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At least 865 records · Page 48Linked to original sources

PubMed1982

The effects of dissecting tools on the trace element concentrations of fish and mussel tissues.

A comparison of the effects of dissecting tools composed of various materials on the trace element content of the muscle of the marine bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix, and the soft tissues of freshwater mussels, Eliptio complanatus and Lampsilus radiata, is presented. The fish were dissected with blades made of stainless steel, Lexan plastic, titanium, and Teflon-coated stainless steel. The mussels were dissected with stainless and Teflon tools only. Elements measured included As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Sn, Te, V, and Zn. Significant concentration differences (P = 0.01) were not found for any element in fish or mussel samples dissected by the different tools.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Evaluation of the objectivity of an infection control audit tool.

A national study involving 22 districts was carried out during 1993 to evaluate an infection control audit tool. The tool was found to be objective and can be used by infection control teams to monitor practices and assess the impact of training programmes. It can also be used to provide purchasers with a measurable standard in relation to infection control quality issues. In total, 440 wards were audited. A few districts had problems in meeting some of the standards, particularly on sharps and waste. A subgroup of the West Midlands Infection Control Nurses Association was able to adapt the audit tool for specialized areas including general practice, nursing homes and dentistry.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

PubMed1995

Use of TSAR as a new tool to analyze the molecular dynamics trajectories of proteins.

There is a lack of tools to analyze simulations of protein molecular dynamics quantitatively. Our aim is to use calmodulin, a prototypical calcium-binding protein, to describe a strategy and some tools for extracting relevant information from dynamics calculations. Our main conclusions are as follows: Autocorrelation vectors may be used to represent a 3D conformation in an n-dimensional space, where n is variable (n < or = 20-30). On such a transformation, classic statistical tools (PCA, clustering, etc.) may be used to differentiate or characterize dynamics trajectories quantitatively. TSAR, an integrated package used for quantitative structure-activity relationships, is well suited (after minor modifications) for such a purpose. Finally, this type of strategy is able to point out the effects of the solvent screening parameters of the Amber software on the dynamics trajectories of calmodulin.

Calmodulin↗

PubMed1993

Toward validation of pain measurement tools for children: a pilot study.

We undertook to explore the validity of pain measurement tools for use in children in the postoperative period. The general approach was to determine the extent to which a measurement tool conformed with the clinical expectations about pain in the postoperative period; namely, that pain is low prior to surgery, increases following surgery, decreases with pain medication and decreases over time following surgery. In children aged 6 months to 3 years, we evaluated the CHEOPS and Observer pain scales. In children 3-6 years of age, we used the CHEOPS, Observer and Faces scale. In children 6-12 years of age, we studied the CHEOPS, Faces and visual analogue scales. In all instances, each of the scales conformed with the clinical expectations about pain following surgery. In addition, these scales were correlated with each other. Within the limitations of the measurement techniques used, these data provide support for the validity of the measurement tools evaluated.

Child↗

PubMed1994

The dilemma of conversion from systemic to epidural morphine: a proposed conversion tool for treatment of cancer pain.

There is lack of concensus over what constitutes an appropriate method to affect an equianalgesic conversion from systemic to epidural morphine. A systematic approach to calculate the appropriate starting dose for epidural morphine is needed. A model is proposed here and data from a pilot study are described supporting the concept as well as its utility in the clinical setting. Several key factors may have an impact upon the selection of a starting dose in the opioid-tolerant cancer population such as pain severity, age, previous systemic opioid use, and presence of neuropathic pain. A conversion tool was developed taking these 4 factors into account and was tested in a small number of patients with cancer pain. The rationale for this approach is explored. Four case examples are presented to demonstrate the utilization of the tool and the effectiveness of this formula for clinical practice. Further study is needed to firmly establish the validity and reliability of this tool.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Learning needs of hospitalized veteran patients: developing a tool for practice.

The purpose of the study was to develop a practical tool for easy administration by staff to identify Veteran patients' perceived learning needs. Initial development of the tool was based upon a comprehensive literature review, an expert panel review using a modified Delphi Method, and pilot testing of select patients. Two study phases each involved 200 patient interviews from the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Buffalo, New York. The first phase showed that the tool, the 'Perceived Health Education Needs Scale' had strong internal consistency. Exploratory factor analysis suggested one dominant factor of health. Similar results showing strong internal consistency and one dominant factor were found during a second phase. Veteran patients placed importance on a wide range of educational learning needs, independent of their immediate health concerns.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Measurement of pain: the psychometric properties of the Pain-O-Meter, a simple, inexpensive pain assessment tool that could change health care practices.

