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At least 1,333 records · Page 74Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

A critical appraisal of spontaneous perilymphatic fistulas of the inner ear.

OBJECTIVE: This article provides an overview of relevant data supporting and refuting the existence of spontaneous perilymph fistula, as well as critically reviewing the literature pertaining to their evaluation and management. DATA SOURCES: Sources used were relevant English language clinical and basic science publications. STUDY SELECTION: A Medline search dating back to 1966 for articles concerning perilymphatic fistula, including both human and animal data, was performed. Articles were included if they contained relevant data or were significant reviews of the subject. A traditional bibliography search was then completed to acquire articles missed by the computerized search, including works published before 1966. DATA EXTRACTION: The data from each publication were critically reviewed. Emphasis on understanding the clinical features of surgically created perilymph fistulas was used to more objectively assess the data regarding spontaneous perilymph fistulas. DATA SYNTHESIS: The data were not amenable to formal meta-analysis or valid data summarization; however, when possible trends and contrasting data were emphasized. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous perilymph fistulas are very rare occurrences and the majority are likely incited by a pressure-altering event. Current methodologies do not provide sufficient specificity and sensitivity to accurately diagnose perilymph fistulas. The results of endoscopic studies of the middle ear in the evaluation of perilymphatic fistula suggest a low incidence compared with the large number of fistulas reported in the literature. A high index of suspicion must be maintained, and appropriate preoperative counseling should reflect the current controversies. Questions must continue to be asked and further research pursued to help distinguish reality from myth.

Fistula↗
PubMed2005

"Fathers" and "sons" of theories in cell physiology: the membrane theory.

The last 50 years in the history of life sciences are remarkable for a new important feature that looks as a great threat for their future. A profound specialization dominating in quickly developing fields of science causes a crisis of the scientific method. The essence of the method is a unity of two elements, the experimental data and the theory that explains them. To us, "fathers" of science, classically, were the creators of new ideas and theories. They were the true experts of their own theories. It is only they who have the right to say: "I am the theory". In other words, they were carriers of theories, of the theoretical knowledge. The fathers provided the necessary logical integrity to their theories, since theories in biology have still to be based on strict mathematical proofs. It is not true for sons. As a result of massive specialization, modern experts operate in very confined close spaces. They formulate particular rules far from the level of theory. The main theories of science are known to them only at the textbook level. Nowadays, nobody can say: "I am the theory". With whom, then is it possible to discuss today on a broader theoretical level? How can a classical theory--for example, the membrane one--be changed or even disproved under these conditions? How can the "sons" with their narrow education catch sight of membrane theory defects? As a result, "global" theories have few critics and control. Due to specialization, we have lost the ability to work at the experimental level of biology within the correct or appropriate theoretical context. The scientific method in its classic form is now being rapidly eroded. A good case can be made for "Membrane Theory", to which we will largely refer throughout this article.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Neuropathology: art and science.

So many examples of computer-designed (rather than human-designed) displays occurred at a recent meeting of the American Association of Neuropathologists that we were stimulated to develop simple guides to help improve presentation. Various color combinations provide examples of the best (and worst) contrast between the message and the medium (background).

Art↗
PubMed2006

3D parallel coordinate systems--a new data visualization method in the context of microscopy-based multicolor tissue cytometry.

