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PubMed2005

Intermediate-term comparison of trabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin-C between Asian American and Caucasian glaucoma patients: a case-controlled comparison.

PURPOSE: Compare the efficacy and survival of trabeculectomy with intraoperative mitomycin-C (MMC) between Asian American and Caucasian patients in the same clinical setting. METHODS: In total, 29 Asian American patients (29 eyes) with trabeculectomies were matched case to case with 29 Caucasian patients (29 eyes) retrospectively. Matching criteria included age, glaucoma subtype, and preoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), gender, surgeon, ocular history, and glaucoma medications. Criteria of success included: (1) Final IOP>5 and <22 mmHg, (2) IOP reduction>or=20%, or final IOP<or=10 mmHg, and (3) without additional glaucoma surgery, loss of light perception, or complication. RESULTS: Mean follow-up durations of Asian American and Caucasian group were 40.11+/-22.5 months and 38.8+/-17.7 months, respectively (P=0.81). At the final visits, IOP decreased from 18.7+/-6.1 to 10.9+/-4.0 mmHg (P<0.0001) in the Asian American group, and from 19.0+/-5.5 to 11.0+/-3.8 mmHg (P<0.0001) in the Caucasian group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in IOP levels at 6 months, 1 year, and final visits. The probabilities of trabeculectomy survival (continuing to meet definition of success criteria) at 12 and 48 months were 75.9 and 56.6% in the Asian American group and 82.8 and 66.6% in the Caucasian group, respectively. (P=0.46) There were no significant differences for rates of surgical success, failure, complication, vision decrease, hypotony, and cataract development. Patients who had episodes of hypotony had a higher rate of diagnosis of low-tension glaucoma subtype (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In a case-controlled comparison of an intermediate-term follow-up of trabeculectomy with intraoperative MMC, Asian American patients have a similar efficacy and survival probability as Caucasian patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of TCPP concentrations in sludge and wastewater in a typical German sewage treatment plant-comparison of sewage sludge from 20 plants.

Tris(chloro-isopropyl)phosphate (TCPP) was identified by GC-MS by comparing mass spectra and retention times to original standards. The concentrations in wastewater of a sewage treatment plant's influent and effluent were analysed (520 ng l(-1) and 380 ng l(-1), respectively (mean values). The concentrations of TCPP in the wastewater inflow exhibited a high variability. The elimination of this compound in the sewage treatment plant also exhibits a high variability but is low. Additionally the concentrations in sewage sludge of the same plant were determined (mean value 5100 ng g(-1) dry weight; 1700 ng g(-1) wet weight, respectively). For a comparison sludge samples from twenty other plants were analysed. In these samples concentrations ranging from 1000-20000 ng g(-1)(dry weight) were determined. Thus sorption to sludge does occur to some extent.

Adsorption↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of the CHARMM, AMBER and ECEPP potentials for peptides. II. Phi-psi maps for N-acetyl alanine N'-methyl amide: comparisons, contrasts and simple experimental tests.

phi-psi maps of N-acetyl alanine N'-methyl amide have been computed using the CHARMM potential, the all-atom AMBER potential, and the ECEPP/2 potential, before and after adiabatic relaxation. Maps using the CHARMM and AMBER potentials were determined with values of 1.0 and 4.0 for the dielectric constant epsilon, and with a distance dependent dielectric constant. Adiabatic relaxation was carried out using flexible geometry for the CHARMM and AMBER potentials, and using rigid geometry for the AMBER and ECEPP potentials. In all cases, the lowest energy was found in the C7eq region (phi approximately -70 degrees, psi approximately 70 degrees). The maps with CHARMM and AMBER with epsilon = 4.0 and with ECEPP, without adiabatic relaxation, were broadly similar but differed in the relative energies allotted to high-energy regions of the map. After adiabatic relaxation with rigid geometry, the map with ECEPP, and the map with AMBER using a distance-dependent dielectric constant, agreed fairly well apart from differences in the relative energies of the alpha R, alpha L, and C7ax regions. After adiabatic relaxation with flexible geometry, the maps with CHARMM and AMBER became very similar; the lowest energies were observed in the C7eq region, the C5 region (phi approximately -150 degrees, psi approximately 150 degrees) and the C7ax region (phi approximately 70 degrees, psi approximately -70 degrees). Breakdown of the energies, after adiabatic relaxation, into electrostatic, nonbonded, and geometric (including torsional) contributions, showed that (1) with fixed geometry, the nonbonded and torsional contribution to the ECEPP and AMBER potentials were very similar, but the electrostatic contributions were markedly different; (2) with flexible geometry, the nonbonded contribution to the CHARMM and AMBER potentials did not vary greatly over the whole map. The phi-psi maps were subjected to three simple comparisons with experiment. (1) The maps were used to predict the characteristic ratio for poly-L-alanine, and the results were compared with experimental findings (D.A. Brant and P.J. Flory, J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 87, 2788-2791, 1965). The agreement with experiment was acceptable for ECEPP, and for CHARMM after adiabatic relaxation, marginal for AMBER after adiabatic relaxation, and unsatisfactory for CHARMM or AMBER without adiabatic relaxation. (2) Deviations of bond angles from their equilibrium values, in energy-minimized conformations, were compared with values deduced from crystals of terminally-blocked amino acids. With both the CHARMM and AMBER potentials using flexible geometry, one or more excessive deviations was observed in the C7ax local minimum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Alanine↗
PubMed1975

