Patients and Methods. The PiKo-1 (Ferraris Cardiorespiratory, Louisville, CO, USA) is a lightweight, small, inexpensive electronic sensing device that can measure PEF and FEV1. The device can store 96 readings and report errors in the procedure. The reading itself is displayed along with a corresponding color zone, which can be adjusted according to the reference values. Data stored in the device can also be transferred to a computer or transmitted to other units1 (Figure 1). The Masterlab pneumotachograph (Xxxxxx XX, Würzburg, Germany) is a device that is widely used in clinical practice for measuring spirometric variables. However, the size of the device is a hindrance, and personnel with specific training are required. For these reasons, other devices, such as the PiKo-1 are under development. The aim is to make these devices easier to operate so that, once their readings have been shown to agree with those of the pneumotachograph, physicians can use them in the clinical practice. In clinical research, the reliability of a device is usually assessed by comparing the results with those of another one widely used in clinical practice for agreement or discrepancies. If a more practical alternative to the reference device becomes available, the agreement between systems should be determined. When a variable in a comparative analysis is continuous and quantitative, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) is more appropriate than the Xxxxxxx correlation coefficient (r), as it can indicate general agreement between 2 or more methods of measurement or different observations.8 Another simple and visual method is the so-called Xxxxx-Xxxxxx analysis to assess agreement between 2 systems of measurement.9 We have undertaken a randomized, single-blind, cross- sectional study of agreement between 2 measurement devices in a specialist care setting—the lung function testing laboratory of the Hospital General Yagüe in Burgos, Spain, at 867 m above sea level. Population Patients were recruited from those attending our specialist laboratory between March 15 and April 24, 2004 for lung function testing. Patients aged between 20 years and 80 years were included, and those who did not understand the technique after a brief explanation were excluded in order to avoid procedural errors. Sample Size and Selection A table of random numbers was used to select patients from among those who attended the lung function testing laboratory and who met the inclusion criteria. A sample size of 40 patients...
Patients and Methods. This randomized, single-blind study included 40 patients who attended the clinic for lung function testing. The 2 measurement devices were the Masterlab pneumotachograph and the PiKo-1. A correction factor estimated by the manufacturer was applied to the measurements taken with the PiKo-1.
Patients and Methods. Participants According to XXXXX committee recommendation we decided on a sample size of 3000 schoolchildren.4 In Iranian educational year 2001-2002, three thousand- fifty-three students aged 13-14 years completed Persian translated XXXXX written asthma questionnaire first followed by video asthma questionnaire (AVQ3.0) at schools.
Patients and Methods. Patients The study was approved by the hospital ethics committee and was conducted according to the principles stated in the Helsinki convention. Written informed consent was obtained the day before surgery. Fifteen patients (11 men and 4 women, mean age 73 years) scheduled to undergo elective cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass (11 patients with CAGB and 4 patients with mitral valve annuloplasty) were included in the study. Patients with significant valvular regurgitation and/or atrial fibrillation, aneurismal deformities to the aorta or symptomatic peripheral vascular disease were excluded. Patients were pre-medicated with sublingual lorazepam (0.05mg/kg). Radial arterial blood pressure was monitored via a 20 Gauge, 3.8 xx xxxx radial catheter inserted by Seldinger technique and connected to a pressure transducer (PX600F, Xxxxxxx Lifesciences). Central venous pressure was measured with a MultiCath 3 venous catheter (Vigon GmbH & Co, Aachen, Germany), connected to a pressure transducer (PX600F, Xxxxxxx Lifesciences). Anaesthesia during surgery was performed according to institutional standards. After transfer of the patients to the ICU, a second arterial pressure line was inserted with a Seldinger technique into the right femoral artery (4F, 16cm long thermistor- tipped arterial catheter PV2014L16; Pulsion Medical Systems, Munich, Germany) and connected to a cardiac output monitor (XxXXX, Pulsion). Pulse contour cardiac output was calibrated with 3 transpulmonary thermodilution measurements. For each thermodilution measurement, 20ml cold (3-8oC) saline was injected, via the central venous catheter. The results and calculated average of the 3 cardiac output measurements were documented. All patients were mechanically ventilated with an oxygen level of 40%, a respiratory frequency of 12-14 min-1, and positive end expiratory pressure of 5 cmH2O. Tidal volume (6-8 ml.kg-1) was adapted to maintain the arterial PCO2 between 40 and 45 mmHg. A hemodynamic stable status was achieved using fluids and catecholamines. The observation period started after introduction of the femoral artery catheter and stopped at the onset of weaning. During the observation period, up to 6 hours, the radial artery pressure, femoral artery pressure and central venous pressure were continuously stored on computer disk. The sample frequency was 100Hz and the resolution 0.2 mmHg. It should be noted that during this recording sessions great care was taken to flush, check, and if nece...
