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PubMed1987

Antimicrobic susceptibility and plasmid profile analysis as identity tests for multiple blood isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci.

We compared a disk diffusion antimicrobic susceptibility panel with plasmid DNA profiles as tests for identity of 106 isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci cultured from the blood of 45 patients on multiple occasions. The antimicrobic panel included penicillin, oxacillin, clindamycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, tobramycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin. Nineteen patterns of antimicrobic susceptibility were found. The most common pattern was present in 25% of the isolates, and at least one isolate from 31% of the patients had this pattern. Forty-seven distinct plasmid DNA profiles were found. The most common plasmid profile was present in 8.5% of the isolates, and at least one isolate from 15% of the patients had this profile. Twenty-eight patients had multiple isolates that were identical by plasmid profile analysis. Twenty-seven (96%) of these patients had isolates that were also identical by antimicrobic susceptibility. Nineteen patients had multiple isolates that were different by plasmid profile analysis. In 18 (95%) of these patients, the isolates were also different by antimicrobic susceptibility. Although plasmid DNA profile analysis is a more discriminating tool, these data confirm that a selected disk diffusion antimicrobic susceptibility panel may be used to screen multiple blood isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci for identity or differences.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1997

Impact of profile haemodialysis on intra-/extracellular fluid shifts and the release of vasoactive hormones in elderly patients on regular dialysis treatment.

In 15 patients with end-stage renal failure and proven coronary heart disease, profile haemodialysis with decreasing ultrafiltration rate and hyperionic, decreasing dialysate solute concentration was compared with conventional, extracorporeal bicarbonate haemodialysis (Na+D = 138 mmol/l). Body fluid distribution and the release of vasoactive hormones (plasma renin activity, aldosterone, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and atrial natriuretic peptide) were investigated. Haemodialysis with constant ultrafiltration rate and constant dialysate composition (A) was followed by two dialysis profiles: decreasing ultrafiltration rate (B) and additional hyperionic, decreasing dialysate sodium concentration (C). In all 15 patients, the dialysis procedures (A) - (C) were used for 2 weeks each with six sessions, the last being taken for investigation. Body fluid distribution was calculated. In patients with serum sodium above 136 mmol/l, the conventional dialysis (A) as well as the Uf profile (B) showed a net fluid shift from extracellular volume (ECV) to intracellular volume (ICV). Using the profile with hyperionic, decreasing Na+D (C), the reverse fluid shift with decreasing ICV was achieved not only in those with serum Na+ <136 mmol/l, but also in those with serum Na+ > or = 136 mmol/l. The release of vasoactive hormones decreased already at profile haemodialysis (B) compared with (A) and was further reduced in (C). These results would suggest, profile dialyses B and C to have less impact on the cardiovascular system in elderly patients assuming higher patient comfort compared with the standard dialysis procedure. A higher benefit was obtained in C compared with B, presumably due to the additional prevention of the ICV shift and plasma volume depletion in patients with initial serum sodium > or = 136 mmol/l using transiently hyperionic Na+D. These results show that in elderly patients, hyperionic profile haemodialysis (Na+D > Na+S) had less impact on cardiovascular regulation than conventional bicarbonate dialysis.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

A costed profile audit of the surgical management of female stress incontinence.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To conduct a profile audit of three surgical treatments for urinary stress incontinence through the application of an episode costing process. METHODS: Four stage methodology: (1) construction or a profile of care for each of the surgical approaches (setting the standard); 2) calculation of a theoretical profile cost; (3) calculation of the observed costs from real patient episodes; (4) comparison of observed costs with profile costs, (comparing present practice with established standard). RESULTS: Profiles of care were constructed and compared with 39 actual in-patient episodes. Tension free vaginal tape (TVT Gynecare) is the cheapest modality of treatment in terms of both the expected profile cost and also observed (real patient) cost. Colposuspension is the most expensive form of treatment with real costs significantly greater than the expected profile. Clinical issues such as length of stay, duration of surgery, patient selection and complication rates were revealed through the exception reporting process. Length of stay is the main determinant of overall cost. CONCLUSION: It is possible to construct a costed and auditable standard of care for a surgical procedure. This standard can be compared with real patient costs calculated using the same methodology. Exception reporting based on differences between expected and real costs can be used to facilitate the audit of clinical practice. The technique is limited, however, by the need to collect accurate and detailed activity data.

