Spearman's Bivariate Correlation Research Articles

Paternal factors in spontaneous first trimester miscarriage

Objectives : To determine whether paternal factors i.e., age, tobacco use and genital tract infection increase the risk for spontaneous first trimester miscarriage. Methodology : This case control study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Unit V / IV, Dow Medical College & Lyari General Hospital, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Duration of study was two and half years, from Nov, 2007 to Apr, 2010. Inclusion criteria were pregnant women with age 20 - 35 years irrespective of parity. Exclusion criteria were known medical illness in either partner, induced abortion and recurrent miscarriages. Studied paternal factors were age, tobacco use and genital tract infection. Data was computed using SPSS version 16. Significance of paternal factors was determined by Logistic Regression Analysis. Results : Total cases studied were 200, while there were 400 controls. Mean maternal age was 27.6±4.9 years in cases and 26.5±4.5 years in controls. Mean paternal age was 35.5±6.2 years in cases and 32.3±5.4 years in controls. Paternal age was >35 years in 54.5% cases and 16.8% controls. Spearman Bivariate correlation revealed paternal age > 35 years (p=0.000) and genital tract infection (p=0.043) as significant factors. Only paternal age >35 years (p=0.000) remained significant in Final Model after entering into logistic regression. Paternal age beyond 35 years was found to be significantly related to first trimester spontaneous miscarriages.

Epidemiological Profile for Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Difference between Genders in an Intensive Care Unit

Background: Acute Myocardial Infarction (ACS), a complication of acute coronary syndrome is a major cause of death in industrialized countries. The incidence of these diseases has increased, but the rate of mortality among patients decreased over the years.The mortality of acute myocardial infarction is higher in men than women, but for female coronary disease is most fatal in relation to the other sex. Methods: The data was collected between October 2003 and December 2010 from patients who were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit of Hospital Santa Lucia, a private institution in Brasilia-DF, Brazil with the diagnosis of ACS. For the study of in-hospital mortality, we calculated the mortality rate of the years studied and Spearman bivariate correlation was used to determine the level of significance of the values found. By means of the nonparametric Kruskal- Wallis sought to find a statistically significant relationship between deaths per year.Factors with possible influence were analyzed by logistic regression models and were associated as covariates.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20.0 software. Results: Altogether, 1005 were analyzed from a large database.There was a reduction in the rate of mortality from acute coronary syndromes over the years evaluated, the Spearman bivariate correlation found a significant relationship (p = - 0.059). The highest percentage of deaths was found in 2008 (17.6%), the lowest in 2009 (3.8%). Of the total sample 32.32% were women. The mortality rate of ACS among women (11.8%) was almost double compared with the male sex (7.1%), the bivariate correlation has shown statistically significant (p = 0.078). In logistic regression models the relationship between gender and death has changed in the female gender with age (p = 0.013) and presence of family history (p = 0.018), in the male gender with age (p = 0.017). The others co-variables showed no statistically significant relationship with mortality between genders. Conclusion: This study showed a statistically significant reduction in hospital mortality from acute coronary syndrome between 2003 and 2010. Our findings indicate that the mortality is higher in women than in men after an episode of acute coronary syndrome. The risk factors such as age and family history are important because their presence influences the mortality of each case.

Cross-Cultural Family Structure among Muslim, Hindu, Santal, and Oraon Communities in Rasulpur, Bangladesh

The purpose of this study was to compare family structure patterns among Muslim, Hindu, Santal, and Oraon communities in rural Bangladesh. For this we hypothesized that family structure patterns—marriage, family type and size, residence, role sharing, authority, communication, and property distribution—were not only significantly different but that these patterns of the family structure were also significantly interrelated among the ethnic communities in rural Bangladesh. In so doing 585 males of the ethnic communities selected by cluster random sampling were intensively interviewed with a semi-structural questionnaire in Rasulpur of Bangladesh. Results of Pearson chi-square testing suggest that the family structure patterns were significantly varied. The results of Spearman bivariate correlation coefficients also suggest that the family structure patterns were significantly interrelated among the communities in rural Bangladesh. Further cross-cultural research should be conducted on why and how family structure patterns are significantly different among the communities in Bangladesh.

