Feasibility Of Quantitative Measurement Research Articles

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in functional dyspepsia: A pilot randomized trial.

Patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) often have concomitant anxiety and depression. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) combines the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. It is a group-based therapy and has been shown to be efficacious in functional gastrointestinal disorders. There are no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating MBCT in FD. We aimed to evaluate feasibility and efficacy of MBCT in FD management. We performed a mixed-method single-center pilot randomized trial of 28 patients fulfilling ROME-III criteria for FD. Fifteen patients were randomized to an 8-week MBCT program while 13 underwent treatment-as-usual (TAU). Patients completed questionnaires at baseline and at week 8. Two focus-groups were conducted. Feasibility of recruitment, acceptability of randomization, procedures and intervention, handout compliance and feasibility of quantitative measures were assessed. The primary outcome was subjective-clinical-assessment of FD symptoms (SCA-FD). Secondary outcome measures included Short-form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF-NDI), subjective-clinical-assessment of general health (SCA-GH), EuroQoL-Visual Analog Scale (EuroQoL-VAS), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 Items (DASS-21). Twelve of 15 patients in the MBCT group completed the program. There was a trend towards symptom improvement, with 90% in the MBCT group reporting improvement in SCA-FD compared with 45% in TAU(P=0.063). Patients who underwent MBCT reported greater improvement in SF-NDI (mean change: -8.8 (SD: 7.5) vs -0.7 (7.2), P=0.018) and DASS-21 (-19.8 (29.5) vs -5.5 (6.6) P=0.13) compared with TAU. There was no difference in SCA-GH and EuroQoL-VAS. Based on SCA-FD improvement, the eventual RCT will require 50 patients (25 in each group). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is likely efficacious for FD, and it would be feasible to conduct a RCT.

Research progress of <sup>10</sup>B concentration and distribution measurement in boron neutron capture therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a dual tumor radiotherapy method combining boron-10 containing drugs and heavy ion therapy, which can kill cancer cells with almost no damage to normal cells, and achieve precise cell-scale treatment. However, the BNCT does not really enter into clinical application stage though it has been developed for nearly 70 years. The methods of measuring the concentration distribution of boron-10 containing drugs in vivo cannot meet the clinical needs, which is one of the core problems affecting the effect and safety of clinical application of BNCT. This article reviews the current methods of measuring the concentration distribution of boron-10 drugs, including the invasive estimation methods that have been used in clinical practice, the researching single photon emission tomography (SPECT) method, positron emission tomography (PET) method, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method, etc., and analyzes the advantages and limitations of current methods. Based on the characteristics of the low gyromagnetic ratio of the boron-10 element and the extremely short magnetic resonance transverse relaxation time, the research ideas of ultra-short echo time magnetic resonance boron-10 quantitative imaging are proposed. The feasibility of quantitative measurement of boron-10 distribution in vivo based on ultrashort echo time magnetic resonance imaging is analyzed theoretically.

Feasibility of quantitative measurement of fetal trachea and bilateral bronchial angles by ultrasound to diagnose heterotaxy syndrome in middle and late pregnancy

Objective To analyze the feasibility of prenatal ultrasound quantitative measurement of the angles between trachea and bilateral bronchi as a new diagnostic tool for fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome. Methods The angles between trachea and bilateral bronchi were measured at 18-34+6 gestational weeks for 200 fetuses with normal ultrasound findings (normal group) and 41 fetuses with heterotaxy syndrome [35 right atrial isomerisms (right group) and six left atrial isomerisms (left group)] diagnosed by ultrasound and confirmed after abortion or induction (case group) in Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children from October 2015 to December 2018. Scatter plots of left/right bronchus angle (α/β) ratios were drawn. Differences in bilateral bronchus angles between the three groups were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and paired t-test. Results In the normal group, scatter plots showed the α/β ratios were relatively constant at 0.8-1.0 with larger β than α (t=-33.14, P 0.05] and presented as bilateral right bronchial angle; in the left group, the β value decreased and was close to the α value [(147.38±3.16)° vs (148.82±5.56)°, t=-1.18, P>0.05] and presented as bilateral left bronchial angle. There were significant differences in the α and β values among the normal group, the right and left groups (all P<0.05), and the bronchial angles of the right group were both greater than those of the left group (all P<0.05). Conclusions Prenatal ultrasound measurement of the angles between trachea and bilateral bronchi can be used as an indirect indicator for the diagnosis of heterotaxy syndrome. Key words: Heterotaxy syndrome; Ultrasonography, prenatal; Trachea; Bronchi

