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PubMed2001

Patterns of consistency and deviation in therapists' countertransference feelings.

The author addressed the question of consistency in psychotherapists' countertransference feelings. Research findings have indicated that the therapist's own personal feeling style may be more important than the patient's impact on the therapist's feelings. In this study, the feelings of 9 psychotherapists toward 28 patients were followed by using checklist self-report after each session during moderately long psychotherapies. ANOVAs and discriminant analyses showed that the therapists were very consistent in their feeling style over different patients and over time. The consistency in feelings toward the individual patients was smaller. Deviations from consistency are analyzed, and their importance for the understanding of different aspects of the countertransference is discussed. It is suggested that a meaningful use of the countertransference concept ought to be based on systematic identifications of recurrent and deviant patterns in the therapist's reactions.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Evaluation of consistency between local and imported seafood allergen extracts.

BACKGROUND: Seafood is a common cause of food allergy in Thai adults and children. Skin prick test is a safe and convenient way to screen seafood allergy. To date, the Allergy Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University uses imported extracts for seafood skin prick test. The extracts are expensive and may not be the same species as seafood in Thailand. OBJECTIVES: To compare the consistency between local seafood allergen extracts prepared by the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University and imported seafood allergen extracts. METHODS: The study was a prospective comparative trial performed in children who attended the Pediatric Allergy Clinic, Siriraj Hospital from March 1999 to October 2000. The skin prick test was performed with the local seafood allergen extracts prepared by a pharmacist from the Department of Pharmacology and the imported seafood allergen extracts included shrimp, fish and crab. Histamine and normal saline were used as positive and negative control respectively. The positive result was recorded when wheal reaction was > or = 3 mm larger than negative control. RESULTS: Eighty eight patients (57 boys and 31 girls) were included in this study. The average age was 7.7 years (1-15 years). Half of the patients had a history of seafood allergy. The study showed probable consistency between imported and local skin prick test of shrimp and crab extracts (kappa = 5-7) but no consistency between imported and local skin prick test of fish extracts (kappa < 5). The study also showed no consistency between history of seafood and skin prick test result. CONCLUSION: Local seafood allergen extracts from the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University are safe but they cannot replace the imported seafood allergen extracts. Further investigations about sensitivity and specificity of both kinds of allergen extracts are necessary.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Effects of carbohydrate meals of varying consistency on gastric myoelectrical activity.

BACKGROUND: There is at present no agreement on the type of test meal to be used when performing EGG. To our knowledge the response of the stomach to high carbohydrate isocaloric meals of different consistencies has not been formally assessed. AIM: To study 1) the effects of high carbohydrate meals of varying consistency on EGG activity; and 2) the effects of increasing the calorie content of a meal without changing its consistency and composition on the postprandial EGG. SUBJECTS: Eighteen healthy volunteers, six males (age: 21-35 year, weight: 45-60 kg) and 12 females in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (age: 24-30 years, weight: 45-55 kg). METHODS: Following an overnight fast subjects were given three high carbohydrate, low fat, isocaloric meals (165-170 kcal) of different consistencies (solid, semisolid, liquid), on three separate days in a random order. The liquid and semisolid meals were equal in volume (200 ml) while the volume of the solid meal was smaller. One hour EGG recordings were done in the fasting and fed states in each subject. As a second step, ten of the above volunteers (taken randomly) were given the solid test meal on a separate day after increasing the calorie content of the meal to 350 kcal. RESULTS: The power of the EGG at the dominant frequency significantly increased after solid (175 kcal meal: fasting 49 +/- 12 dB vs. fed 57 +/- 13 dB; p < 0.05, 375 kcal meal: fasting 48.5 +/- 12.9 dB vs fed 58.1 +/- 11.7 dB) and semisolid (fasting 50 +/- 12 dB vs. fed 55 +/- 13; P < 0.05). The increase in power was not significantly different when fed with solids and semisolids. There was no statistically significant change in EGG power during the first 15 or 60 minutes after the liquid meal. Feeding showed no significant effect on the dominant frequency and the percentage of 2-4 cpm waves of the EGG with any of the three types of test meals. CONCLUSIONS: Solid and semisolid meals high in carbohydrate and low in fat are capable of inducing a significant increase in the EGG power in normal subjects. Isocaloric solid and semisolid meals have similar effects on gastric slow wave activity. EGG appears unaffected by the liquid meal. Therefore only an increase in the power of the EGG can be regarded as normal if a high carbohydrate solid or a semisolid meal is given as the test meal when performing an EGG.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Effects of fermentation on product consistency.