Collagen↗
PubMed2004

Believing is seeing II: Beliefs and perceptions of criminal psychological profiles.

This study built upon previous research by Kocsis and Hayes (2004) by investigating whether a bias exhibited by police officers in their perception of profiles would replicate in a sample of nonpolice participants. Additionally, the relationship, if any, between the degree of belief harbored by an individual concerning the merits of profiling and their perceptions of a given profile was also investigated. The findings of this study add to the contention that the biases observed in Kocsis and Hayes's previous study with regard to author label may be related to some intrinsic feature of the previously sampled police participants. Additionally, evidence was found to support the proposition that an individual's degree of belief in profiling is related to their perceptions concerning the merits of a profile. Namely, the more an individual believes in the profiling technique, the greater the merit that will be perceived in a profile.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Believing is seeing III: perceptions of content in criminal psychological profiles.

This study explored Kocsis and Heller's findings concerning the relationship between one's belief and the perceived accuracy of a profile. The influence of types of information was also considered. A sample of 353 participants was used in the present experiment that gauged the perception of information contained in a profile. The results supported Kocsis and Heller's earlier findings with a positive relationship found between belief and perceived accuracy. The more an individual believes in profiling, the more likely he or she is to perceive a profile to be accurate. This relationship was most pronounced in participants' perceptions of information contained in a profile concerning an unknown offender's crime behavior and past history. The more an individual believes in profiling, the more information relating to these two factors is likely to be perceived. This relationship was not observed where information in the same profile involved physical features of the offender.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The t(14;18) defines a unique subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a germinal center B-cell gene expression profile.

Recently we have identified subgroups of de novo primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) based on complementary DNA microarray-generated gene expression profiles. To correlate the gene expression profiles with cytogenetic abnormalities in these DLBCLs, we examined the occurrence of the t(14;18)(q32;q21) in the 2 distinctive subgroups of DLBCL: one with the germinal center B-cell gene expression signature and the other with the activated B cell-like gene expression signature. The t(14;18) was detected in 7 of 35 cases (20%). All 7 t(14;18)-positive cases had a germinal center B-cell gene expression profile, representing 35% of the cases in this subgroup, and 6 of these 7 cases had very similar gene expression profiles. The expression of bcl-2 and bcl-6 proteins was not significantly different between the t(14;18)-positive and -negative cases, whereas CD10 was detected only in the group with the germinal center B-cell expression profile, and CD10 was most frequently expressed in the t(14;18)-positive cases. This study supports the validity of subdividing DLBCL into 2 major subgroups by gene expression profiling, with the t(14;18) being an important event in the pathogenesis of a subset of DLBCL arising from germinal center B cells. CD10 protein expression is useful in identifying cases of DLBCL with a germinal center B-cell gene expression profile and is often expressed in cases with the t(14;18).

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed2006

Propagation velocity profile in a cross-section of a cardiac muscle bundle from PSpice simulation.

BACKGROUND: The effect of depth on propagation velocity within a bundle of cardiac muscle fibers is likely to be an important factor in the genesis of some heart arrhythmias. MODEL AND METHODS: The velocity profile of simulated action potentials propagated down a bundle of parallel cardiac muscle fibers was examined in a cross-section of the bundle using a PSpice model. The model (20 x 10) consisted of 20 chains in parallel, each chain being 10 cells in length. All 20 chains were stimulated simultaneously at the left end of the bundle using rectangular current pulses (0.25 nA, 0.25 ms duration) applied intracellularly. The simulated bundle was symmetrical at the top and bottom (including two grounds), and voltage markers were placed intracellularly only in cells 1, 5 and 10 of each chain to limit the total number of traces to 60. All electrical parameters were standard values; the variables were (1) the number of longitudinal gap-junction (G-j) channels (0, 1, 10, 100), (2) the longitudinal resistance between the parallel chains (Rol2) (reflecting the closeness of the packing of the chains), and (3) the bundle termination resistance at the two ends of the bundle (RBT). The standard values for Rol2 and RBT were 200 KOmega. RESULTS: The velocity profile was bell-shaped when there was 0 or only 1 gj-channel. With standard Rol2 and RBT values, the velocity at the surface of the bundle (theta1 and theta20) was more than double (2.15 x) that at the core of the bundle (theta10, theta11). This surface:core ratio of velocities was dependent on the values of Rol2 and RBT. When Rol2 was lowered 10-fold, theta1 increased slightly and theta2decreased slightly. When there were 100 gj-channels, the velocity profile was flat, i.e. the velocity at the core was about the same as that at the surface. Both velocities were more than 10-fold higher than in the absence of gj-channels. Varying Rol2 and RBT had almost no effect. When there were 10 gj-channels, the cross-sectional velocity profile was bullet-shaped, but with a low surface/core ratio, with standard Rol2 and RBT values. CONCLUSION: When there were no or few gj-channels (0 or 1), the profile was bell-shaped with the core velocity less than half that at the surface. In contrast, when there were many gj-channels (100), the profile was flat. Therefore, when some gj-channels close under pathophysiological conditions, this marked velocity profile could contribute to the genesis of arrhythmias.

