PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “interpretive description”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Second opinion pathology in liver biopsy interpretation.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical management of liver diseases is often based on the interpretation of the pathologist examining liver biopsies. Many pathologists have little formal training and experience with these tissues. The magnitude of this problem is not determined yet. The goal of this study was to determine the diagnostic discrepancies that surfaced after a second opinion by experienced hepatopathologists interpreting liver biopsy tissues. METHODS: All 178 consecutive liver biopsy tissue glass slides provided to hepatology consultants in 1996 and 1997 were selected for evaluation. Specimens with neoplasms, transplant-related indications, or those specifically referred by a community-based pathologist for consultation were excluded. Diagnosis and interpretations were compared with the reports from the original institutions. Discordant interpretations were grouped in major (description or diagnosis that would change management decisions) and minor (not likely to alter management) categories. Monetary cost of the pathology studies was analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 125 specimens corresponding to 124 patients met inclusion criteria. Thirty-five (28%) and 47 (37.6%) biopsies had major and minor discrepancies, respectively. Full agreement was obtained in 43 (34.4%) cases. Fifteen (42.8%) of the major interpretation errors were on patients with chronic cholestatic disorders, nine (25.7%) with hepatocellular processes, and 11 (31.4%) were related to establishing the presence or absence of cirrhosis. Reviewing the 125 liver biopsies of this study by the consultants resulted in a 46% increase in monetary cost. CONCLUSIONS: Practitioners making clinical decisions based on liver biopsy interpretation need to be aware that in a significant number of cases, pathologists are not able to arrive at a correct diagnosis, and thus seeking second opinions on the patients' behalf from experienced pathologists on liver diseases would be prudent. General pathologists should become more familiar with the abnormalities involving interlobular bile ducts and the diagnostic value of certain ancillary histological stains. Clinicians should provide pathologists with sufficient clinical information in terms of laboratory evaluations and clinical findings, so that accurate diagnosis might be facilitated.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Levels of analysis in cognitive bases of maternal disciplinary dysfunction.

This study tested alternative hypotheses concerning relations between mothers' disciplinary dysfunction and their descriptive versus inference-level interpretations of child noncompliance. Mothers of aggressive boys (MAGGs; n = 19) and mothers of average boys (MAVGs; n = 17) were presented with hypothetical vignettes of compliance situations (mean ages: mothers = 26.8 years, children = 4.5 years). Each vignette ended with the child being compliant or with each of a variety of noncompliant behaviors (request, statement, compliant, ignore, or oppose). Dependent variables were mothers' judgments of noncompliance severity (a descriptive measure), and attributions of defiant intent to the child (an inferential measure). Findings across analyses consistently pointed to attributions as more discriminating than judgments in differentiating between maternal groups. It was concluded that models of maternal discipline dysfunction should focus on analysis of inferential rather than descriptive cognitive responses to child noncompliance, and that parenting interventions should incorporate attribution-training into treatment protocols.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Integration of GO annotations in Correspondence Analysis: facilitating the interpretation of microarray data.

MOTIVATION: The functional interpretation of microarray datasets still represents a time-consuming and challenging task. Up to now functional categories that are relevant for one or more experimental context(s) have been commonly extracted from a set of regulated genes and presented in long lists. RESULTS: To facilitate interpretation, we integrated Gene Ontology (GO) annotations into Correspondence Analysis to display genes, experimental conditions and gene-annotations in a single plot. The position of the annotations in these plots can be directly used for the functional interpretation of clusters of genes or experimental conditions without the need for comparing long lists of annotations. Correspondence Analysis is not limited in the number of experimental conditions that can be compared simultaneously, allowing an easy identification of characterizing annotations even in complex experimental settings. Due to the rapidly increasing amount of annotation data available, we apply an annotation filter. Hereby the number of displayed annotations can be significantly reduced to a set of descriptive ones, further enhancing the interpretability of the plot. We validated the method on transcription data from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human pancreatic adenocarcinomas. AVAILABILITY: The M-CHiPS software is accessible for collaborators at http://www.mchips.org

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Thermodynamics in solid mechanics: a commentary.