BACKGROUND: Presentation of multiple interactions is of vital importance in the new field of cytomics. Quantitative analysis of multi- and polychromatic stained cells in tissue will serve as a basis for medical diagnosis and prediction of disease in forthcoming years. A major problem associated with huge interdependent data sets is visualization. Therefore, alternative and easy-to-handle strategies for data visualization as well as data meta-evaluation (population analysis, cross-correlation, co-expression analysis) were developed. METHODS: To facilitate human comprehension of complex data, 3D parallel coordinate systems have been developed and used in automated microscopy-based multicolor tissue cytometry (MMTC). Frozen sections of human skin were stained using the combination anti-CD45-PE, anti-CD14-APC, and SytoxGreen as well as the appropriate single and double negative controls. Stained sections were analyzed using automated confocal laser microscopy and semiquantitative MMTC-analysis with TissueQuest 2.0. The 3D parallel coordinate plots are generated from semiquantitative immunofluorescent data of single cells. The 2D and 3D parallel coordinate plots were produced by further processing using the Matlab environment (Mathworks, USA). RESULTS: Current techniques in data visualization primarily utilize scattergrams, where two parameters are plotted against each other on linear or logarithmic scales. However, data evaluation on cartesian x/y-scattergrams is, in general, only of limited value in multiparameter analysis. Dot plots suffer from serious problems, and in particular, do not meet the requirements of polychromatic high-context tissue cytometry of millions of cells. The 3D parallel coordinate plot replaces the vast amount of scattergrams that are usually needed for the cross-correlation analysis. As a result, the scientist is able to perform the data meta-evaluation by using one single plot. On the basis of 2D parallel coordinate systems, a density isosurface is created for representing the event population in an intuitive way. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed method opens new possibilities to represent and explore multidimensional data in the perspective of cytomics and other life sciences, e.g., DNA chip array technology. Current protocols in immunofluorescence permit simultaneous staining of up to 17 markers. Showing the cross-correlation between these markers requires 136 scattergrams, which is a prohibitively high number. The improved data visualization method allows the observation of such complex patterns in only one 3D plot and could take advantage of the latest developments in 3D imaging.

Humans↗
PubMed2005

Reduction of alcohol consumption by brief alcohol intervention in primary care: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Numerous trials of the efficacy of brief alcohol intervention have been conducted in various settings among individuals with a wide range of alcohol disorders. Nevertheless, the efficacy of the intervention is likely to be influenced by the context. We evaluated the evidence of efficacy of brief alcohol interventions aimed at reducing long-term alcohol use and related harm in individuals attending primary care facilities but not seeking help for alcohol-related problems. METHODS: We selected randomized trials reporting at least 1 outcome related to alcohol consumption conducted in outpatients who were actively attending primary care centers or seeing providers. Data sources were the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science, ETOH database, and bibliographies of retrieved references and previous reviews. Study selection and data abstraction were performed independently and in duplicate. We assessed the validity of the studies and performed a meta-analysis of studies reporting alcohol consumption at 6 or 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS: We examined 19 trials that included 5639 individuals. Seventeen trials reported a measure of alcohol consumption, of which 8 reported a significant effect of intervention. The adjusted intention-to-treat analysis showed a mean pooled difference of -38 g of ethanol (approximately 4 drinks) per week (95% confidence interval, -51 to -24 g/wk) in favor of the brief alcohol intervention group. Evidence of other outcome measures was inconclusive. CONCLUSION: Focusing on patients in primary care, our systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that brief alcohol intervention is effective in reducing alcohol consumption at 6 and 12 months.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Age and skin structure and function, a quantitative approach (I): blood flow, pH, thickness, and ultrasound echogenicity.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The aging process has been studied with fervor recently, given our shifting demographics. Since age's effects are so manifest in skin's appearance, structure, mechanics, and barrier function, it is not surprising that much effort has been placed in research to better understand them. Quantitative measurements permitted by bioengineering have allowed us to objectively and precisely study aging skin. These overviews piece together the immense amounts of information that have emerged from recent technological advances in dermatological research in order to develop a unified understanding of the quantitative effects of age on the skin. METHODS: We performed a literature on age-related changes in blood flow, pH, skin thickness, and ultrasound imaging data, searching Pub-med, Em-Base, Science Citation Index, and the UCSF dermatological library's collection of books on the topic of aging skin. RESULTS: Despite the many tools and techniques available for quantitative analysis of skin, age studies are often conflicting, especially in the areas of blood flow and skin thickness. Trends indicate that blood flow may decrease with age, especially in sites exposed to the environment. pH apparently varies little until the age of 70, after which it declines. Skin thickness data are difficult to interpret; while the stratum corneum is generally accepted to maintain its thickness during aging, dermal, epidermal, and whole skin thickness changes are controversial. Ultrasound reveals the appearance of a subepidermal low echogenic band that thickens with age, especially in environmentally exposed areas. Some studies also indicate the presence of an echogenic band in the lower dermis which thins with increased age. However, the whole dermis appears to become more echogenic in elderly people. CONCLUSION: Much remains to be done if we are to reach consensus on the effects of age on skin structure and function. Future studies would be benefited by increased standardization of skin sites tested, methodology, and increased sample size.

Aging↗
PubMed2002

A feel for the template: zinc finger protein transcription factors and chromatin.

Transcription factors and chromatin collaborate in bringing the eukaryotic genome to life. An important, and poorly understood, aspect of this collaboration involves targeting the regulators to correct binding sites in vivo. An implicit and insufficiently tested assumption in the field has been that chromatin simply obstructs most sites and leaves only a few functionally relevant ones accessible. The major class of transcription factors in all metazoa, zinc finger proteins (ZFPs), can bind to chromatin in vitro (as clearly shown for Spl, GATA-1 and -4, and the nuclear hormone receptors, for example). Data on the accessibility of DNA within heterochromatin to nonhistone regulators (E.A. Sekinger and D.S. Gross. 2001. Mol. Cell 105: 403-414; C. Jolly et al. 2002. J. Cell. Biol. 156: 775-781) and the ability of the basal transcription machinery to reside within highly condensed chromatin (most recently, R. Christova and T. Oelgeschlaeger. 2002. Nat. Cell Biol. 4: 79-82) further weaken the argument that chromatin acts as an across-the-board deterrent to ZFP binding. These proteins, however, do not bind promiscuously in vivo, and recent data on human cells (C.E. Horak et al. 2002. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99: 2924-2929) confirm earlier data on budding yeast (B. Ren et al. 2000. Science (Washington, D.C.), 290: 2306-2309) that primary DNA sequence, i.e., density of binding sites per unit DNA length, is not the primary determinant of where a ZFP transcription factor will bind in vivo. This article reviews these data and uses ZFP transcription factors as a model system to compare in vitro binding to chromatin by transcription factors with their in vivo behavior in gene regulation. DNA binding domain structure, nonrandom nucleoprotein organization of chromatin at target promoters, and cooperativity of regulator action may all contribute to target site selection in vivo.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2001

Invited review: Integrating quantitative findings from multiple studies using mixed model methodology.

In animal agriculture, the need to understand complex biological, environmental, and management relationships is increasing. In addition, as knowledge increases and profit margins shrink, our ability and desire to predict responses to various management decisions also increases. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to help show how improved mathematical and statistical tools and computer technology can help us gain more accurate information from published studies and improve future research. Researchers, in several recent reviews, have gathered data from multiple published studies and attempted to formulate a quantitative model that best explains the observations. In statistics, this process has been labeled meta-analysis. Generally, there are large differences between studies: e. g., different physiological status of the experimental units, different experimental design, different measurement methods, and laboratory technicians. From a statistical standpoint, studies are blocks and their effects must be considered random because the inference being sought is to future, unknown studies. Meta-analyses in the animal sciences have generally ignored the Study effect. Because data gathered across studies are unbalanced with respect to predictor variables, ignoring the Study effect has as a consequence that the estimation of parameters (slopes and intercept) of regression models can be severely biased. Additionally, variance estimates are biased upward, resulting in large type II errors when testing the effect of independent variables. Historically, the Study effect has been considered a fixed effect not because of a strong argument that such effect is indeed fixed but because of our prior inability to efficiently solve even modest-sized mixed models (those containing both fixed and random effects). Modern statistical software has, however, overcome this limitation. Consequently, meta-analyses should now incorporate the Study effect and its interaction effects as random components of a mixed model. This would result in better prediction equations of biological systems and a more accurate description of their prediction errors.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

Determining clinical laboratory science curriculum for the 21st century.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a study to show possible differences in clinical laboratory science (CLS) education in relation to knowledge and skill levels deemed most important to job performance success of entry bench level CLS practitioners as determined by laboratory supervisors. Information gained from the study may indicate areas of program curriculum needing revision, or the incorporation of subject areas not presently offered. DESIGN: Survey. PARTICIPANTS: CLS educators from 100 different hospital-based and university-based CLS programs, and medical laboratory departmental supervisors from 209 different hospital laboratories. OUTCOME MEASURES: An analysis of the data from the survey consisted of individual item percentages generated by both surveys and a comparison of tasks deemed highly important by supervisors with class time estimates devoted to those tasks. RESULTS: The study indicated differences between what supervisors viewed as important knowledge and skills of entry bench level CLSs and the amount of class time devoted to those subjects by CLS educators. CONCLUSIONS: To ensure continuing professional credibility, additional study will be needed regarding the education and practice of CLSs as automation, emerging technologies, and laboratory restructuring will continue to change the laboratory environment.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1994

Rifabutin: a review with emphasis on its role in the prevention of disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex infection.