Should Men and Women be Managed Differently in Glaucoma?

IntroductionTo assess differences in associations of ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) as well as retinal and retrobulbar blood flow between men and women with primary open angle glaucoma (OAG).MethodsA total of 116 patients with OAG (age 66.9 ± 10.9 years, 70 females) participating in the Indianapolis Glaucoma Progression Study were assessed for OPP, retinal microcirculation, and retrobulbar blood flow. Confocal scanning laser Doppler flowmetry measured peripapillary retinal capillary blood flow. Color Doppler imaging measured peak systolic (PSV) and diastolic blood flow velocities and vascular resistance in the ophthalmic (OA), central retinal (CRA), and nasal and temporal short posterior ciliary arteries (N/T PCA). Bivariate Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed.ResultsIn female patients with OAG, inferior retinal capillary flow was associated with OPP (r = 0.246, P = 0.044). In men, superior and inferior sector retinal blood flow was associated with OPP (r = −0.402, P = 0.006 and r = −0.357, P = 0.016, respectively). There was no statistically significant association between OPP and retrobulbar blood vessel flow velocities in male patients with OAG but there was an association between OA and TPCA PSV and OPP in female patients with OAG (r = 0.290, P = 0.015 and r = 0.357, P = 0.002, respectively). In female patients with OAG, multivariate regression showed no statistically significant effect of any variable on the superior retinal capillary blood flow, with CRA PSV as a sole predictor to the inferior retinal sector (partial rho = 0.302, P = 0.015) and in male patients with OAG, superior sector retinal capillary blood flow was independently associated with intraocular pressure (partial rho = −0.371, P = 0.016) and OPP (partial rho = −0.456, P = 0.002) with a trend of association with OPP in the inferior retina (partial rho = −0.301, P = 0.053).ConclusionsThere was a positive linear association between retinal microcirculation and OPP in females and a negative association in males. Male and female patients with OAG may differ in their vascular autoregulation in response to changes in OPP.

PMO-156 Plasma HBsAG levels correlate with liver cccDNA in tolerant children with infancy acquired chronic hepatitis B infection

IntroductionPlasma HBsAg reflects the transcriptional activity of covalently closed circular (ccc) DNA within the liver rather than the absolute amount of cccDNA copies. Higher plasma HBsAg levels are reported among...

Expression levels of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) and focal adhesion kinase in patients with multiple myeloma and their relationship to clinical stage and extramedullary infiltration

We explored the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) mRNA and protein, and analyzed the relationship between expression levels and clinical staging and extramedullary infiltration in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The expression levels of mRNA and protein were measured by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) and Western blotting. Expressions of PTEN and FAK mRNA were significantly different between patients with MM and controls. Spearman bivariate correlation analysis showed that PTEN mRNA was significantly negatively correlated with FAK mRNA. PTEN and FAK mRNA expressions were significantly different between patients with stage I + II MM and stage III MM. No difference was found in PTEN mRNA expression, whereas FAK mRNA expression was significantly different between patients with MM with and without extramedullary infiltration. PTEN protein was higher and total FAK (T-FAK) protein was significantly lower in six controls than in 12 patients with stage III MM. Phosphorylated FAK (p-FAK) protein was measured as 0.082 ± 0.040 in 11 patients with MM, but not detected in six controls. No significant difference of PTEN and T-FAK protein was found, while p-FAK protein was significantly different between patients with MM with and without extramedullary infiltration. These results indicate that abnormal expression of PTEN and FAK in patients with MM may be associated with disease progression and extramedullary infiltration.

