Mean Paired Difference Research Articles

Optic nerve sheath measurement to monitor disease activity in giant cell arteritis: a pilot study

Introduction/ObjectivesOptic nerve sheath (ONS) enhancement using magnetic resonance imaging of the orbits was observed in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). We previously showed that ONS diameter (ONSD) by bedside ultrasound is increased in patient with active GCA. This study aims to assess whether ONSD decreases with clinical remission in patients with GCA.MethodsA prospective cohort study was conducted from June 2022 to January 2023. Patients who had an optic nerve ultrasound at GCA diagnosis as part of a previous crosssectional study were eligible. Optic nerve ultrasound was performed by the same investigator at diagnosis and month 3. ONSD (includes the optic nerve and its sheath) and optic nerve diameter (OND) were measured. Descriptive statistics for baseline characteristics and paired sample t-test were performed to assess the mean difference in OND and ONSD between diagnosis and month 3.ResultsNine patients with GCA were included. The median age at disease onset was 79 years (interquartile range (IQR) of 79–82 years), and 7 patients were males. All patients were in clinical remission at month 3 on prednisone (median dose of 15 mg/day, IQR of 10–25 mg). The mean ONSD was lower at month 3 (3.76 mm) compared to baseline (5.98 mm), with a paired mean difference of 2.22 mm (95% CI 1.41–3.03 mm, p < 0.001). As anticipated, OND measurements did not vary between diagnosis and month 3.ConclusionONSD on ultrasound improves after 3 months of therapy in patients with GCA. A longer prospective study is required to determine if ONSD is useful to assess disease activity in GCA.Key Points• ONS ultrasound can identify patients with active GCA.• The ONSD on ultrasound is dynamic and improved after 3 months of GCA therapy.• ONS ultrasound may be useful to monitor disease activity in GCA.

Increasing interprofessional collaboration in community-based palliative care: a pilot study of the CAPACITI education program for primary care providers

ABSTRACT Interprofessional collaboration in palliative care is essential to ensuring high-quality care for seriously ill patients. Education interventions to increase competency in palliative care should incorporate team-building skills to encourage an interprofessional approach. We developed and piloted a virtual educational program named CAPACITI for interprofessional teams to promote a community palliative approach to care. Primary care teams from across Ontario, Canada, participated in CAPACITI which consisted of 10 facilitated sessions that emphasized how to operationalize a palliative care approach as a team. Pre- and post-study questionnaires were completed by each team, including the AITCS-II, a validated instrument that measures interprofessional collaboration. We analyzed individual paired differences in summary scores and in each of three subdomains of the AITCS-II questionnaire: partnership, cooperation, and coordination. Seventeen teams completed the AITCS-II post survey, representing 133 participants. Teams varied demographically and ranged from 5 to 16 members. After CAPACITI, the overall mean AITCS-II summary score among teams increased to 96.0 (SD = 10.0) for a significant paired mean difference increase of 9.4 (p = .03). There were also significant increases in the partnership (p = .01) and in the cooperation subdomains (p = .04). CAPACITI demonstrated the potential for improving collaboration among primary care teams, which can lead to improved provider and patient outcomes in palliative care.

A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAM ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH HAZARDS OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES AMONG ANTENATAL MOTHERS AT SELECTED MATERNITY HOSPITALS, BANGALORE