A variety of different fermentation processes has been successfully employed to produce consistent protein-based biopharmaceuticals from genetically engineered animal cells. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were genetically modified to produce recombinant human soluble CD4, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or erythropoietin (EPO). Soluble CD4 was collected from extended perfused fermentations of several months' duration, during which some quantitative loss of DNA copy level, mRNA expression level, and fermentation titer were observed. In one extended run, a novel contaminant appeared in intermediates purified from later harvests. However, in all cases, the final soluble CD4 product was consistent in terms of purity and potency. Evaluation of genetic stability for tPA examined both biological traits at the cellular level as well as potency, purity and structure of product derived from cells at various levels of in vitro age; no significant cell age effects were observed. Similarly, evaluation of the EPO product showed that genetically-determined and process-determined traits such as potency, tryptic peptide mapping, and sialylation were consistent from lot to lot. These data exemplified how process design, process validation, and in-process and quality control assays can be used effectively to ensure the consistency of recombinant products derived from cell culture fermentations.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Reliability, internal consistency, and validity of data obtained with the functional gait assessment.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) is a 10-item gait assessment based on the Dynamic Gait Index. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability, internal consistency, and validity of data obtained with the FGA when used with people with vestibular disorders. SUBJECTS: Seven physical therapists from various practice settings, 3 physical therapist students, and 6 patients with vestibular disorders volunteered to participate. METHODS: All raters were given 10 minutes to review the instructions, the test items, and the grading criteria for the FGA. The 10 raters concurrently rated the performance of the 6 patients on the FGA. Patients completed the FGA twice, with an hour's rest between sessions. Reliability of total FGA scores was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (2,1). Internal consistency of the FGA was assessed using the Cronbach alpha and confirmatory factor analysis. Concurrent validity was assessed using the correlation of the FGA scores with balance and gait measurements. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients of.86 and.74 were found for interrater and intrarater reliability of the total FGA scores. Internal consistency of the FGA scores was.79. Spearman rank order correlation coefficients of the FGA scores with balance measurements ranged from.11 to.67. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The FGA demonstrates what we believe is acceptable reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity with other balance measures used for patients with vestibular disorders.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Consistent contrast and correlation in free sorting.

Two experiments investigated free sorting, a type of unsupervised learning, with multiattribute drawings of alien animals. In previous research on concept formation, with simpler stimulus structure than ours, participants were insensitive to correlational structure in the stimuli, producing primarily "ID sorts," based on the values ofjust 1 dimension or attribute. Our experiments showed that participants used many strategies in categorizing but preferred to generate groupings that reflected the correlations in input when this did not violate consistent contrast. The second experiment used hierarchically structured stimuli to show that participants' sort strategies favor consistency within a set of contrasting categories, distinct from any preference for 1D sorting. Finally, both experiments show that correlational sorts are much more likely when the correlation-based sort contrasts consistently. Our data show complexity at work in free sort tasks: People are sensitive to multiple and sometimes conflicting biases for consistency and correlational structure in the category systems they create.

Humans↗

PubMed2006

Accuracy and consistency of radiographic interpretation among clinical instructors in conjunction with a training program.