Cross‐cultural social stress among Muslim, Hindu, Santal and Oraon communities in Rasulpur of Bangladesh

PurposeSocial structural and cultural theories suggest that social stress induced from socio‐cultural status patterns varies across the world's cultures. The purpose of the study is to compare subjective social stress in connection with objective socio‐cultural status patterns among Muslim, Hindu, Santal and Oraon communities in Rasulpur of Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachThis study was conducted in Rasulpur, Bangladesh. Preliminarily, 760 male arrack drinkers who were stressful in their socio‐cultural status patterns were selected by snowball process from the study area. Of the respondents, 391 arrack drinkers (109 Muslim, 103 Hindu, 89 Santal and 90 Oraon) were intensively interviewed by semi‐structural questionnaire to examine and compare the research purpose.FindingsThe results of Pearson's χ2 test suggested that there were significant differences (p<0.01) in subjective social stress in connection with socio‐cultural status patterns, except income among the communities, among the ethnic communities. The results of Spearman bivariate correlation coefficients revealed that there were significant relationships (p<0.01 and p<0.05) between socio‐cultural status patterns and its social stress, except occupation and income among the communities studied.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the findings of the study have been successful in understanding differences in social stress in the context of socio‐cultural status patterns among the Muslim, Hindu, Santal and Oraon communities in Rasulpur, Bangladesh, further empirical research is needed on how personality factor, familial and community coping and social support from social service system influence the differences in subjective social stress associated with socio‐cultural status patterns among the communities. In spite of the limitations, the findings may provide valuable information for cross‐cultural social health policy and programs to manage the problem.Originality/valueThis paper is original in linking its theory, policy and practice to reduce subjective social stress in the context of socio‐cultural variations among the Muslim, Hindu, Santal and Oraon communities in Bangladesh.

Effects of acupuncture on the number and degranulation ratio of mast cells and expression of tryptase in synovium of rats with adjuvant arthritis

To observe the effects of acupuncture on synovial pathology, synovial mast cell degranulation and tryptase expression and to investigate the relationship between the functions of mast cells and effects of acupuncture on early adjuvant arthritis in rats. Forty-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=16), untreated group (n=15) and acupuncture group (n=15). Adjuvant arthritis was induced by injection of 0.1 mL Freund's complete adjuvant in right hind limb footpad. Normal control group and untreated group received no acupuncture treatment, while rats in the acupuncture group were treated with sterilized disposable stainless steel needles inserted perpendicularly as deep as 2 to 3 mm at Xuanzhong (GB39), 6 mm at Shenshu (BL23) and 7 mm at Zusanli (ST36) for eight times (15 min each time) every two days. Setting the modeling day as the 0 day of the experiment, the body weight and paw volume of the rats were measured every three days from the 0 day. In the end, synovial tissues of the right hind ankles were sampled and made into paraffin sections. Then they were firstly stained with hematoxylin-eosin for observing synovial pathology to evaluate the effects of acupuncture on adjuvant arthritis, then stained with toluidine blue for observing the number and degranulation ratio of synovial mast cells and finally detected by immunohistochemical staining method to investigate the expression of tryptase in synovium. Compared with the untreated group, the body weight of rats in the acupuncture group was increased significantly (P<0.05), while the paw volume decreased obviously (P<0.01). Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that acupuncture significantly inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, synovial cell hyperplasia, and synovial fibroplasia in synovium of rats with adjuvant arthritis as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05). Toluidine blue staining showed that acupuncture could significantly diminish the numbers of total and degranulated mast cells in rats with adjuvant arthritis (P<0.01), which were significantly higher in the untreated group than in the normal control group (P<0.01). Showing by immunohistochemical staining, the expression of tryptase in synovium in the acupuncture group was decreased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.01). Analyzed by Spearman's bivariate correlation, the number of mast cells and degranulation ratio of mast cells were positively correlated with the pathological scores (r=0.837, P<0.01; r=0.634, P<0.01). Acupuncture can improve pathological condition of inflammatory synovium in rats with early adjuvant arthritis by inhibiting the function of synovial mast cells, which may play an important underlying role in the immunoregulation of acupuncture on adjuvant arthritis.

