Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “confidence limits”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Dose requirements of propofol by infusion during nitrous oxide anaesthesia in man. II: Patients premedicated with lorazepam.

The infusion rate of propofol required to supplement 67% nitrous oxide in oxygen to maintain surgical anaesthesia was determined in 72 patients premedicated with lorazepam. Following an induction dose of propofol 2 mg kg-1, groups of eight patients received an infusion of propofol varying from 60 to 200 micrograms kg-1 min-1. Probit analysis was used to determine the ED50 (130 micrograms kg-1 min-1; 95% confidence limits: 106-167 micrograms kg-1 min-1) and ED95 (348 micrograms kg-1 min-1; 95% confidence limits: 233-1296 micrograms kg-1 min-1) for propofol infusion. Whole blood propofol concentrations at the time of surgical incision correlated strongly with the infusion rate, giving an EC50 value of 2.5 micrograms ml-1, and an EC95 value of 5.92 micrograms ml-1. There was no significant correlation between the rate of infusion of propofol, or the total propofol dose, and the times to response to command, or to recall of birthdate.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The variable component of lateral body sway during walking in young and older humans.

INTRODUCTION: Because sideways falls are common in elderly persons, we devised a method to measure variable lateral movements of the thorax with respect to foot position during normal walking. METHODS: Movements of the ankles and shoulders were measured during walking a distance of 9 m. Two age groups were studied: young (n = 17, 6 male, mean age 27.3 years) and older (n = 21, 13 male, mean age 72.7 years) people. During walking, the path followed in the horizontal plane by the midpoint between the two shoulders was compared to the line connecting successive positions of the ankles during stance. Lateral deviations between these two paths were divided into a regular component (average of about 30 strides) and a variable component (the difference between the deviation during each stride and the average). Lateral sway was also observed while standing with eyes open for 1 minute. RESULTS: The older group had more lateral movement during walking in the variable component (p =.006) and a nonsignificant trend (p =.054) in the same direction in the regular component. Eight of the older participants had a value for the variable component greater than the 95% confidence limit for the young participants. Only two of the older participants had a standing sway outside the confidence limit for the young participants. The variable component was associated with variability in stride width. DISCUSSION: The variable component of lateral sway during walking provides good discrimination between age groups, as does variability in step width. It remains to be seen whether these variables are different in fallers and nonfallers.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Ultrasonographic estimation of fetal body composition for children of diabetic mothers.

The authors hypothesized that ultrasound-generated measurements of the fetus could be used to predict body composition for children of diabetic mothers. Seven ultrasonically identifiable fetal morphometric parameters were measured on 21 fetuses of diabetic mothers within 7 days of delivery. These seven individual measurements were then matched to neonatal morphometric estimations of body composition by means of stepwise regression analysis. Ultrasound variables which were found to show significant correlation to the newborn estimates of body composition were combined to generate an equation that could predict neonatal lean body mass and fat mass. Neonatal lean body mass could be predicted with R = .93 (P less than .001, 95% confidence limits .80-.98). Neonatal fat mass could be predicted with R = .81 (P less than .001, 95% confidence limits .55-.92). Prospective evaluation of the regression equations in an additional 18 patients showed no significant difference between ultrasound-predicted body composition and newborn morphometric estimation of body composition. The authors conclude that estimations of fetal body composition are possible, and may provide a valuable tool in the identification of fetal growth abnormalities.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The relationships between left ventricular mass and daytime and night-time blood pressures: a meta-analysis of comparative studies.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature to examine critically the assertion that night-time blood pressure is a better predictor of echocardiographic left ventricular mass than daytime blood pressure, and that left ventricular mass is inversely related to the day-night blood pressure difference. STUDY SELECTION: Published studies in which left ventricular mass (index) of normotensive or hypertensive individuals, or both, was related to automated blood pressure measurement during the day and night, or their difference, or both. RESULTS OF DATA ANALYSIS: The meta-analysis of 19 comparative studies, involving 1223 participants, indicates that the weighted correlation coefficient for the relationship between left ventricular mass (index) and systolic night-time blood pressure (0.44; 95% confidence limit 0.39-0.48) is not significantly different from the correlation with systolic daytime blood pressure (0.48; 95% confidence limit 0.44-0.52; P > 0.2). The corresponding correlation coefficients for diastolic blood pressure both average 0.37. In half of the eight studies in which the association between left ventricular mass (index) and the day-night difference in blood pressure was analysed, investigators found no significant relationship between those variables; in the others, the variance of the mass (index) that can be explained by the blood pressure difference is 15% at the most. CONCLUSION: The overall analysis suggests that night-time blood pressure is not a significantly better predictor of left ventricular mass than daytime blood pressure is, and that the relationship to the day-night blood pressure difference is not a unanimous finding and is only ever weakly significant.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Should punch biopsies be used when high-grade disease is suspected at initial colposcopic assessment? A prospective study.