This commentary on thermodynamics in solid mechanics aims to provide an overview of the main concepts of thermodynamic processes as they apply to, and may be exploited for, studies in nonlinear solid mechanics. We give a descriptive commentary on the (physical) interpretation of these concepts, and relate these where appropriate to behaviour of solids under thermo-mechanical conditions. The motivation is firstly that students of solid mechanics have often had less exposure to thermodynamics than those in other branches of science and engineering, yet there is great value in analytical formulations of material behaviour derived from the principles of thermodynamics. It also sets the contributions in this Theme Issue in context. Along with the deliberately descriptive treatment of thermodynamics, we do outline the main mathematical statements that define the subject, knowing that full details are provided by the authors in their corresponding contributions to this issue. The commentary ends on a lighter note. In order to aid understanding and to stimulate discussion of thermodynamics in solid mechanics, we have invented a number of very basic and completely fictitious materials. These have strange and extreme behaviours that describe certain thermodynamics concepts, such as entropy, in isolation from the complexities of real material behaviour.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1982

Nurses' performance and interpretation of urine testing and capillary blood glucose monitoring measures.

This descriptive study attempts to identify the ways Registered Nurses (RNs) perform and interpret diabetic urine testing and capillary blood glucose monitoring measures. Seventy per cent of the RNs from one acute care hospital participated in the study. Seventy-six nurses participated; five of these comprising the pilot study. It was concluded that RNs did not perform these tests accurately according to standards. Knowledge of specimen collection procedures and drugs which affect urine testing results was not consistently high. RNs perceived the definitions of hypoglycaemia, normoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia more widely than standard ranges thus having major implications for patient care. RNs' experience with tests is not necessarily related to the accurate completion of the tests. Implications, limitations and idiosyncrasies of each test should be taught in addition to procedural specifics so that nurses can make sound judgements for patient care.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1988

A review of experimental methods measuring peripheral nerve regeneration in animals.

We have reviewed the morphologic, electrophysiologic, biochemical, and functional methods of evaluating PN regeneration in animal models. There are a large number of anatomic techniques that can provide clear insights into the processes of peripheral nerve regeneration. Since many of these are costly in terms of labor, careful selection of the technique appropriate for the question asked is important. Two of the more important questions are: 1) What are the neurotrophic factors produced by the distal segment that attract the growing axon tip? and 2) What are the components of the basal lamina that facilitate the directed growth of the axons? To answer these questions, whole mount preparations provide the means to economically evaluate the result of experimental manipulation of the environment. Automated nerve fiber counts will be increasingly used to help interpret electrophysiologic studies. Quantitative as well as descriptive ultrastructural analyses will continue to provide valuable data that will be needed in the interpretation of biochemical and histochemical studies. Immunohistochemical probes are sure to become more important as the range of their specificities broadens. With the diversity of anatomic methods available and their capacity to help us visualize the processes occurring during nerve regeneration they will remain a key tool in these studies. Electrophysiologic methods that integrate the CAP and correlate it with the number of functioning NF are most useful. Functional methods are beginning to become more objective and quantitative. The most precise measurements are muscle weight and the isometric response of muscle to tetanic contraction. Sensory function has now been measured objectively by Horch. Single methods of measuring PN regeneration give only limited data, but by combining methods a better understanding of PN regeneration is possible. While understanding the limitations of each method and technique, multi-parameter animal models may provide data most helpful clinically. However, because of great species variability in the reparative response, caution must be given not to extrapolate too much from animal studies. We urge investigators to use the most objective methods available to measure nerve regeneration. Recognizing these limitations, however, animal studies will continue to provide significant insights into PN regeneration and should point the way to improved clinical practice.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Diagnostic methodology in muscular pathologies].

AIMS: To analyse the different methodologies and their technical approaches, and compare the value and specificity of each of them in the diagnostic interpretation of muscular biopsies. DEVELOPMENT: Since the first descriptions by Duchenne in the 19th century, a series of stages for interpreting muscular biopsies crucial to the methodological approach were developed. The largest groups of muscular diseases (neurogenic atrophy, dystrophy and others), which were established on the basis of purely morphological studies, were later examined using histochemical techniques that allowed some diseases to be considered on an individual basis. One decisive factor in interpreting muscular biopsies and in diagnostic accuracy was the application of immunohistochemical techniques. The discovery of the gene responsible for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies, and the later identification of dystrophin using reverse genetics, triggered off a series of events which led to the identification of various genes and proteins responsible for a number of muscular diseases. From that moment onwards it became possible to distinguish between previously undefined muscular dystrophies, e.g. different types of limb girdle dystrophy, to subclassify allelic diseases, such as Becker muscular dystrophy, and to identify carriers of X-linked diseases, for example. Ultrastructural examinations have also proved to be very useful. CONCLUSION: At present, the degree of diagnostic accuracy achieved in muscular pathologies is remarkable and the discoveries that have gradually been made have marked a series of stages, none of which has excluded the one preceding it and all of which are of great importance when it comes to interpreting a muscular biopsy.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2000

