analysis, especially for Pearson's Chi-square test and correlation/association between the groups was also studied. Results: In males, predominant lip pattern recorded was Type I with whorls-type finger pattern and the character being ego ideal, pessimism, introvert, and dogmatic; whereas in females, predominant lip pattern recorded was Type II with loops-type finger pattern and the character being neurotic, need achievers, and dominant. Conclusion: Many studies on lip pattern, finger pattern, palatal rugae, etc., for individual identification and gender determination exist, but correlative studies are scanty. This is the first study done on correlating patterns, that is, lip and finger pattern with the character of a person. With this study we conclude that this correlation can be used as an adjunct in the investigatory process in forensic sciences. PMID:26005299

Sustaining quality in the community: trends in the performance of a structured diabetes care programme in primary care over 16 years.

PubMed

Riordan, F; McHugh, S M; Harkins, V; Marsden, P; Kearney, P M

2018-04-29

To examine the quality of care delivered by a structured primary care-led programme for people with Type 2 diabetes mellitus in 1999-2016. The Midland Diabetes Structured Care Programme provides structured primary care-led management. Trends over time in care processes were examined (using a chi-squared trend test and age- and gender-adjusted logistic regression). Screening and annual review attendance were reviewed. A composite of eight National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended processes was used as a quality indicator. Participants who were referred to diabetes nurse specialists were compared with those not referred (Student's t-test, Pearson's chi-squared test, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test). Proportions achieving outcome targets [HbA 1c ≤58 mmol/mol (7.5%), blood pressure ≤140/80 mmHg, cholesterol <5.0 mmol/l] were calculated. Data were available for people with diabetes aged ≥18 years: 1998/1999 (n=336); 2003 (n=843); 2008 (n=988); and 2016 (n=1029). Recording of some processes improved significantly over time (HbA 1c , cholesterol, blood pressure, creatinine), and in 2016 exceeded 97%. Foot assessment and annual review attendance declined. In 2016, only 29% of participants had all eight National Institute for Health and Care Excellence processes recorded. A higher proportion of people with diabetes who were referred to a diabetes nurse specialist had poor glycaemic control compared with those not referred. The proportions meeting blood pressure and lipid targets increased over time. Structured primary care led to improvements in the quality of care over time. Poorer recording of some processes, a decline in annual review attendance, and participants remaining at high risk suggest limits to what structured care alone can achieve. Engagement in continuous quality improvement to target other factors, including attendance and self-management, may deliver further improvements. © 2018 Diabetes UK.

Computed tomography findings of ovarian metastases from colon cancer: comparison with primary malignant ovarian tumors.

PubMed

Choi, Hyuck Jae; Lee, Joo-Hyuk; Seo, Sang-Soo; Lee, Sun; Kim, Seok Ki; Kim, Joo-Young; Lee, Jong Seok; Park, Sang-Yoon; Kim, Young Hoon

2005-01-01

The computed tomography (CT) findings of ovarian metastases from colon cancer were evaluated and were compared with those of primary malignant ovarian tumors. Sixteen patients with 21 masses from colon cancer and 20 patients with 31 primary malignant ovarian tumors were included in this study. The CT findings (laterality, size, margin, shape, mass characteristic, strong enhancement of cyst wall, enhancement of solid portion, amount of ascites, peritoneal seeding, lymph node enlargement, and metastasis) and ages of the patients in both groups were compared. Univariate analysis, the Pearson chi test, and the independent-samples t test were used to distinguish them. A smooth margin of the tumor (odds ratio=24.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.9-204.2) and cystic nature of the mass (Pearson chi=12.96, P=0.005) were strong predictors of ovarian metastasis from colon cancer. Ovarian metastases from colon cancer show a smooth margin and more cystic nature on CT compared with primary malignant ovarian tumors.

Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease In Pre-Dialytic Treatment and on Hemodialysis--A Cross sectional study.

PubMed

Fassbinder, Tânia Regina Cavinatto; Winkelmann, Eliane Roseli; Schneider, Juliana; Wendland, Juliana; Oliveira, Olvânia Basso de

2015-01-01

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) infers directly in functional capacity, independence and therefore quality of life (QOL). To compare the physical fitness and quality of life of patients with chronic kidney disease submitted on hemodialysis (G1) and predialysis treatment (G2). A cross-sectional study, 54 patients with CKD, 27 of the G1 group (58.15 ± 10.84 years), 27 of G2 group (62.04 ± 16.56 years). There were cardiovascular risk factors, anthropometric measurements, respiratory muscle strength was measured by the inspiratory pressure (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) maximum measured in the manometer, six-minute walk (TC6'), cardiopulmonary exercise test, sit and stand one minute test (TSL1') and the Short-Form Questionary (SF-36) to assess QOL. The patients presented disease of stage between 2 and 5. It was applied the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test and used the t (Student) test or the U (Mann Whitney) test to compare the means of quantitative variables and the chi-square Pearson test and Fisher's exact test for qualitative variables. Pearson's or Spearman's test was used to identify correlations. No statistically significant difference was found between G1 and G2 in VO2peak (p = 0,259) in TC6' (p = 0,433) in the MIPmáx (p = 0,158) and found only in the MEPmáx (p = 0,024) to G1. The scores of the SF-36 in both groups showed a worse health status as evidenced by the low score in scores for QOL. Patients with CKD had reduced functional capacity and QOL, and hemodialysis, statistically, didn't have showed negative repercussions when compared with pre-dialysis patients.

Psychopathology and self-esteem in chronic illness.

PubMed

Pradhan, Prakash V; Shah, Henal; Rao, Pradeep; Ashturkar, Dhananjay; Ghaisas, Pradnya

2003-02-01

To evaluate psychopathology and self-esteem in chronic illness. 60 children and their parents were selected to participate in an open study. 30 children had epilepsy and the other 30 had thalassemia. Both the groups consisted of children randomly selected from the Epilepsy Clinic and Thalassemia Centre respectively, of a teaching general hospital. The children and their parents were interviewed and also rated on Childhood Psychopathology Measurement Schedule (CPMS) and Rosenberg's self esteem scale. The data was analysed using Pearson's chi square test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. The children were seen to have high psychopathology on CPMS (average score: thalassemia group = 28.56, epilepsy group = 26.06). Depression was the subscale with the maximum elevation in both groups. Behavior problems were high in epilepsy. In addition, sadness and disinterest in life were common symptoms in thalassemia while irritability and panic were high in epilepsy. Children with epilepsy perceived a change in lifestyle after diagnosis. Self-esteem was moderately affected in both groups and this affected compliance with treatment in thalassemia. Chronic illness affects psychological health and self esteem in children. Hence, in addition to the physical aspects it is necessary also, to focus on the psychological health of the child in order to ensure compliance and thus treat the child comprehensively.

Pelvic floor muscle strength of women consulting at the gynecology outpatient clinics and its correlation with sexual dysfunction: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Ozdemir, Filiz Ciledag; Pehlivan, Erkan; Melekoglu, Rauf

2017-01-01

To investigate the pelvic floor muscle strength of the women andevaluateits possible correlation with sexual dysfunction. In this cross-sectional type study, stratified clusters were used for the sampling method. Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) worksheetwere used for questions on sexual function. The pelvic floor muscle strength of subjects was assessed byperineometer. The chi-squared test, logistic regression and Pearson's correlation analysis were used for the statistical analysis. Four hundred thirty primiparous women, mean age 38.5 participated in this study. The average pelvic floor muscle strength value was found 31.4±9.6 cm H 2 O and the average Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) score was found 26.5±6.9. Parity (odds ratio OR=5.546) and age 40 or higher (OR=3.484) were found correlated with pelvic floor muscle weakness (p<0.05). The factors directly correlated with sexual dysfunction were found being overweight (OR=2.105) and age 40 or higher (OR=2.451) (p<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that there was a statistically significantlinear correlation between the muscular strength of the pelvic floor and sexual function (p=0.001). The results suggested subjects with decreased pelvic floor muscle strength value had higher frequency of sexual dysfunction.

Correlation between Maxillary Canine Calcification and Skeletal Maturation.

PubMed

Kumar, Sushil; Roy, Abhishek Singha; Garg, Ankit; Hamid, Saeed Bin; Tyagi, Sumit; Kumar, Atish

2017-05-01

Skeletal maturation assessment has a great role in many health professions especially in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics. Functional appliances have proved to be more effective when used at the peak of mandibular growth, rather than before. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the calcification stages of permanent maxillary canine are useful to assess skeletal maturity. In this cross-sectional study, samples were derived from panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms of 300 subjects (137 males and 163 females) with their age ranging from 9 to 18 years. Dental maturity {Demirjian Index (DI)} and skeletal maturity {Cervical Stages (CS)} were assessed from radiographs. The Pearson chi-square test (χ 2 ) and Sakoda adjusted Pearson contingency coefficient (C*) were calculated to determine the correlation between DI and CS. A highly significant association (C* = 0.851, p <.001for males and 0.879, p <.001 for females) was found between DI and CS. DI stage E coincided with CS2 (pre-peak of pubertal growth spurt) & DI stage F coincided with CS3 (peak of pubertal growth spurt) for all the subjects. DI stage H corresponded to CS5 and CS6 (end of peak of pubertal growth spurt). A highly significant association was found between DI and CS. Maxillary canine DI stages could be useful to assess skeletal maturity.

An accurate test for homogeneity of odds ratios based on Cochran's Q-statistic.

PubMed

Kulinskaya, Elena; Dollinger, Michael B

2015-06-10

A frequently used statistic for testing homogeneity in a meta-analysis of K independent studies is Cochran's Q. For a standard test of homogeneity the Q statistic is referred to a chi-square distribution with K-1 degrees of freedom. For the situation in which the effects of the studies are logarithms of odds ratios, the chi-square distribution is much too conservative for moderate size studies, although it may be asymptotically correct as the individual studies become large. Using a mixture of theoretical results and simulations, we provide formulas to estimate the shape and scale parameters of a gamma distribution to fit the distribution of Q. Simulation studies show that the gamma distribution is a good approximation to the distribution for Q. Use of the gamma distribution instead of the chi-square distribution for Q should eliminate inaccurate inferences in assessing homogeneity in a meta-analysis. (A computer program for implementing this test is provided.) This hypothesis test is competitive with the Breslow-Day test both in accuracy of level and in power.

Selecting predictors for discriminant analysis of species performance: an example from an amphibious softwater plant.

PubMed

Vanderhaeghe, F; Smolders, A J P; Roelofs, J G M; Hoffmann, M

2012-03-01

Selecting an appropriate variable subset in linear multivariate methods is an important methodological issue for ecologists. Interest often exists in obtaining general predictive capacity or in finding causal inferences from predictor variables. Because of a lack of solid knowledge on a studied phenomenon, scientists explore predictor variables in order to find the most meaningful (i.e. discriminating) ones. As an example, we modelled the response of the amphibious softwater plant Eleocharis multicaulis using canonical discriminant function analysis. We asked how variables can be selected through comparison of several methods: univariate Pearson chi-square screening, principal components analysis (PCA) and step-wise analysis, as well as combinations of some methods. We expected PCA to perform best. The selected methods were evaluated through fit and stability of the resulting discriminant functions and through correlations between these functions and the predictor variables. The chi-square subset, at P < 0.05, followed by a step-wise sub-selection, gave the best results. In contrast to expectations, PCA performed poorly, as so did step-wise analysis. The different chi-square subset methods all yielded ecologically meaningful variables, while probable noise variables were also selected by PCA and step-wise analysis. We advise against the simple use of PCA or step-wise discriminant analysis to obtain an ecologically meaningful variable subset; the former because it does not take into account the response variable, the latter because noise variables are likely to be selected. We suggest that univariate screening techniques are a worthwhile alternative for variable selection in ecology. © 2011 German Botanical Society and The Royal Botanical Society of the Netherlands.

Feature Screening for Ultrahigh Dimensional Categorical Data with Applications.

PubMed

Huang, Danyang; Li, Runze; Wang, Hansheng

2014-01-01

Ultrahigh dimensional data with both categorical responses and categorical covariates are frequently encountered in the analysis of big data, for which feature screening has become an indispensable statistical tool. We propose a Pearson chi-square based feature screening procedure for categorical response with ultrahigh dimensional categorical covariates. The proposed procedure can be directly applied for detection of important interaction effects. We further show that the proposed procedure possesses screening consistency property in the terminology of Fan and Lv (2008). We investigate the finite sample performance of the proposed procedure by Monte Carlo simulation studies, and illustrate the proposed method by two empirical datasets.

Determination of suitable drying curve model for bread moisture loss during baking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soleimani Pour-Damanab, A. R.; Jafary, A.; Rafiee, S.

2013-03-01

This study presents mathematical modelling of bread moisture loss or drying during baking in a conventional bread baking process. In order to estimate and select the appropriate moisture loss curve equation, 11 different models, semi-theoretical and empirical, were applied to the experimental data and compared according to their correlation coefficients, chi-squared test and root mean square error which were predicted by nonlinear regression analysis. Consequently, of all the drying models, a Page model was selected as the best one, according to the correlation coefficients, chi-squared test, and root mean square error values and its simplicity. Mean absolute estimation error of the proposed model by linear regression analysis for natural and forced convection modes was 2.43, 4.74%, respectively.

Prevalence of dry eye syndrome in residents of surgical specialties.

PubMed

Castellanos-González, José Alberto; Torres-Martínez, Verónica; Martínez-Ruiz, Adriana; Fuentes-Orozco, Clotilde; Rendón-Félix, Jorge; Irusteta-Jiménez, Leire; Márquez-Valdez, Aída Rebeca; Cortés-Lares, José Antonio; González-Ojeda, Alejandro

2016-07-16

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of dry eye syndrome in a group of Mexican residents of different surgical specialties. A cross-sectional descriptive study where the residents were studied using the Ocular Surface Disease Index, together with diagnostic tests for dry eye syndrome, such as tear breakup time, Oxford Schema, Schirmer's test I, and meibomian gland dysfunction testing. Statistical analyses were performed by Pearson's chi-squared test for categorical variables and student's t-test for quantitative variables. Any P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. One hundred and twenty-three residents were included (246 eyes); 90 (73 %) were male and 33 (27 %) were female. The mean age was 27.8 ± 2.1 years. A higher number of residents with dry eye syndrome was found in the cardiothoracic surgery (75 %) and otorhinolaryngology (71 %) specialties; 70 % of them reported ocular symptoms, with teardrop quality involvement in >50 % of them. We found a prevalence of 56 % for mild-to-moderate/severe stages of the condition. Their presence in the operating room predisposes surgical residents to dry eye syndrome because of environmental conditions.

Assessing the proposed association between DED and gluten-free diet introduction in celiac children.

PubMed

de Queiroz, Alexandra Mussolino; Arid, Juliana; de Carvalho, Fabrício Kitazono; da Silva, Raquel Assed Bezerra; Küchler, Erika Calvano; Sawamura, Regina; da Silva, Lea Assed Bezerra; Nelson-Filho, Paulo

2017-07-01

A strong association between celiac disease (CD) and dental enamel defects (DEDs) have been extensively reported, however, the nature of this relationship is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate DEDs phenotype in CD individuals according to the time they were introduced to a gluten-free diet (GFD). Forty-five CD individuals were examined by a pediatric dentist. DEDs were classified according to the type of affected teeth. CD individuals were classified into two groups (with or without DEDs) and the differences between these groups were tested using chi-square or Fisher´s exact tests and t-test to compare differences between means. The Pearson coefficient test was used to evaluate the degree of the correlation between the age of GFD introduction and number of affected teeth. Individuals with MIH were introduced earlier to the GFD (p = 0.038). An association was also observed for molar DED (p = 0.013). In conclusion, our study suggested an association between a specific type of DED and the time that CD individuals were introduced to a GFD. © 2017 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Effects of Clickers and Online Homework on Students' Achievement in General Chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gebru, Misganaw T.

Retention of an introductory general chemistry course material is vital for student success in future chemistry and chemistry-related courses. This study investigated the effects of clickers versus online homework on students' long-term content retention, examined the effectiveness of online homework versus no graded homework on students' achievement in a first-semester general chemistry course, and assessed students' attitudes toward the use of online homework. Students' data from the yearlong American Chemical Society General Chemistry (ACS GC97) exam, teacher-prepared final exams, and online surveys were analyzed to measure the effects of clickers and online homework on students' long-term content retention and performance, and to capture students' attitudes. A variety of methods including Welch ANOVA, independent samples t -test (Welch), Pearson's correlation, test of proportions, and Pearson's Chi-square test were used to analyze the data. The analyses indicated that the use of clickers or online homework did not significantly improve students' long-term content retention of general chemistry course material, that the use of online homework was more beneficial than, or at least as effective as no graded homework in improving students' performance, and students valued the fact that online homework provided immediate feedback. Additionally, results of this study revealed that greater numbers of students were retained in clicker and online homework classes than non-clicker, non-online homework classes and that various types of online homework systems used in general chemistry could impact student performance differently. Implications of the findings and future research directions were presented.

Quantification of Abdominal Fat in Obese and Healthy Adolescents Using 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Free Software for Image Analysis.

PubMed

Eloi, Juliana Cristina; Epifanio, Matias; de Gonçalves, Marília Maia; Pellicioli, Augusto; Vieira, Patricia Froelich Giora; Dias, Henrique Bregolin; Bruscato, Neide; Soder, Ricardo Bernardi; Santana, João Carlos Batista; Mouzaki, Marialena; Baldisserotto, Matteo

2017-01-01

Computed tomography, which uses ionizing radiation and expensive software packages for analysis of scans, can be used to quantify abdominal fat. The objective of this study is to measure abdominal fat with 3T MRI using free software for image analysis and to correlate these findings with anthropometric and laboratory parameters in adolescents. This prospective observational study included 24 overweight/obese and 33 healthy adolescents (mean age 16.55 years). All participants underwent abdominal MRI exams. Visceral and subcutaneous fat area and percentage were correlated with anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, glucose metabolism, and insulin resistance. Student's t test and Mann-Whitney's test was applied. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare proportions. To determine associations Pearson's linear correlation or Spearman's correlation were used. In both groups, waist circumference (WC) was associated with visceral fat area (P = 0.001 and P = 0.01 respectively), and triglycerides were associated with fat percentage (P = 0.046 and P = 0.071 respectively). In obese individuals, total cholesterol/HDL ratio was associated with visceral fat area (P = 0.03) and percentage (P = 0.09), and insulin and HOMA-IR were associated with visceral fat area (P = 0.001) and percentage (P = 0.005). 3T MRI can provide reliable and good quality images for quantification of visceral and subcutaneous fat by using a free software package. The results demonstrate that WC is a good predictor of visceral fat in obese adolescents and visceral fat area is associated with total cholesterol/HDL ratio, insulin and HOMA-IR.

Linearised and non-linearised isotherm models optimization analysis by error functions and statistical means

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

In adsorption study, to describe sorption process and evaluation of best-fitting isotherm model is a key analysis to investigate the theoretical hypothesis. Hence, numerous statistically analysis have been extensively used to estimate validity of the experimental equilibrium adsorption values with the predicted equilibrium values. Several statistical error analysis were carried out. In the present study, the following statistical analysis were carried out to evaluate the adsorption isotherm model fitness, like the Pearson correlation, the coefficient of determination and the Chi-square test, have been used. The ANOVA test was carried out for evaluating significance of various error functions and also coefficient of dispersion were evaluated for linearised and non-linearised models. The adsorption of phenol onto natural soil (Local name Kalathur soil) was carried out, in batch mode at 30 ± 20 C. For estimating the isotherm parameters, to get a holistic view of the analysis the models were compared between linear and non-linear isotherm models. The result reveled that, among above mentioned error functions and statistical functions were designed to determine the best fitting isotherm. PMID:25018878

Perception of Community Pharmacists towards Dispensing Errors in Community Pharmacy Setting in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Background Dispensing errors are inevitable occurrences in community pharmacies across the world. Objective This study aimed to identify the community pharmacists' perception towards dispensing errors in the community pharmacies in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 community pharmacists selected through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney U test, and Pearson's Chi-square test of independence were conducted with P ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. Result The majority of respondents were in the 23–28-year age group (N = 26, 55.3%) and with at least B.Pharm degree (N = 25, 53.2%). Poor prescription handwriting and similar/confusing names were perceived to be the main contributing factors while all the strategies and types of dispensing errors were highly acknowledged by the respondents. Group differences (P < 0.05) in opinions were largely due to educational level and age. Conclusion Dispensing errors were associated with prescribing quality and design of dispensary as well as dispensing procedures. Opinion differences relate to age and educational status of the respondents. PMID:28612023

[Aggression and related factors in elementary school students].

PubMed

Ji, Eun Sun; Jang, Mi Heui

2010-10-01

This study was done to explore the relationship between aggression and internet over-use, depression-anxiety, self-esteem, all of which are known to be behavior and psychological characteristics linked to "at-risk" children for aggression. Korean-Child Behavior Check List (K-CBCL), Korean-Internet Addiction Self-Test Scale, and Self-Esteem Scale by Rosenberg (1965) were used as measurement tools with a sample of 743, 5th-6th grade students from 3 elementary schools in Jecheon city. Chi-square, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and stepwise multiple regression with SPSS/Win 13.0 version were used to analyze the collected data. Aggression for the elementary school students was positively correlated with internet over-use and depression-anxiety, whereas self-esteem was negatively correlated with aggression. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that 68.4% of the variance for aggression was significantly accounted for by internet over-use, depression-anxiety, and self-esteem. The most significant factor influencing aggression was depression-anxiety. These results suggest that earlier screening and intervention programs for depression-anxiety and internet over-use for elementary student will be helpful in preventing aggression.

A case-control study on risk factors of breast cancer in Han Chinese women.

PubMed

Liu, Li-Yuan; Wang, Fei; Cui, Shu-De; Tian, Fu-Guo; Fan, Zhi-Min; Geng, Cui-Zhi; Cao, Xu-Chen; Yang, Zhen-Lin; Wang, Xiang; Liang, Hong; Wang, Shu; Jiang, Hong-Chuan; Duan, Xue-Ning; Wang, Hai-Bo; Li, Guo-Lou; Wang, Qi-Tang; Zhang, Jian-Guo; Jin, Feng; Tang, Jin-Hai; Li, Liang; Zhu, Shi-Guang; Zuo, Wen-Shu; Yu, Li-Xiang; Xiang, Yu-Juan; Zhou, Fei; Li, Liang; Zhang, Qiang; Fu, Qin-Ye; Ma, Zhong-Bing; Gao, De-Zong; Li, Yu-Yang; Liu, Lu; Ye, Chun-Miao; Wang, Yong-Jiu; Zhou, Wen-Zhong; Yu, Zhi-Gang

2017-11-14

This study aimed to investigate risk factors associated with breast cancer among Han Chinese women in northern and eastern China. A matched case-control study involving 1489 patients with breast cancer and 1489 controls was conducted across 21 hospitals in 11 provinces in China, from April 2012 to April 2013. We developed a structured questionnaire to record information from face-to-face interviews with participants. Student's t-tests, Pearson's chi-square tests, and univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were used to identify variables with significant differences between the case and control groups. Ten variables were identified (P < 0.05): location, economic status, waist-to-hip ratio, menopause, family history of breast cancer, present life satisfaction, sleep satisfaction, milk products, behavior prevention scores, and awareness of breast cancer. We identified a comprehensive range of factors related to breast cancer, among which several manageable factors may contribute to breast cancer prevention. Further prospective studies concerning psychological interventions, sleep regulation, health guidance, and physical exercise are required. A screening model for high-risk populations should be put on the agenda.

Perception of Community Pharmacists towards Dispensing Errors in Community Pharmacy Setting in Gondar Town, Northwest Ethiopia.

PubMed

Asmelashe Gelayee, Dessalegn; Binega Mekonnen, Gashaw

2017-01-01

Dispensing errors are inevitable occurrences in community pharmacies across the world. This study aimed to identify the community pharmacists' perception towards dispensing errors in the community pharmacies in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 47 community pharmacists selected through convenience sampling. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, and Pearson's Chi-square test of independence were conducted with P ≤ 0.05 considered statistically significant. The majority of respondents were in the 23-28-year age group ( N = 26, 55.3%) and with at least B.Pharm degree ( N = 25, 53.2%). Poor prescription handwriting and similar/confusing names were perceived to be the main contributing factors while all the strategies and types of dispensing errors were highly acknowledged by the respondents. Group differences ( P < 0.05) in opinions were largely due to educational level and age. Dispensing errors were associated with prescribing quality and design of dispensary as well as dispensing procedures. Opinion differences relate to age and educational status of the respondents.

The psychological well-being of children orphaned by AIDS in Cape Town, South Africa.

PubMed

Cluver, Lucie; Gardner, Frances

2006-07-19

An estimated 2 million children are parentally bereaved by AIDS in South Africa. Little is known about mental health outcomes for this group. This study aimed to investigate mental health outcomes for urban children living in deprived settlements in Cape Town. 30 orphaned children and 30 matched controls were compared using standardised questionnaires (SDQ) on emotional and behavioural problems, peer and attention difficulties, and prosocial behaviour. The orphan group completed a modified version of a standardised questionnaire (IES-8), measuring Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms. Group differences were tested using t-tests and Pearson's chi-square. Both groups scored highly for peer problems, emotional problems and total scores. However, orphans were more likely to view themselves as having no good friends (p = .002), to have marked concentration difficulties (p = .03), and to report frequent somatic symptoms (p = .05), but were less likely to display anger through loss of temper (p = .03). Orphans were more likely to have constant nightmares (p = .01), and 73% scored above the cut-off for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Findings suggest important areas for larger-scale research for parentally-bereaved children.

Factors affecting access to head and neck cancer care after a natural disaster: a post-Hurricane Katrina survey.

PubMed

Loehn, Bridget; Pou, Anna M; Nuss, Daniel W; Tenney, Justin; McWhorter, Andrew; DiLeo, Michael; Kakade, Anagha C; Walvekar, Rohan R

2011-01-01

Our aim was to survey the factors affecting access to cancer care in patients with head and neck cancer after Hurricane Katrina. In this cross-sectional survey, 207 patients with head and neck cancer were identified post-Hurricane Katrina, but only 83 patients completed the questionnaires and were analyzed. Clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic data were recorded. Chi-square test and t test were used for comparisons. Patients who felt that there was a lack of access to cancer care would have sought treatment earlier had they had better access to cancer care (chi-square[1] = 32; p < .0001). Patients who felt that there was a lack of access to cancer care also had difficulty receiving treatment (chi-square[1] = 48; p < .0001). Availability of transportation affected access to cancer care in patients with early-stage cancers (chi-square[1] = 4; p < .035). In the postdisaster environment, patients who felt the lack of access to cancer care post-Hurricane Katrina would have sought treatment earlier with better access to cancer care. These patients also reported difficulty obtaining cancer treatment. Availability of transportation affected access to cancer care in patients with early-stage cancers. Clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic factors did not influence access to cancer care. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2011.

Effect of relative head position on the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block during endodontic treatment of patients with irreversible pulpitis.

PubMed

Aggarwal, Vivek; Singla, Mamta; Miglani, Sanjay

2018-02-01

The purpose of this prospective randomized single-blind clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of tilting the head on the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Ninety-two patients were divided into two groups: the first group received IANB and the head was tilted in the direction of the block for 15 min, whereas the second group received IANB and the head was tilted to the opposite side. Access cavity preparation was initiated after 15 min. Success was defined as no pain or faint/weak/mild pain during endodontic access preparation and instrumentation. The anesthetic success rates were analyzed by Pearson chi-square test at 5% significance levels. The same side position and opposite side position yielded 41% and 30% anesthetic success rates, respectively; there was no significant difference between the two sides. Relative head position has no effect on the anesthetic success rate of IANB.

Effect of relative head position on the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block during endodontic treatment of patients with irreversible pulpitis

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Background The purpose of this prospective randomized single-blind clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of tilting the head on the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Methods Ninety-two patients were divided into two groups: the first group received IANB and the head was tilted in the direction of the block for 15 min, whereas the second group received IANB and the head was tilted to the opposite side. Access cavity preparation was initiated after 15 min. Success was defined as no pain or faint/weak/mild pain during endodontic access preparation and instrumentation. The anesthetic success rates were analyzed by Pearson chi-square test at 5% significance levels. Results The same side position and opposite side position yielded 41% and 30% anesthetic success rates, respectively; there was no significant difference between the two sides. Conclusions Relative head position has no effect on the anesthetic success rate of IANB. PMID:29556558

Female sexual function and the clitoral complex using pelvic MRI assessment.

PubMed

Vaccaro, Christine M; Fellner, Angela N; Pauls, Rachel N

2014-09-01

To report basic measurements of clitoral anatomy, and explore potential relationships between the clitoral complex and female sexual function using MRI assessment. In this retrospective descriptive study, 20 sexually active women (≥18 years) who had a recent pelvic MRI for various gynecologic concerns were invited to participate. Outcome measures included demographic data, medical and sexual history, quality of life questionnaires: Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Body Exposure during Sexual Activities Questionnaire (BESAQ), and Short Form Quality of Life Questionnaire (SF-12). These data were then compared to detailed clitoral MRI measurements and analyzed using the Pearson correlation and Chi square test. FSFI domains of desire, arousal, lubrication, and orgasm were inversely correlated with clitoral size (p=0.01-0.04), as were SF-12 physical composite scores (p=0.003), suggesting improved sexual function and physical health in women with smaller clitoral structures (specifically the clitoral body and crus). Sexual function was improved in women with a smaller-sized clitoris, specifically the clitoral body and crus. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Prevalence of Third Molar Agenesis: Associated Dental Anomalies in Non-Syndromic 5923 Patients.

PubMed

Sujon, Mamun Khan; Alam, Mohammad Khursheed; Rahman, Shaifulizan Abdul

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of third molar agenesis and other associated dental anomalies in Bangladeshi population and to investigate the relationship of other dental anomalies with the third molar presence/agenesis. A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiographs of 5923 patients, who ranged in age from 10 to 50 years. All radiographs were analyzed by Planmeca Romexis® 3.0 software (Planmeca Oy, Helsinki, Finland). Pearson chi-square and one way ANOVA (Post Hoc) test were conducted. The prevalence of third molar agenesis was 38.4%. The frequency of third molar agenesis was significantly higher in females than males (p <0.025). Third molar agenesis was significantly more prevalent in maxilla as compared to mandible (p <0.007). The prevalence of other dental anomalies was 6.5%, among them hypodontia was 3.1%. Prevalence of third molar agenesis varies in different geographic region. Among the other dental anomalies hypodontia was more prevalent.

Disordered gambling and co-morbidity of psychiatric disorders among college students: an examination of problem drinking, anxiety and depression.

PubMed

Martin, Ryan J; Usdan, Stuart; Cremeens, Jennifer; Vail-Smith, Karen

2014-06-01

We assessed the occurrence of co-morbid psychiatric disorders (i.e., problem drinking, anxiety, and depression) among college students who met the threshold for disordered gambling. The participants included a large sample of undergraduate students (n = 1,430) who were enrolled in an introductory health course at a large, southeastern university in Spring 2011 and completed an online assessment that included scales to assess disordered gambling, problem drinking, anxiety, and depression. We calculated screening scores, computed prevalence rates for each disorder, and calculated Pearson correlations and Chi square tests to examine correlations and co-morbid relationships between the four disorders. Analyses indicated that all disorders were significantly associated (p < .01) except for disordered gambling and anxiety. Because college students who experience disordered gambling (and other psychiatric disorders) are at increased risk of experiencing co-occurring disorders, it might be useful for college health professionals to concurrently screen and intervene for co-occurring disorders.

Online Information-Seeking Behaviors of Parents of Children With ADHD.

PubMed

Sage, Adam; Carpenter, Delesha; Sayner, Robyn; Thomas, Kathleen; Mann, Larry; Sulzer, Sandy; Sandler, Adrian; Sleath, Betsy

2018-01-01

This article describes ( a) parent questions about ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder), ( b) parent Internet use to seek ADHD information, and ( c) associations between type of Internet access and ADHD information-seeking. Seventy parents of children (ages 7-17 years) with ADHD completed questionnaires after their child's visit with their pediatrician. Bivariate relationships were assessed using chi-square statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients, or t tests. Parents identified an average of 8.9 questions about ADHD for their child's provider. Common questions were related to medication and long-term implications of ADHD. A majority of parents searched the Internet for general ADHD information (87%) and ADHD medication information (81%). White parents accessed the Internet significantly more via home computer, mobile phone, and tablet, and significantly less via public library than non-White parents. Parents who accessed the Internet via home computers and tablets were more likely to search the Internet for ADHD medication information than parents who did not.

Initial nonresponse and survey response mode biases in survey research.

PubMed

Chi, Donald L; Chen, Chao Ying

2015-01-01

We evaluated survey response factors (particularly initial nonresponse and survey mode) that may be associated with bias in survey research. We examined prevention-related beliefs and outcomes for initial mail survey responders (n=209), follow-up mail survey responders (n=78), and follow-up telephone survey responders (n=74). The Pearson chi-square test and analysis of variance identified beliefs and behavioral outcomes associated with survey response mode. Follow-up options to the initial mail survey improved response rates (22.0-38.0 percent). Initial mail survey responders more strongly believed topical fluoride protects teeth from cavities than others (P=0.04). A significantly larger proportion of parents completing a follow-up telephone survey (30.8 percent) refused topical fluoride for their child than those completing mail surveys (10.3-10.4 percent) (P<0.0001). Multiple mode surveys with follow-up improve response rates. Initial nonresponse and survey response mode may be associated with biases in survey research. © 2015 American Association of Public Health Dentistry.

Prevalence of Third Molar Agenesis: Associated Dental Anomalies in Non-Syndromic 5923 Patients

PubMed Central

Sujon, Mamun Khan; Alam, Mohammad Khursheed; Rahman, Shaifulizan Abdul

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of third molar agenesis and other associated dental anomalies in Bangladeshi population and to investigate the relationship of other dental anomalies with the third molar presence/agenesis. A retrospective study was performed using panoramic radiographs of 5923 patients, who ranged in age from 10 to 50 years. All radiographs were analyzed by Planmeca Romexis® 3.0 software (Planmeca Oy, Helsinki, Finland). Pearson chi-square and one way ANOVA (Post Hoc) test were conducted. The prevalence of third molar agenesis was 38.4%. The frequency of third molar agenesis was significantly higher in females than males (p <0.025). Third molar agenesis was significantly more prevalent in maxilla as compared to mandible (p <0.007). The prevalence of other dental anomalies was 6.5%, among them hypodontia was 3.1%. Prevalence of third molar agenesis varies in different geographic region. Among the other dental anomalies hypodontia was more prevalent. PMID:27580050

"Eyeball" POP-Q examination: shortcut or valid assessment tool?

PubMed

Karp, Deborah R; Peterson, Thais V; Jean-Michel, Marjorie; Lefevre, Roger; Davila, G Willy; Aguilar, Vivian C

2010-08-01

The objective of this study was to compare the results of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) examination by visual estimation to measurement. Women with pelvic organ prolapse underwent both "eyeball"/estimated and measured POP-Q examinations by two trained examiners in a randomized order. POP-Q points and stage were analyzed using the paired t test, chi-square, Pearson's correlation, and kappa statistics. Fifty subjects had a mean age of 60, mean BMI 27.8, and median parity of 2. The POP-Q stages by the measured technique were 18% (9/50) stage 1, 38% (19/50) stage 2, 44% (22/50) stage 3, and 0% (0/50) stage 4. The POP-Q stages based on estimation and measurement were highly associated (p < 0.05). Individual points did not differ significantly between the techniques and did not differ significantly between examiners (all p > 0.05). Among examiners who routinely perform POP-Q examinations, there is no significant difference between "eyeball"/estimated and measured POP-Q values and stage.

Can the Presence of Crystalluria Predict Stone Formation in Patients with Cystinuria?

PubMed

Wong, Kathie A; Pardy, Caroline; Pillay, Soma; Athanasiou, Thanos; Rottenberg, Giles; Bultitude, Matthew; Chandra, Ashish; Thomas, Kay

2016-05-01

To determine the feasibility of crystalluria as a biomarker for stone disease in patients with cystinuria. All patients attending a multidisciplinary cystinuria clinic provided early morning urine (EMU) and clinic urine (CU) samples for crystal measurement over a 2-year period (August 1, 2010, to July 31, 2012). Association between presence of crystals, presence of stone(s), and new stone growth (NSG) was determined using the chi-square test. Crystal numbers in EMU and CU were compared in patients with stones/NSG and no stones/stable disease using the Mann-Whitney U test. There was a statistically significant difference between the presence of crystalluria and presence of stones for CU (chi-square test = 5.86, df = 1, p = 0.02) but not EMU (chi-square test = 1.92, df = 1, p = 0.17) and between the presence of crystalluria and NSG for CU (chi-square test = 8.10, df = 1, p = 0.004) but not EMU (chi-square test = 1.32, df = 1, p = 0.25). Patients with stones and NSG have higher levels of crystalluria in CU than patients with no stones or stable disease (stones, median = 41, interquartile range [IQR] = 600 vs median = 0, IQR = 21, p = 0.01; NSG, median = 49, IQR = 525 vs median = 0, IQR = 40, p = 0.01). The presence of crystalluria in CU samples is associated with the presence of stones. Crystalluria is comparable to ultrasound and may serve as a useful adjunct to predict whether a patient with cystinuria has stones, which could guide the frequency of clinic review and imaging.

Salivary proteins and early childhood caries: A gel electrophoretic analysis

PubMed Central

Bhalla, Sumati; Tandon, Shobha; Satyamoorthy, K.

2010-01-01

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a common disease process that afflicts a large proportion of the child population worldwide. Extensive research in past indicates that it is the result of bacterial infection, also influenced by host and dietary factors. Current caries research seeks to identify risk factors as well as natural oral defenses that may protect against or prevent caries development. Saliva, in spite of being the strongest defense system, still has a wide array of properties and proteins whose role is yet not clearly known. Aim: To compare the resting human whole salivary characteristics in children with ECC and those who are caries free. Settings and Design: The study was conducted over a period of 9 months in 4- to 6-year-old 100 children comprising two groups – 50 with ECC and 50 caries free. Materials and Methods: The whole salivary flow rate, pH, mean protein concentration, and the electrophoretic profile of salivary proteins by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) were compared among both groups. Statistical Analysis: The SPSS (version 11.0) software package was used to conduct the chi-square, Fisher's exact and Pearson's chi-square tests to compare the data. Results: On gel electrophoresis, there was a significant difference among both groups with caries-free subjects having a higher number of proline-rich protein bands, substantiating the protective role of this protein. A significantly higher number of glycoprotein bands were observed in the whole saliva of subjects with ECC. A significant inverse correlation between the mean protein concentration and the whole salivary flow rate was observed in both groups. PMID:22114372

Comparison of refractive errors and factors associated with spectacle use in a rural and urban South Indian population.

PubMed

Prema, Raju; George, Ronnie; Sathyamangalam Ve, Ramesh; Hemamalini, Arvind; Baskaran, Mani; Kumaramanickavel, Govindaswamy; Catherine, McCarty; Vijaya, Lingam

2008-01-01

To compare the prevalence of refractive errors and factors associated with spectacle use in a rural and urban south Indian population. Four thousand eight hundred subjects (age> 39 years) each from rural and urban Tamil Nadu were enumerated for a population-based study. All participants underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation including best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), objective and subjective refraction. Out of 3924 rural responders 63.91% and out of 3850 urban responders 81.64% were phakic in the right eye with BCVA of 20/40 or better and were included in the study. Association of spectacle use and refractive errors with different parameters were analysed using logistic regression. Chi square, t test, Chi square for trend and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for analysis. Spectacle use was significantly higher and positively associated with literacy and employment in the urban population. The age and gender-adjusted prevalence of emmetropia, myopia of spherical equivalent (SE) < or =-0.50 diopter sphere (DS), high myopia (SE < or =-5.00DS), hyperopia (SE> 0.50DS) and astigmatism < or = 0.50 diopter cylinder (DC) were 46.8%, 31.0%, 4.3%, 17.9% and 60.4% respectively in the rural population and 29.0%, 17.6%, 1.5%, 51.9%, 59.1% respectively in the urban population. The prevalence of emmetropia decreased with age ( p p = 0.001) and were associated with nuclear sclerosis ( p = 0.001) in both populations. Hyperopia was commoner among women than men ( p = 0.001); was positively associated with diabetes mellitus ( p = 0.008) in the rural population and negatively with nuclear sclerosis ( p = 0.001) in both populations. Spectacle use was found to be significantly lower in the rural population. The pattern of refractive errors was significantly different between both populations.

A simple test of association for contingency tables with multiple column responses.

PubMed

Decady, Y J; Thomas, D R

2000-09-01

Loughin and Scherer (1998, Biometrics 54, 630-637) investigated tests of association in two-way tables when one of the categorical variables allows for multiple-category responses from individual respondents. Standard chi-squared tests are invalid in this case, and they developed a bootstrap test procedure that provides good control of test levels under the null hypothesis. This procedure and some others that have been proposed are computationally involved and are based on techniques that are relatively unfamiliar to many practitioners. In this paper, the methods introduced by Rao and Scott (1981, Journal of the American Statistical Association 76, 221-230) for analyzing complex survey data are used to develop a simple test based on a corrected chi-squared statistic.

Ensuring Positiveness of the Scaled Difference Chi-square Test Statistic.

PubMed

Satorra, Albert; Bentler, Peter M

2010-06-01

A scaled difference test statistic [Formula: see text] that can be computed from standard software of structural equation models (SEM) by hand calculations was proposed in Satorra and Bentler (2001). The statistic [Formula: see text] is asymptotically equivalent to the scaled difference test statistic T̄(d) introduced in Satorra (2000), which requires more involved computations beyond standard output of SEM software. The test statistic [Formula: see text] has been widely used in practice, but in some applications it is negative due to negativity of its associated scaling correction. Using the implicit function theorem, this note develops an improved scaling correction leading to a new scaled difference statistic T̄(d) that avoids negative chi-square values.

Critical analysis of adsorption data statistically

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaushal, Achla; Singh, S. K.

2017-10-01

Experimental data can be presented, computed, and critically analysed in a different way using statistics. A variety of statistical tests are used to make decisions about the significance and validity of the experimental data. In the present study, adsorption was carried out to remove zinc ions from contaminated aqueous solution using mango leaf powder. The experimental data was analysed statistically by hypothesis testing applying t test, paired t test and Chi-square test to (a) test the optimum value of the process pH, (b) verify the success of experiment and (c) study the effect of adsorbent dose in zinc ion removal from aqueous solutions. Comparison of calculated and tabulated values of t and χ 2 showed the results in favour of the data collected from the experiment and this has been shown on probability charts. K value for Langmuir isotherm was 0.8582 and m value for Freundlich adsorption isotherm obtained was 0.725, both are <1, indicating favourable isotherms. Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient values for Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were obtained as 0.99 and 0.95 respectively, which show higher degree of correlation between the variables. This validates the data obtained for adsorption of zinc ions from the contaminated aqueous solution with the help of mango leaf powder.

The Relationship between English Language Proficiency, Academic Achievement and Self-Esteem of Non-Native-English-Speaking Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dev, Smitha; Qiqieh, Sura

2016-01-01

The present study aims to find out the relationship between English Language proficiency, self-esteem, and academic achievement of the students in Abu Dhabi University (ADU). The variables were analyzed using "t" test, chi-squire and Pearson's product moment correlation. In addition, Self-rating scale, Self-esteem inventory and Language…

Infant and Child Oral Health Risk Status Correlated to Behavioral Habits of Parents or Caregivers: A Survey in Central Italy

PubMed Central

Vozza, Iole; Capasso, Francesca; Marrese, Elisa; Polimeni, Antonella; Ottolenghi, Livia

2017-01-01

Aim: The aim of this survey was to evaluate the knowledge and awareness of parents and caregivers about potential oral health risk factors for their children in their first months of life (3–30 months). Materials and Methods: The participation to the survey was proposed to all parents or caregivers of children attending the public consulting service in Latina for mandatory vaccinations during the period of June to August 2014. A self-administered questionnaire was completed to obtain information regarding demographic variables, infant feeding practice, maternal oral health during and after pregnancy, children's oral hygiene habits and risk behaviors (e.g., sharing cutlery, tasting of baby food, nightly using of baby bottles with sugared beverages, or sugared pacifier), and knowledge about caries and its transmission. The analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 14.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The variance analysis and chi-square test were used to investigate the relationship between the variables. Results: Overall, the parents of 304 children consented to fill the questionnaire. Data analysis showed that about 50% of respondents considered dental caries an infectious disease, however, 53.6% was not aware of the potential vertical transmissibility of cariogenic bacteria through contaminated saliva. It is a common trend in the early stages of weaning to taste the baby food (53%) and sharing cutlery (38.5%). With regard to children oral health care, parents reported no toothbrushing for 53.1% of the children in their first 3 years of life. The relationship between the two variables concerning caries transmissibility and tools sharing carried out on through Pearson chi-square test identified P = 0.32. Conclusions: From this survey, the need for parental oral health promoting program emerged to control children oral health risk status. PMID:28462177

The frequency of alcoholism in patients with advanced cancer admitted to an acute palliative care unit and a home care program.

PubMed

Mercadante, Sebastiano; Porzio, Giampiero; Caruselli, Amanda; Aielli, Federica; Adile, Claudio; Girelli, Nicola; Casuccio, Alessandra

2015-02-01

Cancer patients with a history of alcoholism may be problematic. The frequency of alcoholism among patients with advanced cancer has never been reported in Italy or other European countries. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the frequency of alcoholism, assessed with a simple and validated instrument, among patients with advanced cancer who were referred to two different palliative care settings: an acute inpatient palliative care unit (PCU) of a comprehensive cancer center in a metropolitan area and a home care program (HCP) in a territorial district, localized in the mountains of Italy. A consecutive sample of patients admitted to an inpatient PCU and to an HCP was assessed for a period of eight months. Each patient who agreed to be interviewed completed the Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire. Patients were then interviewed informally to gather information about their history with alcohol. In total, 443 consecutive patients were surveyed; data from 249 to 194 patients were collected in the PCU and HCP, respectively, in the eight-month period. The mean age was 66.4 (SD 12.7) years, and 207 were males. The mean Karnofsky level was 54.2 (SD 14.6). Eighteen patients were CAGE positive (4.06%). Males (Pearson Chi-squared, P = 0.027) and younger patients (analysis of variance test, P = 0.009) were more likely to be CAGE positive. Informal interviews revealed that 17 patients (3.83%) were alcoholics or had a history of alcoholism, and that alcoholism was strongly correlated with CAGE (Pearson Chi-squared, P < 0.0001). Only a minority of patients were CAGE positive, with a similar frequency in the PCU and HCP settings. CAGE-positive patients were more likely to be male and younger, independent of diagnosis and performance status. CAGE was positively correlated with informal interviews for detecting alcoholism. As CAGE patients express more symptom distress, it is important to detect this problem with a simple tool that has a high sensitivity and specificity and is easy to use even in patients with advanced disease. Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Drinking water contamination by chromium and lead in industrial lands of Karachi.

PubMed

Nadeem-ul-Haq; Arain, Mubashir Aslam; Haque, Zeba; Badar, Nasira; Mughal, Noman

2009-05-01

To identify and quantify chromium and lead as contaminant in water sources of Karachi. This water assessment survey was conducted from June 2007 to February 2008 in all the 18 towns of Karachi. In total 216 water samples were collected from ground (n=108) and surface water sources (n = 108). Water samples were collected in a liter polyethylene acid resistant bottle with extreme care to prevent contamination and concentrations of heavy metals (chromium and lead). Metallic ion contents were estimated by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was done by applying T-test and chi-square for continuous and categorical variables respectively at 95% confidence level; Pearson correlation was also determined between chromium and lead concentrations. A total of 187 water samples had lead concentration higher than the maximum acceptable concentration (MAC) in drinking water, established by WHO (10 PPB) and lead contaminated sources were in significantly higher proportion than chromium contaminated water samples (n = 49) [chi2 = 128; P- < 0.001]. Mean chromium concentration in ground water was (micro = 49; SE = 3.8) was significantly higher than mean chromium concentration (micro = 33, SE = 3.5) in surface water (P = 0.003). There was a significant and positive correlation between chromium and lead concentrations in ground water (P = 0.04) however Pearson correlation was not significant for surface water (P = 0.6). Industrial towns (Korangi, Landhi and SITE) had significantly higher concentration of chromium (micro = 82.4; SE = 8.9) in their ground and tap water as compared to the mean chromium concentration (micro = 33; SE = 2.2) in the water samples of rest of the towns of Karachi (P < 0.001). Chromium and Lead levels are high in almost all ground water sources, however extremely high concentrations were found in industrial areas. Presence of any one of the heavy metal contamination necessitate the need for the estimation of other heavy metals as significant positive correlation was found between chromium and lead concentration, indicating the possibility of similar contamination sources in Karachi.

Knowledge of general dentists in the current guidelines for emergency treatment of avulsed teeth and dental trauma prevention.

PubMed

de Vasconcellos, Luis Gustavo Oliveira; Brentel, Aline Scalone; Vanderlei, Aleska Dias; de Vasconcellos, Luana Marotta Reis; Valera, Márcia Carneiro; de Araújo, Maria Amélia Máximo

2009-12-01

A high prevalence of dental trauma exists and its effects on function and esthetics deserve the attention of general dentists. The aim of this study was to assess the level of general dental practitioners' (GDPs) knowledge about guidelines for dental avulsion and its prevention using a questionnaire. The 21-item questionnaire was distributed among 264 GDPs and the survey was realized between August-November 2006. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using descriptive analysis and Pearson's Chi-square test to determine associations between knowledge regarding emergency treatment and dentists from public or private dental schools and years of experience. The results showed that the participants exhibited appropriate knowledge concerning procedures in cases of tooth avulsion and its prevention. The number of correct answers was low in relation to recommended treatment at the site of injury. Storage medium, preparation of the alveolus and splint time for receiving the avulsed tooth received a high number of correct answers. One statistically significant association between years of experience and recommended treatment at the site of the injury in the case an avulsed tooth (chi(2) = 9.384, P = 0.009). In conclusion, this survey showed appropriate knowledge of dental avulsion management and its prevention among the surveyed dentists. The findings also showed that communication between dentists and the population is deficient, especially concerning practitioners of high risk and contact sports.

Women's opinions of legal requirements for drug testing in prenatal care.

PubMed

Tucker Edmonds, Brownsyne; Mckenzie, Fatima; Austgen, MacKenzie B; Carroll, Aaron E; Meslin, Eric M

2017-07-01

To explore women's attitudes and perceptions regarding legal requirements for prenatal drug testing. Web-based survey of 500 US women (age 18-45) recruited from a market research survey panel. A 24-item questionnaire assessed their opinion of laws requiring doctors to routinely verbal screen and urine drug test patients during pregnancy; recommendations for consequences for positive drug tests during pregnancy; and opinion of laws requiring routine drug testing of newborns. Additional questions asked participants about the influence of such laws on their own care-seeking behaviors. Data were analyzed for associations between participant characteristics and survey responses using Pearson's chi-squared test. The majority of respondents (86%) stated they would support a law requiring verbal screening of all pregnant patients and 73% would support a law requiring universal urine drug testing in pregnancy. Fewer respondents were willing to support laws that required verbal screening or urine drug testing (68% and 61%, respectively) targeting only Medicaid recipients. Twenty-one percent of respondents indicated they would be offended if their doctors asked them about drug use and 14% indicated that mandatory drug testing would discourage prenatal care attendance. Women would be more supportive of policies requiring universal rather than targeted screening and testing for prenatal drug use. However, a noteworthy proportion of women would be discouraged from attending prenatal care - a reminder that drug testing policies may have detrimental effects on maternal child health.

Distributional Tests for Gravitational Waves from Core-Collapse Supernovae

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szczepanczyk, Marek; LIGO Collaboration

2017-01-01

Core-Collapse Supernovae (CCSN) are spectacular and violent deaths of massive stars. CCSN are some of the most interesting candidates for producing gravitational-waves (GW) transients. Current published results focus on methodologies to detect single GW unmodelled transients. The advantages of these tests are that they do not require a background for which we have an analytical model. Examples of non-parametric tests that will be compared are Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney, chi squared, and asymmetric chi squared. I will present methodological results using publicly released LIGO-S6 data recolored to the design sensitivity of Advanced LIGO and that will be time lagged between interferometers sites so that the resulting coincident events are not GW.

Medication competency of nurses according to theoretical and drug calculation online exams: A descriptive correlational study.

PubMed

Sneck, Sami; Saarnio, Reetta; Isola, Arja; Boigu, Risto

2016-01-01

Medication administration is an important task of registered nurses. According to previous studies, nurses lack theoretical knowledge and drug calculation skills and knowledge-based mistakes do occur in clinical practice. Finnish health care organizations started to develop a systematic verification processes for medication competence at the end of the last decade. No studies have yet been made of nurses' theoretical knowledge and drug calculation skills according to these online exams. The aim of this study was to describe the medication competence of Finnish nurses according to theoretical and drug calculation exams. A descriptive correlation design was adopted. Participants and settings All nurses who participated in the online exam in three Finnish hospitals between 1.1.2009 and 31.05.2014 were selected to the study (n=2479). Quantitative methods like Pearson's chi-squared tests, analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Tukey tests and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to test the existence of relationships between dependent and independent variables. The majority of nurses mastered the theoretical knowledge needed in medication administration, but 5% of the nurses struggled with passing the drug calculation exam. Theoretical knowledge and drug calculation skills were better in acute care units than in the other units and younger nurses achieved better results in both exams than their older colleagues. The differences found in this study were statistically significant, but not high. Nevertheless, even the tiniest deficiency in theoretical knowledge and drug calculation skills should be focused on. It is important to identify the nurses who struggle in the exams and to plan targeted educational interventions for supporting them. The next step is to study if verification of medication competence has an effect on patient safety. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of liver diseases as referred by people living in the Santos and São Vicente Estuary.

PubMed

Carvalho, Daniele Fernandes Pena; Guimarães, M T; Ribeiro, T S; Campina, N N; Lobarinhas, M R; Lopes, A L J; Cunha, M G; Souza, I B; Oliveira, V L F; Braga E Braga, L; Martins, L C; Gomes, A; Pereira, L A A; Braga, A L F

2015-10-01

The Santos and São Vicente Estuary has suffered extensively over the years from irregular industrial deposits. The present study aimed to evaluate liver disease prevalence and potential associated risk factors in four of the Estuary's areas (Pilões and Água-Fria, Cubatão Center, Continental São Vicente, and Guarujá) and a reference area (Bertioga). This study consisted of a cross-sectional study design, in which a questionnaire was used to collect information in 820 households at each of the study areas. The proportion of total liver diseases, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer (liver, biliary tract, and pancreas) per area were estimated. Pearson's chi-square test and two proportion differences test were applied in order to evaluate associations between disease occurrence and areas and to test differences between two proportions, respectively. Single and multiple logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between disease prevalence and the different study areas. Liver disease prevalence was 1.5 % among all inhabitants and 1.4 % among those without any type of exposure. Among those who reported the presence of liver disease, a higher percentage of the participants that reported hepatitis (27.7 %) or other liver disease (48.7 %) did not report occupational or alcohol exposures. Hepatitis (77.8 %) was the most reported disease, and a statistical association between living in Pilões and Água-Fria and the occurrence of hepatitis was observed (Pearson's χ (2): z = 18.1; p = 0.001). The consumption of locally-produced groceries (2.88; CI: 1.24-6.70) and water (5.88; CI: 2.24-15.45) were shown to be risk factors for the occurrence of liver disease. Thus, environmental exposure is still a public health problem present in the estuary region.

FORESEE: Fully Outsourced secuRe gEnome Study basEd on homomorphic Encryption

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

Background The increasing availability of genome data motivates massive research studies in personalized treatment and precision medicine. Public cloud services provide a flexible way to mitigate the storage and computation burden in conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, data privacy has been widely concerned when sharing the sensitive information in a cloud environment. Methods We presented a novel framework (FORESEE: Fully Outsourced secuRe gEnome Study basEd on homomorphic Encryption) to fully outsource GWAS (i.e., chi-square statistic computation) using homomorphic encryption. The proposed framework enables secure divisions over encrypted data. We introduced two division protocols (i.e., secure errorless division and secure approximation division) with a trade-off between complexity and accuracy in computing chi-square statistics. Results The proposed framework was evaluated for the task of chi-square statistic computation with two case-control datasets from the 2015 iDASH genome privacy protection challenge. Experimental results show that the performance of FORESEE can be significantly improved through algorithmic optimization and parallel computation. Remarkably, the secure approximation division provides significant performance gain, but without missing any significance SNPs in the chi-square association test using the aforementioned datasets. Conclusions Unlike many existing HME based studies, in which final results need to be computed by the data owner due to the lack of the secure division operation, the proposed FORESEE framework support complete outsourcing to the cloud and output the final encrypted chi-square statistics. PMID:26733391

Chi-square-based scoring function for categorization of MEDLINE citations.

PubMed

Kastrin, A; Peterlin, B; Hristovski, D

2010-01-01

Text categorization has been used in biomedical informatics for identifying documents containing relevant topics of interest. We developed a simple method that uses a chi-square-based scoring function to determine the likelihood of MEDLINE citations containing genetic relevant topic. Our procedure requires construction of a genetic and a nongenetic domain document corpus. We used MeSH descriptors assigned to MEDLINE citations for this categorization task. We compared frequencies of MeSH descriptors between two corpora applying chi-square test. A MeSH descriptor was considered to be a positive indicator if its relative observed frequency in the genetic domain corpus was greater than its relative observed frequency in the nongenetic domain corpus. The output of the proposed method is a list of scores for all the citations, with the highest score given to those citations containing MeSH descriptors typical for the genetic domain. Validation was done on a set of 734 manually annotated MEDLINE citations. It achieved predictive accuracy of 0.87 with 0.69 recall and 0.64 precision. We evaluated the method by comparing it to three machine-learning algorithms (support vector machines, decision trees, naïve Bayes). Although the differences were not statistically significantly different, results showed that our chi-square scoring performs as good as compared machine-learning algorithms. We suggest that the chi-square scoring is an effective solution to help categorize MEDLINE citations. The algorithm is implemented in the BITOLA literature-based discovery support system as a preprocessor for gene symbol disambiguation process.

FORESEE: Fully Outsourced secuRe gEnome Study basEd on homomorphic Encryption.

PubMed

Zhang, Yuchen; Dai, Wenrui; Jiang, Xiaoqian; Xiong, Hongkai; Wang, Shuang

2015-01-01

The increasing availability of genome data motivates massive research studies in personalized treatment and precision medicine. Public cloud services provide a flexible way to mitigate the storage and computation burden in conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, data privacy has been widely concerned when sharing the sensitive information in a cloud environment. We presented a novel framework (FORESEE: Fully Outsourced secuRe gEnome Study basEd on homomorphic Encryption) to fully outsource GWAS (i.e., chi-square statistic computation) using homomorphic encryption. The proposed framework enables secure divisions over encrypted data. We introduced two division protocols (i.e., secure errorless division and secure approximation division) with a trade-off between complexity and accuracy in computing chi-square statistics. The proposed framework was evaluated for the task of chi-square statistic computation with two case-control datasets from the 2015 iDASH genome privacy protection challenge. Experimental results show that the performance of FORESEE can be significantly improved through algorithmic optimization and parallel computation. Remarkably, the secure approximation division provides significant performance gain, but without missing any significance SNPs in the chi-square association test using the aforementioned datasets. Unlike many existing HME based studies, in which final results need to be computed by the data owner due to the lack of the secure division operation, the proposed FORESEE framework support complete outsourcing to the cloud and output the final encrypted chi-square statistics.

Which statistics should tropical biologists learn?