Background of the Study:Electronic devices are components for controlling the flow of electrical currents for the purpose of information processing and system control. Prominent examples include transistors and diodes. Electronic devices are usually small and can be grouped together into packages called integrated circuits. Electronic devices are now an integral part of modern life. In many countries over half the population use electronic devices and the market is growing very rapidly. The electromagnetic field radiations impart an adverse effect on physical, mental and the emotional state of a pregnant mother and deeply affect the brain cells of mother and her unborn child. It affects level of melatonin, a sleep- controlling hormone which causes sleep disturbances in mothers, that pass to unborn babies through the placenta resulting in growth retardation. Objectives: 1. To assess the level of knowledge regarding health hazards of electronic devices during pregnancy among antenatal mothers in selected maternity Hospitals, Bangalore. 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of structured teaching program on knowledge regarding health hazards of electronic devices during pregnancy among antenatal mothers attending in selected maternity Hospitals, Bangalore. 3. To determine the association between knowledge score with selected demographic variables among antenatal mothers attending in selected maternity Hospitals, Bangalore. Methods:The research approach adopted was an evaluative research approach and research design adopted for this study was Pre experimental one group pretest and post-test research design. Simple random sampling technique was used to collect 60 antenatal mother sample. Data was collected over a period of one month. Structured knowledge questionnaire used as a tool to assess knowledge regarding the health hazards of electronic devices. Data obtained was analysed in terms of objectives which was calculated and tabulated. Results:In pretest, out of 60 antenatal mothers, 33.3% had inadequate knowledge and 66.7% had moderately adequate knowledge and none of the antenatal mothers had adequate knowledge. In post-test, out of 60 antenatal mothers, 73.3% had adequate knowledge, 26.7% had moderately adequate knowledge and none of the antenatal mother had inadequate knowledge. Over all knowledge the paired mean difference was 11.08 and SD of difference was 0.263 and enhancement mean percentage was 37 It was found significant (t=24.464, df=59) (i.e, p&lt;0.05). The paired t-test was also worked out and it was found to be invariably significant (i.e p&lt;0.05). The present study found the significant association between knowledge regarding health hazards of electronic devices at selected demographic variables of antenatal mothers. Interpretation and Conclusion: The study concluded that the post-test knowledge of antenatal mothers was improved after undergone Structured teaching programme regarding health hazards of electronic devices. The overall findings of the study clearly showed that the structured teaching programme was effective in improving the knowledge level of antenatal mothers regarding health hazards of electronic devices.

The effectiveness of the lorazepam challenge test in pediatric catatonia: A multisite retrospective cohort study

ObjectiveCatatonia is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with changes in behavior and affect. In adults, catatonia can respond rapidly to treatment with benzodiazepines as part of the “lorazepam challenge test.” The acute effectiveness of benzodiazepine treatment in pediatric catatonia, however, has received less study. This study reports catatonia severity as measured by the Bush Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS) in pediatric patients before and after treatment with lorazepam. MethodsMulticenter retrospective cohort study from 1/1/2018 to 6/1/2023 of patients aged 18 and younger with a clinical diagnosis of catatonia and assessment using the BFCRS before and after treatment with lorazepam. ResultsAmong 54 patients, median age was 16, and 26 (48.1 %) were female. Neurodevelopmental disabilities were present in 24 (44.4 %) of patients. Prior to treatment, patients had a mean BFCRS score of 16.6 ± 6.1, which significantly reduced to 9.5 ± 5.3 following treatment with lorazepam (mean paired difference 7.1; t = 9.0, df = 53, p < 0.001), representing a large effect size (Hedges's g = 1.20; 95 % CI: 0.85 to 1.55). No significant association was found between lorazepam dose or route of administration and clinical response, nor were age, sex, study site, the presence of a neurodevelopmental disorder, the presence of hyperactive catatonic features, or the time between treatment and reassessment associated with post-treatment BFCRS. ConclusionsLorazepam resulted in a rapid improvement in BFCRS score in pediatric patients, with a large effect size. Further research is needed into optimal dosing and route of administration of the lorazepam challenge test in pediatric patients.

Effects of concentrate supplementation on lactating Dromedary Camels during mating season in Isiolo, Kenya

Camels are resilient and have a high potential to contribute to food security and economic development in arid areas. However, this potential is being limited by diminishing feed resources due to the effects of climate change. Further, there is an upcoming peri-urban camel production system where the animals are limited in their movement. Consequently, camels do not get enough browse forages in terms of biomass and quality to meet their nutritional requirement. This has resulted in decreased production and reproductive performance. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of concentrate supplementation on lactating camels on productive and reproductive performance during mating season. A diet containing 16.80% crude protein (CP) and a digestible energy of 8.44 MJ/Kg was formulated and supplemented in the evenings with a group of ten camels. Another group of 10 camels acted as the control. Milking was done in the morning and production from each camel was recorded in liters. Percentage milk fat and protein analysis were done weekly using Gerber and Kjeldahl methods respectively. Serum biochemical levels were determined using spectrophotometry in the fourth week. Confirmation of pregnancy was done on the 5th month after mating by chemiluminescent progesterone assay. Camels were then divided into four groups. These were, supplemented pregnant(4) supplemented and not pregnant(6) un-supplemented pregnant(1), and un-supplemented and not pregnant(9). Paired mean comparisons were done to ascertain differences within the four groups. Mean daily milk production was 25.26±0.42 and 22.79±0.41 liters for supplemented and un-supplemented groups respectively (p&lt;0.001). Paired mean differences were highest between pregnant supplemented and pregnant un-supplemented pair (p=0.165). Biochemical profiles, mean milk protein and fat percentages were significantly higher for supplemented than un-supplemented (p˂0.05). All supplemented camels were mated within the first two weeks and had a higher conception rate (40%) than un-supplemented (10%). The study recommends concentrate supplementation during mating season to improve fertility and milk production, especially in pregnant camels.