Impact of population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analyses on the drug development process: experience at Parke-Davis.

BACKGROUND: Continued scepticism about the benefits of population pharmacokinetics and/or population pharmacodynamics, here referred to collectively as the population approach, hampers its widespread application in drug development. At the same time the sources of this scepticism have not been clearly defined. In an attempt to capture and clearly define these concerns and to help communicate the value of the population approach in drug development at Parke-Davis we conducted a survey of customers within the company. The results of this survey are presented here. METHODS: All drug development programmes conducted over the past 10 years that included a population approach in data analysis and interpretation were identified. A brief description of the population analysis was prepared together with a brief description of how the resulting information was used in each drug development programme. These synopses were forwarded to relevant members of each drug development team together with a survey designed to solicit opinions as to the relevance and impact of these analyses. RESULTS: The most frequent use of information derived from population-based analysis was in labelling. In all cases of drugs making to New Drug Application (NDA) submission the analyses resulted in information that was included in approved or proposed labelling. In almost half of the cases summarised here (5 of 12), population-based analysis was perceived to have resulted in information that influenced the direction of individual development programmes. In many of these cases the information was serendipitous. It is also noted that most of these analyses were not the result of clearly defined objectives and prospective analysis plans. CONCLUSIONS: Use of the population approach, even when applied retrospectively, may have value in complementing or supporting interpretation of other data collected during the course of a trial. Atypical systemic exposure is quickly and easily assessed for correlation with adverse events or exceptional efficacy in retrospective or ad hoc evaluation. Although we know of no direct evidence, it is possible that such use of population pharmacokinetic data has facilitated NDA review and approval by providing insight into the role of atypical systemic drug exposure in otherwise spurious events.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1999

Competition for antigenic sites during T cell proliferation: a mathematical interpretation of in vitro data.

By fitting different mathematical T cell proliferation functions to in vitro T cell proliferation data, we studied T cell competition for stimulatory signals. In our lymphocyte proliferation assays both the antigen (Ag) availability and the concentration of T cells were varied. We show that proliferation functions involving T cell competition describe the data significantly better than classical proliferation functions without competition, thus providing direct evidence for T cell competition in vitro. Our mathematical approach allowed us to study the nature of T cell competition by comparing different proliferation functions involving (i) direct inhibitory T-T interactions, (ii) Ag-specific resource competition, or (iii) resource competition for nonspecific factors such as growth factors, and access to the surface of Ag-presenting cells (APCs). We show that resource competition is an essential ingredient of T cell proliferation. To discriminate between Ag-specific and nonspecific resource competition, the Ag availability was varied in two manners. In a first approach we varied the concentration of APCs, displaying equal ligand densities; in a second approach we varied the Ag density on the surface of the APCs, while keeping the APC concentration constant. We found that both resource competition functions described the data equally well when the Ag availability was increased by adding APCs. When the APC concentration was kept constant, the nonspecific resource competition function yielded the best description of the data. Our interpretation is that T cells were competing for "antigenic sites" on the APCs.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2005

Capsule endoscopy examination--preliminary review by a nurse.