There are inaccuracies and inconsistencies of radiographic interpretation among clinical instructors. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if a training program could improve the accuracy and consistency of instructors' ratings of bone loss. A total of thirty-five clinical instructors consisting of periodontal faculty (periodontists and general dentists), dental hygiene faculty, and periodontal graduate students viewed projected digitized radiographic images and quantified bone loss for twenty-five teeth into four descriptive categories. Ratings of bone loss were made immediately before (pretest) and after (post-test 1) initiation of the training program and then again three months later (post-test 2). Ratings were compared to the correct choice categories as determined by direct measurement using the Schei ruler. Overall agreement with the correct choice improved over time (from 64.5 percent to 85.2 percent) with the greatest change from pretest (64.5 percent) to post-test 1 (76.5 percent). Mean and absolute differences improved in three of the four categories, but worsened in one from pretest to post-test 1. This category returned to its original high value at post-test 2. The greatest improvement in consistency among instructors' ratings was seen in one of the four categories, which was "none" (no bone loss). Extension of the training program may further enhance the accuracy and consistency of instructors' radiographic interpretation.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

A comparison of intra- and interjudge decision consistencies using analytic and holistic scoring criteria.

This study explored the effect of scoring criteria on the decision consistency of judges. Intra- and interjudge consistencies were compared when two different scoring criteria were used by the same judges. Analytic criteria included detailed assessments of a student's performance, while holistic criteria included only a subjective global assessment. Data from 18 judges and 9 histotechnology practical examinations were analyzed. Lack of intrajudge decision consistency was observed when the same practical examinations were assessed using analytic and holistic criteria. Interjudge decision consistency also varied when the different scoring criteria were used. More practical examinations were judged as passing when analytic scoring criteria were used. This particular analysis did not support a definitive conclusion concerning the value of holistic and analytic criteria.

Allied Health Personnel↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Status consistency and nurses' expectations and perceptions of role performance.

To determine if behavior of individuals at various levels within a profession may be predicted, relationship between expectations and perceptions of role performance among nurses and status consistency and status inconsistency was investigated. Two variables were selected as the best predictors in regression analysis of the scores for expectations and perceptions: type of basic nursing program from which a subject graduated and type of status consistency of the subject. Of the three variables--education, position, and income--education was the most important for determining status consistency. This study supported the conclusion that a significant relationship exists between expectations and perceptions of role behavior and status consistency.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Consistency of responses to repeated DDAVP infusions in patients with von Willebrand's disease and hemophilia A.

The consistency in time of responses to separate desmopressin (DDAVP) infusions in patients with von Willebrand's disease (vWD) and mild or moderate hemophilia A has been the subject of limited investigation. We report here the results of a clinical study undertaken to test the consistency of responses to repeated DDAVP administrations in 22 patients with vWD and 10 with mild or moderate hemophilia A (time interval between first and last infusion ranging from 1 to 77 months; median, 13 months). In patients with vWD, 80% of cases showed a departure of less than 20% from the average VIII:C peak level calculated after the two infusions. A similarly consistent pattern was observed for bleeding times recorded 30 minutes after each infusion. In patients with hemophilia A, some infused on more than two instances, the departure from the average VIII:C peak level was less than 20% in nearly 70% of cases. A good within-family consistency was also demonstrated by analyzing data obtained from seven kindreds with vWD and two with hemophilia A. In conclusion, our study suggests that the pattern of responsiveness observed after a DDAVP test-infusion can be reliably used to decide the future clinical management of the individual patient and that a similar pattern of response is usually observed within the same kindred.

Deamino Arginine Vasopressin↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Proficiency testing in cytology laboratories in Ontario, Canada: a decade of experience. III. A precision study of consistency and reproducibility in cytology reporting.

The Ontario Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program's testing model and the results of early surveys of cytology laboratories have been previously described. To test consistency and accuracy, the same slides from one survey were recirculated to the same laboratory in the next survey. There was no statistical difference in either the accuracy or consistency in reporting by the various categories of personnel. Analysis of the data by category of diagnosis showed the reporting of "no abnormal cells" and "benign atypia" to be slightly more accurate and "moderate dysplasia" and "severe dysplasia" to be slightly less accurate than the reporting in other categories. Consistency in reporting appeared to be slightly less accurate in severe dysplasia than in the other categories. The analysis, which includes the results from all licensed cytology laboratories in Ontario, provides evidence that, in the reporting of cervical cytologic material, it is feasible to differentiate among the various categories within the spectrum of squamous epithelial abnormalities with a general level of accuracy and consistency that, although satisfactory, is not yet ideal.