The Role of Physical Activity and Functional Fitness on Perceived Health in Aging

Regular physical activity (PA) carries many important health benefits; however it is not easy to motivate older people to adopt a physically active lifestyle [1]. Inactivity tends to increase with age and is more common among women than men. Living alone has also been shown as an encouragement to sedentarism, limiting their functionality and independence. PURPOSE: to determine the influence of functional fitness (FF) and PA level on the perceived health (PH) in the elderly. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine PH, PA, FF and Falls Prevalence (FP). 350 older adults (74.2±7.9 yrs; 70% women and 30%men) volunteered to participate in the study. PH and FP were assessed using a questionnaire designed for this purpose. PA was calculated through YPAS [2]. FF was evaluated by UG and CS tests from SFT [3], and balance obtained through "item 1, 4, 5 and 7" of FAB Scale [4]. Trained examiners administered the questionnaires and FF tests. At the end of the screening session, participants received a report concerning their test results. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS. Spearman's bivariate correlation was used to identify associations among PH, PA, FF and FP. Mann-Whitney test was used to identify differences between PH, PA, FF, FP according to gender and living-alone condition. RESULTS: Positive association was observed among PH, PA and FF (R: 0.20-0.37; p≤0.001). FP and daily-hours-spent-sitting were negatively associated (R: -0.27; p≤0.002). Women have higher PH (z=2.00, p=0.046), balance-item1 (z=2.57, p=0.010), total-activity-time (z=3.14, p=0.002), energy expenditure (z=2.8 p=0.005). Subjects who live together have also higher PH (z=3.00, p=0.003), balance-item1, 4 (z=2.71, 2.94; p=0.010, 0.003, respectively), and vigorous activity score (z=2.00, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that older adults with higher levels of PA and FF have better PH. Furthermore this association was stronger in women, probably due to their daily living routines (i.e. housekeeping, shopping). Social support, such as living together, seems to improve PH, which may be explained by greater engagement in vigorous activity. REFERENCES: [1] CDC (1996) Surgeon General Report: PA&H, [2] Dipietro, et al (1993) MSSE 25(5), 628-642, [3] Rikli & Jones (2001) SFT Manual. HK, [4] Rose (2002) Fall Proof. HK

Psychometric Evaluation of Romanian Translations of the Behavior Problems Inventory-01 and the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form

Psychometric properties of Romanian translations of the Behavior Problems Inventory-01 (BPI-01; Rojahn, Matson, Lott, Esbensen, & Smalls, 2001) and the Nisonger Child Behavior Rating Form (NCBRF; Aman, Tassé, Rojahn, & Hammer, 1996) were explored. Respondents completed the instruments for 115 children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities. Internal consistency of both instruments' total scales was good to excellent (Cronbach's α ranging from .88 to .95) and the subscale internal consistencies were fair to excellent (with α ranging from .74 to .94). The results based on bivariate Spearman correlations and multiple regression analyses provided strong convergent and discriminant validity of both instruments. Overall, the Romanian versions of the behavior rating scales had very good reliability (internal consistencies) and convergent and discriminant validity. It is hoped that this study will be a catalyst for Romanian clinicians and researchers as well as for transcultural researchers working with Romanian individuals with intellectual disabilities to continue the exploration of the utility and psychometric quality not only of the BPI-01 and the NCBRF but also of other English language psychopathology assessment instruments.

Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Biopsies of Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

Neoangiogenesis has been documented in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). In addition, antiangiogenic therapies are being tested in clinical trials that involve SCLC. However, study of the underlying mechanisms has been performed almost exclusively in cell lines. In the current study, we immunostained 30 biopsy samples of SCLC with antibodies to hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor 1 (VEGF-R1/flt-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor-receptor 2 (VEGF-R1/flk-1). The immunoreactivity was analyzed using a bivariate Spearman correlation test and linear regression analysis. We found significant correlation between HIF-1 alpha nuclear staining and VEGF staining. Moreover HIF-1 alpha+/VEGF+ cases were associated with poor survival. We also found a positive correlation between VEGF and VEGF-R2 expression. We suggest that a HIF-1 alpha/VEGF angiogenic pathway may exist in vivo in SCLC, similar to that in non-SCLC. Our data also suggest a potential VEGF/VEGFR-2 autocrine pathway in SCLC. The inclusion of novel inhibitors to HIF-1 alpha and other factors may optimize antiangiogenic interventions in SCLC.

Clinical indications and perceived effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine in departments of obstetrics in Germany: A questionnaire study

Objective Our earlier study on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) methods showed that acupuncture, homeopathy, and aromatherapy are available in most obstetrics departments in Germany but it did not evaluate the clinical indications for using CAM. The present study aimed to explore further the effectiveness of CAM use in obstetrics. Study design We sent all departments of obstetrics in North Rhine-Westphalia a questionnaire designed to delineate their use of acupuncture, homeopathy, and aromatherapy during childbirth. It sought details on who provided the CAM therapy (midwife or physician). We asked respondents to indicate on a five-point scale how reasonable or otherwise they would consider the provision of CAM in each of six common problem situations and to estimate for each the proportion of patients given the CAM treatment. Respondents were also asked about the rationale for offering CAM, quality assurance and side effects. Spearman's bivariate correlation, cross-tabulation and Pearson's χ 2 test were used for statistical analysis. Results About 73.4% (138/187) of the departments responded. Acupuncture and homoeopathy were most widely used. Although obstetricians are responsible for patient care, decisions to provide CAM were largely taken by midwives, and the midwives’ belief in the methods’ effectiveness and patient demand were the principle motivating factors. Rates of CAM use in the six problem scenarios evaluated were directly related to practitioners’ perceptions of the methods’ therapeutic effectiveness. Conclusions CAM methods were widely offered despite the lack of evidence of effectiveness or information on adverse consequences. In Germany, including CAM in the mandatory national quality assurance measures and perinatal surveys would provide valuable information; CAM use elsewhere merits further study.

First thorough identification of factors associated with Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in mosses sampled in the European Surveys 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005

The aim of this study was, for the first time ever, to thoroughly identify the factors influencing Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in mosses sampled within the framework of the European Heavy Metals in Mosses Surveys 1990–2005. These investigations can be seen as a follow up of a previous study where only the moss data recorded in the survey 2005 was included in the analysis (Schroder et al. 2010). The analyses of this investigation give a complete overview on the statistical association of Cd, Hg and Pb concentrations in mosses and sampling site-specific and regional characteristics, encompassing data from 4661 (1990), 7301 (1995), 6764 (2000) and 5600 (2005) sampling sites across Europe. From the many metals monitored in the European moss surveys, Cd, Hg and Pb were used as examples, since only for these three metals deposition measurements are being recorded in the framework of the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP). As exemplary case studies revealed that other factors besides atmospheric deposition of metals influence the element concentrations in mosses, the moss datasets of the above mentioned surveys were analysed by means of bivariate statistics and decision tree analysis in order to identify factors influencing metal bioaccumulation. In the analyses we used the metadata recorded during the sampling as well as additional geodata on, e.g., depositions, emissions and land use. Bivariate Spearman correlation analyses showed the highest correlations between Cd and Pb concentrations in mosses and EMEP modelled total deposition data (0.62 ≤ rs ≤ 0.73). For Hg the correlations with all the tested factors were considerably lower (e.g. total deposition r s ≤ 0.24). Decision tree analyses by means of Classification and Regression Trees (CART) identified the total deposition as the statistically most significant factor for the Cd and Pb concentrations in the mosses in all four monitoring campaigns. For Hg, the most significant factor in 1990 as identified by CART was the distance to the nearest Hg source recorded in the European Pollutant Emission Register, in 1995 and 2000 it was the analytical method, and in 2005 it was the sampled moss species. The strong correlations between the Cd and Pb concentrations in the mosses and the total deposition can be used to calculate deposition maps with a regression kriging approach on the basis of surface maps on the element concentrations in the mosses.