Capsule endoscopy (CE) has been recommended as the method of choice for diagnostic endoscopy of the small bowel. An experienced nurse, after proper training, may contribute to the endoscopy procedures as previously described for sigmoidoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of an experienced gastroenterology nurse to prepare CE records for physician interpretation, by detecting abnormal thumbnails. A prospective, observational design was used. Fifty CE videos were pre-read by a specially trained gastroenterology nurse who thumbnailed the abnormalities detected for interpretation by the gastroenterologist. The nurse's description of the lesions and the calculated gastric and bowel transit times were compared to the interpretation of the videos made directly by the gastroenterologist (gold standard). The primary end point of the study was the quality of the nurse's pathology findings; the secondary end point was the cost effectiveness of this practice. There was complete agreement between the nurse and gastroenterologist for all 12 cases interpreted as normal by the gastroenterologist. In the remaining 38 cases, the nurse created 130 thumbnail selections and the physician, 99. Complete interobserver agreement was achieved for 93 of the 96 lesions categorized as "significant" by the physician (96.9%). After all relevant variables were taken into account, this approach saved dollar 324 per CE examination. The use of nurse practitioner to pre-read CE videos and prepare thumbnail selections for further assessment by the gastroenterologist appears to be safe, reliable, and cost effective.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2003

Mohr diagram interpretation of anisotropic diffusion indices in MRI.

Descriptions of diffusion anisotropy in MR Diffusion Tensor Imaging are often based on scalar indices such as surface-to-volume ratio, volume ratio, fractional anisotropy and rotational anisotropy. Recently, Mohr diagram was introduced to visualize the anisotropic diffusion information, but in a graphical form. Even though both scalar indices and the Mohr diagram are derived from the elements of the diffusion tensor, so far, the relationships between these measures and the key aspects of the Mohr diagram have not been established. This paper demonstrates these relationships both qualitatively and quantitatively for two microscopically heterogeneous biologic tissues, kidney and spinal cord.

Anisotropy↗
PubMed2000

Patient-centered care: understanding its interpretation and implementation in health care.

Providing patient-centered care (PCC) has been the focus of recent organizational restructuring and quality improvement efforts in health care. Much has been written about PCC in the past 5 years; however, there are multiple perspectives about the interpretation and implementation of this concept. Descriptions of PCC in the health care literature generally, in some way, refer to meeting patients' needs. Literature describing PCC falls into two categories. The first category interprets PCC as the reorganization of services around patients' needs. The second defines PCC as understanding patient-perceived needs, priorities, and expectations for health care. PCC, however, is still most often implemented from a traditional provider-centered, disease-focused framework that often results in patient care and outcomes that are not congruent with patients' preferences. Shifting to a model of care in which patients define their needs and priorities creates some unique issues in health care. Nursing, with its long-standing commitment to being patient focused, needs to lead the research effort to develop patient-centered models of care that consider and incorporate patients' preferences. Nurses must be mindful, however, of their socialization in the traditional model of care and the resulting underlying attitudes and assumptions they bring to their research and work with patients.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1998

A preliminary evaluation of diagnostic odds in lung scan reporting.

Reporting of lung scans for pulmonary embolism (PE) using a descriptive probability notation is tried and tested. Subjectivity in interpretation of this jargon can be a problem for internists. Parallel descriptive and numerical probability reporting has been recommended, but the numerical probability scale is less precise than likelihood ratios expressed as odds. We therefore assessed internists' intuitive understanding of lung scan reports in the odds format compared to the descriptive probability notation. A questionnaire was sent to Scotland's 217 internists to assess their intuitive understanding of odds reporting and to compare their management strategies when confronted by lung scan reports in both an odds and a descriptive probability notation. There was a broad understanding of numerical odds. Internists used 'normal' and '100:1 against PE' identically; similarly, 'low probability' and '10:1 against PE'. There was a statistically significant preference for the diagnosis of PE when internists were given the '1:1 evens' report compared with the 'indeterminate' report. There does appear to be a greater awareness of the risk of PE when non-diagnostic lung scans are reported in numerical odds as compared with the descriptive probability format.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed1997

Concentric isokinetic shoulder internal and external rotation strength in professional baseball pitchers.

