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At least 739 records · Page 41Linked to original sources

PubMed2006

Radiation dose vs. image quality for low-dose CT protocols of the head for maxillofacial surgery and oral implant planning.

The goal of this study was to determine the acquisition parameters for a low-dose multi-slice CT protocol and to compare the effective dose and the image quality of this low-dose protocol with the image quality of a clinical multi-slice CT protocol, routinely used for visualisation of the head. The low-dose protocol was derived from a clinical multi-slice CT protocol by lowering mA s and kV and increasing the pitch. The low-dose protocol yielded a dose reduction from 1.5 to 0.18 mSv for a multi-slice CT scan of the whole head, whereas noise in the low-dose CT images was increased. For bone segmentation, noise could be reduced by use of a non-linear edge preserving smoothing filter. Tests on ESP and skull phantom indicated that the accuracy of the measurements on low-dose CT is acceptable for image-based planning of maxillofacial and oral implant surgery, reducing the dose by a factor of 8.

Humans↗

PubMed1999

Comparison between the European and North American protocols for diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility in humans.

UNLABELLED: We compared the diagnostic outcome of in vitro contracture tests for diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility performed according to the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group protocol and the North American Malignant Hyperthermia Group protocol. The aim of the study was to compare the two major diagnostic tests of malignant hyperthermia susceptibility to have basic data for a common worldwide protocol. We evaluated 156 patients and 17 control individuals. The accordance in diagnostic outcome was 87%. The diverging outcomes between the two protocols were found in a group of patients reacting in few muscle strips and close to the cutoff limits. A 100% accordance in diagnostic outcome was found in individuals with contractures in at least five of six tested muscle strips. In both protocols, contractures close to the cutoff limits in a few muscle strips in scientific studies should be considered as unknown results. IMPLICATIONS: We compared the two major protocols for investigating malignant hyperthermia susceptibility. There was 87% accordance in diagnostic outcome. The diverging outcomes were seen in individuals with less reproducible test results near the cutoff limits. In scientific studies, such results should be considered as unknown.

Caffeine↗

PubMed1995

Comparison of single-tracer (technetium-99m-sestamibi) and dual-tracer (thallium-201 chloride and technetium-99m-sestamibi) protocols for identification of myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine if dual-tracer protocol using thallium-201 (201TI) chloride for rest and technetium-99m (99mTc)-sestamibi for stress images (TI-MIBI) detects ischemia better than single-tracer protocol using 99mTc-sestamibi for both rest and stress (MIBI) myocardial perfusion images. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 460 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) were included in the study, with 230 (50%) undergoing single-tracer MIBI protocol and 230 (50%) undergoing dual-tracer TI-MIBI protocol. Patient demographics were matched, and the proportion of patients having treadmill stress or dipyridamole stress was similar between the two groups. Stress and rest single photon emission computed tomographic images were recorded in all patients and dual-tracer 201TI and 99mTc-sestamibi (TI-MIBI) perfusion images were acquired separately. The scintigraphic images were analyzed visually, and a semiquantitative method of scoring reversible ischemia was used. Patients' reversibility scores in each group were compiled (ischemia index) and compared to determine the relative ability of each protocol in identifying ischemia. CONCLUSION: The frequency of ischemia and ischemia index was found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the TI-MIBI group compared with the MIBI group. For detecting myocardial ischemia or viability, the dual-tracer TI-MIBI acquisition technique appears superior to the single-tracer MIBI protocol.