PubMed

Loaiza Velásquez, Natalia; González Lutz, María Isabel; Monge-Nájera, Julián

2011-09-01

Tropical biologists study the richest and most endangered biodiversity in the planet, and in these times of climate change and mega-extinctions, the need for efficient, good quality research is more pressing than in the past. However, the statistical component in research published by tropical authors sometimes suffers from poor quality in data collection; mediocre or bad experimental design and a rigid and outdated view of data analysis. To suggest improvements in their statistical education, we listed all the statistical tests and other quantitative analyses used in two leading tropical journals, the Revista de Biología Tropical and Biotropica, during a year. The 12 most frequent tests in the articles were: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Chi-Square Test, Student's T Test, Linear Regression, Pearson's Correlation Coefficient, Mann-Whitney U Test, Kruskal-Wallis Test, Shannon's Diversity Index, Tukey's Test, Cluster Analysis, Spearman's Rank Correlation Test and Principal Component Analysis. We conclude that statistical education for tropical biologists must abandon the old syllabus based on the mathematical side of statistics and concentrate on the correct selection of these and other procedures and tests, on their biological interpretation and on the use of reliable and friendly freeware. We think that their time will be better spent understanding and protecting tropical ecosystems than trying to learn the mathematical foundations of statistics: in most cases, a well designed one-semester course should be enough for their basic requirements.

Automated segmentation of linear time-frequency representations of marine-mammal sounds.

PubMed

Dadouchi, Florian; Gervaise, Cedric; Ioana, Cornel; Huillery, Julien; Mars, Jérôme I

2013-09-01

Many marine mammals produce highly nonlinear frequency modulations. Determining the time-frequency support of these sounds offers various applications, which include recognition, localization, and density estimation. This study introduces a low parameterized automated spectrogram segmentation method that is based on a theoretical probabilistic framework. In the first step, the background noise in the spectrogram is fitted with a Chi-squared distribution and thresholded using a Neyman-Pearson approach. In the second step, the number of false detections in time-frequency regions is modeled as a binomial distribution, and then through a Neyman-Pearson strategy, the time-frequency bins are gathered into regions of interest. The proposed method is validated on real data of large sequences of whistles from common dolphins, collected in the Bay of Biscay (France). The proposed method is also compared with two alternative approaches: the first is smoothing and thresholding of the spectrogram; the second is thresholding of the spectrogram followed by the use of morphological operators to gather the time-frequency bins and to remove false positives. This method is shown to increase the probability of detection for the same probability of false alarms.

Effects of the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. on healing and tissue repair after partial Achilles tenotomy in rats.

PubMed

Santos-Júnior, Luciano; Oliveira, Tassia Virgínia de Carvalho; Cândido, Janaína Farias; Santana, Danielle Souza de; Pereira, Rose Nely; Pereyra, Beatriz Benny Sungaila; Gomes, Margarete Zanardo; Lima, Sônia Oliveira; Albuquerque-Júnior, Ricardo Luiz Cavalcanti de; Cândido, Edna Aragão Farias

2017-06-01

To investigate the cellular response to injury, analyzing histopathologic changes associated with increased cellularity, degeneration and disorganization of collagen fibers. Thirty wistar rats were divided in two groups after partial Achilles tenotomy: the right hind paw were treated with the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (EOAz), diluted to 33% (0.3 mL kg-1), and the left hind paw received sunflower oil for 3, 14, 30 and 90 days. Statistical significance was determined using a Chi-square and Pearson Correlation qualitative variables test. Moreover, Mann-Whitney U-test test for comparison between different groups of the same cell, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's test of quantitative measurement. A decrease hyperemia (p < 0.001) was observed in the acute phase of inflammatory cell number (p < 0.001), whereas sub-acute phase was marked by significant correlation with macrophages in fibroblasts (r = 0.17, p = 0.03), with probable induction a dense and modeled tissue. At chronic phase, it was found an increase in the number of fibroblasts and a higher percentage of type I collagen fibers (78%) compared with control collagen fibers (55%). Oil of Alpinia zerumbet stimulated the process of maturation, organization and tissue repair which gave it greater resistance.

Evaluation of oral stereognostic ability after rehabilitating patients with complete dentures: in vivo study.

PubMed

Meenakshi, S; Gujjari, Anil Kumar; Thippeswamy, H N; Raghunath, N

2014-12-01

Stereognosis has been defined as the appreciation of the form of objects by palpation. Whilst this definition holds good for the manual exploration of objects, it is possible for the shape of objects to be explored intra orally referred to as oral stereognosis. To better understand patients' relative satisfaction with complete dentures, differences in oral stereognostic perception, based on the identification of 6 edible objects was analyzed in a group of 30 edentulous individuals at 3 stages, namely, just before (pre-treatment), 30 min after (30 min post-treatment) and 1 month after (1 month post-treatment) the insertion of new dentures. The time required to identify each object was recorded and the correctness of identification of each object was scored using oral stereognostic score. Descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon signed rank test, Spearman's rank correlation test, Pearson Chi square test was used to statistically analyze the data obtained. OSA scores was significantly increased 1 month post-treatment compared to 30 min post-treatment (p < 0.05). It was found that Oral stereognostic test is reliable for measuring patients' oral stereognostic perception and may be used as one of the clinical aids in appreciating the functional limitations imposed by the prostheses.

Effect of cryotherapy on arteriovenous fistula puncture-related pain in hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

P B, Sabitha; Khakha, D C; Mahajan, S; Gupta, S; Agarwal, M; Yadav, S L

2008-10-01

Pain during areteriovenous fistula (AVF) cannulation remains a common problem in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of cryotherapy on pain due to arteriovenous fistula puncture in hemodialysis patients. A convenience sample of 60 patients (30 each in experimental and control groups) who were undergoing hemodialysis by using AVF, was assessed in a randomized control trial. Hemodialysis patients who met the inclusion criteria, were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups using a randomization table. Objective and subjective pain scoring was done on two consecutive days of HD treatment (with cryotherapy for the experimental and without cryotherapy for the control group). The tools used were a questionnaire examining demographic and clinical characteristics, an observation checklist for assessing objective pain behavior, and a numerical rating scale for subjective pain assessment. Descriptive statistics were used as deemed appropriate. Chi square, two-sample and paired t-tests, the Mann Whitney test, Wilcoxon's signed rank test, the Kruskal Wallis test, and Spearman's and Pearson's correlations were used for inferential statistics. We found that the objective and subjective pain scores were found to be significantly (P = 0.001) reduced within the experimental group with the application of cryotherapy. This study highlights the need for adopting alternative therapies such as cryotherapy for effective pain management in hospital settings.

Modelling of the batch biosorption system: study on exchange of protons with cell wall-bound mineral ions.

PubMed

Mishra, Vishal

2015-01-01

The interchange of the protons with the cell wall-bound calcium and magnesium ions at the interface of solution/bacterial cell surface in the biosorption system at various concentrations of protons has been studied in the present work. A mathematical model for establishing the correlation between concentration of protons and active sites was developed and optimized. The sporadic limited residence time reactor was used to titrate the calcium and magnesium ions at the individual data point. The accuracy of the proposed mathematical model was estimated using error functions such as nonlinear regression, adjusted nonlinear regression coefficient, the chi-square test, P-test and F-test. The values of the chi-square test (0.042-0.017), P-test (<0.001-0.04), sum of square errors (0.061-0.016), root mean square error (0.01-0.04) and F-test (2.22-19.92) reported in the present research indicated the suitability of the model over a wide range of proton concentrations. The zeta potential of the bacterium surface at various concentrations of protons was observed to validate the denaturation of active sites.

Analysis of case-parent trios at a locus with a deletion allele: association of GSTM1 with autism.

PubMed

Buyske, Steven; Williams, Tanishia A; Mars, Audrey E; Stenroos, Edward S; Ming, Sue X; Wang, Rong; Sreenath, Madhura; Factura, Marivic F; Reddy, Chitra; Lambert, George H; Johnson, William G

2006-02-10

Certain loci on the human genome, such as glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), do not permit heterozygotes to be reliably determined by commonly used methods. Association of such a locus with a disease is therefore generally tested with a case-control design. When subjects have already been ascertained in a case-parent design however, the question arises as to whether the data can still be used to test disease association at such a locus. A likelihood ratio test was constructed that can be used with a case-parents design but has somewhat less power than a Pearson's chi-squared test that uses a case-control design. The test is illustrated on a novel dataset showing a genotype relative risk near 2 for the homozygous GSTM1 deletion genotype and autism. Although the case-control design will remain the mainstay for a locus with a deletion, the likelihood ratio test will be useful for such a locus analyzed as part of a larger case-parent study design. The likelihood ratio test has the advantage that it can incorporate complete and incomplete case-parent trios as well as independent cases and controls. Both analyses support (p = 0.046 for the proposed test, p = 0.028 for the case-control analysis) an association of the homozygous GSTM1 deletion genotype with autism.

Analysis of case-parent trios at a locus with a deletion allele: association of GSTM1 with autism

PubMed Central

Buyske, Steven; Williams, Tanishia A; Mars, Audrey E; Stenroos, Edward S; Ming, Sue X; Wang, Rong; Sreenath, Madhura; Factura, Marivic F; Reddy, Chitra; Lambert, George H; Johnson, William G

2006-01-01

Background Certain loci on the human genome, such as glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), do not permit heterozygotes to be reliably determined by commonly used methods. Association of such a locus with a disease is therefore generally tested with a case-control design. When subjects have already been ascertained in a case-parent design however, the question arises as to whether the data can still be used to test disease association at such a locus. Results A likelihood ratio test was constructed that can be used with a case-parents design but has somewhat less power than a Pearson's chi-squared test that uses a case-control design. The test is illustrated on a novel dataset showing a genotype relative risk near 2 for the homozygous GSTM1 deletion genotype and autism. Conclusion Although the case-control design will remain the mainstay for a locus with a deletion, the likelihood ratio test will be useful for such a locus analyzed as part of a larger case-parent study design. The likelihood ratio test has the advantage that it can incorporate complete and incomplete case-parent trios as well as independent cases and controls. Both analyses support (p = 0.046 for the proposed test, p = 0.028 for the case-control analysis) an association of the homozygous GSTM1 deletion genotype with autism. PMID:16472391

Sorption, Solubility, Bond Strength and Hardness of Denture Soft Lining Incorporated with Silver Nanoparticles

PubMed Central

Chladek, Grzegorz; Kasperski, Jacek; Barszczewska-Rybarek, Izabela; Żmudzki, Jarosław

2013-01-01

The colonization of denture soft lining material by oral fungi can result in infections and stomatitis of oral tissues. In this study, 0 ppm to 200 ppm of silver nanoparticles was incorporated as an antimicrobial agent into composites to reduce the microbial colonization of lining materials. The effect of silver nanoparticle incorporation into a soft lining material on the sorption, solubility, hardness (on the Shore A scale) and tensile bond strength of the composites was investigated. The data were statistically analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Newman-Keuls post hoc tests or the chi-square Pearson test at the p < 0.05 level. An increase in the nanosilver concentration resulted in a decrease in hardness, an increase in sorption and solubility, a decrease in bond strength and a change in the failure type of the samples. The best combination of bond strength, sorption, solubility and hardness with antifungal efficacy was achieved for silver nanoparticle concentrations ranging from 20 ppm to 40 ppm. These composites did not show properties worse than those of the material without silver nanoparticles and exhibited enhanced in vitro antifungal efficiency. PMID:23271371

Incidence of Endodontic Flare-ups and Its Related Factors: A Retrospective Study.

PubMed

Nair, Manuja; Rahul, J; Devadathan, A; Mathew, Josey

2017-01-01

The aim and objective of the study were to determine the incidence of flare-ups during endodontic treatment and to identify the risk factors associated with flare-ups. A total of 1725 patients who were treated during the time period of 2009-2014 by the same endodontist were reviewed. Incidence of flare-up, patients' age, gender, status of pulp, tooth position, number of roots, and treatment provided were taken from their dental records. Relationship between these factors and flare-ups was examined. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. A total of 2% incidence of endodontic flare-ups was seen out of 1725 cases. Patient's age, gender, and diagnosis had a significant effect on the development of flare-ups ( P < 0.05). Tooth type, position of tooth, number of root canals, number of visits, and treatment modality had no significant effect on flare-up incidence. Diagnosis plays an important role in predicting the incidence of flare-ups. Patients in the age group of 40-60 years had a higher risk of developing flare-ups. Women compared to men are more prone to flare-ups.

Incidence of Endodontic Flare-ups and Its Related Factors: A Retrospective Study

PubMed Central

Nair, Manuja; Rahul, J.; Devadathan, A.; Mathew, Josey

2017-01-01

Aims and Objectives: The aim and objective of the study were to determine the incidence of flare-ups during endodontic treatment and to identify the risk factors associated with flare-ups. Subjects and Methods: A total of 1725 patients who were treated during the time period of 2009–2014 by the same endodontist were reviewed. Incidence of flare-up, patients' age, gender, status of pulp, tooth position, number of roots, and treatment provided were taken from their dental records. Relationship between these factors and flare-ups was examined. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 2% incidence of endodontic flare-ups was seen out of 1725 cases. Patient's age, gender, and diagnosis had a significant effect on the development of flare-ups (P < 0.05). Tooth type, position of tooth, number of root canals, number of visits, and treatment modality had no significant effect on flare-up incidence. Conclusions: Diagnosis plays an important role in predicting the incidence of flare-ups. Patients in the age group of 40–60 years had a higher risk of developing flare-ups. Women compared to men are more prone to flare-ups. PMID:28852632

[Pidemiological analysis of pesticide poisoning in hangzhou during 2006-2013].

PubMed

Zhang, Lei; Hao, Li; Zhang, Xuhui; Chen, Jianchun; Wang, Qiang; Yu, Long

2015-01-01

The purpose of this current investigation was to describe the distribution characteristics of pesticides poisoning in Hangzhou during 2006-2013. The registration data of pesticide poisoning in Hangzhou during 2006-2013 were collected from health disserve surveillance information system which was part of China information system for disease control and prevention. The statistical analysis method included Pearson Chi-square test and Cochran-Armitage trend test. There were totally 6232 cases with pesticide poisoning during 2006-2013, of which 414 cases died. The fatality rate of poisoning patients was 6.64%. The pesticides, especially organophosphorus pesticides, were the main poison that caused poisoning, and patients with pesticide poisoning accounted for 80.60% of all the poisoning patient. There was more female patients than male patients among non-productive pesticide poisoning, but on the contrary among productive pesticide poisoning. The incidence of pesticides poisoning had significant increase in the third season. Occupational pesticide poisoning and non-occupational pesticide poisoning had the different distribution character. Non-occupational pesticide poisoning was the chief reason of pesticide poisoning. The pesticides, especially organophosphorus pesticides, were the main poisons threatening the health of people in Hangzhou, and the effective prevention and control measures should be taken immediately.

Peripartum events and molar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) amongst young patients in southwest France.

PubMed

Garot, E; Manton, D; Rouas, P

2016-08-01

This was to investigate the association of peripartum events with the occurrence of MIH. This study, carried out between 2010 and 2011, was based on objective information noted in child health booklets on putative risk factors for MIH during the Peripartum period, aged between 6 to 28 years. The target population consisted of patients with MIH and a control group. Among the 849 patients examined by two calibrated paediatric dentists, 75 patients with MIH were recorded. These patients attended for consultation either at the teaching dental hospital of Bordeaux (France) or at a private dental practice (Bordeaux, France). Pearson's Chi-squared test was used and Odds ratios (OR) with 95 % test-based confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Correlations were observed between hypoxia during delivery and occurrence of MIH (OR = 6.1; CI = 1.7-21.85), and also between birth by caesarean section and MIH (OR = 2.9; CI = 1.2-6.9). There was no association between prematurity and MIH. Peripartum events such as hypoxia during birth or delivery by caesarean section are suggested to be risk factors for the occurrence of MIH in this population.

The psychological well-being of children orphaned by AIDS in Cape Town, South Africa

PubMed Central

Cluver, Lucie; Gardner, Frances

2006-01-01

Background An estimated 2 million children are parentally bereaved by AIDS in South Africa. Little is known about mental health outcomes for this group. Methods This study aimed to investigate mental health outcomes for urban children living in deprived settlements in Cape Town. 30 orphaned children and 30 matched controls were compared using standardised questionnaires (SDQ) on emotional and behavioural problems, peer and attention difficulties, and prosocial behaviour. The orphan group completed a modified version of a standardised questionnaire (IES-8), measuring Post-Traumatic Stress symptoms. Group differences were tested using t-tests and Pearson's chi-square. Results Both groups scored highly for peer problems, emotional problems and total scores. However, orphans were more likely to view themselves as having no good friends (p = .002), to have marked concentration difficulties (p = .03), and to report frequent somatic symptoms (p = .05), but were less likely to display anger through loss of temper (p = .03). Orphans were more likely to have constant nightmares (p = .01), and 73% scored above the cut-off for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Conclusion Findings suggest important areas for larger-scale research for parentally-bereaved children. PMID:16848910

Cost Growth in Weapons Systems: Re-examining Rubber Baselines and Economic Factors

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-03-01

committee members for their support in this endeavor. They allowed me to test my econometric limits without performing the analysis for me. I...Bruesch-Pagan Het Test Ramsey Omitted Variable Test 6 The adjusted r-squared value indicates that this model explains nearly 16% of the factors...Observations 1150 Chi2(1) 69.01 P(Chi) 0.0000 F(3, 1139) 7.22 P(F) 0.0001 Bruesch-Pagan Het Test Ramsey Omitted Variable Test The results of these two

Patterns of multi-drug resistant bacteria at first culture from patients admitted to a third level University hospital in Calabria from 2011 to 2014: implications for empirical therapy and infection control.

PubMed

Reale, Mariaconcetta; Strazzulla, Alessio; Quirino, Angela; Rizzo, Claudia; Marano, Vito; Postorino, Maria Concetta; Mazzitelli, Maria; Greco, Giuseppe; Pisani, Vincenzo; Costa, Chiara; Cesana, Bruno Mario; Liberto, Maria Carla; Torti, Carlo; Focà, Alfredo

2017-06-01

Surveillance of antimicrobial drug resistance is fundamental to guide empirical treatment. However, the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network provides a general picture, which might not be applicable to clinical settings that are excluded from this survey. We evaluated resistance patterns of ESKAPE isolates over a four-year period in a third level University hospital in the province of Catanzaro (Southern Italy). In this retrospective study, we evaluated the frequency of ESKAPE isolates with different resistance patterns (group 1=low-resistant bacteria; group 2=multi-drug and extremely drug-resistant bacteria; group 3=pan-resistant bacteria), stratified by year (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014), hospital units (intensive care units, medical and surgical units) and by sample type (urine, blood, wound swabs, respiratory samples, other samples). Chi square test was applied to find differences between isolates with different resistance patterns by hospital unit and by organs and systems. Cochran-Armitage trend test was applied to assess the trend in resistance patterns during the four years analyzed. Amongst 2385 isolates, Escherichia coli (38%) was the most frequent, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14%), Staphylococcus aureus (13%), Acinetobacter baumannii (9%), Enterococcus faecalis (8%) and Enterococcus faecium (3%). From 2011 to 2014, frequency of isolates in group 2 plus 3 decreased from 23% to 14% (chi square=55.093; p<0.0001), particularly for E. coli and K. pneumoniae, but the trend increased for S. aureus (from 5% in 2011 to 10% in 2014), and remained stable for the other species. Frequency of isolates in group 2 plus 3 was higher in intensive care units for K. pneumoniae (chi square =32.292; p<0.0001), A. baumannii (chi square =6.947; p<0.0001) and S. aureus (chi square =22.079; p<0.0001). It was also higher from blood than from different sources for most species.

Herd-level risk factors for bovine viral diarrhea infection in cattle of Tamil Nadu.

PubMed

Kumar, Subbiah Krishna; Palanivel, K M; Sukumar, K; Ronald, B Samuel Masilamoni; Selvaraju, G; Ponnudurai, G

2018-04-01

A cross-sectional study was carried out to identify risk factors for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in 62 randomly selected dairy herds which were tested for BVD serum antibodies by using an indirect ELISA kit (IDEXX). Results from the chi-square test analysis were interpreted by analyzing by chi-square test. A sum of 500 sera samples were screened and 66 animals (13.20%) showed positive for BVDV antibody. Within herd, BVD seroprevalence was 12-65%. This study concluded that epidemiological risk factors like location, herd size, housing patterns like, tail to tail system, roofing pattern, distance between the manure pit and farm, and distance between farms were significantly associated with BVDV serological status (P < 0.05).

Comparison of delinquents and nondelinquents in ethnicity, ordinal position, and self-perception.

PubMed

Calhoun, G; Connley, S; Bolton, J A

1984-01-01

Compared three groups of black, white, and Mexican-American delinquent and nondelinquent males, aged 11 to 18, on measures of self-concept, self-esteem, and ordinal position by groups (N = 135). Data were analyzed with analysis of variance and Chi-square test. Significant main effects were found with respect to delinquency, self-concept, and self-esteem. A significant interaction was present for delinquency and ethnicity for both self-concept and self-esteem. Chi-square results found birth-order and ethnicity to be related significantly.

Empirical likelihood-based confidence intervals for the sensitivity of a continuous-scale diagnostic test at a fixed level of specificity.

PubMed

Gengsheng Qin; Davis, Angela E; Jing, Bing-Yi

2011-06-01

For a continuous-scale diagnostic test, it is often of interest to find the range of the sensitivity of the test at the cut-off that yields a desired specificity. In this article, we first define a profile empirical likelihood ratio for the sensitivity of a continuous-scale diagnostic test and show that its limiting distribution is a scaled chi-square distribution. We then propose two new empirical likelihood-based confidence intervals for the sensitivity of the test at a fixed level of specificity by using the scaled chi-square distribution. Simulation studies are conducted to compare the finite sample performance of the newly proposed intervals with the existing intervals for the sensitivity in terms of coverage probability. A real example is used to illustrate the application of the recommended methods.

Does female education explain the disparity in the use of antenatal and natal services in Nigeria? Evidence from demographic and health survey data.

PubMed

Umar, Abubakar Sadiq

2017-06-01

Nigeria is among the countries with a high number of annual maternal deaths partly due to low utilization of maternal health services (MHS). This study aimed to explore whether there is an association between women's level of education and the appropriate use of antenatal and delivery services. A quantitative cross-sectional study was used to analyze the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data. Information from 33,385 women aged 15 - 49 years was analyzed using Bivariate Pearson Chi square test and multiple logistic regressions. Education is statistically associated with the number of antenatal clinic visits made (AOR = 3.208; CI 2.875 - 3.578; p < .0001) and the place of delivery (AOR = 2.009; CI 1.449 - 2.785; p < .0001) even after controlling for availability of skilled health workers, parity, income, religion, age and distance. A long term investment in girls' education will improve income, interaction with health care providers, level of autonomy to seek and pay for appropriate MHS and ultimately use of MHS and positive pregnancy outcomes.

[Overweight and obesity in prepubertal schoolchildren: the association with low birth weight and family antecedents of cardiovascular disease. Embu - metropolitan region of São Paulo, 2006].

PubMed

Strufaldi, Maria Wany Louzada; Silva, Edina Mariko Koga da; Puccini, Rosana Fiorini

2011-11-01

The aim was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in schoolchildren and the association with birth weight and family antecedents of cardiovascular disease. This cross-sectional study used a probabilistic sample of 929 schoolchildren aged 6 to 10 years. The variables were: body mass index (BMI), birth weight and family antecedents of cardiovascular disease. The statistical analysis consisted of the chi-square test (Pearson) and odds ratio, as association measurements. Of the schoolchildren (54.6% of which were female), 14.4% and 13.3% were overweight and obese, respectively. Low birth weight was reported among 9.4% and family antecedents of cardiovascular disease among 35.2%. Overweight or obesity (BMI e" P85) was associated with the presence of family antecedents of cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.66; 95% CI 1.23-2.23) and male sex (OR = 1.37; 95%CI 1.02-1.83); there was no association with birth weight. The results indicate the need for preventive actions for children with family antecedents of cardiovascular disease.

Developing an Intelligent System for Diagnosis of Asthma Based on Artificial Neural Network.

PubMed

Alizadeh, Behrouz; Safdari, Reza; Zolnoori, Maryam; Bashiri, Azadeh

2015-08-01

Lack of proper diagnosis and inadequate treatment of asthma, leads to physical and financial complications. This study aimed to use data mining techniques and creating a neural network intelligent system for diagnosis of asthma. The study population is the patients who had visited one of the Lung Clinics in Tehran. Data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical tool and the chi-square Pearson's coefficient was the basis of decision making for data ranking. The considered neural network is trained using back propagation learning technique. According to the analysis performed by means of SPSS to select the top factors, 13 effective factors were selected, in different performances, data was mixed in various forms, so the different modes was made for training the data and testing networks and in all different modes, the network was able to predict correctly 100% of all cases. Using data mining methods before the design structure of system, aimed to reduce the data dimension and the optimum choice of the data, will lead to a more accurate system. So considering the data mining approaches due to the nature of medical data is necessary.

Blocking landing techniques in volleyball and the possible association with anterior cruciate ligament injury.

PubMed

Zahradnik, David; Jandacka, Daniel; Holcapek, Michal; Farana, Roman; Uchytil, Jaroslav; Hamill, Joseph

2018-04-01

The number and type of landings performed after blocking during volleyball matches has been related to the potential risk of ACL injury. The aim of the present study was to determine whether gender affects the frequency of specific blocking landing techniques with potential risk of ACL injury from the perspective of foot contact and subsequent movement after the block used by volleyball players during competitive matches. Three matches involving four female volleyball teams (fourteen sets) and three matches involving four male volleyball teams (thirteen sets) in the Czech Republic were analyzed for this study. A Pearson chi-square test of independence was used to detect the relationship between gender and different blocking techniques. The results of the present study showed that gender affected single-leg landings with subsequent movement in lateral direction and double-leg landings. Although the total number of landings was lower for male athletes than for female athletes, a larger portion of male athletes demonstrated single leg landings with a subsequent movement than female athletes. Single leg landings with a subsequent movement have a higher potential risk of ACL injury.

Radiographic evaluation of root canal fillings accomplished by undergraduate dental students.

PubMed

Yavari, Hamidreza; Samiei, Mohammad; Shahi, Shahriar; Borna, Zahra; Abdollahi, Amir Ardalan; Ghiasvand, Negar; Shariati, Gholamreza

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic quality of root canal fillings by fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-year undergraduate students at Tabriz Faculty of Dentistry between 2006 and 2012. A total of 1183 root canal fillings in 620 teeth were evaluated by two investigators (and in case of disagreement by a third investigator) regarding the presence or absence of under-fillings, over-fillings and perforations. For each tooth, preoperative, working and postoperative radiographs were checked. The Pearson's chi-square test was used for statistical evaluation of the data. Inter-examiner agreement was measured by Cohen's kappa (k) values. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Total frequencies of over-filling, under-filling and perforation were 5.6%, 20.4% and 1.9%, respectively. There were significant differences between frequencies of over- and under-fillings (P<0.05). Unacceptable quality, under- and over-fillings were detected in 27.9% of 1183 evaluated canals. The technical quality of root canal therapies performed by undergraduate dental students using step-back preparation and lateral compaction techniques was unacceptable in almost one-fourth of the cases.

Knowledge and Practices of Diabetes Foot Care and Risk of Developing Foot Ulcers in México May Have Implications for Patients of Méxican Heritage Living in the US.

PubMed

Bohorquez Robles, Rosa; Compeán Ortiz, Lidia G; González Quirarte, Nora H; Berry, Diane C; Aguilera Pérez, Paulina; Piñones Martínez, Socorro

2017-06-01

Purpose The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between knowledge and foot care practices among adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods A descriptive correlational study examined 200 patients with type 2 diabetes in México. Data collected included the Knowledge and Practices Self-Care Questionnaire and a Podiatry Examination Questionnaire. Data analysis included Pearson's correlations and chi-square tests. Results More than half of the participants had poor knowledge and poor foot care practices. A significant negative correlation between knowledge and practices of foot care and risk of developing diabetes foot ulcers was found. There was no relationship between sociodemographic variables and the risk of developing diabetes foot ulcers. Conclusions Patients with type 2 diabetes served in an outpatient clinic had poor knowledge and practices of foot care. They demonstrated decreased knowledge and practice of foot care and therefore showed a greater risk of developing diabetes foot, which may predispose patients to early complications.

Pre-treatment red blood cell distribution width provides prognostic information in multiple myeloma.

PubMed

Zhou, Di; Xu, Peipei; Peng, Miaoxin; Shao, Xiaoyan; Wang, Miao; Ouyang, Jian; Chen, Bing

2018-06-01

The red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a credible marker for abnormal erythropoiesis, has recently been studied as a prognostic factor in oncology, but its role in multiple myeloma (MM) hasn't been thoroughly investigated. We performed a retrospective study in 162 patients with multiple myeloma. Categorical parameters were analyzed using Pearson chi-squared test. The Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon tests were used for group comparisons. Comparisons of repeated samples data were analyzed with the general linear model repeated-measures procedure. The Kaplan-Meier product-limit method was used to determine OS and PFS, and the differences were assessed by the log-rank test. High RDW baseline was significantly associated with indexes including haemoglobin, bone marrow plasma cell infiltration, and cytogenetics risk stratification. After chemotherapy, the overall response rate (ORR) decreased as RDW baseline increased. In 24 patients with high RDW baseline, it was revealed RDW value decreased when patients achieved complete remission (CR), but increased when the disease progressed. The normal-RDW baseline group showed both longer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) than the high-RDW baseline group. Our study suggests pre-treatment RDW level is a prognostic factor in MM and should be regarded as an important parameter for assessment of therapeutic efficiency. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Comparative Analysis of Households Solid Waste Management in Rural and Urban Ghana

PubMed Central

Appiah, Divine Odame; Poku, Adjoa Afriyie; Garsonu, Emmanuel Kofi

2016-01-01

The comparative analysis of solid waste management between rural and urban Ghana is largely lacking. This study investigated the solid waste situation and the organisation of solid waste management in both urban and rural settings from the perspective of households. The study employed cross-sectional survey covering both rural and urban districts in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. The study systematically sampled houses from which 400 households and respondents were randomly selected. Pearson's Chi square test was used to compare demographic and socioeconomic variables in rural and urban areas. Multivariate Test, Tests of Between-Subjects Effects, and Pair-Wise Comparisons were performed through one-way MANOVA to determine whether or not solid waste situations in rural and urban areas are significantly different. The results revealed that location significantly affects solid waste management in Ghana. Urban communities had lower mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in homes. However, urban communities had higher mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in principal streets and dumping sites. The study recommends that the local government authorities implement very comprehensive policies (sanitary inspection, infrastructure development, and community participation) that will take into consideration the specific solid waste management needs of both urban and rural areas. PMID:27807453

Immediate Postoperative Pain and Recovery Time after Pulpotomy Performed under General Anaesthesia in Young Children.

PubMed

Keles, Sultan; Kocaturk, Ozlem

2017-01-01

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare immediate postoperative pain scores and need for rescue analgesia in children who underwent pulpotomies and restorative treatment and those who underwent restorative treatment only, all under general anaesthesia. Ninety patients aged between 3 and 7 years who underwent full mouth dental rehabilitation under general anaesthesia were enrolled in the study and reviewed. The experimental group included patients who were treated with at least one pulpotomy, and the control group was treated with dental fillings only. The Wong-Baker FACES scale was used to evaluate self-reported pain and need for rescue analgesia. The data were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, two sample t -tests, chi-square tests, and Pearson's correlation analysis. Ninety percent of the children experienced postoperative pain in varying degrees of severity. Immediate postoperative pain scores in experimental group were found to be significantly higher than in control group ( x 2 = 24.82, p < 0.01). In the experimental group, 48% of the children needed rescue analgesia, compared with only 13% of the children in the control group ( x 2 = 13.27, p < 0.05). Children who underwent pulpotomy treatment had higher postoperative pain scores and greater need for rescue analgesia than control group who underwent only dental fillings.

Effects of estradiol and FSH on leptin levels in women with suppressed pituitary.

PubMed

Geber, Selmo; Brandão, Augusto H F; Sampaio, Marcos

2012-06-15

Female fertility depends on adequate nutrition and energy reserves, suggesting a correlation between the metabolic reserve and reproductive capacity. Leptin regulates body weight and energy homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether estradiol or FSH alone has a direct effect on the production of leptin. A total of 64 patients submitted to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with recombinant FSH for assisted reproduction and 20 patients using estradiol valerate for endometrial preparation for oocyte donation treatment were included in the study. All patients used GnRH analogues before starting treatment to achieve pituitary suppression. Blood samples for hormonal measurements were collected before starting and after completing the respective treatments. Data were analyzed statistically by the chi-square test, Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation test. We observed an elevation of serum leptin levels secondary to the increase in estradiol, in the absence of influence of any other ovarian or pituitary hormone. The rising rate of leptin levels was higher in women treated with recombinant FSH, which also had higher levels of estradiol, than in those treated with estradiol valerate. This study demonstrates a correlation between serum levels of estradiol and leptin, suggesting that estradiol is an important regulator of leptin production and that its effects can be amplified by its association with FSH.

Comparative Analysis of Households Solid Waste Management in Rural and Urban Ghana.

PubMed

Boateng, Simon; Amoako, Prince; Appiah, Divine Odame; Poku, Adjoa Afriyie; Garsonu, Emmanuel Kofi

2016-01-01

The comparative analysis of solid waste management between rural and urban Ghana is largely lacking. This study investigated the solid waste situation and the organisation of solid waste management in both urban and rural settings from the perspective of households. The study employed cross-sectional survey covering both rural and urban districts in the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions of Ghana. The study systematically sampled houses from which 400 households and respondents were randomly selected. Pearson's Chi square test was used to compare demographic and socioeconomic variables in rural and urban areas. Multivariate Test, Tests of Between-Subjects Effects, and Pair-Wise Comparisons were performed through one-way MANOVA to determine whether or not solid waste situations in rural and urban areas are significantly different. The results revealed that location significantly affects solid waste management in Ghana. Urban communities had lower mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in homes. However, urban communities had higher mean scores than rural communities for poor solid waste situation in principal streets and dumping sites. The study recommends that the local government authorities implement very comprehensive policies (sanitary inspection, infrastructure development, and community participation) that will take into consideration the specific solid waste management needs of both urban and rural areas.

In Defense of the Chi-Square Continuity Correction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Veldman, Donald J.; McNemar, Quinn

Published studies of the sampling distribution of chi-square with and without Yates' correction for continuity have been interpreted as discrediting the correction. Yates' correction actually produces a biased chi-square value which in turn yields a better estimate of the exact probability of the discrete event concerned when used in conjunction…

Perceptions of acceptable conducts by university students.

PubMed

Marques, Dora Nazaré; Macedo, António Filipe

2016-01-01

To determine perceptions of acceptable conducts amongst under and postgraduate optometry students and to compare them with students from other disciplines. Students (under/postgraduate) of optometry (n=156) and other courses (n=54) from University of Minho participated in a voluntary online questionnaire about perception of conducts, classifying as acceptable or unacceptable 15 academic or professional scenarios. 210 questionnaires were analyzed. Differences in perceptions were found between optometry under and postgraduates in scenario 5, Chi-square(2,156)=4.3, p=0.038, and scenario 7, Chi-square(2,156)=7.0, p=0.008 (both with cheating more acceptable for postgrads). Differences between under and postgraduates from other courses were found in scenario 9 (taking supplies from classroom more acceptable for undergrads), Chi-square(1,54)=5.0, p=0.025, and scenario 14 (forging a signature more acceptable for postgrads), Chi-square(1,54)=3.9, p=0.046. Differences between optometry and other courses undergraduates were observed in scenario 2 (plagiarism more acceptable for optometry undergrads), Chi-square(1,154)=8.3, p=0.004 and scenario 9 (taking supplies from classroom more acceptable for other undergrads), chi-square(1,54)=7.8, p=0.005. Differences between optometry and other courses postgraduates were observed in scenario 7, Chi-square(1,56)=5.8, p=0.016, scenario 10 (both with cheating more acceptable for optometry postgrads), chi-square(1,54)=8.1, p=0.004 and scenario 14 (forging a signature more acceptable for other postgrads), Chi-square(1,54)=6.1, p=0.026. Academic misconducts were mainly considered more acceptable than professional misconducts. Our results show that perceptions of acceptable conducts amongst optometry students are not very different from other students, and, against our initial prediction, do not show a general change in misconduct perception when students become more mature. Universities should pay more attention to this problem and take action. Copyright © 2014 Spanish General Council of Optometry. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Affected sib pair tests in inbred populations.

PubMed

Liu, W; Weir, B S

2004-11-01

The affected-sib-pair (ASP) method for detecting linkage between a disease locus and marker loci was first established 50 years ago, and since then numerous modifications have been made. We modify two identity-by-state (IBS) test statistics of Lange (Lange, 1986a, 1986b) to allow for inbreeding in the population. We evaluate the power and false positive rates of the modified tests under three disease models, using simulated data. Before estimating false positive rates, we demonstrate that IBS tests are tests of both linkage and linkage disequilibrium between marker and disease loci. Therefore, the null hypothesis of IBS tests should be no linkage and no LD. When the population inbreeding coefficient is large, the false positive rates of Lange's tests become much larger than the nominal value, while those of our modified tests remain close to the nominal value. To estimate power with a controlled false positive rate, we choose the cutoff values based on simulated datasets under the null hypothesis, so that both Lange's tests and the modified tests generate same false positive rate. The powers of Lange's z-test and our modified z-test are very close and do not change much with increasing inbreeding. The power of the modified chi-square test also stays stable when the inbreeding coefficient increases. However, the power of Lange's chi-square test increases with increasing inbreeding, and is larger than that of our modified chi-square test for large inbreeding coefficients. The power is high under a recessive disease model for both Lange's tests and the modified tests, though the power is low for additive and dominant disease models. Allowing for inbreeding is therefore appropriate, at least for diseases known to be recessive.

Is there an association between astrological data and personality?

PubMed

Hume, N

1977-07-01

A test was made of the hypothesis that personality characteristics can be predicted on the basis of various features of the individual's astrological chart. Astrological charts were prepared for 196 college-age Ss who also were administered the MMPI and the Leary Interpersonal Check List. Ss were divided into those who had extreme scores on any of the 13 personality variables studied and those who did not. For each personality variable, comparisons were made on a large number of astrological dimensions between distributions of Ss with and without extreme test scores. Six hundred thirty-two such comparisons were made and evaluated with chi-square tests. In that the obtained number of statistically significnat chi-squares was less than what would be expected on a chance basis, the hypothesis was rejected.

[The "Appropriatezza ECO Milano" project. Assessment of appropriateness of indications, prescriptions and clinical utility of two-dimensional Doppler echocardiography among inpatients and outpatients of Milan, Italy].

PubMed

Mantero, Antonio; Gentile, Francesco; Alberti, Antonia; Bencini, Chiara; Bongarzoni, Amedeo; Bragato, Renato; Branzi, Giovanna; Casazza, Franco; Cialfi, Alessandro; Dihel, Livia; Giagnoni, Erminia; Heyman, Joanna; Lombardi, Leonida; Mattioli, Roberto; Mazzola, Anna Alice; Montericcio, Vincenzo; Pepi, Mauro; Tusa, Maurizio; Morabito, Alberto

2008-12-01

The value of echocardiography in the diagnosis and follow-up of most cardiovascular diseases is well established, even though the ever-increasing demand for the use of this technique is not always justifiable. The "Appropriatezza ECO Milano" project was developed among hospitals in Milan (Italy) to foster a rational use of echocardiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate and improve appropriateness of requests for two-dimensional color Doppler echocardiography, considering indications, prescription behaviors and clinical utility in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. Following several meetings, a consensus was reached whereby a multicenter, observational study would be undertaken. We assessed the value of each request in agreement with the 2003 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association/American Society of Echocardiography guidelines. An ad hoc Microsoft Access database was developed to collect study data, which refer to May 2007. Eleven hospitals participated in the study. 4130 echocardiographic examinations were considered (2300 performed in men and 1830 performed in women; mean age 64 +/- 16 years); 1701 examinations were performed in hospitalized patients and 2429 in outpatients. The incidence of pathological findings was higher in hospitalized patients (73%) than in outpatients (53%) (Pearson chi2 = 29, p<0.001). A higher additional clinical value was found in hospitalized vs non-hospitalized patients (48 vs. 35%, Pearson chi2 = 99; p <0.001). In both settings, the majority of echocardiographic examinations were requested by cardiologists (inpatients 36%, outpatients 54%). The most appropriate examinations were performed more frequently in class I or class IIA hospitalized patients (73%) than in outpatients (52%) (Pearson chi2 = 277, p<0.001). Furthermore, the least accurate the indication, the less the clinical utility found in examinations requested from hospitals and outpatient clinics (64 vs 61% in class I patients, Pearson chi2 = 413, p<0.001; 5 vs 11% in class III patients, Pearson chi2 = 584, p<0.001). Conclusions. Our data confirm an inadequate level of appropriateness of requests for two-dimensional color Doppler examinations in either inpatients or outpatients. After over 10 years of passively observing and recording this trend, a timely resolution of these issues is topical in order to improve the implementation of criteria and to guarantee cost-effective and high-quality cardiovascular care.

[Hospitalization period and nutritional status in hospitalized patients].

PubMed

Merhi, V A Leandro; de Oliveira, Ma R Marques; Caran, A L; Tristão, T Menuzzo Graupner; Ambo, R Miante; Tanner, M A; Vergna, C Marton

2007-01-01

With the objective of studying the nutritional status and its relationship with hospitalization period, a cross-sectional study was done with patients from a private hospital representing a population with a better socioeconomic condition. The anthropometric data of 267 patients, 46% males and 54% females ranging from 20 to 80 years of age, were assessed on the second day of hospitalization. Hospitalization period associated with nutritional status. The data were analyzed by the software Excel and Sigma Stat, using Fisher's exact test and the chi-square test. The studied population presented a body mass index of 25.9 +/- 5.3 and most patients lost weight during hospitalization. The longest hospitalization periods were found among patients with lung diseases (13 days), some being pre-obese (40%) with a small prevalence of undernutrition (4%). The percentage distribution of nutritional status among the groups according to diagnosis was different (P < 0.01) when assessed by the Fisher's exact test and the percentage distribution in weight variation between men and women was different (P < 0.02) when assessed by the chi-square test. When the population was segmented according to age, the percentage distribution of the nutritional status between > 60 and < or = 60 did not present a difference when assessed by the chi-square test. The results of this study show that the nutritional status in some diseases deserves special attention given the greater risk found in these situations, contributing to a longer hospitalization period.

Endoscopic Management of Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis.

PubMed

Shabani, Sepehr; Hoffman, Matthew R; Brand, William T; Dailey, Seth H

2017-02-01

To describe a homogeneous idiopathic subglottic stenosis (ISS) population undergoing endoscopic balloon dilation and evaluate factors affecting inter-dilation interval (IDI). Retrospective review of 37 patients. Co-morbidity prevalence versus normal population was evaluated using chi-square tests. Correlations were evaluated using Pearson product moment tests. Independent samples t tests/rank sum tests assessed differences between groups of interest. All patients were female aged 45.9 ± 15.4 years at diagnosis. Four required a tracheotomy during management. Most prevalent co-morbidity was gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (64.9%; P = .036). Body mass indices (BMI) at first and most recent dilation were 29.8 and 30.8 ( P = .564). Degree of stenosis before first dilation was 53 ± 14%. Patients underwent 3.8 ± 1.8 dilations (range, 1-11). Average IDI was 635 ± 615 days (range, 49-3130 days), including 556 ± 397 days for patients receiving concomitant steroid injection and 283 ± 36 for those who did not ( P = .079). Inter-dilation interval was not correlated with BMI ( r = 0.0486; P = .802) or number of co-morbidities ( r = -0.225, P = .223). Most patients with ISS can be managed endoscopically, and IDI may be increased with steroid injection. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common co-morbidity. Body mass index did not change over time despite potential effects on exercise tolerance; BMI did not affect IDI. Methods to determine optimal timing for next intervention are warranted.

Comparative evaluation of tensile bond strength and microleakage of conventional glass ionomer cement, resin modified glass ionomer cement and compomer: An in vitro study.

PubMed

Rekha, C Vishnu; Varma, Balagopal; Jayanthi

2012-07-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the tensile bond strength and microleakage of Fuji IX GP, Fuji II LC, and compoglass and to compare bond strength with degree of microleakage exhibited by the same materials. Occlusal surfaces of 96 noncarious primary teeth were ground perpendicular to long axis of the tooth. Preparations were distributed into three groups consisting of Fuji IX GP, Fuji II LC and Compoglass. Specimens were tested for tensile bond strength by mounting them on Instron Universal Testing Machine. Ninety-six primary molars were treated with Fuji IX GP, Fuji II LC, and compoglass on box-only prepared proximal surface. Samples were thermocycled, stained with dye, sectioned, and scored for microleakage under stereomicroscope. ANOVA and Bonferrani correction test were done for comparisons. Pearson Chi-square test and regression analysis were done to assess the association between the parameters. Compoglass showed highest tensile strength and Fuji II LC showed least microleakage. There was a significant difference between the three groups in tensile strength and microleakage levels. The correlation between tensile strength and microleakage level in each group showed that there was a significant negative correlation only in Group 3. Fuji II LC and compoglass can be advocated in primary teeth because of their superior physical properties when compared with Fuji IX GP.

[Music therapy and regional anesthesia in orthopedic surgery].

PubMed

Rupérez Ruiz, Ma Pilar; De San José, Isabel; Hermoso Montoya, Anna; Ferreira Valencia, Teresa; Gómez Sanz, Amelia; López Gutiérrez, Anna

2014-06-01

To evaluate the sedative effects, intra-operation, of music therapy in orthopedic surgery patients with locoregional anesthesia in the Hospital Clínic i Provincial of Barcelona. Prospective comparative study on a random sample of 110 patients undergoing or not music therapy. The degree of anxiety was assessed with the Questionnaire STAIC. The application of the music was done with a MP3 player and headphones. The collected data were analyzed with Excel. For the statistical analysis we used the SPSS-18 software and Chi-square test to test the hypothesis of whether there was relationship between the level of peace and music therapy. After the analysis, the results of Chi-square were in the group of no sedation with/without music Chi2 = 2.01, P = 0.35. The statistical significance level was p < 0.05. No relationship was found between hearing music or not and the patient's comfort level. Most patients recommend listening to music in the operating room despite the sounds around do not bother them.

Barriers and benefits of a healthy diet in spain: comparison with other European member states.

PubMed

Holgado, B; de Irala-Estévez, J; Martínez-González, M A; Gibney, M; Kearney, J; Martínez, J A

2000-06-01

Our purpose was to identify the main barriers and benefits perceived by the European citizens in regard to following a healthy diet and to assess the differences in expected benefits and difficulties between Spain and the remaining countries of the European Union. A cross-sectional study in which quota-controlled, nationally representative samples of approximately 1000 adults from each country completed a questionnaire. The survey was carried out between October 1995 and February 1996 in the 15 member states of the European Union. Participants (aged 15 y and older) were selected and interviewed in their homes about their attitudes towards healthy diets. They were asked to select two options from a list of 22 potential barriers to achieve a healthy diet and the benefits derived from a healthy diet. The associations of the perceived benefits of barriers with the sociodemographic variables within Spain and the rest of the European Union were compared with the Pearson chi-squared test and the chi-squared linear trend test. Two multivariate logistic regression models were also fitted to assess the characteristics independently related to the selection of 'Resistance to change' among the main barriers and to the selection of 'Prevent disease/stay healthy' as the main perceived benefits. The barrier most frequently mentioned in Spain was 'Irregular work hours' (29.7%) in contrast with the rest of the European Union where 'Giving up foods that I like' was the barrier most often chosen (26.2%). In the multivariate logistic regression model studying resistance to change, Spaniards were less resistant to change than the rest of the European Union. The benefit more frequently mentioned across Europe was 'Prevent disease/stay healthy'. In the multivariate logistic regression model women, older individuals, and people with a higher educational level were more likely to choose this benefit. It is apparent that there are many barriers to achieve healthy eating, mostly lack of time. For this reason a higher availability of food in line with the nutrition guidelines could be helpful. The population could have a better knowledge of the benefits derived from a healthy diet.

Knowledge, skills and attitudes of hospital pharmacists in the use of information technology and electronic tools to support clinical practice: A Brazilian survey

PubMed Central

Vasconcelos, Hemerson Bruno da Silva; Woods, David John

2017-01-01

This study aimed to identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes of Brazilian hospital pharmacists in the use of information technology and electronic tools to support clinical practice. Methods: A questionnaire was sent by email to clinical pharmacists working public and private hospitals in Brazil. The instrument was validated using the method of Polit and Beck to determine the content validity index. Data (n = 348) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square test and Gamma correlation tests. Results: Pharmacists had 1–4 electronic devices for personal use, mainly smartphones (84.8%; n = 295) and laptops (81.6%; n = 284). At work, pharmacists had access to a computer (89.4%; n = 311), mostly connected to the internet (83.9%; n = 292). They felt competent (very capable/capable) searching for a web page/web site on a specific subject (100%; n = 348), downloading files (99.7%; n = 347), using spreadsheets (90.2%; n = 314), searching using MeSH terms in PubMed (97.4%; n = 339) and general searching for articles in bibliographic databases (such as Medline/PubMed: 93.4%; n = 325). Pharmacists did not feel competent in using statistical analysis software (somewhat capable/incapable: 78.4%; n = 273). Most pharmacists reported that they had not received formal education to perform most of these actions except searching using MeSH terms. Access to bibliographic databases was available in Brazilian hospitals, however, most pharmacists (78.7%; n = 274) reported daily use of a non-specific search engine such as Google. This result may reflect the lack of formal knowledge and training in the use of bibliographic databases and difficulty with the English language. The need to expand knowledge about information search tools was recognized by most pharmacists in clinical practice in Brazil, especially those with less time dedicated exclusively to clinical activity (Chi-square, p = 0.006). Conclusion: These results will assist in defining minimal competencies for the training of pharmacists in the field of information technology to support clinical practice. Knowledge and skill gaps are evident in the use of bibliographic databases, spreadsheets and statistical tools. PMID:29272292

Assessing validity of a short food frequency questionnaire on present dietary intake of elderly Icelanders

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Few studies exist on the validity of food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) administered to elderly people. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of a short FFQ on present dietary intake, developed specially for the AGES-Reykjavik Study, which includes 5,764 elderly individuals. Assessing the validity of FFQs is essential before they are used in studies on diet-related disease risk and health outcomes. Method 128 healthy elderly participants (74 y ± 5.7; 58.6% female) answered the AGES-FFQ, and subsequently filled out a 3-day weighed food record. Validity of the AGES-FFQ was assessed by comparing its answers to the dietary data obtained from the weighed food records, using Spearman's rank correlation, Chi-Square/Kendall's tau, and a Jonckheere-Terpstra test for trend. Result For men a correlation ≥ 0.4 was found for potatoes, fresh fruits, oatmeal/muesli, cakes/cookies, candy, dairy products, milk, pure fruit juice, cod liver oil, coffee, tea and sugar in coffee/tea (r = 0.40-0.71). A lower, but acceptable, correlation was also found for raw vegetables (r = 0.33). The highest correlation for women was found for consumption of rye bread, oatmeal/muesli, raw vegetables, candy, dairy products, milk, pure fruit juice, cod liver oil, coffee and tea (r = 0.40-0.61). An acceptable correlation was also found for fish topping/salad, fresh fruit, blood/liver sausage, whole-wheat bread, and sugar in coffee/tea (r = 0.28-0.37). Questions on meat/fish meals, cooked vegetables and soft drinks did not show a significant correlation to the reference method. Pearson Chi-Square and Kendall's tau showed similar results, as did the Jonckheere-Terpstra trend test. Conclusion A majority of the questions in the AGES-FFQ had an acceptable correlation and may be used to rank individuals according to their level of intake of several important foods/food groups. The AGES-FFQ on present diet may therefore be used to study the relationship between consumption of several specific foods/food groups and various health-related endpoints gathered in the AGES-Reykjavik Study. PMID:22413931

Knowledge, skills and attitudes of hospital pharmacists in the use of information technology and electronic tools to support clinical practice: A Brazilian survey.

PubMed

Néri, Eugenie Desirèe Rabelo; Meira, Assuero Silva; Vasconcelos, Hemerson Bruno da Silva; Woods, David John; Fonteles, Marta Maria de França

2017-01-01

This study aimed to identify the knowledge, skills and attitudes of Brazilian hospital pharmacists in the use of information technology and electronic tools to support clinical practice. A questionnaire was sent by email to clinical pharmacists working public and private hospitals in Brazil. The instrument was validated using the method of Polit and Beck to determine the content validity index. Data (n = 348) were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square test and Gamma correlation tests. Pharmacists had 1-4 electronic devices for personal use, mainly smartphones (84.8%; n = 295) and laptops (81.6%; n = 284). At work, pharmacists had access to a computer (89.4%; n = 311), mostly connected to the internet (83.9%; n = 292). They felt competent (very capable/capable) searching for a web page/web site on a specific subject (100%; n = 348), downloading files (99.7%; n = 347), using spreadsheets (90.2%; n = 314), searching using MeSH terms in PubMed (97.4%; n = 339) and general searching for articles in bibliographic databases (such as Medline/PubMed: 93.4%; n = 325). Pharmacists did not feel competent in using statistical analysis software (somewhat capable/incapable: 78.4%; n = 273). Most pharmacists reported that they had not received formal education to perform most of these actions except searching using MeSH terms. Access to bibliographic databases was available in Brazilian hospitals, however, most pharmacists (78.7%; n = 274) reported daily use of a non-specific search engine such as Google. This result may reflect the lack of formal knowledge and training in the use of bibliographic databases and difficulty with the English language. The need to expand knowledge about information search tools was recognized by most pharmacists in clinical practice in Brazil, especially those with less time dedicated exclusively to clinical activity (Chi-square, p = 0.006). These results will assist in defining minimal competencies for the training of pharmacists in the field of information technology to support clinical practice. Knowledge and skill gaps are evident in the use of bibliographic databases, spreadsheets and statistical tools.

Draping education to promote patient dignity: canadian physiotherapy student and instructor perceptions.

PubMed

Wilson, Nicole; Hopkins-Rosseel, Diana; Lusty, Christopher; Averns, Henry; Hopman, Wilma

2012-01-01

To determine the perceptions of educators and students in Canadian entry-level professional physiotherapy programmes with respect to the current draping curriculum and the methods of delivery of that content and to determine if there is a need for additional draping education time and resources in these programmes. Canadian university physiotherapy students (n=127) and educators (n=183) completed questionnaires designed by the authors. Data were collected via Survey Monkey, exported as Excel files, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square analysis. Students and educators agreed that dignity as a concept and draping as a skill to protect patient dignity are both important and should be included in Canadian physiotherapy curricula. Respondents also agreed that students often have difficulty with draping. Educators identified barriers to teaching draping while students identified components of an effective educational resource on draping. To enhance the development of effective draping skills among entry-level physiotherapists, draping education should be included in Canadian physiotherapy curricula. An effective draping educational resource should be developed for educators and students. Purpose: To determine the perceptions of educators and students in Canadian entry-level professional physiotherapy programmes with respect to the current draping curriculum and the methods of delivery of that content and to determine if there is a need for additional draping education time and resources in these programmes. Methods: Canadian university physiotherapy students ( n =127) and educators ( n =183) completed questionnaires designed by the authors. Data were collected via Survey Monkey, exported as Excel files, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square analysis. Results: Students and educators agreed that dignity as a concept and draping as a skill to protect patient dignity are both important and should be included in Canadian physiotherapy curricula. Respondents also agreed that students often have difficulty with draping. Educators identified barriers to teaching draping while students identified components of an effective educational resource on draping. Conclusions: To enhance the development of effective draping skills among entry-level physiotherapists, draping education should be included in Canadian physiotherapy curricula. An effective draping educational resource should be developed for educators and students.

The Effect of Number of Ability Intervals on the Stability of Item Bias Detection.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Loyd, Brenda

The chi-square procedure has been suggested as a viable index of test bias because it provides the best agreement with the three parameter item characteristic curve without the large sample requirement, computer complexity, and cost. This study examines the effect of using different numbers of ability intervals on the reliability of chi-square…

Prevalence of habitual refractive errors and anisometropia among Dutch schoolchildren and hospital employees.

PubMed

Hendricks, Theo J W; de Brabander, John; Vankan-Hendricks, Marlou H P; van der Horst, Frans G; Hendrikse, Fred; Knottnerus, J Andre

2009-08-01

Refractive error (RE) is suggested to cause not only visual impairment, but also functional problems such as aspecific health complaints and lower levels of school achievement. During the last few decades the prevalence of myopia has increased worldwide, especially in Asia. We investigated the prevalence of habitual RE and anisometropia in a Dutch population of children and employees. In a cross-sectional study, RE in both eyes of 520 children (aged 11-13 years) and 444 hospital employees (aged 17-60 years) were measured using an autorefractometer. The measurements were performed without using a cycloplegium. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) was used to analyse correlations between the right and left eyes. Chi-square tests were used to test the differences between subgroups according to gender and age. In schoolchildren 28% of right eyes were myopic (> 0.50 D) and 8% hyperopic (> 0.50 D). Pearson's r between right and left eyes for spherical equivalent power (SEP) was 0.93. The mean cylinder deviation in right eyes was 0.26 D (range 0.00-4.50 D). Anisometropia > 1.00 D was present in 4.6% of children; 22% of children were not optimally (> 0.50 D) corrected. In hospital employees, 30% of right eyes were myopic (> 0.50 D) and 10% hyperopic (> 0.50 D). Pearson's r between right and left eyes for SEP was 0.53. The mean cylinder deviation in right eyes was 0.35 D (range 0.00-5.75 D). Anisometropia > 1.00 D was present in 25% of employees. Anisometropia was more frequently present in employees aged 40-60 years, than in those aged 17-39 years (30% versus 18%; p = 0.02, Cramer's V = 0.15). Refractive errors are common in children aged 11-13 years and in working adults aged 17-60 years. Distributions of sphere and cylinder deviations are similar for Dutch schoolchildren and hospital employees. Surprisingly, anisometropia proved to be more prevalent with age. In children many eyes are not optimally corrected. Increased attention should be paid to uncorrected and miscorrected REs.

The impact of prism adaptation test on surgical outcomes in patients with primary exotropia.

PubMed

Kiyak Yilmaz, Ayse; Kose, Suheyla; Guven Yilmaz, Suzan; Uretmen, Onder

2015-05-01

We aimed to determine the impact of the preoperative prism adaptation test (PAT) on surgical outcomes in patients with primary exotropia. Thirty-eight consecutive patients with primary exotropia were enrolled. Pre-operative PAT was performed in 18 randomly selected patients (Group 1). Surgery was based on the angle of deviation at distance measured after PAT. The remaining 20 patients in whom PAT was not performed comprised Group 2. Surgery was based on the angle of deviation at distance in these patients. Surgical success was defined as ocular alignment within eight prism dioptres (PD) of orthophoria. Satisfactory motor alignment (± 8 PD) was achieved in 16 Group 1 patients (88.9 per cent) and 16 Group 2 patients (80 per cent) one year after surgery (p = 0.6; chi-square test). There were no statistically significant differences in demographic parameters, pre-operative and post-operative angle of deviation between the two groups (p > 0.05; Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests). Nine patients in Group 1 (50 per cent) and two patients in Group 2 (10 per cent) had increased binocular vision one year post-operatively. A statistically significant difference was determined in terms of change in binocular single vision between the two groups (p = 0.01; chi-square test). Although the prism adaptation test did not lead to a significant increment in motor success, it may be helpful in achieving a more favourable functional surgical outcome in patients with primary exotropia. © 2014 The Authors. Clinical and Experimental Optometry © 2014 Optometrists Association Australia.

HIV-associated salivary gland disease--clinical or imaging diagnosis?

PubMed

da Silva Rath, Inês Beatriz; Beltrame, Ana Paula C A; Carvalho, Aroldo P; Schaeffer, Marcela B; Almeida, Izabel C S

2015-07-01

This work aimed at studying the salivary gland disease (SGD) as it relates to associated factors, such as persistent generalised lymphadenopathy (PGL), lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia (LIP), clinical and immunological features of AIDS, and salivary flow rate and pH, as well as at exploring the relationship between the clinical diagnosis and the imaging diagnosis by ultrasound (US) examination of the parotid glands. Information regarding the observation of parotid gland enlargement, PGL, LIP, and clinical and immunological features of AIDS was gathered from medical records, and a saliva sample for unstimulated salivary flow rate and pH measurement was collected from 142 children aged 3 through 10 years treated at the Department of Infectious Diseases of Joana de Gusmão Children's Hospital, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil. High-resolution ultrasonography was performed in 58 children. Pearson's chi-square test and t-test were used to evaluate the association between the variables. A significant association was found between SGD and LIP. Ultrasound revealed a 50% higher incidence of SGD that was not reported in the patients' records. US examination proved to be essential for the correct diagnosis and monitoring of the progression of HIV/SGD. © 2014 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The role of family and community involvement in the development and implementation of school nutrition and physical activity policy.

PubMed

Kehm, Rebecca; Davey, Cynthia S; Nanney, Marilyn S

2015-02-01

Although there are several evidence-based recommendations directed at improving nutrition and physical activity standards in schools, these guidelines have not been uniformly adopted throughout the United States. Consequently, research is needed to identify facilitators promoting schools to implement these recommendations. Therefore, this study analyzed the 2008 School Health Profiles Principal Survey (Profiles) to explore the role of family and community involvement in school nutrition and physical activity standards. Survey data on nutrition and physical activity policies, as well as family and community involvement, were available for 28 states, representing 6732 secondary schools. One-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA), 2-sample t-tests, Pearson's chi-square tests, and multiple logistic and linear regression models were employed in this analysis. Family and community involvement were associated with schools more frequently utilizing healthy eating strategies and offering students healthier food options. Further, involvement was associated with greater support for physical education staff and more intramural sports opportunities for students. Though family and community involvement have the potential to have a positive influence on school nutrition and physical activity policies and practices, involvement remains low in schools. Increased efforts are needed to encourage collaboration among schools, families, and communities to ensure the highest health standards for all students. © 2015, American School Health Association.

Serum cortisol and BDNF in patients with major depression-effect of yoga.

PubMed

Naveen, G H; Varambally, Shivarama; Thirthalli, Jagadisha; Rao, Mukund; Christopher, Rita; Gangadhar, B N

2016-06-01

Depression is associated with low serum Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and elevated levels of serum cortisol. Yoga practices have been associated with antidepressant effects, increase in serum BDNF, and reduction in serum cortisol. This study examined the association between serum BDNF and cortisol levels in drug-naïve patients with depression treated with antidepressants, yoga therapy, and both. Fifty-four drug-naïve consenting adult outpatients with Major Depression (32 males) received antidepressants only (n = 16), yoga therapy only (n = 19), or yoga with antidepressants (n = 19). Serum BDNF andcortisol levels were obtained before and after 3 months using a sandwich ELISA method. One-way ANOVA, Chi-square test, and Pearson's correlation tests were used for analysis. The groups were comparable at baseline on most parameters. Significant improvement in depression scores and serum BDNF levels, and reduction in serum cortisol in the yoga groups, have been described in previous reports. A significant negative correlation was observed between change in BDNF (pre-post) and cortisol (pre-post) levels in the yoga-only group (r = -0.59, p = 0.008). In conclusion, yoga may facilitate neuroplasticity through stress reduction in depressed patients. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings and delineate the pathways for these effects.

College Students’ Perceived Differences Between the Terms Real Meal, Meal, and Snack

PubMed Central

Banna, Jinan; Richards, Rickelle; Brown, Lora Beth

2017-01-01

Objective To assess qualitatively and quantitatively college students’ perceived differences between a real meal, meal, and snack. Design A descriptive study design was used to administer an 11-item online survey to college students. Setting Two university campuses in the western US. Participants Pilot testing was conducted with 20 students. The final survey was completed by 628 ethnically diverse students. Main Outcome Measures Students’ perceptions of the terms real meal, meal, and snack. Analysis Three researchers coded the data independently, reconciled differences via conference calls, and agreed on a final coding scheme. Data were reevaluated based on the coding scheme. Means, frequencies, Pearson chi-square, and t test statistics were used. Results More than half of students perceived a difference between the terms real meal and meal. Most (97.6%) perceived a difference between the terms meal and snack. A marked difference in the way students defined these terms was evident, with a real meal deemed nutritious and healthy and meeting dietary recommendations, compared with meals, which were considered anything to eat. Conclusions and Implications These findings suggest that the term real meal may provide nutrition educators with a simple phrase to use in educational campaigns to promote healthful food intake among college students. PMID:27993555

Newly graduated nurses' perception of competence and possible predictors: a cross-sectional survey.

PubMed

Wangensteen, Sigrid; Johansson, Inger S; Björkström, Monica E; Nordström, Gun

2012-01-01

The aim of this study was to describe newly graduated nurses' own perception of competence and to identify possible predictors influencing their perceptions. The target population included nurses who graduated from nursing colleges in June 2006. Data collection was carried out from October 2006 until April 2007 using the Nurse Competence Scale (NCS), the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory, and the Research Utilization Questionnaire. The response rate was 33% (n = 620). Pearson's chi-square test, Student t test, and regression analyses were used for statistical calculations. The respondents assessed their overall competence level as "good" and assessed themselves most competent in providing ethical and individualized nursing care. They assessed themselves least competent in evaluating outcomes and further development of patient care. Their use of competence explained between 40% (helping) and 10% (managing) of the variance within the NCS competence categories. Critical thinking (CT) was the most prominent predictor for perception of competence in all competence categories and the overall competence, alone explaining between 20% (NCS total score) and 9% (managing) of the variance. The finding that CT was a significant predictor for perception of competence may indicate that developing nursing students' CT abilities is valuable to increase newly graduated nurses' perception of competence. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Radiographic inspection of porosity in pure titanium dumbbell castings.

PubMed

Nuñez, Juliana Maria Costa; Takahashi, Jessica Mie Ferreira Koyama; Henriques, Guilherme Elias Pessanha; Nóbilo, Mauro Antônio de Arruda; Consani, Rafael Leonardo Xediek; Mesquita, Marcelo Ferraz

2011-09-01

  Titanium frameworks are frequently indicated for implant supported prostheses; however, voids are usually encountered inside cast titanium.   This study aimed to confirm the efficacy of a radiographic technique for inspection of porosity in commercially pure titanium castings with different diameter.   Sixty dumbbell rods (n=20) with a central 1.5, 2.0 and 3.5mm diameter were prepared by lost-wax casting. Cast specimens were finished and polished and submitted to radiographic examination (90kV, 15mA, 0.6s and 10-13mm of distance) using periapical film. The radiographs were visually analysed for the presence of porosity in the extension of the dumbbell or in the central portion of the rods. Data were submitted to Pearson Chi-square test (5%).   The tested radiographic method proved to be suitable for the evaluation of cast frameworks. Internal porosities were observed in most of the specimens (91.7%) (p=0.0005); however, only 20% occurred on the central portion of the rods (p=0.612).   Internal porosities can be visualised through radiographs and occur mostly in small diameter structures. The radiographic evaluation of metal structures can improve the quality of frameworks and thereby potentially increase the longevity of the rehabilitation. © 2010 The Gerodontology Society and John Wiley & Sons A/S.

[Knowledge and perception of HPV in the population over 18 years of age in the city of Ipatinga - State of Minas Gerais, Brazil].

PubMed

Abreu, Mery Natali Silva; Soares, Angela Deise; Ramos, Diemack Alle Oliveira; Soares, Fernanda Vieira; Nunes Filho, Gerson; Valadão, Analina Furtado; Motta, Patrícia Gonçalves da

2018-03-01

Several studies have identified misconceptions about human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to negligent behavior and risk to the health of the population. This article aims to assess the knowledge of men and women about HPV in the city of Ipatinga, Minas Gerais, and evaluate socioeconomic factors and preventive measures associated with such knowledge. It involved a cross-sectional study with 591 subjects living in the city, by means of stratified sampling by quotas proportional to the number of individuals by sex and age in each of the eight administrative regions of the city. Pearson's chi-square test or the t-Student test and the binary logistic regression model were used to assess the factors associated with knowledge about HPV. Less than half (40.1%) of the respondents said they knew what HPV was. Factors associated with having knowledge about HPV were being female, having secondary or tertiary education, using the private health service, having heard about or seen a campaign about HPV and knowing of the existence of a vaccine against HPV. There is a great deficit of knowledge about HPV and vague information of what is known, favoring actions with a potential risk to personal health, including that of the partner.

A study of relationship between the organizational justice and organizational citizenship behavior among nurses in selected hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

PubMed

Yaghoubi, Maryam; Afshar, Mina; Javadi, Marzieh

2012-09-01

Numerous researches have been carried out to indicate that organizational justice (OJ) is a variable that anticipates many other variables in organizations, especially in hospitals. Organizational behavior (OCB) is one of the most important variables. We aimed to study the relationship between OJ and OCB of nurses in selected hospitals in Isfahan. This was a descriptive correlational study. The research was conducted among nurses of selected hospitals in Isfahan. Data were gathered using two questionnaires of OJ, and OCB. The t-test, chi-square, and Pearson correlation test were used to analyze the data through SPSS version 13. In general, the mean score (SD) of OJ among nurses was 41.2 (16.2) and the mean score of OCB was 57.7 (18). Finally, there was no significant relationship between OJ, civil virtue, and sportsmanship. There was a significant relationship between OJ, OCB, courtesy, and conscientiousness. As the scores of OCB and OJ among nurses were average in selected hospitals, the managers of the hospitals should improve the perception of justice among nurses. Today, organizations need efficient and expert workers to achieve their goals, and to grow and improve in all aspects. In fact, the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations depend on the staffs, especially in hospitals.

Abstinence-related word associations and definitions of abstinence and virginity among missouri high school freshmen.

PubMed

Wilson, Kelly L; Smith, Matthew Lee; Menn, Mindy

2013-11-01

The ways in which adolescents define and view sex, abstinence, and virginity impact the efforts of sexuality educators and sexual health professionals. This study examined terminology used by nonsexually active high school students to define abstinence and virginity and identified words students associate with these terms. Purposes included (1) describing words/phrases associated with abstinence; (2) describing phrases for "being abstinent until marriage" and "being a virgin;" (3) assessing concordance between word dyads associated with abstinence; and (4) assessing concordance between phrases defining "abstinent until marriage" and "a virgin." In this study, 216 freshmen provided information about beliefs, behaviors, and perceptions. Pearson chi-square tests and Wilcoxon sign-rank tests assessed sex-based differences, definitions, and levels of concordance were conducted. Girls' friends took an abstinence pledge (p = .004) and their parents (p = .025) and best friends (p < .001) think they should abstain. Male counterparts reported being dissatisfied with current sex status (p = .002) and high acceptance of sex before marriage (p = .011). Boys were more likely to endorse "negative" words than girls. Professionals need to use relevant materials incorporating terminology that resonates with adolescents and programs that engage coherent participant discussions. © 2013, American School Health Association.

Comparison of Two Base Materials Regarding Their Effect on Root Canal Treatment Success in Primary Molars with Furcation Lesions

PubMed Central

Sonmez, Hayriye; Sari, Saziye

2016-01-01

Introduction. The aim of this study was to compare MTA with another base material, IRM, which is generally used on pulpal floor after root canal treatment, regarding their effect on the success of root canal treatment of primary teeth with furcation lesions. Materials and Methods. Fifty primary teeth with furcation lesions were divided into 2 groups. Following root canal treatment, the pulpal floor was coated with MTA in the experimental group and with IRM in the control group. Teeth were followed up considering clinical (pain, pathological mobility, tenderness to percussion and palpation, and any soft tissue pathology and sinus tract) and radiographical (pathological root resorption, reduced size or healing of existing lesion, and absence of new lesions at the interradicular or periapical area) criteria for 18 months. For the statistical analysis, Fisher's exact test and Pearson's chi-square tests were used and a p value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results. Although there were no statistically significant differences between two groups in terms of treatment success, lesions healed significantly faster in the MTA group. Conclusion. In primary teeth with furcation lesions, usage of MTA on the pulpal floor following root canal treatment can be a better alternative since it induced faster healing. PMID:27957486

Comparison of Two Base Materials Regarding Their Effect on Root Canal Treatment Success in Primary Molars with Furcation Lesions.

PubMed

Arikan, Volkan; Sonmez, Hayriye; Sari, Saziye

2016-01-01

Introduction. The aim of this study was to compare MTA with another base material, IRM, which is generally used on pulpal floor after root canal treatment, regarding their effect on the success of root canal treatment of primary teeth with furcation lesions. Materials and Methods. Fifty primary teeth with furcation lesions were divided into 2 groups. Following root canal treatment, the pulpal floor was coated with MTA in the experimental group and with IRM in the control group. Teeth were followed up considering clinical (pain, pathological mobility, tenderness to percussion and palpation, and any soft tissue pathology and sinus tract) and radiographical (pathological root resorption, reduced size or healing of existing lesion, and absence of new lesions at the interradicular or periapical area) criteria for 18 months. For the statistical analysis, Fisher's exact test and Pearson's chi-square tests were used and a p value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results. Although there were no statistically significant differences between two groups in terms of treatment success, lesions healed significantly faster in the MTA group. Conclusion. In primary teeth with furcation lesions, usage of MTA on the pulpal floor following root canal treatment can be a better alternative since it induced faster healing.

Association Between Mast Cells and Collagen Maturation in Chronic Periodontitis in Humans.

PubMed

E Ribeiro, Lívia S F; Dos Santos, Jean N; Rocha, Clarissa A G; Cury, Patricia R

2018-03-01

Mast cells (MCs) can influence the maturation of collagen fibers. This study evaluated the relationship between the distribution and degranulation of MCs and collagen maturation in human gingival tissue in chronic periodontitis. A total of 16 specimens of patients clinically diagnosed as periodontitis and 18 controls clinically diagnosed as healthy or gingivitis were included. Immunohistochemistry and Picrosirius staining were performed to identify MCs and assess collagen fibers, respectively. Chi-square, t test, and Pearson's correlation test ( p<0.05) were used. In control specimens, there was a positive association between MCs in the connective tissue and the presence of immature collagen ( p=0.001); in periodontitis samples, this association was not confirmed ( p≥0.12). There was no significant relationship between periodontal diagnosis and collagen maturation or MC degranulation ( p≥0.35). MC density was significantly higher ( p=0.04) in periodontitis tissue (339.01 ± 188.94 MCs/mm 2 ) than in control tissue (211.14 ± 131.13 MCs/mm 2 ) in the area of connective tissue containing inflammatory infiltrate. There was a correlation between the number of MCs and probing depth ( r = 0.34, p=0.04). MCs are involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases and might be associated with collagen maturation in periodontal tissue during the early stages of periodontal disease pathogenesis.

Association of Vitamin D with outcome after intra cytoplasmic sperm injection.

PubMed

Abdullah, Umme Hani; Lalani, Salima; Syed, Fatima; Arif, Sara; Rehman, Rehana

2017-01-01

To observe effects of vitamin D levels on pregnancy outcome after intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). It was a cross-sectional study conducted in Australian Concept Infertility Medical Center from July 2011 to August 2014. Estimation of 25-hydroxy cholecalciferol (25-OHD) of consented females (252) was done before treatment protocol for ICSI. Results of β hCG performed 14 days after embryo transfer categorized groups; Pregnant with ß hCG more than 25 IU/mL and rest included in non-pregnant group. Both groups were compared by independent sample t-test and Pearson's Chi Square test. Binary Logistic Regression Analysis was used to estimate odds ratio of pregnancy outcome with its predictors including Vitamin D. The mean value of 25-OHD, number of oocytes, fertilized oocytes and endometrial thickness was significantly higher in pregnant women. A significant positive association of 25-OHD with clinical pregnancy and thickness of endometrium was observed. After adjustment with female age and BMI, positive association of vitamin D with endometrial thickness was observed. Deficiency of 25-OHD in females hinders the accomplishment of optimal endometrial thickness required for implantation of embryo after ICSI. The improvement in vitamin D status can thus improve success results in assisted reproductive clinics.

Sensitivity of direct immunofluorescence in oral diseases. Study of 125 cases.

PubMed

Sano, Susana Mariela; Quarracino, María Cecilia; Aguas, Silvia Cristina; González, Ernestina Jesús; Harada, Laura; Krupitzki, Hugo; Mordoh, Ana

2008-05-01

Direct immunofluorescence (DIF) is widely used for the diagnosis of bullous diseases and other autoimmune pathologies such as oral lichen planus. There is no evidence in the literature on how the following variants influence the detection rate of DIF: intraoral site chosen for the biopsy, perilesional locus or distant site from the clinical lesion, number of biopsies and instrument used. to determine if the following variants influenced the sensitivity (detection rate): intraoral site chosen for the biopsy, perilesional or distant site from the clinical lesion, number of biopsies and instrument used (punch or scalpel). A retrospective study was done at the Cátedra de Patología y Clínica Bucodental II at the Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de Buenos Aires; 136 clinical medical histories were revised for the period March 2000 - March 2005 corresponding to patients with clinical diagnosis of OLP and bullous diseases (vulgar pemphigus, bullous pemphigoid and cicatricial pemphigoid). DIF detection rate was 65.8% in patients with OLP, 66.7% in cicatricial pemphigoid patients, in bullous pemphigoid 55.6%, in pemphigus vulgaris 100%, and in those cases in which certain diagnosis could not be obtained, the DIF positivity rate was 45.5% (Pearson chi(2) (4)= 21.5398 Pr= 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference between the different sites of biopsy (Fisher exact test: 0.825). DIF detection rate in perilesional biopsies was 66.1% and in those distant from the site of clinical lesion was 64.7% (Pearson chi(2) v1)= 0.0073 Pr= 0.932. When the number of biopsies were incremented, DIF detection rate also incremented (Pearson chi(2) = 8.7247 Pr= 0.003). The biopsies taken with punch had a higher detection rate than those taken with scalpel (39.1% versus 71.7%) (Pearson chi(2) = 49.0522 Pr= 0.000). While not statistically significant, the tendency outlined in this study indicates there are intraoral regions in which the detection rate of the DIF technique is higher than others: mouth floor, hard palate, superior labial mucosa, ventral face of tongue. This finding could allow a choice of accessible locations and easy operator manipulation, even in distant places from the clinical lesion. Perilesional biopsies have a detection rate similar to those taken distant from the clinical lesion, and those taken with punch have a higher sensitivity rate than those taken with scalpel (both differences were statistically significant).

Lysine clonixinate in minor dental surgery: double-blind randomized parallel study versus paracetamol.

PubMed

Martí, M L; De los Santos, A R; Di Girolamo, G; Gil, M; Manero, E O; Fraga, C

1993-01-01

Lysine clonixinate (LC), an effective and well tolerated non-morphinic analgesic whose mechanism of action is basically due to the inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase, was assessed with a double-blind randomized dummy design versus paracetamol (P) on 200 patients suffering from pain after minor dental surgery. Patients received according to their needs 1 or 2 tablets of 125 mg lysine clonixinate or 500 mg paracetamol every 8 h during 48 h or until pain relief. Both groups, each composed of 100 patients, were comparable in terms of demographic conditions (t test), initial symptoms (chi-square test), characteristics of the extracted dental pieces, surgical complications and wound treatment (chi-square test). Pain intensity scores and daily average intake of tablets (3.4/day) documented in the patients' diary revealed no statistically significant differences between the two treatments (chi-square test). It was found that spontaneous pain measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) decreased significantly in both treatment groups at the 24-h control examination. The following values were observed in the LC group: baseline 4.38 +/- 1.7; 24-h * 1.20 +/- 1.4; 48-h * 0.36 +/- 1.2. In the P group the values were: baseline 4.28 +/- 1.6; 24-h * 1.11 +/- 1.4; 48-h * 0.30 +/- 0.7 (*p < 0.05). Other variables like facial swelling and night pain, evaluated on a score from 0 to 4 and symptom presence or absence respectively, showed a similar response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Is the Pearson r[squared] Biased, and if So, What Is the Best Correction Formula?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Zhongmiao; Thompson, Bruce

2007-01-01

In this study the authors investigated the use of 5 (i.e., Claudy, Ezekiel, Olkin-Pratt, Pratt, and Smith) R[squared] correction formulas with the Pearson r[squared]. The authors estimated adjustment bias and precision under 6 x 3 x 6 conditions (i.e., population [rho] values of 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9; population shapes normal, skewness…

Microbiological analysis of infected root canals from symptomatic and asymptomatic teeth with periapical periodontitis and the antimicrobial susceptibility of some isolated anaerobic bacteria.

PubMed

Jacinto, R C; Gomes, B P F A; Ferraz, C C R; Zaia, A A; Filho, F J Souza

2003-10-01

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the composition of the bacterial flora isolated from infected root canals of teeth with apical periodontitis with the presence of clinical signs and symptoms, and to test the antibiotic susceptibility of five anaerobic bacteria mostly commonly found in the root canals of symptomatic teeth against various substances using the E-test. Microbial samples were taken from 48 root canals, 29 symptomatic and 19 asymptomatic, using adequate techniques. A total of 218 cultivable isolates were recovered from 48 different microbial species and 19 different genera. Root canals from symptomatic teeth harbored more obligate anaerobes and a bigger number of bacterial species than the asymptomatic teeth. More than 70% of the bacterial isolates were strict anaerobes. Statistical analysis used a Pearson Chi-squared test or a one-sided Fisher's Exact test as appropriate. Suggested relationships were found between specific microorganisms, especially gram-negative anaerobes, and the presence of spontaneous or previous pain, tenderness to percussion, pain on palpation and swelling amoxicillin, amoxicillin + clavulanate and cephaclor were effective against all the strains tested. The lowest susceptibility rate was presented by Prevotella intermedia/nigrescens against Penicillin G. Our results suggested that specific bacteria are associated with endodontic symptoms of infected teeth with periapical periodontitis and the majority of the anaerobic bacterial species tested were susceptible to all antibiotics studied.

A note on the SG( m) test

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

López, Fernando A.; Matilla-García, Mariano; Mur, Jesús; Páez, Antonio; Ruiz, Manuel

2016-01-01

López et al. (Reg Sci Urban Econ 40(2-3):106-115, 2010) introduce a nonparametric test of spatial dependence, called SG( m). The test is claimed to be consistent and asymptotically Chi-square distributed. Elsinger (Reg Sci Urban Econ 43(5):838-840, 2013) raises doubts about the two properties. Using a particular counterexample, he shows that the asymptotic distribution of the SG( m) test may be far from the Chi-square family; the property of consistency is also questioned. In this note, the authors want to clarify the properties of the SG( m) test. We argue that the cause of the conflict is in the specification of the symbolization map. The discrepancies can be solved by adjusting some of the definitions made in the original paper. Moreover, we introduce a permutational bootstrapped version of the SG( m) test, which is powerful and robust to the underlying statistical assumptions. This bootstrapped version may be very useful in an applied context.

Key factors contributing to accident severity rate in construction industry in Iran: a regression modelling approach.

PubMed

Soltanzadeh, Ahmad; Mohammadfam, Iraj; Moghimbeigi, Abbas; Ghiasvand, Reza

2016-03-01

Construction industry involves the highest risk of occupational accidents and bodily injuries, which range from mild to very severe. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the factors associated with accident severity rate (ASR) in the largest Iranian construction companies based on data about 500 occupational accidents recorded from 2009 to 2013. We also gathered data on safety and health risk management and training systems. Data were analysed using Pearson's chi-squared coefficient and multiple regression analysis. Median ASR (and the interquartile range) was 107.50 (57.24- 381.25). Fourteen of the 24 studied factors stood out as most affecting construction accident severity (p<0.05). These findings can be applied in the design and implementation of a comprehensive safety and health risk management system to reduce ASR.

Classifier for gravitational-wave inspiral signals in nonideal single-detector data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kapadia, S. J.; Dent, T.; Dal Canton, T.

2017-11-01

We describe a multivariate classifier for candidate events in a templated search for gravitational-wave (GW) inspiral signals from neutron-star-black-hole (NS-BH) binaries, in data from ground-based detectors where sensitivity is limited by non-Gaussian noise transients. The standard signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and chi-squared test for inspiral searches use only properties of a single matched filter at the time of an event; instead, we propose a classifier using features derived from a bank of inspiral templates around the time of each event, and also from a search using approximate sine-Gaussian templates. The classifier thus extracts additional information from strain data to discriminate inspiral signals from noise transients. We evaluate a random forest classifier on a set of single-detector events obtained from realistic simulated advanced LIGO data, using simulated NS-BH signals added to the data. The new classifier detects a factor of 1.5-2 more signals at low false positive rates as compared to the standard "reweighted SNR" statistic, and does not require the chi-squared test to be computed. Conversely, if only the SNR and chi-squared values of single-detector events are available, random forest classification performs nearly identically to the reweighted SNR.

Simulation of Autonomic Logistics System (ALS) Sortie Generation

DTIC Science & Technology

2003-03-01

84 Appendix B. ANOVA Assumptions Mission Capable Rate ANOVA Assumptions Constant Variance SSR # X cols SSE n Breusch - Pagan Chi-square 3.57E...85 Flying Scheduling Effectiveness ANOVA Assumptions Constant Variance SSR # X cols SSE n Breusch - Pagan Chi-square 2.12E-10 3 0.000816 270...Constant Variance SSR # X cols SSE n Breusch - Pagan Chi-square 1.86E-09 3 0.003758 270 3.20308814 0.9556957 Independence Durbin-Watson

Immediate Postoperative Pain and Recovery Time after Pulpotomy Performed under General Anaesthesia in Young Children

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Background The aim of this retrospective study was to compare immediate postoperative pain scores and need for rescue analgesia in children who underwent pulpotomies and restorative treatment and those who underwent restorative treatment only, all under general anaesthesia. Methods Ninety patients aged between 3 and 7 years who underwent full mouth dental rehabilitation under general anaesthesia were enrolled in the study and reviewed. The experimental group included patients who were treated with at least one pulpotomy, and the control group was treated with dental fillings only. The Wong-Baker FACES scale was used to evaluate self-reported pain and need for rescue analgesia. The data were analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, two sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and Pearson's correlation analysis. Results Ninety percent of the children experienced postoperative pain in varying degrees of severity. Immediate postoperative pain scores in experimental group were found to be significantly higher than in control group (x2 = 24.82, p < 0.01). In the experimental group, 48% of the children needed rescue analgesia, compared with only 13% of the children in the control group (x2 = 13.27, p < 0.05). Conclusion Children who underwent pulpotomy treatment had higher postoperative pain scores and greater need for rescue analgesia than control group who underwent only dental fillings. PMID:28684927

Decision-making in end of life care. Are we really playing together in the same team?

PubMed

Lomero-Martínez, M M; Jiménez-Herrera, M F; Bodí-Saera, M A; Llauradó-Serra, M; Masnou-Burrallo, N; Oliver-Juan, E; Sandiumenge-Camps, A

2018-05-18

Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is increasingly common in critical care units, and controlled donation after circulatory death is starting to be included as an option within patient care plans. Lack of knowledge and misunderstandings can place a barrier between healthcare professionals. To determine the perceptions, knowledge and attitudes of physicians and nurses working in intensive care units regarding Limitation of life-sustaining treatment and controlled donation after circulatory death. Cross-sectional study carried out in 13 Spanish hospitals by means of an ad hoc questionnaire. Contingency tables, Pearson's chi-squared test, Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney u-test were used to carry out descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses of responses. Although Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is a widespread practice, the survey revealed that nurses feel excluded from the development of protocols and the decision-making process, whilst the perception of physicians is that they have greater knowledge of the topic, and decisions are reached in consensus. Multi-disciplinary training programmes can help critical healthcare providers to work together with greater coordination, thus benefitting patients and their next of kin by providing excellent end-of-life care. Copyright © 2018 Sociedad Española de Enfermería Intensiva y Unidades Coronarias (SEEIUC). Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Improving oral health in low-income pregnant women with a nurse practitioner-directed oral care program.

PubMed

Cibulka, Nancy J; Forney, Sandra; Goodwin, Kathy; Lazaroff, Patricia; Sarabia, Rebecca

2011-05-01

To test the effectiveness of an advanced practice nurse model of care to improve oral health in low-income pregnant women. Pregnant women (n=170) were randomized to either control or experimental group in a hospital-based inner city clinic in the Midwest. Participants completed pretest and posttest questionnaires. Those in the experimental group participated in an educational session, received dental supplies, and were scheduled for an oral care appointment. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-tests, and Pearson's chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Knowledge scores showed a small positive trend while favorable self-perception of oral health increased significantly in the experimental group. The experimental group demonstrated a significant increase in frequency of brushing and flossing teeth, marked reduction in intake of high sugar drinks, and reported more than twice as many visits for a dental check-up than the control group. Significant barriers to obtaining oral health services were identified. Because adverse pregnancy outcomes have been linked to periodontitis in numerous research studies, pregnant women must be educated about the importance of oral health and the necessity of a check-up. APNs are in an ideal position to educate women and assist them to obtain necessary oral health services. ©2011 The Author(s) Journal compilation ©2011 American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

PubMed Central

AHADI, H.; JOMEHRI, F.; RAHGOZAR, M.

2013-01-01

Summary Objectives. Despite advances in screening and treatment during past several Decades, cervical cancer remains a major health problem for Iranian women. Recent researches have focused on factors related to development of health behavior in an effort to design effective early interventions. The current study aimed to investigate the role of attachment styles on cervix cancer screening barriers among women of BandarAbbas-Iran. Methods. In an analytic-cross sectional study, 681 women aged 21-65 referring to health centers were selected randomly and after completing written informed consents were investigated by Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) (Collins and Read), Pap smear screening barriers and demographic data questionnaire. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation coefficient, linear regressions and chi-square test. Results. The results showed significant association between attachment styles and screening barriers. There was a negative significant relation between secure attachment style and screening barriers and there was a positive significant association between insecure attachment style (anxiety and avoidant) and screening barriers. The regression analysis indicated that insecure attachment style (avoidant) were predictors of barriers to the Pap smear screening test in this regard. There was a significant association between age and residential area and participation in Pap smear test. Conclusions. Insecure attachment style is associated with hazardous risk behaviors and these results can be useful for health service providers in preventive planning of screening and identification of people susceptible to risk and the design of the intervention. PMID:24779284

School based oral health promotional intervention: Effect on knowledge, practices and clinical oral health related parameters

PubMed Central

Gauba, Arjun; Bal, Ikreet Singh; Jain, Ashish; Mittal, Hitesh Chander

2013-01-01

Background: No organized school oral health program is existent in India. Aim: The aim of this study is to test the feasibility and efficacy of an economical school oral health promotional intervention with educational and preventive components. Settings and Design: School oral health promotional intervention carried out in one of the randomly selected school and evaluated through short duration prospective model. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 children with an age range of 10-12 years with no previous history of dental intervention were enrolled. Interventions comprised of oral health education (delivered through lecture and demonstrations by an undergraduate dental student) and topical antibacterial therapy (fluoride varnish and povidone iodine). Outcomes consisted of Knowledge and practices (KAP) regarding oral health, clinical oral health related parameters such as plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI) and caries activity as per Modified Snyder's test. These were reported at baseline, 3 weeks and 6 months follow-up examination by a calibrated examiner. Statistical Analysis: McNemar Bowker's test, Student's t-test, Pearson Chi-square tests were used. Results: Highly significant (P < 0.001) improvements in KAP scores, PI scores, GI scores and caries activity were reported at 3 weeks and 6 months follow-up examination. Conclusion: This small economical school oral health program positively influenced oral health related practices and parameters of oral health such as oral cleanliness, gingival health and caries activity. PMID:24403795

Critical assessment of the pH of children's soap.

PubMed

Mendes, Bruna Rafaela; Shimabukuro, Danielle Midori; Uber, Marjorie; Abagge, Kerstin Taniguchi

2016-01-01

To evaluate the pH value of children's antibacterial soaps and syndets used in children's baths and verify whether there is information regarding pH on the product label. Quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical observational study that included ninety soap samples, both in bar and liquid presentations, as follows: 67 children's soap (group 1), 17 antibacterial soaps (group 2), and 6 syndets (group 3). Each sample had its pH measured after 1% dilution. In addition to descriptive statistics, the Pearson-Yates chi-squared test and Student's t-tests were applied, considering the minimal significance level of 5%. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used for inferential statistics. The pH levels varied considerably between liquid and bar presentations, with lower levels (4.4-7.9) found for the liquids (p<0.05). Syndets showed pH levels close to the ideal (slightly acid) and the antibacterial soaps showed the highest pH levels (up to 11.34) (p<0.05). Only two of the soaps included in the study had information about their pH levels on the product packaging. Knowledge of the pH of children's soap by doctors and users is important, considering the great pH variability found in this study. Moreover, liquid soaps, and especially syndets, are the most recommended for the sensitive skin of neonates and infants, in order to guarantee skin barrier efficacy. Copyright © 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Fentanyl reduces desflurane-induced airway irritability following thiopental administration in children.

PubMed

Lee, J; Oh, Y; Kim, C; Kim, S; Park, H; Kim, H

2006-10-01

Airway irritation is a major drawback of desflurane anesthesia. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of intravenous fentanyl given before thiopental induction on airway irritation caused by a stepwise increase in desflurane in children. Eighty children (2-8 years) were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind study. Forty received saline and 40 received 2 microg/kg of fentanyl intravenously; this was followed by thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg in both groups. Patients were assistant-ventilated with desflurane 1%, which was then increased by 1% every six breaths up to 10%. During this period, cough, secretion, excitation and apnea were graded and the desflurane concentration at which airway irritation symptoms first occurred was recorded. The results were analyzed using Pearson's chi-squared test. The incidence of typical airway irritation events was lower with fentanyl than with saline (cough, 2.5% vs. 42.5%; secretion, 27.5% vs. 82.5%; excitation, 10% vs. 82.5%; apnea, 20% vs. 65%; P < 0.05). The mean expired desflurane concentration at which the first airway irritation symptom occurred was greater with fentanyl than with saline (7.3% vs. 5.5%, P < 0.05). Intravenous fentanyl in children reduces airway complications caused by desflurane.

The outcome of apical microsurgery using MTA as the root-end filling material: 2- to 6-year follow-up study.

PubMed

Çalışkan, M K; Tekin, U; Kaval, M E; Solmaz, M C

2016-03-01

To evaluate the influence of various predictors on the healing outcome 2-6 years after apical microsurgery (AMS) using MTA as the root-end filling material. A total of 90 anterior teeth with asymptomatic persistent periradicular periodontitis of strictly endodontic origin that failed after either nonsurgical or surgical treatment were included. Surgery was completed under local anaesthesia using a standardized clinical protocol. Clinical and radiographic measures as well as the follow-up period were used to determine the healing outcome. For statistical analysis of the predictors, the outcome was dichotomized into healed cases and nonhealed cases. Odds ratios were calculated, and Pearson chi-square or Fisher's exact tests were used to analyse the data. Clinical and radiographic assessment of AMS revealed that 80% were healed, 14.4% were nonhealed, whilst 5.6% were judged to be uncertain. None of the various predictors investigated had a significant influence on the outcome of AMS. The results of this clinical study demonstrated that 80% of cases that received apical microsurgery healed when using MTA as the root-end filling material. © 2015 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Burden of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease on Patients' Daily Lives: A Cross-Sectional Study Conducted in a Primary Care Setting in Serbia.

PubMed

Bjelović, Miloš; Babić, Tamara; Dragicević, Igor; Corac, Aleksandar; Goran Trajković

2015-01-01

Recent data from the studies conducted in the Western countries have proved that patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease have significantly impaired health-related quality of life compared to general population. The study is aimed at evaluating the burden of reflux symptoms on patients'health-related quality of life. The study involved 1,593 patients with diagnosed gastroesophageal reflux disease.The Serbian version of a generic self-administered Centers for Disease Control and Prevention questionnaire was used. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square test and a multiple regression model. Among all participants, 43.9% reported fair or poor health. Mean value of unhealthy days during the past 30 days was 10.4 days, physically unhealthy days 6.4 days, mentally unhealthy days 5.3 days and activity limitation days 4.3 days. Furthermore, 24.8% participants reported having ≥ 14 unhealthy days, 14.9% had 14 physically unhealthy days, 11.8% reported 14 mentally unhealthy days, and 9.4% had ≥ 14 activity limitation days. This study addressed complex relationships between reflux symptoms and patients'impaired everyday lives.

Creativity and mental health: A profile of writers and musicians

PubMed Central

Pavitra, K. S.; Chandrashekar, C. R.; Choudhury, Partha

2007-01-01

Creativity and its link with mental health have always been much speculated about. However there have been a handful of methodologically sound studies to clearly establish the relationship between creativity and mental health. The objective of the study therefore was to examine the psychiatric morbidity stress profile, coping skills and personality profile in creative versus non-creative populations. Forty writers, 40 musicians and 40 controls chosen after randomization, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria constituted the sample of the study. All the subjects were administered GHQ-28; SCAN for all GHQ positives (and 10% of GHQ-ves), Perceived stress scale and coping check list and NEO-FFI. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 11.0 version. Pearson's correlation, Chi-square and ANOVA one-way tests were used. The present study corroborated the findings of earlier studies in 70's and 80's that there was no difference between creative and non-creative groups in terms of mental illness and stress profile. The writers differed significantly from the other two groups on religious and faith domain of coping skills. The two creative groups had similar personality characteristics and scored significantly high on all dimensions compared to the non-creative group. PMID:20640063

ACTN3 genotypes of Rugby Union players: distribution, power output and body composition.

PubMed

Bell, W; Colley, J P; Evans, W D; Darlington, S E; Cooper, S-M

2012-01-01

To identify the distribution and explore the relationship between ACTN3 genotypes and power and body composition phenotypes. Case control and association studies were employed using a homogeneous group of players (n = 102) and a control group (n = 110). Power-related phenotypes were measured using the counter movement jump (CMJ) and body composition phenotypes by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Statistics used were Pearson's chi-square, ANCOVA, coefficients of correlation and independent t-tests. Genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic Ddel digestion. Genotype proportions of players were compared with controls (p = 0.07). No significant genotype differences occurred between forwards or backs (p = 0.822) or within-forwards (p = 0.882) or within-backs (p = 0.07). Relative force and velocity were significantly larger in backs, power significantly greater in forwards; in body composition, all phenotypes were significantly greater in forwards than backs. Correlations between phenotypes were greater for the RX genotype (p = 0.05-0.01). Relationships between ACTN3 genotypes and power or body composition-related phenotypes were not significant. As fat increased, power-related phenotypes decreased. As body composition increased, power-related phenotypes increased.

Pre-emptive intrathecal vancomycin therapy reduces external ventricular drain infection: a single centre retrospective case-control study.

PubMed

Fu, Richard Z; Anwar, Durria R; Laban, James T; Maratos, Eleni C; Minhas, Pawanjit S; Martin, Andrew J

2017-02-01

External ventricular drain (EVD)-related infection is a significant source of morbidity in neurosurgical patients. Recently, there has been a drive to adopt new catheters with bactericidal properties to reduce infection rates. We propose that the use of standard catheters combined with pre-emptive intrathecal vancomycin (ITV) 10 mg daily provides an effective alternative. Retrospective study of all patients with EVDs between 2010 and 2012, comparing infection rates in those who did and did not receive pre-emptive ITV. All EVDs were of the standard silicon catheter type. CSF infection was defined, as per Centre for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, as clinical suspicion ± positive CSF gram stain/culture or leucocytosis. Infection rates were compared using Pearson's chi-squared test. 262 EVDs were included in the study, of which 111 were managed with pre-emptive ITV. The infection rate was 2.7% in the vancomycin group and 11.9% in the control group (p<.01). There were no cases of vancomycin-resistant infection in either group. The use of pre-emptive ITV is associated with a significantly lower EVD infection rate. This compares favourably with those reported in the literature for bactericidal catheters.

Epidemiology of injuries in Belgium: contribution of hospital data for surveillance.

PubMed

Senterre, Christelle; Levêque, Alain; Di Pierdomenico, Lionel; Dramaix-Wilmet, Michèle; Pirson, Magali

2014-01-01

Investigating injuries in terms of occurrences and patient and hospital stay characteristics. 17370 stays, with at least one E code, were investigated based on data from 13 Belgian hospitals. Pearson's chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess the variations between distributions of the investigated factors according to the injury's types. Major injuries were accidental falls, transport injuries, and self-inflicted injuries. There were more men in the transport injuries group and the accidental falls group was older. For the transport injuries, there were more arrivals with the support of a mobile intensive care unit and/or a paramedic intervention team and a general practitioner was more implicated for the accidental falls. In three-quarters of cases, it was a primary diagnostic related to injury and poisoning which was made. The median length of stay was nearly equal to one week and for accidental falls, this value is three times higher. The median cost, from the social security point of view, for all injuries was equal to € 1377 and there was a higher median cost within the falls group. This study based on hospitals data provides important information both on factors associated with and on hospital costs generated by injuries.

Utilization of Dental Services in Public Health Center: Dental Attendance, Awareness and Felt Needs.

PubMed

Pewa, Preksha; Garla, Bharath K; Dagli, Rushabh; Bhateja, Geetika Arora; Solanki, Jitendra

2015-10-01

In rural India, dental diseases occur due to many factors, which includes inadequate or improper use of fluoride and a lack of knowledge regarding oral health and oral hygiene, which prevent proper screening and dental care of oral diseases. The objective of the study was to evaluate the dental attendance, awareness and utilization of dental services in public health center. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 251 study subjects who were visiting dental outpatient department (OPD) of public health centre (PHC), Guda Bishnoi, and Jodhpur using a pretested proforma from month of July 2014 to October 2014. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data regarding socioeconomic status and demographic factors affecting the utilization of dental services. Pearson's Chi-square test and step-wise logistic regression were applied for the analysis. Statistically significant results were found in relation to age, educational status, socioeconomic status and gender with dental attendance, dental awareness and felt needs. p-value <0.05 was kept as statistically significant. The services provided in public health center should be based on the felt need of the population to increase attendance as well as utilization of dental services, thereby increasing the oral health status of the population.

A cross-sectional study of elderly Asian and European women with primary operable breast cancer aged 70 and older. Are there differences?

PubMed

Tea, Muy-Kheng M; Tang, Lichen; Di, Gen-Hong; Muin, Dana; Steurer, Stefan; Delancey, James W; Shao, Zhi-Ming; Singer, Christian F

2012-11-01

Breast cancer (BC) is becoming a disease of the elderly. Additionally, BC-incidence is rising in Asia. The aim of this study was to explore clinico-pathological characteristics and differences of breast cancer in elderly Asian/Han-Chinese compared to Caucasian/Austrian women. A total number of 630 consecutive primary operable, unilateral breast cancer cases, 70 years and older, were analyzed. Histo-pathological findings and biological characteristics of 198 Caucasian/Austrian were compared with 432 Asian/Han-Chinese. Pearson's chi-square test was used to assess differences in the analyzed populations. A significantly higher rate of triple-negative BC (p=0.027) was diagnosed among the Chinese geriatric population. More estrogen-receptor positive BC was detected in the Caucasian study group (p<0.001). No statistically significant differences were detected based on tumor size, axillary lymph-node status, nor HER2-receptor expression. This study will help us gain additional ethnic-specific insight into the biological characteristics of breast cancer in the elderly Caucasian/Austrian and Asian/Han-Chinese populations. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oral health literacy: awareness and practices among pediatric dentists.

PubMed

Stowers, Megan E; Lee, Jessica Y; Majewski, Robert F; Estrella, Maria Regina P; Taylor, George W; Boynton, James R

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine pediatric dentists' awareness and experiences with oral health literacy and to identify communication techniques used with parents. Active North American members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry were invited to participate in the survey. Descriptive statistical analyses were completed, and Pearson's chi-square crosstabs tests were used to compare categorical data between groups. Data were collected from 22 percent (N=1,059) of pediatric dentists; 68 to 87 percent use basic communication techniques routinely, while 36 to 79 percent routinely use enhanced communication techniques. Approximately 59 percent (N=620) reported having had an experience with health literacy miscommunication, while 11 percent (N=116) are aware of an error in patient care that resulted from oral health literacy miscommunication. Respondents who have had an experience with miscommunication were significantly more likely statistically to perceive barriers to effective communication as more significant than those without a history of miscommunication experience (P<.001). Most pediatric dentists have experienced situations in which a parent has misunderstood information. Basic communication techniques were most commonly used, while enhanced communication techniques were used less routinely. Those who have had experience with oral health literacy miscommunication events perceive barriers to effective communication as more significant.

Odontogenic sinus tracts: a cohort study.

PubMed

Slutzky-Goldberg, Iris; Tsesis, Igor; Slutzky, Hagay; Heling, Ilana

2009-01-01

To determine the prevalence,location, and distribution of sinus tracts in patients referred for endodontic consultation. This cohort study included 1,119 subjects referred for endodontic consultation, 108 of whom presented with sinus tracts. Following clinical and radiographic examination, the diameter of the rarifying osteitis lesion on the radiograph was measured and the path and origin of the sinus tracts determined. Signs and symptoms, tooth site,buccal/lingual location, and diameter were recorded. Data were statistically analyzed using Pearson chi-square test. Sinus tracts originated mainly from maxillary teeth (63.1%); only 38.9% originated from mandibular teeth. Chronic periapical abscess was the most prevalent diagnosed origin (71.0%). Broken restorations were highly associated with the presence of sinus tracts (53.0%). The most frequent site of orifices was buccal(82.4%), followed by lingual or palatal (12.0%). Orifices on the lingual aspect of the gingiva were observed in mandibularmolars. There was an 86.8% correlation between the occurrence of an apically located sinus tract and apical rarifying osteitis(P<.01). Sinus tract in the lingual or palatal aspect of the gingiva is relatively common. Practitioners should look for signs of sinus tract during routine examination

Risk factors for acute cholecystitis and for intraoperative complications.

PubMed

Andercou, Octavian; Olteanu, Gabriel; Mihaileanu, Florin; Stancu, Bogdan; Dorin, Marian

2017-01-01

Acute cholecystitis is still frequent in emergency surgical departments. As surgical technique, nowadays laparoscopy is widely used and with low complications and with low postoperative morbidity. We perform an analytical study about the safety of laparoscopic surgery in patients with acute cholecystitis in a single Surgical Department with an experience of over 20 years in laparoscopic surgery. We included 193 patient admitted in our department during 2014 and 2015. Of the 193 patients, 43% were diagnosed with acute lithiasic cholecystitis (ALC) whereas 56% had chronic lithiasic cholecystitis (CLC). We assessed the comorbidities of the patient via Pearson's Chi-Square test and we found out that there is a significant relationship between acute cholecystitis and high blood tension, obesity and diabetes. Surgical techniques performed were in 95% of cases laparoscopic cholecystectomy and only in 5% we performed open surgery. Experienced surgeons have a lower conversion rate as compared to less experienced surgeons. For this reason, postoperative assessment criteria have been proposed, with a view to identify the risk of conversion CONCLUSION: In our study laparoscopic surgery for acute cholecystitis is a safe procedure with low intraoperative complication rate and with a reduced hospital stay. Acute cholecystitis, Intraoperative adhesion, Intraoperative bleeding, Laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Quantitative analysis of urban sprawl in Tripoli using Pearson's Chi-Square statistics and urban expansion intensity index

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-sharif, Abubakr A. A.; Pradhan, Biswajeet; Zulhaidi Mohd Shafri, Helmi; Mansor, Shattri

2014-06-01

Urban expansion is a spatial phenomenon that reflects the increased level of importance of metropolises. The remotely sensed data and GIS have been widely used to study and analyze the process of urban expansions and their patterns. The capital of Libya (Tripoli) was selected to perform this study and to examine its urban growth patterns. Four satellite imageries of the study area in different dates (1984, 1996, 2002 and 2010) were used to conduct this research. The main goal of this work is identification and analyzes the urban sprawl of Tripoli metropolitan area. Urban expansion intensity index (UEII) and degree of freedom test were used to analyze and assess urban expansions in the area of study. The results show that Tripoli has sprawled urban expansion patterns; high urban expansion intensity index; and its urban development had high degree of freedom according to its urban expansion history during the time period (1984-2010). However, the novel proposed hypothesis used for zones division resulted in very good insight understanding of urban expansion direction and the effect of the distance from central business of district (CBD).

Evaluation of the root and canal morphology of mandibular permanent molars in a south-eastern Turkish population using cone-beam computed tomography

PubMed Central

Nur, Bilge Gulsum; Ok, Evren; Altunsoy, Mustafa; Aglarci, Osman Sami; Colak, Mehmet; Gungor, Enes

2014-01-01

Objective: The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the root and canal morphology of the mandibular first and second permanent molars in a Turkish population using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: CBCT images of mandibular first (n = 966) and second molar (n = 1165) teeth from 850 Turkish patients were evaluated. The root canal configurations were classified according to the method of Vertucci. The data were analyzed by Pearson's Chi-square test. Results: The majority of mandibular molars were two rooted with three canals; however, three roots were identified in 0.05% of the first molars and 0.01% of the second molars, and 100% of the additional root canals were of type I configuration. Mesial roots had more complex canal systems with more than one canal, whereas most distal roots had a type I configuration. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that CBCT scanning provides supplemental information about the root canal configurations of mandibular molars in a Turkish population. This study may help clinicians in the root canal treatment of mandibular molars. PMID:24966763

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Comorbidities among Hypertensive Patients in China.

PubMed

Wang, Jiaojiao; Ma, Jian James; Liu, Jiaqi; Zeng, Daniel Dajun; Song, Cynthia; Cao, Zhidong

2017-01-01

Hypertension is a severe threat to human being's health due to its association with many comorbidities. Many research works have explored hypertension's prevalence and treatment. However, few considered impact of patient's socioeconomic status and geographical disparities. We intended to fulfill that research gap by analyzing the association of the prevalence of hypertension and three important comorbidities with various socioeconomic and geographical factors. We also investigated the prevalence of those comorbidities if the patient has been diagnosed with hypertension. We obtained a large collection of medical records from 29 hospitals across China. We utilized Bayes' Theorem, Pearson's chi-squared test, univariate and multivariate regression methods and geographical detector methods to analyze the association between disease prevalence and risk factors. We first attempted to quantified and analyzed the spatial stratified heterogeneity of the prevalence of hypertension comorbidities by q-statistic using geographical detector methods. We found that the demographic and socioeconomic factors, and hospital class and geographical factors would have an enhanced interactive influence on the prevalence of hypertension comorbidities. Our findings can be leveraged by public health policy makers to allocate medical resources more effectively. Healthcare practitioners can also be benefited by our analysis to offer customized disease prevention for populations with different socioeconomic status.

Factors Influencing Consumer Purchase Decisions for Health-Promoting Goods and Services in Malaysia

PubMed Central

CHEAH, Yong Kang

2014-01-01

Background: In the context of global increases in the prevalence of non-communicable diseases, the objective of the present study is to investigate the factors affecting individuals’ decisions to use health-promoting goods and services. Methods: The Third National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS III), consisting of 30992 respondents, was analysed. The Pearson chi-square test was applied to compare the distribution of categorical variables. A binary logistic regression model was used to assess the likelihood of using health-promoting goods and services. Results: Age, income, gender, ethnicity, education, marital status, location of residence, job characteristics, and being diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia were significantly associated with use of health-promoting goods and services. In contrast, young individuals, low income earners, males, Indians and others, the less-educated, single individuals, rural dwellers, the unemployed and individuals with hypercholesterolemia were less likely to use health-promoting goods and services than others. Conclusion: Socio-demographic and health factors played an important role in affecting the use of health-promoting goods and services. Based on these factors, several intervention measures with the intent of increasing the use of health-promoting goods and services were suggested, if only applicable to Malaysians. PMID:25897281

Clinical statistics analysis on the characteristics of pneumoconiosis of Chinese miner population

PubMed Central

Wang, Mei-Fang; Li, Run-Ze; Li, Ying; Cheng, Xue-Qin; Yang, Jun; Chen, Wen; Fan, Xing-Xing; Pan, Hu-Dan; Yao, Xiao-Jun; Ren, Tao; Qian, Xin

2016-01-01

Background Pneumoconiosis is one of the most common occupational diseases, which shows the progressive and irreversible pathological changes. It ultimately can induce pulmonary failure and lead to death. To date, these patients have no curative treatment option under the current standard of care, so it is especially important to delay the onset of the disease and slow down its progression. Therefore, understanding of clinical features of pneumoconiosis is particularly critical for medical intervention. Methods We collected the clinical data from 118 pneumoconiosis cases of miners admitted in hospital and processed the statistics analysis by using the Chi-square test and the risk assessment. Results Compared to other types of miners, gold miners are liable to cause Broncho-pulmonary co-infection with Chi-square value 18.748 and the P value <0.001. However, unexpectedly, the smoking miners displayed a better Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) compared to non-smokers, which showed 19.318 of Chi-square score and less than 0.001 of P value. And this connection was associated with the dust exposure time (P<0.05), showing the increasing risk of non-smoking miners occurred as the increasing time exposed to dust. In addition, our analysis indicated that the probability of smoking miners suffered from Broncho-pulmonary co-infection was less than non-smoking miners with Chi-square value 8.044 and P<0.01, which was also associated with the dust exposure time tendentiously, though P>0.05. Moreover, smoking history exhibited a deteriorating effect to the overall survival (OS) with 9.546 of Chi-square value and P<0.05, in accordance with smoking reducing life time. Interestingly, pneumoconiosis drugs could extend the smokers’ OS, but not non-smokers’. Conclusions Our studies suggest that the history of smoking and exposure time of dust play important roles in the development of pneumoconiosis and smoking could be a factor that determines the treatment options depending on patients’ smoking history. PMID:27621877

The withdrawal from oncogenetic counselling and testing for hereditary and familial breast and ovarian cancer. A descriptive study of an Italian sample.

PubMed

Caruso, Anita; Vigna, Cristina; Maggi, Gabriella; Sega, Fabio Massimo; Cognetti, Francesco; Savarese, Antonella

2008-11-24

Oncogenetic counselling is seldom followed through, even when individuals are eligible according to the test criteria. The basic variables which influence the decision to undergo the genetic counselling process are: risk perception, expected benefit or limitations of genetic testing, general psychological distress or cancer-specific distress, lack of trust in one's emotional reactions when faced with negative events, expected level of family support and communications within the family. The aim of this study was to describe the psychosocial variables of an Italian sample that forgoes genetic counselling. From May 2002 to December 2006 a psychological questionnaire was sent out to one hundred and six subjects, who freely requested a first genetic informative consultation, and never asked to have a second visit and the family tree drawn up in order to inquire about their eligibility for genetic testing. Statistical analysis was performed by Pearson chi-square test, t-test and Spearman RHO coefficient. The survey presents a lack of emotional cohesion and structured roles and rules within the family system and a positive correlation between the number of children, anxiety and risk perception. The main reasons for giving up on counselling were a sense that testing was a waste of time and the inability to emotionally handle the negative consequences of the test outcome. The subjects who maintained that test and an early diagnosis were a "waste of time" experienced more anxiety. The study revealed the importance to ac knowledging the whole persona and their family system as well as provide information highlighting usefulness of early diagnosis.

Open versus laparoscopic approach in the treatment of abdominal emergencies in elderly population

PubMed Central

COCORULLO, G.; FALCO, N.; TUTINO, R.; FONTANA, T.; SCERRINO, G.; SALAMONE, G.; LICARI, L.; GULOTTA, G.

2016-01-01

Aim To evaluate the role of laparoscopy in the treatment of surgical emergency in old population. Patients and Methods Over-70 years-old patients submitted to emergency abdominal surgery from January 2013 to December 2014 were collected and grouped according to admission diagnoses. These accounted small bowel obstruction, colonic acute disease, appendicitis, ventral hernia, gastro-duodenal perforation, biliary disease. In each group it was analyzed the operation time (OT), the morbidity rate and the mortality rate comparing open and laparoscopic management using T-test and Chi-square test. Results 159 over 70-years-old patients underwent emergency surgery in the General and Emergency surgery Operative Unit (O.U.) of the Policlinic of Palermo. 75 patients were managed by a laparoscopic approach and 84 underwent traditional open emergency surgery. T-Test for OT and Chi-square test for morbidity rate and mortality rate showed no differences in small bowel emergencies (p=0,4; 0,250,9; p>0,95) and in gastro-duodenal perforation (p=0,9; p>0.9; p>0.95). In cholecystitis, laparoscopy group showed lower OT (T-Test: p= 0,0002) while Chi-square test for morbidity rate (0,1

Filter Tuning Using the Chi-Squared Statistic

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lilly-Salkowski, Tyler B.

2017-01-01

This paper examines the use of the Chi-square statistic as a means of evaluating filter performance. The goal of the process is to characterize the filter performance in the metric of covariance realism. The Chi-squared statistic is the value calculated to determine the realism of a covariance based on the prediction accuracy and the covariance values at a given point in time. Once calculated, it is the distribution of this statistic that provides insight on the accuracy of the covariance. The process of tuning an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for Aqua and Aura support is described, including examination of the measurement errors of available observation types, and methods of dealing with potentially volatile atmospheric drag modeling. Predictive accuracy and the distribution of the Chi-squared statistic, calculated from EKF solutions, are assessed.

[Comparison of thromboelastography and routine coagulation tests for evaluation of blood coagulation function in patients].

PubMed

Chen, Guan-Yi; Ou Yang, Xi-Lin; Wu, Jing-Hui; Wang, Li-Hua; Yang, Jin-Hua; Gu, Li-Nan; Lu, Zhu-Jie; Zhao, Xiao-Zi

2015-04-01

To investigate the correlation and consistency between thromboelastography(TEG) and routine coagulation tests, and to evaluate the value of the two methods in determining the blood coagulation of patients. The TEG, routine coagulation tests and platelet counts of 182 patients from the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) and Department of Gastroenterology in our hospital from January to September 2014 were performed and analyzed retrospectively for their correlation, Kappa identity test analysis and chi-square test, and the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of both methods in the patients with bleeding were evaluated. The TEG R time and PT, R time and APTT showed a linear dependence (P<0.01). The relationship between the TEG K value, α-Angle, MA and Fibrinogen showed a linear dependence (P<0.001). And the relationship between the TEG K value, α-Angle, MA and the platelet count were in a linear dependent way (P<0.001). The Kappa values of the TEG R time with PT and APTT were 0.038 (P>0.05) and 0.061 (P>0.05), respectively. The chi-square test values of the TEG R time with PT and APTT were 35.309 (P<0.001) and 15.848 (P<0.001), respectively. The Fibrinogen and the TEG K value, α-Angle, MA value had statistical significance (P<0.001), with a Kappa value of 0.323, 0.288 and 0.427, respectively. The chi-square test values between Fibrinogen and the TEG K value, α-Angle, MA value were not statistically significant, with X2=1.091 (P=0.296), X2=1.361 (P=0.243), X2=0.108 (P=0.742). The Kappa values of the platelet count and the TEG K value, α-Angle, MA value were 0.379, 0.208 and 0.352, respectively, which were also statistically significant difference (P<0.001). The chi-square test values between the platelet count and the TEG K value, α-Angle, MA value showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.001), with X2=37.5, X2=37.23, X2=26.630. The diagnostic sensitivity of the two methods for the patients with bleeding was less than 50%. There was a significant correlation between some TEG parameters and routine coagulation tests, but the consistency is weak. Moreover, the diagnostic sensitivity of two methods in the patients with bleeding is low. It was concluded that the TEG cannot replace the conventional coagulation tests, and the preferable method remains uncertain which could reflect the risk of bleeding.

A Monte Carlo Approach to Unidimensionality Testing in Polytomous Rasch Models

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christensen, Karl Bang; Kreiner, Svend

2007-01-01

Many statistical tests are designed to test the different assumptions of the Rasch model, but only few are directed at detecting multidimensionality. The Martin-Lof test is an attractive approach, the disadvantage being that its null distribution deviates strongly from the asymptotic chi-square distribution for most realistic sample sizes. A Monte…

Environmental justice assessment for transportation : risk analysis

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1999-04-01

This paper presents methods of comparing populations and their racial/ethnic compositions using tabulations, histograms, and Chi Squared tests for statistical significance of differences found. Two examples of these methods are presented: comparison ...

Chi-squared and C statistic minimization for low count per bin data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nousek, John A.; Shue, David R.

1989-07-01

Results are presented from a computer simulation comparing two statistical fitting techniques on data samples with large and small counts per bin; the results are then related specifically to X-ray astronomy. The Marquardt and Powell minimization techniques are compared by using both to minimize the chi-squared statistic. In addition, Cash's C statistic is applied, with Powell's method, and it is shown that the C statistic produces better fits in the low-count regime than chi-squared.

Chi-squared and C statistic minimization for low count per bin data. [sampling in X ray astronomy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nousek, John A.; Shue, David R.