A self-administered pain assessment tool called the Pain-O-Meter (POM) was developed for the purposes of improving assessment and management of pain in acute and chronic pain patients. The POM is a hard, white, plastic tool that measures 8-in. long by 2-in. wide and 1-in. thick. Two methods for assessing pain are located on the POM. The first is a 10-cm visual analogue scale (POM-VAS) with a moveable marker that patients use to rate their pain. The second is a list of 15 sensory and 11 affective word descriptors (WDS). Each WDS is assigned an intensity value that can be as low as 1 or as high as 5. A pain intensity score is provided for the sensory and the affective WDSs. This psychometric study, which employed correlational and comparative designs, investigated the test-retest reliability and the concurrent and construct validity of the POM-VAS and the POM-WDS in 279 patients with acute or chronic pain. High correlations were found between initial and repeat pain intensity ratings on the POM-VAS (r = 0.88, P < 0.001) and POM-WDS (r + 0.84, P < 0.001) (test-retest reliability). Correlations between the POM-WDS and the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) (r = 0.69, P < 0.001) and POM-VAS (r = 0.85, P < 0.001) supported the concurrent validity of the POM-WDS. Construct validity was also supported for the Pain-O-Meter by showing that pain scores decreased significantly for POM-WDS (t + 5.53, P < 0.001), and POM-VAS (t = 6.18, P < 0.001) after the patients were treated with pain medication. The use of a pain tool, such as the POM, could improve patient care by facilitating the documentation of pain and evaluation of pain relief measures.

Cost Control↗

PubMed1995

Affect processing in chronically psychotic patients: development of a reliable assessment tool.

We developed an economical clinical tool for assessing affect processing deficits in patients with chronic schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Using trained raters, we assessed spontaneous prosody, prosodic comprehension, prosodic repetition, and recognition of facial affect. High interrater reliability and good separation between subscales was demonstrated. Our tool discriminated between the performance of subjects versus controls on measures of spontaneous prosody and prosodic comprehension, suggesting the presence of prosodic deficits in psychiatric patients. These findings underscore the need for reliable and valid testing tools which will allow greater understanding of affective prosodic processing deficits in psychiatric populations.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Occupational lung diseases in the industrializing and industrialized world: commonalities and contrasts: measurement tools.

Research on occupational lung disease has been a growing challenge over the past 4 decades. Exposure to respiratory toxins has increased in many industrializing countries of the world while new and old hazards continue to exist in the industrialized world. The focus of this paper is on measurement tools commonly used in the study of occupational lung diseases. The emphasis is on epidemiology, a discipline which has contributed to the understanding and control of occupational lung disease. An examination of these tools reveals that (1) there are more commonalities than contrasts in available methods; (2) researchers in industrializing settings can contribute much to our understanding of occupational lung diseases; (3) international collaboration is needed in refining measurement tools; and (4) international collaboration should proceed on studies of preventive strategies.

Bronchial Provocation Tests↗

PubMed2006

Software tools for interactive instruction in radiologic anatomy.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To promote active learning in an introductory Radiologic Anatomy course through the use of computer-based exercises. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DICOM datasets from our hospital PACS system were transferred to a networked cluster of desktop computers in a medical school classroom. Medical students in the Radiologic Anatomy course were divided into four small groups and assigned to work on a clinical case for 45 minutes. The groups used iPACS viewer software, a free DICOM viewer, to view images and annotate anatomic structures. The classroom instructor monitored and displayed each group's work sequentially on the master screen by running SynchronEyes, a software tool for controlling PC desktops remotely. RESULTS: Students were able to execute the assigned tasks using the iPACS software with minimal oversight or instruction. Course instructors displayed each group's work on the main display screen of the classroom as the students presented the rationale for their decisions. The interactive component of the course received high ratings from the students and overall course ratings were higher than in prior years when the course was given solely in lecture format. CONCLUSIONS: DICOM viewing software is an excellent tool for enabling students to learn radiologic anatomy from real-life clinical datasets. Interactive exercises performed in groups can be powerful tools for stimulating students to learn radiologic anatomy.