Coronary Circulation↗

PubMed1996

Contrast material injection for hepatic helical computed tomography. Comparative study of five protocols.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The authors develop and compare contrast material injection protocols suitable for hepatic helical computed tomography. METHODS: One hundred twenty-one patients who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) of the liver with spiral CT imaging were evaluated for enhancement of the liver parenchyma and for post-enhancement attenuation of the aorta and portal vein with iohexol. Patients were assigned randomly to five protocols with different flow rates, volume of contrast material, and scan delays. RESULTS: Mean parenchymal contrast enhancement was statistically significantly higher with protocol 5 (biphasic injection of 100 mL of iohexol 300 (g/100 mL) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL/second followed by 25 mL at 2 mL/second; total iodine load = 37.5 g, with a scan delay of 70 seconds). The highest aortic enhancement and the second highest portal vein enhancement were obtained with this protocol. CONCLUSION: The authors suggest an easily tolerated injection protocol able to ensure high parenchymal liver enhancement and satisfactory aortic and portal vein enhancement. This protocol includes a long scan delay (70 seconds), biphasic low flow injection rate, and a relatively low iodine load.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of retrospective multisector and half scan ECG-gated multidetector cardiac CT protocols with moving phantoms.

PURPOSE: We evaluated independently retrospective half scan and multisector mode manufacturer's protocols and compared them with modified acquisition protocols to determine optimal imaging parameters for cardiac scanning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were acquired using two fabricated gated moving phantoms. In half scan mode, the manufacturer's recommended pitch values were compared with adjacent values at different motion rates. In multisector mode, the manufacturer's protocols were compared with ones with different gantry speeds and pitch values at the same motion rates. Weighted CT dose indexes (CTDI) were obtained for all protocols. Gated and reformatted reconstructed images of the moving phantoms were evaluated. RESULTS: In half scan mode, slightly better image quality was observed by lowering the pitch value, but with an increase of 6.3% of the weighted CTDI. Better results were obtained in multisector mode by lowering the pitch value up to 0.2, but with an increase of 14.3% of the weighted CTDI. Optimal images were obtained with the lowest temporal resolution. CONCLUSIONS: Gated moving phantom studies offer the advantage of testing acquisition protocols of complex motions and of helping to establish appropriate protocols.

Electrocardiography↗

PubMed1979

Evaluation of a drug therapy protocol in an HMO.

Effective means of affecting physician prescribing behavior must be developed if the quality of health care is to be improved. A drug therapy protocol for otitis media, containing a rationale for drugs, doses and days of therapy by patient age, was developed by a physician panel at one site (EI) of an HMO, and implemented at both EI and a second site (EII); a third site was a control. A comparison of prescribing during two phases, before and after implementation of the protocol, suggested that the protocol had a greater influence at site EI than site EII, and that it had a greater influence on the panel physicians than on other prescribers at site EI. Questionnaire responses indicated that clinical experience and personal involvement were the most important protocol use influences. If participation is critical to protocol compliance, the protocol method to improve the quality of health care is severely limited.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Self-report measures and scoring protocols affect prevalence estimates of meeting physical activity guidelines.