The reliability and applicability of colposcopically directed cervical punch biopsy was assessed in a sample of 170 paired punch and large loop excision of cervical transformation zone (LLETZ) specimens obtained from previously untreated women who had been selected for treatment on the basis of cytology and/or colposcopic findings and in whom the entire cervical transformation zone was visible. A single punch biopsy was taken immediately before the LLETZ, and all the specimens were reviewed by a single pathologist. Nine (5.3%) punch biopsies were inadequate. In terms of whether or not there was cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), the chance-corrected kappa analysis rated overall agreement as poor (kappa = 0.21, 95% confidence limits 0.02-0.39), whereas in terms of histologic grade, it was fair to moderate (kappa = 0.32, 95% confidence limits 0.23-0.42). Punch biopsy tended to underestimate the disease. The sensitivity and specificity of colposcopically directed punch biopsy for the detection of high-grade CIN was 74% and 91%, respectively, with positive- and negative predictive values of 97% and 48%, respectively. Two microinvasive and two intraepithelial glandular lesions were missed on punch biopsy. Punch biopsy should be avoided when high-grade disease is suspected.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The clinical effect of the GABA-agonist, progabide, on spasticity.

In a double-blind cross-over trial of two 2-week periods, the clinical effect of progabide was compared to placebo. 16 patients with spasticity in a stationary phase completed the trial. 14 had multiple sclerosis, 2 hereditary spastic paraplegia. 5 were female and 11 male. The median age was 45.5 years (range 30-62 years). The median daily dosage of progabide was 24.3 mg/kg (range 14.3-32.7 mg/kg). During progabide treatment, there was a reduction in spastic hypertonia (P less than 0.01), a suppression of tendon reflexes (patellar) (P less than 0.01), and a reduction in the frequency of flexor spasms (P less than 0.05). No significant changes in voluntary power were registered. The global clinical impression revealed a therapeutic effect in 87% of the patients (95% confidence limits 61-98%). The improvement was judged as medium or important in 50% of the patients (95% confidence limits 23-77%). No side-effects or laboratory abnormalities were seen.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The value of plain radiographs prior to oral cholecystography.

The diagnostic significance of a routine preliminary plain radiograph of the right upper abdominal quadrant prior to oral cholecystography was evaluated retrospectively. The plain radiograph was decisive in the diagnosis in only one case out of 1,022 consecutive cholecystographic examinations (0.1%) (95% confidence limits: 0.00-0.55%). The sensitivity of oral cholecystography, now approximately 90%, would drop by only 0.43% (95% confidence limits: 0.01-2.14%) if the routine plain radiograph were omitted.

Cholecystography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of anterior cruciate ligament graft elongation at the time of implantation on the biomechanical behavior of the graft and knee.

This investigation determined the effect that anterior cruciate ligament graft elongation at the time of surgical reconstruction has on the long-term biomechanical behavior of the graft and knee joint. We chose the canine model for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, using the medial third of the patellar tendon with attached proximal bone block. Elongation of the graft was measured immediately after graft fixation during passive knee flexion using the Hall effect transducer. The dogs were divided into either Group 1 (graft elongation behavior within the 95% confidence limits of the normal anterior cruciate ligament) or Group 2 (graft elongation behavior more than the 95% confidence limits of the normal anterior cruciate ligament). All of the dogs were sacrificed 18 months postoperatively, and we evaluated anteroposterior load displacement (i.e., anteroposterior laxity) of the knee and the structural properties of the graft. The anteroposterior laxity behavior of the reconstructed knees in Group 2 was significantly more than that of Group 1. Group 2 had significantly less linear stiffness of the graft than Group 1. There was no difference in the ultimate failure load and absorbed energy at failure values of the grafts between Groups 1 and 2. The findings from this investigation indicate that the graft elongation behavior at the time of reconstruction is a critical factor that influences the long-term success of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Bladder training and terodiline in females with idiopathic urge incontinence and stable detrusor function.