Commutable Blood Materials from the Fixed-Cell Method for Performance Evaluation of Blood Glucose by a Glucose Meter.

Glucose meters provide a rapid blood glucose status for evidence-based diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of diabetes mellitus. We aimed to evaluate the commutability of processed blood materials (PBMs) and their use in the performance evaluation of glucose meters. Two PBMs obtained by the fixed-cell method were analyzed for homogeneity, stability, and commutability. The compatibility of ten pairs between mass spectrometry and each glucose meter was categorized as compatible (mean paired difference ≤ 5%) and incompatible (mean paired difference > 5%). The performance of glucose meter 1 (n = 767) and glucose meter 2 (n = 266) was assessed. The glucose in the PBMs remained homogenized and stable for at least 180 days. Six out of ten pairs had commutable PBMs. Commutability of PBMs was observed in both well-compatible and incompatible glucose results. Target glucose values from mass spectrometry were significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) from consensus values in one group of glucose meters. When commutable PBMs were used, glucose meter 1 showed better performance than glucose meter 2, and the percentage of satisfaction was associated when using target values for glucose from mass spectrometry and consensus values, but the performance of glucose meter 2 was not associated. PBM from a fixed-cell method could be mass produced with acceptable homogeneity and stability. Commutability testing of PBMs is required prior to use in the performance evaluation of glucose meters, as the commutability of glucose in the PBMs obtained by a fixed-cell method was variable and depended on the individual glucose meter.

Clinical experience with bromocriptine for central hyperthermia after brain insult

ABSTRACT Introduction Bromocriptine is a dopamine receptor agonist used for central hyperthermia with limited data. We describe our single-center experience utilizing bromocriptine for central hyperthermia, including the population treated, most common dosing regimens, adverse events, and discontinuation reasons. Methods A retrospective study was conducted screening patients who were admitted to intensive care units for acute neurological insults and administered bromocriptine for central hyperthermia between April 2016 and September 2022. Baseline characteristics, disease severity markers, and bromocriptine doses were collected. Body temperatures prior to the first dose of bromocriptine, at the time of dose, and after each dose were recorded. Co-administration of additional hyperthermia management therapies was noted. Results Thirty patients were included. The most common diagnosis was traumatic brain injury (TBI) (N = 14). The most common reason for discontinuation was resolution of indication (N = 14). Discontinuation due to mild adverse effects occurred in four patients; hepatotoxicity was the most common. There was a paired mean difference of −0.37°C (p = 0.005) between temperatures before and after bromocriptine initiation. Conclusion Bromocriptine is a potential therapy for the management of central hyperthermia in patients with severe acute neurologic insults who have failed other therapies. Bromocriptine was well tolerated and associated with a low incidence of adverse events.

Evaluation of vital signs through a mobile application in patients with heart failure: a opportunity for remote titration?

Virtual consultations have increased exponentially, but a limitation is the inability to assess vital signs (VS). This is particularly useful in patients with heart failure (HF) for titrating prognosis-modifying medication. This issue could potentially be addressed by a tool capable of measuring blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) accurately, remotely, and conveniently. Mobile phones equipped with transdermal optical imaging technology could meet these requirements. To evaluate the accuracy of a transdermal optical imaging-based app for estimating VS compared to clinical assessment in patients with HF. A prospective cohort study included patients evaluated in an HF outpatient unit between February and April 2022. BP and HR were simultaneously assessed using the app and clinical examination (BP with an automated sphygmomanometer and HR by brachial palpation). Three measurements were taken by both the app and clinic for each patient, by two independent blinded physicians. Thirty patients were included, with 540 measurements of BP and HR. The mean age was 66 (± 13) years, 53.3% were male. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 37 ± 15, with 63.3% having previous hospitalizations for HF, and 63.4% in NYHA class II-III. The mean difference between the app measurement and its clinical reference measurement was 3.6 ± 0.5 mmHg for systolic BP (SBP), 0.9 ± -0.2 mmHg for diastolic BP (DBP), and 0.2 ± 0.4 bpm for HR. When averaging the paired mean differences for each patient, the mean across the 30 patients was 2 ± 6 mmHg for SBP, -0.14 ± 4.6 mmHg for DBP, and 0.23 ± 4 bpm for HR. The estimation of BP and HR by an app with transdermal optical imaging technology was comparable to non-invasive measurement in patients with HF and met the precision criteria for BP measurement in this preliminary study. The use of this new transdermal optical imaging technology provides promising data, which should be corroborated in larger cohorts.