Objective measurement of shoulder internal and external rotation strength is an important part in the comprehensive evaluation and rehabilitation of athletes who perform predominantly unilateral upper extremity movement patterns. Apparatus- and population-specific descriptive data are needed to enhance the interpretation of results from isokinetic dynamometers. The primary purpose of this study was to measure isokinetically glenohumeral joint internal and external rotator peak torque and work in professional baseball pitchers and determine whether significant differences exist between the dominant (throwing) extremity and nondominant extremity. One hundred twenty-five healthy professional baseball pitchers were tested bilaterally on a Cybex 300 series isokinetic dynamometer at 210 and 300 degrees/sec for concentric internal and external rotation of the glenohumeral joint with the arm in 90 degrees of abduction. A standardized protocol and testing guidelines were strictly followed. A dependent t test was used to test for differences between extremities for peak torque and single repetition work isokinetic parameters. No significant difference between the dominant and nondominant shoulder was found for external rotation peak torque or single repetition work at either testing speed. Significantly greater (p < .001) dominant arm shoulder internal rotation was measured for both peak torque and single repetition work at 210 and 300 degrees/sec compared with the nondominant extremity. The results of this study are important for the application and interpretation of isokinetic data on unilaterally dominant upper extremity athletes. The use of a population-specific, descriptive isokinetic data profile is important in both rehabilitation and prevention of shoulder injuries.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

One-sided and two-sided tests and p values.

Several considerations for the use of one-sided and two-sided tests are discussed: the inferential posture of the design of a study, the level of stringency for supporting a conclusion, the style for reporting p values, the perspective for interpreting results in the opposite direction to the one initially expected, and the role of confidence intervals. The suggestions for addressing these issues for confirmatory biopharmaceutical studies with one-sided objectives are as follows: 1. Clear documentation of the one-sided inferential posture of a study in its protocol. 2. Sufficient sample size for at least moderate power for evaluation with two-sided stringency. 3. Use of one-sided p values to express direction of results together with distinct flags for those which are suitably extreme to support inferences for the target direction or to merit description for the opposite direction. 4. Interpretation of opposite direction results in a post hoc, exploratory, descriptive way rather than inferentially. 5. Provision of one-sided confidence intervals to clarify the nature of one-sided inferences. Alternatively, for academic studies where publication with an inferential posture is of interest for either potential direction of findings, two-sided methods are typically useful. An underlying reason for this is the adjustment provided by two-sided methods for the multiplicity in the two complementary one-sided counterparts that they encompass.

Biopharmaceutics↗
PubMed2006

Representativeness in population-based studies: a detailed description of non-response in a Danish cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Decreasing rates of participation in population-based studies increasingly challenge the interpretation of study results, in both analytic and descriptive epidemiology. Consequently, estimates of possible differences between participants and non-participants are increasingly important for the interpretation of study results and generalization to the background population. METHODS: An age-specific, population-based cohort of 1,198 individuals was examined at age 40, 45, 51, and 60. Participants were compared with non-participants and when possible also with the background population using a wide range of detailed information on somatic and mental health collected at each examination, including data from a clinical examination, biochemical measurements, questionnaires, interviews, and public registers. RESULTS: Participation rates were higher than 80% at examinations at age 40, 45, and 51, but decreased to 65% at age 60. At the baseline investigation at age 40, analyses indicated that participants were representative of the cohort as well as the background population. However, the mortality rate was higher among non-participants in the succeeding 20 years. Among living cohort members at the 60-year examination, non-participants had lower socioeconomic status, higher hospitalization rate, and a worse overall health profile than participants. CONCLUSIONS: The detailed data presented reinforce the contention that the health profile of non-participants is typically worse than that of participants. The results also indicate that while data from public registers give easily accessible information about non-participants, these crude proxy measures of health may not be enough to document representativeness.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The gap effect: discontinuities of preferences around dead.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of health states considered to be worse than dead is a controversial issue. OBJECTIVE: To investigate how health states are valued when they are close to dead. Differences between adjacent states are compared with the differences between the first positive/first negative state with death. METHODS: A secondary analysis of the EuroQol EQ-5D data of the measurement of valuation and health (MVH) study was made. Visual analog scale (VAS) and time trade-off (TTO) preferences for 43 health states were obtained. Various subsets of 13 states were valued by 3395 respondents. States were rank ordered by their VAS and TTO values. Differences between adjacent states were calculated for the VAS and the positive and negative TTO values. RESULTS: Complete data were obtained in 2997 respondents. The differences between the ordered VAS values were equally large. In contrast, significant gaps around dead were found for the positive as well as the negative TTO values. DISCUSSION: These results are interpreted in light of a descriptive QALY model. This model was expanded to include utilities worse than dead. The VAS task does not pick up that bad states become intolerable, i.e. worse than dead, when they last too long, but the TTO task does. The current QALY model seems to lack descriptive validity for states valued worse than dead and for states with a maimal endurable time.

Attitude to Death↗