A longitudinal analysis of alternative document models

PurposeAlternative document models (ADMs) were created with the purpose of reducing the extent to which anomalies occur in counts of web links at the page level, and have been used extensively within webometrics as an alternative to using the web page as the basic unit of analysis. This paper seels tp carry out a longitudinal study of ADMs in an attempt to ascertain which model gives the most consistent results when applied to the UK, Australia and New Zealand academic web spaces over the last six years.Design/methodology/approachInformation science software (SocSciBot Tools, socscibot.wlv.ac.uk) was used to process hyperlink structure text files for UK, Australian and New Zealand universities and produced standard Page, Directory, Domain and Site ADMs using both inlinks and outlinks. Spearman bivariate correlation analysis was then undertaken to determine the level of correlation between these eight ADMs and a measure of site size for each university.FindingsThe findings show that the Domain ADM gives the most consistent results. However, the Directory ADM also gives more reliable results than are evident when using the standard Page model. Aggregating at the site (or university) level appears to provide less reliable results than using the page as the standard unit of measure, and this finding holds true over all three academic webs and for each time period examined over the last six years.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of Spearman's correlation coefficient is considered to be unreliable when used with very small sample sizes and, with only eight universities, the New Zealand academic web space may not be sufficiently large to give truly accurate statistical results.Originality/valueWhile previous specific studies have shown that more accurate results can be obtained through the use of the Domain or Directory ADM, the paper has shown that these results are consistent over time and across different countries' academic web spaces.

Arrack Drinking Patterns among Muslim, Hindu, Santal, and Oraon Communities in the Rasulpur Union of Bangladesh: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

Arrack is produced from palm and date juice which is commonly consumed by the lower class of all religious communities in rural Bangladesh. Previous studies could not cross-culturally investigate arrack drinking patterns. The present study examined and compared arrack drinking patterns among the Muslim, Hindu, Santal, and Oraon communities' drinkers in the Rasulpur union of Bangladesh. A total of 391 arrack drinkers (Muslim n = 109, Hindu n = 103, Santal n = 89, Oraon n = 90) selected by cluster random sampling were intensively interviewed by Arrack Drinking Patterns Questionnaire (ADPQ) with open-ended questions. The results of Pearson's Chi-Squire test revealed that arrack drinking patterns significantly differed among the communities' drinkers. The results of Spearman's Bivariate Correlation Coefficients (r(s)) also indicated that the patterns of arrack drinking of the communities' drinkers were significantly inter-correlated with each other.

Use of laser flare-cell photometry to quantify intraocular inflammation in patients with Behçet Uveitis