PURPOSE: Prevalence estimates of meeting the guidelines for physical activity based on various self-report measures were compared, and the effects of various scoring protocols on the estimates were evaluated. METHOD: A sample of 575 university students aged 24.5 +/- 1.9 yr (56% women, 54% Euro-American) completed the Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall interview (PAR), Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), and National Health Interview Survey 1991 (NHIS). To determine the prevalence of meeting the ACSM (1990) fitness and the CDC/ACSM (1995) health-related guidelines, various scoring protocols were employed that closely approximated the recommendations. Protocols varied by whether frequency and duration or duration only were considered. For the health-related guidelines, scoring protocols also varied depending on the intensity of activities considered. RESULTS: Depending on the scoring protocol and instrument used, the proportion meeting the fitness guidelines ranged from 32 to 59%. The NHIS, YRBS, and PAR resulted in significantly different proportions of those meeting the health-related guideline, ranging from 4 to 70%. CONCLUSION: The type of measure as well as the scoring protocol affected prevalence estimates of meeting the physical activity guidelines. This study indicates the difficulty of comparing prevalence rates across studies using different measures.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The impact of acquisition protocol on the incidence of patient motion in 99mTc based myocardial perfusion SPECT.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) artefacts introduced as a result of patient motion are known to produce artefacts that mimic the appearances of coronary artery disease. The advent of 99mTc based radiopharmaceuticals permits greater flexibility in patient scheduling, but variable physical demands of protocols may be associated with variations in the likelihood of patient motion. METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study of 177 myocardial perfusion SPECT patients using 99mTc tetrofosmin was used to compare the incidence of visually detectable motion for three protocol variations. The rotating cinematic display and sinograms of the datasets were visually assessed by two experienced technologist observers blinded to the second observer's responses and the clinical outcome. RESULTS: Among the 354 individual studies analysed, 43.8% contained visually detectable motion. 36.2% of rest studies demonstrated visually detectable motion compared to 51.4% for stress (P<0.05). Fifty per cent of 1 day rest/stress studies demonstrated motion, 39.3% of 2 day rest/stress studies demonstrated motion, and 46.8% of 2 day stress/rest studies demonstrated motion. CONCLUSION: One day 99mTc based myocardial perfusion SPECT studies are 1.3 times more likely to contain motion than the 2 day rest/stress protocol. The 2 day stress/rest protocol is 1.2 times more likely to contain motion than the 2 day rest/stress. The stress study is 1.4 times more likely to contain motion than the rest study while the stress study performed first in the sequence is 1.4 times more likely to contain motion than the stress study performed second. The 2 day rest/stress protocol is the preferred protocol to minimize patient motion.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Excellent outcome with a calcium channel blocker-supplemented immunosuppressive regimen in cadaveric renal transplantation. A potential strategy to avoid antibody induction protocols.

Many transplant centers routinely utilize monoclonal antibody or polyclonal antibody based induction protocols in recipients of cadaver renal allografts. Given the potential complications associated with antibody-based immunosuppression regimens (e.g., CMV disease), we tested the hypothesis that a combination of a calcium antagonist and a triple drug protocol (cyclosporine + prednisone + azathioprine) would be an effective substitute for antibody-based induction protocols in ensuring excellent patient and graft survival rates. Our postulate was tested in a prospective study of 52 consecutive recipients of cadaver renal allografts (44 first, 5 second, and 3 third grafts) utilizing nifedipine as the first line calcium antagonist. Nifedipine was selected over verapamil or diltiazem due to its lack of interference with the metabolism of CsA. Some of the significant outcomes of our prospective trial were (A) a cumulative patient survival rate of 98.1% for the 52 recipients at 18 months posttransplantation; (B) a cumulative allograft survival rate of 92.1% for the 52 consecutive cadaver renal allografts at 18 months; (C) a cumulative allograft survival rate of 100% at 18 months for the 24 of 52 renal allografts without delayed graft function following transplantation; and (D) a cumulative allograft survival rate of 86% at 18 months for the 28 of 52 renal allografts with delayed graft function. Of the 4 of 52 who lost their grafts, 2 grafts were removed following discontinuation of immunosuppressive therapy while the remaining 2 had primary nonfunction; and (E) the lack of a requirement for monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies for the treatment of acute rejection episodes in this patient population. These gratifying results compare very favorably with (A) recent reports of the effects of long-term diltiazem therapy and of verapamil used in conjunction with an induction protocol that included Minnesota antilymphocyte globulin in recipients of cadaver renal allografts, and (B) the clinical outcome in many institutions with OKT3/ATG/ALG induction protocols. Whereas the mechanisms involved in the excellent clinical outcome found with the calcium antagonist remain undefined, our results strongly argue for a prospective, randomized and controlled study in which a calcium antagonist-supplemented immunosuppressive regimen is compared with antibody-based induction protocols.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Tacrolimus therapy for refractory acute renal allograft rejection: definition of the histologic response by protocol biopsies.