Beyond analysis of variance. A comparison of some multiple comparison procedures.

In analysis of variance, when the null hypothesis of no difference among several treatment means is rejected, the investigator concludes that not all treatment means are equal. The logical question that arises at this point concerns which means, then, are different from which others. In many research reports, this question is never answered. In those instances where an attempt is made to pinpoint just where the differences among means occur, the procedure employed is frequently inappropriate. This article describes the most frequently used of the theoretically sound procedures that are available for making all possible comparisons among means. Four procedures are illustrated with the same experimental example.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of fifteen pulse oximeters. Part I: A clinical comparison; Part II: A test of performance under conditions of poor perfusion.

Fifteen pulse oximeters were compared. Their physical characteristics, price, warranty, information handling and displays were catalogued. Times for changes in data display and susceptibility to interference were assessed. A model for comparison of oximeters under conditions of poor perfusion was developed using a tourniquet to progressively diminish limb perfusion pressure (systolic minus tourniquet pressure). The oximeters evidenced a wide variety of features and performance in poor perfusion states. Instruments lacking a beep varying in pitch with saturation or a waveform/pulse bar display of plethysmograph signal were considered less satisfactory. The majority of instruments, with some notable exceptions, performed remarkably well in a state of diminished perfusion. The study demonstrates that purchasers of pulse oximeters need to exercise care in assessing the suitability of particular instruments to their specific requirements.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genucom, KT-1000, and Stryker knee laxity measuring device comparisons. Device reproducibility and interdevice comparison in asymptomatic subjects.

Generally, three devices (the Genucom Knee Analysis System, the MEDmetric KT-1000 Arthrometer, and the Stryker Knee Laxity Tester), which have been presented in the literature, may be used to assess clinically the amount of knee laxity in an objective manner. This study compared the reproducibility of the anterior and posterior knee laxity values for each and made direct comparisons of the results obtained. Thirty asymptomatic subjects were given a test-retest protocol on both legs with all three devices. Devices were tested in a counterbalanced order. Repeatability of test values within devices was variable, but all were acceptable, the lowest being r = 0.74. Analysis of variance (AN-OVA), and correlational analysis revealed that device-specific anterior and posterior laxity values were produced. We concluded that each commercially available knee laxity testing device can provide reproducible quantitative measurements of knee laxity; however, due to differences in device sensitivities and functional design, numerical results from one device cannot be generalized to another device.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

A comparison of two multiple-characteristic decision-making models for the comparison of antihypertensive drug classes: Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS).

