Automatic assessment of levodopa-induced dyskinesias in daily life by neural networks.

We developed an objective and automatic procedure to assess the severity of levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) in patients with Parkinson's disease during daily life activities. Thirteen patients were continuously monitored in a home-like situation for a period of approximately 2.5 hours. During this time period, the patients performed approximately 35 functional daily life activities. Behavior of the patients was measured using triaxial accelerometers, which were placed at six different positions on the body. A neural network was trained to assess the severity of LID using various variables of the accelerometer signals. Neural network scores were compared with the assessment by physicians, who evaluated the continuously videotaped behavior of the patients off-line. The neural network correctly classified dyskinesia or the absence of dyskinesia in 15-minute intervals in 93.7, 99.7, and 97.0% for the arm, trunk, and leg, respectively. In the few cases of misclassification, the rating by the neural network was in the class next to that indicated by the physicians using the AIMS score (scale 0-4). Analysis of the neural networks revealed several new variables, which are relevant for assessing the severity of LID. The results indicate that the neural network can accurately assess the severity of LID and could distinguish LID from voluntary movements in daily life situations.     

Positive Outcome Expectancies and Smoking Behavior: The Role of Expectancy Accessibility

This study examined the association between smoking outcome expectancy accessibility and smoking behavior. Daily smokers completed a smoking expectancy accessibility task in which they made timed judgments to a series of positive consequences of smoking either after 6 hr deprivation or within 10 min of smoking. Participants then completed a questionnaire battery that contained assessments of smoking behavior and smoking outcome expectancies. Results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that expectancy accessibility was associated with the number of cigarettes smoked per day even when controlling for corresponding questionnaire measures of smoking expectancies. Moreover, smoking expectancy accessibility predicted urge to smoke ratings following exposure to a smoking cue after controlling for the effects of deprivation. Findings suggest that smoking expectancy accessibility may play a central role in smoking behavior and that individual differences in this attribute may be assessed directly through reaction time assessment.     

Characteristics of children and their families at entry into foster care

This study provides an overview of children, their families, and their circumstances at the time that the child entered foster care in Israel. Data regarding a representative sample of 800 children were collected as part of the ongoing operation of a clinical information system set up for Israel's foster care service in 1988. Implications of our findings for interventions are discussed.     

Reliability and validity of a health-related quality of life battery for evaluating outpatient antidepressant treatment

This study was designed to evaluate the reproducibility, validity and responsiveness of a health-related quality of life (HRQOL) battery that was assembled for the evaluation of antidepressant therapy. The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was used to measure severity of depression. The HRQOL battery contained measures of energy and fatigue, social behaviour, cognitive function, home and work role function, and general well-being (i.e., health perceptions, life satisfaction) selected from previously developed and validated instruments. The clinical investigators and research nurses reported on difficulty in using the HRQOL battery. Most patients were able to complete the questionnaire without problems within 10 min. Reproducibility was very good with intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.74 to 0.97. The HRQOL scales showed evidence of good concurrent validity. The scales were moderately correlated with MADRS scores (r=0.30–0.62). The magnitude of these correlations indicate that HRQOL scales are related to depression measures, but they are not alternative measures of depression. Changes in MADRS scores were associated with changes in all scales, except for work behaviour, indicating that improvements in depression ratings also resulted in improvements in health status and well-being. The HRQOL scales included in this study were found to be reliable, reproducible, and valid and no appreciable burden was placed on patients or investigators participating in the study. With the exception of the Work Behaviour scale, the HRQOL scales were very responsive to changes in depression severity. This brief HRQOL instrument can provide a comprehensive assessment of the outcomes of antidepressant treatment.This research was supported by a grant from Pfizer International.     