UNLABELLED: Protocol biopsies were performed to define the histologic response to tacrolimus therapy in patients with refractory acute renal allograft rejection. Renal allograft biopsies were performed at defined intervals after initiation of tacrolimus therapy. Protocol biopsies were performed before tacrolimus therapy (within 48 hr of initiation of therapy) and after 1 week of therapy. If the 1-week biopsy did not show rejection reversal, repeat protocol biopsies were obtained at 1- to 2-week intervals, until histologic reversal was observed. Additional biopsies were obtained at 4 weeks and at 8-12 weeks after initiation of tacrolimus therapy. Indicated biopsies were also performed to evaluate increases in serum creatinine. A total of 92 biopsies were performed in 23 patients (average 4.0 biopsies/ patient). Biopsies were performed in each patient immediately before starting tacrolimus therapy (23 biopsies), and 69 biopsies (3.0 biopsies/patient) were performed during tacrolimus therapy. Rejection diagnosis was based on strict Banff criteria. Pretacrolimus biopsies demonstrated mild acute rejection in 64% of patients and moderate acute rejection in 36%. One week after initiation of tacrolimus therapy, protocol biopsies revealed the following: no rejection (60%), improvement (13%), no change (20%), and worsening rejection (7%). Histologic changes at 1 week did not correlate with changes in renal function, as 63% of patients that showed histologic improvement or reversal during the first 2 weeks of therapy did not show improvement in serum creatinine. A lack of histologic improvement (or worsening) at 1 week was demonstrated in a significant proportion of patients (27%); increased tacrolimus dosing provided rejection reversal or improvement in 1-2 weeks in each of these patients. Recurrent rejection was diagnosed on eight biopsies in seven patients, however six episodes were diagnosed by protocol biopsies alone (i.e., in the absence of an elevation in serum creatinine). Delayed improvement in renal function, despite histologic reversal, was likely due to physiologic effects of tacrolimus (i.e., afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction), as histologic evidence of tacrolimus toxicity was not observed during the first 2 weeks of therapy. Histologic evidence of tacrolimus nephrotoxicity (nodular arteriolar hyalinosis) was found in 21% (15 of 69) of biopsies in 39% of patients (9 of 23) at a median time of 60 days (range 12-150 days). Tacrolimus dose and blood levels (by IMx assay) did not correlate with development of clinically silent or clinically evident nephrotoxicity. IN CONCLUSION: 1) protocol biopsies provide information that allows individualization of tacrolimus rejection therapy, 2) histologic resolution of rejection often precedes biochemical improvement, 3) histologic evidence of tacrolimus nephrotoxicity is seldom observed in the first 2 weeks of therapy, and 4) clinically silent recurrent rejection and clinically silent tacrolimus nephrotoxicity are observed with significant frequency during tacrolimus therapy for refractory renal allograft rejection.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2005

Validation of two devices for self-measurement of brachial blood pressure according to the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension: the SEINEX SE-9400 and the Microlife BP 3AC1-1.

BACKGROUND: Two electronic devices for self-measurement of blood pressure at the brachial artery -- the Seinex SE-9400 and the Microlife BP 3AC1-1 -- were evaluated in two separate studies according to the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension. DESIGN: The international validation protocol is divided into two phases: the first phase is performed on 15 selected participants (45 blood pressure measurements); if the device passes this phase, 18 supplementary participants are included (54 blood pressure measurements) making a total number of 33 participants (99 blood pressure measurements) on whom the final validation is performed. METHODS: The same methodology recommended by the European Society of Hypertension protocol was applied for both studies. In each study and for each participant, four blood pressure measurements were taken simultaneously by two trained observers using mercury sphygmomanometers alternately with three measurements by the tested device. The difference between the blood pressure value given by the device and that obtained by the two observers (mean of the two observers) was calculated for each measure. The 99 differences were classified into three categories (< or =5, < or =10, < or =15 mmHg). The number of differences in each category was compared with the number required by the ESH protocol. An individual analysis was then done to determine, for each participant, the number of comparisons < or =5 mmHg. At least 22 of the 33 participants should have two of their three comparisons < or =5 mmHg. RESULTS: In both studies, the two tested devices passed the first phase of the validation process. For the complete analysis (phase 1 and phase 2), the average differences between the device and mercury sphygmomanometer readings were in the first study for the Seinex SE-9400 device 0.9+/-5.2 and -1.7+/-4.7 mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, and -0.2+/-4.5 and -2.0+/-4.8 mmHg for the Microlife BP 3AC1-1 device in the second study. For both devices, readings differing by less than 5, 10 and 15 mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure values fulfill the recommendation criteria of the International Protocol as well as the individual analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The Seinex SE-9400 and the Microlife BP 3AC1-1 devices fulfilled the validation recommendations of the International Protocol.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