To assess the usefulness of laser flare-cell photometry to quantify intraocular inflammation in patients with Behçet disease. The study comprised 47 healthy individuals, 78 Behçet patients without ocular involvement, 54 Behçet patients with a uveitis attack and 53 Behçet patients with uveitis in clinical remission. A single observer assigned clinical scores to anterior chamber cells, vitreous haze, and fundus lesions in the attack group. Laser flare-cell photometry measurements were performed by another observer who was masked to the clinical findings. Fundus fluorescein angiography was performed only in the remission group, and fluorescein leakage was scored by a masked retina specialist. The risk of recurrent uveitis attack was analyzed in eyes with high versus low flare values in the remission group. Main outcome measures were anterior chamber flare in Behçet patients compared to the control group, and correlations of flare with clinical scores of intraocular inflammation and with fluorescein leakage. Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman's bivariate correlation test, linear regression method, and Kaplan-Meier method were used for statistical analyses. Mean flare was not increased in Behçet patients without ocular involvement. It was significantly higher in patients with Behçet uveitis both during attacks and in remission (P < 0.001 for each). A significant correlation was found between anterior chamber flare and anterior chamber cell score (rho = 0.705), vitreous haze score (rho = 0.588), and fundus score (rho = 0.464) in the attack group. In the remission group, there was a significant correlation between flare and fluorescein angiography leakage score, and the risk of recurrent uveitis attack was significantly higher in eyes with flare values >6 photons/msec than in eyes with flare values < or =6 photons/msec (right eyes, P < 0.001; left eyes, P = 0.0184). Laser flare-cell photometry is a useful objective method in the quantitative assessment of intraocular inflammation in patients with Behçet uveitis. The use of this quantitative technique in clinical trials of Behçet uveitis may provide comparable data, as it gives an objective measure of intraocular inflammation. In clinical practice, it may reduce the need for fluorescein angiography because it seems to be especially useful in monitoring persistent retinal vascular leakage in patients who are clinically in remission.

A Test of Independence Based on the Likelihood of Cut-Points

We define a test statistic C n based on the sum of the likelihood ratio statistics for testing independence in the 2 × 2 tables defined at n sample cut-points (X i , Y i ). The asymptotic distribution of C n , given the cut-points, is sum of dependent χ2 variables with one degree of freedom. We use the bootstrap to obtain the distribution of C n . We compare the performance of several tests of bivariate independence, including Pearson, Spearman, and Kendall correlations, Blum-Kiefer-Rosenblatt statistic, and C n under several copulas and given marginal distributions.

Presurgical assessment of intraabdominal visceral fat in obese patients with early-stage endometrial cancer treated with laparoscopic approach: Relationships with early laparotomic conversions

Study objective To evaluate the relationship between intraabdominal visceral fat (IVF) and early conversion from laparoscopy to laparotomy in obese patients. Design Prospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). Setting Department of obstetrics and gynecology, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro. Patients One hundred fifty-one obese patients with endometrial cancer and laparoscopic surgery. Interventions Laparoscopic treatment for early-stage endometrial cancer. Measurement and main results In all patients, demographic, anthropometric (including body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and waist circumference), and IVF assessments (using ultrasonography [IVF-USG, cm] and computed tomography [IVF-CT, cm 2]), were evaluated. In 122 patients (122/151, 80.8%), the laparoscopies were successfully completed (group A), whereas 29 patients (29/151, 19.2%) had a laparotomic conversion. Specifically, in 19 (19/29, 65.5%) and in 10 patients (10/29, 34.5%) the conversion was early (group B1) and late (group B2), respectively. A significant (p <.05) difference in surgical stage IC and in postoperative complications rate was detected between group A and groups B1 and B2, without difference between these 2 last groups. IVF-USG and IVF-CT were significantly (p <.01) higher in group B1 in comparison with groups A and B2, without difference between these 2 last groups. A strong and significant (p <.001) association between IVF-USG and IVF-CT was detected in all groups by Spearman bivariate correlation (r = 0.78, 0.918, and 0.978 for group A, B1, and B2, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed the IVF-CT as the main predictor for early laparotomic conversion (OR 2.184; 95% CI 1.227–3.886). Conclusions Intraabdominal visceral fat is a predictor for early laparotomic conversion in obese patients with endometrial cancer. Further studies are necessary to assess the efficacy of the IVF evaluation for reducing the laparotomic conversion risk in obese women undergoing laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic malignancy.