1989-01-01

Results are presented from a computer simulation comparing two statistical fitting techniques on data samples with large and small counts per bin; the results are then related specifically to X-ray astronomy. The Marquardt and Powell minimization techniques are compared by using both to minimize the chi-squared statistic. In addition, Cash's C statistic is applied, with Powell's method, and it is shown that the C statistic produces better fits in the low-count regime than chi-squared.

Bilaterally Abnormal Head Impulse Tests Indicate a Large Cerebellopontine Angle Tumor.

PubMed

Kim, Hyo Jung; Park, Seong Ho; Kim, Ji Soo; Koo, Ja Won; Kim, Chae Yong; Kim, Young Hoon; Han, Jung Ho

2016-01-01

Tumors involving the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) pose a diagnostic challenge due to their diverse manifestations. Head impulse tests (HITs) have been used to evaluate vestibular function, but few studies have explored the head impulse gain of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in patients with a vestibular schwannoma. This study tested whether the head impulse gain of the VOR is an indicator of the size of a unilateral CPA tumor. Twenty-eight patients (21 women; age=64±12 years, mean±SD) with a unilateral CPA tumor underwent a recording of the HITs using a magnetic search coil technique. Patients were classified into non-compressing (T1-T3) and compressing (T4) groups according to the Hannover classification. Most (23/28, 82%) of the patients showed abnormal HITs for the semicircular canals on the lesion side. The bilateral abnormality in HITs was more common in the compressing group than the non-compressing group (80% vs. 8%, Pearson's chi-square test: p<0.001). The tumor size was inversely correlated with the head impulse gain of the VOR in either direction. Bilaterally abnormal HITs indicate that a patient has a large unilateral CPA tumor. The abnormal HITs in the contralesional direction may be explained either by adaptation or by compression and resultant dysfunction of the cerebellar and brainstem structures. The serial evaluation of HITs may provide information on tumor growth, and thereby reduce the number of costly brain scans required when following up patients with CPA tumors.

Effect of morphological and functional changes in the secundines on biometric parameters of newborns from dichorionic twin pregnancies.

PubMed

Waszak, Małgorzata; Cieślik, Krystyna; Pietryga, Marek; Lewandowski, Jacek; Chuchracki, Marek; Nowak-Markwitz, Ewa; Bręborowicz, Grzegorz

2016-01-01

The aim of the study was to determine if, and to what extent, structural and functional changes of the secundines influence biometric parameters of neonates from dichorionic twin pregnancies. The study included neonates from dichorionic, diamniotic twin pregnancies, along with their secundines. Based on histopathological examination of the secundines, the mass and dimensions of the placenta, length and condition of the umbilical cord, chorionicity, focal lesions, and microscopic placental abnormalities were determined for 445 pairs of twins. Morphological development of examined twins was characterized on the basis of their six somatic traits, while birth status of the newborns was assessed based on their Apgar scores. Statistical analysis included Student t-tests, Snedecor's F-tests, post-hoc tests, non-parametric chi-squared Pearson's tests, and determination of Spearman coefficients of rank correlation. The lowest values of analyzed somatic traits were observed in twins who had placentas with velamentous or marginal cord insertion. Inflammatory lesions in the placenta and placental abruption turned out to have the greatest impact of all analyzed abnormalities of the secundines. Inflammatory lesions in the placenta were associated with lower values of biometric parameters and a greater likelihood of preterm birth. Neonates with a history of placental abruption were characterized by significantly lower birth weight and smaller chest circumference. Morphological changes in the secundines have a limited impact on biometric parameters of neonates from dichorionic twin pregnancies. In turn, functional changes exert a significant effect and more often contribute to impaired fetal development.

Laparoscopic repair of perforated peptic ulcer: simple closure versus omentopexy.

PubMed

Lin, Being-Chuan; Liao, Chien-Hung; Wang, Shang-Yu; Hwang, Tsann-Long

2017-12-01

This report presents our experience with laparoscopic repair performed in 118 consecutive patients diagnosed with a perforated peptic ulcer (PPU). We compared the surgical outcome of simple closure with modified Cellan-Jones omentopexy and report the safety and benefit of simple closure. From January 2010 to December 2014, 118 patients with PPU underwent laparoscopic repair with simple closure (n = 27) or omentopexy (n = 91). Charts were retrospectively reviewed for demographic characteristics and outcome. The data were compared by Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's chi-square test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test. The results were considered statistically significant if P < 0.05. No patients died, whereas three incurred leakage. After matching, the simple closure and omentopexy groups had similarity in sex, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, Boey score, Charlson comorbidity index, Mannheim peritonitis index, and leakage. There were statistically significant differences in age, length of hospital stay, perforated size, and operating time. Comparison of the operating time in the ≤4.0 mm and 5.0-12 mm groups revealed that the simple closure took less time than omentopexy in both groups (≤4.0 mm, 76 versus 133 minutes, P < 0.0001; 5.0-12 mm, 97 versus 139.5 minutes; P = 0.006). Compared to the omentopexy, laparoscopic simple closure is a safe procedure and shortens the operating time. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Association between Optimism, Psychosocial Well Being and Oral Health: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PubMed

Thiruvenkadam, G; Asokan, Sharath; Baby John, J; Geetha Priya, P R

The aim of the study was to assess the association of optimism and psychosocial well being of school going children on their oral health status. The study included 12- to 15-year-old school going children (N = 2014) from Tamilnadu, India. Optimism was measured using the revised version of the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). A questionnaire was sent to the parents regarding their child's psychosocial behavior which included shyness, feeling inferiority, unhappiness and friendliness. Clinical examination for each child was done to assess the DMFT score and OHI-S score. The data obtained were statistically analyzed using Pearson Chi-Square test, Mann-Whitney test and Kruskal-Wallis test with the aid of SPSS software (version 17). Odds Ratio (OR) was calculated with 95% Confidence Interval (CI). The p value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Boys with high optimism had significantly lesser DMFT score than the boys with low optimism (p=0.001). Girls with high optimism had significantly higher DMFT score (p=0.001). In psychosocial outcomes, inferiority (p=0.002) and friendliness (p=0.001) showed significant association with DMFT score. Among the boys, children who felt less inferior (p=0.001), less unhappy (p=0.029) and more friendly (p=0.001) had lesser DMFT score. Among the psychosocial outcomes assessed, inferiority and friendliness had significant association with oral health of the children and hence, can be used as a proxy measures oral health.

Exploring the seasonality of birth defects in the New York State Congenital Malformations Registry.

PubMed

Caton, Alissa R

2012-06-01

Examining seasonal patterns of birth defects may help to identify environmental risk factors. Because the teratogenic window for most birth defects is during gestational weeks 3 to 8, investigating exposures closer to the timing of conception is important. However, studies are usually based on month of birth, which is not the biologically relevant exposure period and does not account for differences in gestational length. We aimed to determine whether the occurrence of birth defects varied by month of conception using the population-based New York State Congenital Malformations Registry (CMR). We merged live birth certificates (n = 2,044,091) with CMR records for mothers residing in New York State, excluding New York City, for the years 1992 through 2006. We categorized birth defects according to the National Birth Defects Prevention Network guidelines and performed Cochran-Armitage trend, Hewitt-Rogerson, and Walter-Elwood tests on month of conception and chi-square tests on season of conception. We graphed seasonal distributions and seasonality test results. We performed stratified analyses by maternal and infant characteristics. Of 42 groups examined in the 15-year period, 24 (57%) had at least one statistically significant test result, suggesting a trend or seasonal variation: Cochran-Armitage (18), Hewitt-Rogerson (17), Walter-Elwood (4), and chi-square (5). Ventricular septal defect showed the most consistent results: Cochran-Armitage (p = 0.0006), Hewitt-Rogerson (December to May; p = 0.0130), Walter-Elwood (March 14; p = 0.0027), and chi-square (winter; p = 0.0046). Congenital cataract, pulmonary valve atresia/stenosis, coarctation of aorta, biliary atresia, and renal agenesis or hypoplasia had at least three significant tests. These results may help to generate hypotheses about environmental factors that vary by season for further studies. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Identification of auditory laterality by means of a new dichotic digit test in Spanish, and body laterality and spatial orientation in children with dyslexia and in controls].

PubMed

Olivares-García, M R; Peñaloza-López, Y R; García-Pedroza, F; Jesús-Pérez, S; Uribe-Escamilla, R; Jiménez-de la Sancha, S

In this study, a new dichotic digit test in Spanish (NDDTS) was applied in order to identify auditory laterality. We also evaluated body laterality and spatial location using the Subirana test. Both the dichotic test and the Subirana test for body laterality and spatial location were applied in a group of 40 children with dyslexia and in a control group made up of 40 children who were paired according to age and gender. The results of the three evaluations were analysed using the SPSS 10 software application, with Pearson's chi-squared test. It was seen that 42.5% of the children in the group of dyslexics had mixed auditory laterality, compared to 7.5% in the control group (p < or = 0.05). Body laterality was mixed in 25% of dyslexic children and in 2.5% in the control group (p < or = 0.05) and there was 72.5% spatial disorientation in the group of dyslexics, whereas only 15% (p < or = 0.05) was found in the control group. The NDDTS proved to be a useful tool for demonstrating that mixed auditory laterality and auditory predominance of the left ear are linked to dyslexia. The results of this test exceed those obtained for body laterality. Spatial orientation is indeed altered in children with dyslexia. The importance of this finding makes it necessary to study the central auditory processes in all cases in order to define better rehabilitation strategies in Spanish-speaking children.

Increasing Melanoma Screening Among Hispanic/Latino Americans: A Community-Based Educational Intervention.

PubMed

Chung, Grace Y; Brown, Gina; Gibson, Desmond

2015-10-01

Melanoma incidence is increasing among Hispanics/Latinos in California. This community-based project reached out to a rural Hispanic/Latino community in North San Diego County to provide melanoma prevention and screening education. At a local community health fair, bilingual volunteer lay health workers led 10- to 15-minute-long information sessions on melanoma disease, risk factors, and skin self-examination techniques. Pearson chi-square analyses of participants' (N = 34) responses to pre- and postintervention evaluation surveys indicate significant increases in knowledge, risk awareness, and self-efficacy for self-screening. The results revealed that Hispanics/Latinos in a low socioeconomic stratum might be at moderate to high risk for developing melanoma. Their low annual income, low level of education, occupational sun-exposure, and lack of access to health care are likely factors that deter at-risk Hispanics/Latinos from seeking health care. © 2015 Society for Public Health Education.

Disability on campus: a perspective from faculty and staff.

PubMed

Shigaki, Cheryl L; Anderson, Kim M; Howald, Carol L; Henson, Lee; Gregg, Bonnie E

2012-01-01

To identify employee perceptions regarding disability-related workplace issues in Institutions of Higher Education (IHE). Faculty and staff (N=1,144) at a large, Midwestern university. A voluntary on-line survey of disability-related employment issues was developed by the university's Chancellor's Committee of Persons with Disabilities. Item responses were analyzed using descriptive and Pearson chi-square statistical methods. Fifteen percent of faculty and staff respondents were found to have disabilities, with 26% reporting experience of job discrimination, and 20% reporting harassment because of their disability. Results indicated significant differences on gender, employment standing (i.e., faculty or staff) and disability status (i.e., with or without a disability), in regard to perceptions of disability acceptance, campus accessibility, disability awareness, ADA policy, and knowledge of work accommodation procedures. Recommendations for IHEs are provided to promote a welcoming and inclusive campus that ultimately supports work success for persons with a disability.

Disability in physical education textbooks: an analysis of image content.

PubMed

Táboas-Pais, María Inés; Rey-Cao, Ana

2012-10-01

The aim of this paper is to show how images of disability are portrayed in physical education textbooks for secondary schools in Spain. The sample was composed of 3,316 images published in 36 textbooks by 10 publishing houses. A content analysis was carried out using a coding scheme based on categories employed in other similar studies and adapted to the requirements of this study with additional categories. The variables were camera angle, gender, type of physical activity, field of practice, space, and level. Univariate and bivariate descriptive analyses were also carried out. The Pearson chi-square statistic was used to identify associations between the variables. Results showed a noticeable imbalance between people with disabilities and people without disabilities, and women with disabilities were less frequently represented than men with disabilities. People with disabilities were depicted as participating in a very limited variety of segregated, competitive, and elite sports activities.

Ensuring Positiveness of the Scaled Difference Chi-Square Test Statistic

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Satorra, Albert; Bentler, Peter M.

2010-01-01

A scaled difference test statistic T[tilde][subscript d] that can be computed from standard software of structural equation models (SEM) by hand calculations was proposed in Satorra and Bentler (Psychometrika 66:507-514, 2001). The statistic T[tilde][subscript d] is asymptotically equivalent to the scaled difference test statistic T[bar][subscript…

Some Exact Conditional Tests of Independence for R X C Cross-Classification Tables

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agresti, Alan; Wackerly, Dennis

1977-01-01

Exact conditional tests of independence in cross-classification tables are formulated based on chi square and other statistics with stronger operational interpretations, such as some nominal and ordinal measures of association. Guidelines for table dimensions and sample sizes for which the tests are economically implemented on a computer are…

A Probability Based Framework for Testing the Missing Data Mechanism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lin, Johnny Cheng-Han

2013-01-01

Many methods exist for imputing missing data but fewer methods have been proposed to test the missing data mechanism. Little (1988) introduced a multivariate chi-square test for the missing completely at random data mechanism (MCAR) that compares observed means for each pattern with expectation-maximization (EM) estimated means. As an alternative,…

SPSS and SAS programs for comparing Pearson correlations and OLS regression coefficients.

PubMed

Weaver, Bruce; Wuensch, Karl L

2013-09-01

Several procedures that use summary data to test hypotheses about Pearson correlations and ordinary least squares regression coefficients have been described in various books and articles. To our knowledge, however, no single resource describes all of the most common tests. Furthermore, many of these tests have not yet been implemented in popular statistical software packages such as SPSS and SAS. In this article, we describe all of the most common tests and provide SPSS and SAS programs to perform them. When they are applicable, our code also computes 100 × (1 - α)% confidence intervals corresponding to the tests. For testing hypotheses about independent regression coefficients, we demonstrate one method that uses summary data and another that uses raw data (i.e., Potthoff analysis). When the raw data are available, the latter method is preferred, because use of summary data entails some loss of precision due to rounding.

Body mass index and waist circumference are better predictors of insulin resistance than total body fat percentage in middle-aged and elderly Taiwanese.

PubMed

Cheng, Yiu-Hua; Tsao, Yu-Chung; Tzeng, I-Shiang; Chuang, Hai-Hua; Li, Wen-Cheng; Tung, Tao-Hsin; Chen, Jau-Yuan

2017-09-01

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is rising worldwide, and prediabetic screening for insulin resistance (IR) has become ever more essential. This study aimed to investigate whether body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), or body fat percentage (BF%) could be a better predictor of IR in a middle-aged and elderly population. In this cross-sectional, community-based study, 394 individuals (97 with IR and 297 without IR) were enrolled in the analysis. IR was measured by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), and subjects with HOMA-IR value ≧75th percentile were defined as being IR. Associations between IR and BMI, WC and BF% were evaluated by t test, chi square, Pearson correlation, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A total of 394 community-dwelling, middle-aged, and elderly persons were enrolled; 138 (35%) were male, and 256 were female (65%). The mean age was 64.41 ± 8.46 years. A significant association was identified between BMI, WC, BF%, and IR, with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.437 (P < .001), 0.412 (P < .001), and 0.361 (P < .001), respectively. Multivariate logistic regression revealed BMI (OR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.20-1.42), WC (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.08-1.17), and BF% (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = 1.11-1.23) to be independent predictors of IR. The area under curves of BMI and WC, 0.749 and 0.745 respectively, are greater than that of BF% 0.687. BMI and WC were more strongly associated with IR than was BF%. Excess body weight and body fat distribution were more important than total body fat in predicting IR.

Dental health and oral health-related quality of life in children with congenital bleeding disorders.

PubMed

Salem, K; Eshghi, P

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dental and some other aspects of oral health status of young patients with congenital bleeding disorders (CBD) and the impact of these on their quality of life (OHR-QoL) compared with controls. DMFS-dmfs (Decayed, Missed, Filled Tooth surfaces in permanent and primary teeth) scores, Simplified oral hygiene index, occurance of hypoplasia of first permanent molars, Temporomandibular joint dysfunction and occlusion of 46 CBD patients at the age range of 2-15 years and 46 of other children as control were compared, and the impact of their oral health situation on quality of life was also investigated. Data were analysed by chi-square, t-test and Pearson correlation. Patients were significantly more caries-free with less decayed teeth in primary-permanent dentition (P = 0.03, t = -2.17).The mean scores of OHR-QoL of CBD patients and controls were not significantly different. Oral Bleeding was the significant variable in relation to 'oral health-related quality of life' in CBD groups (Pearson correlation, r = -0.56, P = 0.000). OHR-QoL in the control group was related to dmfs score (r = -0.392, P = 0.011) and male gender (r = -0.329, P = 0.026). Congenital bleeding disorder CBD patients were found to have a better dental health situation in primary dentition compared with controls; however, their 'oral health-related quality of life' was similar. Oral bleeding was the only significant factor related to OHR-QoL in CBD. It shows an overall importance of development of comprehensive care centres for CBD as the main cause of this achievement. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

A Comparison of Pictorial and Speech Warning Messages in the Modern Cockpit.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-12-01

Significance Tests for Video Game Score in Experiment One .................................... 81 5. Significance Tests for Response Time in...91 7. Significance Tests for Video Game Score in Experiment Two ..................................... 96 8. Significance Tests for Response Time in...107 10. Significance Tests for Video Game Score in Experiment Three ................................. 112 Appendix Table 1C. Chi-Square Tests for

An Evaluation of Statistical Strategies for Making Equating Function Selections. Research Report. ETS RR-08-60

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moses, Tim

2008-01-01

Nine statistical strategies for selecting equating functions in an equivalent groups design were evaluated. The strategies of interest were likelihood ratio chi-square tests, regression tests, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, and significance tests for equated score differences. The most accurate strategies in the study were the likelihood ratio tests…

A Tutorial for the Student Edition (Release 1.1) of Minitab.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacFarland, Thomas W.; Hou, Cheng-I

This guide for using Minitab requires DOS version 2.0 or greater, 512K RAM memory, two double-sided diskette drives, and a graphics monitor. Topics covered in the tutorial are Getting started; Installation; Making a data diskette; Entering data; Central tendency and dispersion; t-test; Chi-square test; Oneway ANOVA test; Twoway ANOVA test; and…

Measurement of sigma chi c2 B(chi c2-->J/psi gamma)/sigma chi c1 B(chi c1 -->J/psi gamma) in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV.

PubMed

Abulencia, A; Adelman, J; Affolder, T; Akimoto, T; Albrow, M G; Ambrose, D; Amerio, S; Amidei, D; Anastassov, A; Anikeev, K; Annovi, A; Antos, J; Aoki, M; Apollinari, G; Arguin, J-F; Arisawa, T; Artikov, A; Ashmanskas, W; Attal, A; Azfar, F; Azzi-Bacchetta, P; Azzurri, P; Bacchetta, N; Badgett, W; Barbaro-Galtieri, A; Barnes, V E; Barnett, B A; Baroiant, S; Bartsch, V; Bauer, G; Bedeschi, F; Behari, S; Belforte, S; Bellettini, G; Bellinger, J; Belloni, A; Benjamin, D; Beretvas, A; Beringer, J; Berry, T; Bhatti, A; Binkley, M; Bisello, D; Blair, R E; Blocker, C; Blumenfeld, B; Bocci, A; Bodek, A; Boisvert, V; Bolla, G; Bolshov, A; Bortoletto, D; Boudreau, J; Boveia, A; Brau, B; Brigliadori, L; Bromberg, C; Brubaker, E; Budagov, J; Budd, H S; Budd, S; Budroni, S; Burkett, K; Busetto, G; Bussey, P; Byrum, K L; Cabrera, S; Campanelli, M; Campbell, M; Canelli, F; Canepa, A; Carillo, S; Carlsmith, D; Carosi, R; Carron, S; Casarsa, M; Castro, A; Catastini, P; Cauz, D; Cavalli-Sforza, M; Cerri, A; Cerrito, L; Chang, S H; Chen, Y C; Chertok, M; Chiarelli, G; Chlachidze, G; Chlebana, F; Cho, I; Cho, K; Chokheli, D; Chou, J P; Choudalakis, G; Chuang, S H; Chung, K; Chung, W H; Chung, Y S; Ciljak, M; Ciobanu, C I; Ciocci, M A; Clark, A; Clark, D; Coca, M; Compostella, G; Convery, M E; Conway, J; Cooper, B; Copic, K; Cordelli, M; Cortiana, G; Crescioli, F; Cuenca Almenar, C; Cuevas, J; Culbertson, R; Cully, J C; Cyr, D; DaRonco, S; Datta, M; D'Auria, S; Davies, T; D'Onofrio, M; Dagenhart, D; de Barbaro, P; De Cecco, S; Deisher, A; De Lentdecker, G; Dell'Orso, M; Delli Paoli, F; Demortier, L; Deng, J; Deninno, M; De Pedis, D; Derwent, P F; Di Giovanni, G P; Dionisi, C; Di Ruzza, B; Dittmann, J R; DiTuro, P; Dörr, C; Donati, S; Donega, M; Dong, P; Donini, J; Dorigo, T; Dube, S; Efron, J; Erbacher, R; Errede, D; Errede, S; Eusebi, R; Fang, H C; Farrington, S; Fedorko, I; Fedorko, W T; Feild, R G; Feindt, M; Fernandez, J P; Field, R; Flanagan, G; Foland, A; Forrester, S; Foster, G W; Franklin, M; Freeman, J C; Furic, I; Gallinaro, M; Galyardt, J; Garcia, J E; Garberson, F; Garfinkel, A F; Gay, C; Gerberich, H; Gerdes, D; Giagu, S; Giannetti, P; Gibson, A; Gibson, K; Gimmell, J L; Ginsburg, C; Giokaris, N; Giordani, M; Giromini, P; Giunta, M; Giurgiu, G; Glagolev, V; Glenzinski, D; Gold, M; Goldschmidt, N; Goldstein, J; Golossanov, A; Gomez, G; Gomez-Ceballos, G; Goncharov, M; González, O; Gorelov, I; Goshaw, A T; Goulianos, K; Gresele, A; Griffiths, M; Grinstein, S; Grosso-Pilcher, C; Group, R C; Grundler, U; Guimaraes da Costa, J; Gunay-Unalan, Z; Haber, C; Hahn, K; Hahn, S R; Halkiadakis, E; Hamilton, A; Han, B-Y; Han, J Y; Handler, R; Happacher, F; Hara, K; Hare, M; Harper, S; Harr, R F; Harris, R M; Hartz, M; Hatakeyama, K; Hauser, J; Heijboer, A; Heinemann, B; Heinrich, J; Henderson, C; Herndon, M; Heuser, J; Hidas, D; Hill, C S; Hirschbuehl, D; Hocker, A; Holloway, A; Hou, S; Houlden, M; Hsu, S-C; Huffman, B T; Hughes, R E; Husemann, U; Huston, J; Incandela, J; Introzzi, G; Iori, M; Ishizawa, Y; Ivanov, A; Iyutin, B; James, E; Jang, D; Jayatilaka, B; Jeans, D; Jensen, H; Jeon, E J; Jindariani, S; Jones, M; Joo, K K; Jun, S Y; Jung, J E; Junk, T R; Kamon, T; Karchin, P E; Kato, Y; Kemp, Y; Kephart, R; Kerzel, U; Khotilovich, V; Kilminster, B; Kim, D H; Kim, H S; Kim, J E; Kim, M J; Kim, S B; Kim, S H; Kim, Y K; Kimura, N; Kirsch, L; Klimenko, S; Klute, M; Knuteson, B; Ko, B R; Kondo, K; Kong, D J; Konigsberg, J; Korytov, A; Kotwal, A V; Kovalev, A; Kraan, A C; Kraus, J; Kravchenko, I; Kreps, M; Kroll, J; Krumnack, N; Kruse, M; Krutelyov, V; Kubo, T; Kuhlmann, S E; Kuhr, T; Kusakabe, Y; Kwang, S; Laasanen, A T; Lai, S; Lami, S; Lammel, S; Lancaster, M; Lander, R L; Lannon, K; Lath, A; Latino, G; Lazzizzera, I; LeCompte, T; Lee, J; Lee, J; Lee, Y J; Lee, S W; Lefèvre, R; Leonardo, N; Leone, S; Levy, S; Lewis, J D; Lin, C; Lin, C S; Lindgren, M; Lipeles, E; Lister, A; Litvintsev, D O; Liu, T; Lockyer, N S; Loginov, A; Loreti, M; Loverre, P; Lu, R-S; Lucchesi, D; Lujan, P; Lukens, P; Lungu, G; Lyons, L; Lys, J; Lysak, R; Lytken, E; Mack, P; MacQueen, D; Madrak, R; Maeshima, K; Makhoul, K; Maki, T; Maksimovic, P; Malde, S; Manca, G; Margaroli, F; Marginean, R; Marino, C; Marino, C P; Martin, A; Martin, M; Martin, V; Martínez, M; Maruyama, T; Mastrandrea, P; Masubuchi, T; Matsunaga, H; Mattson, M E; Mazini, R; Mazzanti, P; McFarland, K S; McIntyre, P; McNulty, R; Mehta, A; Mehtala, P; Menzemer, S; Menzione, A; Merkel, P; Mesropian, C; Messina, A; Miao, T; Miladinovic, N; Miles, J; Miller, R; Mills, C; Milnik, M; Mitra, A; Mitselmakher, G; Miyamoto, A; Moed, S; Moggi, N; Mohr, B; Moore, R; Morello, M; Movilla Fernandez, P; Mülmenstädt, J; Mukherjee, A; Muller, Th; Mumford, R; Murat, P; Nachtman, J; Nagano, A; Naganoma, J; Nakano, I; Napier, A; Necula, V; Neu, C; Neubauer, M S; Nielsen, J; Nigmanov, T; Nodulman, L; Norniella, O; Nurse, E; Oh, S H; Oh, Y D; Oksuzian, I; Okusawa, T; Oldeman, R; Orava, R; Osterberg, K; Pagliarone, C; Palencia, E; Papadimitriou, V; Paramonov, A A; Parks, B; Pashapour, S; Patrick, J; Pauletta, G; Paulini, M; Paus, C; Pellett, D E; Penzo, A; Phillips, T J; Piacentino, G; Piedra, J; Pinera, L; Pitts, K; Plager, C; Pondrom, L; Portell, X; Poukhov, O; Pounder, N; Prakoshyn, F; Pronko, A; Proudfoot, J; Ptohos, F; Punzi, G; Pursley, J; Rademacker, J; Rahaman, A; Ranjan, N; Rappoccio, S; Reisert, B; Rekovic, V; Renton, P; Rescigno, M; Richter, S; Rimondi, F; Ristori, L; Robson, A; Rodrigo, T; Rogers, E; Rolli, S; Roser, R; Rossi, M; Rossin, R; Ruiz, A; Russ, J; Rusu, V; Saarikko, H; Sabik, S; Safonov, A; Sakumoto, W K; Salamanna, G; Saltó, O; Saltzberg, D; Sánchez, C; Santi, L; Sarkar, S; Sartori, L; Sato, K; Savard, P; Savoy-Navarro, A; Scheidle, T; Schlabach, P; Schmidt, E E; Schmidt, M P; Schmitt, M; Schwarz, T; Scodellaro, L; Scott, A L; Scribano, A; Scuri, F; Sedov, A; Seidel, S; Seiya, Y; Semenov, A; Sexton-Kennedy, L; Sfyrla, A; Shapiro, M D; Shears, T; Shepard, P F; Sherman, D; Shimojima, M; Shochet, M; Shon, Y; Shreyber, I; Sidoti, A; Sinervo, P; Sisakyan, A; Sjolin, J; Slaughter, A J; Slaunwhite, J; Sliwa, K; Smith, J R; Snider, F D; Snihur, R; Soderberg, M; Soha, A; Somalwar, S; Sorin, V; Spalding, J; Spinella, F; Spreitzer, T; Squillacioti, P; Stanitzki, M; Staveris-Polykalas, A; St Denis, R; Stelzer, B; Stelzer-Chilton, O; Stentz, D; Strologas, J; Stuart, D; Suh, J S; Sukhanov, A; Sun, H; Suzuki, T; Taffard, A; Takashima, R; Takeuchi, Y; Takikawa, K; Tanaka, M; Tanaka, R; Tecchio, M; Teng, P K; Terashi, K; Thom, J; Thompson, A S; Thomson, E; Tipton, P; Tiwari, V; Tkaczyk, S; Toback, D; Tokar, S; Tollefson, K; Tomura, T; Tonelli, D; Torre, S; Torretta, D; Tourneur, S; Trischuk, W; Tsuchiya, R; Tsuno, S; Turini, N; Ukegawa, F; Unverhau, T; Uozumi, S; Usynin, D; Vallecorsa, S; van Remortel, N; Varganov, A; Vataga, E; Vázquez, F; Velev, G; Veramendi, G; Veszpremi, V; Vidal, R; Vila, I; Vilar, R; Vine, T; Vollrath, I; Volobouev, I; Volpi, G; Würthwein, F; Wagner, P; Wagner, R G; Wagner, R L; Wagner, J; Wagner, W; Wallny, R; Wang, S M; Warburton, A; Waschke, S; Waters, D; Weinberger, M; Wester, W C; Whitehouse, B; Whiteson, D; Wicklund, A B; Wicklund, E; Williams, G; Williams, H H; Wilson, P; Winer, B L; Wittich, P; Wolbers, S; Wolfe, C; Wright, T; Wu, X; Wynne, S M; Yagil, A; Yamamoto, K; Yamaoka, J; Yamashita, T; Yang, C; Yang, U K; Yang, Y C; Yao, W M; Yeh, G P; Yoh, J; Yorita, K; Yoshida, T; Yu, G B; Yu, I; Yu, S S; Yun, J C; Zanello, L; Zanetti, A; Zaw, I; Zhang, X; Zhou, J; Zucchelli, S

2007-06-08

We measure the ratio of cross section times branching fraction, Rp=sigma chi c2 B(chi c2-->J/psi gamma)/sigma chi c1 B(chi c1-->J/psi gamma), in 1.1 fb(-1) of pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV. This measurement covers the kinematic range pT(J/psi)>4.0 GeV/c, |eta(J/psi)<1.0, and pT(gamma)>1.0 GeV/c. For events due to prompt processes, we find Rp=0.395+/-0.016(stat)+/-0.015(syst). This result represents a significant improvement in precision over previous measurements of prompt chi c1,2 hadro production.

Predictors of radiation-induced esophageal toxicity in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy.

PubMed

Singh, Anurag K; Lockett, Mary Ann; Bradley, Jeffrey D

2003-02-01

To evaluate the incidence and clinical/dosimetric predictors of acute and late Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with definitive three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT). We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 207 consecutive patients with NSCLC who were treated with high-dose, definitive 3D-CRT between March 1991 and December 1998. This population consisted of 107 men and 100 women. The median age was 67 years (range 31-90). The following patient and treatment parameters were studied: age, gender, race, performance status, sequential chemotherapy, concurrent chemotherapy, presence of subcarinal nodes, pretreatment weight loss, mean dose to the entire esophagus, maximal point dose to the esophagus, and percentage of volume of esophagus receiving >55 Gy. All doses are reported without heterogeneity corrections. The median prescription dose to the isocenter in this population was 70 Gy (range 60-74) delivered in 2-Gy daily fractions. All patients were treated once daily. Acute and late esophageal toxicities were graded by Radiation Therapy Oncology Group criteria. Patient and clinical/dosimetric factors were coded and correlated with acute and late Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity using univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Of 207 patients, 16 (8%) developed acute (10 patients) or late (13 patients) Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity. Seven patients had both acute and late Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity. One patient died (Grade 5 esophageal toxicity) of late esophageal perforation. Concurrent chemotherapy, maximal point dose to the esophagus >58 Gy, and a mean dose to the entire esophagus >34 Gy were significantly associated with a risk of Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity on univariate analysis. Concurrent chemotherapy and maximal point dose to the esophagus >58 Gy retained significance on multivariate analysis. Of 207 patients, 53 (26%) received concurrent chemotherapy. Fourteen (88%) of the 16 patients who developed Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity had received concurrent chemotherapy (p = 0.0001, Pearson's chi-square test). No case of Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity occurred in patients who received a maximal point dose to the esophagus of <58 Gy (p = 0.0001, Fisher's exact test, two-tail). Only 2 patients developed Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity in the absence of concurrent chemotherapy; both received a maximal esophageal point dose >69 Gy. All assessable patients who developed Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity had a mean dose to the entire esophagus >34 Gy (p = 0.0351, Pearson's chi-square test). However, the mean dose was not predictive on multivariate analysis. Concurrent chemotherapy and the maximal esophageal point dose were significantly associated with a risk of Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity in patients with NSCLC treated with high-dose 3D-CRT. In patients who received concurrent chemotherapy, the threshold maximal esophageal point dose for Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity was 58 Gy. An insufficient number of patients developed Grade 3-5 esophageal toxicity in the absence of chemotherapy to allow a valid statistical analysis of the relationship between the maximal esophageal point dose and esophagitis.

Female Sexual Dysfunction in the Late Postpartum Period Among Women with Previous Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

PubMed

Sargin, Mehmet Akif; Yassa, Murat; Taymur, Bilge Dogan; Taymur, Bulent; Akca, Gizem; Tug, Niyazi

2017-04-01

To compare the status of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) between women with a history of previous gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and those with follow-up of a healthy pregnancy, using the female sexual function index (FSFI) questionnaire. Cross-sectional study. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, from September to December 2015. Healthy sexually active adult parous females were included. Participants were asked to complete the validated Turkish versions of the FSFI and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires. Student's t-test was used for two-group comparisons of normally distributed variables and quantitative data. Mann-Whitney U-test was used for two-group comparisons of non-normally distributed variables. Pearson's chi-squared test, the Fisher-FreemanHalton test, Fisher's exact test, and Yates' continuity correction test were used for comparison of qualitative data. The mean FSFI scores of the 179 participants was 23.50 ±3.94. FSFI scores and scores of desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain were not statistically significantly different (p>0.05), according to a history of GDM and types of FSD (none, mild, severe). HADS scores and anxiety and depression types did not statistically significantly differ according to the history of GDM (p>0.05). An association could not be found in FSFI scores between participants with both the history of previous GDM and with healthy pregnancy; subclinical sexual dysfunction may be observed in the late postpartum period among women with a history of previous GDM. This may adversely affect their sexual health.

The impact of educational intervention based on empowerment model in preventing violence against women.

PubMed

Taghdisi, Mohammad Hossein; Estebsari, Fatemeh; Dastoorpour, Maryam; Jamshidi, Ensiyeh; Jamalzadeh, Fiesal; Latifi, Marzieh

2014-07-01

One of the most obvious forms of violence in today's society is violence against women. In Iran, along with other countries, violence against women has become a problematic issue. The present research aims to investigate the impact of educational intervention based on empowerment model in preventing violent behaviors against women. The present study is an intervention research done through the random selection of 91 women under the aegis of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation in Gorgan. Tools for data gathering included demographics checklist, Rosenberg Self-Esteem, general self-efficacy, awareness and attitude questionnaires. Three ninety-minute educational sessions were held for each group to enhance their awareness, change their attitudes, and train them life skills to increase self-esteem so that they can express their vicarious experiences to increase their self-efficacy toward violent behavior. Following the post-test, data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 20). Tests for analyzing data included descriptive and analytical tests (chi-square, Pearson's correlation, independent samples t-test, One-way ANOVA and paired t test). Results indicated that the frequency of domestic violence against participating women was significant after educational intervention, as compared to pre-intervention period. Paired t-test showed that average scores of awareness, attitude, self-esteem, and self-efficacy constructs, and total power were statistically higher after educational intervention as compared to the period prior to intervention. As one of the manifestations and the moving force of empowerment, education is the first major strategy in codifying, designing, and implementing empowerment programs. For women to be empowered, the active participation of all people in education is required.

Analyzing patient's waiting time in emergency & trauma department in public hospital - A case study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roslan, Shazwa; Tahir, Herniza Md; Nordin, Noraimi Azlin Mohd; Zaharudin, Zati Aqmar

2014-09-01

Emergency and Trauma Department (ETD) is an important element for a hospital. It provides medical service, which operates 24 hours a day in most hospitals. However overcrowding is not exclusion for ETD. Overflowing occurs due to affordable services provided by public hospitals, since it is funded by the government. It is reported that a patient attending ETD must be treated within 90 minutes, in accordance to achieve the Key Performance Indicator (KPI). However, due to overcrowd situations, most patients have to wait longer than the KPI standard. In this paper, patient's average waiting time is analyzed. Using Chi-Square Test of Goodness, patient's inter arrival per hour is also investigated. As conclusion, Monday until Wednesday was identified as the days that exceed the KPI standard while Chi-Square Test of Goodness showed that the patient's inter arrival is independent and random.

Quality of residential care for older people: does education for healthcare assistants make a difference?

PubMed

Smith, Barbara; Kerse, Ngaire; Parsons, Matthew

2005-05-06

To determine the impact of a healthcare assistant education programme on the quality of care for older people living in a residential home in Auckland, New Zealand. A pre- and post-intervention evaluation study was undertaken within a residential home for older people. Quality of care was established by two periods of non-participant time-sampling observation of residents, separated by a programme of 10 interactive teaching sessions for healthcare assistants. Informed consent was gained from all observed residents and staff. Using the Quality Assessment Project (QAP) quality measure, the non-participant time-sampling observation data identified a 12.5% increase in resident care that was considered appropriate and adequate (chi-squared=12.05) and an 11.53% decrease in resident care that was considered inappropriate and inadequate (chi-squared=11.43). The intermediate grades did not alter significantly. Residents with low functional activity scores (Barthel Index) received better care after the education intervention (chi-squared=32.99), as did residents with moderate cognitive impairment (Abbreviated Mental Test Score [AMTS]<8/10). Healthcare assistant education can positively impact on the quality of care given to older people in residential care.

STUDIES IN RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. IV. A SAMPLING STUDY OF THE CENTRAL LIMIT THEOREM AND THE ROBUSTNESS OF ONE-SAMPLE PARAMETRIC TESTS,

DTIC Science & Technology

iconoclastic . Even at N=1024 these departures were quite appreciable at the testing tails, being greatest for chi-square and least for Z, and becoming worse in all cases at increasingly extreme tail areas. (Author)

Chi-Square Statistics, Tests of Hypothesis and Technology.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rochowicz, John A.

The use of technology such as computers and programmable calculators enables students to find p-values and conduct tests of hypotheses in many different ways. Comprehension and interpretation of a research problem become the focus for statistical analysis. This paper describes how to calculate chisquare statistics and p-values for statistical…

Examples of Data Analysis with SPSS-X.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacFarland, Thomas W.

Intended for classroom use only, these unpublished notes contain computer lessons on descriptive statistics using SPSS-X Release 3.0 for VAX/UNIX. Statistical measures covered include Chi-square analysis; Spearman's rank correlation coefficient; Student's t-test with two independent samples; Student's t-test with a paired sample; One-way analysis…

Relationship between Service Quality, Satisfaction, Motivation and Loyalty: A Multi-Dimensional Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Subrahmanyam, Annamdevula

2017-01-01

Purpose: This paper aims to identify and test four competing models with the interrelationships between students' perceived service quality, students' satisfaction, loyalty and motivation using structural equation modeling (SEM), and to select the best model using chi-square difference (??2) statistic test. Design/methodology/approach: The study…

Relationship between Work Ability Index and Cognitive Failure among Nurses.

PubMed

Abbasi, Milad; Zakerian, Abolfazl; Kolahdouzi, Malihe; Mehri, Ahmad; Akbarzadeh, Arash; Ebrahimi, Mohammad Hossein

2016-03-01

Frequent nursing errors are considered as factors that affect the quality of healthcare of patients. Capable nurses who are compatible with work conditions are more focused on their tasks, and this reduces their errors and cognitive failures. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the relationship between work ability index (WAI) and cognitive failures (CFs) as well as some factors that affect them in nurses working in the ICU, CCU, and emergency wards. This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted with 750 nurses at educational hospitals affiliated with the Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2015. A questionnaire of work ability index and cognitive failures was used to collect data. The data were analyzed using SPSS 20 and the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients, chi-squared, ANOVA, and the Kruskal-Wallis tests. Using the Pearson correlation test, the results of this study showed that there is a significant, inverse relationship between WAI, personal prognosis of work ability, and mental resources with CFs along with all its subscales in nurses (p < 0.05). In addition, there was an inverse and significant relationship between the total score of CFs and the estimated work impairment due to diseases (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation of CFs with age and experience, while WAI was inversely related to age, work experience, and body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05). WAI and CFs were related significantly to working units (p < 0.05). Considering the results obtained in this study, WAI and the cognitive status of nurses were lower than the specified limit. It is suggested that the work ability of nurses be improved and that their CFs be reduced through various measures, including pre-employment examinations, proper management of work-shift conditions, and using engineering and administrative strategies to ensure the safety of hospitalized patients.

Distal caries of the second molar in the presence of a mandibular third molar - a prevention protocol.

PubMed

Toedtling, V; Coulthard, P; Thackray, G

2016-09-23

Objectives The objectives of the prospective study were to establish the prevalence of distal caries (DC) in the mandibular second molar and to assess the outcomes of these diseased teeth in our population. Further aims were to identify associated risk factors and to design a protocol for prevention.Methods Clinical and radiographic data from 210 consecutive patients were ascertained over a three-month period. The sample population included all patients who had been referred to a hospital oral surgery department for a lower wisdom tooth assessment.Results A total of 224 mandibular third molars were included and assessed. The prevalence of caries affecting the distal aspect of the second molar was 38% (n = 85) in this population. In 18% of patients there was evidence of early enamel caries. Fifty-eight percent of caries was managed with restorative treatment but 11% of patients required second molar extraction and 13% of patients required the removal of the second and third molars. The prevalence of distal caries was significantly higher in patients with partially erupted wisdom teeth positioned below the amelocemental junction (P <0.05) of the adjacent second molar and in patients who presented with mesioangular impactions (P <0.001). However there was no difference in dental health when comparing this group to the remaining study population (P = 0.354). The Pearson chi-square test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to verify the association between the tested variables.Conclusion This study demonstrates that the eruption status, type of angulation and the nature of tooth contact between both molars are useful disease predictors which can be used to indicate the likelihood of a caries process occurring on the distal aspect of the second mandibular molar. If patients' third molar teeth are not removed then consideration needs to be given to prevention and regular monitoring.

Frequency of in-hospital acquired staphylococcus bacteremia/sepsis within ten-year period.

PubMed

Pitic, Aida; Lukovac, Enra; Koluder, Nada; Baljic, Rusmir

2013-01-01

Analyzing data in the literature, it is noted that in-hospital acquired infections are an increasing problem even in more developed countries. This increasing trend is related to the progress of medical science and introduction of new invasive diagnostic-therapeutic methods, as well as increase of multiresistant types of bacteria, including staphylococci in big percentages. To analyze frequency of in-hospital acquired staphylococcus bacteremia/sepsis. Anamneses of patients who were diagnosed with staphylococcus bacteremia/sepsis were analyzed within a ten-year period. Within the analyzed period from 2001 to 2011, there were 87 patients with diagnosis of staphylococcus bacteremia/sepsis, out of which (20) 77% were diagnosed with sepsis, and (67) 23% with bacteremia. In-hospital outcome was present with 32 (36.8%) patients, while 55 (63.2%) were out of hospital. The chi-square test for independence showed that the diagnosis of bacteremia/sepsis and the place of the infection origin (in hospital/ out of hospital) were independent chi2 = 1.951 df= 1 p=0.162. The cause isolated from hemoculture depends on the place of the infection origin (out of hospital/in hospital); larger percentage of methicillin-resistant types was presented in in-hospital acquired infections chi2 11.352 df=1 p=0.001. And the chi-square test for independence showed both dependence of the preceding antibiotic treatment and the place of the infection origin in both categories of patients. Sepsis: chi2 = 22.92 df=1 p<0.0005; Bacteremia: chi2 = 9.89 df=1 p= 0.005. The results showed larger percentage of methicillin-resistant types in in-hospital acquired infections, as well as significantly larger percentage of hospital infections with the preceding antibiotic therapy, which puts in focus possible rationalization of including antibiotic therapy.

Comparison of periodontal ligament injection and inferior alveolar nerve block in mandibular primary molars pulpotomy: a randomized control trial.

PubMed

Haghgoo, Roza; Taleghani, Ferial

2015-05-01

Inferior alveolar nerve block is a common technique for anesthesia of the primary mandibular molars. A number of disadvantages have been shown to be associated with this technique. Periodontal ligament (PDL) injection could be considered as an alternative to inferior alveolar nerve block. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PDL injection in the anesthesia of primary molar pulpotomy with mandibular block. This study was performed using a sequential double-blind randomized trial design. 80 children aged 3-7 years old who required pulpotomy in symmetrical mandibular primary molars were selected. The teeth of these children were anesthetized with periodontal injection on one side of the mandible and block on the other. Pulpotomy was performed on each patient during the same appointment. Signs of discomfort, including hand and body tension and eye movement, the verbal complaint and crying (SEM scale), were evaluated by a dental assistant who was blinded to the treatment allocation of the patients. Finally, the data were analyzed using the exact Fisher test and Pearson Chi-squared exact test. Success rate was 88/75 and 91/25 in the PDL injection and nerve block groups, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two techniques (P = 0.250). Results showed that PDL injection can be used as an alternative to nerve block in pulpotomy of the mandibular primary molars.

Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli in Drinking Water Sources in Hangzhou City

PubMed Central

Chen, Zhaojun; Yu, Daojun; He, Songzhe; Ye, Hui; Zhang, Lei; Wen, Yanping; Zhang, Wenhui; Shu, Liping; Chen, Shuchang

2017-01-01

This study investigated the distribution of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) and examined the possible relationship between water quality parameters and antibiotic resistance from two different drinking water sources (the Qiantang River and the Dongtiao Stream) in Hangzhou city of China. E. coli isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 18 antibiotics. Most of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline (TE), followed by ampicillin (AM), piperacillin (PIP), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT), and chloramphenicol (C). The antibiotic resistance rate of E. coli isolates from two water sources was similar; For E. coli isolates from the Qiantang River, their antibiotic resistance rates decreased from up- to downstream. Seasonally, the dry and wet season had little impact on antibiotic resistance. Spearman's rank correlation revealed significant correlation between resistance to TE and phenicols or ciprofloxacin (CIP), as well as quinolones (ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin) and cephalosporins or gentamicin (GM). Pearson's chi-square tests found certain water parameters such as nutrient concentration were strongly associated with resistance to some of the antibiotics. In addition, tet genes were detected from all 82 TE-resistant E. coli isolates, and most of the isolates (81.87%) contained multiple tet genes, which displayed 14 different combinations. Collectively, this study provided baseline data on antibiotic resistance of drinking water sources in Hangzhou city, which indicates drinking water sources could be the reservoir of antibiotic resistance, potentially presenting a public health risk. PMID:28670309

The evaluation of endodontic flare-ups and their relationship to various risk factors.

PubMed

Onay, Emel Olga; Ungor, Mete; Yazici, A Canan

2015-11-14

To evaluate the incidence of flare-ups and identify the risk factors including age, gender, tooth type, number of root canals, initial diagnosis, the type of irrigation regimen, treatment modality and the number of visits, in patients who received root canal treatment from January 2002 to January 2008. Records of 1819 teeth belonging to 1410 patients treated by 1 endodontics specialist during 6-year period were kept. Patient, tooth, and treatment characteristics were evaluated and the relationships between these characteristics and flare-ups were studied. Statistical analysis was carried out by using Pearson Chi-square test, Fisher's Exact test, and Binary Logistic regression analyses. The incidence of flare-ups was 59 (3.2 %) out of 1819 teeth that received endodontic therapy. Pulpal necrosis without periapical pathosis was the most common indication for flare-up (6 %) (p < 0.01). Teeth undergoing multiple visits had a higher risk of developing flare-ups compared to those with single appointments (OR: 3.14, CI: 1.414-7.009, p < 0.01). There were also no statistically significant differences in the incidence of flare-ups regarding to age, gender, tooth type, number of root canals, treatment modality, and the irrigation solutions that used during the treatment. The incidence of flare-up is minimal when teeth are treated in one visit. Absence of a periapical lesion in necrotic teeth is a significant risk factor for flare-ups.

Reduced employment and financial hardship among middle-aged individuals with colorectal cancer.

PubMed

Gordon, Louisa G; Beesley, Vanessa L; Mihala, Gabor; Koczwara, Bogda; Lynch, Brigid M

2017-09-01

Financial hardship may affect up to 30% of cancer survivors, however, little research has addressed the effect of employment change on financial hardship. This study compared the self-reported financial hardship of middle-aged (45-64 years) colorectal cancer survivors (n = 187) at 6 and 12 months following diagnosis with that of a matched general population group (n = 355). Colorectal cancer survivors were recruited through the Queensland Cancer Registry, Australia; data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey were used for the general population group. Pearson chi-square tests were used to assess the differences in proportions between the two groups and McNemar tests to assess differences across time among the same group. Generalised linear modelling was performed to produce prevalence ratios. A higher proportion of workers with colorectal cancer reported financial strain (money shortage for living essentials) at 6 months (15%) but eased and was comparable to the comparison group at 12 months (7%). Middle-aged working cancer survivors who ceased or reduced work were more likely to report not being financially comfortable, compared with those who had continued work (adjusted prevalence ratio 1.66, 95%CI: 1.12, 2.44) at 12 months. Health professionals, employers and government services should address the impact of impaired employment on financial hardship among cancer survivors. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Willingness to support antenatal blood donation among married men in a Metropolitan City in North-central Nigeria.

PubMed

Ameen, H A; Isiaka-Lawal, S; Okesina, B S; Shittu, R O; Sanni, M A; Uthman, M M B; Bolarinwa, O A

2015-01-01

Improving blood availability through voluntary or compulsory antenatal blood donation is pivotal to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Willingness to donate blood is adjudged to be an important step to the actual practice of donating blood. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude and willingness of men towards antenatal blood donation. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 500 married men into the study using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16 software package. Pearson's Chi-squared test was used to test for significant associations between variables. A P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. More than half 300 (60%) of the respondents had good knowledge of antenatal blood donation in general. Majority (85.8%) of the respondents were willing to support voluntary blood donation. The overall attitude to blood donation was positive in 77.8% of the respondents. A significantly higher proportion 268 (89.3%) of respondents with good knowledge of antenatal blood donation were willing to donate blood (P = 0.0006). The majority have good knowledge and positive attitude towards antenatal blood donation. However, there is need to urgently transform this positive attitude to action through continual public enlightenment to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Quality and content of internet-based information on temporomandibular disorders.

PubMed

Park, Min Woo; Jo, Jeong Hwan; Park, Ji Woon

2012-01-01

To use a range of evaluation instruments to assess the content and quality of websites about temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and thereby provide guidance regarding the actual accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information of the sites. Sixty-seven websites resulting from an Internet search with the word "TMD" were evaluated using Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), DISCERN, and Health on the Net (HON) criteria, along with an evaluation method to assess the scientific quality of the website contents. Results were compared according to reviewer, website type, and presence of HON seal. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Student t test, chi-square test, and Pearson correlation analysis were used as appropriate. The mean content, HON, and DISCERN scores were 38.9%, below 50%, and 53.9% of the maximum possible score, respectively. Fewer than 50% of the sites displayed the author or reference of the information according to the JAMA benchmarks criteria. Every evaluation criteria showed good agreement among reviewers. Commercial websites were the most common, while sites of nonprofit organizations showed the highest content scores. The overall quality was poor to moderate for all website types. Sites concerning TMD were poorly organized and maintained. Also, most sites contained insufficient or scientifically incorrect information that could have a negative effect on the treatment outcome and prognosis of TMD. Clinicians should guide patients to reputable sources of information that will enhance patient comprehension and better treatment outcomes.

Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli in Drinking Water Sources in Hangzhou City.

PubMed

Chen, Zhaojun; Yu, Daojun; He, Songzhe; Ye, Hui; Zhang, Lei; Wen, Yanping; Zhang, Wenhui; Shu, Liping; Chen, Shuchang

2017-01-01

This study investigated the distribution of antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and examined the possible relationship between water quality parameters and antibiotic resistance from two different drinking water sources (the Qiantang River and the Dongtiao Stream) in Hangzhou city of China. E. coli isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 18 antibiotics. Most of the isolates were resistant to tetracycline (TE), followed by ampicillin (AM), piperacillin (PIP), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT), and chloramphenicol (C). The antibiotic resistance rate of E. coli isolates from two water sources was similar; For E. coli isolates from the Qiantang River, their antibiotic resistance rates decreased from up- to downstream. Seasonally, the dry and wet season had little impact on antibiotic resistance. Spearman's rank correlation revealed significant correlation between resistance to TE and phenicols or ciprofloxacin (CIP), as well as quinolones (ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin) and cephalosporins or gentamicin (GM). Pearson's chi-square tests found certain water parameters such as nutrient concentration were strongly associated with resistance to some of the antibiotics. In addition, tet genes were detected from all 82 TE-resistant E. coli isolates, and most of the isolates (81.87%) contained multiple tet genes, which displayed 14 different combinations. Collectively, this study provided baseline data on antibiotic resistance of drinking water sources in Hangzhou city, which indicates drinking water sources could be the reservoir of antibiotic resistance, potentially presenting a public health risk.

Thermographic Evaluation of the Hands of Pig Slaughterhouse Workers Exposed to Cold Temperatures.

PubMed

Tirloni, Adriana Seára; Reis, Diogo Cunha Dos; Ramos, Eliane; Moro, Antônio Renato Pereira

2017-07-26

Brazil was rated the fourth leading producer and exporter of pork meat in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the temperature of the hands of pig slaughterhouse workers and its relation to the thermal sensation of the hands and the use of a cutting tool. The study included 106 workers in a pig slaughterhouse. An infrared camera FlirThermaCAM E320 (Flir Systems, Wilsonville, OR, USA) was used to collect the images of the dorsal and palmar surfaces of both hands. A numerical scale was used to obtain the thermal sensation. Chi-square test, Pearson correlation and Student's t test or Wilcoxon were used ( p ≤ 0.05). The majority of workers felt cold in the hands (66%) and workers who used the knife felt the coldest. There was an association between the thermal sensation and the use of knife ( p = 0.001). Workers who used the tool showed correlation between the thermal sensation and the temperatures of the left fingers, with a difference between the temperatures of the right and left hands of those who used the knife ( p ≤ 0.05). The hands (left) that manipulated the products presented the lowest temperatures. Findings indicate that employers of pig slaughterhouses should provide gloves with adequate thermal insulation to preserve the health of workers' hands.

Thermographic Evaluation of the Hands of Pig Slaughterhouse Workers Exposed to Cold Temperatures

PubMed Central

Ramos, Eliane

2017-01-01

Brazil was rated the fourth leading producer and exporter of pork meat in the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the temperature of the hands of pig slaughterhouse workers and its relation to the thermal sensation of the hands and the use of a cutting tool. The study included 106 workers in a pig slaughterhouse. An infrared camera FlirThermaCAM E320 (Flir Systems, Wilsonville, OR, USA) was used to collect the images of the dorsal and palmar surfaces of both hands. A numerical scale was used to obtain the thermal sensation. Chi-square test, Pearson correlation and Student’s t test or Wilcoxon were used (p ≤ 0.05). The majority of workers felt cold in the hands (66%) and workers who used the knife felt the coldest. There was an association between the thermal sensation and the use of knife (p = 0.001). Workers who used the tool showed correlation between the thermal sensation and the temperatures of the left fingers, with a difference between the temperatures of the right and left hands of those who used the knife (p ≤ 0.05). The hands (left) that manipulated the products presented the lowest temperatures. Findings indicate that employers of pig slaughterhouses should provide gloves with adequate thermal insulation to preserve the health of workers’ hands. PMID:28933764

To Consent or Decline HPV Vaccination: A Pilot Study at the Start of the National School-Based Vaccination Program in Sweden.

PubMed

Grandahl, Maria; Tydén, Tanja; Westerling, Ragnar; Nevéus, Tryggve; Rosenblad, Andreas; Hedin, Erik; Oscarsson, Marie

2017-01-01

Parents' beliefs about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination influence whether they allow their daughters to be vaccinated. We examined the association between parents' refusal and sociodemographic background, knowledge and beliefs about HPV, and the HPV vaccination in relation to the Health Belief Model. The sample consisted of 200 (55%) parents of children aged 11-12 years in the Swedish national vaccination program. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire. Most parents (N = 186) agreed to the vaccination. Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyze data. Declining parents saw more risks and fewer benefits of HPV vaccination but no differences in beliefs regarding the severity or young girls' susceptibility to HPV were found. There was an association between refusing the HPV vaccine and lower acceptance of previous childhood vaccinations, and their main source of information was the Internet. Parents who declined the vaccine believed it could adversely affect condom use, the age of their daughter's sexual debut, and the number of sexual partners. Parents should have the possibility to discuss HPV and HPV vaccine with a school nurse or other health care professionals, and should have access to evidence-based information on the Internet. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of School Health published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American School Health Association.

Comparative performance of a combined injectable contraceptive (50 mg norethisterone enanthate plus 5mg estradiol valerate) and a combined oral contraceptive (0.15 mg levonorgestrel plus 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol) in adolescents.

PubMed

Molina, Ramiro C; Sandoval, Jorge Z; Montero, Adela V; Oyarzún, Pamela G; Molina, Temístocles G; González, Electra A

2009-02-01

To compare in a regular non-clinical trial experience the efficacy, acceptability, and continuation rates of an injectable contraceptive containing 50 mg norethisterone enanthate plus 5mg estradiol valerate (IC) and an oral contraceptive containing 0.15 mg levonorgestrel plus 0.03 mg ethinyl estradiol (OC), among adolescent users. A total of 251 adolescents ages 14-19 were followed during 12 months. The IC group (124 subjects) was studied for 1044 cycles and the OC group (127 subjects) was studied for 1368 cycles. The users were not assigned in a random selection. Information was collected from clinical records. Groups were compared using Pearson chi-square, odds ratio (95% confidence interval), t-test, and proportion difference test. The IC group had significant differences in baseline social risk, confidence, psychiatric problems, consumption of alcohol, and number of sexual partners. At 12 months, the IC group showed significant decrease in weight and increase in hypermenorrhea. In the OC group, dysmenorrhea decreased, and hypomenorrhea and regular cycles were significantly more frequent. One pregnancy occurred in the OC group (Pearl Index: 0.88). Final continuation rates at 12 months were 41.9% and 37.8% for IC and OC, respectively. The monthly injectable is a recommended contraceptive option for adolescents, especially for those facing psychosocial risk factors.

Radiographic and histological evaluation of persistent periapical lesions associated with endodontic failures after apical microsurgery.

PubMed

Çalışkan, M K; Kaval, M E; Tekin, U; Ünal, T

2016-11-01

To determine the histology of persistent periapical lesions associated with nonsurgical endodontic treatment failures and to compare radiographically the sizes of periapical lesions and the presence or absence of the radiopaque lamina with the histological findings. Ninety-three anterior teeth designated for apical microsurgery were included in the study. After taking standard radiographs of all cases using the parallel technique, the films were scanned and evaluated for the size of periapical radiolucent lesions and the presence or absence of radiopaque lamina by two calibrated observers. Biopsy specimens were obtained during apical microsurgery and examined under light microscopy by oral pathologists. Histological analysis established diagnoses of granuloma, cyst, abscess and scar tissue. Interobserver agreement was evaluated by the kappa test, and the relationship between histological diagnosis and lesion size was analysed by the Pearson's chi-square test. The 93 specimens consisted of 72% periradicular granulomas; 21.5% radicular cysts, including two keratocysts; 4.3% abscesses; and 2.2% scar tissue. Cystic prevalence increased as the size of the periapical lesion increased; however, there was no correlation between the presence of a radiopaque lamina and histological diagnosis of cyst. Neither radiographic size nor presence of an associated radiopaque line alone was sufficient to determine the type of lesion. Histological examination is required in order to reach to a definitive diagnosis. © 2015 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Relationship between Coaches’ and Athletes’ Competitive Anxiety,and their Performance

PubMed Central

Mottaghi, Mahmoodreza; Atarodi, Alireza; Rohani, Zahra

2013-01-01

Objective: This study was performed to survey the relationship between coaches’ and athletes’ competitive anxiety, and their performance. Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study performed using a demographic questionnaire, an athletic performance checklist, and sport competition anxiety test designed by Martens consisting of 15 questions. The study population consisted of 540 players and 60 coaches from 60 futsal teams (5 main players, 4 reserves, and 1 coach for each team). All of the players and the coaches were surveyed in a census method and no sampling was done. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, using chi-square, and Pearson correlation coefficient test. Results: The results showed a positive significant relationship between the coaches’ anxiety level and sport competition anxiety level in the athletes (p = 0.019, r = 0.56). It also showed that there was a negative significant relationship between the coaches’ anxiety level and performance level of the athletes (p = 0.012, r = -0.80). A negative significant relationship was also demonstrated between the athletes’ competitive anxiety level, and their athletic experiences (p < 0.001, r = -0.45) and age (p = 0.001, r = -0.37). Conclusions: Coaches and officials should consider sport competition anxiety among athletes before and during competitions. Formal and planned competitions, training sessions, and preparation practices can be a major factor assisting to decrease athletes' anxiety. Declaration of interest: None. PMID:24644512

Cerebrovascular risk factors for patients with cerebral watershed infarction: A case-control study based on computed tomography angiography in a population from Southwest China.

PubMed

Dong, Mei-Xue; Hu, Ling; Huang, Yuan-Jun; Xu, Xiao-Min; Liu, Yang; Wei, You-Dong

2017-07-01

To determine cerebrovascular risk factors for patients with cerebral watershed infarction (CWI) from Southwest China.Patients suffering from acute ischemic stroke were categorized into internal CWI (I-CWI), external CWI (E-CWI), or non-CWI (patients without CWI) groups. Clinical data were collected and degrees of steno-occlusion of all cerebral arteries were scored. Arteries associated with the circle of Willis were also assessed. Data were compared using Pearson chi-squared tests for categorical data and 1-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc tests for continuous data, as appropriate. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent cerebrovascular risk factors for CWI.Compared with non-CWI, I-CWI had higher degrees of steno-occlusion of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery, ipsilateral carotid artery, and contralateral middle cerebral artery. E-CWI showed no significant differences. All the 3 arteries were independent cerebrovascular risk factors for I-CWI confirmed by multivariate binary logistic regression analysis. I-CWI had higher degrees of steno-occlusion of the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery compared with E-CWI. No significant differences were found among arteries associated with the circle of Willis.The ipsilateral middle cerebral artery, carotid artery, and contralateral middle cerebral artery were independent cerebrovascular risk factors for I-CWI. No cerebrovascular risk factor was identified for E-CWI.

Is treatment under general anaesthesia associated with dental neglect and dental disability among caries active preschool children?

PubMed

Kvist, T; Zedrén-Sunemo, J; Graca, E; Dahllöf, G

2014-10-01

To study if treatment under general anaesthesia (GA) is associated with dental neglect or dental disability. This was a retrospective study. Dental records of all children in the age 0-6 years who underwent GA at a specialist paediatric dentistry clinic during 2006-2011 were studied with regard to decayed-missed-filled teeth, traumatic injuries, emergency visits, behaviour management problems and the history of attendance. The final sample consisted of 134 children. Matched controls were selected among recall patients who had not received treatment under GA. Fishers exact test or Pearson Chi-square test analysed response distribution and comparisons between groups, and for multivariate analyses, logistic regression was used. The results show that children treated under GA had significantly higher caries prevalence, apical periodontitis and infections due to pulpal necrosis. Dental neglect as well as dental disability was significantly more prevalent in the GA group compared to the control group. In a multivariate analysis with dental neglect as independent factor, dental disability was the only significant factor (p = 0.006). Children treated under general anaesthesia were significantly more often diagnosed with both dental neglect and dental disability. Dental disability was the only factor significantly related to dental neglect. There is a need for improved documentation in the dental records to better identify dental neglect and dental disability, and also a continued training of dentists regarding child protection.

The Use of Office-Based Sedation and General Anesthesia by Board Certified Pediatric Dentists Practicing in the United States

PubMed Central

Olabi, Nassim F.; Jones, James E.; Saxen, Mark A.; Sanders, Brian J.; Walker, LaQuia A.; Weddell, James A.; Schrader, Stuart M.; Tomlin, Angela M.

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of office-based sedation by board-certified pediatric dentists practicing in the United States. Pediatric dentists have traditionally relied upon self-administered sedation techniques to provide office-based sedation. The use of dentist anesthesiologists to provide office-based sedation is an emerging trend. This study examines and compares these two models of office-based sedations. A survey evaluating office-based sedation of diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) based on gender, age, years in practice, practice types, regions, and years as a diplomate of the ABPD was completed by 494 active members. The results were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Relationships of dentist age, gender, and number of years in practice with the use of intravenous (IV) sedation was completed using two-way contingency tables and Mantel-Haenszel tests for ordered categorical data. Relationships of office-based sedation use and the type of one's practice were examined using Pearson chi-square tests. Of the 1917 surveys e-mailed, 494 completed the survey for a response rate of 26%. Over 70% of board-certified US pediatric dentists use some form of sedation in their offices. Less than 20% administer IV sedation, 20 to 40% use a dentist anesthesiologist, and 60 to 70% would use dentist anesthesiologists if one were available. PMID:22428969

The use of office-based sedation and general anesthesia by board certified pediatric dentists practicing in the United States.

PubMed

Olabi, Nassim F; Jones, James E; Saxen, Mark A; Sanders, Brian J; Walker, Laquia A; Weddell, James A; Schrader, Stuart M; Tomlin, Angela M

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study is to explore the use of office-based sedation by board-certified pediatric dentists practicing in the United States. Pediatric dentists have traditionally relied upon self-administered sedation techniques to provide office-based sedation. The use of dentist anesthesiologists to provide office-based sedation is an emerging trend. This study examines and compares these two models of office-based sedations. A survey evaluating office-based sedation of diplomates of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) based on gender, age, years in practice, practice types, regions, and years as a diplomate of the ABPD was completed by 494 active members. The results were summarized using frequencies and percentages. Relationships of dentist age, gender, and number of years in practice with the use of intravenous (IV) sedation was completed using two-way contingency tables and Mantel-Haenszel tests for ordered categorical data. Relationships of office-based sedation use and the type of one's practice were examined using Pearson chi-square tests. Of the 1917 surveys e-mailed, 494 completed the survey for a response rate of 26%. Over 70% of board-certified US pediatric dentists use some form of sedation in their offices. Less than 20% administer IV sedation, 20 to 40% use a dentist anesthesiologist, and 60 to 70% would use dentist anesthesiologists if one were available.

Waist circumference as a marker for screening nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in obese adolescents

PubMed Central

Clemente, Ana Paula Grotti; Dal Molin, Bárbara; de Carvalho-Ferreira, Joana Pereira; Campos, Raquel Munhoz da Silveira; Ganen, Aline de Piano; Tock, Lian; de Mello, Marco Túlio; Dâmaso, Ana Raimunda

2016-01-01

Abstract Objective: To assess the relationship between the degree of waist circumference (WC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese adolescents of both genders, analyzed according to quartiles of WC. Methods: Cross-sectional study that involved 247 obese adolescents aged 12–19 years. Mean values of the nutritional parameters and serum analyses were compared with the groups using the independent t-test. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship of the parameters studied. Chi-square test for trend was used to determine the relationship between the prevalence of the NAFLD and WC quartile by gender. Results: NAFLD were presented in 60% of the study participants. Obese adolescents in the 3rd and 4th quartiles of WC presented higher prevalence of NAFLD when compared with that in the 1st quartile in both genders. The NAFLD patients had significantly higher values for body weight, BMI (body mass index), BAZ-score (BMI-for-age z-scores), total fat (% and kg), WC, visceral fat, insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, when compared with non-NAFLD obese adolescents. Conclusions: In conclusion, the results presented here suggest that an increase in WC can reliably predict the risk of NAFLD in obese adolescents. This is a low cost and easy-to-use tool that can help in screening in adolescents. PMID:26830602

Preprocedural Anxiety and Pain Perception Following Root Surface Debridement in Chronic Periodontitis Patients.

PubMed

Naik, Vanaja Krishna; Balasundaram, Aruna; Appukuttan, Devapriya; Nainar, Deepavalli Arumuga; Milward, Michael Robert; Victor, Dhayanand John; Junaid, Mohammed

2018-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare preprocedural dental anxiety levels and postprocedural pain perception in chronic periodontitis patients during conventional-staged root surface debridement (RSD) and single-stage RSD. Thirty-seven adult generalized chronic periodontitis patients requiring RSD were recruited in this study. Preprocedural anxiety levels were assessed using a self-reported questionnaire and postprocedural pain perceptions were assessed using 0-10 cm visual analog scale. The subject population was divided into two groups: staged RSD ( n = 18) and single-stage RSD ( n = 19). Staged RSD patients visited four times as opposed to single-stage RSD patients. Data were subjected to Pearson Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Spearman's rank correlation. There was no statistically significant difference in dental anxiety levels or pain perceptions in both the groups. Within Group 1, there was statistical significant difference in dental anxiety levels between visit 4 and visit 3 ( P = 0.037) and pain perception between visit 3 and visit 1 ( P = 0.005), visit 4 and visit 1 ( P = 0.002), and visit 4 and visit 2 (0.04) was statistically significant. There was a positive correlation of anxiety questionnaire (Q1-Q4) to the pain score in Group 1 which was statistically significant and in single-stage RSD. Conventional quadrant-wise RSD tends to cognitively condition the anxiety experience thus influencing pain experience.

Attention to Physical Activity-Equivalent Calorie Information on Nutrition Facts Labels: An Eye-Tracking Investigation.

PubMed

Wolfson, Julia A; Graham, Dan J; Bleich, Sara N

2017-01-01

Investigate attention to Nutrition Facts Labels (NFLs) with numeric only vs both numeric and activity-equivalent calorie information, and attitudes toward activity-equivalent calories. An eye-tracking camera monitored participants' viewing of NFLs for 64 packaged foods with either standard NFLs or modified NFLs. Participants self-reported demographic information and diet-related attitudes and behaviors. Participants came to the Behavioral Medicine Lab at Colorado State University in spring, 2015. The researchers randomized 234 participants to view NFLs with numeric calorie information only (n = 108) or numeric and activity-equivalent calorie information (n = 126). Attention to and attitudes about activity-equivalent calorie information. Differences by experimental condition and weight loss intention (overall and within experimental condition) were assessed using t tests and Pearson's chi-square tests of independence. Overall, participants viewed numeric calorie information on 20% of NFLs for 249 ms. Participants in the modified NFL condition viewed activity-equivalent information on 17% of NFLs for 231 ms. Most participants indicated that activity-equivalent calorie information would help them decide whether to eat a food (69%) and that they preferred both numeric and activity-equivalent calorie information on NFLs (70%). Participants used activity-equivalent calorie information on NFLs and found this information helpful for making food decisions. Copyright © 2016 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Histopathologic Differences between Jewish and Arab Population in Israel at First-Time Presentation with Bladder Cancer.

PubMed

Avitan, Ofir; Bahouth, Zaher; Halachmi, Sarel; Shprits, Sagi; Masarwa, Ismail; Sabo, Edmond; Moskovitz, Boaz; Nativ, Ofer

2017-01-01

Pathology of urothelial carcinoma may vary in different populations at diagnosis. Our aim was to evaluate the histopathologic differences between Jewish and Arab patients in Israel at first diagnosis of urothelial cancer. We retrospectively collected data of all patients with confirmed urothelial cancer, treated at our department between January 2010 and January 2015. We examined the distribution of the histopathologic data among the studied populations. To compare the categorical variables we used the Chi-Square Pearson test. Comparison of independent variables was made by Student's t -test. P value below 0.05 was considered significant. The study group included 413 patients, 345 Jews and 68 Arabs. The major differences were that Arab patients were younger (62.61 versus 68.55 years, P = 0.001), had more aggressive tumors that were detected at a more advanced stage, and had also a higher rate of metastatic disease (7.4% versus 3.2%, P = 0.05). Nonurothelial cell tumors were 2.3 times more prevalent in Arab population. Unlike Jewish population, Arab women had higher rate of invasive/metastatic disease compared with Arab men (40% versus 22.4%). At time of diagnosis the tumors were more aggressive in Arab patients, especially in Arab women. The reasons for those differences constitute a target for a separate research. These results should have an impact on prevention medicine and education of physicians treating mixed populations.

Using statistical process control for monitoring the prevalence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.

PubMed

Kottner, Jan; Halfens, Ruud

2010-05-01

Institutionally acquired pressure ulcers are used as outcome indicators to assess the quality of pressure ulcer prevention programs. Determining whether quality improvement projects that aim to decrease the proportions of institutionally acquired pressure ulcers lead to real changes in clinical practice depends on the measurement method and statistical analysis used. To examine whether nosocomial pressure ulcer prevalence rates in hospitals in the Netherlands changed, a secondary data analysis using different statistical approaches was conducted of annual (1998-2008) nationwide nursing-sensitive health problem prevalence studies in the Netherlands. Institutions that participated regularly in all survey years were identified. Risk-adjusted nosocomial pressure ulcers prevalence rates, grade 2 to 4 (European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel system) were calculated per year and hospital. Descriptive statistics, chi-square trend tests, and P charts based on statistical process control (SPC) were applied and compared. Six of the 905 healthcare institutions participated in every survey year and 11,444 patients in these six hospitals were identified as being at risk for pressure ulcers. Prevalence rates per year ranged from 0.05 to 0.22. Chi-square trend tests revealed statistically significant downward trends in four hospitals but based on SPC methods, prevalence rates of five hospitals varied by chance only. Results of chi-square trend tests and SPC methods were not comparable, making it impossible to decide which approach is more appropriate. P charts provide more valuable information than single P values and are more helpful for monitoring institutional performance. Empirical evidence about the decrease of nosocomial pressure ulcer prevalence rates in the Netherlands is contradictory and limited.

Impact of nursing interventions on adherence to treatment with antituberculosis drugs in children and young people: A non-randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Guix-Comellas, Eva Maria; Rozas-Quesada, Librada; Velasco-Arnaiz, Eneritz; Ferres-Canals, Ariadna; Estrada-Masllorens, Joan Maria; Force-Sanmartín, Enriqueta; Noguera-Julian, Antoni

2018-05-03

To evaluate the association of a new nursing intervention on the adherence to antituberculosis treatment in a pediatric cohort (<18 years). Tuberculosis remains a public health problem worldwide. The risk of developing tuberculosis after primary infection and its severity are higher in children. Proper adherence to antituberculosis treatment is critical for disease control. Non-randomized controlled trial; Phase 1, retrospective (2011-2013), compared with Phase 2, prospective with intervention (2015-2016), in a referral center for pediatric tuberculosis in Spain (NCT03230409). A total of 359 patients who received antituberculosis drugs after close contact with a smear-positive patient (primary chemoprophylaxis) or were treated for latent tuberculosis infection or tuberculosis disease were included, 261 in Phase 1 and 98 in Phase 2. In phase 2, a new nurse-led intervention was implemented in all patients and included two educational steps (written information in the child's native language and follow-up telephone calls) and two monitoring steps (Eidus-Hamilton test and follow-up questionnaire) that were exclusively carried out by nurses. Adherence to antituberculosis treatment increased from 74.7% in Phase 1 to 87.8% in Phase 2 (p=0.014; Chi-square test), after the implementation of the nurse-led intervention. In Phase 2, non-adherence was only associated with being born abroad (28.6% versus 7.8%; p=0.019; Chi-square test) and with foreign origin families (27.3% versus 0%; p<0.0001; Chi-square test). The nurse-led intervention was associated to an increase in adherence to antituberculosis treatment. Immigrant-related variables remained major risk factors for sub-optimal adherence in a low-endemic setting. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In vitro evaluation of the sealing ability of three newly developed root canal sealers: A bacterial microleakage study

PubMed Central

Sobhani, Ehsan; Samadi-Kafil, Hossein; Pirzadeh, Ahmad; Jafari, Sanaz

2016-01-01

Background The purpose of this study was to compare the sealing ability of MTA Fillapex, Apatite Root Canal Sealer and AH26 sealers. Material and Methods The present in vitro study was carried out on 142 extracted single-rooted human mature teeth. The teeth were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n=44) and two control groups (n=5). Three root canal sealers were MTA Fillapex, Apatite Root Canal Sealer and AH26. The teeth in the control groups were either filled with no sealer or made completely impermeable. The root canals were prepared and obturated with gutta-percha and one of the sealers. The teeth were sterilized with ethylene oxide gas prior to the bacterial leakage assessment using Enterococcus faecalis. Leakage was evaluated every 24 hours for 90 days. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistical methods and chi-squared test. If the data were significant, a proper post hoc test was used. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Results The positive control specimens exhibited total bacterial penetration whilst the negative control specimens showed no evidence of bacterial penetration. At the end of the study, the analysis of microleakage with chi-squared test showed no significant differences between the experimental groups (P<0.05). The results of chi-squared test analyzing the pair-wise differences between the groups considering the numerical values for leakage day indicated the lowest leakage with AH26 and the highest with Apatite root sealer. Conclusions According to the results of the present study, sealing ability of AH26 was significantly higher than that of MTA Fillapex and Apatite Root Canal Sealer. Key words:Mineral Trioxide aggregate, root canal obturation, dental seal. PMID:27957271

A Method for Assessing Change in Attitude: The McNemar Test.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ciechalski, Joseph C.; Pinkney, James W.; Weaver, Florence S.

This paper illustrates the use of the McNemar Test, using a hypothetical problem. The McNemar Test is a nonparametric statistical test that is a type of chi square test using dependent, rather than independent, samples to assess before-after designs in which each subject is used as his or her own control. Results of the McNemar test make it…

Biology Notes.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

School Science Review, 1983

1983-01-01

Describes laboratory procedures, demonstrations, and classroom activities/materials, including chi-square tests on a microcomputer, an integrated biology game, microscope slides of leaf stomata, culturing soil nematodes, technique for watering locust egg-laying tubes, hazards of biological chemicals (such as benzene, benzidene, calchicine,…

Pasta Predation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waugh, Michael L.

1986-01-01

Presents a predator-prey simulation which involves students in collecting data, solving problems, and making predictions on the evolution of prey populations. Provides directives on how to perform the chi-square test and also includes an Applesoft BASK program that performs the calculations. (ML)

A New Algorithm to Optimize Maximal Information Coefficient

PubMed Central

Luo, Feng; Yuan, Zheming

2016-01-01

The maximal information coefficient (MIC) captures dependences between paired variables, including both functional and non-functional relationships. In this paper, we develop a new method, ChiMIC, to calculate the MIC values. The ChiMIC algorithm uses the chi-square test to terminate grid optimization and then removes the restriction of maximal grid size limitation of original ApproxMaxMI algorithm. Computational experiments show that ChiMIC algorithm can maintain same MIC values for noiseless functional relationships, but gives much smaller MIC values for independent variables. For noise functional relationship, the ChiMIC algorithm can reach the optimal partition much faster. Furthermore, the MCN values based on MIC calculated by ChiMIC can capture the complexity of functional relationships in a better way, and the statistical powers of MIC calculated by ChiMIC are higher than those calculated by ApproxMaxMI. Moreover, the computational costs of ChiMIC are much less than those of ApproxMaxMI. We apply the MIC values tofeature selection and obtain better classification accuracy using features selected by the MIC values from ChiMIC. PMID:27333001

Spiritual Well-Being and Associated Factors with Relapse in Opioid Addicts.

PubMed

Noormohammadi, Mohammad-Reza; Nikfarjam, Masoud; Deris, Fatemeh; Parvin, Neda

2017-03-01

Opioid dependence relapse is a complex and multidimensional problem, and lack of spiritual well-being is a major concern in opioid addicts. This study was conducted to determine spiritual well-being and factors associated with relapse among opioid addicts. This cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2015 to September 2015. According to purposive sampling, 312 eligible addicted patients were enrolled in the study. The patients had at least an attempt of detoxification in the past six months and referred to an outpatient detoxification clinic in Shahrekord (Southwest, Iran). They completed Paloutzian and Ellison's Spiritual Well-being Scale. A researcher-developed questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics and 20 questions about associated factors with relapse was administered. Data were analysed by version 16.0 (SPSS Inc.,Chicago, IL) using one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation test, chi-square, Friedman test, and student's t-test. The most important factors associated with opioid dependence relapse consist of relation with an addict friend, unemployment, living expenses, family conflicts, and somatic pain. In the present study, 157 patients had never experienced relapse while the mean of relapse in the rest participants was (3.25±1.53) times. Furthermore, the addicted patients with relapse had significantly lower scores of spiritual well-being and its subscales compared with non-relapse patients (p<0.001). The findings of the present study indicate the necessity of paying attention to spiritual well-being, family and economical, personal, and occupational factors as crucial factors in opiate addiction relapse.

Occurrence of periodontal pathogens in ethnic groups from a native Brazilian reservation.

PubMed

Gaetti-Jardim, Elerson; Pereira, Maurício Fabiano; Vieira, Evanice Menezes Marçal; Schweitzer, Christiane Marie; Okamoto, Ana Cláudia; Ávila-Campos, Mario J

2015-06-01

The present study was designed to evaluate the occurrence of periodontal pathogens in the subgingival biofilm of 100 native Brazilians living at the Umutina Indian Reservation, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. Periodontal clinical examinations were carried out prior to collection of subgingival biofilm, and the presence of 14 periodontal microorganisms was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence and risk analysis was performed using Cochran and Mantel-Haenszel statistics for dichotomous variables or Pearson's chi-squared test for analysis of proportions when variables had three or more categories. The interrelations between clinical and microbiological parameters were assessed using Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney U test. Individuals with chronic periodontitis were frequently colonized by the association between Porphyromonas gingivalis and Campylobacter rectus, P. gingivalis and Prevotella intermedia, or P. gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia. Patients with chronic periodontitis were also colonized by Porphyromonas gulae and P. intermedia or by the association between P. gulae and T. forsythia. P. gulae was detected only in the subgingival samples from natives on a traditional diet. Gingival bleeding was associated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, T. forsythia, P. gingivalis, P. gulae, Porphyromonas endodontalis, P. intermedia, and Prevotella nigrescens. Treponema denticola was uncommon. Peculiar microbiota was demonstrated to be associated with different periodontal disease statuses in native Brazilians, with modest occurrence of certain pathogens, such as T. denticola, and the presence of P. gulae in natives with gingivitis or chronic periodontitis. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Physical activity practice among children and adolescents with visual impairment--influence of parental support and perceived barriers.

PubMed

Greguol, Márcia; Gobbi, Erica; Carraro, Attilio

2015-01-01

To analyze the practice of physical activity among children and adolescents with visual impairments (VI), regarding the possible influence of parental support and perceived barriers. Twenty-two young people with VIs (10 + 2.74 years old) and one of each of their parents were evaluated. They responded to the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C), Baecke Questionnaire, the Parental Support Scale and a questionnaire about perceived barriers to physical activity. The independent samples t-test, pearson correlation test and chi-square test were performed. Blind young people showed lower physical activity levels. There were significant correlations both between parents' physical activity and the support offered to children and between the PAQ-C results and the importance given by young people to physical activity, but only for those aged between 8 and 10 years old. The main perceived barriers were lack of security, motivation, professional training and information about available physical activity programs. The influence of parental support seems to be an important factor in the adoption of a physically active lifestyle for young people with VI. Parents and children should have more information about the benefits and opportunities of physical activity. Implications for Rehabilitation Young people with visual impairment should be encouraged by parents to practice physical activity. More information should be provided on the benefits of physical activity to both parents and children. Professional training should be available to help support this group become more active.

Placebo prescription and empathy of the physician: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Braga-Simões, João; Costa, Patrício Soares; Yaphe, John

2017-12-01

Empathy in the patient-physician relationship is a major component in an effective placebo treatment, as in every medical treatment. Understanding the role of empathy of the physician in the placebo effect may help dissect some of the context variables responsible for the effectiveness of the placebo. To determine the frequency of placebo prescription, doctors' beliefs, motivation, and attitudes to placebos in general practice in northern Portugal and to test the association between placebo prescription and physician empathy. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2014 and January 2015 among general practice specialists and interns from 14 health centres in a northern Portuguese health region. The self-report questionnaire included the Portuguese version of the Jefferson scale of physician empathy (JSPE) and a questionnaire about placebo prescription. Associations between demographic variables, JSPE score, prescription of placebo, and the attitudes to placebo score were tested with the chi-squared statistic, student t-tests for independent samples, and Pearson correlation. The study included 93 general practitioners (GP) (response rate: 74%). Placebos were prescribed by 73% (n = 68) of the respondents. GPs who prescribe placebo are significantly younger (mean age = 38.4 years; SD = 11.1; t (90) = 2.98, P <.05, d = 0.67) than non-prescribers (mean age =46.5 years; SD =13.3). Favourable attitudes towards placebo prescription are associated with higher empathy scores (R = 0.310, P <.01). Placebo prescription is frequent and associated with empathy from the prescriber, especially among younger GPs.

[The role of uric acid in the insulin resistance in children and adolescents with obesity].

PubMed

de Miranda, Josiane Aparecida; Almeida, Guilherme Gomide; Martins, Raissa Isabelle Leão; Cunha, Mariana Botrel; Belo, Vanessa Almeida; dos Santos, José Eduardo Tanus; Mourão-Júnior, Carlos Alberto; Lanna, Carla Márcia Moreira

2015-12-01

To investigate the association between serum uric acid levels and insulin resistance in children and adolescents with obesity. Cross-sectional study with 245 children and adolescents (134 obese and 111 controls), aged 8 to 18 years. The anthropometric variables (weight, height and waist circumference), blood pressure and biochemical parameters were collected. The clinical characteristics of the groups were analyzed by t-test or chi-square test. To evaluate the association between uric acid levels and insulin resistance the Pearson's test and logistic regression were applied. The prevalence of insulin resistance was 26.9%. The anthropometric variables, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and biochemical variables were significantly higher in the obese group (p<0.001), except for the high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. There was a positive and significant correlation between anthropometric variables and uric acid with HOMA-IR in the obese and in the control groups, which was higher in the obese group and in the total sample. The logistic regression model that included age, gender and obesity, showed an odds ratio of uric acid as a variable associated with insulin resistance of 1.91 (95%CI 1.40 to 2.62; p<-0.001). The increase in serum uric acid showed a positive statistical correlation with insulin resistance and it is associated with and increased risk of insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents. Copyright © 2015 Sociedade de Pediatria de São Paulo. Publicado por Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Functional Capacity of Patients with Pacemaker Due to Isolated Congenital Atrioventricular Block

PubMed Central

de Oliveira Júnior, Roberto Márcio; da Silva, Kátia Regina; Kawauchi, Tatiana Satie; Alves, Lucas Bassolli de Oliveira; Crevelari, Elizabeth Sartori; Martinelli, Martino; Costa, Roberto

2015-01-01

Background Isolated congenital atrioventricular block (CAVB) is a rare condition with multiple clinical outcomes. Ventricular remodeling can occur in approximately 10% of the patients after pacemaker (PM) implantation. Objectives To assess the functional capacity of children and young adults with isolated CAVB and chronic pacing of the right ventricle (RV) and evaluate its correlation with predictors of ventricular remodeling. Methods This cross-sectional study used a cohort of patients with isolated CAVB and RV pacing for over a year. The subjects underwent clinical and echocardiographic evaluation. Functional capacity was assessed using the six-minute walk test. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used, considering a significance level of 5%. Results A total of 61 individuals were evaluated between March 2010 and December 2013, of which 67.2% were women, aged between 7 and 41 years, who were using PMs for 13.5 ± 6.3 years. The percentage of ventricular pacing was 97.9 ± 4.1%, and the duration of the paced QRS complex was 153.7 ± 19.1 ms. Majority of the subjects (95.1%) were asymptomatic and did not use any medication. The mean distance walked was 546.9 ± 76.2 meters and was strongly correlated with the predicted distance (r = 0.907, p = 0.001) but not with risk factors for ventricular remodeling. Conclusions The functional capacity of isolated CAVB patients with chronic RV pacing was satisfactory but did not correlate with risk factors for ventricular remodeling. PMID:25387405

The moderating effect of social support on the relationship between physical health and suicidal thoughts among Chinese rural elderly: A nursing home sample.

PubMed

Zhang, Dan; Yang, Yang; Wu, Menglian; Zhao, Xia; Sun, Yaoyao; Xie, Hui; Li, Hongkai; Li, Yuqin; Wang, Kefang; Zhang, Jie; Jia, Jihui; Su, Yonggang

2018-01-23

Suicide rate is relatively high among Chinese rural elderly. While there has been some exciting work on reporting and preventing suicide among community-dwelling elderly, only a few published studies have addressed the issues of rural nursing homes in China. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among perceived social support, physical health, and suicidal thoughts of the elderly living in Chinese rural nursing homes. It also examined the moderating effects of social support on the path from physical health to suicidal thoughts of the rural institutional elderly in China. This study investigated 205 participants aged 60 years and above in Chinese rural nursing homes. Participants' suicidal thoughts, perceived social support, and physical health were assessed. This study conducted descriptive analysis, Student's t-test, and Pearson's chi-square test to test how physical health and social support predicted suicidal thoughts, as well as the moderating effects of family's, friends', and others' social support on physical health and suicidal thoughts. Both physical health and perceived social support were significantly related to suicidal thoughts. Perceived social support from family, friends, and significant others moderated the relationship between physical health and suicidal thoughts. Findings of this study suggested that increasing social support and improving physical health would be effective in both suicide prevention and intervention for the residents in Chinese rural nursing homes. © 2018 Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc.

Caries and fluoridated water in two Brazilian municipalities with low prevalence of the disease.

PubMed

Cruz, Mariângela Guanaes Bortolo da; Narvai, Paulo Capel

2018-04-09

To analyze the association between exposure to fluoridated water and dental caries in a context of widespread use of fluoride toothpaste in Brazil, in a scenario of low prevalence of the disease. This is a cross-sectional observational study, of the census type, in the form of a double population-based epidemiological survey carried out in two municipalities of the state of São Paulo in 2014. The sample consisted of adolescents aged 11 and 12 years, exposed (n = 184) or not exposed (n = 128) to fluoridated water for at least five years. The populations studied lived in communities of the same geographic region and had small demographic size and similar socioeconomic classification, differing only in the exposure (Silveiras) or not exposure (São José do Barreiro) to fluoridated water. The experience, magnitude, and degree of polarization of dental caries in these populations were analyzed using the DMFT and SiC indexes, and the association was tested using Pearson's chi-square statistics and prevalence ratio between those not exposed and those exposed to fluoridated water. Although caries experience (DMFT ≥ 1) was not associated with exposure to fluoridated water (chi-square = 1.78; p = 0.18; α = 5%), a significant difference was observed in the magnitude with which the disease reached the population: the means of DMFT were 1.76 in those exposed and 2.60 in those not exposed and the means of SiC were 4.04 and 6.16, respectively. The degree of polarization, indicated by the percentage of subjects with DMFT = 0, was different, being it higher (41.8%) in subjects exposed and lower (34.3%) in subjects not exposed. The prevalence ratio between those not exposed and those exposed was 1.13, indicating little expressiveness in prevalence difference. Exposure to fluoridated water implied lower mean values for the DMFT and SiC indexes, even in the presence of the concomitant exposure to fluoridated toothpaste, in a scenario of low prevalence of the disease, and with a similar pattern of caries distribution in the populations analyzed.

Relationship Between Occlusal Plane and Three Levels of Ala Tragus line in Dentulous and Partially Dentulous Patients in Different Age Groups: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

Shaikh, Saquib Ahmed; K, Lekha

2015-01-01

Statement of problem: Correct orientation of the occlusal plane plays a vital role in achieving optimal aesthetics, occlusal balance and function of complete dentures. The use of ala tragus line for determination of occlusal plane has been a topic of debate over past many years. Also, the effect of age on level of ala tragal line has not been investigated in the past. Purpose: To determine the effect of age on location of Ala-Tragus line. Materials and Methods: A total of 180 patients (90 males and 90 females) were selected with complete dentition and were grouped according to their age in three age groups with 60 subjects in each age group (Group A: 20-35 y, Group B: 36-50 y, Group C: 51-65 y). Right lateral profile photographs were taken with subjects having fox plane placed intraorally parallel to occlusal plane. Reference points corresponding to inferior border, middle or superior border of tragus and inferior border of ala of nose were marked on photographs. These were joined to get three different levels of Ala-Tragus line. Images were analysed photometrically and most parallel relationship was determined in between arms of fox plane (that represented the occlusal plane) and three different levels of ala tragus line. Data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using Pearson chi-square and Likelihood-ratio chi-square test. Results: Significant correlation was found between age and level of Ala-Tragus line. The occlusal plane was found to be more parallel to Ala-tragus line when inferior border of tragus was considered as posterior reference point in young adult age group (20-35 y). In older age groups, occlusal plane was found to be more parallel to Ala-tragus line when middle of tragus was considered as posterior reference point. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concluded that a definite relationship exists in between age and level of ala tragus line. PMID:25859523

Determinants of domestic violence among women attending an human immunodeficiency virus voluntary counseling and testing center in Bangalore, India.

PubMed

Chandrasekaran, Varalakshmi; Krupp, Karl; George, Ruja; Madhivanan, Purnima

2007-05-01

Violence against women is a global phenomenon that cuts across all social and economic classes. This study was designed to measure the prevalence and correlates of domestic violence (DV) among women seeking services at a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) center in Bangalore, India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among women visiting an human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) VCT center in Bangalore, between September and November 2005. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information about violence and other variables. Univariable associations with DV were made using Pearson Chi-squared test for categorical variables and Student t-test or the Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. Forty-two percent of respondents reported DV, including physical abuse (29%), psychological abuse (69%) and sexual abuse (1%). Among the women who reported violence of any kind, 67% also reported that they were HIV seropositive. The most common reasons reported for DV included financial problems (38%), husband's alcohol use (29%) and woman's HIV status (18%). Older women (P < 0.001) and those with low income levels were the most likely to have experienced DV (P = 0.02). Other factors included husband's education, HIV seropositivity and alcohol or tobacco use (P < 0.001). This study found DV levels comparable to other studies from around the world. The findings highlight the need for additional training among health care providers in VCT centers in screening for DV, detection of signs of physical abuse and provisions and referrals for women suffering from domestic partner violence.

Validation of self assessment patient knowledge questionnaire for heart failure patients.

PubMed

Lainscak, Mitja; Keber, Irena

2005-12-01

Several studies showed insufficient knowledge and poor compliance to non-pharmacological management in heart failure patients. Only a limited number of validated tools are available to assess their knowledge. The aim of the study was to test our 10-item Patient knowledge questionnaire. The Patient knowledge questionnaire was administered to 42 heart failure patients from Heart failure clinic and to 40 heart failure patients receiving usual care. Construct validity (Pearson correlation coefficient), internal consistency (Cronbach alpha), reproducibility (Wilcoxon signed rank test), and reliability (chi-square test and Student's t-test for independent samples) were assessed. Overall score of the Patient knowledge questionnaire had the strongest correlation to the question about regular weighing (r=0.69) and the weakest to the question about presence of heart disease (r=0.33). There was a strong correlation between question about fluid retention and questions assessing regular weighing, (r=0.86), weight of one litre of water (r=0.86), and salt restriction (r=0.57). The Cronbach alpha was 0.74 and could be improved by exclusion of questions about clear explanation (Chronbach alpha 0.75), importance of fruit, soup, and vegetables (Chronbach alpha 0.75), and self adjustment of diuretic (Chronbach alpha 0.81). During reproducibility testing 91% to 98% of questions were answered equally. Patients from Heart failure clinic scored significantly better than patients receiving usual care (7.9 (1.3) vs. 5.7 (2.2), p<0.001). Patient knowledge questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to measure knowledge of heart failure patients.

Effects of a 12-week program of Tai Chi exercise on the kidney disease quality of life and physical functioning of patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis.

PubMed

Chang, Jo-Han; Koo, Malcolm; Wu, Sheng-Wen; Chen, Chiu-Yuan

2017-02-01

Previous studies have shown that exercise training in patients with end-stage renal disease could improve their physical functioning and quality of life. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated the effects of Tai Chi exercise in patients on hemodialysis. To investigate the effects of a Tai Chi exercise intervention on the quality of life and physical functioning in end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis. A pre-post experimental design. Patients, aged 20 years or older, on hemodialysis recruited from the hemodialysis unit at a medical center in central Taiwan were assigned, based on their own preference, to either a control group (n=25) or an intervention group (n=21). A weekly one-hour short-form Yang style Tai Chi session for a total of 12 weeks. Physical functioning and Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) at the baseline and at the end of the intervention. The least square means of repetition of sit-to-stand cycles in one minute (STS-60), 6-min walk test, and gait speed test were significantly improved in the intervention group. In addition, the least square means of the five different dimensions of the KDQOL were all significantly higher in the intervention group, except the SF-12 physical health score. Improvements in the kidney disease quality of life and physical functioning were observed in Taiwanese patients on hemodialysis with a 12-week Tai Chi exercise intervention. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Cell phones to collect pregnancy data from remote areas in Liberia.

PubMed

Lori, Jody R; Munro, Michelle L; Boyd, Carol J; Andreatta, Pamela

2012-09-01

To report findings on knowledge and skill acquisition following a 3-day training session in the use of short message service (SMS) texting with non- and low-literacy traditional midwives. A pre- and post-test study design was used to assess knowledge and skill acquisition with 99 traditional midwives on the use of SMS texting for real-time, remote data collection in rural Liberia, West Africa. Paired sample t-tests were conducted to establish if overall mean scores varied significantly from pre-test to immediate post-test. Analysis of variance was used to compare means across groups. The nonparametric McNemar's test was used to determine significant differences between the pre-test and post-test values of each individual step involved in SMS texting. Pearson's chi-square test of independence was used to examine the association between ownership of cell phones within a family and achievement of the seven tasks. The mean increase in cell phone knowledge scores was 3.67, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 3.39 to 3.95. Participants with a cell phone in the family did significantly better on three of the seven tasks in the pre-test: "turns cell on without help" (χ(2) (1) = 9.15, p= .003); "identifies cell phone coverage" (χ(2) (1) = 5.37, p= .024); and "identifies cell phone is charged" (χ(2) (1) = 4.40, p= .042). A 3-day cell phone training session with low- and nonliterate traditional midwives in rural Liberia improved their ability to use mobile technology for SMS texting. Mobile technology can improve data collection accessibility and be used for numerous health care and public health issues. Cell phone accessibility holds great promise for collecting health data in low-resource areas of the world. © 2012 Sigma Theta Tau International.

Perspectives of Teachers Regarding Inclusive Education in Ghana

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deku, Prosper; Vanderpuye, Irene

2017-01-01

The study explored teachers' perspectives on the curriculum, the physical environment and their preparation for the inclusive education programme. Data was collected using questionnaires. A sample of 120 teachers from schools identified as inclusive was used for the study. The t-test of independent samples and chi-square test were used to analyse…

Patterns of Library Use by Undergraduate Students in a Chilean University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jara, Magdalena; Clasing, Paula; Gonzalez, Carlos; Montenegro, Maximiliano; Kelly, Nick; Alarcón, Rosa; Sandoval, Augusto; Saurina, Elvira

2017-01-01

This paper explores the patterns of use of print materials and digital resources in an undergraduate library in a Chilean university, by the students' discipline and year of study. A quantitative analysis was carried out, including descriptive analysis of contingency tables, chi-squared tests, t-tests, and multiple linear regressions. The results…

Power and sensitivity of alternative fit indices in tests of measurement invariance.

PubMed

Meade, Adam W; Johnson, Emily C; Braddy, Phillip W

2008-05-01

Confirmatory factor analytic tests of measurement invariance (MI) based on the chi-square statistic are known to be highly sensitive to sample size. For this reason, G. W. Cheung and R. B. Rensvold (2002) recommended using alternative fit indices (AFIs) in MI investigations. In this article, the authors investigated the performance of AFIs with simulated data known to not be invariant. The results indicate that AFIs are much less sensitive to sample size and are more sensitive to a lack of invariance than chi-square-based tests of MI. The authors suggest reporting differences in comparative fit index (CFI) and R. P. McDonald's (1989) noncentrality index (NCI) to evaluate whether MI exists. Although a general value of change in CFI (.002) seemed to perform well in the analyses, condition specific change in McDonald's NCI values exhibited better performance than a single change in McDonald's NCI value. Tables of these values are provided as are recommendations for best practices in MI testing. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved.

A chi-square goodness-of-fit test for non-identically distributed random variables: with application to empirical Bayes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Conover, W.J.; Cox, D.D.; Martz, H.F.

1997-12-01

When using parametric empirical Bayes estimation methods for estimating the binomial or Poisson parameter, the validity of the assumed beta or gamma conjugate prior distribution is an important diagnostic consideration. Chi-square goodness-of-fit tests of the beta or gamma prior hypothesis are developed for use when the binomial sample sizes or Poisson exposure times vary. Nine examples illustrate the application of the methods, using real data from such diverse applications as the loss of feedwater flow rates in nuclear power plants, the probability of failure to run on demand and the failure rates of the high pressure coolant injection systems atmore » US commercial boiling water reactors, the probability of failure to run on demand of emergency diesel generators in US commercial nuclear power plants, the rate of failure of aircraft air conditioners, baseball batting averages, the probability of testing positive for toxoplasmosis, and the probability of tumors in rats. The tests are easily applied in practice by means of corresponding Mathematica{reg_sign} computer programs which are provided.« less

DUID prevalence in Colorado's DUI citations.

PubMed

Wood, Ed; Salomonsen-Sautel, Stacy

2016-06-01

There are limited studies that measure the prevalence of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) based upon impairment measures because most prevalence studies are based on drug tests. The aim of this study was to provide the first estimate of DUID prevalence in Colorado using data collected by Colorado law enforcement officers in vehicular homicide (VH) and vehicular assault (VA) cases, and reported in court records. The four research questions of this study were answered by completing independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests, Pearson chi-square analyses or Fisher's exact tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Seventy percent (119 out of 170) of the cases involved alcohol only and 30% (51 out of 170) involved drugs. Of the latter cases, 32 cases involved a combination of alcohol and drugs and 19 cases identified drugs only, with no alcohol. Marijuana was the most commonly cited drug (23 cases); however, it was the sole impairing substance identified in only three cases. Polydrug use was very common among DUID cases, which makes it difficult to identify which drug or drugs caused the impairment responsible for the Driving Under the Influence citation. This study revealed tha (a) drugged driving is a frequent cause of DUI citations in cases charged with VH or VA; (b) that polydrug use, rather than marijuana, is the most common cause of drugged driving in Colorado; and (c) that current warrant procedures render blood test results meaningless in cases of marijuana-impairment. States should collect and analyze DUID data to ensure legislators focus on the right DUID problems to improve biological testing for drugs, adopt more appropriate roadside testing, and enact stronger DUID laws to protect the public. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and National Safety Council. All rights reserved.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Comorbidities among Hypertensive Patients in China

PubMed Central

Wang, Jiaojiao; Ma, Jian James; Liu, Jiaqi; Zeng, Daniel Dajun; Song, Cynthia; Cao, Zhidong

2017-01-01

Hypertension is a severe threat to human being's health due to its association with many comorbidities. Many research works have explored hypertension's prevalence and treatment. However, few considered impact of patient's socioeconomic status and geographical disparities. We intended to fulfill that research gap by analyzing the association of the prevalence of hypertension and three important comorbidities with various socioeconomic and geographical factors. We also investigated the prevalence of those comorbidities if the patient has been diagnosed with hypertension. We obtained a large collection of medical records from 29 hospitals across China. We utilized Bayes' Theorem, Pearson's chi-squared test, univariate and multivariate regression methods and geographical detector methods to analyze the association between disease prevalence and risk factors. We first attempted to quantified and analyzed the spatial stratified heterogeneity of the prevalence of hypertension comorbidities by q-statistic using geographical detector methods. We found that the demographic and socioeconomic factors, and hospital class and geographical factors would have an enhanced interactive influence on the prevalence of hypertension comorbidities. Our findings can be leveraged by public health policy makers to allocate medical resources more effectively. Healthcare practitioners can also be benefited by our analysis to offer customized disease prevention for populations with different socioeconomic status. PMID:28367080

Prevalence of Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis and its Association with Coronary Artery Disease in a Brazilian Subpopulation

PubMed Central

Câmara, Andréa Cruz; Aguiar, Carlos Menezes

2017-01-01

Objective The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic apical periodontitis (AAP) and its association with coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Brazilian subpopulation, and to examine the correlation of AAP with gender, age and most frequently affected dental elements. Methods The data were collected from medical records of the patients (n = 1346) treated at the Specialization in Endodontics Clinic of the Federal University of Pernambuco in the period between 2003 and 2010. From each patient, the following variables were recorded: gender, age, endodontically compromised teeth, endodontic diseases diagnosed and the history of CAD. The data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test adopting a significance level of 5%. Results AAP was diagnosed in 574 patients (42.6%), corresponding to 641 teeth (40.1%). Both genders (p = 0.082), and all age groups (p = 0.190) were affected similarly. The upper incisors (52.8%, p <0.001) had a higher prevalence of AAP. The patients with AAP showed 1.45 times more chance of exhibiting CAD (p = 0.307). Conclusions The results pointed out that the prevalence of AAP in this population was high and similar to that observed in other countries. A positive association, but not statistically significant, between AAP and CAD was found. PMID:28827847

Prevalence of Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis and its Association with Coronary Artery Disease in a Brazilian Subpopulation.

PubMed

Paloma de Oliveira, Bruna; Câmara, Andréa Cruz; Aguiar, Carlos Menezes

2017-06-01

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic apical periodontitis (AAP) and its association with coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Brazilian subpopulation, and to examine the correlation of AAP with gender, age and most frequently affected dental elements. The data were collected from medical records of the patients (n = 1346) treated at the Specialization in Endodontics Clinic of the Federal University of Pernambuco in the period between 2003 and 2010. From each patient, the following variables were recorded: gender, age, endodontically compromised teeth, endodontic diseases diagnosed and the history of CAD. The data were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test adopting a significance level of 5%. AAP was diagnosed in 574 patients (42.6%), corresponding to 641 teeth (40.1%). Both genders (p = 0.082), and all age groups (p = 0.190) were affected similarly. The upper incisors (52.8%, p <0.001) had a higher prevalence of AAP. The patients with AAP showed 1.45 times more chance of exhibiting CAD (p = 0.307). The results pointed out that the prevalence of AAP in this population was high and similar to that observed in other countries. A positive association, but not statistically significant, between AAP and CAD was found.

Does spatial location matter? Traditional therapy utilisation among the general population in a Ghanaian rural and urban setting.

PubMed

Gyasi, Razak Mohammed; Asante, Felix; Segbefia, Alexander Yao; Abass, Kabila; Mensah, Charlotte Monica; Siaw, Lawrencia Pokuah; Eshun, Gabriel; Adjei, Prince Osei-Wusu

2015-06-01

Despite the recognition for rising consumption rate of traditional medicine (TRM) in health and spatio-medical literature in the global scale, the impact of location in traditional therapy use has been explored least in Ghana. This paper analysed the role of spatial variation in TRM use in Kumasi Metropolis and Sekyere South District of Ashanti Region, Ghana. A retrospective cross-sectional and place-based survey was conducted in a representative sample (N=324) selected through systematic random sampling technique. Structured interviewer-administered questionnaires were espoused as the main research instruments. Data were analysed with Pearson's Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests from the Predictive Analytics Software (PASW) version 17.0. The study found that over 86% reported TRM use. Whilst majority (59.1%) of the respondents had used TRM two or more times within the last 12 months, biologically-based therapies and energy healing were common forms of TRM accessed. Although, the use of TRM did not vary (p>0.05), knowledge about TRM, modalities of TRM and the sources of TRM differed significantly across geographically demarcated rural and urban splits (p<0.005). The study advances our understanding of the spatial dimensions as regards TRM utilisation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Assessment of Medication Use among University Students in Ethiopia

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Background. The extent, nature, and determinants of medication use of individuals can be known from drug utilization studies. Objectives. This study intended to determine medication consumption, sharing, storage, and disposal practices of university students in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 404 university students selected through stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 20 statistical software. Pearson's Chi-square test of independence was conducted with P < 0.05 taken as statistically significant. Results. At 95.3% response rate, the prevalences of medication consumption and sharing were 35.3% (N = 136) and 38.2% (N = 147), respectively. One hundred (26%) respondents admitted that they often keep leftover medications for future use while the rest (N = 285, 74%) discard them primarily into toilets (N = 126, 44.2%). Evidence of association existed between medication taking and year of study (P = 0.048), medication sharing and sex (P = 0.003), and medication sharing and year of study (P = 0.015). Conclusion. There is a high prevalence of medication consumption, medication sharing, and inappropriate disposal practices which are influenced by sex and educational status of the university students. Thus medication use related educational interventions need to be given to students in general. PMID:28393101

Current Trends in Facial Rejuvenation: An Assessment of ASPS Members' Use of Fat Grafting during Face Lifting.

PubMed

Sinno, Sammy; Mehta, Karan; Reavey, Patrick L; Simmons, Christopher; Stuzin, James M

2015-07-01

Fat grafting can be used to improve the results of face lifting. The extent to which plastic surgeons use fat grafting in their face-lift practices is unknown. The goals of this study were to understand the current use of fat grafting during facial rejuvenation surgery and identify the most common techniques used. A 28-item questionnaire was formulated for distribution to a randomized cohort of American Society of Plastic Surgeons members. Data were collected and statistically analyzed using Pearson chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. A total of 309 questionnaires were collected. The questionnaire revealed that 85.2 percent of respondents use fat grafting during face lifts. Currently, the most common techniques used include abdominal harvest, centrifuge processing, blunt cannula injection without pretunneling, and placing less than 0.1 cc per pass. The deep central malar, lower lid cheek junction, and nasolabial folds are the most commonly injected areas. Combining surgical repositioning of fat with fat grafting offers surgeons a greater degree of aesthetic control for correcting contour in the aging face. Although there is controversy regarding the best method to surgically reposition fat, there is a growing consensus that volume augmentation is preferred by most face-lift surgeons.

[Risk factors associated with preterm birth in a second level hospital].

PubMed

Escobar-Padilla, Beatriz; Gordillo-Lara, Limberg Darinel; Martínez-Puon, Horacio

2017-01-01

Preterm birth is one of the biggest problems in obstetrics and gynecology, given that it has an incidence of 10-11%. The objective was to identify the risk factors associated with a preterm birth. A retrospective, observational, transversal and analytic case-control study was made. All premature birth incidences were determined as study objects and controls were integrated with term deliveries. A sample size of 344 patients with a control per case was calculated. A total of 688 patients were studied. Statistical analysis was descriptive, univariate and bivariate and we used the Pearson chi square test, with a p < 0.05, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The risk factors associated with a preterm labor were placenta praevia: OR = 10.2 (p = 0.005); previous preterm delivery: OR = 10.2 (p = 0.005); preeclampsia: OR = 6.38 (p = 0.00); twin pregnancy: OR = 5.8 (p = 0.000); oligohydramnios: OR = 5.8 (p = 0.000); tobacco use: OR = 4.6 (p = 0.002); premature rupture of membranes (PROM): OR = 4.1 (p = 0.000); cervicovaginitis: OR = 3 (p = 0.000); urinary tract infections (UTI): OR = 1.5 (p = 0.010). Maternal history of prenatal care, preclampsia, PROM, twin pregnancy, placenta praevia, cervicovaginitis, previous preterm delivery and UTI are risk factors with statistical significance associated with preterm delivery.

Renal dysfunction in liver cirrhosis and its correlation with Child-Pugh score and MELD score

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siregar, G. A.; Gurning, M.

2018-03-01

Renal dysfunction (RD) is a serious and common complication in a patient with liver cirrhosis. It provides a poor prognosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the renal function in liver cirrhosis, also to determine the correlation with the graduation of liver disease assessed by Child-Pugh Score (CPS) and MELD score. This was a cross-sectional study included patients with liver cirrhosis admitted to Adam Malik Hospital Medan in June - August 2016. We divided them into two groups as not having renal dysfunction (serum creatinine < 1.5 mg/dL) and having renal dysfunction (serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL). For the processing of data, SPSS 22.0 was used. Statistical methods used: Chi-square, Fisher exact, one way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis test and Pearson coefficient of correlation. The level of significance was p<0.05. 55 patients with presented with renal dysfunction were 16 (29.1 %). There was statistically significant inverse correlation between GFR and CPS (r = -0.308), GFR and MELD score (r = -0.278). There was a statistically significant correlation between creatinine and MELD score (r = 0.359), creatinine and CPS (r = 0.382). The increase of the degree of liver damage is related to the increase of renal dysfunction.

A Statewide Profile of Frequent Users of School-Based Health Centers: Implications for Adolescent Health Care.

PubMed

Koenig, Kevin T; Ramos, Mary M; Fowler, Tara T; Oreskovich, Kristin; McGrath, Jane; Fairbrother, Gerry

2016-04-01

The purpose of this study is to describe patterns of care and service use among adolescent school-based health center (SBHC) users in New Mexico and contrast patterns and services between frequent and infrequent users. Medical claims/encounter data were analyzed from 59 SBHCs located in secondary schools in New Mexico during the 2011-2012 school year. We used Pearson's chi-square test to examine the differences between frequent (≥ 4 visits/year) and infrequent users in their patterns of SBHC care, and we conducted logistic regression to examine whether frequent use of the SBHC predicted receipt of behavioral, reproductive, and sexual health; checkup; or acute care services. Most of the 26,379 adolescent SBHC visits in New Mexico were for behavioral health (42.4%) and reproductive and sexual health (22.9%). Frequent users have greater odds of receiving a behavioral, reproductive, and sexual health; and acute care visit than infrequent users (p < .001). American Indians, in particular, have higher odds of receiving behavioral health and checkup visits, compared with other races/ethnicities (p < .001). SBHCs deliver core health care services to adolescents, including behavioral, reproductive, and checkup services, to high need populations. American-Indian youth, more than their peers, use SBHCs for behavioral health and checkups. © 2016, American School Health Association.

Assessment of Medication Use among University Students in Ethiopia.

PubMed

Asmelashe Gelayee, Dessalegn; Binega, Gashaw

2017-01-01

Background. The extent, nature, and determinants of medication use of individuals can be known from drug utilization studies. Objectives. This study intended to determine medication consumption, sharing, storage, and disposal practices of university students in Northwest Ethiopia. Methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 404 university students selected through stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS version 20 statistical software. Pearson's Chi-square test of independence was conducted with P < 0.05 taken as statistically significant. Results. At 95.3% response rate, the prevalences of medication consumption and sharing were 35.3% ( N = 136) and 38.2% ( N = 147), respectively. One hundred (26%) respondents admitted that they often keep leftover medications for future use while the rest ( N = 285, 74%) discard them primarily into toilets ( N = 126, 44.2%). Evidence of association existed between medication taking and year of study ( P = 0.048), medication sharing and sex ( P = 0.003), and medication sharing and year of study ( P = 0.015). Conclusion. There is a high prevalence of medication consumption, medication sharing, and inappropriate disposal practices which are influenced by sex and educational status of the university students. Thus medication use related educational interventions need to be given to students in general.

Blood glucose screening among elderly Malaysians: Who to target?

PubMed

Cheah, Yong Kang; Goh, Kim-Leng

2017-01-01

Early detection of raised blood glucose can reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Despite being a high-risk group, a significant proportion of the elderly population does not undergo blood glucose screening. The aim of the present study was to examine the factors affecting blood glucose screening among the elderly. Data from a sample of 2463 respondents in the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2011 were used. Pearson Chi-squared tests were conducted to find factors associated with screening behavior. A logit model was used to analyze the likelihood of screening. Income, age, education, ethnicity, employment status, availability of medical coverage, and smoking behavior were significantly associated with blood glucose screening. The likelihood of blood glucose screening was positively correlated with available monthly income and was higher in those aged 60-69 years, those attaining higher education, Malays, and elderly who are medically covered. The findings of the present study provide insights for health policy formulation for the elderly. As part of their efforts to reduce national health costs, governments should pay particular attention to the elderly, who are likely to be unscreened for blood glucose levels, because they face even larger risk exposure. © 2016 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

A prospective randomized study comparing two commercially available types of human embryo culture media: G1-PLUS™/G2-PLUS™ sequential medium (Vitrolife) and the GL BLAST™ sole medium (Ingamed).

PubMed

Ceschin, Ianae I; Ribas, Mariana H; Ceschin, Alvaro P; Nishikawa, Lucileine; Rocha, Claudia C; Pic-Taylor, Aline; Baroneza, José Eduardo

2016-03-01

To check the efficacy of two types of commercially available embryo culture medium: G1-PLUS™/G2-PLUS™ sequential (Vitrolife, Gothenburg, Sweden) and GV BLAST™ sole (Ingamed, Maringá, Brazil) with regards to fertilization, cleavage, blastocyst and pregnancy rates. Prospective and randomized study conducted from March to July 2015, using the medical records of 60 patients submitted to Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection techniques (ICSI). Data regarding the age of patients, together with fertilization, cleavage, blastocyst and pregnancy rates, were collected and compared in relation to the: G1-PLUS™/G2-PLUS™ sequential and GV BLAST™ sole mediums. The data were tabulated and compared using the Pearson's Chi-Square test (95% CI). There was no significant difference when comparing patients divided into higher and lower fertility age. No significant statistical difference was noted between the fertilization rates (P=0.59), cleavage (P=0.91), evolution to blastocyst (P=0.33) and total pregnancy (P=0.83) when comparing the embryos cultured in the different media analysed. We conclude that the G1-PLUS™/G2-PLUS™ sequential and GV BLAST™ sole mediums are equally effective with regards to fertilization, cleavage, blastocyst development and total pregnancy rates.

Investigation of marital satisfaction and its relationship with job stress and general health of nurses in Qazvin, Iran.

PubMed

Azimian, Jalil; Piran, Pegah; Jahanihashemi, Hassan; Dehghankar, Leila

2017-04-01

Pressures in nursing can affect family life and marital problems, disrupt common social problems, increase work-family conflicts and endanger people's general health. To determine marital satisfaction and its relationship with job stress and general health of nurses. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was done in 2015 in medical educational centers of Qazvin by using an ENRICH marital satisfaction scale and General Health and Job Stress questionnaires completed by 123 nurses. Analysis was done by SPSS version 19 using descriptive and analytical statistics (Pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square, regression line, multiple regression analysis). The findings showed that 64.4% of nurses had marital satisfaction. There was significant relationship between age (p=0.03), job experience (p=0.01), age of spouse (p=0.01) and marital satisfaction. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between marital satisfaction and general health (p<0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between depression (p=0.012) and anxiety (p=0.001) with marital satisfaction. Due to high levels of job stress and disorder in general health of nurses and low marital satisfaction by running health promotion programs and paying attention to its dimensions can help work and family health of nurses.

Effect of Women's Decision-Making Autonomy on Infant's Birth Weight in Rural Bangladesh

PubMed Central

Sharma, Arpana

2013-01-01

Background. Low birth weight (LBW), an outcome of maternal undernutrition, is a major public health concern in Bangladesh where the problem is most prominent. Women's decision-making autonomy is likely an important factor influencing maternal and child health outcomes. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of women's decision-making autonomy on infant's birth weight (BW). Methods. The study included data of 2175 enrolled women (14–45 years of age) from the Maternal and Infant Nutritional Intervention in Matlab (MINIMat-study) in Bangladesh. Pearson's chi-square test, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and logistic regression analysis were applied at the collected data. Results. Women with lowest decision-making autonomy were significantly more likely to have a low birth weight (LBW) child, after controlling for maternal age, education (woman's and her husband's), socioeconomic status (SES) (odds ratio (OR) = 1.4; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0, 1.8). BW was decreased significantly among women with lowest decision making autonomy after adjusting for all confounders. Conclusion. Women's decision-making autonomy has an independent effect on BW and LBW outcome. In addition, there is a need for further exploration to identify sociocultural attributes and gender related determinants of women decision-making autonomy in this study setting. PMID:24575305

Are There Differences in Treatment and Survival Between Poor, Older Black and White Women with Breast Cancer?