A modified reduced-temperature antigen retrieval protocol effective for use with a polyclonal antibody to cyclooxygenase-2 (PG 27).

Antigen retrieval is now a standard procedure in immunohistochemical studies of tissues for diagnosis and research. While the most commonly used protocol (20 minutes at 100 degrees C in citrate buffer pH 6.0) is effective for many antibody/antigen combinations, experience has shown that in some instances, this standard approach fails. Under these circumstances, a successful antigen retrieval protocol may still be established by varying key conditions in the antigen retrieval process. The authors previously have advocated a test battery approach to determine the optimal conditions for antigen retrieval, illustrated here with respect to a polyclonal antibody to cyclooxygenase-2 (PG-27) that failed to give a positive staining result after orthodox antigen retrieval. The key feature of this modified antigen retrieval protocol is heating the deparaffinized tissue sections at a reduced temperature (90 degrees C as opposed to 100 degrees C). For this particular antibody, a boiling condition yields a negative result, a principal reason why previous investigators have used a tyramide signal amplification system to achieve satisfactory immunohistochemical results with this antibody. The optimal antigen retrieval protocol established in the authors' laboratory for this polyclonal antibody to cyclooxygenase-2 (PG-27) was evaluated in a study of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cell lines and 31 bladder cancer tissue blocks using the tissue microarray technique, with side-by-side comparison between the results obtained by a tyramide signal amplification method (without antigen retrieval) and a standard immunohistochemical method with the optimized antigen retrieval protocol. The reduced temperature antigen retrieval protocol yielded a comparable or superior immunostaining for cyclooxygenase-2 both in cell lines and tissue blocks. In conclusion, use of the test battery approach allowed development of a modified antigen retrieval technique that provides a more reliable, much simpler approach for the demonstration of cyclooxygenase-2 in archival tissues.

Antibodies↗

PubMed2005

Skin care protocols for pressure ulcers and incontinence in long-term care: a quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect on pressure ulcer prevalence, incidence, and healing time of incorporating use of a specific body wash and a skin protectant into skin care protocols that are based on guidelines from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental intervention study. SETTING: 2 rural long-term-care facilities. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 136 residents at 2 rural long-term-care facilities during a 3-month preintervention and a 3-month postintervention period. INTERVENTIONS: A 3-month preintervention observation period (baseline) was followed by a staff in-service session, in which the use of a body wash and a skin protectant was introduced into skin care protocols, and a 3-month postintervention observation period. The skin care protocols included skin assessment techniques, prevention and treatment strategies for Stage I and Stage II pressure ulcers, and management of incontinence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Differences in the occurrence and healing time of Stage I and Stage II pressure ulcers before and after introduction of use of a body wash and a skin protectant into skin care protocols and the occurrence rate of urinary and fecal incontinence. RESULTS: Stage I and Stage II pressure ulcers significantly decreased from 35 preintervention to 14 postintervention (t = 19.48, df = 47, P = .05). The prevalence of pressure ulcers preintervention was 11.3%, compared with 4.8% postintervention (t = 2.47, df = 1.0, P = .24), The change in the incidence of pressure ulcers was significant (t = 8.48, df = -2.0, P = .01), with 32.7% preintervention and 8.9% postintervention. Healing time for pressure ulcers ranged from 4 to 70 days preintervention (mean [M] = 22.72 +/- 18.25) to 6 to 49 days postintervention (M = 16.0 +/- 12.93). The decrease in pressure ulcer healing time (rapid, medium, and long) preintervention to postintervention was statistically significant (chi 2= 14.9, P = .001). The presence of fecal and urinary incontinence was significantly associated with the development of Stage I and Stage II pressure ulcers (chi2= 44.8, P = .000). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of skin care protocols that included use of a body wash and a skin protectant reduced the incidence of Stage I and Stage II pressure ulcers and decreased healing time. The skin protectant and body wash used in the protocols were found to be effective in preventing and treating Stage I and Stage II pressure ulcers.

