萝藦果壳多糖诱导人肺癌A549细胞凋亡的研究

目的 探究萝藦果壳多糖（MJP-1’）诱导人肺癌A549细胞凋亡的作用。方法 采用CCK8法检测萝藦果壳多糖对A549细胞活力的影响;采用比色法检测A549细胞内乳酸脱氢酶的释放量变化情况;通过TUNEL实验探究萝藦果壳多糖对A549细胞凋亡的影响;通过JC - 1荧光探针探究萝藦果壳多糖对A549细胞线粒体膜电位的影响;通过蛋白质分子印迹法探究萝藦果壳多糖作用后A549细胞凋亡相关蛋白表达的变化。结果 CCK8法显示萝藦果壳多糖抑制A549细胞的增殖,并呈剂量依赖趋势（125 μg/ml组:t = 3.092,P = 0.015;250 μg/ml组:t = 3.929,P = 0.004;500 μg/ml组:t = 5.626,P＜0.001;1 000 μg/ml组:t = 7.512,P＜0.001;2 000 μg/ml组:t = 9.677,P＜0.001;4 000 μg/ml组:t = 12.290,P＜0.001;8 000 μg/ml组:t = 16.000,P＜0.001）;比色法显示A549细胞乳酸脱氢酶释放量增加（2 mg/ml组:t = 8.233,P = 0.001;4 mg/ml组:t = 12.640,P＜0.001;8 mg/ml组:t = 27.530,P＜0.001）;TUNEL实验显示萝藦果壳多糖可促进A549细胞凋亡（2 mg/ml组:t = 7.803,P＜0.001;4 mg/ml组:t = 12.460,P＜0.001;8 mg/ml组:t = 39.340,P＜0.001）;JC - 1探针实验结果显示萝藦果壳多糖导致A549细胞线粒体膜电位降低（2 mg/ml组:t = 24.120,P＜0.001;4 mg/ml组:t = 28.530,P＜0.001;8 mg/ml组:t = 31.600,P＜0.001）;蛋白质分子印迹法结果显示萝藦果壳多糖可以下调Bcl - 2蛋白表达（2 mg/ml组:t = 3.790,P = 0.019;4 mg/ml组:t = 6.598,P = 0.003;8 mg/ml组:t = 12.840,P＜0.001）,并使Bax、cleaved - caspase - 3蛋白表达增加（Bax组:2 mg/ml组:t = 17.280,P＜0.001;4 mg/ml组:t = 36.040,P＜0.001;8 mg/ml组:t = 22.520,P＜0.001;cleaved - caspase - 3组:2 mg/ml组:t = 6.487,P = 0.003;4 mg/ml组:t = 9.326,P＜0.001;8 mg/ml组:t = 22.380,P＜0.001）。结论 本研究发现萝藦果壳多糖可以诱导人肺癌A549细胞凋亡,为进一步开发利用萝藦果壳多糖奠定了基础。     

诊断试验一致性评价中几种方法的比较及应用

目的 对诊断试验中评价一致性的几种方法进行比较.方法 对实例及3种模拟情况进行一致性评价,比较几种方法的优劣.结果 检验试剂与参考试剂测量游离前列腺特异抗原(FPSA)的实例分析中,除配对t检验外,几种方法均显示出良好的一致性;在系统误差较大的模拟情况下,简单相关分析所得结果相对实例而言没有变化;在随机误差较大的模拟情况下,配对t检验得出两种试剂具有良好的一致性;在系统误差和随机误差均小的模拟情况下,组内相关系数所得结果显示一致性较差.结论 配对t检验、简单相关分析用于一致性评价都只适用于部分资料,组内相关系数法适用于存在系统误差和/或随机误差的时候,而Bland-Altman法以及ATE/LER区域可作为一致性评价的优先考虑方法.     