The introduction of a new assessment system in restorative dentistry: the undergraduate and patient experience

In 2000, the University of Bristol Dental School Division of Restorative Dentistry carried out a review of the assessment methods used within the undergraduate programme. Following this review, a number of key recommendations were made and the system of formative assessment within the division was changed. Audits were conducted immediately prior to the introduction of the new system and 2 years after it had been introduced, the results of these audits are presented. There was no change in the number of failed appointments between the initial audit and the second audit. There was a reduction in the number of patients treated by more than one student from 25% to 14% (approximating to 3% if student withdrawal from the course is taken into account). The length of time taken to complete treatment reduced between the two audits with more than half of all patients having their treatment completed within 3 months of their initial examination in the second audit. Ninety-five percent of treatment plans were completed in the second audit compared with only 62% in the first audit. In the second audit, the outstanding 5% of cases were signed off as incomplete for satisfactory reasons by the member of supervisory staff (e.g. patients who had moved away or were discharged due to poor attendance). Student comments were mostly positive, the small number of negative comments related to some students being confused by the paperwork in the new system. The overall process has been an extremely positive experience which has resulted in an assessment system with increased clarity which appears to have reduced the stress levels reported by the undergraduate students on the programme and improved the quality of patient care within restorative dentistry.     

大中学生预防艾滋病生活技能需求

目的了解我国学生对学校预防艾滋病教育中生活技能的需求情况,为今后开展以生活技能为基础的预防艾滋病教育提供依据。方法对北京市5所初中3、所高中和2所大学的1207名学生进行问卷调查。结果无论初中、高中还是大学生,多数学生都认为这些生活技能要素在开展预防艾滋病教育中能够起到重要的作用。不同学段学生对9类技能的认知重要程度不同,初中生认为认识和解决问题能力最重要,高中生认为创造性思维能力最重要,大学生认为批判性思维能力最重要。结论根据学生年龄有所侧重地开展以生活技能为基础的学校预防艾滋病教育十分重要。     

用ROC曲线评价肿瘤标志物LDH在急性白血病早期诊断中的临床价值

目的 探讨肿瘤标志物乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）在急性白血病早期诊断中的临床价值。方法 应用受试者工作特性曲线（ROC曲线）及其曲线下面积（AUC）抛物线估算法（以金标准计算准确度和敏感度），对51例急性白血病的早期患者及部分经治疗后缓解的患者、61例非急性白血病患者、61例健康体检者进行了LDH的检测及分析。结果 AUC为0．954，其可信区间为0．935－0．973，其下限0．935远离0．5，经治疗缓解的白血病患者LDH检验结果与治疗前数据经t检验证实＜0．0001。结论 LDH对急性白血病的早期诊断以及治疗效果与预后的评估均有着重要及较好的临床价值。     

Granulosa cell metabolism and the assessment of oocyte quality in IVF

The progesterone production of the granulosa cells of the cumulus– oocyte complex correlates very well with the cleavagepotential of embryos in an IVF system. The method is simpleand can be easily performed by any laboratory associated withIVF. Furthermore, high intratubal progesterone levels in theimmediate post-ovulatory period are probably important in prolongingthe intra-ampullary residence of the oocyte or embryo untilthe uterine endometnum is optimal for implantation.     

全国细菌药敏试验的室间质量评价

目的：了解全国大中型医院细菌药敏试验（AST）状况，提高检测水平和质量。方法：定期向全国各参加评价实验室发放冻干标本，要求在规定时间内报告可疑感染的病原菌及其药敏结果，对回报结果给予数据统计、分析和评价。结果：2000年全国489个细菌室对常见耐药菌的检测正确率分别为：超广谱β－内酰胺酶63％（ESBLs)；苯唑西林敏感金黄色葡萄球菌（MSSA）74％；苯唑西林耐药凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（MRSCoN)48％；对青霉素不敏感肺炎链球菌7％；氨基糖苷类高水平耐药肠球菌95％；产β－内酰胺酶流感嗜血杆菌正确率35％。结论：通过细菌药敏试验的室间质量评价反映出我国的细菌耐药性检测水平急待提高。