Cytological Techniques↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Improving consistency in student evaluation at affiliated family practice centers.

The Department of Family Medicine at Jefferson Medical College has since 1974 been successful in administering a required third-year family medicine clerkship, providing students with a structured, didactic, and experiential curriculum in six affiliated family practice centers. Prior analysis (1976-1981) had indicated, however, that variation existed in evaluating similar students, depending on the clerkship training site, i.e., three sites graded students in a significantly different fashion than the three other sites. Utilizing these data to focus on the evaluation process, a comprehensive and specific six-point plan was developed to improve consistency in evaluations at the different training sites. This plan consisted of a yearly meeting of affiliate faculty, assigning predoctoral training administrative responsibility to one faculty member at each training site, increased telephone communication, affiliate-faculty attendance at the university site evaluation session, faculty rotation to spend time at other training sites, and financial reimbursement to the affiliate training sites. After intervention, analysis (1981-1983) indicated that five of the six clerkship sites now grade students in a consistent fashion, with only one affiliate using different grading standards. The intervention was therefore judged to be successful for five of the six training sites, allowing for better communication and more critical and consistent evaluation of medical students.

Clinical Clerkship↗

PubMed1987

Tissue compliance meter for objective, quantitative documentation of soft tissue consistency and pathology.

A new instrument is described, the tissue compliance meter (TCM), for quantitative and objective recording of soft tissue consistency. This quality is appreciated at present only by the subjective method of palpation. Use of the TCM therefore offers a method to quantify palpation of tissue consistency and to document findings objectively. The handheld instrument allows immediate and simple reading of the depth of penetration of a rubber disc at a known pressure. The relation between the achieved penetration and employed pressure expresses the compliance. The TCM consists of a rubber disc with the surface of 1 cm2 attached to a force gauge. The depth of penetration of the rubber tip is indicated by a disc which slides on the shaft of the force gauge. Normal values were established for men and women over muscles which are frequently affected by spasm. Tissue compliance measurement can document changes in soft tissue consistency which occur in muscle spasm, spasticity, swelling, tumors, lumps, hematomas, etc. Use of the TCM provides the most sensitive and earliest objective indication of either healing and resolution in soft tissue pathology or occurrence of complications. Changes in muscle tone such as reduction of spasm, tension, or spasticity can be recorded. The effects of different types of physical therapy can thus be documented objectively.

Connective Tissue↗

PubMed1982

The effect of dietary consistency on morphology of the mandibular condylar cartilage in young macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Two groups of young male macaques were fed diets which differed in physical consistency. The first group was fed a soft diet and the second group was fed a hard diet. The effect of this difference in dietary consistency on the thickness and morphology of the mandibular condylar cartilage in the superior and posterosuperior regions of the two groups was examined. Slight morphologic changes were observed in the superior region of the condylar cartilage and in the subchondral bone of the soft diet macaques. However, the thickness of the cartilage in the superior region was similar in the two groups. Significant morphologic changes were observed in the posterosuperior region in all three layers of the condylar cartilage and in the subchondral bone of the soft diet macaques. The cartilage in the posterosuperior region of the soft diet group was significantly thinner, and the subchondral bone less dense, than in the hard diet group. The results of this study showed that dietary consistency significantly affects the morphology of mandibular condylar cartilage in young macaques. It is recommended that dietary consistency be eliminated as an additional variable in future studies of mandibular and condylar responses to experimental manipulations.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Consistency and stability of recombinant fermentations.