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1982

The daily profile of plasma melatonin in obese and Prader-Willi syndrome children.

Daily plasma melatonin profiles were determined by RIA in exogenously obese and Prader-Willi syndrome children. The melatonin RIA was validated for use in human plasma by evaluating melatonin immunoreactivity in the resultant eluate fractions of a high performance liquid chromatogram of a chloroform-extracted pooled human plasma sample. Melatonin immunoreactivity in the plasma profile occurred only in the fraction that corresponded to the chromatographic position of authentic melatonin. Exogenously obese patients had plasma melatonin profiles characterized by low levels during the day (20-30 pg/ml plasma) and high levels at night (65-130 pg/ml plasma). The plasma melatonin profile did not vary as a function of weight or pubertal status. Prader-Willi syndrome patients had similar melatonin profiles to those of exogenously obese patients. Although the Prader-Willi children had a delayed onset of puberty, the plasma melatonin profile was unaltered. These data indicate that plasma melatonin may not play a role in the onset of puberty. However, the daily melatonin profile is a temporally precise hormonal rhythm in humans.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Static and dynamic pressure profiles of a patellar-tendon-bearing (PTB) socket.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pressure distribution at the stump/socket interface in amputees wearing the patellar-tendon-bearing socket. A specially built strain gauged type pressure transducer was used for measuring this pressure distribution in four unilateral transtibial amputees. Pressure and gait parameters were measured simultaneously while they were standing and walking. Pressure profiles were compiled at 10, 25 and 50 per cent of gait cycle and compared with the pressure profiles predicted by Radcliffe in 1961. The subject's anterior-posterior pressure profiles were different from each other. However, at toe-off, each subject exhibited an increase in pressure at the patellar tendon. Their medial-lateral pressure profiles were similar: exhibiting high pressure at the medial proximal and lateral distal regions except for one subject who exhibited high pressure at the lateral proximal region instead. The subjects' pressure profiles did not resemble Radcliffe's anticipated pressure profiles. This was because ground reaction force was not the only factor affecting the resulting pressure profiles.

Adult↗
PubMed2024

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in RUNX2 and BMP2 contributes to different vertical facial profile.

The vertical facial profile is a crucial factor for facial harmony with significant implications for both aesthetic satisfaction and orthodontic treatment planning. However, the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the development of vertical facial proportions is still poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the potential impact of some SNPs in genes associated with craniofacial bone development on the establishment of different vertical facial profiles. Vertical facial profiles were assessed by two senior orthodontists through pre-treatment digital lateral cephalograms. The vertical facial profile type was determined by recommended measurement according to the American Board of Orthodontics. Healthy orthodontic patients were divided into the following groups: "Normodivergent" (control group), "Hyperdivergent" and "Hypodivergent". Patients with a history of orthodontic or facial surgical intervention were excluded. Genomic DNA extracted from saliva samples was used for the genotyping of 7 SNPs in RUNX2, BMP2, BMP4 and SMAD6 genes using real-time polymerase chain reactions (PCR). The genotype distribution between groups was evaluated by uni- and multivariate analysis adjusted by age (alpha = 5%). A total of 272 patients were included, 158 (58.1%) were "Normodivergent", 68 (25.0%) were "Hyperdivergent", and 46 (16.9%) were "Hypodivergent". The SNPs rs1200425 (RUNX2) and rs1005464 (BMP2) were associated with a hyperdivergent vertical profile in uni- and multivariate analysis (p-value < 0.05). Synergistic effect was observed when evaluating both SNPs rs1200425- rs1005464 simultaneously (Prevalence Ratio = 4.0; 95% Confidence Interval = 1.2-13.4; p-value = 0.022). In conclusion, this study supports a link between genetic factors and the establishment of vertical facial profiles. SNPs in RUNX2 and BMP2 genes were identified as potential contributors to hyperdivergent facial profiles.

Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide↗
PubMed2005

Newborn hearing screening in the NICU: profile of failed auditory brainstem response/passed otoacoustic emission.

OBJECTIVE: Incidence of a specific pattern of auditory responses, absent auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) and present otoacoustic emissions (OAEs), in newborn hearing screening in a regional perinatal center neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is described. This profile, labeled auditory neuropathy or auditory dyssynchrony (AN/AD), is a dysfunction in neural/brainstem transmission that occurs in individuals whose outer hairs cells are functioning normally. Although the AN/AD profile has been associated with various risk factors, incidence and prediction are unknown. METHOD: Analysis of electrophysiologic measures and medical record reviews of the first 22 months of the universal newborn hearing-screening program was conducted. Association of the AN/AD profile was evaluated with the following factors: gender, gestational age, ototoxic drug regimen, low birth weight, hyperbilirubinemia, hydrocephalus, low Apgar score, anoxia, respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, intraventricular hemorrhage, multiple birth, seizure activity, and family history. RESULTS: One hundred fifteen (24.1%) of the 477 infants failed the ABR in 1 or both ears and passed OAEs bilaterally. Comparisons of infants fitting the AN/AD profile with those not fitting the AN/AD profile were negative with 3 exceptions: those with hyperbilirubinemia and those who were administered vancomycin or furosemide. A logistic-regression analysis model failed to predict which infants would be at risk for the AN/AD profile either unilaterally or bilaterally. CONCLUSIONS: Screening of NICU infants should be conducted with ABR first, followed by OAE after failure on ABR. Because the incidence of the AN/AD profile was found to be 24% in this at-risk population, additional study is warranted.

Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem↗
PubMed1993

Soft-tissue profile changes during widening and protraction of the maxilla in patients with cleft lip and palate compared with normal growth and development.

During the last 15 years, cleft lip and palate (CLP) patients with maxillary deficiency in the care of the Bergen CLP team have undergone an interceptive orthopedic treatment phase during the deciduous and mixed dentition period. The present study includes 68 patients who received maxillary transverse expansion by use of a modified quad-helix appliance and 98 cases given maxillary protraction by a facial mask. All cases were treated until an acceptable normal occlusion was attained. Lateral cephalograms were taken immediately before and after the active treatment periods. Sagittal changes of the soft-tissue profile during transverse expansion and protraction were analyzed separately for unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients and bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCLP) patients. The soft-tissue profiles of the groups were compared to growth changes of noncleft age-matched children (NORM group). During the short period of maxillary transverse expansion (mean period, 3.5 months) no significant change of the soft-tissue profile was found, except in the protrusion of the lower lip in the BCLP group. During the period of maxillary protraction (mean periods, 12 months in the UCLP group and 15 months in the BCLP group) the soft-tissue profile improved significantly by reducing the characteristic tendency towards a concave profile in CLP patients with maxillary deficiency. Significant increases of the sagittal maxillomandibular lip relation (angle SS-N-SM: mean increase, 2.5 degrees) and the Holdaway-angle (H-angle: mean increase, 3.0 degrees) were found to be similar in the UCLP and BCLP groups. However, the use of different reference lines for evaluation of treatment effects upon the soft-tissue profile resulted in conflicting findings suggesting that anteriorly situated reference lines are more suitable for the evaluation of CLP patients. Thus, the esthetic line (E.line) indicated a favorable position of the lips after treatment; the subspinale-pogonion line (ss.pg) revealed an improved soft-tissue profile; the soft-tissue-facial line (N.PG) showed a retruded nose and upper lip; whereas basal references such as the nasionsella line (NSL) and the occlusal-line perpendicular (OLP) mainly showed major differences between the CLP groups and the NORM groups.

