Measures of Effect for Crude Analysis

2017 ◽  
pp. 61-83
Author(s):  
Lars Alfredsson
Keyword(s):  
2015 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niek F. Casteleijn ◽  
Debbie Zittema ◽  
Stephan J.L. Bakker ◽  
Wendy E. Boertien ◽  
Carlo A. Gaillard ◽  
...  

Background: Vasopressin plays an essential role in osmoregulation, but has deleterious effects in patients with ADPKD. Increased water intake to suppress vasopressin activity has been suggested as a potential renoprotective strategy. This study investigated whether urine and plasma osmolality can be used as reflection of vasopressin activity in ADPKD patients. Methods: We measured urine and plasma osmolality, plasma copeptin concentration, total kidney volume (TKV, by MRI) and GFR (125I-iothalamate). In addition, change in estimated GFR (eGFR) during follow-up was assessed. Results: Ninety-four patients with ADPKD were included (56 males, age 40 ± 10, mGFR 77 ± 32 ml/min/1.73 m2, TKV 1.55 (0.99-2.40) l. Urine osmolality, plasma osmolality and copeptin concentration were 420 ± 195, 289 ± 7 mOsmol/l and 7.3 (3.2-14.6) pmol/l, respectively. Plasma osmolality was associated with copeptin concentration (R = 0.54, p < 0.001), whereas urine osmolality was not (p = 0.4). In addition, urine osmolality was not associated with TKV (p = 0.3), in contrast to plasma osmolality (R = 0.52, p < 0.001) and copeptin concentration (R = 0.61, p < 0.001). Fifty-five patients were followed for 2.8 ± 0.8 years. Baseline plasma and urine osmolality were not associated with change in eGFR (p = 0.6 and p = 0.3, respectively), whereas baseline copeptin concentration did show an association with change in eGFR, in a crude analysis (St. β = -0.41, p = 0.003) and also after adjustment for age, sex and TKV (St. β = -0.23, p = 0.05). Conclusions: These data suggest that neither urine nor plasma osmolality are valid measures to identify ADPKD patients that may benefit from increasing water intake. Copeptin appears a better alternative for this purpose.


Author(s):  
Gianfranco Umeres-Francia1 ◽  
María Rojas-Fernández ◽  
Percy Herrera Añazco ◽  
Vicente Benites-Zapata

Objective: To assess the association between NLR and PLR with all-cause mortality in Peruvian patients with CKD Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in adults with CKD in stages 1 to 5. The outcome variable was mortality and as variables of exposure to NLR and PLR. Both ratios were categorized as high with a cut-off point of 3.5 and 232.5; respectively. We carried out a Cox regression model and calculated crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence interval (95%CI). Results: We analyzed 343 participants with a median follow-up time of 2.45 years (2.08-3.08). The frequency of deaths was 17.5% (n=60). In the crude analysis, the high NLR and PLR were significantly associated with all-cause mortality (HR=2.01; 95% CI:1.11-3.66) and (HR=2.58; 95% CI:1.31-5.20). In the multivariate model, after adjusting for age, sex, serum creatinine, CKD stage, albumin and hemoglobin, the high NLR and PLR remained as an independent risk factor for all-cause mortality, (HR=2.10; 95% CI:1.11-3.95) and (HR=2.71; 95% CI:1.28-5.72). Conclusion: Our study suggests the relationship between high NLR and PLR with all-cause mortality in patients with CKD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 ◽  
pp. 175346661988552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Luis Lopez-Campos ◽  
Laura Carrasco-Hernandez ◽  
Esther Quintana-Gallego ◽  
Carmen Calero-Acuña ◽  
Eduardo Márquez-Martín ◽  
...  

We systematically reviewed the current knowledge on fixed-dose triple therapies for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with a specific focus on its efficacy versus single bronchodilation, double fixed dose combinations, and open triple therapies. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, and Scopus up to 3 August 2018. We selected articles with randomized controlled or crossover design conducted in patients with COPD and published as full-length articles or scientific letters, evaluating triple therapy combinations in a single or different inhaler, and with efficacy data versus monocomponents, double combinations, or open triple therapies. Our systematic search reported 108 articles, of which 24 trials were finally selected for the analysis. A total of 7 studies with fixed dose triple therapy combinations, and 17 studies with open triple therapies combinations. Triple therapy showed improvements in lung function [trough forced expiratory volume (FEV1) ranging from not significant (NS) to 147 ml], health status using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire [(SGRQ) from NS to 8.8 points], and exacerbations [risk ratio (RR) from NS to 0.59 for all exacerbations] versus single or double therapies with a variability in the response, depending the specific combination, and the comparison group. The proportion of adverse effects was similar between study groups, the exception being the increase in pneumonia for some inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) containing groups. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplementary material section.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 103-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ezrin Hani Sukadarin ◽  
Baba Md Deros ◽  
Jaharah Abd Ghani ◽  
Ahmad Rasdan Ismail ◽  
Maznon M. Mokhtar ◽  
...  