Twenty consecutive female patients with urge incontinence and stable detrusor function on provocative rapid fill CO2-cystometry were treated as out-patients with a bladder training programme and with terodiline/placebo in a double-blind cross-over design. Frequency and incontinence episodes decreased significantly, while first sensation and cystometric bladder capacity increased. Both objectively and subjectively terodiline was significantly better than placebo with 50% (95% confidence limits 18-82) more patients improved on terodiline than on placebo. Thirty percent of the patients (95% confidence limits 12-54) relapsed after withdrawal of terodiline. At 3 months follow-up the remaining 70% were satisfied with the outcome of the training programme. Side effects were mild and reversible. Serum creatinine and alkaline phosphatase increased slightly on terodiline and the diastolic blood pressure was probably also increased by terodiline. In conclusion, female patients with idiopathic urge incontinence and stable detrusor function did respond to treatment as do female patients with urge incontinence and proven instability.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Comparative study of two regimens of combined chemotherapy of one year duration in multibacillary leprosy. Results after four and five years' follow-up.

Two therapeutic regimens of one-year duration were administered to two groups of 20 previously untreated multibacillary leprosy patients. Regimen A was rifampin 600 mg twice weekly, prothionamide 500 mg, and dapsone (DDS) 100 mg daily for six months, followed by 100 mg DDS daily for another six months. Regimen B was identical to Regimen A but without prothionamide. Follow-up was for 4 1/2 and 5 years in 15 and 14 patients, respectively. Clinical improvement was rapid, and the bacterial index (BI) of the patients diminished by one unit per year after stopping treatment. Five patients were skin-smear negative at 54 months. The BI in the nasal mucosa became negative after 48 months. There were many attacks of erythema nodosum leprosum between month 3 of treatment until 13 and 21 months. Up to now no relapses have been observed. These results have confidence limits of 20% and 23%, respectively. However, when the results of the two regimens are added, the confidence limit for six months' twice weekly rifampin together with DDS and followed by six months of DDS and 4 1/2 years follow-up is 12%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Cigarette smoking and other risk factors for cervical dysplasia in southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women.

To assess smoking-related and other risk factors for high-grade cervical dysplasia in southwestern Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women in New Mexico, we conducted a clinic-based case-control study among attendees at university-affiliated gynecology clinics. We collected data on cigarette use, sexual behavior, past and current sexually transmitted diseases, hygienic practices, contraception, and diet. For both ethnic groups combined, after adjustment for the effects of human papillomavirus, sexual behavior, and other risk factors, cigarette smoking at the time of diagnosis was associated with high-grade dysplasia (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence limits, 1.0-2.8). In contrast, former smoking was not associated with cervical dysplasia (odds ratio 0.9; 95% confidence limits, 0.5-1.5). Analyses showed dose-response relationships for the amount of cigarettes smoked per day and for cumulative exposure (pack-years of use) in association with cervical dysplasia. Although our study lacked the power to show statistically significant ethnic differences in smoking-related risks for dysplasia, smoking at the time of diagnosis, high pack-years of use, and smoking at the time of menarche were associated with dysplasia only for non-Hispanic white versus Hispanic women. Our data support hypotheses that implicate cigarette use as an etiological factor in the development of high-grade cervical dysplasia and suggest ethnic differences in risks for dysplasia among women attending the same clinics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The role of psychological factors.

OBJECTIVE: Examining the relationship between psychological status and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Our hypothesis is that psychological distress is associated with greater mortality and shorter survival time than psychological well-being. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, longitudinal. The baseline evaluations used were disease severity and 10 psychometric tests. A psychological status score was derived from these tests. Survival status was monitored for 3.5 years. Interviewers were blinded to other interviews and data analysis. SETTING: Patient's residence. PATIENTS: The criteria for eligibility were diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by a neurologist, dementia or alcoholism absent, communication in English, and any severity or length of disease. It was a volunteer sample consisting of 144 patients from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clinics or community-based amyotrophic lateral sclerosis support groups. In this sample 66% were men, 94% were white, mean age at diagnosis was 55 years, 79% were married, 60% had some college education, and 61% died during the study. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES END POINTS: mortality during study, survival time from intake to last follow-up. RESULTS: Comparison between high and low psychological score groups: 32% of high and 82% of low died; survival curves were significantly different. Controlling for confounding factors (length of illness, disease severity, age), patients with psychological distress had a greater risk of mortality (relative risk, 6.76; 95% confidence limits, 1.69 to 27.12) and greater likelihood of dying in any given time period (relative risk, 2.24; 95% confidence limits, 1.08 to 4.64) than those with psychological well-being. CONCLUSION: Adjusting for confounding factors, psychological status is strongly related to outcome in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Further studies on psychological status should be done to confirm its prognostic value.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗
PubMed1994

Attitudes towards high-fat foods and their low-fat alternatives: reliability and relationship with fat intake.

Score on a scale of attitude towards the consumption of five high-fat foods and their low-fat alternatives was correlated with the energy percentage of fat in the diet across 419 subjects. Attitudes towards low-fat alternatives were more positive than towards high-fat foods. Mean energy percentage of fat in the diet was 38.8% (SD 7.1). The attitude scale explained 25% of the variance in percentage energy as fat. Test-retest reliability of the attitude scale (n = 25) was 0.92 (95% confidence limits 0.82 and 0.97). The reproducibility of energy percentage fat in the diet (n = 33) was 0.64 (95% confidence limits 0.38 and 0.81). Differences in attitude score were found between men and women, subjects following a dietary treatment and those who did not, and subjects with a fat intake according to the Dutch dietary guidelines and those who had not (p < 0.001). Fat intake (expressed as percentage of energy intake) differed between age groups (p < 0.05), and between subjects following a special diet and those who did not (p < 0.001). No difference in attitude score or energy percentage of fat was found for education level, occupation level, body mass index or household size. It is concluded that attitudes towards high-fat foods and their low-fat alternatives are useful in understanding fat intake.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Predicting the functional result of anastomoses to the anus: the paradox of preoperative anal resting pressure.

UNLABELLED: This article examines the effect of ileal pouch-anal (n = 134) and coloanal (n = 16) anastomoses on resting anal canal pressures in 150 patients. METHODS: Patients underwent anal manometry before ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) and coloanal anastomosis (CAA) and again six weeks after ileostomy closure following these procedures. A water-perfused catheter system with four radial ports was used for manometry, pressures being recorded during both station and continuous pull through. RESULTS: Patients with IPAA were younger than those with CAA (34 years vs. 50 years) and had a different ratio of hand-to-stapled anastomosis (1:2.6 vs. 1.3:1). All CAA patients had had rectal cancer while IPAA patients suffered mainly from ulcerative colitis (n = 114) or familial polyposis (n = 10). The mean preoperative resting pressure for all patients was 79 mmHg (75-87, 95 percent confidence limit) and the mean fall in this pressure after surgery was 25 mmHg (-21 to -29, 95 percent confidence limit). There was no difference in preoperative pressure or fall between handsewn and stapled anastomoses, or between IPAA and CAA. CONCLUSION: There was a significant relationship between preoperative pressure and change in pressure that held true for all subgroups (change = -0.7 x preoperative pressure + 31, r = 0.69). Analysis of the functional results confirmed that patients with high preoperative pressure are at risk for severe falls after surgery and are not guaranteed a good result. Conversely, patients with low preoperative pressures may actually have an increase with surgery and are not always incontinent. Patients with low preoperative anal resting pressures should not be denied anastomosis to the anus if they are continent.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Changes in injection risk behavior associated with participation in the Seattle needle-exchange program.