Metabolic Costs of Walking with Weighted Vests.

The US Army Load Carriage Decision Aid (LCDA) metabolic model is used by militaries across the globe and is intended to predict physiological responses, specifically metabolic costs, in a wide range of dismounted warfighter operations. However, the LCDA has yet to be adapted for vest-borne load carriage, which is commonplace in tactical populations, and differs in energetic costs to backpacking and other forms of load carriage. The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a metabolic model term that accurately estimates the effect of weighted vest loads on standing and walking metabolic rate for military mission-planning and general applications. Twenty healthy, physically active military-age adults (4 women, 16 men; age, 26 ± 8 yr old; height, 1.74 ± 0.09 m; body mass, 81 ± 16 kg) walked for 6 to 21 min with four levels of weighted vest loading (0 to 66% body mass) at up to 11 treadmill speeds (0.45 to 1.97 m·s -1 ). Using indirect calorimetry measurements, we derived a new model term for estimating metabolic rate when carrying vest-borne loads. Model estimates were evaluated internally by k -fold cross-validation and externally against 12 reference datasets (264 total participants). We tested if the 90% confidence interval of the mean paired difference was within equivalence limits equal to 10% of the measured walking metabolic rate. Estimation accuracy, precision, and level of agreement were also evaluated by the bias, standard deviation of paired differences, and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), respectively. Metabolic rate estimates using the new weighted vest term were statistically equivalent ( P < 0.01) to measured values in the current study (bias, -0.01 ± 0.54 W·kg -1 ; CCC, 0.973) as well as from the 12 reference datasets (bias, -0.16 ± 0.59 W·kg -1 ; CCC, 0.963). The updated LCDA metabolic model calculates accurate predictions of metabolic rate when carrying heavy backpack and vest-borne loads. Tactical populations and recreational athletes that train with weighted vests can confidently use the simplified LCDA metabolic calculator provided as Supplemental Digital Content to estimate metabolic rates for work/rest guidance, training periodization, and nutritional interventions.

18F-Sodium fluoride PET-CT visualizes disease activity in chronic nonbacterial osteitis in adults.

Chronic nonbacterial osteitis (CNO) is a rare disease spectrum, which lacks biomarkers for disease activity. Sodium fluoride-18 positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]NaF-PET/CT) is a sensitive imaging tool for bone diseases and yields quantitative data on bone turnover. We evaluated the capacities of [18F]NaF-PET/CT to provide structural and functional assessment in adult CNO. A coss-sectional study was performed including 43 adult patients with CNO and 16 controls (patients referred for suspected, but not diagnosed with CNO) who underwent [18F]NaF-PET/CT at our expert clinic. Structural features were compared between patients and controls, and maximal standardized uptake values (SUVmax [g/mL]) were calculated for bone lesions, soft tissue/joint lesions, and reference bone. SUVmax was correlated with clinical disease activity in patients. Structural assessment revealed manubrial and costal sclerosis/hyperostosis and calcification of the costoclavicular ligament as typical features associated with CNO. SUVmax of CNO lesions was higher compared with in-patient reference bone (mean paired difference: 11.4; 95% CI: 9.4-13.5; p < .001) and controls (mean difference: 12.4; 95%CI: 9.1-15.8; p < .001). The highest SUVmax values were found in soft tissue and joint areas such as the costoclavicular ligament and manubriosternal joint, and these correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate in patients (correlation coefficient: 0.546; p < .002). Our data suggest that [18F]NaF-PET/CT is a promising imaging tool for adult CNO, allowing for detailed structural evaluation of its typical bone, soft-tissue, and joint features. At the same time, [18F]NaF-PET/CT yields quantitative bone remodeling data that represent the pathologically increased bone turnover and the process of new bone formation. Further studies should investigate the application of quantified [18F]NaF uptake as a novel biomarker for disease activity in CNO, and its utility to steer clinical decision making.