PubMed

Aggarwal, Himani; Callahan, Christopher M; Miller, Kathy D; Tu, Wanzhu; Loehrer, Patrick J

2015-10-01

To explore differences in treatment and survival outcome between poor, older black and white women with breast cancer. Retrospective cohort study. Public safety net hospital. Women aged 65 and older diagnosed with breast cancer from 1999 to 2008 (n = 1,000). Breast cancer treatments that black and white women sought were compared using the Pearson chi-square test. All-cause mortality of black and white women was compared using hazard ratios derived from a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. There was no significant difference between older black and white women in surgical treatment, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy over the study period. Race was not a significant predictor of survival in the Cox proportional hazards model that controlled for stage of cancer, age at diagnosis, dual-eligibility status, comorbid conditions, body mass index, smoking history, mammogram screening, and treatment for breast cancer. Race did not appear to affect treatment or mortality in a cohort of older women with low socioeconomic status. This may be associated with similar healthcare delivery and equivalent access to health care for the older black and white women in this study. © 2015, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2015, The American Geriatrics Society.

An Attempt at Quantifying Factors that Affect Efficiency in the Management of Solid Waste Produced by Commercial Businesses in the City of Tshwane, South Africa

PubMed Central

Worku, Yohannes; Muchie, Mammo

2012-01-01

Objective. The objective was to investigate factors that affect the efficient management of solid waste produced by commercial businesses operating in the city of Pretoria, South Africa. Methods. Data was gathered from 1,034 businesses. Efficiency in solid waste management was assessed by using a structural time-based model designed for evaluating efficiency as a function of the length of time required to manage waste. Data analysis was performed using statistical procedures such as frequency tables, Pearson's chi-square tests of association, and binary logistic regression analysis. Odds ratios estimated from logistic regression analysis were used for identifying key factors that affect efficiency in the proper disposal of waste. Results. The study showed that 857 of the 1,034 businesses selected for the study (83%) were found to be efficient enough with regards to the proper collection and disposal of solid waste. Based on odds ratios estimated from binary logistic regression analysis, efficiency in the proper management of solid waste was significantly influenced by 4 predictor variables. These 4 influential predictor variables are lack of adherence to waste management regulations, wrong perception, failure to provide customers with enough trash cans, and operation of businesses by employed managers, in a decreasing order of importance. PMID:23209483

[Trends in drug consumption among immigrants between 2004 and 2008].

PubMed

Tordable Merino, Isidro; Sánchez Sánchez, Ana; Santos Sanz, Sara; García Vicario, María Isabel; Redondo Martín, Susana

2010-01-01

To determine the sociodemographic and drug use profile of immigrants attended in Castile-Leon (Spain). We performed a retrospective descriptive study comparing sociodemographic profiles and drug use variables through Pearson's chi-square test. A total of 80.8% of drug users were men, with a mean age 33.8 years (SD: 9.0); 72.3% were from Latin America, Portugal and eastern Europe and 51.6% had lived for 5 years or less in Spain. The main drug used was heroine (43.8%), via smoking (43.5%); most drug users started using in the country of origin (64.3%). Comparisons between 2008 and 2004 showed the following significant differences: for men: mean age (33.8 vs 30.9); length of main drug use: > or =21 years (19.2% vs 8.3%); for women: main drug use: heroin plus cocaine (25.6% vs 3.6%); length of main drug use: 16-20 years (27.9% vs 4.0%). The pattern of drug use differed by country of origin. The most commonly used drug was heroin, and injection was a frequent route of administration. We identified a need to strengthen harm-reduction interventions in this collective, enhance surveillance and adapt health services. Copyright 2009 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Music as an auditory stimulus in stroke patients.

PubMed

Antić, Sonja; Galinović, Ivana; Lovrendić-Huzjan, Arijana; Vuković, Vlasta; Jurasić, Miljenka-Jelena; Demarin, Vida

2008-01-01

Auditory stimulation increases mean blood flow velocity (MBFV) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in healthy individuals. Our aim was to monitor such changes in the affected MCA of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The study included 66 non-thrombolysed patients with AIS who were divided into groups according to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score. Group I consisted of patients with NIHSS score 10 and group II with NIHSS score > or =11. Affected MCA was insonated with transcranial Doppler (TCD). MCA MBFVs were monitored during listening to music for 30 minutes. The first response of MBFV increase was measured as time (Tmax) and percentage of amplitude change (Amax). Pearson Chi-Square test was used. In 78.85% of patients there was a significant increase in MBFV compared to baseline values as a reaction to the music. There was no significant difference in Tmax or Amax between the two groups. However, a trend of longer Tmax was observed with every 2 NIHSS score increase. Music is an auditory stimulus in stroke patients and can be measured with TCD as MCA MBFV increase. Although our study showed no significant change of reaction time with the severity of stroke, a trend of prolonged Tmax was observed with NIHSS score increase.

[Differences in AIDS prevention among young men and women of public schools in Brazil].

PubMed

Antunes, Maria Cristina; Peres, Camila Alves; Paiva, Vera; Stall, Ron; Hearst, Norman

2002-08-01

To investigate risk sexual for HIV infection among young adult night school students (18 to 25 years old) and to assess gender differences in sexual practices and the impact of AIDS prevention program. A longitudinal intervention study was carried out among students of four public inner-city night schools, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, randomized into two groups: an intervention group and a control one. Three hundred and ninety-four students participated in the study; 77% completed the post-intervention questionnaire. The intervention consisted of a "Safer Sex Workshop" where the following topics were discussed: Aids symbolism, risk perception, influences of gender norms on attitudes, Aids-related knowledge, erotic and reproductive body, sexual pleasure, and condom use negotiation. Statistical analysis was performed using Pearson's Chi-square test and variance. The frequency of condom use was low (33%). There were significant gender differences concerning sexuality and AIDS prevention. Workshop evaluation showed a statistically significant impact on women, who improved chiefly their attitudes regarding safer sex. Changes were not significant among men. HIV risk infection can be lowered but more significant results can be achieved if gender differences and sexual scripts are taken into account while developing specific long-term community programs.

[Study on serum p53 protein in cops in Guangzhou city].

PubMed

Zhu, Wen-Chang; Chen, Qing; Chu, Xin-Wei; Luo, Chen-Ling; Wu, Min; Wang, Ya-Xian; Chen, Si-Dong

2003-10-01

Serum p53 protein overexpression was detected in population exposed to traffic exhaust gas to study the relation between traffic exhaust gas and the increased risk in p53 gene mutation. Serum p53 protein expression was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relationship between different types of job and serum p53 protein overexpression were studied by pearson Chi-square tests. Results on serum p53 protein overexpression on jobs outside of office (5.74%) were not significantly higher than jobs inside the office. However, it suggested that traffic police men (12.12%) working outside of office, with whose length of service longer than 30 years had a significant overexpression of serum p53 protein than the others (5.36%) whose length of service was less than 30 years (P < 0.05, OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.11 - 5.33). Overexpression rate of p53 protein appeared to be 6.89% in the group whose average weekly exposure hours were more than 40 hours, which was significant higher than the group whose exposed hours were less than 40 hours (P < 0.05, OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.03 - 2.81). The result suggested that traffic exhaust gas was likely to cause mutation of p53 gene and increasing the incidence of lung cancer.

Prevalence of alveolar bone loss in healthy children treated at private pediatric dentistry clinics

PubMed Central

GUIMARÃES, Maria do Carmo Machado; de ARAÚJO, Valéria Martins; AVENA, Márcia Raquel; DUARTE, Daniel Rocha da Silva; FREITAS, Francisco Valter

2010-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of alveolar bone loss (BL) in healthy children treated at private pediatric dentistry clinics in Brasília, Brazil. Material and Methods The research included 7,436 sites present in 885 radiographs from 450 children. The BL prevalence was estimated by measuring the distance from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to alveolar bone crest (ABC). Data were divided in groups: (I) No BL: distance from CEJ to ABC is ≤2 mm; (II) questionable BL (QBL): distance from CEJ to ABC is >2 and <3 mm; (III) definite BL (DBL): distance from CEJ to ABC ≥3 mm. Data were treated by the chi-square nonparametric test and Fisher's exact test (p<0.05). Results Among males, 89.31% were classified in group I, 9.82% were classified in group II and 0.85% in group III. Among females, 93.05%, 6.48% and 0.46% patients were classified in Group I, II and III, respectively. The differences between genders were not statistically significant (Chi-square test, p = 0.375). Group composition according to patients’ age showed that 91.11% of individuals were classified as group I, 8.22% in group II and 0.67% in group III. The differences among the age ranges were not statistically significant (Chi-square test, p = 0.418). The mesial and distal sites showed a higher prevalence of BL in the jaw, QBL (89.80%) and DBL (79.40%), and no significant difference was observed in the distribution of QBL (Fisher’s exact test p = 0.311) and DBL (Fisher’s exact test p = 0.672) in the dental arches. The distal sites exhibited higher prevalence of both QBL (77.56%) and DBL (58.82%). Conclusions The periodontal status of children should never be underestimated because BL occurs even in healthy populations, although in a lower frequency. PMID:20857009

Prevalence of alveolar bone loss in healthy children treated at private pediatric dentistry clinics.

PubMed

Guimarães, Maria do Carmo Machado; de Araújo, Valéria Martins; Avena, Márcia Raquel; Duarte, Daniel Rocha da Silva; Freitas, Francisco Valter

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of alveolar bone loss (BL) in healthy children treated at private pediatric dentistry clinics in Brasília, Brazil. The research included 7,436 sites present in 885 radiographs from 450 children. The BL prevalence was estimated by measuring the distance from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to alveolar bone crest (ABC). Data were divided in groups: (I) No BL: distance from CEJ to ABC is <2 mm; (II) questionable BL (QBL): distance from CEJ to ABC is >2 and <3 mm; (III) definite BL (DBL): distance from CEJ to ABC >3 mm. Data were treated by the chi-square nonparametric test and Fisher's exact test (p<0.05). Among males, 89.31% were classified in group I, 9.82% were classified in group II and 0.85% in group III. Among females, 93.05%, 6.48% and 0.46% patients were classified in Group I, II and III, respectively. The differences between genders were not statistically significant (Chi-square test, p = 0.375). Group composition according to patients' age showed that 91.11% of individuals were classified as group I, 8.22% in group II and 0.67% in group III. The differences among the age ranges were not statistically significant (Chi-square test, p = 0.418). The mesial and distal sites showed a higher prevalence of BL in the jaw, QBL (89.80%) and DBL (79.40%), and no significant difference was observed in the distribution of QBL (Fisher's exact test p = 0.311) and DBL (Fisher's exact test p = 0.672) in the dental arches. The distal sites exhibited higher prevalence of both QBL (77.56%) and DBL (58.82%). The periodontal status of children should never be underestimated because BL occurs even in healthy populations, although in a lower frequency.

Wrong Answers on Multiple-Choice Achievement Tests: Blind Guesses or Systematic Choices?.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Powell, J. C.

A multi-faceted model for the selection of answers for multiple-choice tests was developed from the findings of a series of exploratory studies. This model implies that answer selection should be curvilinear. A series of models were tested for fit using the chi square procedure. Data were collected from 359 elementary school students ages 9-12.…

Comments on Different techniques for finding best-fit parameters

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fenimore, Edward E.; Triplett, Laurie A.

2014-07-01

A common data analysis problem is to find best-fit parameters through chi-square minimization. Levenberg-Marquardt is an often used system that depends on gradients and converges when successive iterations do not change chi-square more than a specified amount. We point out in cases where the sought-after parameter weakly affects the fit and cases where the overall scale factor is a parameter, that a Golden Search technique can often do better. The Golden Search converges when the best-fit point is within a specified range and that range can be made arbitrarily small. It does not depend on the value of chi-square.

[Waiting time for the first colposcopic examination in women with abnormal Papanicolaou test].

PubMed

Nascimento, Maria Isabel do; Rabelo, Irene Machado Moraes Alvarenga; Cardoso, Fabrício Seabra Polidoro; Musse, Ricardo Neif Vieira

2015-08-01

To evaluate the waiting times before obtaining the first colposcopic examination for women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears. Retrospective cohort study conducted on patients who required a colposcopic examination to clarify an abnormal pap test, between 2002 January and 2008 August, in a metropolitan region of Brazil. The waiting times were defined as: Total Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of the first colposcopic examination); Partial A Waiting Time (interval between the date of the pap test result and the date of referral); Partial B Waiting Time (interval between the date of referral and the date of the first colposcopic examination). Means, medians, relative and absolute frequencies were calculated. The Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson's chi-square test were used to determine statistical significance. A total of 1,544 women with mean of age of 34 years (SD=12.6 years) were analyzed. Most of them had access to colposcopic examination within 30 days (65.8%) or 60 days (92.8%) from referral. Mean Total Waiting Time, Partial A Waiting Time, and Partial B Waiting Time were 94.5 days (SD=96.8 days), 67.8 days (SD=95.3 days) and 29.2 days (SD=35.1 days), respectively. A large part of the women studied had access to colposcopic examination within 60 days after referral, but Total waiting time was long. Measures to reduce the waiting time for obtaining the first colposcopic examination can help to improve the quality of care in the context of cervical cancer control in the region, and ought to be addressed at the phase between the date of the pap test results and the date of referral to the teaching hospital.

TGF beta and IL13 in Schistosomiasis mansoni associated pulmonary arterial hypertension; a descriptive study with comparative groups.

PubMed

Ferreira, Rita de Cassia dos Santos; Montenegro, Silvia Maria Lucena; Domingues, Ana Lucia Coutinho; Bandeira, Angela Pontes; Silveira, Carlos Antonio da Mota; Leite, Luiz Arthur Calheiros; Pereira, Clara de Almeida; Fernandes, Izolda Moura; Mertens, Alessandra Brainer; Almeida, Milena Oliveira

2014-05-21

It is suggested that interleukin (IL)-13 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta play a role in the pulmonary vascular changes found in animal models of schistosomiasis. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the serum levels of total TGF-beta and IL-13 of patients with schistosomiasis with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and patients with schistosomiasis without PAH. 34 patients from the schistosomiasis outpatient clinic of the Hospital das Clinicas, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, without PAH assessed by echocardiography and 34 patients from the Reference Centre of Pulmonary Hypertension of Pronto Socorro Cardiológico de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil with PAH, confirmed by right heart catheterization, were enrolled on the study. Both groups presented with schistosomal periportal fibrosis after abdominal ultrasound. Serum levels of TGF-beta1 and IL-13 were determined by ELISA. Student t test to independent samples, Mann-Whitney test to nonparametric variables, Pearson correlation test for correlation analyses and Fisher Chi-squared test to compare categorical analyses were used. The median value of TGF-beta1 was significantly higher in patients with PAH (22496.9 pg/ml, interquartile range [IR] 15936.7 - 32087.8) than in patients without PAH (13629.9 pg/ml, IR: 10192.2- 22193.8) (p = 0.006). There was no difference in the median value of IL-13 in the group with Sch-PAH compared to patients without Sch-PAH (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that TGF-beta possibly plays a role in the pathogenesis of schistosomiasis-associated PAH.

Nursing workload in public and private intensive care units

PubMed Central

Nogueira, Lilia de Souza; Koike, Karina Mitie; Sardinha, Débora Souza; Padilha, Katia Grillo; de Sousa, Regina Marcia Cardoso

2013-01-01

Objective This study sought to compare patients at public and private intensive care units according to the nursing workload and interventions provided. Methods This retrospective, comparative cohort study included 600 patients admitted to 4 intensive care units in São Paulo. The nursing workload and interventions were assessed using the Nursing Activities Score during the first and last 24 hours of the patient's stay at the intensive care unit. Pearson's chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, the Mann-Whitney test, and Student's t test were used to compare the patient groups. Results The average Nursing Activities Score upon admission to the intensive care unit was 61.9, with a score of 52.8 upon discharge. Significant differences were found among the patients at public and private intensive care units relative to the average Nursing Activities Score upon admission, as well as for 12 out of 23 nursing interventions performed during the first 24 hours of stay at the intensive care units. The patients at the public intensive care units exhibited a higher average score and overall more frequent nursing interventions, with the exception of those involved in the "care of drains", "mobilization and positioning", and "intravenous hyperalimentation". The groups also differed with regard to the evolution of the Nursing Activities Score among the total case series as well as the groups of survivors from the time of admission to discharge from the intensive care unit. Conclusion Patients admitted to public and private intensive care units exhibit differences in their nursing care demands, which may help managers with nursing manpower planning. PMID:24213086

Predictive MRI correlates of lesser metatarsophalangeal joint plantar plate tear.

PubMed

Umans, Rachel L; Umans, Benjamin D; Umans, Hilary; Elsinger, Elisabeth

2016-07-01

To identify correlated signs on non-enhanced MRI that might improve diagnostic detection of plantar plate (PP) tear. We performed an IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant retrospective analysis of 100 non-contrast MRI (50 PP tear, 50 controls). All were anonymized, randomized, and reviewed; 20 were duplicated to assess consistency. One musculoskeletal radiologist evaluated qualitative variables. A trained non-physician performed measurements. Consistency and concordance were assessed. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to test the correlation between qualitative findings and PP tear status. Correlation between measurements and PP status was assessed using t tests and Wilcoxon's rank-sum test (p values < 0.05 considered significant). Classification and regression trees were utilized to identify attributes that, taken together, would consistently distinguish PP tear from controls. Quantitative measurements were highly reproducible (concordance 0.88-0.99). Elevated 2nd MT protrusion, lesser MT supination and rotational divergence of >45° between the 1st-2nd MT axis correlated with PP tear. Pericapsular soft tissue thickening correlated most strongly with PP tear, correctly classifying 95 % of cases and controls. Excluding pericapsular soft tissue thickening, sequential assessment of 2nd toe enthesitis, 2nd flexor tendon subluxation, and splaying of the second and third toes accurately classified PP status in 92 %. Pericapsular soft tissue thickening most strongly correlated with PP tear. For cases in which it might be difficult to distinguish pericapsular fibrosis from neuroma, sequential assessment of 2nd toe enthesitis, flexor tendon subluxation and splaying of the 2nd and 3rd toe is most helpful for optimizing accurate diagnosis of PP tear.

Reliability of retrievable cemented implant-supported prostheses.

PubMed

Nissan, Joseph; Snir, David; Rosner, Ofir; Kolerman, Roni; Chaushu, Liat; Chaushu, Gavriel

2016-05-01

One of the disadvantages of a cemented implant restoration is the potential difficulty of retrieving it. The restoration may be destroyed during removal. The purpose of this retrospective clinical study was to assess the long-term survival rates of cemented posterior metal ceramic implant-supported prostheses (ISPs) with a metal screw access hole. During a 12-year period, 274 cemented ISPs with an abutment screw access hole in the metal framework were assessed and served as the study group, and 119 conventional cemented ISPs (without access hole) served as the control group. Participants were followed every 6 months in the first year and once a year subsequently. Ceramic fracture, screw loosening, and refabrication were the prosthetic outcome parameters evaluated at the recall. The Pearson Chi square and Fisher exact test were used to compare the outcome parameters between the control and study groups. A total of 1005 implants and 393 ISPs were evaluated. Ceramic fracture occurred in 6.6% of the ISPs (6.2% test and 7.6% control). Screw loosening occurred in 3.28% of the test group and 3.36% of the control group. Refabrication of ISPs was done in 2.79% of all restorations, (1.45% test and 6.72% control [P=.012]). Within the limits of this study, preparing cemented ISPs with a screw access hole in the metal framework improves ISP survival rates over time and lowers the cost of maintenance without increasing the risk for porcelain fracture or screw loosening. Copyright © 2016 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Multiple sclerosis and optic nerve: an analysis of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and color Doppler imaging parameters

PubMed Central

Akçam, H T; Capraz, I Y; Aktas, Z; Batur Caglayan, H Z; Ozhan Oktar, S; Hasanreisoglu, M; Irkec, C

2014-01-01

Purpose To compare both retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and orbital color Doppler ultrasonography parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) versus healthy controls. Methods This is an observational case–control study. Forty eyes from MS patients and twenty eyes from healthy volunteers were examined. Eyes were classified into three groups as group 1, eyes from MS patients with previous optic neuritis (n=20); group 2, eyes from MS patients without previous optic neuritis (n=20); and group 3, eyes from healthy controls (n=20). Following complete ophthalmologic examination and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurement for each group, blood flow velocities of posterior ciliary arteries, central retinal artery, ophthalmic artery, and superior ophthalmic vein were measured. Pourcelot index (resistive index), an indicator of peripheral vascular resistance, was also calculated. The statistical assessment was performed with the assistance of Pearson's Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney U-test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Spearman's correlation test. Results The studied eyes exposed similar values in terms of intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness, implying no evidence in favor of glaucoma. All nerve fiber layer thickness values, except superior nasal quadrants, in group 1 were found to be significantly thinner than groups 2 and 3. Blood flow velocity and mean resistivity index parameters were similar in all the groups. Conclusions In MS patients, especially with previous optic neuritis, diminished retinal nerve fiber layer thickness was observed. Contrary to several studies in the current literature, no evidence supporting potential vascular origin of ocular involvement in MS was found. PMID:25081285

What are the most important factors determining different vegetation types in the Chapada Diamantina, Brazil?

PubMed

Neves, S P S; Funch, R; Conceição, A A; Miranda, L A P; Funch, L S

2016-06-01

A transect was used to examine the environmental and biological descriptors of a compact vegetation mosaic in the Chapada Diamantina in northeastern Brazil, including the floristic composition, spectrum of plant life forms, rainfall, and soil properties that defined areas of cerrado (Brazilian savanna), caatinga (seasonally dry tropical forest thorny, deciduous shrub/arboreal vegetation) and cerrado-caatinga transition vegetation. The floristic survey was made monthly from April/2009 to March/2012. A dendrogram of similarity was generated using the Jaccard Index based on a matrix of the species that occurred in at least two of the vegetation types examined. The proportions of life forms in each vegetation type were compared using the chi-square test. Composite soil samples were analyzed by simple variance (ANOVA) to examine relationships between soil parameters of each vegetation type and the transition area. The monthly precipitation levels in each vegetation type were measured and compared using the chi-square test. A total of 323 species of angiosperms were collected distributed in 193 genera and 54 families. The dendrogram demonstrated strong difference between the floristic compositions of the cerrado and caatinga, sharing 2% similarity. The chi-square test did not demonstrate any significant statistical differences between the monthly values of recorded rainfall. The organic matter and clay contents of the soilsin the caatinga increased while sand decreased, and the proportions of therophyte, hemicryptophyte, and chamaephyte life forms decreased and phanerophytes increased. We can therefore conclude that the floristic composition and the spectrum of life forms combined to define the cerrado and caatinga vegetation along the transect examined, with soil being the principal conditioning factor determining the different vegetation types, independent of precipitation levels.

Evaluation of the efficacy of rotary vs. hand files in root canal preparation of primary teeth in vitro using CBCT.

PubMed

Musale, P K; Mujawar, S A V

2014-04-01

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of rotary ProFile, ProTaper, Hero Shaper and K-files in shaping ability, cleaning efficacy, preparation time and instrument distortion in primary molars. Sixty extracted primary mandibular second molars were divided into four equal groups: Group I K-file, Group II ProFile, Group III ProTaper file and Group IV Hero Shaper file. The shaping ability was determined by comparing pre- and post-instrumentation CBCT scans and data analysed with SPSS program using the Chi-square test. Cleaning efficacy was evaluated by the degree of India ink removal from the canal walls under stereomicroscopy. Instrumentation times were calculated for each tooth and instrument distortion was visually checked and duly noted. The cleaning efficacy and instrumentation time were determined using ANOVA with Tukey's correction. Instrument distortion was analysed using Chi-square test. The canal taper was significantly more conical for rotary files as compared to K-files with Chi-square test (p < 0.05). Cleaning efficacy of rotary files with average scores (Groups II- 0.68, III- 0.48 and IV- 0.58) was significantly better than K-files (Group I- 0.93) (p < 0.05). Mean instrumentation time with K-file (20.7 min) was significantly higher than rotary files (Groups II 8.9, III 5.6, and IV 8.1 min) (p < 0.05). Instrument distortion was observed in Group I (4.3%), while none of the rotary files were distorted. Rotary files prepared more conical canals in primary teeth than manual instruments. Reduced preparation time with rotary files enhances patient cooperation especially in young children.

The distribution of the indicator height for age of Mexican children and adolescents with Down syndrome according to different reference standards.

PubMed

Peña Rivera, Adriana Graciela; Vásquez Garibay, Edgar Manuel; Troyo Sanromán, Rogelio; Romero Velarde, Enrique; Caro Sabido, Erika; Ramírez Díaz, Joanie

2015-06-01

To compare the indicator height for age in Mexican children with Down Syndrome (DS) with two different reference patterns of growth (American and Spanish) that might be suitable for the Mexican population. A cross-sectional study was performed including 235 Mexican children and adolescents of both sexes with DS aged 45 days to 16 years enrolled in two specialized schools in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara. The dependent variables were weight/age; height/age; weight/ height and BMI. The data expressed was percentiles and the chi-square test was used to compare the distribution of the height/age index with American and Spanish reference patterns. In addition, a chi-square test was performed for the goodness of fit of the height/age index, with breakpoints lower and greater than the 50th percentile. The percentage of participants who were below the 50th percentile in the height/age index was significantly higher with the Spanish vs. the American reference pattern. The chi-square test for goodness of fit showed that the frequency of cases located below the 50th percentile in the height/age index was significantly higher with the American pattern in the age groups of 0 to 36 months (p = 0.022) and 37 to 72 months (p <0.001), but it was not significant (p = 0.225) in the older than 72 months age group. The American reference pattern is a better fit for the growth of Mexican children with DS compared with the Spanish reference pattern, and the distribution profile obtained with the standard growth and WHO reference was not suitable for the assessment of children with Down syndrome. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

On the Likelihood Ratio Test for the Number of Factors in Exploratory Factor Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hayashi, Kentaro; Bentler, Peter M.; Yuan, Ke-Hai

2007-01-01

In the exploratory factor analysis, when the number of factors exceeds the true number of factors, the likelihood ratio test statistic no longer follows the chi-square distribution due to a problem of rank deficiency and nonidentifiability of model parameters. As a result, decisions regarding the number of factors may be incorrect. Several…

DIF Detection Using Multiple-Group Categorical CFA with Minimum Free Baseline Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chang, Yu-Wei; Huang, Wei-Kang; Tsai, Rung-Ching

2015-01-01

The aim of this study is to assess the efficiency of using the multiple-group categorical confirmatory factor analysis (MCCFA) and the robust chi-square difference test in differential item functioning (DIF) detection for polytomous items under the minimum free baseline strategy. While testing for DIF items, despite the strong assumption that all…

Examples of Data Analysis with SPSS/PC+ Studentware.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacFarland, Thomas W.

Intended for classroom use only, these unpublished notes contain computer lessons on descriptive statistics with files previously created in WordPerfect 4.2 and Lotus 1-2-3 Version 1.A for the IBM PC+. The statistical measures covered include Student's t-test with two independent samples; Student's t-test with a paired sample; Chi-square analysis;…

Characteristics and Psychosocial Predictors of Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Residential Care

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gallant, Jason; Snyder, Gregory S.; von der Embse, Nathaniel P.

2014-01-01

This study examined characteristics and biopsychosocial predictors of nonsuicidal self-injury in a sample (N = 753) of youth in residential care admitted between 2005 and 2010. To model the data, the authors used t-tests, chi-square tests, and multiple logistic regressions stratified by gender. Results suggested that 12% of youth engaged in…

Educators' Understanding of the Mediation Role in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ngidi, D. P.

2012-01-01

This study investigated educators' understanding of the mediation role in the classroom. A quantitative research approach was used in a survey of a sample of 261 participants. To this end, a questionnaire was used for collecting data. The Chi-square test was used to analyse data and to test the hypotheses of the study. The findings indicated that…

A comparison of the prognostic value of preoperative inflammation-based scores and TNM stage in patients with gastric cancer.

PubMed

Pan, Qun-Xiong; Su, Zi-Jian; Zhang, Jian-Hua; Wang, Chong-Ren; Ke, Shao-Ying

2015-01-01

People's Republic of China is one of the countries with the highest incidence of gastric cancer, accounting for 45% of all new gastric cancer cases in the world. Therefore, strong prognostic markers are critical for the diagnosis and survival of Chinese patients suffering from gastric cancer. Recent studies have begun to unravel the mechanisms linking the host inflammatory response to tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in gastric cancers. Based on this relationship between inflammation and cancer progression, several inflammation-based scores have been demonstrated to have prognostic value in many types of malignant solid tumors. To compare the prognostic value of inflammation-based prognostic scores and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage in patients undergoing gastric cancer resection. The inflammation-based prognostic scores were calculated for 207 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery. Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and prognostic index (PI) were analyzed. Linear trend chi-square test, likelihood ratio chi-square test, and receiver operating characteristic were performed to compare the prognostic value of the selected scores and TNM stage. In univariate analysis, preoperative serum C-reactive protein (P<0.001), serum albumin (P<0.001), GPS (P<0.001), PLR (P=0.002), NLR (P<0.001), PI (P<0.001), PNI (P<0.001), and TNM stage (P<0.001) were significantly associated with both overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with gastric cancer. In multivariate analysis, GPS (P=0.024), NLR (P=0.012), PI (P=0.001), TNM stage (P<0.001), and degree of differentiation (P=0.002) were independent predictors of gastric cancer survival. GPS and TNM stage had a comparable prognostic value and higher linear trend chi-square value, likelihood ratio chi-square value, and larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve as compared to other inflammation-based prognostic scores. The present study indicates that preoperative GPS and TNM stage are robust predictors of gastric cancer survival as compared to NLR, PLR, PI, and PNI in patients undergoing tumor resection.

A comparison of the prognostic value of preoperative inflammation-based scores and TNM stage in patients with gastric cancer

PubMed Central

Pan, Qun-Xiong; Su, Zi-Jian; Zhang, Jian-Hua; Wang, Chong-Ren; Ke, Shao-Ying

2015-01-01

Background People’s Republic of China is one of the countries with the highest incidence of gastric cancer, accounting for 45% of all new gastric cancer cases in the world. Therefore, strong prognostic markers are critical for the diagnosis and survival of Chinese patients suffering from gastric cancer. Recent studies have begun to unravel the mechanisms linking the host inflammatory response to tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in gastric cancers. Based on this relationship between inflammation and cancer progression, several inflammation-based scores have been demonstrated to have prognostic value in many types of malignant solid tumors. Objective To compare the prognostic value of inflammation-based prognostic scores and tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage in patients undergoing gastric cancer resection. Methods The inflammation-based prognostic scores were calculated for 207 patients with gastric cancer who underwent surgery. Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet lymphocyte ratio (PLR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and prognostic index (PI) were analyzed. Linear trend chi-square test, likelihood ratio chi-square test, and receiver operating characteristic were performed to compare the prognostic value of the selected scores and TNM stage. Results In univariate analysis, preoperative serum C-reactive protein (P<0.001), serum albumin (P<0.001), GPS (P<0.001), PLR (P=0.002), NLR (P<0.001), PI (P<0.001), PNI (P<0.001), and TNM stage (P<0.001) were significantly associated with both overall survival and disease-free survival of patients with gastric cancer. In multivariate analysis, GPS (P=0.024), NLR (P=0.012), PI (P=0.001), TNM stage (P<0.001), and degree of differentiation (P=0.002) were independent predictors of gastric cancer survival. GPS and TNM stage had a comparable prognostic value and higher linear trend chi-square value, likelihood ratio chi-square value, and larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve as compared to other inflammation-based prognostic scores. Conclusion The present study indicates that preoperative GPS and TNM stage are robust predictors of gastric cancer survival as compared to NLR, PLR, PI, and PNI in patients undergoing tumor resection. PMID:26124667

Open-Ended Laboratory Investigations with Drosophila.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mertens, Thomas R.

1983-01-01

Background information, laboratory procedures (including matings performed), and results are presented for an open-ended investigation using the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster. Once data are collected, students develop hypotheses to explain results as well as devise additional experiments to test their hypotheses. Calculation of chi-square for…

Some Small Sample Results for Maximum Likelihood Estimation in Multidimensional Scaling.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ramsay, J. O.

1980-01-01

Some aspects of the small sample behavior of maximum likelihood estimates in multidimensional scaling are investigated with Monte Carlo techniques. In particular, the chi square test for dimensionality is examined and a correction for bias is proposed and evaluated. (Author/JKS)

One year comparative clinical evaluation of EQUIA with resin-modified glass ionomer and a nanohybrid composite in noncarious cervical lesions

PubMed Central

Vaid, Deepa Sunil; Shah, Nimisha Chinmay; Bilgi, Priyanka Shripad

2015-01-01

Aims: Comparative evaluation of EQUIA with a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC; GC Gold Label glass ionomer light cured universal restorative cement) and a nanohybrid composite (Tetric N-Ceram) in noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs). Background: To establish the most suitable material for the restoration of NCCLs. Settings and Design: In vivo study. Materials and Methods: Eighty-seven NCCLs were randomly restored with EQUIA, a RMGIC, and a nanohybrid composite. Clinical evaluation of the restorations was done following the Unites States Public Health criteria by a single-blinded investigator. Data were formulated, and statistical analysis was done by Chi-square test. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test. Results: No significant difference was found between EQUIA, RMGIC, and nanohybrid composite at 1-month, at 6 months, and at 1-year (P > 0.05). Conclusions: EQUIA, resin-modified glass ionomer, and nanohybrid composite performed equally at 1-month, 6 months, and 1-year follow-up periods. PMID:26752837

The Impact of Educational Intervention Based on Empowerment Model in Preventing Violence Against Women

PubMed Central

Taghdisi, Mohammad Hossein; Estebsari, Fatemeh; Dastoorpour, Maryam; Jamshidi, Ensiyeh; Jamalzadeh, Fiesal; Latifi, Marzieh

2014-01-01

Background: One of the most obvious forms of violence in today's society is violence against women. In Iran, along with other countries, violence against women has become a problematic issue. Objectives: The present research aims to investigate the impact of educational intervention based on empowerment model in preventing violent behaviors against women. Patients and Methods: The present study is an intervention research done through the random selection of 91 women under the aegis of Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation in Gorgan. Tools for data gathering included demographics checklist, Rosenberg Self-Esteem, general self-efficacy, awareness and attitude questionnaires. Three ninety-minute educational sessions were held for each group to enhance their awareness, change their attitudes, and train them life skills to increase self-esteem so that they can express their vicarious experiences to increase their self-efficacy toward violent behavior. Following the post-test, data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 20). Tests for analyzing data included descriptive and analytical tests (chi-square, Pearson's correlation, independent samples t-test, One-way ANOVA and paired t test). Results: Results indicated that the frequency of domestic violence against participating women was significant after educational intervention, as compared to pre-intervention period. Paired t-test showed that average scores of awareness, attitude, self-esteem, and self-efficacy constructs, and total power were statistically higher after educational intervention as compared to the period prior to intervention. Conclusions: As one of the manifestations and the moving force of empowerment, education is the first major strategy in codifying, designing, and implementing empowerment programs. For women to be empowered, the active participation of all people in education is required. PMID:25237563

Effect of season and ambient temperature on outcome of guaiac-based faecal occult blood tests performed for colorectal cancer screening.

PubMed

Hunter, J P; Saratzis, A; Froggatt, P; Harmston, C

2012-09-01

Guaiac-based faecal occult blood tests (gFOBTs) are used in the colorectal cancer screening programme. Recent data suggested that the immunological faecal occult blood test illustrated a variation in positivity according to season and ambient temperature. Our aim was to assess the effect of season and ambient temperature on the positivity rates of the gFOBT during pilot screening for colorectal cancer. Data from the first year of round 1 of the pilot screening programme in Coventry and Warwickshire were analysed. Patients with positive and negative gFOBT samples were included. Patients with spoilt samples or incomplete data were excluded. Of the total of 59513 patients, 30311 were men and 29202 women. Mean age was 56 years. Daily temperature data were provided by the meteorological office. Median exposure of the gFOBT test card was 6 days (range 1-17). Median daily maximum temperature was 14°C. Spring and summer illustrated significantly decreased positivity rates compared with autumn and winter (Pearson's chi-squared test, P<0.001). Mean daily maximum temperature for the test card exposure showed no significant difference in positivity rates (P=0.53). Subgroup analysis revealed a significant reduction in positive samples in the >25°C subgroup (P=0.045). There is a seasonal variation in positivity rates of gFOBTs with increased positivity in spring and summer months. There is no difference in positivity rates in relation to ambient temperature except in subgroup analysis where there is a significant reduction in positivity rates above 25°C. © 2011 The Authors. Colorectal Disease © 2011 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.

Thermostability of heterophile antibodies from human sera infected with Schistosoma mansoni and geo-helminths. An immuno-metric statistical analysis.

PubMed

Chamone, Munir; Atuncar, Gregorio S; Coelho, Paulo Marcos Zech

2006-01-01

Antibody in human sera that induces lysis of sheep erythrocytes in hemolytic assay was investigated. The present study showed that the presence in serum of the thermostable cytolytic anti-sheep red blood cells antibodies is dependent on the Schistosoma mansoni infection, and this is more frequent in adults than in children. The thermostable characteristic of hemolysins in normal sera was not dependent on the presence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura or hookworm geo-helminths. Further, thermostable complement-activating heterophile antibodies were noticed in children in association with massive number of S. mansoni eggs. The results were obtained by using the z- and the chi-square tests. The z-test allows us to formulate a one-sided alternative, i.e., a tendency of one of the attributes. On the other hand, the chi-square test analyzes the independence between attributes by using a contingency table. Besides the obtained results being interesting in the field of schistosomiasis mansoni, they can provide a new insight into the use of statistics in medical science.

HIV-Related Risk Behaviors, Perceptions of Risk, HIV Testing, and Exposure to Prevention Messages and Methods among Urban American Indians and Alaska Natives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lapidus, Jodi A.; Bertolli, Jeanne; McGowan, Karen; Sullivan, Patrick

2006-01-01

The goal of this study was to describe HIV risk behaviors, perceptions, testing, and prevention exposure among urban American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). Interviewers administered a questionnaire to participants recruited through anonymous peer-referral sampling. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression were used to compare HIV…

Predictors of Relapse after Discontinuing Systemic Treatment in Childhood Autoimmune Chronic Uveitis.

PubMed

Simonini, Gabriele; Bracaglia, Claudia; Cattalini, Marco; Taddio, Andrea; Brambilla, Alice; De Libero, Cinzia; Pires Marafon, Denise; Caputo, Roberto; Cimaz, Rolando

2017-06-01

To identify clinical predictors of relapse in childhood autoimmune chronic uveitis after stopping systemic treatment. A retrospective, multicenter, cohort study. Ninety-four children in remission, receiving no treatments and with at least a 6-month followup, were enrolled. A higher probability of maintaining remission after discontinuing treatment was shown in idiopathic compared with juvenile idiopathic arthritis uveitis (Mantel-Cox chi-square = 23.21) if inactivity had been obtained within 6 months from starting systemic treatment (Mantel-Cox chi-square = 24.17) and by antitumor necrosis factor-α treatment (Mantel-Cox chi-square = 6.43). Type of disease, time, and type of systemic therapy to achieve inactivity predict different duration of uveitis remission after treatment withdrawal.

Improvement in safety monitoring of biologic response modifiers after the implementation of clinical care guidelines by a specialty.

PubMed

Hanson, Rebekah L; Gannon, Michael J; Khamo, Nehrin; Sodhi, Monsheel; Orr, Alexander M; Stubbings, JoAnn

2013-01-01

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitors and other biologic response modifiers (BRMs) are frequently used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. Use of these agents may increase risk of serious infections, malignancies, and other complications such as worsening symptoms of heart failure or demyelinating disease. Because of these risks, a baseline assessment and routine monitoring have been recommended, but standardized guidelines for monitoring have yet to be established. To measure the compliance with the recommended safety monitoring in the Clinical Care Guidelines for BRMs at the University of Illinois Hospitals and Health Sciences System (UI Health). The Clinical Care Guidelines for BRMs was developed by a committee of pharmacists, nurses, and physicians based on an assessment of published literature and medication labeling. The guidelines included recommendations for safety monitoring prior to BRM therapy, such as the tuberculosis (TB) test, Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) test, liver function test (LFT), complete blood count (CBC), up-to-date vaccinations, risk assessment for cancer, pregnancy testing, monitoring for contraindications with concomitant medications, concomitant disease state risk assessment, and patient education. The guidelines were introduced to UI Health in February 2012 by a systemwide email and by in-services given by the health system's Specialty Pharmacy Service. In-services were given in the clinics known to generate large numbers of BRM orders (e.g., gastroenterology and rheumatology) and at the outpatient center for infused therapies. The purpose of the in-services was to introduce providers to the guidelines and encourage their compliance. To ensure that guideline requirements were met when BRMs were ordered, a process was established to identify BRM orders, assess the orders for compliance with 4 of the safety monitoring tests from the guidelines (TB, HBsAg, LFT, and CBC), and make interventions. When necessary, Specialty Pharmacy Services coordinated with the pharmacists and other providers in the clinic to order lab tests and ensure they were completed prior to the start of therapy. Feedback was provided during the study to proactively improve compliance with the guidelines. After completion of the study, a report containing outpatient prescription orders for BRMs (abatacept, adalimumab, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, and tocilizumab) from August 2011 through July 2012 was generated from the electronic medical record. Retrospective analyses of completion of safety monitoring were conducted for patients administered BRM treatment. Completion rates were compared before and after implementation of guidelines in February 2012. Completion was considered to have occurred when all 4 safety monitoring tests had been conducted -TB (unless known to be positive from a previous test), HBsAg, LFT, and CBC. Completion data from August 2011 through January 2012 were before the guidelines were implemented, and data from February 2012 through July 2012 were after the guidelines. Chi square analyses were performed on completion frequencies in the patients before and after the guidelines were implemented. Of the 320 unique patient BRM orders evaluated in this study, 195 (61%) were generated in the Rheumatology clinic, 99 (31%) in the Gastroenterology clinic, 21 (6.5%) in the Dermatology clinic, and 5 (1.5%) in the Transplant clinic. Before the guidelines were implemented, 54 ( 31%) of 173 patient orders complied with the safety monitoring by having all 4 clinical tests performed at the appropriate time points. After guideline implementation, 88 (60%) of 147 patient orders were compliant and had all 4 clinical tests conducted, which represents a statistically significant improvement in the rate of compliance (Pearson chi square = 26.43, degrees of freedom (df) = 1, P  less than  0.0001). This significant improvement in compliance rates after guideline implementation was observed in both the new patient group and the patients with continuing prescription orders/treatment changes. There was also an improvement in patients whose prescriptions were dispensed by UI Health and to a lesser degree those whose prescriptions were dispensed by an outside pharmacy. When the new patient group was analyzed separately (n = 92), 50 patients were treated before the guidelines were implemented, and 42 patients were treated after the guidelines were implemented. Compliance rates with safety monitoring in these 2 groups were 52% pre-implementation and 83% post-implementation, which represented a statistically significant improvement in compliance (Pearson chi square = 10.03, df=1, P = 0.0015). Similar results were observed in the second patient subgroup with continuing prescription orders/treatment change (n = 228). A total of 123 patients were treated before the guidelines were implemented, and 105 were treated after the guidelines were implemented. Compliance rates were 23% pre-implementation compared with 50% post-implementation, which represented a statistically significant improvement in compliance (Pearson chi square = 18.99, df = 1, P  less than  0.0001). Given the widespread and long-term use of BRMs, safety monitoring and management should be an important part of a comprehensive medication management program for their use. A coordinated effort may have a significant impact on compliance with safety monitoring guidelines.

Reasons for the increasing Hispanic infant mortality rate: Florida, 2004-2007.

PubMed

Sauber-Schatz, Erin K; Sappenfield, William; Hernandez, Leticia; Freeman, Karen M; Barfield, Wanda; Bensyl, Diana M

2012-08-01

Assess whether the 55% increase in Florida's Hispanic infant mortality rate (HIMR) during 2004-2007 was real or artifactual. Using linked data from Florida resident live births and infant deaths for 2004-2007, we calculated traditional (infant Hispanic ethnicity from death certificates and maternal Hispanic ethnicity from birth certificates) and nontraditional (infant and maternal Hispanic ethnicity from birth certificate maternal ethnicity) HIMRs. We assessed trends in HIMRs (per 1,000 live births) using Chi-square statistics. We tested agreement in Hispanic ethnicity after implementation of a revised 2005 death certificate by using kappa statistics and used logistic regression to test the associations of infant mortality risk factors. Hispanic was defined as being of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central/South American, or other/unknown Hispanic origin. During 2004-2007 traditional HIMR increased 55%, from 4.0 to 6.2 (Chi-square, P < 0.001) and nontraditional HIMR increased 20%, from 4.5 to 5.4 (Chi-square, P = 0.03). During 2004-2005, agreement in Hispanic ethnicity did not change with use of the revised certificate (kappa = 0.70 in 2004; kappa = 0.76 in 2005). Birth weight was the most significant risk factor for trends in Hispanic infant mortality (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.10-1.61). Differences in Hispanic reporting on revised death certificates likely accounted for the majority of traditional HIMR increase, indicating a primarily artifactual increase. Reasons for the 20% increase in nontraditional HIMR during 2004-2007 should be further explored through other individual and community factors. Use of nontraditional HIMRs, which use a consistent source of Hispanic classification, should be considered.

Clinical variables related to antidepressant-induced mania in bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Mundo, Emanuela; Cattaneo, Elisabetta; Russo, Michela; Altamura, A Carlo

2006-06-01

The development of mania or hypomania during antidepressant treatment is a serious complication of the clinical management of bipolar disorder (BP). The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical variables related to antidepressant-induced mania or hypomania (AIM) in patients with BP. DSM-IV BP-I or BP-II patients who had had at least one depressive episode treated with antidepressants were considered. Patients were subdivided into two groups according to the presence (n = 30) or absence (n = 106) of manic or hypomanic episodes occurring during antidepressant treatment. Possible predictive clinical variables of AIM were considered: gender, diagnostic subtype, age at onset, duration of illness, duration of untreated illness, type of antidepressant administered, number of previous spontaneous hypomanic or manic episodes, number of previous depressive episodes, presence of lifetime suicide attempts, presence of mood stabilizer treatments, presence of psychotic symptoms during spontaneous episodes, family history for psychiatric disorders in first degree relatives. Data were compared between the two groups, with (AIM+) and without (AIM-) antidepressant-induced mania, using Student's t tests and chi-square tests. The lack of mood stabilizer treatments during antidepressant therapy (chi-square = 37.602, df = 1, p < 0.001) and the exposure to tricyclic antidepressants (chi-square = 4.901, df = 1, p < 0.05) resulted significantly associated to the development of AIM. This study was not done under controlled conditions and the relatively small sample studied warrants further replications. These results point out the risk of mania induction associated to the use of tricyclic antidepressants in BP patients, mainly in absence of adequate mood stabilizers.

Optimal iodine-131 dose for eliminating hyperthyroidism in Graves' disease

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nordyke, R.A.; Gilbert, F.I. Jr.

1991-03-01

Since hypothyroidism is commonplace after treatment of Graves' disease with radioiodine, the goal should be cure of hyperthyroidism rather than avoidance of hypothyroidism. To find the optimal dose to accomplish cure, we treated 605 patients with stepwise increasing doses of 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10 mCi, analyzing the relationship of dose, age, sex, gland weight, and thyroidal uptake to cure. Estimates of cure at doses above 10 mCi were made from the literature. Cure was directly related to dose between 5 and 10 mCi. There was no significant relationship between cure and age (chi-square, p = 0.74), sexmore » (chi-square, p = 0.12), and 24-hr uptake if over 30% (chi-square for slope, p greater than 0.10). Cure and gland weight had an inverse relationship (chi-square for slope, 0.01 less than p less than 0.02). We concluded that the optimal 131I dose for curing hyperthyroidism is approximated by starting with 10 mCi and increasing it for unusually large glands or for special patient circumstances.« less

An integrated, ethically driven environmental model of clinical decision making in emergency settings.

PubMed

Wolf, Lisa

2013-02-01

To explore the relationship between multiple variables within a model of critical thinking and moral reasoning. A quantitative descriptive correlational design using a purposive sample of 200 emergency nurses. Measured variables were accuracy in clinical decision-making, moral reasoning, perceived care environment, and demographics. Analysis was by bivariate correlation using Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients, chi square and multiple linear regression analysis. The elements as identified in the integrated ethically-driven environmental model of clinical decision-making (IEDEM-CD) corrected depict moral reasoning and environment of care as factors significantly affecting accuracy in decision-making. The integrated, ethically driven environmental model of clinical decision making is a framework useful for predicting clinical decision making accuracy for emergency nurses in practice, with further implications in education, research and policy. A diagnostic and therapeutic framework for identifying and remediating individual and environmental challenges to accurate clinical decision making. © 2012, The Author. International Journal of Nursing Knowledge © 2012, NANDA International.

Critical-thinking ability in respiratory care students and its correlation with age, educational background, and performance on national board examinations.

PubMed

Wettstein, Richard B; Wilkins, Robert L; Gardner, Donna D; Restrepo, Ruben D

2011-03-01

Critical thinking is an important characteristic to develop in respiratory care students. We used the short-form Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal instrument to measure critical-thinking ability in 55 senior respiratory care students in a baccalaureate respiratory care program. We calculated the Pearson correlation coefficient to assess the relationships between critical-thinking score, age, and student performance on the clinical-simulation component of the national respiratory care boards examination. We used chi-square analysis to assess the association between critical-thinking score and educational background. There was no significant relationship between critical-thinking score and age, or between critical-thinking score and student performance on the clinical-simulation component. There was a significant (P = .04) positive association between a strong science-course background and critical-thinking score, which might be useful in predicting a student's ability to perform in areas where critical thinking is of paramount importance, such as clinical competencies, and to guide candidate-selection for respiratory care programs.

A developmental analysis of certain Piagetian concepts among some Nigerian children

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ehindero, O. J.

The concepts of distance, area, and the coordinate reference systems were investigated in relation to the displacement volume task among 300 randomly selected primary and high school children in Nigeria. Piaget and Inhelder (1971) theorized a developmental progression in the acquisition of these concepts among Genevan children, and a number of studies have confirmed pancultural stability in the acquisition of these concepts. Four tasks were used to investigate the acquistion of these concepts developmentally, and the data obtained were analyzed by the chi-square, Pearson correlation coefficient and the 50% success criterion suggested by Laurendea and Pinard (1962, 1970). The data confirmed Piaget's theorizing but when compared with similar studies in Europe and America (Lovell (1971), Dasen (1972), & Karplus et al. (1977), a developmental lag of about two years was observed among the Nigerian Ss. The concept of horizontal decalages was discussed in relation to the data including some implications for science teaching particularly in developing countries.

Relationship between Organizational Perceived Justice and Organizational Citizenship Behavior among an Iranian Hospital's Employees, 2013.

PubMed

Bahrami, Mohammad Amin; Montazeralfaraj, Razieh; Gazar, Saeed Hashemi; Tafti, Arefeh Dehghani

2014-01-01

Organizational citizenship behavior just referred to a set of discretionary workplace behaviors that exceed one's job requirements. The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between organizational perceived justice and organizational citizenship behavior. This cross-sectional study was done in Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd, Iran in 2013. A total of 100 hospital employees contributed in the study. The required data was gathered using 2 valid questionnaires, including the Moorman & Niehoff organizational perceived justice questionnaire and the McKinsey organizational citizenship behavior questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics, Chi square, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for data analysis. There was a significant positive relationship between organizational perceived justice and organizational citizenship behavior among the studied hospital's employees (P ≤ 0.05, R = 0.33). This study confirmed that any policy that leads to better organizational justice perception will contribute in better organizational citizenship behavior which will increase the hospital's productivity.

The applicability of ordinary least squares to consistently short distances between taxa in phylogenetic tree construction and the normal distribution test consequences.

PubMed

Roux, C Z

2009-05-01

Short phylogenetic distances between taxa occur, for example, in studies on ribosomal RNA-genes with slow substitution rates. For consistently short distances, it is proved that in the completely singular limit of the covariance matrix ordinary least squares (OLS) estimates are minimum variance or best linear unbiased (BLU) estimates of phylogenetic tree branch lengths. Although OLS estimates are in this situation equal to generalized least squares (GLS) estimates, the GLS chi-square likelihood ratio test will be inapplicable as it is associated with zero degrees of freedom. Consequently, an OLS normal distribution test or an analogous bootstrap approach will provide optimal branch length tests of significance for consistently short phylogenetic distances. As the asymptotic covariances between branch lengths will be equal to zero, it follows that the product rule can be used in tree evaluation to calculate an approximate simultaneous confidence probability that all interior branches are positive.

Comparison of Periodontal Ligament Injection and Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block in Mandibular Primary Molars Pulpotomy: A Randomized Control Trial

PubMed Central

Haghgoo, Roza; Taleghani, Ferial

2015-01-01

Background: Inferior alveolar nerve block is a common technique for anesthesia of the primary mandibular molars. A number of disadvantages have been shown to be associated with this technique. Periodontal ligament (PDL) injection could be considered as an alternative to inferior alveolar nerve block. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PDL injection in the anesthesia of primary molar pulpotomy with mandibular block. Methods: This study was performed using a sequential double-blind randomized trial design. 80 children aged 3-7 years old who required pulpotomy in symmetrical mandibular primary molars were selected. The teeth of these children were anesthetized with periodontal injection on one side of the mandible and block on the other. Pulpotomy was performed on each patient during the same appointment. Signs of discomfort, including hand and body tension and eye movement, the verbal complaint and crying (SEM scale), were evaluated by a dental assistant who was blinded to the treatment allocation of the patients. Finally, the data were analyzed using the exact Fisher test and Pearson Chi-squared exact test. Results: Success rate was 88/75 and 91/25 in the PDL injection and nerve block groups, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two techniques (P = 0.250). Conclusion: Results showed that PDL injection can be used as an alternative to nerve block in pulpotomy of the mandibular primary molars. PMID:26028895

Short- and long-term effects of clinical audits on compliance with procedures in CT scanning.

PubMed

Oliveri, Antonio; Howarth, Nigel; Gevenois, Pierre Alain; Tack, Denis

2016-08-01

To test the hypothesis that quality clinical audits improve compliance with the procedures in computed tomography (CT) scanning. This retrospective study was conducted in two hospitals, based on 6950 examinations and four procedures, focusing on the acquisition length in lumbar spine CT, the default tube current applied in abdominal un-enhanced CT, the tube potential selection for portal phase abdominal CT and the use of a specific "paediatric brain CT" procedure. The first clinical audit reported compliance with these procedures. After presenting the results to the stakeholders, a second audit was conducted to measure the impact of this information on compliance and was repeated the next year. Comparisons of proportions were performed using the Chi-square Pearson test. Depending on the procedure, the compliance rate ranged from 27 to 88 % during the first audit. After presentation of the audit results to the stakeholders, the compliance rate ranged from 68 to 93 % and was significantly improved for all procedures (P ranging from <0.001 to 0.031) in both hospitals and remained unchanged during the third audit (P ranging from 0.114 to 0.999). Quality improvement through repeated compliance audits with CT procedures durably improves this compliance. • Compliance with CT procedures is operator-dependent and not perfect. • Compliance differs between procedures and hospitals, even within a unified department. • Compliance is improved through audits followed by communication to the stakeholders. • This improvement is sustainable over a one-year period.

Histopathologic Differences between Jewish and Arab Population in Israel at First-Time Presentation with Bladder Cancer

PubMed Central

Halachmi, Sarel; Shprits, Sagi; Masarwa, Ismail; Sabo, Edmond; Moskovitz, Boaz; Nativ, Ofer

2017-01-01

Background Pathology of urothelial carcinoma may vary in different populations at diagnosis. Our aim was to evaluate the histopathologic differences between Jewish and Arab patients in Israel at first diagnosis of urothelial cancer. Patients and Methods We retrospectively collected data of all patients with confirmed urothelial cancer, treated at our department between January 2010 and January 2015. We examined the distribution of the histopathologic data among the studied populations. To compare the categorical variables we used the Chi-Square Pearson test. Comparison of independent variables was made by Student's t-test. P value below 0.05 was considered significant. Results The study group included 413 patients, 345 Jews and 68 Arabs. The major differences were that Arab patients were younger (62.61 versus 68.55 years, P = 0.001), had more aggressive tumors that were detected at a more advanced stage, and had also a higher rate of metastatic disease (7.4% versus 3.2%, P = 0.05). Nonurothelial cell tumors were 2.3 times more prevalent in Arab population. Unlike Jewish population, Arab women had higher rate of invasive/metastatic disease compared with Arab men (40% versus 22.4%). Conclusion At time of diagnosis the tumors were more aggressive in Arab patients, especially in Arab women. The reasons for those differences constitute a target for a separate research. These results should have an impact on prevention medicine and education of physicians treating mixed populations. PMID:28812022

Efficacy of combination of ozonated water with oil for treatment of tinea pedis.

PubMed

Lu, Jianyun; Guo, Min; Ligui, Hongfa; Wu, Kathy; Xiang, Yaping; Huang, Jinhua; Gao, Lihua

2018-02-28

To evaluate efficacy of combined therapy with ozonated water and oil on patients with tinea pedis.
 Methods: A total of 60 patients with tinea pedis were divided into 2 groups in a randomized and blinded test. Patients in a control group were treated with naftinfine hydrochloride and ketoconazole cream once a day. Patients in an ozone group were treated with ozonated water bath and then ozonated oil topical application once a day. Patients in the 2 groups were treated for 4 weeks. Clinical and laboratory data were collected for both groups at the end of the 1st week, the 2nd week, and the 4th week. The Pearson chi-square was performed to compare scores of the clinical signs and symptoms (CSS) and the mycological result between the 2 groups. Independent samples T-test was performed to compare the curative effect between the 2 groups.
 Results: After 4 weeks' treatment, 6 patients were positive in the control group determined by mycological examination while 1 patient was positive in the ozone group, with no significant difference between the 2 groups (P>0.05). Changes in CSS at the end of the 1st week, 2nd week, and 4th week were obtained and showed no significant difference between the 2 groups at the 3 different time points (P>0.05). No side effects were observed.
 Conclusion: Combination of ozonated water with oil is effective on treatment of tinea pedis and it shows no side effects.

Birth weight and obstetric complications determine age at onset in first episode of psychosis.