Anatomy↗

PubMed2006

CT angiography of peripheral arterial bypass grafts: Accuracy and time-effectiveness of quantitative image analysis with an automated software tool.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Qualitative analysis of computed tomography (CT) angiography data often is limited by intra- and interobserver variability. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time-effectiveness and accuracy of a quantitative CT angiography data analysis using automated software in comparison with qualitative axial and coronal CT image reading in patients with peripheral bypass grafts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with 33 saphenous bypass grafts underwent 4-channel (n = 21) and 16-channel (n = 7) CT angiography. Two readers evaluated in consensus the CT data qualitatively on axial and coronal reconstructions and with the software regarding the presence of graft stenoses, aneurysmal changes, and arteriovenous fistulas. The time for data analysis was taken and the accuracy was compared with the results from digital subtraction angiography (DSA). RESULTS: No significant difference was present between data analysis time using axial and coronal CT images (4.9 +/- 1.5 minutes) and when using the software tool (5.5 +/- 1.4 minutes). Good (kappa = 0.652) to excellent (kappa = 1.000) intermodality agreement was present between qualitative and quantitative CT analysis regarding graft-related abnormalities. Sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing stenoses, aneurysms, and fistula did not differ significantly (P > .025) between qualitative CT image reading and the automated software tool. CONCLUSIONS: CT angiography analysis of peripheral bypass grafts using an automated software tool is similar regarding time-effectiveness and accuracy when compared with qualitative CT data analysis on axial and coronal images. It may assist in determining the significance of an abnormality and can yield objective morphometric data of vessel calibers.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2006

Self-test software for PowerPoint: a tool for self-learning.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: We developed self-test software to improve self-learning efficiency using Microsoft PowerPoint data files. CONCLUSION: This tool can be run on IBM-compatible computer under Microsoft Windows. It is a new useful and interactive tool for self-learning. This tool allows users to do view the cases in the PowerPoint data files by random or sequentially. Goal-oriented effective self-learning is possible from methods that conjecture the possible differential diagnosis without promptly seeing correct diagnosis. Thus effective and interactive self-learning is possible.

Computer Graphics↗

PubMed2004

A systematic integrative review of infant pain assessment tools.

PURPOSE: To examine the issue of pain assessment in infants by acquiring all available published pain assessment tools and evaluating their reported reliability, validity, clinical utility, and feasibility. DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic integrative review of the literature was conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE and CINAHL (through February 2004), and Health and Psychosocial Instruments, and Cochrane Systematic Reviews (through 2003). MeSH headings searched included "pain measurement," with limit of "newborn infant"; "infant newborn"; and "pain perception." SUBJECTS: Thirty-five neonatal pain assessment tools were found and evaluated using predetermined criteria. The critique consisted of a structured comparison of the classification and dimensions measured. Further, the population tested and reports of reliability, validity, clinical utility, and feasibility were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 35 measures reviewed, 18 were unidimensional and 17 were multidimensional. Six of the multidimensional measures were published as abstracts only, were not published at all, or the original work could not be obtained. None of the existing instruments fulfilled all criteria for an ideal measure; many require further psychometric testing. CONCLUSIONS: When choosing a pain assessment tool, one must also consider the infant population and setting, and the type of pain experienced. The decision should be made after carefully considering the existing published options. Confidence that the instrument will assess pain in a reproducible way is essential, and must be demonstrated with validity and reliability testing. Using an untested instrument is not recommended, and should only occur within a research protocol, with appropriate ethics and parental approval. Because pain is a multidimensional phenomenon, well-tested multidimensional instruments may be preferable.

Humans↗

PubMed2005

Prospective evaluation of digital non-stereo color fundus photography as a screening tool in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate mydriatic, non-stereo digital color fundus photographs as a screening tool for identifying and classifying exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). DESIGN: Prospective case series. METHODS: Digital color fundus photographs were obtained from patients seen in the AMD screening clinic over a 9-month period at the Ivey Eye Institute in London, Ontario. Photographs for eligible patients were separated by eye, cataloged, blinded, and randomly labeled before interpretation by an experienced vitreoretinal surgeon. Exact agreement, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the fundus photographs in diagnosing, classifying, and managing cases of suspected exudative AMD were then calculated against gold standard clinical examination and fluorescein angiography. RESULTS: A total of 223 images were used from 118 eligible patients. Exact agreement between photographic evaluation and gold standard ranged from 89.2% (presence of pigment epithelial detachment (PED)) to 82.5% (evidence of retinal pigment epithelium geographic atrophy). Sensitivities ranged from 89.2% (presence of choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM)) to 40.0% (presence of PED). Specificities ranged from 94.1% (presence of PED) to 86.8% (presence of retinal pigment epithelium geographic atrophy). Positive predictive value ranged from 86.1% (presence of CNVM) to 40.0% (presence of PED). Negative predictive value ranged from 94.1% (presence of PED) to 88.9% (presence of CNVM). As a screening tool for high-risk dry changes and active exudative changes, overall sensitivity specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 82.1%, 79.1%, 70.4%, and 88.0%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Digital, non-stereo color fundus photographs are highly sensitive and have high negative predictive value as a screening tool. Very few treatable lesions are missed using telemedicine in age-related macular degeneration.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Phylogenetic analysis as a tool in molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases.

