Considerations on Outliers in Medical Sciences and Materials Characterization

2012 ◽  
Vol 188 ◽  
pp. 185-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurentiu Roland Cucuruz ◽  
Mircea Nicoară ◽  
Aurel Răduţă ◽  
Cosmin Locovei ◽  
Maria Cucuruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Information Content ◽  
Experimental Research ◽  
Material Science ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Materials Characterization ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Data Manipulation ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Grubbs Test

Experimental research in both medical sciences and material science rely in many situations on a reduced quantity of available data, due to limited number of patients or high costs of samples. Some statistical data manipulation methods are discussed regarding their applicability, information content, value and limits. A special attention is given to the extreme values eliminated by the GRUBBS test. The necessity of the elimination of the extreme values is demonstrated.

scholarly journals Investigating the compliance of COVID-19 protocols in the workplaces of Ardabil, Iran

Work ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Asghar Lotfollahzadeh ◽  
Leila Rastgoo ◽  
Islam Shirinzadeh ◽  
Seyedeh Melika Kharghani Moghadam ◽  
Hossein Ebrahimi
Keyword(s):  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Health Centers ◽  
Personal Hygiene ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Observation Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Current Outbreak

BACKGROUND: Workplaces are prone to the current outbreak- of COVID-19. Despite the production of the COVID-19 vaccine, due to some challenges in vaccinating all people worldwide, adherence to health protocols is still one of the ways to prevent infection. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the compliance of COVID-19 protocols in the workplaces of Ardabil, Iran. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional research conducted on the workplaces affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences between August and September, 2020. A researcher-designed checklist was completed once in early August and once at the end of September for the workplaces. Accordingly, these workplaces were inspected for any compliance with the COVID-19 prevention protocols by health centers during August and September. In addition, the number of patients with COVID-19 was determined for each one of the workplaces. RESULTS: The results showed that the highest increase was related to screening (57.8%) and the lowest change was related to personal hygiene (1.3%). The rates of increase in performance for small workshops, offices and industries were 35.4%, 33.1%and 12.4%, respectively. Moreover, a linear and inverse relationship was found between the incidence of COVID-19 and the level of observance of the OVID-19 prevention protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, the inspection made by legal authorities led to the increased commitment of workplace managers to implement prevention programs, thereby increasing the observation level of these protocols in the workplace and reducing the incidence of COVID-19.

scholarly journals The Application of Radiofrequency Waves in Supportive Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
M. Pihut ◽  
M. Górnicki ◽  
M. Orczykowska ◽  
E. Zarzecka ◽  
W. Ryniewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Treatment Algorithm ◽  
Masticatory Muscles ◽  
Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Clinical Parameters ◽  
Supportive Treatment ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Axis I

In recent years, the number of patients applying for prosthetic treatment due to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) has been increasing. The main methods for treating disorders are the use of occlusal splints and physiotherapeutic rehabilitation as supportive treatment. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves with radiation frequency between 3 Hz and 3 THz, used for physiotherapeutic treatment of skeletal muscle relaxation in the range of 3 to 6 MHz. The rehabilitation effect of these waves is based on diathermy by means of high-voltage quick alternating current. Aim. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of radiofrequency waves on the pain of the masticatory muscles in the course of TMD and the usefulness of these procedures in the supporting treatment of these disorders. Materials and Methods. Patients aged 19 to 45 years, of both sexes, reported to the Consulting Room of TMD at the Institute of Dentistry in Krakow to undertake prosthetic treatment of TMD (I a—according to RDC/TMD). Study group (SG) consists of 20 patients who had 10 supportive treatments with radiofrequency currents. In the case of application of radiation to the muscle area, the energy was 20 J to the area of the masticatory muscles, the frequency was 3 MHz, bipolar technique, the duration of the procedure was 10 minutes, and the coupling substance was a gel for ultrasound examinations. The control group (CG) consisted of 20 patients who had 10 supportive treatments with sonophoresis procedures. For the area of masticatory muscles, 0.9 W/cm2 treatments were applied, the duty factor was 80%, the treatment time was 10 minutes, and the medical substance was 25% Voltaren gel. Results. Analysis of the results of the first clinical examinations (axis I) conducted in both groups shows a homogeneous clinical material and similar results. The second clinical examination revealed improved clinical parameters, but it showed a greater improvement in the SG. In the SG, the mean level of VAS was 6.25, and the extreme values were 5.9–0.14, the median was 2.15, and the standard deviation was 1.54. In the CG, the average value of VAS was 6.20 (peak of 5.2–0.7), the median was 2.4, and the standard deviation was 1.87. Summary. The search for new methods of supportive treatment of TMD is an important research direction due to the complex etiology of this disease and the lack of an explicit treatment algorithm. Conclusion. The results of our own research clearly indicate that the use of the radiofrequency waves brings pain relief and improvement of clinical parameters to a greater extent than in sonophoresis. It can be a very important new method in supportive treatment of TMD. Research needs to be continued.