Feasibility of quantitative measurement of abdominal diagnosis in functional dyspepsia

Feasibility of quantitative measurement of abdominal diagnosis in functional dyspepsia

A Study on Measurements of IT Security Service Quality : Feasibility of Quantitative Measures

A Study on Measurements of IT Security Service Quality : Feasibility of Quantitative Measures

Abstract 2608: Alterations In Biomechnical Properties of Ascending Aorta in Marfan Syndrome by Real-time 2-D Ultrasound Speckle Tracking Imaging

Background : Thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection (TAAD) is the leading cause of death in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and other aortic disease (AD). The natural history of AD aries significantly. The size of the aorta alone does not always predict the risks of complications, such as catastrophic TAAD. Objectives : We sought to develop an ultrasound technique to quantitatively measure deformation of the ascending aorta (Ao) using a real-time 2-D ultrasound speckle tracking imaging (USTI) technique to investigate: alterations in biomechanical properties of AAo in MFS, and early and sensitive markers for TAAD for MFS. Methods: A total of 40 patients (MFS: n=18, age=11.4 ± 6.2 years, versus Control: n = 22, age=10.2 ± 4.3, p = 0.46) were prospectively enrolled. Real-time 2-D echocardiography was performed. The dimension of the AAo root (at the level of aortic annulus, sinus of Valsalva (SOV), sino-tubular junction and ascending aorta) was tracked and measured continuously in the cardiac cycle to derive the maximal and minimal systolic and diastolic dimensions using USTI (Philips Medical Systems). These measurements were used to yield dimensions, strain (deformation), strain rate (rate of deformation), distensibility, stiffness index and elastic modulus. Results: The results were summarized in Table 1 . Compared with controls, the MFS group had significantly enlarged dimension of the AAo root (P&lt;0.0001). In addition, the biomechanical properties were significantly altered, suggestive of reduced deformation, distensibility, elasticity and increased stiffness of the AAo root. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of quantitative measurement of the biomechanical properties of the AAo in MFS using USTI. We have also shown significant deterioration of the biomechanical properties in MFS. Table 1. Biomechanical properties of AAO in MFS

D215 フォーカシングシュリーレン法を用いた密度計測基礎実験

A method for measuring a density field around an airfoil in a transonic flow by using a focusing schlieren technique is proposed. The focusing schlieren images are analysed to get the light intensity distribution through a Gaussian filter to remove the optical noise. Then a density field is calculated. In the present study, the density ratio in a transonic flow over a NACA0012 airfoil was calculated at y/c=0.236 above the airfoil. The step function scaling factor, β of 0, 0.01, 0.05 and 0.1, and the number of discrete steps used to model spread function, N of 3, 5 and 7 are tried to get density distribution. As β became large, density ratio became low. Similarly, as N became large, density ratio became low. This result indicates some feasibility of quantitative measurement with the focusing schlieren technique. However, a farther study should be performed to validate the present result.

In vivo measurement of dye concentration using an evanescent-wave optical sensor.

A miniaturised evanescent-wave optical sensor is proposed for in vivo measurement of dye concentrations. It enables a continuous monitoring of the optical-dye attenuation or fluorescence spectra between 380 and 650 nm. The sensor is constructed with polished fibres: the cladding of a single-mode fibre is removed by longitudinal polishing. The proximity of the core to the medium favours penetration of the evanescent part of the modal field into the bio fluid. The dimensions of the probe permit several potential applications: for example, insertion into hypodermic needles for spectroscopic analysis of tissues and blood. In the paper, a gastro-enterologic application of the sensor introduced into a catheter is reported. In vivo tests demonstrate the feasibility of quantitative measurement of dye clearance in the gastro-oesophageal tract.