BACKGROUND: Multiple-characteristics decision-making (MCDM) models can be used to calculate a score, based on a set of characteristics, for a number of alternative drugs or drug classes to allow comparison between them and thus enhance evidence-based pharmacotherapy. OBJECTIVE: To compare two MCDM models, Simple Additive Weighting (SAW) and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), in determining first-line antihypertensive drug class. METHODS: Five different classes of antihypertensive drugs were analyzed: diuretics, beta-adrenoceptor antagonists (beta-blockers), dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (DHP-CCBs), ACE inhibitors, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs]). Four characteristics were deemed relevant for the determination of first-line antihypertensive drug class: effectiveness, persistence with treatment as a measure of tolerability, cost, and clinical experience. Weight factors were determined by sending questionnaires to cardiologists, pharmacists, general practitioners (GPs), and internists in The Netherlands. Absolute scores for the characteristics were determined from literature (effectiveness and persistence) and health insurance data (costs and clinical experience). RESULTS: Ninety-two cardiologists (33% of those sent the questionnaire), 90 GPs (31%), 87 internists (31%), and 123 pharmacists (43%) completed the questionnaire. Among all professions, according to both SAW and TOPSIS, ACE inhibitors were ranked as the first-line antihypertensive drug class, typically followed by beta-blockers. CONCLUSION: Both SAW and TOPIS analyses, using weight factors assigned by cardiologists, pharmacists, GPs, and internists from The Netherlands, rank ACE inhibitors as the first choice among antihypertensive drug classes for the treatment of uncomplicated hypertension. Both methods are valuable tools in the development of evidence-based pharmacotherapy.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed2005

Comparison of two methods for evaluating the quality of stored drinking water in Abidjan, Côte d'lvoire, and review of other comparisons in the literature.

Membrane filtration, multiple tube fermentation (the standard methods) and Colilert are techniques available for assessing drinking water quality, but there are no published comparisons of Colilert to standard methods in a developing country laboratory. We reviewed the published literature on Colilert and standard methods and conducted a study to compare Colilert with membrane filtration for the detection and enumeration of total coliforms and fecal coliforms (Escherichia coli bacteria) using 35 stored drinking water samples from households in Abidjan, Côte d'lvoire. Our study results are consistent with previous published studies conducted in developed countries. Results from Colilert and membrane filtration correlated for both total coliforms (r2 = 0.81) and E. coli (r2 = 0.93). Colilert is an acceptable method to measure the presence and quantity of coliforms in water samples in a developing country setting.

Cote d'Ivoire↗
PubMed2006

Phylogenetic analysis of gamma-proteobacteria inferred from nucleotide sequence comparisons of the house-keeping genes adk, aroE and gdh: comparisons with phylogeny inferred from 16S rRNA gene sequences.

Nucleotide sequence comparisons of three house-keeping genes, adenylate kinase (adk), shikimate dehydrogenase (aroE), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (gdh), were used to infer the phylogeny of 33 gamma-proteobacteria. Phylogenetic trees inferred from each gene, and from the concatenated sequences of all three genes, are, in general, similar to a 16S rRNA gene-inferred tree. Similar grouping of bacteria are revealed at the family, genus, species and strain levels in all five trees. The house-keeping genes, however, show a higher rate of nucleotide sequence substitutions. Consequently, they can possibly probe deeper branches of a phylogenetic tree than the 16S rRNA gene. However, because their nucleotide sequences are not as highly conserved among gamma-proteobacteria, family- or genus-specific primers would need to be designed for the amplification of any of these three house-keeping genes. Since these genes are used in multilocus sequence typing, it is expected that the number of sequences publicly available for many taxa will increase over time proving them very useful either at complementing 16S rRNA-inferred phylogenies or for specific, targeted, phylogenetic analysis.

Adenylate Kinase↗
PubMed2004

Cytologic features of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in ThinPrep Papanicolaou test slides: comparison of cases that performed poorly with those that performed well in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology.

CONTEXT: Conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) test slides of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) that are frequently misdiagnosed are known to have relatively few dysplastic cells. Whether this is true of cases of HSIL in ThinPrep Pap Test specimens is not known. OBJECTIVE: To determine if cases of HSIL in ThinPrep specimens that are frequently missed have relatively few dysplastic cells. DESIGN: The cytologic features of 16 ThinPrep cases of HSIL that performed poorly in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program were compared with 22 ThinPrep Pap Test cases that performed extremely well. RESULTS: Significantly more cases that performed poorly had fewer than 250 dysplastic cells (13/16) than cases that performed well (3/22) (P <.001). CONCLUSION: ThinPrep Pap Test cases with a diagnosis of HSIL that performed poorly in this program had significantly fewer dysplastic cells than those that performed well.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2005

Cytologic features of squamous cell carcinoma in conventional smears: comparison of cases that performed poorly with those that performed well in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in cervicovaginal cytology.