Fecal Incontinence↗

PubMed2000

Evaluation of an opiate-weaning protocol using methadone in pediatric intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a standardized opiate-weaning protocol using methadone compared with methadone weaning before protocol development. DESIGN: Time series, prospective study with comparison to historical controls. SETTING: Twenty-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit in an academic children's hospital. PATIENTS: Ten children, aged 6 months to 18 yrs, who received methadone for weaning from continuous opiate infusions for >or=7 days compared with ten patients undergoing weaning by standardized protocol. INTERVENTIONS: Institution of standardized opiate-weaning protocol. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patient age, gender, and diagnosis were similar in both nonprotocol (NP) and protocol (P) groups (p = NS). Days of opiate use were also similar between groups. Nine of ten NP and seven of ten P patients were on continuous fentanyl infusions, and the remainder were on continuous morphine infusions. P patients were weaned significantly faster than NP patients (median, 9 days and 20 days, respectively; p <.001). P patients requiring short-term opiate use also weaned significantly faster than short-term NP patients (median, 5 days and 21.5 days, respectively; p <.001). Withdrawal complications were seen in three NP patients with weaning delayed in two. Two P patients had withdrawal complications with no delay in weaning (p = NS). Significant methadone calculation discrepancy occurred in one NP patient but in no P patients. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric intensive care unit patients requiring prolonged opiate use can be weaned by using methadone with minimal signs of withdrawal. Use of a standardized weaning protocol decreased time for weaning without increasing the frequency rate of withdrawal symptoms.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Protocolized anemia management with erythropoietin in hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Treatment of the anemia of chronic renal failure with exogenous recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) is well established. The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate an anemia management team protocol in hemodialysis patients, using subcutaneous rHuEpo and intravenous iron. A total of 215 patients were randomized to either usual care or the protocol. The primary outcome was the proportion of patient hemoglobin (Hgb) values between 11.0 and 12.5 g/dl over the final 8 wk. The study was halted after 240 d because of an institutional change to intravenous rHuEpo. The proportion of Hgb values in the target range increased from 47.4% to 62.8% overall (P = 0.001); there was no difference between treatment groups. The proportion of baseline Hgb values between 11.0 and 12.5 g/dl increased from 44.6% in patients who had enrolled within the first 3 mo of study inception to 75.0% in those who started later (P = 0.017), suggesting a Hawthorne effect. A nonsignificant decrease in rHuEpo dose was observed in the protocol group; subgroup analysis in patients who were enrolled for at least 5 mo demonstrated a reduction in the rHuEpo dose of 2788 units/wk in the protocol group (P < 0.05), independent of intravenous iron dose. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a higher transferrin saturation and albumin and protocol group assignment were associated with a lower final rHuEpo dose. This study demonstrated that a protocolized approach to anemia management in hemodialysis patients results in comparable Hgb levels and may reduce rHuEpo requirements, independent of iron use.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