Commutability and Uncertainty of Blood Hemoglobin A1c Testing Materials.

Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) is used to evaluate glycemic control over a three-month period. Blood matrix-based HbA1C materials are needed for quality control and evaluation of HbA1C measurements. This study investigated the commutability of blood materials (BMs) and aimed to upgrade BMs for HbA1C testing for use as proficiency test (PT) material. We measured BMs from a DM blood donor (n = 1), an in vitro glycation procedure (n = 3), and from commercial sources (n = 2) for HbA1C in parallel with fresh unprocessed BMs (n = 3) and clinical blood samples (n = 25). Two NGSP-certified methods, including a turbidimetric and an enzymatic immunoassay, were used for HbA1C determinations. Commutability as investigated according to CLSI EP14-Ed4 guidelines. The commutable BMs exhibited a mean paired difference of 0% to 9% when compared to reference methods, whereas the non-commutable BMs represented a mean paired difference of 3% to 11%. Fresh, unprocessed BMs with a low HbA1C of 6.0% were more commutable than BMs with a high HbA1C. The values of HbA1C in BMs (mean and uncertainty following ISO Guide 35 for RM production) were applied to upgrade the PT material to be used as a reference material. The relative uncertainty of BM-Ndm-1 and BM-Gcb-3 were 1 and 0.4%, respectively. The commutability of hemoglobin in BMs is dependent on the preparation process. Blood materials with a high HbA1C content are usually less commutable versus materials with low HbA1C content when prepared by the same process. Our study showed BMs can be successfully used as quality control or PT materials.

Assessment of Skill Performance Among the Soccer Players in Different Playing Positions

The main purpose of the study was to compare soccer skill performance among the players in different playing positions. For the present study, a total of 45 (N=45) players, 15(n=15) each forward, midfielder, and defender between 18 to 25 (23±0.8) years of age, who had participated in the national competitions from Manipur, were selected randomly. Mor-Christian General Soccer Ability Skill Test was administered to obtain the data for soccer skill performance. Descriptive analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to find the characteristics and means difference among the different playing positions, respectively, and tested at 0.05 confidence level (p&lt;0.05). Further post hoc test was applied by using Scheffe’s method to determine paired mean differences among different playing positions. The study results reveal non-significant differences in passing and shooting skills performance among the forward, midfielder, and defender positions. In the case of dribbling skills performance, a significant difference was found among the forward, midfielder, and defender positions. Further, the paired-wise mean comparison revealed that a significant mean difference was found between the midfielder and defender positions. However, non-significant mean differences were found between the forward and midfielder, and forward and defender positions. The study concluded that forwards, midfielders and defenders may have equally integrated fitness and skill ability to make a strong team, and any player can advance to score a goal during the play

Impact of Sand Running and Slow Continuous Runnings on Selected Endurance Parameters

The purpose of the study was to find out the effects of sand running and Slow continuous running on selected endurance parameters namely strength endurance and cardio respiratory endurance. To achieve this purpose of the study, forty five men students studying Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu and India were selected as subjects at random. Their age ranged between 18 to 24 years. The selected subjects were divided into three equal groups of fifteen each namely sand running group [SRG], slow continuous running group [SCRG] and control group [CG]. The experimental group I underwent sand running and group II underwent slow continuous running for three days per week for twelve weeks whereas the control group maintained their daily routine activities and no special training was given to them. The following endurance parameters namely strength endurance and cardio respiratory endurance were selected as criterion variables. The subjects of the three groups were tested on selected endurance parameters namely strength endurance and cardio respiratory endurance using standardized tests namely bend knee sit ups and Cooper’s 12 min run / walk test respectively at prior and immediately after the training period. The collected data were analyzed statistically through analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to find out the significant difference, if any among the groups. Whenever the obtained “F” ratio for adjusted posttest was found to be significant, the Scheffe’s test was applied as post hoc test to find out the paired mean difference, if any. The .05 level of confidence was fixed to test the level of significance which was considered as an appropriate. The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference exist among sand running group, slow continuous running group and control group on selected endurance parameters namely strength endurance and cardio respiratory endurance. And also, it showed that sand running group and slow continuous running group showed significant improvement on strength endurance and cardio respiratory endurance when compared to control group.

