scholarly journals Performance of the Procleix SARS-CoV-2 transcriptase-mediated amplification (TMA) assay for the diagnosis of COVID-19 in nasopharyngeal sample pools. Small pilot study.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Pérez-Abeledo ◽  
Belén Ramos ◽  
Francisco Javier Candel ◽  
Juan Carlos Sanz
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Small Pilot Study

Predictors of Success Using a mHealth Intervention in Adults with Prediabetes: Results of a Pilot Study (Preprint)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nestoras Mathioudakis ◽  
Estelle Everett ◽  
Noora Al-Hajri ◽  
Mohammed Abusamaan ◽  
Clare Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Area Deprivation ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Small Pilot Study ◽  
Mhealth Intervention ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Metabolic Equivalent Of Task ◽  
Mobile Intervention ◽  
The Difference

BACKGROUND About one-third of American adults have prediabetes and are at increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies provide a scalable approach to diabetes prevention by encouraging physical activity (PA), weight loss, and adherence to a healthy diet in large numbers of patients. OBJECTIVE To identify factors associated with improvements in PA and glycated hemoglobin (A1c) measures among prediabetic adults who received a mobile intervention program (smartphone app in combination with a digital body weight scale) in a previously completed pilot study. METHODS We conducted a post hoc analysis of a 3-month prospective, single-arm, observational study using the Sweetch™ mHealth intervention among adults with prediabetes. Change in A1C was calculated as the difference between the 3-month and baseline A1C measurements and was categorized as decrease vs. no decrease. PA was evaluated using the total minutes and metabolic equivalent of task (MET)-hours per week. Change in MET-hours/week was categorized as increase vs. no increase. Age, sex, race, education, employment status, area deprivation, smartphone usage attitudes, and PA stage of change were compared between groups by outcomes of change in A1C and change in MET-hour/week. RESULTS A total of 37 adults received the final Sweetch mobile intervention and were included in the analysis. 62% were female and 81% were white, with average age of 57 years. The median [IQR] baseline A1C was 6.0% [5.8, 6.2]. A1C measure at 3-month was decreased in 24 (65%) participants when compared to baseline A1C. There was an inverse association between average MET-hours per week and change in A1C. Among participants whose A1C decreased vs. did not decrease, the MET-hours per week in last 2 weeks of study was 18.7 (8.4) and 15.0 (7.1), respectively (P=0.19), and the change in MET-hours per week was 2.1 (7.1) and 4.1(6.1), respectively (P=0.41). There were otherwise no statistically significant differences in participant factors by A1C and PA outcomes. CONCLUSIONS In this small pilot study, Sweetch mHealth intervention achieved comparable A1C response prediabetic adults with different individual, sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics. CLINICALTRIAL ClincialTrials.gov NCT02896010; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02896010 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6xJYxrgse)

scholarly journals Validating scoring systems for fracture healing in infants and young children: pilot study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Crompton ◽  
Fabrizio Messina ◽  
Gillian Klafkowski ◽  
Christine Hall ◽  
Amaka C. Offiah
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Fracture Healing ◽  
Callus Formation ◽  
Femoral Fractures ◽  
Scoring Systems ◽  
Power Calculation ◽  
Small Pilot Study ◽  
Fractures In Children ◽  
Infants And Young Children

Abstract Background Recent studies have analysed birth-related clavicular fractures to propose time frames for healing that could be applied to dating of all fractures in cases of suspected child abuse. Objective To assess differences in healing rates between femoral fractures and birth-related clavicular fractures in infants and young children. Materials and methods A retrospective 5-year pilot study of femoral fractures in children younger than 3 years of age was performed. Anonymised radiographs were independently scored by two radiologists for stages of fracture healing. In cases of reader disagreement, radiographs were independently scored by a third radiologist. Results In total, 74 radiographs (30 children) met the inclusion criteria. Fracture healing evolved over time with subperiosteal new bone formation (SPNBF) appearing first, followed by callus then remodelling. A power calculation for a single proportion, with a level of confidence of 95% and a margin of error of 5%, showed that in a definitive study, 359 radiographs would be required. Conclusion Although the overall pattern of healing is similar, in this small pilot study, the earliest times for SPNBF and callus formation in femoral fractures appeared to lag behind healing of birth-related clavicular fractures. Remodelling appeared earlier than remodelling of clavicular fractures. A power calculation has determined numbers of femoral radiographs (359) required for a definitive study.

scholarly journals The Effect of Coaching on Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents with Cystic Fibrosis: A Quality Improvement Pilot Study