Cephalometry↗
PubMed2000

Laboratory and field evaluation of polymerase chain reaction-based forensic DNA profiling for use in identification of human blood meal sources of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae).

We modified polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based forensic DNA profiling for field studies on the feeding behavior of Aedes aegypti, the principal mosquito vector of dengue virus. Human DNA was extracted from oral swabs of human subjects and from blood-engorged mosquitoes, DNA was quantified by slot blot, and alleles at variable number tandem repeats and three short tandem repeats loci were amplified by PCR. Alleles were separated electrophoretically and then visualized by silver staining. A custom software program was written to match DNA fingerprints of potential human hosts to allelic profiles detected in engorged mosquitoes, and to calculate error rates for identification of human hosts of single and multiple-host blood meals. At 29 degrees C in the laboratory, human DNA recovered from mosquito blood meals declined an average of 67% 8 h after feeding and 90% after 24 h. We obtained complete allelic profiles from seven of 10 mosquitoes collected after 24 h. In a field trial, complete DNA profiles were obtained successfully for 43 people living in a rural village in south central Thailand and for 20 of 100 Ae. aegypti that contained blood and were collected in those peoples' homes. Blood imbibed from more than one person was detected in 45% (9 of 20) of the meals. Sixty-five percent of the meals contained blood from nonresidents of the house in which the mosquito was collected or from people who were not profiled; data consistent with the hypothesis that human movement is important for the spread of dengue virus within and among communities. When using alleles at four loci, all of the Thais and nine members spanning three generations of a Chinese-American family had unique allelic profiles. Error rates from classifying possible multiple-host meals as single-host meals were low (1-8%), with the highest error associated with closely related people. Results from our laboratory and field studies indicated that DNA profiling can be used to study the details and epidemiological implications of Ae. aegypti blood-feeding behavior.

Aedes↗
PubMed2006

Alterations in the blood velocity profile influence the blood flow response during muscle contractions and relaxations.

The present study examined the influences of the muscle contraction (MCP) and relaxation (MRP) phases, as well as systole and diastole, on the blood velocity profile and flow in the conduit artery at different dynamic muscle contraction forces. Eight healthy volunteers performed one-legged dynamic knee-extensor exercise at work rates of 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 W at 60 contractions per minute. The time- and space-averaged, amplitude-weighted, mean (V(mean)) and maximum (V(max)) blood flow velocities were continuously measured in the common femoral artery during the cardiosystolic (CSP) and cardiodiastolic (CDP) phases during MCP and MRP, respectively. The V(max)/V(mean) ratio was used as a flow profile index where a ratio of approximately (~) 1 indicates a "flat" velocity profile, and a ratio significantly greater than (>>) 1 indicates a "parabolic" velocity profile. At rest, a "steeper" parabolic velocity profile was found during the CDP (ratio: 1.75 +/- 0.06) than during the CSP (ratio: 1.31 +/- 0.02). During the MRP of exercise, the V(max)/V(mean) ratio shifted to be less steep (p < 0.05) than at rest during the CDP (ratio: 1.41-1.54) at 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 W; whereas it was slightly higher (p < 0.05) at 30 and 40 W than at rest during the CSP (ratio: 1.43-1.46). During the MCP, the parabolic blood velocity profile was enhanced (p < 0.05) at higher contraction forces, 20 W during the CDP (ratio: 2.15-2.52) and 30 W during the CSP (ratio: 1.49-1.77), potentially because of a greater retrograde flow component. A higher blood flow furthermore appeared during the MRP compared to during the MCP, coinciding with a greater uniformity of the red blood cells moving at higher blood velocities during the MRP. Thus part of the difference in the magnitude of blood flow during the MRP vs. MCP may be due to the alterations of the blood velocity flow profile.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

On the power of profiles for transcription factor binding site detection.