PubMed

Rubio-Abadal, E; Ochoa, S; Barajas, A; Baños, I; Dolz, M; Sanchez, B; Del Cacho, N; Carlson, J; Huerta-Ramos, E; Usall, J

2015-06-01

Earlier age at onset of psychosis (AOP) has been associated with poor social adjustment and clinical outcome. Genetic and environmental factors such as obstetric complications, parental history of psychosis, advanced paternal age at time of birth, low birth weight and gestational age, and use of drugs have been described as bringing AOP forward. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between AOP and these factors in a sample of first episode of psychosis (FEP) patients. Clinical and sociodemographic data, age at FEP, age of parents at birth, parental history of psychosis, drug-use habits of the mother during pregnancy and of the patient before psychotic onset, and Lewis and Murray obstetric complication scale were obtained from 90 patients with FEP. Statistical analysis was performed by means of Pearson correlations, Chi-square tests, Student T-test analyses and a linear regression model using SPSS version 22. Pre-eclampsia, need for incubator at birth, use of forceps, parental history of psychosis, and low birth weight were associated with an earlier AOP. Use of forceps and birth weight are the variables which best predict AOP in FEP. Stimulant drugs, which were mostly used together with cannabis and cocaine, were the only substances associated with an earlier AOP. Our findings are consistent with previous study results and underline the role of the prenatal period in the development of psychosis and the importance of careful monitoring of pregnancy and delivery, especially in cases with familial history. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Pattern of hematological malignancies in adolescents and young adults in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Hasan, Md Mahbub; Raheem, Enayetur; Sultana, Tanvira Afroze; Hossain, Mohammad Sorowar

2017-12-01

The adolescent and young adult (AYA) age group (15-39 years) bears distinct characteristics in terms of cancer biology, long-term health and treatment-related complications and psychosocial aspects. The overall scenario of cancer including hematological malignancies (HMs) is largely unknown in Bangladesh, where a significant proportion of people (44% of total population) belong to AYA age group. This study aims to describe the patterns of HM among AYA in the context of Bangladesh METHODS: Two previously published datasets (on hematological malignancies and childhood and adolescent cancer) were merged to construct a comprehensive dataset focusing exclusively on HMs in AYA age group. Univariate descriptive statistics were calculated and bivariate association were tested using Pearson's Chi-square test. A total of 2144 diagnosed HM related cases over a period of 2007-2014 were analyzed. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was the most frequent HM (35.1%) in AYAs, which was followed by acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) constituting 22.7% and 20.8%, respectively. Among lymphomas, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) constituted 13.9% of all HMs while 4.6% was for Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). This is the first attempt to provide a glimpse on the pattern and distribution of HMs among AYA in Bangladesh. Future studies are essential to get a better insight on the epidemiology, biology, potential risk factors and treatment outcomes for the AYA age group. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Efficacy of Two Intravenous Sedative Drugs in Management of Uncooperative Children for Dental Treatments

PubMed Central

Kaviani, Nasser; Ashrafi, Sanaz; Jabbarifar, Seyed Ebrahim; Ghaffari, Elham

2015-01-01

Statement of the Problem Some children do not show an appropriate cooperation with their dentist. A number of them cannot be managed by local anesthesia and the usual techniques used to control behaviors, so further steps are required to control their pain and anxiety. Pharmaceutical control is recommended through sedation or general anesthesia. Purpose This study was aimed to evaluate two groups of drugs in intravenous sedation method. Materials and Method In this clinical trial intervention study, patients were randomly divided into two groups of 18 and 20 and each group received either intravenous midazolam-ketamine or midazolam-fentanyl. During the procedure, 0.25mg midazolam was administered to both groups if needed. The scores of intraoperative sedation and operation conditions were evaluated and recorded by dental sedation teacher groups (DSTG) system in the 10th, 20th, 30th and 40th minutes of the operation. The results were analyzed by SPSS (version 16) using independent T-test, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney and Pearson Chi-Square tests as appropriated. Results There was no significant difference between the two groups in sedation period (p= 0.55), recovery time (p= 0.18), Frankl score (p= 0.83(, score of intraoperative sedation and operating conditions (p> 0.05), and sedation complications (p= 0.612). In addition, no complication occurred in recovery. Conclusion There was no significant difference between the two drug groups; both were appropriate in controlling children’s behavior. PMID:26106632

General Population Knowledge about Extreme Heat: A Cross-Sectional Survey in Lisbon and Madrid.

PubMed

Gil Cuesta, Julita; van Loenhout, Joris Adriaan Frank; Colaço, Maria da Conceição; Guha-Sapir, Debarati

2017-01-28

Extreme heat is associated with an increased mortality and morbidity. National heat plans have been implemented to minimize the effect of extreme heat. The population's awareness and knowledge of national heat plans and extreme heat is essential to improve the community's behavior and adaptation. A general population survey was conducted in Lisbon and in Madrid to assess this knowledge. We used a questionnaire to interview passers-by. Results were compared between Lisbon and Madrid and between locals and foreigners, using Pearson Chi-square tests and Fisher's exact test. We conducted 260 interviews in six locations of different socio-economic backgrounds in each city. The most frequently mentioned extreme heat-related risk groups were the elderly (79.2%), children (49.6%) and babies (21.5%). The most frequently reported protective measures were increased fluid intake (73.1%) and avoiding exposure to the sun (50.8%). Knowledge about the heat plan was higher in Lisbon (37.2%) than in Madrid (25.2%) ( p -value = 0.03). Foreigners had less knowledge of risk groups compared to locals. Heat plans were not widely known in Madrid and Lisbon. Nonetheless, knowledge of practical concepts to face extreme heat, such as certain risk groups and protective measures, was found. Our results were similar to comparable surveys where specific respondents' groups were identified as less knowledgeable. This highlighted the importance of addressing these groups when communicating public health messages on heat. Foreigners should be specifically targeted to increase their awareness.

Impact and correlation of environmental conditions on pollen counts in Karachi, Pakistan.

PubMed

Perveen, Anjum; Khan, Muneeba; Zeb, Shaista; Imam, Asif Ali

2015-02-01

A quantitative and qualitative survey of airborne pollen was performed in the city of Karachi, and the pollen counts were correlated with different climatic conditions. The aim of the study was to determine the possible effect of meteorological factors on airborne pollen distribution in the atmosphere of Karachi city. Pollen sampling was carried out by using Burkard spore Trap for the period of August 2009 to July 2010, and a total of 2,922 pollen grains/m(3) were recorded. In this survey, 22 pollen types were recognized. The highest pollen count was contributed by Poaceae pollen type (1,242 pollen grains/m(3)) followed by Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae (948 pollen grains/m(3)), Cyperus rotundus (195 pollen grains/m(3)) and Prosopis juliflora (169 pollen grains/m(3)). Peak pollen season was in August showing a total of 709 pollen grains/m(3) and lowest pollen count was observed in January-2010. Pearson's chi-square test was performed for the possible correlation of pollen counts and climatic factors. The test revealed significant positive correlation of wind speed with pollen types of Amaranthaceae/Chenopodiaceae; Brassica campestris; Asteraceae; and Thuja orientalis. While the correlation of "average temperature" showed significant positive value with Asteraceae and Tamarix indica pollen types. Negative correlation was observed between humidity/ precipitation and pollen types of Brassica campestris; Daucus carota; Ephedra sp.; and Tamarix indica. In the light of above updated data one could identify various aeroallergens present in the air of Karachi city.

Qualitative and quantitative salivary changes and subjective oral dryness among patients with thyroid dysfunction.

PubMed

Naik, Meghal Mehul; Vassandacoumara, Vaishnavee

2018-01-01

There is a paucity of literature regarding the effects of thyroid disorders on the oral cavity by influencing the salivary gland function. This study aims to understand the qualitative and quantitative changes that thyroid disorder can cause in the salivary function. After obtaining ethical clearance, 46 consecutive newly diagnosed thyroid dysfunction patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, along with 45 age-and sex-matched controls. Unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rates, pH, and buffering capacity of the whole saliva were studied in addition to subjective oral dryness in the study participants. The independent t-test was employed to compare the means between the two groups and Pearson's Chi-square test was used to assess the goodness of fit. The findings showed that females are more affected with thyroid disorders and that hypothyroidism is more commonly reported than hyperthyroidism. A significant reduction in the salivary flow rates and buffering capacity was observed among the affected group compared to the controls, whereas the salivary pH did not show significant differences between genders and also between the case and control groups. A feeling of subjective oral dryness was perceived by many affected patients. The study was able to establish an association between thyroid dysfunction and salivary gland function. We hope that this study leads to more high-impact research in this field as salivary diagnostics is gaining more popularity with every passing day.

Awareness and Knowledge of Glaucoma among Workers in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Care Institution

PubMed Central

Komolafe, O. O.; Omolase, C. O.; Bekibele, C. O.; Ogunleye, O. A.; Komolafe, O. A.; Omotayo, F. O.

2013-01-01

Purpose: The aim of this study reports the level of awareness and knowledge of glaucoma among selected health care personnel at a health institution in southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Health personnel at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Nigeria, a tertiary health care institution were stratified into a clinical and an administrative directorate. One-hundred twenty participants were selected from each directorate by a random sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and data on the level of knowledge and awareness of glaucoma. Statistical analyses included the independent t-test and Pearson's chi-square test for categorical variables. Statistical significance was indicated by P < 0.05. Results: From the target population of 240 participants, 216 (98 males; 118 females) completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 35.07 ± 07 years. A total of 148 (68.6%) participants had heard of glaucoma comprising all participants from the clinical directorate and 28 participants from the administrative directorate. There was no statistically significant difference between the clinical and administrative directorates about the knowledge of the aspect of vision that is first affected by glaucoma, the painless nature of glaucoma among most Africans and the irreversible nature of glaucoma-related blindness (P > 0.05, all comparisons). Conclusion: There is the need to update the knowledge base of these workers if they are to be useful in propagating information of the irreversible blindness that could arise from delay in glaucoma diagnosis and treatment. PMID:23741136

Fibrinogen: cardiometabolic risk marker in obese or overweight children and adolescents.

PubMed

Azevedo, Waldeneide F; Cantalice, Anajás S C; Gonzaga, Nathalia C; Simões, Mônica O da S; Guimarães, Anna Larissa V; Carvalho, Danielle F de; Medeiros, Carla Campos Muniz

2015-01-01

To determine the prevalence of increased serum fibrinogen levels and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight or obese children and adolescents. Cross-sectional study with 138 children and adolescents (overweight or obese) followed at a reference outpatient clinic of the public health care network. Fibrinogen concentration was divided into quartiles, and values above or equal to the third quartile were considered high. The association between high fibrinogen values and cardiometabolic risk factors was assessed using Pearson's chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test, as necessary. Logistic regression was used to adjust variables predictive of fibrinogen levels. Analyses were performed using SPSS version 22.0 and SAS software, considering a confidence interval of 95%. Serum fibrinogen levels were elevated in 28.3% of individuals, showing association with the presence of high CRP (p=0.003, PR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.30-4.46) and the presence of four or more risk factors (p=0.042; PR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.00-3.17). After a logistic regression, only elevated CRP remained associated with altered fibrinogen levels (p=0.024; PR: 1.32; 95% CI: 1.09-5.25). Increased fibrinogen was prevalent in the study population and was associated with ultrasensitive C-reactive protein and the presence of four or more cardiovascular risk factors; it should be included in the assessment of individuals at risk. Copyright © 2015 Sociedade Brasileira de Pediatria. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Predictors associated with the willingness to take human papilloma virus vaccination.

PubMed

Naing, Cho; Pereira, Joanne; Abe, Tatsuki; Eh Zhen Wei, Daniel; Rahman Bajera, Ibrizah Binti Abdul; Kavinda Perera, Undugodage Heshan

2012-04-01

Human papilloma virus vaccine is considered to be the primary form of cervical cancer prevention. The objectives were (1) to determine knowledge about, and perception of human papilloma virus infection in relation to cervical cancer, (2) to explore the intention of the community to be vaccinated with human papilloma virus vaccine, and (3) to identify variables that could predict the likelihood of uptake of the vaccine. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in a semi-urban Town of Malaysia, using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Summary statistics, Pearson chi-square test and a binary logistic regression were used for data analysis. A total of 232 respondents were interviewed. Overall, only a few had good knowledge related to human papilloma virus (14%) or vaccination (8%). Many had misconceptions that it could be transmitted through blood transfusion (57%). Sixty percent had intention to take vaccination. In the binary logistic model, willingness to take vaccination was significant with 'trusts that vaccination would be effective for prevention of cervical cancer' (P = 0.001), 'worries for themselves' (P < 0.001) or 'their family members' (P = 0.003) and 'being Indian ethnicity' (P = 0.024). The model could fairly predict the likelihood of uptake of the vaccine (Cox & Snell R(2) = .415; Nagelkerke R(2) = 0.561). Results indicate that intensive health education dispelling misconception and risk perception towards human papilloma virus infection and cervical cancer would be helpful to increase the acceptability of vaccination program.

The Rising Rate of Rural Hospital Closures.

PubMed

Kaufman, Brystana G; Thomas, Sharita R; Randolph, Randy K; Perry, Julie R; Thompson, Kristie W; Holmes, George M; Pink, George H

2016-01-01

Since 2010, the rate of rural hospital closures has increased significantly. This study is a preliminary look at recent closures and a formative step in research to understand the causes and the impact on rural communities. The 2009 financial performance and market characteristics of rural hospitals that closed from 2010 through 2014 were compared to rural hospitals that remained open during the same period, stratified by critical access hospitals (CAHs) and other rural hospitals (ORHs). Differences were tested using Pearson's chi-square (categorical variables) and Wilcoxon rank test of medians. The relationships between negative operating margin and (1) market factors and (2) utilization/staffing factors were explored using logistic regression. In 2009, CAHs that subsequently closed from 2010 through 2014 had, in general, lower levels of profitability, liquidity, equity, patient volume, and staffing. In addition, ORHs that closed had smaller market shares and operated in markets with smaller populations compared to ORHs that remained open. Odds of unprofitability were associated with both market and utilization factors. Although half of the closed hospitals ceased providing health services altogether, the remainder have since converted to an alternative health care delivery model. Financial and market characteristics appear to be associated with closure of rural hospitals from 2010 through 2014, suggesting that it is possible to identify hospitals at risk of closure. As closure rates show no sign of abating, it is important to study the drivers of distress in rural hospitals, as well as the potential for alternative health care delivery models. © 2015 National Rural Health Association.

Analysis and significance of c-MET expression in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland.

PubMed

Bell, Diana; Ferrarotto, Renata; Fox, Melanie D; Roberts, Dianna; Hanna, Ehab Y; Weber, Randal S; El-Naggar, Adel K

2015-01-01

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a rare salivary gland malignancy, is a histogenetic, morphologic, and clinical heterogeneous disease. Extensive efforts have been made to characterize molecular events associated with these tumors, including the identification of prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Increased copy number gain and amplification of c-Met, the cell surface receptor for hepatocyte growth factor, has been shown to enhance tumor growth and invasiveness and promote metastasis in certain tumor types. In this study, we evaluated the expression of c-Met by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a large cohort of salivary gland ACCs and examined its clinicopathologic implications. Archival formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks from 200 ACC patients were used in this study. Pathologic patterns and phenotypic expression of c-Met were recorded and compared with clinical factors including gender, age, disease stage at diagnosis, and clinical outcomes. Correlations between c-MET expression and clinical characteristics were assessed by Pearson's chi-square test or by the 2-tailed Fisher exact test. Curves describing overall survival were generated by Kaplan-Meier product limit method. Strong c-MET expression was seen in inner ductal and outer myoepithelial cells in 53.2% of the cases. There was no correlation between c-Met overexpression and clinicopathologic parameters or patient's overall survival ( p = .94074). In conclusion, c-MET expression is high in a significant subgroup of ACC patients. While c-MET expression is not a prognostic factor in ACC, its role as a predictive marker of benefit from MET inhibitors deserves further investigation.

RANDOMIZED PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON TRAUMATIC PATELLAR DISLOCATION: CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT VERSUS RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MEDIAL PATELLOFEMORAL LIGAMENT USING THE PATELLAR TENDON, WITH A MINIMUM OF TWO YEARS OF FOLLOW-UP.

PubMed

Bitar, Alexandre Carneiro; D'Elia, Caio Oliveira; Demange, Marco Kawamura; Viegas, Alexandre Christo; Camanho, Gilberto Luis

2011-01-01

The aim of this study was to compare the surgical results from reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) with non-operative treatment of primary patellar dislocation. Thirty-nine patients (41 knees) with patellar dislocation were randomized into two groups. One group was treated conservatively (immobilization and physiotherapy) and other was treated surgically with reconstruction of the MPFL, and the results were evaluated with a minimum follow-up of two years. The Kujala questionnaire was applied to assess pain and quality of life, and recurrences were evaluated. Pearson's chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were used in the statistical evaluation. The statistical analysis showed that the mean Kujala score was significantly lower in the conservative group (70.8), compared with the mean value in the surgical group (88.9), with p = 0.001. The surgical group presented a higher percentage of "good/excellent" Kujala score results (71.43%) than in the conservative group (25.0%), with p = 0.003. The conservative group presented a greater number of recurrences (35% of the cases), while in the surgical group there were no reports of recurrences and/or subluxation. Treatment with reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament using the patellar tendon produced better results, based on the analysis of post-treatment recurrences and the better final results from the Kujala questionnaire after a minimum follow-up period of two years.

A Ray of Light: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Why Parents Choose Montessori Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zarybnisky, Emily M.

2010-01-01

This study explored why parents choose Montessori schools for their children. Parents from two public (n = 40) and two private (n = 10) Montessori schools responded to a written survey designed to discern what characteristics parents valued in making their decision. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and chi-square tests were used to understand the…

An Evaluation of the Psychometric Properties of Three Different Forms of Daly and Miller's Writing Apprehension Test through Rasch Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Güler, Nese; Ilhan, Mustafa; Güneyli, Ahmet; Demir, Süleyman

2017-01-01

This study evaluates the psychometric properties of three different forms of the Writing Apprehension Test (WAT; Daly & Miller, 1975) through Rasch analysis. For this purpose, the fit statistics and correlation coefficients, and the reliability, separation ratio, and chi-square values for the facets of item and person calculated for the…

Season of birth and multiple sclerosis in Tunisia.

PubMed

Sidhom, Youssef; Kacem, Imen; Bayoudh, Lamia; Ben Djebara, Mouna; Hizem, Yosr; Ben Abdelfettah, Sami; Gargouri, Amina; Gouider, Riadh

2015-11-01

Recent studies on date of birth of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients showed an association between month of birth and the risk of developing MS. This association has not been investigated in an African country. We aimed to determine if the risk of MS is associated with month of birth in Tunisia. Data concerning date of birth for MS patients in Tunisia (n = 1912) was obtained. Birth rates of MS patients were compared with all births in Tunisia matched by year of birth (n = 11,615,912). We used a chi-squared analysis and the Hewitt's non-parametric test for seasonality. The distribution of births among MS patients compared with the control population was not different when tested by the chi-squared test. The Hewitt's test for seasonality showed an excess of births between May and October among MS patients (p = 0.03). The peak of Births of MS patients in Tunisia was in July and the nadir in December. Our data does support the seasonality hypothesis of month of birth as risk factor for MS in Tunisia. Low vitamin D levels during pregnancy could be a possible explanation that needs further investigation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of message type on physician compliance with disease reporting requirements.

PubMed

Brissette, Ian; Gelberg, Kitty H; Grey, Anthony J

2006-01-01

Despite the existence of mandatory reporting laws, the underreporting of disease conditions to public health authorities is widespread. This article describes an evaluation of the effects of using different appeals to promote complete and timely reporting to the New York State Occupational Lung Disease Registry (NYS OLDR). Three-hundred sixty-eight physicians who had not reported patients were randomly assigned to receive correspondence emphasizing either the legal obligation to report, the public health benefits of reporting, or both. Chi-square tests were used to determine if the proportion of physicians who subsequently reported patients differed by message group. Chi-square tests and the Kruskall Wallis rank sum test were used to test for differences in the completeness and timeliness of reports received from physicians in the three message groups. Physicians receiving correspondence describing the legal obligation to report were more likely to report patients than those receiving only the benefit message, while those receiving correspondence describing the public health benefits of reporting submitted more complete reports than those receiving only the obligation message. To maximize physician reporting, it is important for public health agencies to emphasize both the legal and public health basis for reporting conditions in correspondence to physicians.

Early pregnancy fasting plasma glucose and lipid concentrations in pregnancy and association to offspring size: a retrospective cohort study.

PubMed

Liu, Bin; Geng, Huizhen; Yang, Juan; Zhang, Ying; Deng, Langhui; Chen, Weiqing; Wang, Zilian

2016-03-17

Hyperlipidemia and high fasting plasma glucose levels at the first prenatal visit (First Visit FPG) are both related to gestational diabetes mellitus, maternal obesity/overweight and fetal overgrowth. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the correlation between First Visit FPG and lipid concentrations, and their potential association with offspring size at delivery. Pregnant women that received regular prenatal care and delivered in our center in 2013 were recruited for the study. Fasting plasma glucose levels were tested at the first prenatal visit (First Visit FPG) and prior to delivery (Before Delivery FPG). HbA1c and lipid profiles were examined at the time of OGTT test. Maternal and neonatal clinical data were collected for analysis. Data was analyzed by independent sample t test, Pearson correlation, and Chi-square test, followed by partial correlation and multiple linear regression analyses to confirm association. Statistical significance level was α =0.05. Analyses were based on 1546 mother-baby pairs. First Visit FPG was not correlated with any lipid parameters after adjusting for maternal pregravid BMI, maternal age and gestational age at First Visit FPG. HbA1c was positively correlated with triglyceride and Apolipoprotein B in the whole cohort and in the NGT group after adjusting for maternal age and maternal BMI at OGTT test. Multiple linear regression analyses showed neonatal birth weight, head circumference and shoulder circumference were all associated with First Visit FPG and triglyceride levels. Fasting plasma glucose at first prenatal visit is not associated with lipid concentrations in mid-pregnancy, but may influence fetal growth together with triglyceride concentration.

The seasonal use of small-scale space by benthic species in a transiently hypoxic area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doya, Carolina; Aguzzi, Jacopo; Chatzievangelou, Damianos; Costa, Corrado; Company, Joan Baptista; Tunnicliffe, Verena

2016-02-01

The use of small-scale space by benthos and its variation over the seasons in transiently hypoxic zones is poorly known. In this study, we examined the reciprocal spatial dispersion of the squat lobster (Munida quadrispina) and the slender sole (Lyopsetta exilis) according to oxygen concentrations at a VENUS platform of Ocean Networks Canada (ONC). This platform is located in a seasonally hypoxic zone at 96 m depth in the fjord of Saanich Inlet (British Columbia, Canada). We counted and located small as well as large squat lobsters and slender soles in digital still images during 1 year (2012-2013) also concomitantly obtained oxygen data. Images were subdivided in a squared grid to obtain relative density maps as a proxy for surface occupation and spatial autocorrelation. Pearson's chi-squared tests at a yearly scale, along with Dixon's spatial segregation index (S) for each possible pair among the studied groups, showed a significant absence of overlap. The same analyses by month and cross-correlation between oxygen and S showed that while the dispersion patterns of the large squat lobsters seemed to be driven mainly by the morphology of the seafloor, an effect of hypoxia was found in the small squat lobsters and the slender soles levels of aggregation. Small squat lobster sought seabed protrusions, such as sponges, to reach more oxygenated water. The slender sole's space occupation decreased significantly, being forced to retreat when the squat lobsters' abundance peaked as a result of what appeared to be a seasonal reproduction event in early summer. Our results contribute to the understanding of the ways in which oxygen levels modulate substrate use by benthic species in the framework of a global expansion of hypoxia in coastal and ocean areas.

Serum CA125 predicts extrauterine disease and survival in uterine carcinosarcoma

PubMed Central

Huang, Gloria S.; Chiu, Lydia G.; Gebb, Juliana S.; Gunter, Marc J.; Sukumvanich, Paniti; Goldberg, Gary L.; Einstein, Mark H.

2009-01-01

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical utility of CA125 measurement in patients with uterine carcinosarcoma (CS). Methods Ninety-five consecutive patients treated for CS at a single institution were identified. All 54 patients who underwent preoperative CA125 measurement were included in the study. Data were abstracted from the medical records. Tests of association between preoperative CA125 and previously identified clinicopathologic prognostic factors were performed using Fisher’s exact test and Pearson chi-square test. To evaluate relationship of CA125 elevation and survival, a Cox proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis, incorporating all of prognostic factors identified by univariate analysis. Results Preoperative CA125 was significantly associated with the presence of extrauterine disease (P<0.001), deep myometrial invasion (P<0.001), and serous histology of the epithelial component (P=0.005). Using univariate survival analysis, stage (HR=1.808, P=0.004), postoperative CA125 level (HR=9.855, P<0.001), and estrogen receptor positivity (HR=0.314, P=0.029) were significantly associated with survival. In the multivariate model, only postoperative CA125 level remained significantly associated with poor survival (HR=5.725, P=0.009). Conclusion Preoperative CA125 elevation is a marker of extrauterine disease and deep myometrial invasion in patients with uterine CS. Postoperative CA125 elevation is an independent prognostic factor for poor survival. These findings indicate that CA125 may be a clinically useful serum marker in the management of patients with CS. PMID:17935762

Prevalence of Family Violence and Associated Factors Among In-School Adolescents in São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

PubMed

Ralo, Janaina Maria; Schor, Neia; Tavares, Carlos Mendes; Silva, Valter

2016-05-01

Family violence is a social and public health issue across the world for many populations and affects many different types of people, for example, children, women, and vulnerable adults. Adolescents are one of the main victims of this important phenomenon. This article estimates the prevalence of family violence in adolescents and associated factors. The study was carried out in 2012 with a probability and representative sample of 656 adolescents aged between 11 and 17 years who were enrolled at public schools located in the extreme South of the city of São Paulo. The association was tested by the proportion test, Pearson's chi-square or Fischer's exact test, and Poisson regression adjusted by robust variance estimation, considering a level of significance of 5%. Among adolescents, 38.9% reported having been victims of family violence. Women were victimized with higher frequency (44.1%). The factors associated with prevalence of family violence were being of the female sex (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.20, 1.80]) and living only with the father (PR = 1.52; 95% CI = [1.11, 2.08]). The prevalence of adolescents who were victims of family violence is high; however, special attention must be paid to women and adolescents who live only with their father-they were established, in this study, as a risk group. Epidemiological studies of this nature are important to reveal the reality of family violence and to aid the construction of intersectoral public policies to promote health, prevent violence, and foster a peaceful culture. © The Author(s) 2015.

Healthcare behavior and expenditure in an urban slum in relation to birth experience and newborn care.

PubMed

Saini, Arushi G; Bharti, Bhavneet; Gautam, Suman

2012-06-01

Newborn care practices and healthcare seeking are important determinants of neonatal morbidity and mortality in the resource-limited settings of the urban slums. To examine the current patterns of healthcare-seeking behavior and estimate out-of-pocket expenditure for delivery and common neonatal problems in the urban slums of Chandigarh. Community-based cross-sectional survey. Structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the clusters selected by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Expanded Program for Immunization's cluster survey method. Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA and Pearson's Chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. All tests were two-tailed and p < 0.05 was taken as significant. 31.7% of the mothers delivered at home with 4.18 ± 2.16 mean number of antenatal visits and 73.9% used prelacteals. Factors significantly predicting home deliveries were identified. About 44.7% of the neonates had problems after birth, with 40.3% requiring hospitalization. Choice of private healthcare providers governed the care seeking in the majority (61.4%). Out-of-pocket expenditure was significantly high for the private care providers in terms of the cost of delivery and the overall cost of neonatal illness though no gender-based differences were seen. Private sector emerged as the major healthcare provider in the urban slums resulting in higher out-of-pocket expenditure. A comprehensive health strategy comprising of health education, improvement in antenatal practices, institutional deliveries, behavior change communication activities and quality perinatal care is required for these urban slums.

A retrospective clinical study of cervical restorations: longevity and failure-prognostic variables.

PubMed

Namgung, C; Rho, Y J; Jin, B H; Lim, B S; Cho, B H

2013-01-01

The aim of this retrospective clinical study was to compare the longevity of cervical restorations between resin composite (RC) and glass ionomer (GI) and to investigate variables predictive of their outcome. The clinical performance of the two restorative materials in function was compared using the ratings of the modified United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria. A total of 479 cervical restorations were included in the study. Ninety-one already-replaced restorations were reviewed from dental records. The other 388 restorations still in function were evaluated according to the modified USPHS criteria by two investigators. Longevity and prognostic variables were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. The clinical performances of the two materials were evaluated according to the ratings of the USPHS criteria and compared using the Pearson chi-square test and Fisher exact test. The longevity was not significantly different between RC and GI (median survival time, 10.4 ± 0.7 and 11.5 ± 1.1 years, respectively). The main reasons for failure were loss of retention (82.2%) and secondary caries (17.8%). The longevity of cervical restoration was significantly influenced by tooth group and operator group (Wald test, p<0.05), while material, gender, presence or absence of systemic diseases, arch, and reason for treatment did not affect the longevity. Contrary to the longevity, the clinical performance of RC was superior to GI in the criteria of retention, marginal discoloration, and marginal adaptation, but similar in secondary caries, wear, and postoperative sensitivity.

Factors associated to post-operative nausea and vomiting following oral and maxillofacial surgery: a prospective study.

PubMed

Albuquerque, Assis Filipe Medeiros; Queiroz, Salomão Israel Monteiro Lourenço; Germano, Adriano Rocha; da Silva, José Sandro Pereira

2017-03-01

This study aims to address and assess possible factors associated with nausea and vomiting (NV) following oral and maxillofacial surgery. A prospective study was carried out in the period from December 2013 to January 2016 targeting all attended cases in that period. For statistical analysis, Pearson chi-square and Fisher tests were used to verify association and ANOVA and Student's t tests to test for significant difference, p was defined as ≤0.05. The sample group consisted of 207 patients with an average age of 33.56 years (±13.23), and 70.5% of subjects were male. Calculations based on the predictive model showed that a female patient with prior history of nausea and vomiting who used opioids and had intra-oral surgical access would have a 96% chance of experiencing a nausea and vomiting episode. Other factors like age, being overweight, anesthesia, surgery duration, and duration of hospital stay also contribute so that these aspects must be paid careful attention prior to surgery to ensure a suitably orientated treatment that will avoid disturbances caused by post-operative nausea and vomiting. The occurrence of post-operative nausea and vomiting after oral and maxillofacial surgery was found to be more higher incidence associated to female patients who used opioids, who had a prior history of NV, whose surgery involved intra-oral access, who were in the second or third decades of their lives, who have above average weight, and who have long anesthesia when undergoing surgery, resulting in a long hospital stays.

A Comparative Study of Shaping Ability of four Rotary Systems.

PubMed

Rubio, Jorge; Zarzosa, José Ignacio; Pallarés, Antonio

2015-12-01

This study compared the cutting area, instrumentation time, root canal anatomy preservation and non-instrumented areas obtained by F360(®), Mtwo(®), RaCe(®) and Hyflex(®) files with ISO size 35. 120 teeth with a single straight root and root canal were divided into 4 groups. Working length was calculated by using X-rays. The teeth were sectioned with a handpiece and a diamond disc, and the sections were observed with Nikon SMZ-2T stereoscopic microscope and an Intralux 4000-1 light source. The groups were adjusted with a preoperative analysis with AutoCAD. The teeth were reconstructed by a #10 K-File and epoxy glue. Each group was instrumented with one of the four file systems. The instrumentation time was calculated with a 1/100 second chronometer. The area of the thirds and root canal anatomy preservation were analyzed with AutoCAD 2013 and the non-instrumented areas with AutoCAD 2013 and SMZ-2T stereoscopic microscope. The statistical analysis was made with Levene's Test, ANOVA, Bonferroni Test and Pearson´s Chi-square. Equal variances were shown by Levene's Test (P > 0.05). ANOVA (P > 0.05) showed the absence of significant differences. There were significant differences in the instrumentation time (P < 0.05). For root canal anatomy preservation and non-instrumented areas, there were no significant differences between all systems (P > 0.05). The 4 different rotary systems produced similar cutting area, root canal anatomy preservation and non-instrumented areas. Regarding instrumentation time, F360(®) was the fastest system statistically.

A Comparative Study of Shaping Ability of four Rotary Systems

PubMed Central

Zarzosa, José Ignacio; Pallarés, Antonio

2015-01-01

Purpose This study compared the cutting area, instrumentation time, root canal anatomy preservation and non-instrumented areas obtained by F360®, Mtwo®, RaCe® and Hyflex® files with ISO size 35. Material and Methods 120 teeth with a single straight root and root canal were divided into 4 groups. Working length was calculated by using X-rays. The teeth were sectioned with a handpiece and a diamond disc, and the sections were observed with Nikon SMZ-2T stereoscopic microscope and an Intralux 4000-1 light source. The groups were adjusted with a preoperative analysis with AutoCAD. The teeth were reconstructed by a #10 K-File and epoxy glue. Each group was instrumented with one of the four file systems. The instrumentation time was calculated with a 1/100 second chronometer. The area of the thirds and root canal anatomy preservation were analyzed with AutoCAD 2013 and the non-instrumented areas with AutoCAD 2013 and SMZ-2T stereoscopic microscope. The statistical analysis was made with Levene’s Test, ANOVA, Bonferroni Test and Pearson´s Chi-square. Results Equal variances were shown by Levene’s Test (P > 0.05). ANOVA (P > 0.05) showed the absence of significant differences. There were significant differences in the instrumentation time (P < 0.05). For root canal anatomy preservation and non-instrumented areas, there were no significant differences between all systems (P > 0.05). Conclusions The 4 different rotary systems produced similar cutting area, root canal anatomy preservation and non-instrumented areas. Regarding instrumentation time, F360® was the fastest system statistically. PMID:27688412

Attitudes and Awareness Regarding Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C Amongst Health-care Workers of a Tertiary Hospital in India.

PubMed

Setia, S; Gambhir, Rs; Kapoor, V; Jindal, G; Garg, S; Setia, S

2013-10-01

Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease of the liver. In sever cases, it may lead to permanent liver damage including liver cirrhosis or hepato-cellular carcinoma and may ultimately lead to death. Health-care workers (HCWs), due to their regular contact with patients are at a high-risk of acquiring this disease. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitude toward hepatitis B and C infection among the health-care interns and correlate the level of awareness to the attitude they behold toward the disease. A closed ended questionnaire consisting of questions to evaluate the knowledge regarding hepatitis B and C infection and attitude of the (HCWs/interns) was duly filled by 255 participants including, 100 dental, 100 medical, and 55 nursing interns. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Chi-square test, ANOVA test, post-hoc test and Pearson's correlation. Although most of the interns were aware of the existence of hepatitis B and C infection, the level of awareness regarding the modes of transmission and vaccination was found to be dissatisfactory. Awareness level regarding the infection among nursing interns was statistically significantly lower than the dental and medical interns. A direct positive correlation as found between awareness score and behavior score, which reveals that interns with better awareness level had better attitudes toward the infection and prevention of its transmission. There is an urgent need to increase the level and quality of training among HCWs to prevent the spread of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.

Levels of Health Literacy in a Community-Dwelling Population of Chinese Older Adults

PubMed Central

Li, Yu; Dong, XinQi

2014-01-01

Background. Lower levels of health literacy have been associated with adverse health outcomes, especially for older adults. However, limited research has been conducted to understand health literacy levels among Chinese American older adults. Methods. The PINE study is an epidemiological cohort of 3,159 community-dwelling Chinese older adults, 95% of whom do not speak or read English. Chinese older adults’ health literacy levels were examined using the Chinese version of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine, Revised (REALM-R) test. Kruskal–Wallis test and chi-square statistics were used to identify significant differences by sociodemographic and self-reported health characteristics. Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were used to examine correlations between personal characteristics and health literacy level. Results. The mean age among this sample of Chinese older adults was 72.8 years (SD = 8.3, range = 60–105) and the mean REALM-R test score was 6.9 [SD = 2.3, range (0–8)]. Health literacy was positively associated with education, marriage status, and number of people living with. Older age, being female, greater number of children, years in the United States, and preference for speaking Cantonese or Taishanese were negatively associated with health literacy. Health literary was not associated with self-reported health status or quality of life. Conclusions. In this Chicago Chinese population, older adults had reasonable levels of health literacy in Chinese. Future longitudinal research is needed to understand risk/protective factors associated with health literacy level in Chinese older adults. PMID:25378449

Change-readiness of the blind: a hospital based study in a coastal town of South India.

PubMed

Shetty, Ramya; Kulkarni, Uma D

2014-01-01

Blindness is a devastating condition with psychosocial and economic effects. The shortcomings result in a burden to the blind person, the family and society. Rehabilitation of the blind can transform their lives. The aim of this study was to assess the "change-readiness" of the blind to undergo a "change-management". The study was a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire-based study of 50 blind subjects in a medical college hospital. The blind participants were assessed for depression using the Beck Depression Inventory II, for the perceived effect of blindness on family, social life and occupation. The participants were counseled to undergo psychiatric management, vocational training, use blind aids and learn Braille. The willingness of the participants with reasons was assessed using a verbal analogue scale. Pearson Chi-square test, ANOVA and the t-test were used for statistical analysis. Over two-thirds of the subjects were depressed. Family life, social life and occupation were perceived to be affected by 44%, 66% and 74%, respectively. Change-readiness scores were low for low vision and blind aids, vocational training, psychiatric management, change of job and learning Braille. The low score was due to the associated taboo, dependence, lack of skills, embarrassment, etc., The most valuable feature was the family cohesiveness. The results suggest that there is a need to modify health policy to include blind rehabilitation, to improve visibility of blind rehabilitation centers, to include family members and co-professionals while managing the blind so that we treat the "blind person" and not a "pair of blind eyes".

Marital status is an independent prognostic factor for tracheal cancer patients: an analysis of the SEER database.

PubMed

Li, Mu; Dai, Chen-Yang; Wang, Yu-Ning; Chen, Tao; Wang, Long; Yang, Ping; Xie, Dong; Mao, Rui; Chen, Chang

2016-11-22

Although marital status is an independent prognostic factor in many cancers, its prognostic impact on tracheal cancer has not yet been determined. The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between marital status and survival in patients with tracheal cancer. Compared with unmarried patients (42.67%), married patients (57.33%) had better 5-year OS (25.64% vs. 35.89%, p = 0.009) and 5-year TCSS (44.58% vs. 58.75%, p = 0.004). Results of multivariate analysis indicated that marital status is an independent prognostic factor, with married patients showing better OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64-0.95, p = 0.015) and TCSS (HR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.54-0.91, p = 0.008). In addition, subgroup analysis suggested that marital status plays a more important role in the TCSS of patients with non-low-grade malignant tumors (HR = 0.71, 95% CI 0.53-0.93, p = 0.015). We extracted 600 cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Variables were compared by Pearson chi-squared test, t-test, log-rank test, and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Overall survival (OS) and tracheal cancer-specific survival (TCSS) were compared between subgroups with different pathologic features and tumor stages. Marital status is an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with tracheal cancer. For that reason, additional social support may be needed for unmarried patients, especially those with non-low-grade malignant tumors.

The relationship of specific items on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory to caregiver burden in dementia: a systematic review.

PubMed

Terum, Toril Marie; Andersen, John Roger; Rongve, Arvid; Aarsland, Dag; Svendsboe, Ellen J; Testad, Ingelin

2017-07-01

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) are common in dementia, and they have been identified as important care-recipient variables in terms of their impact on caregiver burden. The aim of this review was to describe how individual NPSs in dementia, assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, are associated with caregiver burden. We performed a systematic review of English language, peer-reviewed articles retrieved from MEDLINE, PSYCINFO, and EMBASE. A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies examined the association between individual NPSs and caregiver burden using the Spearman rank correlation test, while three used Pearson's correlation test. Of the remaining studies, five used multiple regression analyses and one the chi-squared test. The majority of included studies did not differentiate between dementia subtypes in the analysis or mainly included only caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease. The Clinical Dementia Rating score and mean Mini-Mental State Examination score indicate mild to moderate dementia. The majority of caregivers were women, most of whom were children (53.8%) or spouses (36%). The data indicated that irritability, followed by agitation, sleep disturbances, anxiety, apathy, and delusion seem to impact caregiver burden the most. Our principal finding is that irritability, agitation, sleep disturbances, anxiety, apathy, and delusion seem to exert the most impact on caregiver burden. Heterogeneity in the measures and statistical analyses used, however, makes it difficult to make conclusive interpretations. Future research in this field would benefit from standardization of the scientific methodology in use. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Determinants of responsibility for health, spiritual health and interpersonal relationship based on theory of planned behavior in high school girl students.

PubMed

Rezazadeh, Afsaneh; Solhi, Mahnaz; Azam, Kamal

2015-01-01

Adolescence is a sensitive period of acquiring normal and abnormal habits for all oflife. The study investigates determinants of responsibility for health, spiritual health and interpersonal relations and predictive factors based on the theory of planned behavior in high school girl students in Tabriz. In this Cross-sectional study, 340 students were selected thorough multi-stage sampling. An author-made questionnaire based on standard questionnaires of Health Promotion and Lifestyle II (HPLPII), spiritual health standards (Palutzian & Ellison) and components of the theory of planned behavior (attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention) was used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated in a pilot study. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.15 and descriptive and analytical tests (Chi-square test, Pearson correlation co-efficient and liner regression test in backward method). Students' responsibility for health, spiritual health, interpersonal relationships, and concepts of theory of planned behavior was moderate. We found a significant positive correlation (p<0/001) among all concepts of theory of planned behavior. Attitude and perceived behavioral control predicted 35% of intention of behavioral change (p<0.001). Attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control predicted 74% of behavioral change in accountability for health (p<0.0001), 56% for behavioral change in spiritual health (p<0.0001) and 63% for behavioral change in interpersonal relationship (p<0.0001). Status of responsibility for health, spiritual health and interpersonal relationships of students was moderate. Hence, behavioral intention and its determinants such as perceived behavioral control should be noted in promoting intervention programs.

Dual diagnosis vs. triple diagnosis in HIV: a comparative study to evaluate the differences in psychopathology and suicidal risk in HIV positive male subjects.

PubMed

Gupta, M; Kumar, K; Garg, P D

2013-12-01

The problem of triple diagnosis of HIV, substance abuse and psychiatric disorders is a complex one with difficult solutions. HIV disease progression is affected by substance use as well as psychiatric illness burden due to both direct as well as indirect factors. Continuing substance abuse with poor drug adherence coexists with psychiatric disorders leading to increased morbidity and mortality. A total of 100 HIV positive subjects comprising of two groups each having 50 subjects with and without substance abuse were assessed using detailed history, mental state examination, WHO schedule for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry (SCAN 2.0) and Beck's Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS). Statistical analysis used Chi-Square test, Fischer's exact test, Student's t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, univariate and multiple regression analysis, univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis. p-Value<0.05 was considered to denote statistical significance. Subjects with substance use disorder had higher rates of psychiatric morbidity (52% vs. 24%, 95% CI=0.5200, p<0.05). The rate of antiretroviral therapy default was almost double in subjects with substance abuse, as compared to subjects without substance use. Suicidal risk was significantly increased (p<0.05) in subjects with co-morbid medical disorders but substance abuse did not increase the risk. Substance abuse inflicts a much greater burden on HIV positive individuals as compared to subjects without substance use. Concomitant substance abuse resulted in significantly increased duration of illness and psychiatric morbidity. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices survey on organ donation among a selected adult population of Pakistan

PubMed Central

Saleem, Taimur; Ishaque, Sidra; Habib, Nida; Hussain, Syedda Saadia; Jawed, Areeba; Khan, Aamir Ali; Ahmad, Muhammad Imran; Iftikhar, Mian Omer; Mughal, Hamza Pervez; Jehan, Imtiaz

2009-01-01

Background To determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding organ donation in a selected adult population in Pakistan. Methods Convenience sampling was used to generate a sample of 440; 408 interviews were successfully completed and used for analysis. Data collection was carried out via a face to face interview based on a pre-tested questionnaire in selected public areas of Karachi, Pakistan. Data was analyzed using SPSS v.15 and associations were tested using the Pearson's Chi square test. Multiple logistic regression was used to find independent predictors of knowledge status and motivation of organ donation. Results Knowledge about organ donation was significantly associated with education (p = 0.000) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.038). 70/198 (35.3%) people expressed a high motivation to donate. Allowance of organ donation in religion was significantly associated with the motivation to donate (p = 0.000). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that higher level of education and higher socioeconomic status were significant (p < 0.05) independent predictors of knowledge status of organ donation. For motivation, multiple logistic regression revealed that higher socioeconomic status, adequate knowledge score and belief that organ donation is allowed in religion were significant (p < 0.05) independent predictors. Television emerged as the major source of information. Only 3.5% had themselves donated an organ; with only one person being an actual kidney donor. Conclusion Better knowledge may ultimately translate into the act of donation. Effective measures should be taken to educate people with relevant information with the involvement of media, doctors and religious scholars. PMID:19534793

Attitudes of surgical nurses towards pressure ulcer prevention.

PubMed

Ünver, Seher; Fındık, Ümmü Yıldız; Özkan, Zeynep Kızılcık; Sürücü, Çağla

2017-11-01

Nurses play the key role in prevention of pressure ulcers, and negative attitudes of them may affect preventive care strategies. This research aimed to identify surgical nurses' attitudes towards pressure ulcer prevention. A descriptive and cross-sectional study design was used to collect data between March 31-May 16, 2016 on 101 voluntary nurses (66.01% of all nurses) working in surgical units of a university hospital in Turkey. "Attitude towards Pressure Ulcer Prevention Instrument" and "Nurse Information Form" were used to investigate nurses' attitude toward preventing pressure ulcer. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, independent samples t-test, Pearson's chi-squared, and correlation tests were used to analyse the data. The mean age of nurses' was 32.0 ± 6.3 years and, the average duration of clinical experience was 72.3 ± 61 months. A total of 54.5% were working in surgical wards and, 40.6% gained additional education about pressure ulcer care. The mean total attitude score was found to be 80.5% (41.8 ± 4.8). Previous education significantly affected the total attitude score of nurses (p < 0.05). The total scale score showed that surgical nurses had a positive attitude towards pressure ulcer prevention and nurses who had previous education about pressure ulcer care has higher attitude score than who had not. It is recommended that effective in-service education programs be developed at hospitals or that nurses be required to attend courses to help them to improve their pressure ulcer care. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Validation of the Spanish version of the "Questionnaire on the treatment of approximal and occlusal caries".

PubMed

Ruiz, Begoña; Urzúa, Iván; Cabello, Rodrigo; Rodríguez, Gonzalo; Espelid, Ivar

2013-01-01

To translate and validate a Spanish version of the "Questionnaire on the treatment of approximal and occlusal caries" as a method of collecting information about treatment decisions on caries management in Chilean primary health care services. The original questionnaire proposed by Espelid et al. was translated into Spanish using the forward-backward translation technique. Subsequently, validation of the Spanish version was undertaken. Data were collected from two separate samples; first, from 132 Spanish-speaking dentists recruited from primary health care services and second, from 21 individuals characterised as cariologists. Internal consistency was evaluated by the generation of Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability was evaluated by Cohen's kappa, convergent validity was evaluated by comparing the total scale scores to a global evaluation of treatment trends and discriminant validity was evaluated by investigating the differences in total scale scores between the Spanish-speaking dentist and cariologist samples. Cronbach's alpha indicated an internal consistency of 0.63 for the entire scale. Cohen's kappa correlation coefficient expressed a test-retest reliability of 0.83. Convergent validity determined a Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.24 (p < 0.01). The comparison of proportions (chi-squared) indicated that discriminant validity was statistically significant (p < 0.01), using a one-tailed test. The Spanish version of the "Questionnaire on the treatment of approximal and occlusal caries" is a valid and reliable instrument for collecting information regarding treatment decisions in cariology. The clinical relevance of this study is to acquire a reliable instrument that allows for the determination of treatment decisions in Spanish-speaking dentists.

Using permutations to detect dependence between time series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cánovas, Jose S.; Guillamón, Antonio; Ruíz, María del Carmen

2011-07-01

In this paper, we propose an independence test between two time series which is based on permutations. The proposed test can be carried out by means of different common statistics such as Pearson’s chi-square or the likelihood ratio. We also point out why an exact test is necessary. Simulated and real data (return exchange rates between several currencies) reveal the capacity of this test to detect linear and nonlinear dependences.

Pre-Deployment Stress, Mental Health, and Help-Seeking Behaviors Among Marines

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

associations between two categori- cal variables, and Wald tests were conducted to compare mean scores on continuous variables across groups (e.g...Cluster- adjusted wald tests were conducted to determine whether there were significant differences by rank on the average number of potentially...deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in 2010 or 2011 of rank O6 or lower. a Omnibus rao-Scott chi-square test or adjusted wald test is statistically

The interns' learning assessment in obstetrics and gynecology department of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences.

PubMed

Roudbari, Masoud; Yaghmaei, Minoo

2007-09-01

One of the aims of management priorities in medical universities is the evaluation of learning in educational departments in order to prevent educational retardation and to improve the quality of education. The aim of this study was to evaluate the interns' learning in the obstetrics and gynecology (O&G) department at Zahedan University of Medical Sciences (ZUMS). The study was performed in ZUMS, Iran, in 2002-2003 on all interns at the O&G department, including 30 men and 40 women. For data collection, a questionnaire was used and included some questions regarding the common emergencies and diseases in O&G, together with different learning indicators such as reading, observation, hearing, management, and the capability of management. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, tables, t test, and chi-square test using the SPSS software. The mean percentages of learning indicators of observation, bedside teaching, supervised management, and personal management in the common emergencies and diseases of O&G in male interns were significantly lower than those in female interns. Also, the mean percentages of managing capabilities were 12% and 70.5% in common emergencies and 14.2% and 59.3% in common diseases for male and female interns, respectively. The chi-square test showed a significant difference between the mean percentages of the managing capabilities in male and female interns for the majority of the common emergencies and diseases. Also, the chi-square test revealed a significant relationship between the learning indicators and the interns' managing capabilities for common emergencies and diseases. Some learning indicators in the male interns were very low. This needs urgent improvement of the learning quality in the O&G department, especially for the male interns, particularly those who are supposed to work in the deprived areas of the country after graduation in the public service.

Standardization and Prevalence of the Booster Phenomenon: Evaluation Using a Two-Step Skin Test with 43 kDa Glycoprotein in Individuals from an Endemic Region of Paracoccidioidomycosis.

PubMed

Marques, Ana Paula C; Oliveira, Sandra Maria V L; Rezende, Grazielli R; Melo, Dayane A; Fernandes-Fitts, Sonia M; Pontes, Elenir Rose J C; Bonecini-Almeida, Maria da Glória; Camargo, Zoilo P; Mendes, Rinaldo P; Paniago, Anamaria M M

2017-10-01

We estimated the occurrence rate of the booster phenomenon by using an intradermal test with 43 kDa glycoprotein in an endemic area of paracoccidioidomycosis in the central-west region of Brazil. Individuals who had a negative result on a survey performed by using an intradermal test with 43 kDa glycoprotein in an endemic area of paracoccidioidomycosis underwent a second intradermal test after 10-15 days to determine the presence or absence of the booster phenomenon. Statistical analyses were performed using the Chi-square test, Chi-square for linear trend test, Student's t test, and binomial test; p < 0.05 was considered significant. For the first time, we reported the occurrence of the booster phenomenon to an intradermal reaction caused by 43 kDa glycoprotein at a rate of 5.8-8.4%, depending on the test's cutoff point. This suggests that a cutoff point should be considered for the booster phenomenon in intradermal tests with 43 kDa glycoprotein: a difference of 6-7 mm between readings according to the first and second tests, depending on the purpose of the evaluation. The results indicate that the prevalence of paracoccidioidal infection in endemic areas is underestimated, as the booster phenomenon has not been considered in epidemiological surveys for this infection.

Effects of Linking Methods on Detection of DIF.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Seock-Ho; Cohen, Allan S.

1992-01-01

Effects of the following methods for linking metrics on detection of differential item functioning (DIF) were compared: (1) test characteristic curve method (TCC); (2) weighted mean and sigma method; and (3) minimum chi-square method. With large samples, results were essentially the same. With small samples, TCC was most accurate. (SLD)

Reliability Engineering Handbook

DTIC Science & Technology

1964-06-01

Figure 6-18(a). The Chi-Square (X 2) Test compares the observed values against the Expected Am = 1 A = &. 0002 ) expected values in the tables. 5C 5...9382 .9394 .9406 .9418 .9429 .9441 1.6 .9452 .9463 .9474 .9484 .9495 . 9505 .9515 .9525 .9535 .9545 1.7 .9554 .9564 .9573 .9582 .9591 .9599 .9608

Interdependence of PRECIS Role Operators: A Quantitative Analysis of Their Associations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahapatra, Manoranjan; Biswas, Subal Chandra

1986-01-01

Analyzes associations among different role operators quantitatively by taking input strings from 200 abstracts, each related to subject fields of taxation, genetic psychology, and Shakespearean drama, and subjecting them to the Chi-square test. Significant associations by other differencing operators and connectives are discussed. A schema of role…

Availability of Vending Machines and School Stores in California Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cisse-Egbuonye, Nafissatou; Liles, Sandy; Schmitz, Katharine E.; Kassem, Nada; Irvin, Veronica L.; Hovell, Melbourne F.

2016-01-01

Background: This study examined the availability of foods sold in vending machines and school stores in United States public and private schools, and associations of availability with students' food purchases and consumption. Methods: Descriptive analyses, chi-square tests, and Spearman product-moment correlations were conducted on data collected…

Do College Faculty Embrace Web 2.0 Technology?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Siha, Samia M.; Bell, Reginald Lamar; Roebuck, Deborah

2016-01-01

The authors sought to determine if Rogers's Innovation Decision Process model could analyze Web 2.0 usage within the collegiate environment. The key independent variables studied in relationship to this model were gender, faculty rank, course content delivery method, and age. Chi-square nonparametric tests on the independent variables across…

Genetic structure of populations and differentiation in forest trees

Treesearch

Raymond P. Guries; F. Thomas Ledig

1981-01-01

Electrophoretic techniques permit population biologists to analyze genetic structure of natural populations by using large numbers of allozyme loci. Several methods of analysis have been applied to allozyme data, including chi-square contingency tests, F-statistics, and genetic distance. This paper compares such statistics for pitch pine (Pinus rigida...

What Do Teachers Need to Support English Learners?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gomez, Marjorie N.; Diarrassouba, Nagnon

2014-01-01

This study explored K-8 teachers' perceptions of their preparation and the challenges they encountered in delivering instruction to culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Using a mixed method research design, data were collected through a web-based survey from teachers in the state of Michigan. Researchers used chi-square tests to…

Public Opinion toward Sexuality Education: Findings among One South Florida County

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howard-Barr, Elissa; Moore, Michele Johnson; Weiss, Josie A.; Jobli, Edessa

2011-01-01

As part of a community plan to implement abstinence-based sexuality education, this study assessed opinions toward sexuality education among residents. Respondents (N = 1,090) were selected by random digit dialing. The survey, adopted from previous national studies, assessed attitudes towards sexuality education. Chi-square tests of significance…

New Software for Market Segmentation Analysis: A Chi-Square Interaction Detector. AIR 1983 Annual Forum Paper.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lay, Robert S.

The advantages and disadvantages of new software for market segmentation analysis are discussed, and the application of this new, chi-square based procedure (CHAID), is illustrated. A comparison is presented of an earlier, binary segmentation technique (THAID) and a multiple discriminant analysis. It is suggested that CHAID is superior to earlier…

Comparison of the multiple mini-interview with the traditional interview for U.S. emergency medicine residency applicants: a single-institution experience.

PubMed

Soares, William E; Sohoni, Aparajita; Hern, Herbert G; Wills, Charlotte P; Alter, Harrison J; Simon, Barry C

2015-01-01

The multiple mini-interview (MMI) is a validated interview technique used primarily to evaluate medical school applicants. No study has compared MMIs with traditional interviews (TIs) in the evaluation of U.S. emergency medicine residency (EMR) applicants. During the 2011-2012 interview season, a four-station MMI was incorporated into the interview process for EMR applicants at Alameda Health System-Highland Hospital (AHS). A postinterview anonymous questionnaire was offered to all applicants after they submitted their rank lists but prior to release of National Residency Matching Program results. Respondents rated their perceptions of the MMI and TI on a five-point Likert scale. McNemar chi-square test was used to explore differences in respondents' perceptions of interview styles. One hundred ten interviewees completed the survey (73%). Overall, applicants found the TI more enjoyable than the MMI process (98 [89%] compared with 48 [44%], McNemar chi-square=28.66, P<.01) and preferred the TI process to the MMI (66 [60%] compared with 9 [10%], McNemar chi-square=40.81, P<.01). Sixteen applicants (14%) indicated that the use of the MMI would negatively affect their ranking of the program. In contrast to prior studies, U.S. EMR applicants to AHS preferred the TI to the MMI. Further investigation into the use of the MMI for selecting U.S. EMR applicants is warranted.

The distance function effect on k-nearest neighbor classification for medical datasets.

PubMed

Hu, Li-Yu; Huang, Min-Wei; Ke, Shih-Wen; Tsai, Chih-Fong

2016-01-01

K-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classification is conventional non-parametric classifier, which has been used as the baseline classifier in many pattern classification problems. It is based on measuring the distances between the test data and each of the training data to decide the final classification output. Since the Euclidean distance function is the most widely used distance metric in k-NN, no study examines the classification performance of k-NN by different distance functions, especially for various medical domain problems. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to investigate whether the distance function can affect the k-NN performance over different medical datasets. Our experiments are based on three different types of medical datasets containing categorical, numerical, and mixed types of data and four different distance functions including Euclidean, cosine, Chi square, and Minkowsky are used during k-NN classification individually. The experimental results show that using the Chi square distance function is the best choice for the three different types of datasets. However, using the cosine and Euclidean (and Minkowsky) distance function perform the worst over the mixed type of datasets. In this paper, we demonstrate that the chosen distance function can affect the classification accuracy of the k-NN classifier. For the medical domain datasets including the categorical, numerical, and mixed types of data, K-NN based on the Chi square distance function performs the best.

Bone mineral density and nutritional status in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Alvarez Zaragoza, Citlalli; Vasquez Garibay, Edgar Manuel; García Contreras, Andrea A; Larrosa Haro, Alfredo; Romero Velarde, Enrique; Rea Rosas, Alejandro; Cabrales de Anda, José Luis; Vega Olea, Israel

2018-03-04

This study demonstrated the relationship of low bone mineral density (BMD) with the degree of motor impairment, method of feeding, anthropometric indicators, and malnutrition in children with quadriplegic cerebral palsy (CP). The control of these factors could optimize adequate bone mineralization, avoid the risk of osteoporosis, and would improve the quality of life. The purpose of the study is to explore the relationship between low BMD and nutritional status in children with quadriplegic CP. A cross-sectional analytical study included 59 participants aged 6 to 18 years with quadriplegic CP. Weight and height were obtained with alternative measurements, and weight/age, height/age, and BMI/age indexes were estimated. The BMD measurement obtained from the lumbar spine was expressed in grams per square centimeter and Z score (Z). Unpaired Student's t tests, chi-square tests, odds ratios, Pearson's correlations, and linear regressions were performed. The mean of BMD Z score was lower in adolescents than in school-aged children (p = 0.002). Patients with low BMD were at the most affected levels of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Participants at level V of the GMFCS were more likely to have low BMD than levels III and IV [odds ratio (OR) = 5.8 (confidence interval [CI] 95% 1.4, 24.8), p = 0.010]. There was a higher probability of low BMD in tube-feeding patients [OR = 8.6 (CI 95% 1.0, 73.4), p = 0.023]. The probability of low BMD was higher in malnourished children with weight/age and BMI indices [OR = 11.4 (1.3, 94), p = 0.009] and [OR = 9.4 (CI 95% 1.1, 79.7), p = 0.017], respectively. There was a significant relationship between low BMD, degree of motor impairment, method of feeding, and malnutrition. Optimizing these factors could reduce the risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis and attain a significant improvement of quality of life in children with quadriplegic CP.

Probability distribution functions for unit hydrographs with optimization using genetic algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ghorbani, Mohammad Ali; Singh, Vijay P.; Sivakumar, Bellie; H. Kashani, Mahsa; Atre, Atul Arvind; Asadi, Hakimeh

2017-05-01

A unit hydrograph (UH) of a watershed may be viewed as the unit pulse response function of a linear system. In recent years, the use of probability distribution functions (pdfs) for determining a UH has received much attention. In this study, a nonlinear optimization model is developed to transmute a UH into a pdf. The potential of six popular pdfs, namely two-parameter gamma, two-parameter Gumbel, two-parameter log-normal, two-parameter normal, three-parameter Pearson distribution, and two-parameter Weibull is tested on data from the Lighvan catchment in Iran. The probability distribution parameters are determined using the nonlinear least squares optimization method in two ways: (1) optimization by programming in Mathematica; and (2) optimization by applying genetic algorithm. The results are compared with those obtained by the traditional linear least squares method. The results show comparable capability and performance of two nonlinear methods. The gamma and Pearson distributions are the most successful models in preserving the rising and recession limbs of the unit hydographs. The log-normal distribution has a high ability in predicting both the peak flow and time to peak of the unit hydrograph. The nonlinear optimization method does not outperform the linear least squares method in determining the UH (especially for excess rainfall of one pulse), but is comparable.

Underdiagnosis of Influenza Virus Infection in Hospitalized Older Adults.