We studied the influence of the Seattle, Washington, needle-exchange program on sharing of drug injection equipment (syringes, drug cookers, filtration cotton) to identify potential gaps in risk reduction and to understand in greater detail the lack of an association between exchange use and risk of hepatitis B or C virus transmission. In a cohort of 2,208 injection drug users who completed a 1-year follow-up visit, we measured the association between needle-exchange use at study enrollment (ever vs. never) and injection risk behavior at the follow-up. Control for confounding was carried out using both logistic regression and propensity score analytic methods to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR). In both univariate and multivariate analyses, needle-exchange use was associated with a lower likelihood of injection with a used syringe (AOR = 0.7, 95% confidence limit 0.5, 0.9). There was no association between exchange use and cooker or cotton sharing (AOR = 0.8, 95% confidence limit 0.6, 1.1) or between exchange use and use of a common syringe to divide drugs (AOR = 0.9). This analysis suggests that risk reduction measures adopted by users of the Seattle exchange may not be sufficient to prevent transmission of all blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis C virus. Greater awareness of the infection risk associated with these practices may help curb this type of equipment sharing and ultimately prevent disease transmission.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

The stomach after cholecystectomy.

Removal of the gallbladder results in an accelerated enterohepatic circulation of bile salts. It has been suggested that reflux of bile into the stomach after cholecystectomy may predispose a patient to the development of gastric lesions. To examine this hypothesis, 349 patients with endoscopically proved gastric ulcers or mucosal lesions were age and sex matched with 349 patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms who had normal endoscopic findings. The frequency of cholecystectomy was determined to be 4.3 percent in the gastric ulcer group (control 3.7 percent) and 3.8 percent in the mucosal lesions group (control 4.2 percent). There was no statistical difference between patients with gastric ulcer and the control subjects, mucosal lesions and controls in the frequency of cholecystectomy using individually matched case-control comparison. The relative risk for gastric ulcer-matched control comparison was 1.3 (95 percent confidence limit 0.3 to 6.3). The relative risk for mucosal lesion-matched control comparison was 0.85 (95 percent confidence limit 0.2 to 2.9). The data did not support the hypothesis that cholecystectomy increases the propensity to develop gastric lesions.

Bile↗
PubMed1993

The effect of low-level laser therapy on musculoskeletal pain: a meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis was undertaken of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on musculoskeletal pain. A literature search revealed 23 LLLT trials and of these 17 were controlled trials. Ten were double blind and 7 were insufficiently blinded. Within the studies identified pain was assessed by visual analogue scale or by "some other indices of pain". Nine double-blind trials and 4 controlled trials presented results in a form which allowed pooling of data. In the double-blind trials, the mean difference in pain between LLLT and placebo was 0.3% (S.E.(d) 4.6%, confidence limits -10.3-10.9%). In the insufficiently blinded trials the mean difference in pain was 9.5% (S.E.(d) 4.5%, confidence limits -2.9-21.8%). We conclude that LLLT has no effect on pain in musculoskeletal syndromes.

Humans↗
PubMed1996

Development and validation of an indirect enzyme immunoassay for detection of antibody to Brucella abortus in milk.

An indirect enzyme immunoassay for detection of antibody to Brucella abortus in bovine milk was developed and validated using 6238 milk samples from Canadian herds (brucellosis free) and 202 samples from herds infected with B. abortus (from Argentina and Chile). The assay utilized lipopolysaccharide as the antigen, immobilized on the polystyrene matrix, whole milk to test and a mouse monoclonal antibody, specific for an epitope of bovine IgG1, conjugated with horseradish peroxidase. The sensitivity of the assay was 95.2% +/- 3.7% at a confidence limit of 95% for samples from B. abortus infected herds obtained from chile and 98.7% +/- 0.3% at a confidence limit of 95% for samples from similar herds in Argentina. Of the negative milk samples tested, 77 gave a result above the threshold value of 0.200 optical density units. When the 77 false positive samples were retested using 7.5 mM (final concentration) of EDTA and ethyleneglycol-bis-aminoether-N,N,N', N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA), the number of false positive reactions was reduced to 3, giving a diagnostic specificity of 99.95%. The divalent cation chelating agents did not affect positive reactions and the sensitivity remained the same. Based on control samples included with each assay, the performance of the assay was consistent.

Animals↗