贵州省0~7岁儿童百日咳抗体水平及影响因素研究

目的 了解贵州省0~7岁儿童百日咳抗体水平及影响因素,为制定免疫策略和预防百日咳疾病提供依据。方法 于2019年6月至2021年5月,以贵州省24483名儿童作为调查对象,采用间接酶联免疫吸附试验检测其血清百日咳抗体浓度。采用SPSS 20.0软件,利用Kruskal-Wallis H秩和检验、卡方检验进行人口学特征组间比较;采用二分类非条件logistic回归进行多因素分析。结果 调查对象平均年龄为3.00（0.83, 3.92）岁;平均抗体浓度为5.27（1.24, 13.04）IU/ml,其中3738名（15.27%）儿童抗体浓度≥20IU/ml,8829名（36.06%）儿童抗体浓度介于5~19IU/ml之间,11916名（48.67%）的儿童抗体浓度<5IU/ml;二分类非条件logistic回归分析结果显示,年龄≥6岁组（OR=1.443,95%CI:1.028~2.025）、免疫史为3剂次组（OR=1.754,95%CI:1.512~2.036）和4剂次组（OR=1.971,95%CI:1.557~2.496）、市州经济水平中上（OR=1.352,95%CI:1.241~1.472）、中下（OR=1.269,95%CI:1.139~1.415）及差（OR=2.979,95%CI:1.701~2.303）会影响抗体阳性率。结论 贵州省0~7岁儿童百日咳总体抗体水平和抗体阳性率较低,相关部门要重视适龄儿童百日咳疫苗接种工作,确保其能及时、全程接种百日咳疫苗,使其免受感染。     

茶多酚改善衰老2型糖尿病雄鼠条件性学习记忆的机制研究

目的 探讨茶多酚（Tea polyphenols, TP）改善衰老2型糖尿病（Type 2 diabetes mellitus, T2DM）雄鼠条件性学习记忆的机制。方法 40只8周龄Sprague Dawley（SD）雄性大鼠随机分为正常对照组（Control, CN）和造模组。采用高糖高脂饲料喂养合并腹腔注射D-半乳糖和链脲佐菌素（Streptozotocin,STZ）的方法建立衰老T2DM雄鼠模型。将成模的雄鼠根据血糖值随机分为衰老T2DM组（Model）、300mg/kg TP组及3mg/kg罗格列酮组（Rosiglitazone, RSG）。连续干预8周后,穿梭箱实验检测雄鼠条件性学习记忆能力,Nissl染色计数海马锥体细胞层和齿状回颗粒细胞层阳性细胞数,Western Blot检测雄鼠海马组织突触素（Synaptophysin, SYN）,突触后密度蛋白-95（Postsynaptic density protein-95, PSD-95）,磷酸化c-AMP反应元件结合蛋白质（Phosphorylated cylic AMP response element binding protein, p-CREB）和脑源性神经营养因子（Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF）蛋白表达。One-way ANOVA法分析总体差异,方差齐者组间两两比较以LSD法进行分析,方差不齐者以Dunnett法进行分析,检验水准α=0.05。结果 各组雄鼠血糖值、回避潜伏时间、主动回避反应率、总回避反应率、CA1区Nissl染色阳性细胞数、PSD95、SYN、p-CREB和BDNF蛋白表达量总体差异均有统计学意义（F=174.727,P<0.001;F=24.963,P<0.001;F=6.664,P=0.001;F=8.601,P<0.001;F=4.142,P= 0.048;F=10.034,P<0.001;F=4.590,P=0.013;F=12.590,P<0.001;F=6.272,P=0.004）。其中与CN组相比,Model组雄鼠空腹血糖值（Fasting blood-glucose, FBG）明显升高,回避潜伏时间明显延长,主动回避反应率和总回避反应率明显降低;海马CA1区Nissl染色阳性细胞数减少;海马组织PSD95、SYN、p-CREB和BDNF的表达水平明显减少（P<0.01）。与Model组相比,300mg/kg TP干预组雄鼠FBG明显降低,回避潜伏时间明显缩短,主动回避反应率和总回避反应率明显升高（P<0.01）,PSD95、SYN、p-CREB和BDNF的表达水平上调（P<0.05）;3mg/kg RSG组雄鼠FBG明显降低（P<0.01）,主动回避反应率升高（P<0.05）。与3mg/kg RSG组相比,300mg/kg TP组雄鼠回避潜伏时间缩短、总回避反应率升高以及PSD95的表达水平增高均更明显（P<0.05）。结论 300mg/kg TP可改善衰老T2DM模型雄鼠的条件性学习记忆能力,其作用可能与改善海马神经细胞形态、抑制细胞数量的减少、增加SYN、PSD95、p-CREB和BDNF的表达有关。     

两种方法检测慢性乙型肝炎患者E抗原/E抗体双阳性的情况分析

目的 分析化学发光微粒子免疫分析（CMIA）法与酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）法检测慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者E抗原（HBeAg）/E抗体（Anti-HBe）双阳性情况。方法 回顾性分析2017年7月至2021年6月诊断为CHB患者的资料，经CMIA、ELISA法检测为HBeAg/Anti-HBe双阳性分别为350、84例。比较CMIA法检测的350例样本中Anti-HBs在10～100 mIU/ml水平下的HBeAg、Anti-HBe水平，H B V-D N A在2～8水平下的HBeAg、Anti-HBe水平差异，并分析两种方法检测HBV-M双阳性的情况。结果 不同Anti-HBs水平下的HBe Ag、Anti-HBe水平比较，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;Anti-HBs>100 mIU/ml的HBe Ag、Anti-HBe高于Anti-HBs 10～100 mIU/ml和Anti-HBs <10 mIU/ml，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）;Anti-HBs<10 mIU/ml与Anti-HBs 10～100 mIU/ml水平下的HBe Ag、...     

白僵蚕水提物对镉致胰岛β细胞毒性的影响研究

目的 探讨白僵蚕水提物对硫酸镉（CdSO4）致胰岛β细胞NIT-1细胞毒性的影响。方法 采用冷水浸泡法提取白僵蚕的水溶性成分。分别用（0、0.4、0.8、1.6、3.2和6.4mg/mL）白僵蚕水提物染毒细胞24h;用4μmol/L CdSO4分别与（0.4和0.8mg/mL）白僵蚕水提物混合后共处理24h;以及用（0.4和0.8mg/mL） 白僵蚕水提物预处理2h,再以4μmol/L CdSO4分别染毒24h。采用CCK8、Hoechst33258染色以及荧光探针等方法分别检测NIT-1细胞存活率、细胞凋亡及活性氧ROS的水平。结果 （1）与对照组比较,细胞存活率随白僵蚕水提物染毒浓度的增加呈现出先升高后下降的趋势（P<0.05）;（2）与单独处理组相比,4μmol/L CdSO4与（0.4和0.8mg/mL）白僵蚕水提物共处理组细胞存活率均降低（P<0.05）,且预处理组细胞存活率相比白僵蚕单独处理组也降低（P<0.05）;（3）联合处理组细胞变圆、细胞核呈致密浓染,细胞凋亡率均高于白僵蚕和CdSO4单染组（P<0.05）;同时,联合处理组ROS荧光强度也升高,分别为白僵蚕和CdSO4单染组的1.18和1.05倍（P<0.05）。结论 白僵蚕水提物在低浓度下可促进NIT-1细胞的增殖,高浓度则降低细胞的存活率;低浓度的白僵蚕水提物无法拮抗CdSO4诱导的细胞死亡,反而增强了细胞毒性,其机制可能与凋亡和ROS水平增加有关。     

十溴联苯醚与邻苯二甲酸二（2-乙基）酯致雄性生殖损伤的研究

目的探讨十溴联苯醚（decabromodiphenylether,BDE-209）与邻苯二甲酸二（2-乙基）酯（Bis（2-ethylhexyl）phthalate,DEHP）联合暴露致青春期雄性小鼠生殖损伤的表现。方法 4周龄青春期雄性ICR小鼠随机分为5组:A组为玉米油对照组;B组为100 mg/（kg·d）BDE-209+100 mg/（kg·d）DEHP组;C组为100 mg/（kg·d）BDE-209+300 mg/（kg·d）DEHP组;D组为300 mg/（kg·d）BDE-209+100 mg/（kg·d）DEHP组;E组为300mg/（kg·d）BDE-209+300 mg/（kg·d）DEHP组。小鼠经口染毒6周后处死,称取小鼠脏器重量并计算脏器系数,附睾尾部精子计数,采用放射免疫检测法检测小鼠血清睾酮浓度,采用免疫印迹实验检测小鼠睾丸睾酮合成酶的表达水平。结果与对照组相比,E组小鼠睾丸脏器系数降低（P<0.001）,D、E组小鼠血清睾酮浓度显著降低（P=0.021,P=0.003）,各联合暴露组小鼠附睾精子计数均降低（均有P<0.001）,且小鼠睾丸类...     

基于QuEChERS方法的血液中30种农药的气相色谱-质谱快速检测法

目的 建立血液中30种有机氯及菊酯类农药的气相色谱-质谱检测方法。方法 取0.50ml全血,加入乙腈沉淀蛋白,并超声提取待测农药,经QuEChERS法净化后,样液经2根串联的HP-5MS(15m×0.25mm×0.25μm)毛细管柱分离,质谱检测。结果 各农药浓度在0.005~2.0mg/L范围内线性关系良好,相关系数均大于0.995,检出限(LOD)为0.002~0.004mg/L,定量限(LOQ)为0.005~0.010mg/L,回收率为60.42%~99.88%,相对标准差为2.84%~21.46%。结论 该方法操作简便、快速、灵敏、稳定性好,适合于血液样品中30种农药残留的检测。     

基于改进QuEChERS测定植物油中邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物的气相色谱串联质谱质谱方法研究

目的 针对现有方法的不足,改进QuEChERS程序,采用气相色谱串联质谱质谱仪（GC-MS/MS）建立植物油中16种邻苯二甲酸酯类化合物（PAEs）的检测方法。方法 对前处理条件和仪器条件进行优化后,样品经乙腈超声提取,加入PSA+Silica净化,振荡离心后取上清液进行测定,外标法定量。结果 各种PAEs出峰良好,方法线性范围为0.02mg/L~1.00mg/L,相关系数均大于0.998,方法检出限为0.00021mg/kg~0.014mg/kg,定量限为0.00068mg/kg~0.048mg/kg,3个加标浓度下的回收率为80.0%~103%,相对标准偏差（RSD%）为1.79%~6.96%,用本法检测了10个植物油样品,共有4种PAEs检出,分别是DBP、DEHP、DIBP和DNOP,本法和国标法检出值的相对偏差均小于10%。结论 该方法具有简便、高效、灵敏、快速等优点,能够很好地完成植物油中PAEs含量的检测。     

2016—2019年天津市儿童碘营养状况分析

目的 了解2016—2019年天津市儿童碘营养及甲状腺状况,为儿童科学补碘提供理论依据。 方法 在天津市16个区的小学中随机抽取11942名儿童,采用直接滴定法检测盐碘,采用B超法检查甲状腺情况,采用砷铈催化分光光度法检测尿碘。计量资料采用非参数秩和检验,计数资料采用〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗检验。 结果 儿童盐碘中位数为24.88mg/kg,碘盐覆盖率为74.28%,合格碘盐食用率为57.63%,尿碘中位数为171.02μg/L,甲肿率为2.34%。郊区儿童盐碘中位数、尿碘水平均高于城区（Z=-12.868、-12.831,P均小于0.001）。≤7岁年龄组碘营养（248.80μg/L）大于适宜量,21.46%（2557/11917）的儿童尿碘处于碘缺乏水平（<100μg/L）,14.33%（1708/11917）的儿童处于碘过量水平（≥300μg/L）。不同年龄组间甲状腺容积存在统计学差异（〖XC小五号.EPS;P〗=620.083,P<0.001）。尿碘与盐碘、碘盐覆盖率均呈正相关（r=0.043、0.054,P均<0.001）。 结论 天津市儿童碘营养状况总体适宜,但仍有部分儿童存在碘摄入不足或碘摄入过量问题。应定期监测儿童碘盐食用情况并评估其碘营养状况,为制定儿童科学补碘政策提供依据。     

自动血压计测量值一致性评估方法的应用

目的：通过对自动血压计和标准汞柱式血压计测量值的对照分析,探讨2种测量方法定量测量结果一致性评估方法在自动血压计测量准确性方面的应用。方法：采用组内相关系数评价重复测量的信度,利用Bland—Ahman分析方法评估自动血压计和标准汞柱式血压计测量值的一致性。同时,比较欧洲高血压协会（European Society of Hypertension,ESH）关于血压计评估国际标准的评测结果。结果：该次被测的自动血压计未通过ESH的评估方案。汞柱式血压计收缩压测量值的组内相关系数为0．937,舒张压为0．849;被测血压计收缩压测量值的组内相关系数为0．944,舒张压为0．929。收缩压测量值差值的95％一致性界限为-10.20～16．94mmHg（1mmHg=133．322Pa）．舒张压为-6．25～11．69mmHg。结论：正常状态下,Bland—Ahman分析和ESH评估方案的判断结果是相同的。     