A comparison of diagnostic protocols for interpretation of frequency doubling perimetry visual fields in glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Frequency doubling perimetry (FDP) shows good correlation with achromatic automated perimetry in the assessment of glaucoma. However, many recommended protocols lead to a significant number of false positives and negatives. Therefore, it may be difficult to identify visual field loss owing to glaucoma. We investigated the accuracy of a diagnostic protocol that only considered either temporal wedge, arcuate, or nasal step field loss on an FDP field as significant. METHODS: Sixty-eight subjects who were glaucoma suspects, glaucoma patients or normal controls were recruited selectively. After achromatic automated perimetry and FDP visual field testing, results were compared between a conventional protocol and ones that took into account the position of FDP visual field loss. RESULTS: If an FDP field was considered abnormal only when either a temporal wedge, an arcuate or a nasal step defect was present, the presence of a nasal step yielded the most accurate results with the least false positives (kappa coefficient=0.76) and with only minimal increase in false negatives, compared with a conventional FDP protocol (kappa coefficient=0.70). CONCLUSIONS: Although, not statistically significant in this case, our results suggested a trend that a diagnostic protocol which considers nasal step FDP field loss significant may have a greater degree of accuracy when compared with conventional protocols and may facilitate interpretation in a clinical setting.

Female↗

PubMed2006

Validation of two automatic devices for self-measurement of blood pressure according to the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension: the Omron M6 (HEM-7001-E) and the Omron R7 (HEM 637-IT).

BACKGROUND: Two electronic devices for self-measurement of blood pressure - a brachial monitor, the Omron M6, and a wrist monitor, the Omron R7 - were evaluated in two separate studies according to the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension. DESIGN: The International Validation Protocol is divided into two phases: the first phase is performed on 15 selected participants (45 pairs of blood pressure measurements); if the device passes this phase, 18 supplementary participants are included (54 pairs of blood pressure measurements) making a total number of 33 participants (99 pairs of blood pressure measurements) on whom the final validation is performed. METHODS: The same methodology recommended by the European Society of Hypertension protocol was applied for both studies. In each study and for each participant, four blood pressure measurements were taken simultaneously by two trained observers using mercury sphygmomanometers alternately with three measurements taken by the tested device. The difference between the blood pressure value given by the device and that obtained by the two observers (mean of the two observers) was calculated for each measure. The 99 pairs of blood pressure differences were classified into three categories (<or=5, <or=10 and <or=15 mmHg). The number of differences in each category was compared with the number required by the International Protocol. An individual analysis was then done to determine the number of comparisons <or=5 mmHg for each participant. At least 22 of the 33 participants should have two of their three comparisons <or=5 mmHg. RESULTS: In both studies, the two tested devices passed the first and the second phases of the validation process. The average differences between the device and mercury sphygmomanometer readings were 0.8+/-2.7 and -1.9+/-3.3 mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, for the Omron M6 device, and 0.2+/-4.2 and 0.2+/-2.9 mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively, for the Omron R7 device. For both devices, readings differing by less than 5, 10 and 15 mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure values fulfill the recommendation criteria of the International Protocol as well as the individual analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The Omron M6 (HEM-7001-E) and the Omron R7 (HEM 637-IT) devices fulfilled the validation recommendations of the International Protocol.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Multidetector computed tomography for suspected appendicitis: multi-institutional survey of 16-MDCT data acquisition protocols and review of pertinent literature.

PURPOSE: To determine acquisition protocol parameters currently used by different institutions for appendiceal multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey inquiring about multiple MDCT protocols was mailed to 99 fellows of the Society of Computed Body Tomography in August of 2004, with a second mailing sent in May 2005. A total of 46 institutions or hospitals are represented by these Society of Computed Body Tomography fellows. Details pertaining to protocols for the most advanced MDCT scanner in the department were requested. RESULTS: The overall survey response rate was 17 of 46 or 37%. Fifteen protocols using 16-MDCT for suspected appendicitis were collected and tabulated. Parameters that are similar across institutions include a nonfocused acquisition using oral and intravenous contrast. Detector configuration is even divided between submillimeter and greater than 1 mm, and the most common reconstruction section thickness is 5 mm. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast administration and anatomical coverage are quite consistent across this set of protocols. However, future appendiceal MDCT research will need to address the most efficacious detector row collimation, reconstruction section thickness and interval, and the diagnostic capacity of protocols implementing dose reduction measures.

Adolescent↗