Oil palm workers perform daily activities that exposed themselves to various ergonomics risk factors. To harvest oil palm fruits from tall trees, specific technique is required. To quantify the ergonomics risks factors, postural analysis was conducted using Quick Exposure Check (QEC) system. It was found oil palm workers were exposed to many postural problems while performing harvesting and collecting fresh fruit bunch (FFB) activities. However, to quantify the actual load, many limitations of the QEC have been revealed such the missing of legs assessment, the crude analysis for arm and shoulder, no pushing and pulling assessment and the biased may be existed due to the workers perception on the ergonomics factors. Thus, it can be concluded that QEC system was not suitable for conducting postural analysis during harvesting in oil palm plantation especially in tall trees due to the above limitations.


1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 633-640
Author(s):  
K. C. Rolle ◽  
J. N. Crisp ◽  
A. N. Palazotto

In the determination of equilibrium phase diagrams, i.e., pressure volume-temperature relations for lubricants at pressures up to 2800 MPa and temperatures of 378K, one must carry out a highly sophisticated design of a high pressure apparatus. In 1935 Bridgman designed a piston-displacement device and measured the compressibility of numerous materials at high pressures. However, in order to obtain accurate equilibrium phase diagrams for lubricants, Bridgman’s relatively crude analysis must be considerably refined. The authors have extended this original design using finite element techniques to accurately correct pertinent measurements which are in turn incorporated into the expressions used in determining the pressure-volume temperature relations of lubricants.


2016 ◽  
pp. 68-68
Author(s):  
Leonelo E Bautista

Alzate et al.1, conducted a nested case-control study to (quote) “estimate the protective effect from calcium [supplement] alone [CC], compared to calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid [CC+CLA] in nulliparous women at risk of preeclampsia”. Based on a crude analysis of the data in Table 3,1 they concluded that neither CC nor CC+CLA reduced the risk of preeclampsia in the whole sample, but that CC+CLA significantly decreased risk among women 13-18 years old. A quick look analysis of the data in this table shows this conclusion is mostly based on the fact that none of the cases in 13-18 year old women was treated with CC+CLA. Contrary to the authors’ interpretation, this does not point to a protective effect of CC+CLA, it simply indicates that the assumption of positivity has being violated and, consequently, that an effect for this age group cannot be estimated2. In fact, the probability of getting no treated cases in this age-group was 28%, since only 15.5% of all women received CC+CLA. Also, accurate estimates of effect in women 34-45 years old were not possible, because there were only seven women who used CC+CLA in this age group. In spite of the limited sample size, the authors restricted their attention to the apparent protective effect of CC+CLA in 13-19 year old women, while ignoring apparent harmful effects in older women. I estimated age-specific rate ratios (RR) by fitting a saturated conditional complementary log-log3 to the data in Table 3 and found that CC+CLA was protective among women 13-19 (RR= 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41- 0.90), but harmful in women 19-34 (RR= 1.74, 95% CI: 1.21- 2.50) and 35-45 years old (RR= 4.98, 95% CI= 1.74-14.30). Of course, this approach is an improvement over a naive crude analysis, but does not solve the problem of violation and near violation of positivity described above. An overall age-adjusted RR was 1.02 (95% CI= 0.89-1.17; p= 0.756). Thus, this study provides no evidence of a beneficial effect of CC+CLA in preventing preeclampsia in any age group.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S501-S501
Author(s):  
Mary Katherine. Theoktisto ◽  
Delvina Ford ◽  
Omar Khan ◽  
Kelly R Reveles ◽  
Jose Cadena