High postprandial triglyceridemia in patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria

Microalbuminuria (MA) is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Postprandial lipemia is also associated with excess cardiovascular risk. However, the association between MA and postprandial lipemia in diabetes has not been investigated. A total of 64 patients with T2DM, 30 with and 34 without MA, were examined. Plasma total triglycerides (TGs), triglycerides contained in chylomicrons (CM-TG), and TGs in CM-deficient plasma were measured at baseline and every 2 h for 6 h after a mixed meal. Postheparin LPL and HL activities were also determined. Plasma levels of apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V), apoC-II, and apoC-III were measured in the fasting state and 2 h postprandially. Patients with MA had higher postprandial total TG levels than those without MA (P < 0.001); this increase been attributed mainly to CM-TG. LPL activity and fasting concentrations of the measured apolipoproteins were not different between the studied groups, whereas HL activity was higher in the patients with MA. ApoC-II and apoC-III levels did not change postprandially in either study group, whereas apoA-V increased more in the patients with MA. These data demonstrate for the first time that MA is characterized by increased postprandial lipemia in patients with T2DM and may explain in part the excess cardiovascular risk in these patients.

Bioabsorbable Membrane and Bioactive Glass in the Treatment of Intrabony Defects in Patients With Generalized Aggressive Periodontitis: Results of a 5‐Year Clinical and Radiological Study

The aim of this clinical and radiological prospective 5-year study was to compare the long-term effectiveness of a bioabsorbable membrane and a bioactive glass in the treatment of intrabony defects in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis. Sixteen patients (11 women and five men) with generalized aggressive periodontitis were enrolled in the study. The investigations were confined to 1- to 3-walled intrabony defects with a depth >/=4 mm and with preoperative probing depths (PDs) >/=7 mm. Teeth with furcation involvement were excluded. Twenty-two of the defects were treated with the membrane (RXT group) and 20 with the bioactive glass (PG group). Allocation to the two groups was randomized. The clinical parameters plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), PD, bleeding on probing (BOP), gingival recession (GR), clinical attachment level (CAL), and tooth mobility were recorded before surgery and at 6 months and every year for 5 years after surgery. Intraoral radiographs were taken using a standardized paralleling technique at baseline and every year for 5 years. Statistical analysis was based on Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, analysis of covariance, and Spearman's bivariate correlation analysis. After 5 years, a reduction in PD of 3.6 +/- 0.8 mm (P = 0.016) and a gain in CAL of 3.0 +/- 2.0 mm (P = 0.01) were registered in the RXT group. There was a slight increase in GR by 0.6 +/- 1.4 mm (P = 0.334). In the PG group, a reduction in PD of 3.5 +/- 1.4 mm (P = 0.01) and a gain in CAL of 3.3 +/- 2.1 mm (P = 0.01) were recorded, whereas GR increased by 0.2 +/- 1.7 mm (P = 0.525). The 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year results did not differ significantly from the 5-year results. Radiographically, the defects (the point on the proximal surface of the defective tooth at which the projected alveolar crest intersected the root surface [xCA] to the most coronally located point at the proximal surface of the tooth on the defect side up to which the periodontal ligament space still displayed a uniform width [xBD]) were found to be filled by 47.5% +/- 38.3% (P = 0.001) in the RXT group and by 65.0% +/- 50.5% (P = 0.001) in the PG group. Crestal resorption (the most apical point of the enamel at the proximal surface of the tooth on the defect side [xCEJ] to the xCA) was 19.0% +/- 30.2% (P = 0.374) in the RXT group and 12.3% +/- 38.6% (P = 0.647) in the PG group. The xCEJ to the xBD was significantly more in the PG group (28.4 +/- 24.6 versus 7.3 +/- 21.8, P = 0.048). A good standard of oral hygiene and inflammation-free periodontal tissue in the postoperative phase improved the treatment outcome. No dependence of attachment gain was found on the tooth type, number of walls involved in the defects (r = 0.075; P = 0.319), or intraoperative depth (r = 0.114; P = 0.307). Highly significant improvements in the parameters PD and CAL were recorded after 5 years with both regenerative materials. Radiographically, the defects (the xCED to the xBD) were found to be filled significantly more in the bioactive glass group. A good standard of oral hygiene and inflammation-free periodontal tissue in the postoperative phase improved the treatment outcome.