Transcription factor binding site (TFBS) detection plays an important role in computational biology, with applications in gene finding and gene regulation. The sites are often modeled by gapless profiles, also known as position-weight matrices. Past research has focused on the significance of profile scores (the ability to avoid false positives), but this alone is not enough: The profile must also possess the power to detect the true positive signals. Several completed genomes are now available, and the search for TFBSs is moving to a large scale; so discriminating signal from noise becomes even more challenging. Since TFBS profiles are usually estimated from only a few experimentally confirmed instances, careful regularization is an important issue. We present a novel method that is well suited for this situation. We further develop measures that help in judging profile quality, based on both sensitivity and selectivity of a profile. It is shown that these quality measures can be efficiently computed, and we propose statistically well-founded methods to choose score thresholds. Our findings are applied to the TRANSFAC database of transcription factor binding sites. The results are disturbing: If we insist on a significance level of 5% in sequences of length 500, only 19% of the profiles detect a true signal instance with 95% success probability under varying background sequence compositions.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical experience with the customized low spherical aberration ablation profile for myopia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate postoperative spherical aberration reduction and increase of visual acuity with new Flex Scan and custom ablation software. METHODS: We created a new customized low spherical aberration ablation profile for myopic patients (true spherical ablation). This aspheric algorithm increases ablation in the midperiphery and periphery to reduce surgery-induced spherical aberration. LASIK was performed in 143 eyes, 127 with the true spherical ablation profile, and 16 with the custom true spherical ablation profile. We used the Nidek OPD-Scan and the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser. Ablation zones of 6.0 to 6.5 mm and transition zones of 8.5 to 9.0 mm were used. Preoperative myopia was as much as -6.50 D, and astigmatism, -2.50 D. RESULTS: In the true spherical ablation profile group, 37.8% of eyes achieved UCVA better than 1.0 (1.2 to 2.0). In custom true spherical ablation profile eyes, 62.5% achieved UCVA better than 1.0 (1.2 to 1.5). One patient had on the day after surgery (true spherical ablation profile) an UCVA of 3.0 (preoperative UCVA was 0.1 and BSCVA was 1.0 in each eye). Preoperative and postoperative OPD-Scan analysis showed reduction of spherical-like aberrations for dilated pupil after surgery or insignificant changes for most patients. No patient had any complaints concerning quality of vision. CONCLUSION: LASIK based on our true spherical ablation profile produced good visual acuity results for myopic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Comparison of LASIK using the NIDEK EC-5000 optimized aspheric transition zone (OATz) and conventional ablation profile.

PURPOSE: To compare a new ablation algorithm termed the optimized aspheric transition zone (OATz) with the conventional laser ablation profile for correction of myopic astigmatism. METHODS: LASIK using OATz profile #6 or using conventional ablation profile was performed on 98 eyes of 53 patients (OATz #6 group) and 111 eyes of 66 patients (control #6 group), respectively. Further, LASIK using OATz profile #5 or using the conventional ablation profile was performed on 109 eyes of 58 patients (OATz #5 group) and 109 eyes of 75 patients (control #5 group), respectively. The effective optical zone, uncorrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, aberrations, contrast sensitivity, and patient satisfaction at 3 months postoperatively were compared between the OATz #6 and control #6 groups and between the OATz #5 and control #5 groups. RESULTS: The effective optical zones in the OATz #6 group (6.45 +/- 0.29 mm) or OATz #5 group (6.40 +/- 0.21 mm) were significantly larger than those in the control #6 group (6.33 +/- 0.27 mm) or control #5 group (6.26 +/- 0.25 mm) (P < .01), respectively. Uncorrected visual acuity and manifest refraction were similar in all groups. The changes in contrast sensitivity were significant and favored the OATz #6 (P < .01) and OATz #5 groups (P < .05). The patient satisfaction survey found no statistical difference at 3 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with the OATz profiles had better visual quality as measured by contrast sensitivity and also had larger effective optical zones as compared with those treated by the conventional ablation profile.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Physician profiling: trends and implications.

Every professional is subject to profiling, and most are profiled more rigorously, more thoroughly, and more dispassionately than are physicians. Profiling occurs when society has the technologies and the economic incentives to perform profiling. In the first of this two-part article, we will consider trends in profiling all professionals and those in profiling physicians. We conclude in the second part of the article with a discussion of the specific methodologies and vendors used in profiling the practice habits of physicians.

Medical Staff, Hospital↗