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern, and exposure in healthcare settings is prevalent. Current guidelines recommend testing for TB by acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear microscopy with 3 sputum samples and/or using nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), and mycobacterium culture. The purpose of this project is to compare how different TB diagnostic tests affect the duration of stay in respiratory isolation. Methods This study was conducted at the Veteran Affairs South Texas hospital, which includes a total of 437 beds. Data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Eligibility included patients admitted to the hospital and placed in airborne isolation for TB screening and diagnosis, had 3 sputum samples collected 8 hours apart and/or had 2 PCR MTB/RIF. Patients were excluded if they had TB or were not undergoing evaluation for TB. Three time periods analyzed included, 3 AFB sputum samples analyzed in-house from December 2012 to January 2014 (Group A), 3 AFB sputum samples analyzed at outside facility during 2013 to 2014 as well as 2 months in 2012 (Group B), and 2 MTB PCR/RIF in house during 2017 and 2018 (Group C). Duration of isolation was compared between groups using the Kruskal–Wallis test. A total number of 815 patients were screened, leaving 105 patients for analysis after exclusion. There were 49 patients analyzed from Group A, 28 from Group B, and 28 from Group C. Results Crude analysis of the data showed numerical differences in the total number of days and hours in isolation between the 3 groups. The average (mean) days in isolation were 4.2 for Group A, 7.4 for Group B, and 5.5 for Group C. There was no statistically significant difference in either days or hours of airborne precautions by “rule out” method. Days of isolation in airborne precautions (median IQR) was 4 for all groups (P = 0.3313). Likewise, hours of airborne precautions had a median IQR of 96 for all groups P = 0.4347. Conclusion Although there was no statistical significance between the groups, crude analysis did show a numerical difference in the mean total airborne days and hours. Lack of statistical difference may be due to low number of patients, timing of order placement for in-house PCR, and longer than expected stay in airborne precautions. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Siqueira Reis ◽  
Adriano Akira Ferreira Hino ◽  
Alex Antonio Florindo ◽  
Ciro Romélio Rodriguez Añez ◽  
Marlos Rodrigues Domingues

Background:The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between adolescents’ physical activity practice and their perception about the environment of urban parks.Methods:A school-based representative sample (n = 1,718; boys = 40.4%) of teenagers of Curitiba, Southern region of Brazil. A questionnaire was employed to identify perceived parks environmental features as well as physical activity practice in the parks (PAP), habitual physical activity (HPA) and demographics. The relationship between PAP and parks environments was analyzed through multivariate logistic regression controlling for age and socioeconomic status, HPA and parks distance.Results:After controlling for confounders PAP was associated with lack of space to be physically active, activities to choose from and equipments for both boys and girls, (odds ratio (OR)—ranging from 1.5 to 1.8). Among boys, having people of same age (OR = 1.5) and accessibility (OR = 2.0) showed association with PAP only in crude analysis. However, among girls, to be bulled or teased (OR = 1.4) and accessibility (OR = 1.7) were associated with PAP after confounding control.Conclusions:The results showed that specific attributes in parks may be considered and offered to increase the likelihood of physical activity practice among adolescents in such locations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-388
Author(s):  
Susanna Botticelli ◽  
Annelise Küseler ◽  
Agneta Marcusson ◽  
Kirsten Mølsted ◽  
Sven E. Nørholt ◽  
...  

Aim: To investigate whether infant cleft dimensions, in a surgical protocol with early or delayed hard palate closure, influence occlusion before orthodontics. Design: Subgroup analysis within a randomized trial of primary surgery (Scandcleft). Setting: Tertiary health care. One surgical centre. Patients and Methods: A total of 122 unilateral cleft lip and palate infants received primary cheilo-rhinoplasty and soft palate closure at age 4 months and were randomized for hard palate closure at age 12 versus 36 months. A novel 3D analysis of cleft size and morphology was performed on digitized presurgical models. Occlusion was scored on 8-year models using the modified Huddarth–Bodenham (MHB) Index and the Goslon Yardstick. Main Outcome Measurements: Differences in MHB and Goslon scores among the 2 surgical groups adjusted for cleft size. Results: The crude analysis showed no difference between the 2 surgical groups in Goslon scores but a better MHB ( P = .006) for the group who received delayed hard palate closure. When adjusting for the ratio between cleft surface and palatal surface (3D Infant Cleft Severity Ratio) and for posterior cleft dimensions at tuberosity level, the delayed hard palate closure group received 3.65 points better for MHB (confidence interval: 1.81; 5.48; P < .001) and showed a trend for reduced risk of receiving a Goslon of 4 or 5 ( P = .052). For posterior clefts larger than 9 mm, the Goslon score was better in the delayed hard palate closure group ( P = .033). Conclusions: Seen from an orthodontic perspective, when the soft palate is closed first, and the cleft is large, the timing of hard palate closure should be planned in relation to posterior cleft size.


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