Comparison of Central Corneal Thickness Measurement by Specular Microscopy, Optical Coherence Tomography, Optical Biometry and Ultrasound Pachymetry in Normal Eyes

BACKGROUND&#x0D; Precise central corneal thickness (CCT) measurement is of utmost importance in various corneal diseases and refractive procedures. Various methods are available to measure CCT. But studies comparing CCT measurements with different devices have shown variable results. This study compares the CCT measurements by different devices and Ultrasound Pachymetry (USP).&#x0D; METHODS&#x0D; This prospective study that was conducted from October 2017 to June 2019 included 100 subjects aged more than 18 years and CCT was measured by non-contact specular microscopy (NCSM), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), optical biometry (OB) and USP in normal eyes. For every patient and with each device, three readings were taken and an average was recorded. The data recorded per protocol was analyzed using Intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis.&#x0D; RESULTS&#x0D; The mean value of CCT with NCSM, SD-OCT, OB, USP was 528.98±32.18µm, 532.64±30.49µm, 517.47±31.89µm and 533.39±33.44µm, respectively. The intraclass correlation was found to be maximum between NCSM and USP (0.953, p&lt;0.001). The mean paired difference of CCT values with SD-OCT and USP was statistically insignificant (-0.75±14.73, p=1.00) whereas the difference obtained with all other devices was statistically significant.&#x0D; CONCLUSIONS&#x0D; A statistically significant positive correlation (p&lt;0.001) was observed on comparing all the four devices with each other for measurement of CCT. The OCT had the best agreement and also positively correlated with USP. Hence, we conclude that OCT can be an effective alternative to USP for measuring CCT.

Lung ultrasound: A comparison of image interpretation accuracy between curvilinear and phased array transducers.

Both curvilinear and phased array transducers are commonly used to perform lung ultrasound (LUS). This study seeks to compare LUS interpretation accuracy of images obtained using a curvilinear transducer with those obtained using a phased array transducer. We invited 166 internists and trainees to interpret 16 LUS images/cineloops of eight patients in an online survey: eight curvilinear and eight phased array, performed on the same lung location. Images depicted normal lung, pneumothorax, pleural irregularities, consolidation/hepatisation, pleural effusions and B-lines. Primary outcome for each participant is the difference in image interpretation accuracy scores between the two transducers. A total of 112 (67%) participants completed the survey. The mean paired accuracy score difference between the curvilinear and phased array images was 3.0% (95% CI: 0.6 to 5.4%, P = 0.015). For novices, scores were higher on curvilinear images (mean difference: 5.4%, 95% CI: 0.9 to 9.9%, P = 0.020). For non-novices, there were no differences between the two transducers (mean difference: 1.4%, 95% CI: -1.1 to 3.9%, P = 0.263). For pleural-based findings, the mean of the paired differences between transducers was higher in the novice group (estimated mean difference-in-differences: 9.5%, 95% CI: 0.6 to 18.4%; P = 0.036). No difference in mean accuracies was noted between novices and non-novices for non-pleural-based pathologies (estimated mean difference-in-differences: 0.6%, 95% CI to 5.4-6.6%; P = 0.837). Lung ultrasound images obtained using the curvilinear transducer are associated with higher interpretation accuracy than the phased array transducer. This is especially true for novices interpreting pleural-based pathologies.

Brand Name Language: Is it True That Foreign Brand Names are More Qualified, Luxurious and Modern?

The purpose of this study is to see whether product brand names that use foreign languages, especially English, are perceived as higher quality, more luxurious, and more modern than product brand names that use local languages by consumers in developing countries. The population in this study were residents of Banten Province, Indonesia. Data collection using a questionnaire distributed via google form and collected as many as 275 respondents' answers. The analysis method uses paired sample mean difference test. The results showed that foreign brand names that use foreign languages are perceived as higher quality, more luxurious, and more modern than brand names that use local languages. Therefore, giving product brand names whose markets are consumers in developing countries, using foreign language brand names, especially English, will be preferred by consumers.