两种测量方法定量测量结果的一致性评价

[目的]比较两种测量方法定量测量结果的一致性评价方法的优劣。[方法]应用配对t检验、简单相关分析、组内相关系数以及Bland-Altman法对某一致性较好的实例以及其衍生出的系统误差较大、随机误差较大以及测量范围局限3种情况进行一致性评价。[结果]对实例一致性评价中,简单相关分析、组内相关系数与Bland-Altman法显示一致性较好,配对t检验显示一致性较差;系统误差较大情况下,简单相关分析显示较好一致性,而配对t检验、组内相关系数与Bland-Altman法显示一致性较差;随机误差较大情况下,配对t检验显示一致性较好,而简单相关分析、组内相关系数与Bland-Altman法显示一致性较差;在测量范围局限而随机误差和系统误差均小情况下,配对t检验与Bland-Altman法显示较好一致性,而简单相关分析与组内相关系数显示一致性较差。[结论]配对t检验与简单相关分析作为一致性评价方法有明显缺陷,而组内相关系数与Bland-Altman法虽有一定局限但可作为一致性评价的优选方法。     

Intraclass correlation coefficient and outcome prevalence are associated in clustered binary data

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the association between values for a proportion and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). METHODS: Analysis of data obtained from the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) for variation between United Kingdom general practices and results from a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) review for a range of outcomes in community and health services settings. RESULTS: There were 188 ICCs from the GPRD, the median prevalence was 13.1% (interquartile range IQR 3.5 to 28.4%) and median ICC 0.051 (IQR 0.011 to 0.094). There were 136 ICCs from the HTA review, with median prevalence 6.5% (IQR 0.4 to 20.7%) and median ICC 0.006 (IQR 0.0003 to 0.036). There was a linear association of log ICC with log prevalence in both datasets (GPRD, regression coefficient 0.61, 95% confidence interval 0.53 to 0.69, P < 0.001; HTA, 0.91, 0.81 to 1.01, P < 0.001). When the prevalence was 1% the predicted ICC was 0.008 from the GPRD or 0.002 from the HTA, but when the prevalence was 40% the predicted ICC was 0.075 (GPRD) or 0.046 (HTA). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of an outcome may be used to make an informed assumption about the magnitude of the intraclass correlation coefficient.     

The feasibility of the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Marital State (GRIMS) in assessing marital satisfaction in a Malaysian population

The purpose of this study is to validate the English version of the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Marital State (GRIMS) in a Malaysian population. Using the test-retest method and Cronbach's alpha, we assessed reliability and internal consistency. Sensitivity to change was expressed as the effect size. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha value = 0.59 to 0.91) Test-retest correlation coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient were highly significant in majority items (ICC = 0.62 and above), and there was a high degree of sensitivity and specificity. The GRIMS is suitable, reliable, valid, and sensitive to clinical change in a Malaysian population.     

Test–retest reliability of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaires (FAQLQ) for children, adolescents and adults

Objective  The self-administered Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire-Child Form (FAQLQ-CF), -Teenager Form (FAQLQ-TF) and -Adult Form (FAQLQ-AF) were recently developed within EuroPrevall, a multi-centred study of food allergy in Europe. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the FAQLQ-CF, -TF and -AF. Methods  One hundred and one Dutch patients (31 children, 34 adolescents and 36 adults) completed the FAQLQ twice with a 10–14 day interval. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess test-retest reliability. Results  Test-retest reliability was excellent with ICCs and CCCs above 0.907, 0.975 and 0.951 for the FAQLQ-CF, -TF and -AF, respectively. Bland-Altman plots showed that the mean differences of the test and re-test were all close to zero for the FAQLQs. Conclusions  The FAQLQs are reliable over a short time interval. The FAQLQs are not only excellent tools for group comparison studies, but also for monitoring individual patients.     

Social support: scale test-retest reliability in the Pro-Health Study

This article describes the test-retest reliability of a scale comprising five dimensions of social support: material, emotional, informational, affective, and positive social interaction. In the study, a sample of 192 employees at a university in Rio de Janeiro filled out the same questionnaire on two occasions, 15 days apart. Measures of stability used were the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), weighted kappa statistic, and log-linear models. Internal consistency was evaluated using the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Social support dimensions showed internal consistency ranging from 0.75 to 0.91 at test, and 0.86 to 0.93 at retest. The ICC ranged from 0.78 to 0.87 in the five dimensions of the scale, with no substantial differences by gender, age, or level of schooling. For most questions, the "agreement plus linear by linear association" and "quasi-association" log-linear models gave the best fit. According to these results, the reliability of the instrument was considered adequate, enabling it to be used in ongoing assessment of associations between social support and health-related outcomes in a cohort study (the Pro-Health Study) recently begun in Rio de Janeiro.     