PubMed

Hartman, Lauren; Zhu, Yuwei; Edwards, Kathryn M; Griffin, Marie R; Talbot, H Keipp

2018-03-01

To describe factors associated with provider-ordered influenza testing in hospitalized older adults. Information on participant demographics, symptoms, and provider-ordered influenza testing were collected by questionnaire and chart review. We conducted prospective laboratory-based surveillance using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the criterion standard for diagnosis of influenza, to determine how participant characteristics and provider-ordered testing affected accurate influenza diagnosis. One academic and three community hospitals in Davidson County, Tennessee. Adults aged 18 and older with acute respiratory illness or nonlocalizing fever (N=1,422). We compared characteristics of participants with and without provider-ordered testing for influenza using the Wilcoxon test and Pearson chi-square test. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors predictive of provider-ordered influenza testing. Twenty-eight percent (399/1,422) of participants had provider-ordered influenza testing. Participants who were tested were younger than those not tested (58 ± 18 vs 66 ± 15, p<.001) and more likely to have influenza-like illness (ILI) (71% vs 49%, p<.001). ILI decreased with increasing age (aged 18-49, 63%; aged 50-64, 60%; aged ≥65, 48%). ILI and younger age were independent predictors of provider-ordered testing. Of the 136 participants with influenza confirmed using RT-PCR, ILI was the only significant predictor of provider-ordered testing (adjusted odds ratio=3.43, 95% confidence interval=1.22-9.70). Adults aged 65 and older hospitalized with fever or respiratory symptoms during influenza season are less likely to undergo a provider-ordered influenza test than younger adults. Some, but not all, of this disparity is due to a lower likelihood of ILI. Further strategies are needed to increase clinician awareness and testing in this vulnerable group. © 2018, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2018, The American Geriatrics Society.

Item Performance Across Native Language Groups on the Test of English as a Foreign Language. TOEFL Research Reports, 9.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alderman, Donald L.; Holland, Paul W.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) was examined for instances in which the item performance of examinees with comparable scores differed according to their native languages. A chi-square procedure, sensitive to deviations of less than ten percent from the expected frequencies of correct item responses across several language groups,…

Using Technology-Assisted Instruction and Assessment to Reduce the Effect of Class Size on Student Outcomes in Undergraduate Mathematics Courses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gleason, Jim

2012-01-01

The implementation of online texts, videos, homework, and tests has changed the process of instruction in introductory college mathematics courses. With this change, more of the students' learning takes place outside of the traditional college classroom and in places such as tutoring centers and dorm rooms. A combination of chi-square tests--for…

The Model-Size Effect on Traditional and Modified Tests of Covariance Structures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Herzog, Walter; Boomsma, Anne; Reinecke, Sven

2007-01-01

According to Kenny and McCoach (2003), chi-square tests of structural equation models produce inflated Type I error rates when the degrees of freedom increase. So far, the amount of this bias in large models has not been quantified. In a Monte Carlo study of confirmatory factor models with a range of 48 to 960 degrees of freedom it was found that…

Conservativeness in Rejection of the Null Hypothesis when Using the Continuity Correction in the MH Chi-Square Test in DIF Applications

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paek, Insu

2010-01-01

Conservative bias in rejection of a null hypothesis from using the continuity correction in the Mantel-Haenszel (MH) procedure was examined through simulation in a differential item functioning (DIF) investigation context in which statistical testing uses a prespecified level [alpha] for the decision on an item with respect to DIF. The standard MH…

Treatment needs and impact of oral health screening of athletes with intellectual disability in Belgium.

PubMed

Fernandez, C; Declerck, D; Dedecker, M; Marks, L

2015-12-30

Special Olympics Special Smiles (SOSS) is an initiative created for oral health data collection and education in oral hygiene for athletes with an intellectual disability. The aims of this study were to evaluate treatment needs of participants of Special Olympics in Belgium 2013 in comparison with those from 2008 and to assess the impact of screening and referral within the SOSS in a group of athletes who participated in two consecutive events, 2012 and 2013. Data were collected following a standardized protocol developed by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Oral Health. Oral hygiene habits, treatment urgency and reports of oral pain, gingival signs, sealants, untreated caries, missing and filled teeth were recorded. Data analysis of data from 2013 consisted in descriptive statistics followed by the analysis of the data by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. This data was compared with data from 2008 published by Leroy et al., 2012 using Chi square tests. Data from athletes who participated in both Special Olympics events (2012 and 2013) were compared using Exact McNemar's test and Chi-square test for homogeneity of proportions. The level of significance for all tests was set at a p-value < 0.05. A total of 627 athletes with intellectual disability participated to the SOSS program in 2013, while 132 athletes met the inclusion criteria of being a participant at both SO Belgium 2012 and 2013. The prevalence of gingival signs was 44.3 % in 2013, slightly higher than in 2008 (42.4 %). The burden of untreated decay affected 27.1 % of the population showing a net increase in comparison to 2008 (20.9 %). McNemar's test and Chi-square test revealed that there were no statistically significant differences in the proportions of all compared parameters between 2012 and 2013. Special Olympics results from 2013 indicate a considerable unmet treatment need among Belgian Special Olympics Athletes, persistent from 2008 to 2013. Moreover, SO intervention had no impact in the oral health of athletes who participated in 2012 and 2013 events. Continuous efforts for preventive and restorative oral health care are needed for this population.

Research design and statistical methods in Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences (PJMS).

PubMed

Akhtar, Sohail; Shah, Syed Wadood Ali; Rafiq, M; Khan, Ajmal

2016-01-01

This article compares the study design and statistical methods used in 2005, 2010 and 2015 of Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences (PJMS). Only original articles of PJMS were considered for the analysis. The articles were carefully reviewed for statistical methods and designs, and then recorded accordingly. The frequency of each statistical method and research design was estimated and compared with previous years. A total of 429 articles were evaluated (n=74 in 2005, n=179 in 2010, n=176 in 2015) in which 171 (40%) were cross-sectional and 116 (27%) were prospective study designs. A verity of statistical methods were found in the analysis. The most frequent methods include: descriptive statistics (n=315, 73.4%), chi-square/Fisher's exact tests (n=205, 47.8%) and student t-test (n=186, 43.4%). There was a significant increase in the use of statistical methods over time period: t-test, chi-square/Fisher's exact test, logistic regression, epidemiological statistics, and non-parametric tests. This study shows that a diverse variety of statistical methods have been used in the research articles of PJMS and frequency improved from 2005 to 2015. However, descriptive statistics was the most frequent method of statistical analysis in the published articles while cross-sectional study design was common study design.

Noncentral Chi-Square versus Normal Distributions in Describing the Likelihood Ratio Statistic: The Univariate Case and Its Multivariate Implication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yuan, Ke-Hai

2008-01-01

In the literature of mean and covariance structure analysis, noncentral chi-square distribution is commonly used to describe the behavior of the likelihood ratio (LR) statistic under alternative hypothesis. Due to the inaccessibility of the rather technical literature for the distribution of the LR statistic, it is widely believed that the…

Clinical evaluation of flowable resins in non-carious cervical lesions: two-year results.

PubMed

Celik, Cigdem; Ozgünaltay, Gül; Attar, Nuray

2007-01-01

This study evaluated the two-year clinical performance of one microhybrid composite and three different types of flowable resin materials in non-carious cervical lesions. A total of 252 noncarious cervical lesions were restored in 37 patients (12 male, 25 female) with Admira Flow, Dyract Flow, Filtek Flow and Filtek Z250, according to manufacturers' instructions. All the restorations were placed by one operator, and two other examiners evaluated the restorations clinically within one week after placement and after 6, 12, 18 and 24 months, using modified USPHS criteria. At the end of 24 months, 172 restorations were evaluated in 26 patients, with a recall rate of 68%. Statistical analysis was completed using the Pearson Chi-square and Fisher-Freeman-Halton tests (p < 0.05). Additionally, survival rates were analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier estimator and the Log-Rank test (p < 0.05). The Log-Rank test indicated statistically significant differences between the survival rates of Dyract Flow/Admira Flow and Dyract Flow/Filtek Z250 (p < 0.05). While there was a statistically significant difference between Dyract Flow and the other materials for color match at 12 and 18 months, no significant difference was observed among all of the materials tested at 24 months. Significant differences were revealed between Filtek Z250 and the other materials for marginal adaptation at 18 and 24 months (p < 0.05). With respect to marginal discoloration, secondary caries, surface texture and anatomic form, no significant differences were found between the resin materials (p > 0.05). It was concluded that different types of resin materials demonstrated acceptable clinical performance in non-carious cervical lesions, except for the retention rates of the Dyract Flow restorations.

Anti-adalimumab antibodies in a cohort of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: incidence and clinical correlations.

PubMed

Marino, Achille; Real-Fernández, Feliciana; Rovero, Paolo; Giani, Teresa; Pagnini, Ilaria; Cimaz, Rolando; Simonini, Gabriele

2018-05-01

Adalimumab is a TNF-α blocker antibody similar in structure and function to natural human IgG1. Even if adalimumab is fully humanized, the development of anti-drug antibodies has been reported in several inflammatory conditions. The objective of our study was to assess the presence of anti-adalimumab antibodies (AAA) and their clinical relevance in a cohort of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients on adalimumab. This is a prospective observational cohort study recruiting JIA children. Experiments were performed using a validated surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based optical assay (Biacore® T100). Disease activity was evaluated using the Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score with 10 joint count (JADAS-10). The Mann-Whitney U test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired samples, chi-square, and Fisher exact test were used to compare data. Pearson's and Spearman's correlation tests were used to determine correlation coefficients for entered variables: demographic, clinical, and serological data. Ten (37%) out of 27 patients included in the study had at least one AAA-positive sample. Patients developed AAA between 3 and 38 months after starting adalimumab. Seven (70%) out of 10 children with AAA positivity experienced at least a relapse compared to 4 (23.5%) out of 17 AAA-negative children (r s 0.45, p < 0.017). In conclusion, using an innovative and accurate assay method, we found a high incidence of anti-drug antibodies in a cohort of adalimumab-treated JIA patients observed over a mean period of 40 weeks; the presence of anti-adalimumab antibodies seemed to be related to the number of relapses.

The effectiveness of the COPE healthy lifestyles TEEN program: a school-based intervention in middle school adolescents with 12-month follow-up.

PubMed

Ardic, Aysun; Erdogan, Semra

2017-06-01

The goal of this study is to assess the applicability and long-term effectiveness of the T-COPE Healthy TEEN program on adolescent health. Obesity and mental health disorders are major public health problems in adolescents. In this context, including long-term and multiple behavioural obesity prevention programs are becoming increasingly important. A quasi-experimental design with pre-test/post-test control group and repeated measurements. Eighty-seven (45 in intervention group, 42 in control group) adolescents were included from two different middle schools in the intervention program. The data were analysed by using descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square, Fisher's exact test, Student-t test, repeated measures of variance analysis and Cohen's d effect size. No significant difference was found between the intervention and control groups in terms of descriptive characteristics, behavioural and cognitive variables of the adolescents. Following the intervention, the adolescents in intervention groups showed improvements in nutritional behaviour, physical activity and stress management. These improvements concerned increased physical walking measured in the number of physical steps per week daily fruit and vegetable consumption and the daily quantity of water ingested. While their nutrition/physical activity knowledge significantly increased, their weight and anxiety symptoms significantly decreased. The effect of the program on body mass index, depression and health beliefs of the adolescents were not significant compared with the control group. The applicability of the T-COPE Healthy TEEN program on Turkish adolescents and its effectiveness on their health behaviours, nutrition and physical activity knowledge and stress management were revealed in this study. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Association between bacteria occurring in the apical canal system and expression of bone-resorbing mediators and matrix metalloproteinases in apical periodontitis.

PubMed

Takahama, A; Rôças, I N; Faustino, I S P; Alves, F R F; Azevedo, R S; Gomes, C C; Araújo-Filho, W R; Siqueira, J F

2018-07-01

To evaluate the association between the presence of selected bacterial species/groups in the apical root canal and expression of mediators of soft and bone tissue destruction in apical periodontitis lesions. Relationships between bacteria and some other features of apical periodontitis were also investigated. Seventeen freshly extracted teeth with pulp necrosis and apical periodontitis were included. The apical root segment was sectioned and cryopulverized; DNA was extracted and evaluated for the presence of 9 bacterial species/groups using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Lesions were processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses, which targeted matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and -9 (MMP-9), receptor activator of NFκB (RANK), RANK ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG). Associations of the target bacteria with expression of these mediators, presence of symptoms, lesion size and histopathological diagnosis were evaluated. Data were analysed using the chi-square, Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney and Pearson tests. P values lower than 0.05 were considered significant. All pulverized apical root samples were positive for bacteria. The most prevalent taxa were Actinobacteria (53%), Streptococcus species (35%), Fusobacterium species and Parvimonas micra (18%). The target mediators exhibited a high mean expression in the lesions (MMP-2: 82%; MMP-9: 73%; RANK: 78%; RANKL; 81%; OPG; 83%). Mean RANKL:OPG ratio was significantly higher in granulomas than cysts (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). Actinobacteria were associated with granulomas, higher MMP-2 expression, lower OPG expression, and higher RANKL:OPG ratio (P < 0.05 for all, Fisher's exact test or Mann-Whitney test). No other significant associations were found. Actinobacteria may play an important role in the active phase of soft and bone tissue destruction in apical periodontitis. © 2018 International Endodontic Journal. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Phenylephrine Test Revisited.

PubMed

Barsegian, Arpine; Botwinick, Adam; Reddy, Harsha S

To characterize the phenylephrine test in ptotic patients to help clinicians perform the test more efficiently. Adults with involutional ptosis (n = 24, 30 eyes) were assessed with digital photographs for response to topical 2.5% phenylephrine drop instillation. Patient characteristics (age, gender, iris color, dermatochalasis, brow ptosis, and baseline marginal reflex distance-1 [MRD-1] height) were recorded. From the photographs, change in (MRD-1), presence of conjunctival blanching, pupillary dilation, and Hering effect were recorded at specified time intervals, 1 minute to 1 hour after drop placement. Correlations between patient characteristics and measured outcomes were evaluated using analysis of variance, Pearson coefficient, or chi-square tests. The authors found that 73% of eyes had eyelid elevation with phenylephrine. Of these, 50% reached maximal eyelid elevation by 5 minutes, and 86% by 10 minutes after drop placement, but 14% did not reach maximal MRD-1 until 30 minutes. There is a negative correlation between the maximum MRD-1 and the baseline MRD-1 eyelid height (r = -0.5330, p < 0.01). There is no significant relationship between time to pupillary dilation with either time to max eyelid elevation or max eyelid elevation. No patient characteristic studied affected the likelihood of eyelid response to phenylephrine or presence of Hering effect. Although most ptotic eyelids demonstrate a response to 2.5% phenylephrine within 10 minutes, there is a subset of patients that respond much later. More ptotic eyelids had greater eyelid elevation with phenylephrine. Pupillary dilation and conjunctival blanching are neither predictive of nor temporally associated with eyelid height elevation. The authors did not identify any patient factors (e.g., dermatochalasis, brow ptosis) that can predict the likelihood of response to phenylephrine.

Oxidative status and lipid profile in metabolic syndrome: gender differences.

PubMed

Kaya, Aysem; Uzunhasan, Isil; Baskurt, Murat; Ozkan, Alev; Ataoglu, Esra; Okcun, Baris; Yigit, Zerrin

2010-02-01

Metabolic syndrome is associated with cardiovascular disease and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of novel oxidative stress parameters and lipid profiles in men and women with metabolic syndrome. The study population included 88 patients with metabolic syndrome, consisting of 48 postmenauposal women (group I) and 40 men (group II). Premenauposal women were excluded. Plasma levels of total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidative status (TOS) were determined by using the Erel automated measurement method, and oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. To perform the calculation, the resulting unit of TAS, mmol Trolox equivalent/L, was converted to micromol equivalent/L and the OSI value was calculated as: OSI = [(TOS, micromol/L)/(TAS, mmol Trolox equivalent/L) x 100]. The Student t-test, Mann-Whitney-U test, and chi-squared test were used for statistical analysis; the Pearson correlation coefficient and Spearman rank test were used for correlation analysis. P < or = 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Both women and men had similar properties regarding demographic characteristics and biochemical work up. Group II had significantly lower levels of antioxidant levels of TAS and lower levels of TOS and OSI compared with group I (P = 0.0001, P = 0.0035, and P = 0,0001). Apolipoprotein A (ApoA) levels were significantly higher in group I compared with group II. Our findings indicate that women with metabolic syndrome have a better antioxidant status and higher ApoA levels compared with men. Our findings suggest the existence of a higher oxidative stress index in men with metabolic syndrome. Considering the higher risk of atherosclerosis associated with men, these novel oxidative stress parameters may be valuable in the evaluation of patients with metabolic sydrome.

Evaluation of anxiety, depression and suicidal intent in undergraduate dental students: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Bathla, Manish; Singh, Manpreet; Kulhara, Paramanand; Chandna, Shalu; Aneja, Jitender

2015-01-01

There is an increasing amount of stress in undergraduate dental students leading to anxiety, depression, and suicidal attempts/suicide. This study aims to evaluate anxiety, depression and suicidal intent in undergraduate dental students and to find out the various areas of stress. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire (to assess academic and nonacademic areas of stress) and three scales-Hamilton scale for anxiety (HAM-A); Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) and Beck's Suicide Intent Scale (BSI). Descriptive statistics; Pearson's Chi-square test; Multiple ANOVA; Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test were used to analyze the data at the significant level of P ≤ 0.05. In a total of 258 dental undergraduate students, academic areas of stress that were found to be statistically significant were long teaching hours (P = 0.002); high workload (P ≤ 0.001); frequency of tests (P ≤ 0.001) and competition/fear of failure (P = 0.009). Lack of interest in the profession was a statistically significant nonacademic area for stress (P ≤ 0.001). The students of first and final year reported higher anxiety (HAM-A 13.93 ± 6.908 and 16.44 ± 7.637 respectively) and depression (HDRS 14.29 ± 6.302 and 14.22 ± 5.422); whereas suicidal intent was reported almost the same throughout the study sample (BSI 5.65 ± 5.465). An increasing level of anxiety, depression and suicidal intent due to various stressors in undergraduate dental students indicate a need to modify current education system and timely help to have psychological healthy dental professionals in future.

Impact of a surgical site infection reduction strategy after colorectal resection.

PubMed

Connolly, T M; Foppa, C; Kazi, E; Denoya, P I; Bergamaschi, R

2016-09-01

This study was performed to determine the impact of a surgical site infection (SSI) reduction strategy on SSI rates following colorectal resection. American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data from 2006-14 were utilized and supplemented by institutional review board-approved chart review. The primary end-point was superficial and deep incisional SSI. The inclusion criterion was colorectal resection. The SSI reduction strategy consisted of preoperative (blood glucose, bowel preparation, shower, hair removal), intra-operative (prophylactic antibiotics, antimicrobial incisional drape, wound protector, wound closure technique) and postoperative (wound dressing technique) components. The SSI reduction strategy was prospectively implemented and compared with historical controls (pre-SSI strategy arm). Statistical analysis included Pearson's chi-square test, and Student's t-test performed with spss software. Of 1018 patients, 379 were in the pre-SSI strategy arm, 311 in the SSI strategy arm and 328 were included to test durability. The study arms were comparable for all measured parameters. Preoperative wound class, operation time, resection type and stoma creation did not differ significantly. The SSI strategy arm demonstrated a significant decrease in overall SSI rates (32.19% vs 18.97%) and superficial SSI rates (23.48% vs 8.04%). Deep SSI and organ space rates did not differ. A review of patients testing durability demonstrated continued improvement in overall SSI rates (8.23%). The implementation of an SSI reduction strategy resulted in a 41% decrease in SSI rates following colorectal resection over its initial 3 years, and its durability as demonstrated by continuing improvement was seen over an additional 2 years. Colorectal Disease © 2015 The Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.

Consistency of maternal telephone administration of the asthma control test using postpartum recall compared to repeated measures during pregnancy.

PubMed

Xu, Ronghui; Li, Mofei; Johnson, Diana L; Luo, Yunjun; Chambers, Christina D

2017-05-01

Suboptimal asthma control during pregnancy may impact perinatal outcomes. U.S. guidelines recommend questionnaires to assess asthma control including the Asthma Control Test (ACT). It is unknown in a research setting to what extent recall differs by the time between symptom occurrence and the administration of the questionnaire. Between 2009-2014, 196 pregnant asthmatic women were recruited by the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies. Participants were administered the ACT at enrollment, gestational weeks 20 and 32, and shortly after delivery. The same women were also administered the ACT retrospectively at approximately 6 months postpartum. The Pearson correlation coefficients between the in-pregnancy and retrospective continuous ACT scores for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters were: 0.67 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.74), 0.61 (0.52, 0.70) and 0.65 (0.56, 0.72), respectively. When dichotomized into well-controlled asthma (ACT score ≥ 20) versus otherwise, the chi-square test for all three trimesters resulted in p values <0.0001. Cohen's Kappa statistics for the same dichotomized scores were 0.51, 0.45 and 0.40 for each trimester respectively. There was no evidence that adverse outcome of pregnancy (recall bias) influenced postpartum responses. The retrospectively recalled ACT score obtained postpartum was substantially different compared to in-pregnancy administration of the same questionnaire which could reflect test-retest variability as well as attenuation of recall. Documentation of the magnitude and direction of these differences could be useful in interpretation of the impact of asthma control when the ACT is used in retrospective case-control studies for pregnancy outcomes.

Performance Prediction of Constrained Waveform Design for Adaptive Radar

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-11-01

Kullback - Leibler divergence. χ2 Goodness - of - Fit Test We compute the estimated CDF for both models with 10000 MC trials. For Model 1 we observed a p-value of ...was clearly similar in its physical attributes, but the measures used , ( Kullback - Leibler , Chi-Square Test and the trace of the covariance) showed...models goodness - of - fit we look at three measures (1) χ2- Test (2) Trace of the inverse

Women at Sea: Welcome Aboard.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-03-01

should be familiar with typical military/navy terms, and elementary statistical tests (T-test, Chi Square, and One-Way Analysis of Variance). The ...and the media. One theory is that the gradual internalization or acceptance of values and ideals (which is influenced by the individual’s class, family...completed with a comparison of the two. A similar format is followed for the commanding officer’s data. Three sets of statistical tests were done on the

A Micro-Computer Model for Army Air Defense Training.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-03-01

generator. The period is 32763 numbers generated before a repetitive sequence is encountered on the development system. Chi-Squared tests for frequency...C’ Tests CPeriodicity. The period is 32763 numbers generated C’before a repetitive sequence is encountered on the development system. This was...positions in the test array. This was done with several different random number seeds. In each case 32763 p random numbers were generated before a

Critical Shoulder Angle and Acromial Index Do Not Influence 24-Month Functional Outcome After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair.

PubMed

Lee, Merrill; Chen, Jerry Yongqian; Liow, Ming Han Lincoln; Chong, Hwei Chi; Chang, Paul; Lie, Denny

2017-11-01

Recent studies have shown a correlation between scapular geometry and the development of atraumatic rotator cuff tears. However, a paucity of literature is available on the effects of critical shoulder angle (CSA) and acromial index (AI) on functional outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Hypothesis/Purpose: The purpose was to investigate the influence of CSA and AI on 24-month functional outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. The hypothesis was that a larger CSA or AI would result in poorer postoperative outcomes. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. The study included 147 patients who underwent arthroscopic double-row rotator cuff repair for radiologically documented full-thickness supraspinatus tears. An independent reviewer measured the CSA and AI on preoperative radiographs. These patients were prospectively enrolled and were evaluated preoperatively as well as at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Functional outcome was assessed with the Constant Shoulder Score (CSS), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), and University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Shoulder Rating Scale. The patients were first divided based on CSA: (1) ≤35° (control CSA) and (2) >35° (increased CSA); and then based on AI: (1) ≤0.7 and (2) >0.7. The Student unpaired t test, Pearson chi-square test, and Pearson correlation were performed to examine the influence of CSA and AI on postoperative functional outcome scores. At 6 months of follow-up, the CSS, OSS, and UCLA Shoulder Rating Scale were 10 ± 1, 4 ± 2, and 3 ± 1 points poorer in the increased CSA group compared with the control CSA group ( P = .005, P = .030, and P = .035, respectively). These scores were not significantly different between both AI groups. By 24 months of follow-up, all outcome scores were comparable between both CSA groups as well as between both AI groups. No significant correlation was found between either CSA or AI when compared with CSS, OSS, or UCLA Shoulder Rating Scale at 24 months of follow-up. CSA and AI do not appear to influence 24-month functional outcomes postoperatively and hence are not contraindications to arthroscopic rotator cuff repair.

The Prevalence of Job Stress and its Relationship with Burnout Syndrome among the Academic Members of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences.

PubMed

Nazari, Hedayat; Jariani, Mojgan; Beiranvand, Shorangiz; Saki, Mandana; Aghajeri, Nasrin; Ebrahimzadeh, Farzad

2016-03-01

Burnout syndrome is one of the consequences and the results of occupational or job stress emerged in the form of emotional exhaustion feeling, depersonalization and decrement personal accomplishment. The aim of this study was to determine the occupational stress and its relationship with burnout syndrome in the academic members of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. This descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 111 of the faculty members via multistage sampling. Data were collected by the questionnaire of Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and Osipow Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI- R). Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics as well as analytical statistics such as chi square, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann Whitney tests and Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that the most of the participants had a low level of burnout three dimensions including emotional burnout (72.1%), depersonalization (81.1%), and the decrement of personal accomplishment (56.8%). Moreover 79.3% of samples had a low occupational stress, but there was a meaningful relationship between occupational stress and dimensions of burnout syndrome with an exception for the intensity of decrement of personal accomplishment. Academic members were in an appropriate condition concerning burnout syndrome and occupational stress. However by applying some strategies to decrease stress and determining stress resources, we can improve their psychological health of academic members.

The Prevalence of Job Stress and its Relationship with Burnout Syndrome among the Academic Members of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences

PubMed Central

Nazari, Hedayat; Jariani, Mojgan; Beiranvand, Shorangiz; Saki, Mandana; Aghajeri, Nasrin; Ebrahimzadeh, Farzad

2016-01-01

Introduction: Burnout syndrome is one of the consequences and the results of occupational or job stress emerged in the form of emotional exhaustion feeling, depersonalization and decrement personal accomplishment. The aim of this study was to determine the occupational stress and its relationship with burnout syndrome in the academic members of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted on 111 of the faculty members via multistage sampling. Data were collected by the questionnaire of Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and Osipow Occupational Stress Inventory (OSI- R). Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics as well as analytical statistics such as chi square, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann Whitney tests and Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The results showed that the most of the participants had a low level of burnout three dimensions including emotional burnout (72.1%), depersonalization (81.1%), and the decrement of personal accomplishment (56.8%). Moreover 79.3% of samples had a low occupational stress, but there was a meaningful relationship between occupational stress and dimensions of burnout syndrome with an exception for the intensity of decrement of personal accomplishment. Conclusion: Academic members were in an appropriate condition concerning burnout syndrome and occupational stress. However by applying some strategies to decrease stress and determining stress resources, we can improve their psychological health of academic members. PMID:26989668

Quality of life, symptom distress, and social support among renal transplant recipients in Southern Taiwan: a correlational study.

PubMed

Chen, Wan-Chi; Chen, Ching-Huey; Lee, Po-Chang; Wang, Wen-Ling

2007-12-01

Quality of life is an important indicator for evaluating therapeutic outcomes and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. Few studies have explored the impact of symptom distress and social support on quality of life in this population. A correlational study was designed to examine the influence of symptom distress, social support and demographic characteristics on quality of life in renal transplant recipients. A convenience sample of 113 renal transplant recipients was recruited from a medical center in Southern Taiwan. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. This four-part tool included: Quality of Life Index--Kidney Transplant Version III, Physical Symptom Distress Scale, Social Support Scale, and demographic characteristics. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics (SPSS 10.1 statistical package). Percentage, rank, mean and standard deviation, t-tests, chi-square, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation and multiple regression were computed. Results showed that renal transplant recipients had a moderate quality of life. Social support and symptom distress, age, employment status, and household income significantly explained 28.8% of the variance in quality of life. Findings suggest implications for interventional programming and research aimed toward improving quality of life, including individual and family-based approaches designed to enhance recipients' social support and address effective management of symptoms. Recruiting a transplant clinical nurse specialist to design and implement an intervention program also is recommended.

Occurrence of domestic violence among women and its impact on oral health in Jodhpur City.

PubMed

Pewa, Preksha; Thomas, Susan; Dagli, Rushabh; Solanki, Jitendra; Arora, Geetika; Garla, Bharath

2015-03-01

This study had a two objectives to determine the prevalence of domestic violence and to know the impact of the same on the oral health. An observational cross-sectional study was done in Jodhpur, Rajasthan; among 150 married women of 18 to 60 years of age using a predesigned pretested proforma from 18th January 2014 to 27th February 2014. Pretested semistructured open-ended questionnaire used for collecting the data from the study subjects. Pearson's Chi-square test and p-value were used to calculated the occurrence and impact of domestic violence on oral health among women. The most common form of domestic violence found was physical abuse (54.7%) followed by emotional abuse (20.0%) and financial abuse (14.0%). The most important risk factor was alcoholism followed by literacy status and having a girl child. Study shows that physical abuse is more in graduate than lower level of educational females. Females living in urban area show highest frequency of physical abuse than those living in rural area. Injury to the face were highly reported (38.7%) followed by injury to lip (13.3%) and nose fracture/bleeding nose (9.3%). Government has to take stringent action to prevent domestic violence by making women more self-reliant especially by making women more literate and more financially independent.

Cryopreserved and frozen hyaline cartilage imaged by environmental scanning electron microscope. An experimental and prospective study.

PubMed

Sastre, Sergi; Suso, Santiago; Segur, Josep-Maria; Bori, Guillem; Carbonell, José-Antonio; Agustí, Elba; Nuñez, Montse

2008-08-01

To obtain images of the articular surface of osteochondral grafts (fresh, frozen, and cryopreserved in RPMI) using an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). To evaluate and compare the main morphological aspects of the chondral surface of the fresh, frozen, and cryopreserved grafts as visualized via ESEM. The study was based on osteochondral fragments from the internal condyle of the knee joint of New Zealand rabbits, corresponding to the chondral surface from fresh, frozen, and cryopreserved samples. One hundred ESEM images were obtained from each group and then classified according to a validated system. The kappa index and the corresponding concordance index were calculated, and the groups were compared by Pearson's chi-squared test (p < 0.05). The articular surface of cryopreserved osteochondral grafts had fewer even surfaces and filled lacunae and a higher number of empty lacunae as compared to fresh samples; these differences correspond to images of cell membrane lesions that lead to destruction of the chondrocyte. Frozen grafts showed more hillocky and knobby surfaces than did fresh grafts; they also had a greater number of empty chondrocyte lacunae. ESEM is useful for obtaining images of the surface of osteochondral grafts. When compared to fresh samples, cryopreservation in RPMI medium produces changes in the surface of hyaline cartilage, but to a lesser extent than those produced by freezing.

An Evaluation of ToxCast Angiogenic Disruptors for Effects on ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Angiogenesis is a critical developmental process and a potential target for chemical teratogenesis. Over one-tenth of the Tox21 library of 10,000 compounds have been shown to disrupt mitochondrial function [Attene-Ramos et al., 2015]. Previous studies utilizing ToxCast chemicals have shown a correlation between vascular disruption in Tg(kdrl:EGFP)mitfab692 zebrafish embryos and mitochondrial disruption reported in literature [McCollum et al., submitted]. To more closely examine this correlation, we culled ToxCast data for mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO; NovaScreen) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and biomass (Tox21 and Apredica) for a total of 192 chemicals tested for adverse effects on vascular development in transgenic zebrafish embryos [McCollum et al., submitted; Tal et al., submitted]. This set included 40 compounds that disrupted vascular development in zebrafish embryos (zVDC) and 152 compounds that did not. The zVDC set displayed consistent in vitro bioactivity on mitochondrial membrane potential (with a Pearson Chi-Square value of 16.92, p < 0.0001), but did not have consistent effects on mitochondrial biomass (0.4; p = 0.527) or translocator protein ligand binding (0.05; p = 0.823). The effect on MMP is consistent with the hypothesis that disruption of the mitochondrial respiratory complexes is a potential mode of action of angiogenic disruptors (complex I for pyridaben, fenpyroxymate, tebufenpyrad, and rotenone; complex III for py

Anthropometric Status and Nutritional Intake in Children (6-9 Years) in Valencia (Spain): The ANIVA Study.

PubMed

Morales-Suárez-Varela, María; Rubio-López, Nuria; Ruso, Candelaria; Llopis-Gonzalez, Agustín; Ruiz-Rojo, Elías; Redondo, Maximino; Pico, Yolanda

2015-12-18

The aim of our study was to assess nutritional intake and anthropometric statuses in schoolchildren to subsequently determine nutritional adequacy with Spanish Dietary Reference Intake (DRIs). The ANIVA study, a descriptive cross-sectional study, was conducted in 710 schoolchildren (6-9 years) in 2013-2014 in Valencia (Spain). Children's dietary intake was measured using 3-day food records, completed by parents. Anthropometric measures (weight and height) were measured according to international standards, and BMI-for-age was calculated and converted into z-scores by WHO-Anthro for age and sex. Nutrient adequacy was assessed using DRI based on estimated average requirement (EAR) or adequate intake (AI). Pearson's chi-square and Student's t-test were employed. Of our study group (47.61% boys, 52.39% girls), 53.1% were normoweight and the weight of 46.9% was inadequate; of these, 38.6% had excess body weight (19.6% overweight and 19.0% obesity). We found intakes were lower for biotin, fiber, fluoride, vitamin D (p < 0.016), zinc, iodine, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium and iron (p < 0.017), and higher for lipids, proteins and cholesterol. Our results identify better nutritional adequacy to Spanish recommendations in overweight children. Our findings suggest that nutritional intervention and educational strategies are needed to promote healthy eating in these children and nutritional adequacies.

Awareness and utilization of HIV services of an AIDS community-based organization in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PubMed

Dangerfield, Derek T; Gravitt, Patti; Rompalo, Anne M; Yap, Ivan; Tai, Raymond; Lim, Sin H

2015-01-01

In Malaysia, homosexuality is illegal; little is known about access to HIV prevention services among Malaysian men who have sex with men (MSM). We analysed PT Foundation outreach data to describe the profiles among MSM who accessed PT Foundation services and to examine factors associated with being aware of PT Foundation and having visited the organization. A survey was administered during weekly outreach throughout Kuala Lumpur from March-December 2012. Pearson's Chi square tests were used to compare demographic and behavioural characteristics of participants who were and were not aware of the PT Foundation. Binary logistic regression was used to identify correlates of MSM visiting the PT Foundation among those who had heard of the organization. Of 614 MSM, this study found significantly higher awareness of the PT Foundation among MSM who perceived they had "good" HIV knowledge (p = .026) and participants who reported always using condoms (p = .009). MSM who reported being paid for sex were 2.81 times as likely to visit the PT Foundation compared to men who did not. A subgroup of MSM known to be at high risk for HIV infection is accessing prevention services. Future studies should uncover motivations and barriers of accessing these services among MSM in Malaysia. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Criticisms of chlorination: social determinants of drinking water beliefs and practices among the Tz'utujil Maya.

PubMed

Nagata, Jason M; Valeggia, Claudia R; Smith, Nathaniel W; Barg, Frances K; Guidera, Mamie; Bream, Kent D W

2011-01-01

To explore social determinants of drinking water beliefs and practices among the Tz'utujil Maya of Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, through analysis of demographics, socioeconomic status, memory of historical events, sensory experience, and water attitudes. Parallel mixed (qualitative and quantitative) methods, including participant observation, in-depth interviews based on a purposive sample, and 201 semi-structured interviews based on a regional quota sample, were used to collect data from March 2007 to August 2008. Data analysis included the use of grounded theory methodology and Pearson's chi-square test for independence. Qualitative results based on grounded theory highlighted how memory of the Guatemalan Civil War and Hurricane Stan, attitudes about Lake Atitlán water, and the taste and smell of chlorine influenced Tz'utujil Maya drinking water beliefs. Quantitative survey results revealed that differences in ethnicity, literacy, years of schooling, distrust of the water supply during the Civil War and Hurricane Stan, and current beliefs about Lake Atitlán and tap water quality were associated with significantly different water self-treatment practices. In accordance with social determinants of health paradigms, demographic, socioeconomic, social, cultural, political, and historical factors continue to be significant determinants of water-related health. Public health water interventions must address inequalities related to these underlying factors in order to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Comparison of Doxycycline and Benzathine Penicillin G for the Treatment of Early Syphilis.

PubMed

Xiao, Hailu; Liu, Dianchang; Li, Zhen; Zheng, Rongtao; Li, Zhongwei; Hou, Jianling; Zhang, Shengjia; Chu, Tongsheng; Tian, Hongqing; Zhang, Furen

2017-07-01

Doxycycline is the preferred recommended second-line treatment for the treatment of early syphilis. Recent reports showed a declining efficacy trend of doxycycline in treatment of early syphilis. The aim of our study was to assess the serological response to the treatment for early syphilis with doxycycline compared with benzathine penicillin G and evaluate whether doxycycline is still an effective agent for the treatment of early syphilis. A record-based retrospective study was conducted. Patients were diagnosed with early syphilis in an sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2014. They were treated with a single dose of benzathine penicillin G 2.4MU or oral doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 14 days. Pearson's chi-squared test was used for data analysis. 601 cases were included in the final study sample: 105 (17.5%) patients received a 14-day course of doxycycline (doxycycline group), and 496 (82.5%) patients received single-dose benzathine penicillin G (BPG group). The serological responses at 6 months and 12 months after treatment were compared. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups at 6 months (69.52% vs. 75.00%, P=0.245), and at 12 months (92.38% vs. 96.17%, P=0.115). Doxycycline is still an effective agent for the treatment of early syphilis.

High risk behavior for HIV transmission among former injecting drug users: a survey from Indonesia.

PubMed

Iskandar, Shelly; Basar, Diba; Hidayat, Teddy; Siregar, Ike M P; Pinxten, Lucas; van Crevel, Reinout; Van der Ven, Andre J A M; De Jong, Cor A J

2010-08-10

Injecting drug use is an increasingly important cause of HIV transmission in most countries worldwide, especially in eastern Europe, South America, and east and southeast Asia. Among people actively injecting drugs, provision of clean needles and opioid substitution reduce HIV-transmission. However, former injecting drug users (fIDUs) are often overlooked as a high risk group for HIV transmission. We compared HIV risk behavior among current and former injecting drug users (IDUs) in Indonesia, which has a rapidly growing HIV-epidemic largely driven by injecting drug use. Current and former IDUs were recruited by respondent driven sampling in an urban setting in Java, and interviewed regarding drug use and HIV risk behavior using the European Addiction Severity Index and the Blood Borne Virus Transmission Questionnaire. Drug use and HIV transmission risk behavior were compared between current IDUs and former IDUs, using the Mann-Whitney and Pearson Chi-square test. Ninety-two out of 210 participants (44%) were self reported former IDUs. Risk behavior related to sex, tattooing or piercing was common among current as well as former IDUs, 13% of former IDUs were still exposed to contaminated injecting equipment. HIV-infection was high among former (66%) and current (60%) IDUs. Former IDUs may contribute significantly to the HIV-epidemic in Indonesia, and HIV-prevention should therefore also target this group, addressing sexual and other risk behavior.

Multiple tobacco product use among adults in the United States: cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and snus.

PubMed

Lee, Youn O; Hebert, Christine J; Nonnemaker, James M; Kim, Annice E

2014-05-01

Noncigarette tobacco products are increasingly popular. Researchers need to understand multiple tobacco product use to assess the effects of these products on population health. We estimate national prevalence and examine risk factors for multiple product use. We calculated prevalence estimates of current use patterns involving cigarettes, cigars, electronic cigarettes, hookah, smokeless tobacco, and snus using data from the 2012 RTI National Adult Tobacco Survey (N=3627), a random-digit-dial telephone survey of adults aged 18 and over. Associations between use patterns (exclusive single product and multiple products) and demographic characteristics were examined using Pearson chi-square tests and logistic regression. 32.1% of adults currently use 1 or more tobacco products; 14.9% use cigarettes exclusively, and 6.6% use one noncigarette product exclusively, 6.9% use cigarettes with another product (dual use), 1.3% use two noncigarette products, and 2.4% use three or more products (polytobacco use). Smokers who are young adult, male, never married, reside in the West, and made prior quit attempts were at risk for multiple product use. Over 10% of U.S. adults use multiple tobacco products. A better understanding of multiple product use involving combustible products, like cigars and hookah, is needed. Multiple product use may be associated with past quit attempts. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Role of warm saline mouth rinse in prevention of alveolar osteitis: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Osunde, Otasowie Daniel; Bassey, Godwin Obi

2015-01-01

The present study was aimed at determining the role warm saline rinse in the prevention of alveolar osteitis following dental extractions. Apparently patients aged 16 and above who were referred to the Oral Surgery Clinic of our institution, with an indication for non-surgical extraction of pathologic teeth were prospectively and uniformly randomized into warm saline group and control. The experimental group (n = 80) were instructed to gargle 6 times daily with warm saline and no such instructions were given to the second group (n = 80) to serve as controls. Information on demographic, indications for extraction, and development of alveolar osteitis were obtained and analyzed. Comparative statistics were done using Pearson's chi square or Fisher's exact test as appropriate. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. The demographic and other baseline parameters such as indications for extractions were comparable among the study groups (p > 0.05). The overall prevalence of alveolar osteitis was 13.7%. There was a statistical significant difference between the study groups with respect to development of alveolar osteitis (X2 = 15.00, df = 1, p = 0.001).The risk of development of alveolar osteitis was 4 times higher in the control group (OR = 4.33, P = 0.001). Warm saline mouth rinse instruction is beneficial in the prevention of development of alveolar osteitis after dental extractions.

A Tale of Two Cities: Access to Care and Services Among African-American Transgender Women in Oakland and San Francisco

PubMed Central

Cruz, Taylor M.; Iwamoto, Mariko; Sakata, Maria

2015-01-01

Abstract Purpose: The San Francisco Bay Area attracts people from all over the country due to the perception of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) acceptance and affirmation. African-American transgender women are severely marginalized across society and as such have many unmet health and social service needs. This study sought to quantitatively assess unmet needs among African-American transgender women with a history of sex work by comparing residents of Oakland versus San Francisco. Methods: A total of 235 African-American transgender women were recruited from San Francisco (n=112) and Oakland (n=123) through community outreach and in collaboration with AIDS service organizations. Participants were surveyed regarding basic, health, and social needs and HIV risk behaviors. Pearson Chi-squared tests and a linear regression model examined associations between city of residence and unmet needs. Results: While participants from both cities reported unmet needs, Oakland participants had a greater number of unmet needs in receiving basic assistance, mental health treatment, and health care services. Oakland participants also reported less transgender community identification but higher social support from the family. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the enormity of African-American transgender women's needs within the Bay Area. Greater resources are needed for social service provision targeting this marginalized group of people, particularly in Oakland. PMID:26788672

Differences of Tooth Colorimetric Parameters L*a*b* Depended on Age

PubMed Central

Krasniqi, Teuta Pustina; Lila-Krasniqi, Zana; Ajeti, Nexhmije; Shala, Kujtim; Bicaj, Teuta; Dula, Linda

2017-01-01

AIM: The study aimed to analyse differences in colourimetric parameters L*a*b*, depended on age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study were included 255 subjects with age interval from 20 to 49 years. The subjects were divided into three groups, as follows: in the younger group were 20 to 29 years of age, those in the middle group 30 to 39 years and older group 40 to 49 years. The overall number of analysed teeth in the intercanine sector of the maxilla was 2295. The colour of the teeth was measured using the spectrophotometer VITA Easyshade. RESULTS: The results for differences in the colourimetric parameters in relation with age were tested with Pearson Chi-square (χ2). For χ2 = 572, 87 and df = 124 there was a statistical significant difference between the ages P < 0.001. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was concluded that the parameter L* - Lightness was decreasing when age increased. In the age group, 20 to 29 years L* was 83.2, whereas in the older group of this investigation; 40 to 49 years was 79.4. In the youngest group, the parameter a* was - 0.7, whereas with increasing of age this parameter was -0.5. The values for parameter b* from the youngest to the older group were from 21.7 to 23.9. PMID:29104689

Oral Cancer Knowledge and Awareness in Patients Visiting Kantipur Dental College.

PubMed

Bajracharya, Dipshikha; Gupta, Sujaya; Sapkota, Manish; Bhatta, Shishir

2018-01-01

Lack of knowledge and awareness about oral cancer, its risk factors and negligence of the early warning signs play crucial role in raising the incidence of the disease. The present study was carried out to evaluate the awareness of oral cancer among patients visiting Kantipur Dental College, Kathmandu, Nepal. The cross-sectional study was done in 471 patients from 15-85 years. Self administered questionnaire was prepared which comprised of knowledge of oral cancer, source of information, its early signs and symptoms along with the awareness of its risk factors. Most of the participants (41.80%) had not heard of oral cancer. 31.60% recognized tobacco smoking and tobacco chewing as the chief risk factor with 15.50% and 10.80% of participants who identified white patch and red patch as early sign of oral cancer respectively. Pearson's chi square test was used which showed statistically significant association of total mean knowledge score and awareness score with age, education level and occupation (p<0.05). This study done in dental patients showed lack of knowledge and awareness in general public about oral cancer. There seem to be a need for more planned awareness programs through newspapers, radio, television and health campaigns regarding the association of habits in the development of oral cancer and benefits of detecting oral cancer at early stage for better prognosis.

Complications with the use of Artelon in thumb CMC joint arthritis.

PubMed

Clarke, Sylvan; Hagberg, William; Kaufmann, Robert A; Grand, Aaron; Wollstein, Ronit

2011-09-01

Complications with the use of the Artelon spacer in thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint arthritis include inflammation, osteolysis, and persistent pain. We evaluated our short-term results and complications. A retrospective review of 29 patients was performed. Pre- and postoperative radiographs, operative techniques, complications, and subsequent surgeries were analyzed. Pearson's and chi-squared testing was used to identify associations between complications and surgical technique or preoperative radiographic criteria. The average age was age 51 ± 7.7 (34-66), average follow-up was 8 months (1-26). Twelve patients sustained complications. Nine patients displayed postoperative osteolysis. Four patients underwent conversion to CMC suspensionplasty due to persistent pain. The rate of revision surgery and radiographic postoperative osteolysis were not significantly associated with preoperative arthritis grade, metacarpal subluxation, or surgical techniques: fixation method, the bony surface(s) involved in the osteotomy, or spacer modifications. Our study found a significant short-term complication rate following Artelon spacer arthroplasty of the CMC joint. This is higher than previously described. We could not identify any factors that were significantly associated with the complications. It is possible that the inherent instability of the joint or the material of the spacer is involved in implant failure. Further study is necessary to better define the indications for use and specific techniques for the use of the implant.

Factors influencing the development of early- or late-onset Parkinson's disease in a cohort of South African patients.

PubMed

van der Merwe, Celia; Haylett, William; Harvey, Justin; Lombard, Debbie; Bardien, Soraya; Carr, Jonathan

2012-10-01

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD) contribute significantly to global disease burden. PD can be categorised into early-onset PD (EOPD) with an age at onset (AAO) of ≤50 years and late-onset PD (LOPD) with an AAO of 50 years. To identify factors influencing EOPD and LOPD development in a group of patients in South Africa (SA). A total of 397 unrelated PD patients were recruited from the Movement Disorders Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital and via the Parkinson's Association of SA. Patient demographic and environmental data were recorded and associations with PD onset (EOPD v. LOPD) were analysed with a Pearson's Chi-squared test. The English- and Afrikaans-speaking (Afrikaner) white patients were analysed separately. Logistic regression analysis showed that ethnicity (p<0.001) and family history (p=0.004) were independently associated with AAO of PD. Average AAO was younger in black, coloured and Afrikaner patients than English-speaking white patients. A positive family history of PD, seen in 31.1% of LOPD patients, was associated with a younger AAO in the study population. These associations may be attributed to specific genetic and/or environmental risk factors that increase PD susceptibility and influence the clinical course of the disorder. More studies on PD in the unique SA populations are required to provide novel insights into mechanisms underlying this debilitating condition.

Neurological soft signs in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

PubMed

Patankar, V C; Sangle, J P; Shah, Henal R; Dave, M; Kamath, R M

2012-04-01

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with wide repercussions. Since it is etiologically related to delayed maturation, neurological soft signs (NSS) could be a tool to assess this. Further the correlation of NSS with severity and type of ADHD and presence of Specific Learning Disability (SLD) would give further insight into it. To study neurological soft signs and risk factors (type, mode of delivery, and milestones) in children with ADHD and to correlate NSS with type and severity of ADHD and with co-morbid Specific Learning Disability. The study was carried out in Child care services of a tertiary teaching urban hospital. It was a cross-sectional single interview study. 52 consecutive children diagnosed as having ADHD were assessed for the presence of neurological soft signs using Revised Physical and Neurological Examination soft Signs scale (PANESS). The ADHD was rated by parents using ADHD parent rating scale. The data was analyzed using the chi-squared test and Pearson's co-relational analysis. Neurological soft signs are present in 84% of children. They are equally present in both the inattentive-hyperactive and impulsive-hyperactive types of ADHD. The presence of neurological soft signs in ADHD are independent of the presence of co-morbid SLD. Dysrrhythmias and overflow with gait were typically seen for impulsive-hyperactive type and higher severity of ADHD is related to more errors.

Comparison of knowledge, attitude and practices of betelnut users in two socio-economic areas of Karachi.

PubMed

Khan, Muhammad Shahzeb; Bawany, Faizan Imran; Shah, Syed Raza; Hussain, Mehwish; Arshad, Mohammad Hussham; Nisar, Nighat

2013-10-01

To gain an insight on the knowledge, attitude and practices of those who chew betel nut in two different socioeconomic regions of Karachi. The cross-sectional study was conducted in Saddar and Defence areas of Karachi over a five-week period in March-April 2012. Individual interviews following verbal consent were conducted using a pre-coded questionnaire, which was divided into 3 sections to analyse the knowledge, attitude and practices of the chewers. The data was entered and analysed using SPSS v. 16.0. Pearson's chi-square was used as the primary statistical test. A total of 370 subjects, 185 (50%) from each area, comprised the study. Majority of the chewers in Defence had higher educational qualification and income. Most of the participants in both areas acknowledged that betel nut chewing can potentially result in mouth (n = 274; 74.1%) and throat cancers (n = 267; 72.2%). A large part of the sample (n = 299; 80.8%) conceded that betel nut chewing is a bad habit, and almost half the sample was addicted to it (n = 194; 52.4%). Awareness regarding the detrimental effects of betel nut was satisfactory amongst the subjects, but the population was not willing to quit the habit. We recommend a two-pronged approach, offering widespread educational and awareness campaigns to prevent increased consumption of betel nuts, and professional counselling services for those already addicted.

Low maternal education and socio-economic status were associated with household food insecurity in children under five with diarrhoea in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Chowdhury, Mohammad Rocky Khan; Khan, M M H; Rafiqul Islam, Md; Perera, Nirmala K P; Shumack, Matthew K; Kader, Manzur

2016-05-01

Household food insecurity (HFI) is insufficient access to nutritionally safe and adequate foods to meet the dietary needs for an active and healthy life. We examined the prevalence and determinants of HFI in Bangladeshi children under five with diarrhoea. This study included 365 children (55% boys) who had diarrhoea in the two weeks before the 2011 Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS-2011). The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess HFI and Pearson's chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to investigate the association between HFI and multilevel factors. The prevalence of HFI among children under five with diarrhoea in the two weeks prior to the BDHS-2011 survey was 48%. HFI was significantly higher among the children of uneducated mothers, who were two times more likely to experience HFI, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.14 and children who were from the lowest socio-economic status families, who were more than seven times more likely to experience HFI, with an adjusted OR of 7.55. Low maternal education and low socio-economic status were significantly associated with HFI in Bangladeshi children under five with diarrhoea and public health campaigns should take this into account. ©2015 Foundation Acta Paediatrica. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Investigation of marital satisfaction and its relationship with job stress and general health of nurses in Qazvin, Iran

PubMed Central

Azimian, Jalil; Piran, Pegah; Jahanihashemi, Hassan; Dehghankar, Leila

2017-01-01

Background Pressures in nursing can affect family life and marital problems, disrupt common social problems, increase work-family conflicts and endanger people’s general health. Aim To determine marital satisfaction and its relationship with job stress and general health of nurses. Methods This descriptive and cross-sectional study was done in 2015 in medical educational centers of Qazvin by using an ENRICH marital satisfaction scale and General Health and Job Stress questionnaires completed by 123 nurses. Analysis was done by SPSS version 19 using descriptive and analytical statistics (Pearson correlation, t-test, ANOVA, Chi-square, regression line, multiple regression analysis). Results The findings showed that 64.4% of nurses had marital satisfaction. There was significant relationship between age (p=0.03), job experience (p=0.01), age of spouse (p=0.01) and marital satisfaction. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between marital satisfaction and general health (p<0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between depression (p=0.012) and anxiety (p=0.001) with marital satisfaction. Conclusions Due to high levels of job stress and disorder in general health of nurses and low marital satisfaction by running health promotion programs and paying attention to its dimensions can help work and family health of nurses. PMID:28607660

Bone mass in physicians: a Howard University Hospital pilot study.

PubMed

Reyes, May O; Archer, Juanita A; Nunlee-Bland, Gail; Daniel, Gilbert; Morgan, Odette A; Makambi, Kepher

2004-03-01

This observational cross-sectional study was done to determine bone mass in physicians and to determine if variables, such as calcium intake and exercise, were related to their bone mass. One-hundred physicians of different ethnicities (African, African American, Asian, Caribbean, and Hispanic) were studied. Using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), bone mass (BMD) of the lumbar spine and hips was measured. A validated questionnaire was used to determine the daily calcium intake and exercise. Student t-test, logistic regression, and Pearson chi-square were used to analyze the data. The study population consisted of 52% men and 48% women, with a mean age of 42 years old and a body mass index of 18.5 to 39.9 kg/m2. Low BMD occurred in 68% of the physicians (osteoporosis in 12%, osteopenia in 56%). Low calcium intake was found in 71%-14% of whom had osteoporosis and 49% osteopenia. Two-thirds of the physicians had inadequate exercise; 57% of this group had decreased BMD (osteoporosis in 9%, osteopenia in 38%). There was no statistical significance between BMD and calcium intake or exercise. A high percentage of the physicians in this unique study had a reduced BMD. Most of the physicians with low BMD were less than 45 years of age. This study indicates the need to define BMD in a larger cohort of young, ethnically diverse clinicians, and other health workers.

Effects of T'ai Chi on Serotonin, Nicotine Dependency, Depression, and Anger in Hospitalized Alcohol-Dependent Patients.

PubMed

Oh, Chung-Uk; Kim, Nam-Cho

2016-12-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of t'ai chi on blood serotonin levels, nicotine dependence, depression, and anger in hospitalized alcohol-dependent patients. This study followed an experimental and nonequivalent control group in a non-synchronized design. It was performed in a hospital located in Young Ju city, Korea, from April to August 2013. Thirty-eight patients who were hospitalized with alcohol dependence were included. They were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group, with 19 patients in each group. Patients in the experimental group practiced the 24-posture yang style t'ai chi for 50 min three times per week for 8 weeks as part of the routine hospital rehabilitation program, and those in the control group followed only the routine hospital rehabilitation program. The effect of treatment was measured using blood serotonin levels and a questionnaire on nicotine dependence, depression, and anger. Both measurements were performed before and after 8 weeks of intervention. Data were analyzed using the t-test, chi-square test, and paired t-tests. The experimental group showed a significantly increased blood serotonin level (p = 0.001) and significantly reduced nicotine dependence, depression, and anger (p = 0.001) than the control group did after 8 weeks of treatment. T'ai chi was shown to be an effective nursing intervention in hospitalized alcohol-dependent patients.

Evaluation of the VIDAS Listeria (LIS) immunoassay for the detection of Listeria in foods using demi-Fraser and Fraser enrichment broths, as modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06 (AOAC Official Method 2004.06).

PubMed

Silbernagel, Karen M; Jechorek, Robert P; Kaufer, Amanda L; Johnson, Ronald L; Aleo, V; Brown, B; Buen, M; Buresh, J; Carson, M; Franklin, J; Ham, P; Humes, L; Husby, G; Hutchins, J; Jechorek, R; Jenkins, J; Kaufer, A; Kexel, N; Kora, L; Lam, L; Lau, D; Leighton, S; Loftis, M; Luc, S; Martin, J; Nacar, I; Nogle, J; Park, J; Schultz, A; Seymore, D; Smith, C; Smith, J; Thou, P; Ulmer, M; Voss, R; Weaver, V

2005-01-01

A multilaboratory study was conducted to compare the VIDAS LIS immunoassay with the standard cultural methods for the detection of Listeria in foods using an enrichment modification of AOAC Official Method 999.06. The modified enrichment protocol was implemented to harmonize the VIDAS LIS assay with the VIDAS LMO2 assay. Five food types--brie cheese, vanilla ice cream, frozen green beans, frozen raw tilapia fish, and cooked roast beef--at 3 inoculation levels, were analyzed by each method. A total of 15 laboratories representing government and industry participated. In this study, 1206 test portions were tested, of which 1170 were used in the statistical analysis. There were 433 positive by the VIDAS LIS assay and 396 positive by the standard culture methods. A Chi-square analysis of each of the 5 food types, at the 3 inoculation levels tested, was performed. The resulting average Chi square analysis, 0.42, indicated that, overall, there are no statistical differences between the VIDAS LIS assay and the standard methods at the 5% level of significance.

Rural-Urban Disparities in Child Abuse Management Resources in the Emergency Department

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Choo, Esther K.; Spiro, David M.; Lowe, Robert A.; Newgard, Craig D.; Hall, Michael Kennedy; McConnell, Kenneth John

2010-01-01

Purpose: To characterize differences in child abuse management resources between urban and rural emergency departments (EDs). Methods: We surveyed ED directors and nurse managers at hospitals in Oregon to gain information about available abuse-related resources. Chi-square analysis was used to test differences between urban and rural EDs.…

A Comparison of Drug Use between Prostitutes and Other Female Arrestees.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yacoubian, George S., Jr.; Urbach, Blake J.; Larsen, Kristine L.; Johnson, Regina J.; Peters, Ronald J., Jr.

2000-01-01

In this study, drug use data were collected from 3,587 female arrestees surveyed through Houston's Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Program. Chi-square statistics indicated females arrested for prostitution were significantly more likely to test positive for cocaine than the non-prostitutes. Implications for drug treatment and public health…

A General Family of Limited Information Goodness-of-Fit Statistics for Multinomial Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joe, Harry; Maydeu-Olivares, Alberto

2010-01-01

Maydeu-Olivares and Joe (J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 100:1009-1020, "2005"; Psychometrika 71:713-732, "2006") introduced classes of chi-square tests for (sparse) multidimensional multinomial data based on low-order marginal proportions. Our extension provides general conditions under which quadratic forms in linear functions of cell residuals are…

Incentives and barriers to physical activity for working women.

PubMed

Jaffee, L; Lutter, J M; Rex, J; Hawkes, C; Bucaccio, P

1999-01-01

A questionnaire was completed by 393 working women to examine incentives and barriers to physical activity based on the stages of change from the transtheoretical model. Using Chi Square tests, differences were found across the five stages suggesting that work site programs be designed and tailored for women at different stages of readiness.

An Examination of Construct Validity for the EARLI Numeracy Skill Measures

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cheng, Weiyi; Lei, Pui-Wa; DiPerna, James C.

2017-01-01

The purpose of the current study was to examine dimensionality and concurrent validity evidence of the EARLI numeracy measures (DiPerna, Morgan, & Lei, 2007), which were developed to assess key skills such as number identification, counting, and basic arithmetic. Two methods (NOHARM with approximate chi-square test and DIMTEST with DETECT…

Promoting College Students' Problem Understanding Using Schema-Emphasizing Worked Examples

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yan, Jie; Lavigne, Nancy C.

2014-01-01

Statistics learners often bypass the critical step of understanding a problem before executing solutions. Worked-out examples that identify problem information (e.g., data type, number of groups, purpose of analysis) key to determining a solution (e.g., "t" test, chi-square, correlation) can address this concern. The authors examined the…

Latino High School Students' Perceptions of Caring: Keys to Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garza, Rubén; Soto Huerta, Mary Esther

2014-01-01

This mixed methods investigation specifically examined Latino high school adolescents' perceptions of teacher behaviors that demonstrate caring. A chi-square test was conducted to analyze the frequency of responses, and focus group interviews were conducted to expand on the results. The data indicated that although Latino male students were as…