Phylogenetics is a powerful tool for microbial epidemiology, but it is a tool that is often misused and misinterpreted by the field. Microbial epidemiologists are cautioned that in order to draw any inferences about the order of descent from a common ancestor it is necessary to correctly root a phylogenetic tree. Epidemiological samples of microbial populations typically include both ancestors and their descendants. In order to illustrate the relationships of those isolates, the phylogenetic method used must be able to detect zero-length branches. Unweighted Pair-Group Method (UPGMA) is the phylogenetic method that is most widely used in microbial epidemiology. Because UPGMA cannot detect zero length branches, and because it places the root of the tree based on a usually-false assumption, UPGMA is the worst possible choice among the several phylogenetic methods available. Because microbial epidemiology deals with relationships among strains within a species, rather than with relationships among species, recombination within those species can render phylogenetic trees meaningless and positively misleading. When there is evidence of significant recombination within the species of interest phylogenetic trees should not be used at all. Instead, alternative tools such as eBURST should be used to understand relationships among isolates.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2004

QFD: a methodological tool for integration of ergonomics at the design stage.

As a marked increase in the number of musculoskeletal disorders was noted in many industrialized countries and more specifically in companies that require the use of hand tools, the French National Research and Safety Institute launched in 1999 a research program on the topic of integrating ergonomics into hand tool design. After a brief review of the problems of integrating ergonomics at the design stage, the paper shows how the "Quality Function Deployment" method has been applied to the design of a boning knife and it highlights the difficulties encountered. Then, it demonstrates how this method can be a methodological tool geared to greater ergonomics consideration in product design.

Equipment Design↗

PubMed2005

Making sense of pragmatic criteria for the selection of geriatric rehabilitation measurement tools.

In geriatric rehabilitation, the selection of the most appropriate measurement tools involves pragmatic as well as psychometric considerations. However, there is no consensus about the conceptual and operational definitions of the pragmatic criteria involved in this selection. The objective of this research was to identify such operational criteria through a literature search between 1995 and 2004. Results identified operational criteria that were grouped under four categories using a conceptual mapping methodology: respondent burden, examiner burden, score distribution and format compatibility. We recommend the umbrella term applicability to refer to this grouping of pragmatic qualities of a measurement tool. Examining the applicability of measurement tools should assist clinicians and researchers in selecting the most appropriate for use in geriatric rehabilitation.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

Prognostic Value of Frailty in Aortic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Comparing Frailty Assessment Tools.

BACKGROUND: Frailty is increasingly recognized as an important determinant of outcomes after aortic vascular surgery, but assessment methods vary substantially and the optimal tool for risk stratification remains uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prognostic value of preoperative frailty and compared the predictive performance of different frailty instruments in aortic surgery. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to April 27, 2026. Eligible studies included patients undergoing open, endovascular, or hybrid aortic procedures involving abdominal, thoracic, thoracoabdominal, arch, and proximal aortic diseases, including aneurysms and dissections, assessed frailty preoperatively, and reported postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty studies comprising 419,459 patients were included. Frailty was associated with higher early mortality (odds ratio [OR] 2.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.54-3.14) and late mortality (hazard ratio 2.18; 95% CI 1.64-2.90). Frail patients also had increased risks of major complications (OR 2.52; 95% CI 1.22-5.19), acute kidney injury (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.34-2.02), and nonhome discharge (OR 5.50; 95% CI 3.05-9.92). Associations were consistent across surgical approaches and aortic segments. Judgment-based or phenotype-like tools yielded higher effect estimates than deficit-accumulation indices, although differences were not statistically significant; among index-based tools, Modified Frailty Index (mFI)-11 outperformed mFI-5. CONCLUSION: Preoperative frailty strongly predicts mortality, morbidity, and loss of functional independence after open, endovascular, and hybrid aortic surgery across different aortic segments and pathologies, including aneurysmal and dissecting aortic disease. Routine frailty assessment may improve risk stratification and perioperative decision-making.

Humans↗