Probabilistic Modeling of Extreme Value Distributions of Ice Loads on “Molikpaq” Platform for Sakhalin-II Project

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander T. Bekker ◽  
Olga A. Sabodash ◽  
Roman G. Kovalenko
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Modeling ◽  
Return Period ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Extreme Values ◽  
Ice Cover ◽  
Offshore Structures ◽  
Extreme Value Distributions ◽  
Probabilistic Estimation ◽  
Ice Conditions ◽  
Ice Loads

Characteristics of the drifting ice cover and the scenarios of the ice loads on offshore structures are the major parameters defining durability and reliability of the ice-resistant platforms on the Sakhalin offshore. The study is devoted to the problems of probabilistic and numerical modeling of the process of interaction between the ice cover and the ice-resistant concrete structures on the Sakhalin offshore zone. Geometry of the “Molikpaq” (PA-A) platform for Sakhalin-II Project is used as an example. The input statistical data were received on the basis of full-scale observations of the ice conditions in the Piltun-Astokhskoe deposit area during 1989–2002. The distribution of probability exceedance of ice loads for various ice scenarios on the “Molikpaq” (PA-A) platform was received. A probabilistic estimation of extreme values of ice loads was carried out, taking into account return period of ice conditions.

scholarly journals Natural Materials for Thermal Insulation: Mulch and Lava-Rock Characterizations

2014 ◽  
Vol 705 ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
Aurélien P. Jean ◽  
Craig Adams ◽  
Mario A. Medina ◽  
Frédéric Miranville
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Conductivity ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
Thermal Characterization ◽  
Temperature Sensors ◽  
The Other ◽  
Natural Materials ◽  
Data Manipulation ◽  
Heating Source ◽  
Building Insulation ◽  
Wall System

This paper reports on the thermal characterization, via the thermal conductivity, of natural materials, such as mulch and lava rock and their usefulness as building insulation. Experiments were carried out using a scale one monitored wall (i.e. heat flux and temperature sensors) exposed to a heating source on one side and to an air conditioned space on the other. The wall system was composed of an 8.85 cm thick cavity, where the mulch and lava rock were placed. The cavity was enclosed between two layers of pine wood (40 mm thick each). After the experiments and statistical data manipulation, the estimated thermal conductivity of the materials were 0.48 ± 0.001 W.m-1.K-1 and 0.129 ± 0.003 W.m-1.K-1 for mulch and lava-rock, respectively. That is, mulch has a thermal conductivity comparable to that of bulk hemp while lava rock has a thermal conductivity comparable to that of hemp brick. These values indicate the usefulness of mulch, compared to the impracticality of using lava-rocks materials for building insulation.

Proton Accelerators for Radiation Therapy

2019 ◽  
pp. 11-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
А. Черняев ◽  
A. Chernyaev ◽  
Г. Кленов ◽  
G. Klenov2 ◽  
Андрей Бушманов ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Proton Therapy ◽  
Statistical Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
High Tech ◽  
Extensive Experience ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The World ◽  
New Ideas

Purpose: To make an analysis (including statistical data) of accelerator equipment for proton therapy (PT) in Russia and the world; to identify the main trends and directions of development in this area. Material and methods: Currently, proton therapy is developing rapidly in the world. Every year new proton centers are built. The number of commercial companies and research institutes, that are included in this high-tech sector, grows every year. Physicists and doctors together actively develop and introduce new ideas and technologies that are able to increase the efficiency and quality of proton therapy and also make it less costly. This review is an analysis of both publications in refereed publications, and reports made at relevant conferences and seminars. In addition, the data presented in the review are based on the information from the companies-manufacturers of equipment for proton therapy, which is open or provided for non-commercial use, with an indication of the sources. Results: In recent years, the main trends in the development of accelerators for proton therapy are: reducing the size and weight of machines, using of active pencil scanning as a standard method of dose delivering, reducing the time spent by patients in treatment rooms, using modulated radiation intensity in proton therapy. There is a transition from the construction of multi-cabin PT centers with an annual number of patients about 1000 people (due to their high cost and need to have an infrastructure for such big number of patients), to the creation of small-sized single-cabin complexes with an annual flow of several hundred people. Conclusion: Despite proton therapy has a good promotion and popularization activities, it is still an inaccessible method for most cancer patients with the exception of the United States, Japan and Europe. The lack of PT centers, the price per course of treatment, the lack of specialists in this area, and the attitude of most clinicians to PT as an experimental method of treatment is acute. In Russia, proton therapy does not receive enough support, despite the enormous potential and extensive experience that has been used for half a century of using PT. The last open proton center is private, and the only local manufacturer of equipment for PT exists only thanks to foreign contracts. Nevertheless, research and development continues. Moreover, the development is equal to the level of leading countries.

scholarly journals Dosage Optimization for Letrozole Treatment in Clomiphene-Resistant Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Prospective Interventional Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elham Rahmani ◽  
Shahnaz Ahmadi ◽  
Niloofar Motamed ◽  
Hesam_Oddin Maneshi
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Polycystic Ovary ◽  
Clinical Pregnancy ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Interventional Study ◽  
Ovary Syndrome ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Letrozole Treatment ◽  
Number Of Cycles ◽  
Infertile Patients

Objective. Dose adjustment for induction of ovulation is one of the most important problem.Methods. In a prospective interventional study, 44 clomiphene-resistant infertile patients (113 cycles) were selected from the Abolfazl Infertility Clinic of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. Letrozole was given orally in a dose of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 7.5 mg, respectively. If the patient displayed no response, the dosage was increased.Results. In this patients ovulation occurred in 50 cycles (44.24%), clinical pregnancy rate according to number of cycles was 23.89% (27 of 113 cycles) and according to the number of patients was 61.36% (27 of 44 patients). In the 2.5, 5, and 7.5 groups, follicles occurred in 22.9%, 42.1%, and 85.18% of cycles, and pregnancy rate was 14.58%, 28.94% and, 33.33%, respectively.Conclusions. It is better to administer Letrozole at a lower dosage to prevent complications and increase the dose based on sonographic results antral follicular count, anti-Müllerian hormone, LH/FSH, and estradiol.

scholarly journals A study of hearing improvement after myringoplasties in Bir Hospital, Kathmandu

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 31-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
LK Yadav ◽  
D Shrestha ◽  
J Pradhananga
Keyword(s):  
Otitis Media ◽  
Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Hearing Improvement ◽  
Ear Surgery ◽  
Suppurative Otitis Media ◽  
Pure Tone Audiogram ◽  
Prime Concern ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Air Conduction

Myringoplasty is one of the most common ear surgery performed for chronic suppurative otitis media tubo tympanic type. The prime concern for patients who are willing to undergo myringoplasty is hearing improvement. The aim of this study is to assess the improvement of hearing after myringoplasties for Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media tubo tympanic type. The total number of patients included in the study was 105. Myringoplasties were performed in 129 patients, and only those who had graft uptake i.e. 105, were selected for the study. Age of the patients varied from 13 to 45 years. Pure tone audiogram was done before the operation and four weeks after the operation, and air conduction thresholds were compared. It was found that 83% of the patients had some degree of hearing improvement after the operation. No significant complications were observed except that few patients complained of pain at the site of incision for harvesting the graft. Thus, this study shows that, patients can be assured that the chances of hearing improvement is acceptable and can undergo the operation without fearing complications. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal,2011,Vol-6,No-4, 31-35 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v6i4.6723

scholarly journals Clinical and pathophysiological study of patients with vertigo at SAIMS, Indore

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 1009
Author(s):  
Digant Patni ◽  
Alok Tyagi ◽  
Vishal R. Munjal
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Pure Tone Audiometry ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Myogenic Potential ◽  
Mixed Hearing Loss ◽  
Sri Aurobindo ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Central Hearing Loss

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> This was a prospective, descriptive study performed by collecting and analyzing the results of vestibular exams, evoked myogenic potential tests, pure tone audiometry test and impedence test performed in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This was a prospective, descriptive study performed by collecting and analyzing the results of vestibular exams, evoked myogenic potential tests, pure tone audiometry test and impedence test performed in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore.  </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> In age group of 20 to 60, maximum number of patients were in group of 31-40 (16), followed by 51-60 (15), followed by 20-30 (24.) Maximum positive seen in Romberg (07), followed by nystagmus (06), followed by Dix-Hallpike (06). The patients in our study (30 out of 50) were suffering from hypertension. Two patients were of Meniere’s disease and rest 16 were of SNHL, 08 were of SNHL and BPPV combined. The rest of the cases were of mixed hearing loss and other central hearing loss causes will have be ruled out.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The main aim of study is to study clinicopathological aspects in patients with vertigo. We also studied incidence of SNHL in our study. It has been established by this study that hypertension is one the major causes of vertigo in patients whereas VEMP has not proven to be very beneficial in our study to see peripheral vertigo patients. Most of the patients with BPPV also had a normal cVEMP which showed that it was not a very reliable instrument in BPPV.</p>

scholarly journals The Effect of Methimazole on Thyroid Gland Uptake of Technetium in Hyperthyroid Patients

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-12
Author(s):  
Farshid Gheisari ◽  
Gholamreza Pishdad ◽  
Mehrdad Emami ◽  
Kasra Behdad ◽  
Aida Karimpour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Gland ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Region Of Interest ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Technetium 99M ◽  
Thyroid Scan ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
The Difference

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of methimazole on Technetium-99m reabsorbing by thyroid gland , it may be possible to perform thyroid scan when the patients are on the methimazole, this can be time saving and decrease the adverse effects of discontinuing methimazole. Patients and Methods: Among all the patients with hyperthyroidism who referred to nuclear medicine ward of Shiraz University of medical sciences, 50 patients were randomly selected. we asked the patients who were on Methimazole, to discontinue the usage of all drugs (not Methimazole) and foods which are effective on thyroid gland for 1 week, after that thyroid scan was performed for these patients. In The other episode, we asked them to discontinue the usage of all drugs (also Methimazole) and foods which are effective on thyroid gland for 1 week and then thyroid scan was performed again .Revealed data was analyzed under supervision of statistical specialist with descriptive methods on SPSS. Results: 34 patients were males (68%) and other was females. Mean age of the patients was 53.5 years. (Min: 39 years and max: 75 years) Although The ROI (Region of Interest) of thyroid was increased in the patients who used methimazole before scan 398.72(SD: 191.73) than the patients who discontinued for one week 380.15 (SD: 112.49), but the difference wasn’t statistically significant. The ROI of peripheral tissue of the thyroid was decreased in the patients who used methimazole before scan 26.44(SD: 5.42) than the patients who discontinued for one week 27.0414 (SD: 5.57), but the difference wasn’t statistically significant. Discussion: In conclusion, we demonstrated that methimazole pretreatment does not interfere with either the efficacy of ROI and reabsorbing of Technetium-99m in thyroid gland and peripheral tissues. A possible limitation of this study is the number of patients in the sample.So it seems that it may be possible to perform thyroid scan when the patients are on the methimazole, this can be time saving and decrease the adverse effects of discontinuing methimazole. [GMJ. 2012;1(1):8-12]

scholarly journals Identifying the Factors Affecting the Incidence of Medication Errors of Nurses in Teaching Hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Reza Yusefi ◽  
Parnian Nikmanesh ◽  
Zahra Kavosi ◽  
Ahmad Sadeghi
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Medication Errors ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Employment Relationship ◽  
Teaching Hospitals ◽  
Medical Sciences ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Heavy Workload

Background: Medication errors are one of the major causes of injury to patients while receiving medical care. This study aimed  to investigate the effective causes of medication errors in nurses in educational hospitals affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 on 340 nurses from 10 educational  hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The data collection tool was a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient were analyzed using SPSS23 software . Results: According to the results, human factors have been the most important factor in the occurrence of medication errors. The most important causes of medication errors with respect to human, managerial and environmental factors include fatigue due to overwork (3.13 ± 1.16), method of supervision (3.06 ± 0.98) ,and heavy workload (3.00 ± 1.19), respectively. There was a statistically significant relationship between human factors and  age (p = 0.024), gender (p = 0.013), employment relationship (p = 0.016), and marital status (p = 0.027), and between management factors and employment relationship (p = 0.034) and the number of patients under observation (p = 0.011). Conclusion: Considering the most important causes of medication errors, including fatigue due to overload, supervision methods, and heavy workload, using strategies to reduce fatigue due to workload, such as balancing nurses' work shifts and also holding workshops on supervision methods is recommended in order to improve the level of managerial competencies of nurses.

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