CONTEXT: Characteristic cytologic features have been identified that distinguish cases that are always identified from those that are sometimes missed in the College of American Pathologists Gynecologic Cytology Program for a variety of different lesions and preparations. OBJECTIVE: To compare the cytologic features of cases of squamous cell carcinoma in conventional smears that perform poorly and well. DESIGN: The cytologic features of 8 conventional smear cases of squamous cell carcinoma that performed poorly in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program were compared with 17 cases that performed extremely well. RESULTS: A total of 2387 individual interpretations were recorded. Of the 86 incorrect responses, 6.2% were for repair, and 0.8% were for Trichomonas. Cases that performed well were significantly more likely to have greater than 1000 dysplastic cells (16/17 vs 4/8, P = .02) and be keratinized (13/17 vs 1/8, P = .007). Obscuring inflammation and cell size were not significant. CONCLUSION: Conventional smears with a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma that were always identified were significantly more likely to have greater than 1000 cells and be keratinized than cases that performed poorly.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2005

Cytologic features of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion in thinprep papanicolaou test slides and conventional smears: comparison of cases that performed poorly with those that performed well in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in Cervicovaginal Cytology.

CONTEXT: Both conventional and ThinPrep Papanicolaou smears with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions that are frequently missed are known to have relatively few abnormal cells. Whether this is also true of cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion is not known. OBJECTIVE: To compare the cytologic features of cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion that perform poorly with the features of cases that perform well. DESIGN: The cytologic features of 10 ThinPrep Pap Test and conventional smear cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion that performed poorly in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program were compared with 46 ThinPrep Pap Test and conventional smear cases that performed extremely well. The numbers of abnormal cells were categorized into less than 50, 51 to 100, 101 to 250, 251 to 500, and more than 500. RESULTS: The median number of abnormal cells for cases that performed poorly was less than 50, whereas the median number of abnormal cells for cases that performed well was between 101 and 250. Overall, cases that performed poorly were significantly more likely to have less than 50, less than 100, and less than 250 abnormal cells than cases that performed well (P < .001, P < .001, and P = .009, respectively). A minority of cases performed well even with very few abnormal cells and groups. The same findings were present when conventional smears and ThinPrep specimens were analyzed separately. CONCLUSIONS: ThinPrep Pap Test cases and conventional smears with a diagnosis of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion that perform poorly in this program have significantly fewer abnormal cells than those that perform well. The median number of abnormal cells in cases that performed well is lower than that of comparable high-grade cases in the program.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2006

Cytologic features of adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified, in conventional smears: comparison of cases that performed poorly with those that performed well in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program in cervicovaginal cytology.

CONTEXT: Characteristic cytologic features have been identified that distinguish cases that are consistently identified from those that are sometimes missed in the College of American Pathologists Gynecologic Cytology Program for a variety of different lesions and preparations. OBJECTIVES: To compare the cytologic features of cases of adenocarcinoma, not otherwise specified (NOS), in conventional smears that perform poorly and well. DESIGN: The cytologic features of 21 conventional smear cases of adenocarcinoma, NOS, that performed poorly in the College of American Pathologists Interlaboratory Comparison Program were compared with 17 cases that performed extremely well. RESULTS: Cases that performed well were significantly more likely to have greater than 1000 abnormal cells (P = .006), greater than 100 large abnormal cells (P = .006), large nuclei (P < .001), marked nuclear atypia (P = .02), and hyperchromasia (P = .02). Repair-like features were rare in both groups and were not significant (P = .71). CONCLUSION: Conventional smears with a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma that were consistently identified were significantly more likely to have more abnormal cells, larger abnormal cells, larger nuclei, marked atypia, and hyperchromasia than cases that performed poorly.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1978

Comparison of product moment and rank correlation coefficients in the assessment of laboratory method-comparison data.