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the mechanism of action, in vitro and in vivo activity, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, adverse effects, drug interactions, and dosage guidelines of rifabutin. DATA SOURCES: Pertinent literature published between 1982 and 1993 was identified via a MEDLINE search. Published proceedings of selected conferences were also reviewed. STUDY SELECTION: Selected basic science, microbiologic, and pharmacokinetic articles were evaluated. Because only limited data regarding rifabutin were available in the literature, all clinical trials involving the use of rifabutin in the prevention of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection in AIDS patients were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Rifabutin is a rifamycin derivative that was approved recently for the prevention of disseminated MAC disease in patients with advanced HIV infection. The drug has in vitro and in vivo activity against gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, and mycobacteria. Two prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trials demonstrated that rifabutin decreased the progression to MAC bacteremia in AIDS patients by about 50 percent. Adverse effects that resulted in the discontinuation of rifabutin prophylaxis occurred in 16 percent of patients. Rifabutin induces hepatic enzymes to a lesser extent than does rifampin, but dosage adjustment of drugs that are known to interact with rifampin may be required. CONCLUSIONS: Rifabutin is the only drug shown to be effective in the prevention of MAC bacteremia in AIDS patients; therefore, it should be made available as a formulary agent. It may be reasonable to delay initiation of rifabutin prophylaxis until CD4 lymphocyte counts are less than 75-50/mm3.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2004

Modeling stability of growth between mathematics and science achievement during middle and high school.

In this study, the authors introduced a multivariate multilevel model to estimate the consistency among students and schools in the rates of growth between mathematics and science achievement during the entire middle and high school years with data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (LSAY). There was no evident consistency in the rates of growth between mathematics and science achievement among students, and this inconsistency was not much influenced by student characteristics and school characteristics. However, there was evident consistency in the average rates of growth between mathematics and science achievement among schools, and this consistency was influenced by student characteristics and school characteristics. Major school-level variables associated with parental involvement did not show any significant impacts on consistency among either students or schools. Results call for educational policies that promote collaboration between mathematics and science departments or teachers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Databases save time and improve the quality of the design, management and processing of ecopathological surveys.

The example of an ecopathological survey on nursing ewe mastitis shows that data bases have 4 complementary functions: assistance during the conception of surveys; follow-up of surveys; management and quality control of data; and data organization for statistical analysis. This is made possible by the simultaneous conception of both the data base and the survey, and by the integration of computer science into the work of the task group that conducts the survey. This methodology helps save time and improve the quality of data in ecopathological surveys.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Normal and paralyzed muscle force and fatigability induced by electrical stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to review the basic research concerned with force and fatigue induced by electrical stimulation. Specific reports on human and animal models are covered. Articles dealing with specific afflictions of the neuromuscular system are also reviewed. DATA SOURCES: The main sources for article retrieval were the classic bibliographic data bases in the exercise, rehabilitation and physiological science fields such as Index Medicus and Medline. Indexing terms used included human and animal in conjunction with electrical stimulation, force and fatigue. Language and time constraints limited the search to French and English texts of this century. Proceedings of different electrical stimulation conferences were also covered. STUDY SELECTION: All authors had to approve the selection of the articles to be included in this review. The narrow scope of the review made it possible to include most of the articles investigated. Redundancy of information was the only rejection criterion. DATA EXTRACTION: Initially, the first author collated the articles and extracted the relevant data. This collation was then verified with respect to the original information and approved by all authors. DATA SYNTHESIS: Possible sites of the fatigue mechanisms may include the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, the neuromuscular junction, and the muscle excitation-contraction coupling. Even though not unanimous, data gathered from normal muscles seem to support that the major contributor to fatigue is the muscle fiber and not the nervous system or the neuromuscular junction. Other work involving paralyzed muscles suggest that electrically induced exercise alters the contractile properties of the muscle more specifically. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that muscle intracellular processes dominate the force decrease associated with muscular fatigue. Accordingly, when dealing with a problem involving loss of force and hyperfatigability, the metabolic aspects and muscle physiology should be prime considerations in choosing a therapeutic approach. The nervous and/or neuromuscular implications are, however, not to be discarded.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Empathy: a study of two types.