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Swisher ◽  
Kathryn Moffett
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Physical Activity ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Life Questionnaire ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Small Pilot Study ◽  
Phone Calls

Purpose: Physical activity is well known to improve or maintain exercise capacity and overall health in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, many patients do not meet recommended guidelines for physical activity. The purpose of this study was to determine if individualized, targeted coaching could improve the levels of physical activity and quality of life in children and adolescents with CF. Subjects: Twelve children with CF, ages 7 to 17, participated in this study.Method: Each participant completed a physical activity questionnaire (PAQ) and a disease-specific quality of life questionnaire (CFQ) at baseline and three months later. The participants were given pedometers and a 10,000 step per day target. Participants also participated in discussions regarding ways to increase physical activity appropriate for their interest, abilities and age. Weekly follow-up phone calls were made to obtain pedometer counts and discuss physical activities performed. Results: Physical activity scores (PAQ) improved in 6 of 12 participants. Quality of life improved in many dimensions of the CFQ, particularly in vitality (3 of 5 improved); emotional (8 of 12 improved) and respiratory (7 of 12 improved). Conclusions: The results of this small pilot study suggest that an individualized coaching approach to physical activity in children and adolescents with CF may improve physical activity levels and improve important aspects of quality of life in some children with CF.

scholarly journals Amnestying Superiority Violations: Processing Multiple Questions

2006 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Clifton ◽  
Gisbert Fanselow ◽  
Lyn Frazier
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Small Pilot Study ◽  
Syntactic Theory ◽  
The Third ◽  
The Status

Two experiments investigated the acceptability of multiple questions. As expected, sentences violating the Superiority Condition were accepted less often than sentences obeying it.The status of the Superiority violations was not improved by the addition of a third wh, regardless of whether the third wh was an adjunct or an argument, though it was improved by the addition of a second question (e.g., and when).Further, in a small pilot study directly comparing a sentence with adjacent final wh-phrases that may induce a stress clash (I'd like to know who hid it where when) with a sentence violating Superiority but avoiding the final adjacent wh-phrases (I'd like to know where who hid it when), half the participants indicated that the Superiority violation sentence sounded better.This suggests that the status of some additional-whsentences may appear to improve simply because the comparison sentence with adjacent final wh-phrases is degraded.Overall, the results of the studies suggest that there is no need to complicate syntactic theory to account for the additional-wh effect, because there is no general additional-wh effect.

Efficacy and safety of a porcine peritoneum-derived matrix in diabetic foot ulcer treatment: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (Sup2) ◽  
pp. S18-S23
Author(s):  
Omar Ai-Jalodi ◽  
Matthew Sabo ◽  
Keyur Patel ◽  
Neal Bullock ◽  
Laura Serena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Diabetic Foot ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Foot Ulcer ◽  
Diabetic Foot Ulcer ◽  
Study Endpoint ◽  
Efficacy And Safety ◽  
Small Pilot Study ◽  
Delay In Diagnosis ◽  
Wound Matrix

Objective: A third of people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer during their lifetime. The absence of pain secondary to neuropathy often leads to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) complications, such as infection and amputation, increase mortality and strain the financial resources of health systems across the world. Cellular and/or tissue products (CTPs) have played an important role in the closure of DFUs. Investigators continue to search for new CTPs that facilitate healing. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a porcine peritoneum-derived matrix in DFU treatment. Method: Patients with longstanding DFUs participated in this institutional review board-approved, multicentre, prospective pilot study evaluating the time to healing over 12 weeks. In addition to weekly assessments for wound size, investigators analysed bacterial burden using the MolecuLight procedure (MLiX) and bacterial protease (BPA) testing. Participants received a weekly application of Meso Wound Matrix Scaffold (MWM), a lyophilised porcine peritoneum-derived matrix (DSM Biomedical Inc., Exton, PA, US) for up to eight weeks. Descriptive statistics were chosen for this analysis. Results: A total of 12 male patients and three female patients with an average age of 57 years were enrolled over a two-month period. The average wound duration was 30 weeks. Due to unrelated health issues, four participants were withdrawn. For the study endpoint of complete wound closure at 12 weeks, six (55%) of the remaining 11 patients achieved complete closure, and four (36%) patients healed during the 8-week treatment period. The average number of CTP applications was six. Patients who healed all had negative BPA by nine weeks and no fluorescence on MLiX, indicating low bacterial load. Conclusion: This small pilot study indicates that patients with longstanding DFUs may respond to a porcine peritoneal-derived CTP. In this study, the CTP appears to have inhibited bacterial growth in the wound; however, further research is needed.

Immediate Effect of Three Different Electroacupuncture Protocols on Fasting Blood Glucose in Obese Patients: A Pilot Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Belivani ◽  
Thomas Lundeberg ◽  
Mike Cummings ◽  
Charikleia Dimitroula ◽  
Nicole Belivani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Metabolic Parameters ◽  
Acupuncture Points ◽  
Obese Women ◽  
Single Session ◽  
Small Pilot Study ◽  
Treatment Protocols ◽  
Before And After

Background Obesity is an increasing global health problem, and current methods of management are limited. Preliminary research data suggest that acupuncture may have an influence on metabolic parameters related to obesity. Objective To determine the electroacupuncture (EA) protocol to be used in a future clinical trial examining the effect of acupuncture on metabolic parameters related to obesity and to examine whether a single EA treatment can change fasting blood glucose in obese subjects. Methods 16 obese women aged 30–52 years with body mass index >30 kg/m2 were assigned consecutively into three groups and their fasting blood glucose was measured before and after administering a single session, lasting 30 min, of one of three EA treatment protocols. The Dorsal group received EA to dorsal segmental acupuncture points BL18–23 bilaterally (corresponding to the segmental levels innervating the pancreas); the Ear group received EA to ear points in the cavum conchae; and the Limb group received EA to points in the arms and legs (LI10–LI11, ST36– Zongping). Results After a single session of EA there was a statistically significant decrease in fasting blood glucose in the Dorsal and Limb groups, but there was no change and even a trend towards an increase in the glucose level in the Ear group. Conclusions The findings of this small pilot study suggest that EA to either dorsal segmental points corresponding to the pancreas or to muscle points in all four limbs may exert a beneficial effect on glucose metabolism in obese women.

scholarly journals The utility of linking National Food Ingredient Databases to National Food Consumption surveys: a pilot study on fibre and sugar

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Kelly ◽  
Aoibhinn Moore-Heslin ◽  
Mengna Yang ◽  
Maria Buffini ◽  
Laura Kehoe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Portion Size ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Food Ingredient ◽  
Small Pilot Study ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
High Fibre ◽  
Safety Considerations

AbstractIntroduction:Current dietary recommendations encourage increased fibre and reduced sugar consumption. In the UK, specific targets and benchmarks have been established for the sugar content of some foods but not for fibre. National Food Consumption Surveys provide comprehensive information of all foods consumed by representative population samples. The Irish national food surveys as completed by the Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance (IUNA) capture dietary data at brand level with all details as gathered on pack entered into a discrete but inter-linked database, the Irish National Food Ingredient Database (INFID). The aim of this study was to profile the carbohydrate quality of a convenience sub-sample of packaged foods as eaten by Irish children during the National Children's Food Survey II (2017/2018) as entered into INFID.Materials and Methods:All on-pack details from 385 available foods in the categories ‘white breads and rolls’; ‘brown breads and rolls’; ‘other breads and scones’; ‘ready to eat breakfast cereals (RTEBC)’; ‘biscuits’; and ‘cakes, buns and pastries’ were entered in to INFID and quality control completed. The carbohydrate profile of the products was assessed with respect to fibre labelling criteria and UK sugar guidelines and targets. SPSS Version 25 was used for all analyses.Results:Although 56% (n210) of all products entered were eligible to make a ‘source of’ or ‘high’ fibre claim, only 20% (n78) made such a claim. Of this, 46% stated ‘high fibre’ and 32% ‘source’, predominately in the ‘brown breads and rolls’ and ‘RTEBC’ groups. When compared to UK Department of Health guidance for ‘low’, ‘medium’ and ‘high’ sugar, 65% of all products examined (n250) were either ‘low’ or ‘medium’ sugar. Comparison of median sugar contents with Public Health England sugar reformulation targets revealed different responses in each category, with all categories other than foods deemed as “morning goods” yet to meet the 2020 target of 20% reduction in sugar content.Discussion:This small pilot study of a convenience sample of foods suggests that for the limited number of foods examined, for some there remains challenges to reduce sugar and increase fibre contents. Strategies such as reformulation, change in portion size, flexibility in labelling and/or a shift in sales portfolios could be considered but only alongside technological and safety considerations. Further research to broaden this analysis and to link nutrient levels as listed on pack with actual consumption patterns could help ensure all recent initiatives including reformulation are recognised.

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