We have studied the effects of range and distribution of data on product moment and rank correlation coefficients when deviation from a linear relationship was due solely to experimentally produced random error. All correlation coefficients (Pearson r, Spearman rho, and Kendall tau) were markedly influenced by the range of the data, and, for the rank correlation coefficients, the effect of range varied for different data distributions. While correlation coefficients may be useful in assessing whether an association exists between two variables, they are not useful in assessing the degree of random error about the regression line when a strong linear association is presumed to exist between the two variables. Thus, neither product moment nor rank correlation coefficients are of value in analysis of laboraoty method-comparison data. The standard deviation of the residual error of regression should be calculated as a measure of the random error about the regression line.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of valsartan 160 mg with lisinopril 20 mg, given as monotherapy or in combination with a diuretic, for the treatment of hypertension: the Blood Pressure Reduction and Tolerability of Valsartan in Comparison with Lisinopril (PREVAIL) study.

BACKGROUND: The goal of antihypertensive therapy is to provide good blood pressure (BP) control without eliciting adverse effects. OBJECTIVE: This study compared the risk-benefit profile of the angiotensin II receptor blocker valsartan with that of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril in patients with mild to severe hypertension. The primary objective was to show that the equipotent BP-lowering effect of the valsartan-based treatment is accompanied by a better tolerability profile. METHODS: This 16-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study was conducted at 88 outpatient centers across Italy. After a 2-week placebo run-in period, patients aged > or = 18 years with mild to severe hypertension (systolic BP [SBP], 160-220 mm Hg; diastolic BP [DBP], 95-110 mm Hg) were eligible. Patients were randomized to receive once-daily, oral, self-administered treatment with valsartan 160-mg capsules or lisinopril 20-mg capsules under double-blind conditions for 4 weeks. Responders continued monotherapy, whereas nonresponders had hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 mg added for the final 12 weeks of the study. The 2 primary variables used to assess the equivalence of therapeutic efficacy of the 2 regimens were sitting SBP and sitting DBP, which were measured at weeks 0 (baseline), 4, 8, and 16. The rate of drug-related adverse events (AEs) was used to assess whether 1 treatment had a better tolerability profile than the other. Tolerability was assessed by collecting information about AEs by means of questioning the patient or physical examination at each visit. RESULTS: A total of 1213 patients were enrolled (635 men, 578 women; mean [SD] age, 54.5 [10.1] years [range, 28-78 years]). The study was completed by 1100 patients (553 receiving valsartan and 547 receiving lisinopril). Fifty-one patients (8.4%) treated with valsartan and 62 (10.2%) [corrected] treated with lisinopril withdrew, mainly because of AEs (9 [1.5%] and 23 patients [3.8%], respectively). The valsartan- and lisinopril-based treatments were similarly effective in reducing sitting BP, with mean SBP/DBP reductions of 31.2/15.9 mm Hg and 31.4/15.9 mm Hg, respectively. At the end of the study, BP was controlled in 82.6% [corrected] of the patients receiving valsartan and 81.6% of those receiving lisinopril. AEs were experienced by 5.1% of the patients treated with valsartan and 10.7% of those treated with lisinopril (P=.0001), with dry cough observed in 1.0% and 7.2% of patients, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Valsartan and lisinopril were both highly effective in controlling BP in these patients with mild to severe hypertension, but valsartan was associated with a significantly reduced risk for AEs, especially cough.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Definitions of bullying: a comparison of terms used, and age and gender differences, in a fourteen-country international comparison.

The study of school bullying has recently assumed an international dimension, but is faced with difficulties in finding terms in different languages to correspond to the English word bullying. To investigate the meanings given to various terms, a set of 25 stick-figure cartoons was devised, covering a range of social situations between peers. These cartoons were shown to samples of 8- and 14-year-old pupils (N = 1,245; n = 604 at 8 years, n = 641 at 14 years) in schools in 14 different countries, who judged whether various native terms cognate to bullying, applied to them. Terms from 10 Indo-European languages and three Asian languages were sampled. Multidimensional scaling showed that 8-year-olds primarily discriminated nonaggressive and aggressive cartoon situations; however, 14-year-olds discriminated fighting from physical bullying, and also discriminated verbal bullying and social exclusion. Gender differences were less appreciable than age differences. Based on the 14-year-old data, profiles of 67 words were then constructed across the five major cartoon clusters. The main types of terms used fell into six groups: bullying (of all kinds), verbal plus physical bullying, solely verbal bullying, social exclusion, solely physical aggression, and mainly physical aggression. The findings are discussed in relation to developmental trends in how children understand bullying, the inferences that can be made from cross-national studies, and the design of such studies.

Adolescent↗