The time is long past for nurse researchers and educators to meet the challenge of scientific inquiry of those more abstract components of nursing that have been named the art of nursing and are now identified as dimensions of holistic nursing. C. Rinne (1987) stated that the art of nursing lies within the affective domain. Empathy is an important dimension of that domain and is focused on in the nursing literature. Nursing theorists prior to M. R. Alligood (1992) had not developed models that addressed empathy as more than a singular though multidimensional phenomenon. On the basis of a review of the literature in nursing and related disciplines, M. R. Alligood (1992) proposed two types of empathy: trained and basic. The purpose of this study was to examine (a) the differences between the two types of empathy, by evaluating scores from instruments that measured trained and basic empathy and (b) the endurance of empathy scores. Trained empathy was measured with the Layton Empathy Test, and basic empathy was measured with the Hogan Scale. Data were collected over time with 106 nursing students prior to, during, and after completion of a bachelor of science in nursing program at a large southeastern university. Analysis of the data confirmed the phenomenon of two types of empathy with differentiation in endurance that M. R. Alligood (1992) had proposed. The research results have implications for the way nursing educators prepare nurses. This study supports the finding that trained empathy is not sustained. The importance of measurement of students' baseline basic empathy is indicated. The practice of teaching empathy techniques is called into question, and new approaches to facilitate students' discovery of their basic empathy are indicated (M. R. Alligood, G. W. Evans, & D. L. Wilt, 1995).

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of cooperative health statistics system physician data in small area manpower needs assessment: the case of rural Colorado.

Maldistribution with respect of medical practice location and specialty continues to present barriers to quality care for many Americans. Residents of rural communities in Colorado often lack access to health care services appropriate in number and nature to their needs. A valid determination of the severity of inaccessibility of medical care is a prerequisite to effective programming for alleviating the problem. Any such needs assessment must be predicated on the use of a reliable, detailed physician manpower data base. Physician data used in evaluating the adequacy of health care delivery systems serving small or sparsely populated rural areas have traditionally proved inadequate, causing loss of credibility in the findings derived from those efforts. A concerted attempt was made in rural Colorado to establish a physician inventory for identifying health manpower shortage areas and assessing the degree of medical underservice. This undertaking was organized and directed by staff members of the Statewide Educational Activities for Rural Colorado's Health (SEARCH) program, the area health education center program of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Cooperative Health Statistics Systems (CHSS) physician data, collected in an annual survey conducted by the Colorado Department of Health, were determined to be exceptionally accurate in describing the physician manpower practicing in the State's federally designated medically underserved counties. CHSS proved to be an outstanding source of physician data upon which small area manpower needs assessment can be based for the purpose of designating medically underserved or health manpower shortage areas.

Colorado↗
PubMed2002

Complex sampling designs and statistical issues in secondary analysis.

Conducting secondary analysis using large national survey data sets to answer pressing research questions is gaining acceptance in the nursing science community. There are, however, challenges confronted by researchers who wish to apply secondary analysis to large data sets due to the incorporation of complex sampling designs. This article presents sampling design issues inherent in many large national surveys and explains the rationale for applying sample and variance estimation weights when conducting statistical analyses. In addition, the rationale for using statistical software packages capable of analyzing data derived from complex sampling designs is described. Examples of differences in statistical outcomes with and without weights using Stata and SPSS are provided using data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Based on the example analyses, the implications of the statistical outcome differences for study findings are discussed.

Data Collection↗
PubMed1994

The use of the diary as a data collection technique.

The initiation of a research project requires many decisions, not the least of which is the selection of a method for data collection. This decision is, in large measure, guided by the nature of the research question which generally prescribes the selection of a strategy for data collection from among an array of possible alternatives. This article addresses the use of a diary for data collection. Although diaries have traditionally been used in social science and health research, their use in nursing research is more recent. The article begins with a brief discussion of the rationale for using the diary to gather data in a study of personal and professional caregiving. A brief review of the use of diaries in previous studies follows, along with a description of the use of a diary in the caregiving study and a discussion of the possible threats to high quality data as well as measures used to ensure the collection of high quality data. The article concludes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of the diary and makes recommendations regarding its use in nursing research.

Autobiographies as Topic↗