Production of proteins of consistent quality in heterologous, genetically-engineered expression systems is dependent upon identifying the manufacturing process parameters which have an impact on product structure, function, or purity, validating acceptable ranges for these variables, and performing the manufacturing process as specified. One of the factors which may affect product consistency is genetic instability of the primary product sequence, as well as instability of genes which code for proteins responsible for post-translational modification of the product. Approaches have been developed for mammalian expression systems to assure that product quality is not changing through mechanisms of genetic instability. Sensitive protein analytical methods, particularly peptide mapping, are used to evaluate product structure directly, and are more sensitive in detecting genetic instability than is direct genetic analysis by nucleotide sequencing of the recombinant gene or mRNA. These methods are being employed to demonstrate that the manufacturing process consistently yields a product of defined structure from cells cultured through the range of cell ages used in the manufacturing process and well beyond the maximum cell age defined for the process. The combination of well designed validation studies which demonstrate consistent product quality as a function of cell age, and rigorous quality control of every product lot by sensitive protein analytical methods provide the necessary assurance that product structure is not being altered through mechanisms of mutation and selection.

Biotechnology↗

PubMed1993

[Effects of a combination therapy consisting of arbekacin and ampicillin of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus].

Investigations were made on effects of a combination therapy consisting of arbekacin (ABK) and ampicillin (ABPC) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The following conclusions were drawn. 1. A frequency of FIC index to be < or = 0.5 upon a combination therapy consisting of ABK and ABPC against MRSA was 48.7%, hence this therapy showed better antibacterial effects than the other 8 combination therapies consisting of ABK and other antibiotics previously studied. 2. A combination therapy consisting of ABK and ABPC against MRSA was better than any other combination therapy because ABPC had a higher binding affinity with penicillin-binding protein 3 of MRSA, and because a high antibacterial activity of ABPC was maintained during the combination therapy. ABPC did not lose antibacterial activity largely because MRSA dose not produce beta-lactamase, or most of MRSA produces little beta-lactamase activity. 3. Our data indicate that the success of a combination therapy against MRSA depends upon the effects of the drug under sub MIC concentrations.

Aminoglycosides↗

PubMed1998

Quality of life in osteoporosis: reliability, consistency, and validity of the Osteoporosis Assessment Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability, consistency, and clinical utility of the Osteoporosis Assessment Questionnaire (OPAQ), an AIMS2 based self-assessment questionnaire. METHODS: Reliability of individual questions, scales, and domains were evaluated in 40 subjects by test-retest and intraclass correlation coefficients and internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was evaluated by disease state. The relationships between domains and scales were modeled by confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: Mean kappa (79 questions) and intraclass correlation (18 health scales) coefficients were 0.58+/-0.16 (mean+/-SD) and 0.82+/-0.07, respectively. Internal consistency was greater than 0.8 in all but 3 scales. Construct validity was confirmed. Patients with hip fracture recorded lower OPAQ scores than patients with vertebral fracture. Correlation and confirmatory factor analyses grouped the 18 health scales into 7 domains. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that OPAQ is a reliable, consistent, and valid instrument capable of distinguishing hierarchy of functional loss in disease states in osteoporosis.

Aged↗

PubMed1998

Irritable bowel syndrome: which definitions are consistent?

OBJECTIVES: Irritable bowel syndrome is inconsistently defined in international literature. Consequently, the resulting differences in study populations may impede any general application of results from one study to another. The aim of this study was to evaluate the consistency of various definitions of irritable bowel syndrome. DESIGN: By means of a questionnaire concerning abdominal symptoms, subjects were categorized as having IBS according to five definitions: (1) two positive Manning criteria; (2) the Rome criteria; (3) a consensus report by Drossman; (4) definition by Talley; and (5) a newly suggested definition by Kay. SETTING: The study was carried out as part of a cohort study of 4122 Danes at the Centre of Preventive Medicine (former the Glostrup Population Studies), Glostrup County Hospital, Denmark. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Kappa coefficients comparing the irritable bowel populations as defined by the above five definitions. RESULTS: The participation rate was 64.4%. Manning and Rome criteria of irritable bowel syndrome were consistent with a Kappa value of 0.72. A substantial degree of consistency was also present comparing definitions of Drossman, Talley and Kay (kappa, 0.60-0.62). All other comparisons had kappa values below 0.42. CONCLUSION: Variations in study populations selected by different definitions of irritable bowel syndrome are so large that they impede the general application of any results. There is a need for international agreement on consistent use of one definition of irritable bowel syndrome.

Cohort Studies↗