Patients and Methods. Patients Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples of 11 children with T-ALL, including the index case 7125, and one acute myeloid leukaemia (AML, M5) patient were obtained from the Dutch Childhood Oncology Group, The Hague, NL. Leukaemia diagnosis was based on evaluation according to the French-American-British (FAB) criteria.
Patients and Methods. 98 Patients Meeting all legal and ethical criteria set out by the local and ethical committees, fresh peripheral blood samples were obtained from 86 juvenile type 1 diabetic patients at diagnosis (mean ± SD; age 9.3 ± 3.5 years; 34 females). Diabetes was diagnosed according to the criteria set out by the World Health Association (19). Of every patient, a sibling control was included as control for serological assessment of MBL concentration and MBL complex activity (age 10.3 ± 4.8 years; 36 females). In order to avoid a parental selection bias, a control group of 69 healthy blood donors was included for allele frequency analysis. Serum was immediately aliquotted and frozen at -70°C. DNA was routinely isolated from heparinized blood. MBL genotyping
Patients and Methods. Trial design The trial design and eligibility criteria are reported previously13 and therefore only the main features are summarised. Patients were randomised between preoperative RT or CRT and to either postoperative CT or no further treatment (Figure 1). Inclusion criteria were T3 or resectable T4 M0 adenocarcinoma of the rectum located within 15 cm from the anal verge, aged 80 years or less, and a WHO performance status of 0 or 1. The study Preoperative RT Preoperative CRT Preoperative RT Preoperative CRT Surgery Surgery Surgery Surgery Postoperative CT Postoperative CT Randomisation
Patients and Methods. To investigate agreement between indirect calorimetry and several REE estimating equations in 38 ESRD patients on peritoneal dialysis, we performed indirect calorimetry and compared the results with XXXx estimated using 5 equations [Xxxxxx-Xxxxxxxx (HBE), Mifflin, WHO, Xxxxxxxxx, and Xxxxxxxxxx]. Results: Xxxxxxxx XXX was 1393.2 ± 238.7 kcal/day. There were no significant differences between measured and estimated XXXx except Mifflin (1264.9 ± 224.8 kcal/day). Root mean square errors were smallest for HBE, followed by Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, and WHO, and largest for Mifflin (171.3, 171.9, 174.6, 175.3, and 224.6, respectively). In Xxxxx-Xxxxxx plot, correlation coefficients between mean values and differences were significant for HBE (r = 0.412, p = 0.012) and tended to be significant for Xxxxxxxxxx (r = 0.283, p = 0.086). In DM patients and patients with overhydration, HBE showed signi- ficant underestimation when REE increased.
Patients and Methods. This randomized, single-blind study included 40 patients who attended the clinic for lung function testing. The 2 measurement devices were the Masterlab pneumotachograph and the PiKo-1. A correction factor estimated by the manufacturer was applied to the measurements taken with the PiKo-1. RESULTS: The values obtained with the 2 devices differed by a mean of 5.8218 L/min for PEF (95% confidence interval [CI], –9.4809 to 21.1387) and 0.001 L for FEV1 (95% CI, –0.0616 to 0.0636). The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.9652 (95% CI, 0.9336-0.9819) for PEF and 0.9876 (95% CI, 0.9761-0.9936) for FEV1.
Patients and Methods. A retrospective study was performed by analysis of chest X-Ray using the software: TM reception®, which allows precise measures to the tenth of millimeter. All the X- Rays were made on confined to bed patients hospitalized within intensive care unit, internal medicine and abdominal surgery rooms. The following measures (in mm) were made between:
