Convergent Validity and Responsiveness of the SULCS

Objective

To evaluate the convergent validity and responsiveness of the Stroke Upper Limb Capacity Scale (SULCS) in comparison to the Arm Motor Ability Test (AMAT), the Box and Blocks Test (BBT), and the upper limb Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA). The SULCS is a relatively new measure that was designed to be easier to score and less time consuming than some existing measures.

Evaluation of a novel kit (TF-Test) for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections

Intestinal parasitic infections are currently a source of concern for Public Health agencies in developing and developed countries. Since three ovum‐and‐parasite stool examinations have been demonstrated to provide sensitive results, we designed a practical and economical kit (TF‐Test) that is now commercially available (Immunoassay Com. Ind. Ltda., São Paulo, Brazil). This kit allows the separate collection of three fecal specimens into a preservative solution. The specimens are then pooled, double‐filtered, and concentrated by a single rapid centrifugation process. The TF‐Test was evaluated in four different laboratories in a study using 1,102 outpatients and individuals living in an endemic area for enteroparasitosis. The overall sensitivity found using the TF‐Test (86.2–97.8%) was significantly higher (P<0.01) than the sensitivity of conventional techniques such as the Coprotest (NL Comércio Exterior Ltda, São Paulo, Brazil) and the combination of Lutz/Hoffman, Faust, and Rugai techniques (De Carli, Diagnóstico Laboratorial das Parasitoses Humanas. Métodos e Técnicas, 1994), which ranged from 48.3% to 75.9%. When the above combined three specimen technique was repeated with three specimens collected on different days, its sensitivity became similar (P>0.01) to that of the TF‐Test. The kappa index values of agreement for the TF‐Test were consistent (P<0.01), being higher and ranking in a better position than conventional techniques. The high sensitivity, cost/benefit ratio, and practical aspects demonstrate that the TF‐Test is suitable for individual diagnosis, epidemiological inquiries, or evaluation of chemotherapy in treated communities. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:132–138, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Principles of Statistics in Surgery

ABSTRACT

Surgery, like any other scientific discipline, requires a systematic analysis of all its different variables in order to prove the real significance of research findings. Statistics, the science of numerical evaluation, can thoroughly help to determine the real value of surgical treatment. In this work, we study the statistical tests and principles needed to demonstrate their role in surgical research.

Without a strong statistical background, a researcher may feel overwhelmed when deciding what statistical methods to utilize in research. Determining what type of data to collect and what hypothesis test to run can alter the entire way a surgical study is conducted.

The relationship between power, sample size and effect size is discussed as well as the components necessary for a power analysis. Selecting an appropriate sample size is of utmost importance in any type of research since an undersized sample can invalidate an entire study.

Categorical surgical data, numerical data, and the appropriate statistical procedures needed for analysis are reviewed. Methods discussed include the 2-Sample t-test, Mann Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA, Chi-Square test and Fisher's exact test.     

Excel在护士长夜查房记录统计分析管理中的应用

目的 探讨护士长夜查房记录、统计管理的做法。方法 应用Excel进行检查表格的设计、统计归类、结果比较。结果提高了工作效率及统计准确性、记录表整洁清晰，图表比较更直观，为医院各级管理者提供了科学、快捷、准确的信息。结论 计算机技术介入护理管理使护理管理文书工作向科学化迈进，Excel操作简单易学，是护理管理者必须掌握的技能。     

酶联免疫斑点技术在老年脊柱结核感染辅助诊断中的应用价值

【目的】评价酶联免疫斑点技术（ELISPOT ）在老年脊柱结核感染辅助诊断中的应用价值。【方法】选取2013年1月至2015年1月本院脊柱外科收治的疑似脊柱结核的老年患者56例,比较 ELISPOT试验、结核菌素（PPD）皮肤试验、血清抗结核抗体检测方法在老年脊柱结核感染辅助诊断中的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值。【结果】ELISPOT 试验在脊柱结核诊断中的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为77．14％,85．71％,90．00％,69．23％;PPD 皮肤试验的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为37．14％,71．43％,68．42％,40．54％;血清抗结核抗体试验的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值和阴性预测值分别为48．57％,61．90％,68．00％,61．90％。在老年脊柱结核患者中,ELISPOT 试验的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值均显著高于 PPD 皮肤试验和血清抗结核抗体试验。【结论】ELISPOT 法应用于老年脊柱结核诊断有良好的敏感性和特异性,可作为脊柱结核感染辅助诊断的有效方法。     

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute–Hand Function Test: Assessment of Gross Motor Function in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Purpose:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the interrater reliability, construct validity, and sensitivity of Toronto Rehabilitation Institute–Hand Function Test (TRI-HFT), within an interventional randomized control trial.

Method:

Twenty-one participants with subacute C4 to C7 spinal cord injury (SCI) were recruited. Based on randomization, participants were allocated to either the functional electrical stimulation therapy group or the conventional occupational therapy group. Baseline and follow-up assessments of participants were videotaped. For testing interrater reliability, videotaped images were transferred to DVDs that were later observed by 2 observers. Construct validity was determined by comparing total scores on TRI-HFT to self-care subscore components of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM) and FIM. To establish sensitivity of TRI-HFT, we compared pre- and posttreatment scores on all 3 measures (ie, TRI-HFT, FIM, and SCIM).

Results:

TRI-HFT was found to have high interrater reliability with an intercorrelation coefficient (ICC) of 0.98. Moderate to strong correlations were found between TRI-HFT total scores and self-care components of FIM and SCIM for both hands individually post therapy. Due to a floor effect of the FIM and SCIM, there was weak correlation between pretherapy scores of the said measures and TRI-HFT. TRI-HFT was found to be highly sensitive in determining difference in function pre and post therapy.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated that the TRI-HFT is a reliable and sensitive measure to assess unilateral hand gross motor function in persons with tetraplegia, with moderate to strong construct validity.     

A new scale for the measurement of quality of life in children with intellectual disability

BackgroundChildren and adolescents with intellectual disabilities make up a group which is in urgent need of an adequate operationalisation of the quality of life construct, not only to improve individual personal outcomes but also to develop and implement evidence based practices. For that reason, and with the aim of answering the growing demand for an adequate evaluation instrument for this group, the KidsLife scale was developed.MethodThis research provides evidence of the reliability and validity of the scale, which is composed of 96 items spread over eight subscales, and completed by a third-party respondent. The validation sample comprised 1060 people with intellectual disability, with ages ranging from 4 to 21 years old (M = 13.51; SD = 5.04).ResultsThe results suggest that the eight quality of life domains assessed on the scale are reliable (Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.812 to 0.949). The evidence of the validity of the construct provided by Confirmatory Factor Analysis also demonstrated adequate indexes of fit for the eight-domain model.DiscussionFuture lines of research which may use the KidsLife Scale are suggested and discussed.     

CCK-8法与Alamar blue法对RKO细胞株增殖活力测试条件的对比分析

目的 以RKO细胞株为增殖活力测试的研究对象,比较CCK-8法与Alamar blue法在检测中波长、孵育时间、细胞密度等方面的差异性.方法 取体外培养对数生长期的RKO细胞株,分别比较两者在不同检测波长(380、430、480、530、580、630 nm)、不同孵育时间(1、2、3、4、5、6 h)、不同细胞密度(2×104、5×103、1.25×103 CUF·mL-1)下所测的光密度值(OD值),并比较两者在相同条件下同一标本重复检测时的平衡性.结果 ALamar blue法在不同细胞密度中的最佳检测波长皆为580 nm,而CCK-8法的最佳检测波长会随着细胞密度的变化而有所改变;1～6 h时,CCK-8法适合的孵育时间在1h以后Alamar blue为2h以后,且CCK-8法的灵敏度、平衡性都强于Alamar blue法.结论 CCK-8法在细胞增殖活力检测中的灵敏性、平衡性、快捷性等都略强于ALamar blue法.     

桑椹子的提取工艺研究

目的:比较不同提取法对桑葚多糖提取的影响。方法:以桑葚多糖得率为目标,比较水提取与超声提取的优劣,并采用正交试验优化两种试验条件。结果:两种提取工艺中,超声波提取得率较高,水提取次之。结论:超声提取是较好的提取方法,可用于桑葚多糖的提取。