Patterns of intra-cluster correlation from primary care research to inform study design and analysis

OBJECTIVE: To provide information concerning the magnitude of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for cluster-based studies set in primary care. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Reanalysis of data from 31 cluster-based studies in primary care to estimate intraclass correlation coefficients from random effects models using maximum likelihood estimation. RESULTS: ICCs were estimated for 1,039 variables. The median ICC was 0.010 (interquartile range [IQR] 0 to 0.032, range 0 to 0.840). After adjusting for individual- and cluster-level characteristics, the median ICC was 0.005 (IQR 0 to 0.021). A given measure showed widely varying ICC estimates in different datasets. In six datasets, the ICCs for SF-36 physical functioning scale ranged from 0.001 to 0.055 and for SF-36 general health from 0 to 0.072. In four datasets, the ICC for systolic blood pressure ranged from 0 to 0.052 and for diastolic blood pressure from 0 to 0.108. CONCLUSION: The precise magnitude of between-cluster variation for a given measure can rarely be estimated in advance. Studies should be designed with reference to the overall distribution of ICCs and with attention to features that increase efficiency.     

Preference Weighting of Health State Values: What Difference Does It Make,and Why?

Background

Most patient-reported outcome measures apply a simple summary score to assess health-related quality of life, whereby equal weight is normally assigned to each item. In the generic preference-based instruments, utility weighting is essential whereby health state values are estimated through preference elicitation and complex algorithms.

Accuracy of direct segmental multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis in the assessment of total body and segmental body composition in middle-aged adult population

Background & aims

Body composition measurement is a valuable tool for assessing nutritional status and physical fitness in a variety of clinical settings. Although bioimpedance analysis (BIA) can easily assess body composition, its accuracy remains unclear. We examined the accuracy of direct segmental multi-frequency BIA technique (DSM-BIA) in assessing different body composition parameters, using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) as a reference standard.

Methods

A total of 484 middle-aged participants from the Leiden Longevity Study were recruited. Agreements between DSM-BIA and DEXA for total and segmental body composition quantification were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients and Bland–Altman plots.

Results

Excellent agreements were observed between both techniques in whole body lean mass (ICC female = 0.95, ICC men = 0.96), fat mass (ICC female = 0.97, ICC male = 0.93) and percentage body fat (ICC female = 0.93, ICC male = 0.88) measurements. Similarly, Bland–Altman plots revealed narrow limits of agreements with small biases noted for the whole body lean mass quantification but relatively wider limits for fat mass and percentage body fat quantifications. In segmental lean muscle mass quantification, excellent agreements between methods were demonstrated for the upper limbs (ICC female≥0.91, ICC men≥0.87) and lower limbs (ICC female≥0.83, ICC male≥0.85), with good agreements shown for the trunk measurements (ICC female = 0.73, ICC male = 0.70).

Conclusions

DSM-BIA is a valid tool for the assessments of total body and segmental body composition in the general middle-aged population, particularly for the quantification of body lean mass.     

Variations in diagnostic criteria for carpal tunnel syndrome among Ontario specialists

BACKGROUND: Variations in diagnostic criteria for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) may result in differing reports of disease prevalence, errors in diagnosis, and variable results of treatment. The objective of this study was to determine how consistent specialists are in their ratings of the importance of clinical criteria for the diagnosis of CTS. METHODS: Three hundred specialist physicians and surgeons received a questionnaire containing 57 clinical criteria for the diagnosis of CTS. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to rate the importance of each criterion in the diagnosis of CTS. RESULTS: The overall consistency both across and within specialties was poor (intraclass correlation coefficient across specialties (ICC) = 0.28; ICC range within specialties 0.27-0.37). CONCLUSIONS: Specialists are relatively inconsistent in the importance they assign to clinical criteria for the diagnosis of CTS. This inconsistency may be an important source of variation in the reported prevalence and treatment of CTS.