Regression equations for stature reconstruction from the lower limb bones of contemporary White South Africans

ABSTRACT In 2008, Dayal and colleagues generated regression equations to estimate the total skeletal height (TSH) of White South Africans. However, the validity of these equations has been questioned. The magnetic resonance imaging scanograms of 74 White South African adults were used to assess the reliability of these equations. The physiological lengths of the femur (FEPL) and tibia (TPL) were measured from these scans and input into the appropriate equations by Dayal and colleagues to calculate TSHD. Paired t-tests, mean differences (MD), and mean absolute differences (MAD) were used to compare TSHD with the measured TSH (TSHMeas) taken directly from the scanograms and ELS were compared with the measured stature (LSM) taken of participants prior to their scans. Although there were no significant differences between TSHMeas and TSHD for males and TSHMeas and TSHD(TPL) for females, all ELSL were significantly different to LSM, and the ELSC using the FEPL were significantly different to LSM. These significant differences and associated large MD and MAD conclude that the equations by Dayal and colleagues are no longer valid. New stature estimation equations were derived for the estimation of stature of White South Africans, characterized by strong correlations and low SEEs.

Influence of High Intensity Interval and Low Intensity Interval Trainings on Selected Motor Fitness Components

The purpose of the study was to find out the effects of high intensity interval training and Low intensity interval training on selected motor fitness components namely speed and agility. To achieve this purpose of the study, forty five men students studying Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu and India were selected as subjects at random. Their age ranged between 18 to 24 years. The selected subjects were divided into three equal groups of fifteen each namely high intensity interval training group, Low intensity interval training group and control group. The experimental group I underwent high intensity interval training and group II underwent Low intensity interval training for three days per week for twelve weeks whereas the control group maintained their daily routine activities and no special training was given to them. The following motor fitness components namely speed and agility were selected as criterion variables. The subjects of the three groups were tested on selected motor fitness components namely speed and agility using standardized tests namely 50 mts run and shuttle run at prior and immediately after the training period. The collected data were analyzed statistically through analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to find out the significant difference, if any among the groups. Whenever the obtained “F” ratio was found to be significant, the Scheffe’s test was applied as post hoc test to find out the paired mean difference, if any. The .05 level of confidence was fixed to test the level of significance which was considered as an appropriate. The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference exist among high intensity interval training group, Low intensity interval training group and control group on selected motor fitness components namely speed and agility. And also high intensity interval training group and Low intensity interval training group showed significant improvement on speed and agility when compared to control group.

Validation of a simple-to-use, affordable, portable, wavefront aberrometry-based auto refractometer in the adult population: A prospective study

BackgroundRefraction is one of the key components of a comprehensive eye examination. Auto refractometers that are reliable and affordable can be beneficial, especially in a low-resource community setting. The study aimed to validate the accuracy of a novel wave-front aberrometry-based auto refractometer, Instaref R20 against the open-field system and subjective refraction in an adult population.MethodsAll the participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination including objective refraction, subjective acceptance, anterior and posterior segment evaluation. Refraction was performed without cycloplegia using WAM5500 open-field auto refractometer (OFAR) and Instaref R20, the study device. Agreement between both methods was evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis. The repeatability of the device based on three measurements in a subgroup of 40 adults was assessed.ResultsThe refractive error was measured in 132 participants (mean age,30.53 ± 9.36 years, 58.3% female). The paired mean difference of the refraction values of the study device against OFAR was − 0.13D for M, − 0.0002D (J0) and − 0.13D (J45) and against subjective refraction (SR) was − 0.09D (M), 0.06 (J0) and 0.03D (J45). The device agreed within +/− 0.50D of OFAR in 78% of eyes for M, 79% for J0 and 78% for J45. The device agreed within +/− 0.5D of SR values for M (84%), J0 (86%) and J45 (89%).ConclusionThis study found a good agreement between the measurements obtained with the portable autorefractor against open-field refractometer and SR values. It has a potential application in population-based community vision screening programs for refractive error correction without the need for highly trained personnel.

Abstract 11006: Fick’s versus Cardiac MRI Measured Pulmonary Blood Flow in Pre-Fontan Assessment

Background: Fick’s principle (FP) is unreliable if there are two sources of pulmonary blood flow (Q p ) with different saturations. We compared Q p and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRI) measured by cardiac MRI (CMR) and FP in pre-Fontan patients. Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of CMR and catheterization data obtained under the same general anesthetic from Jan 2009 to March 2021. FP derived Q p and PVRI used assumed O 2 consumption from Sackler’s equation. Paired T test was used for comparison between FP and CMR parameters. Results: 98 patients, with (mean ± sd): age 3.01±1.38 years and weight 13.31±2.4 kg. The FP derived Q p was 2.5(± 0.58) L/min/m 2 and PVRI1.91±0.61 Woods units*m 2 (WU*m 2 ). CMR measured pulmonary arterial flow (Q pa ) and pulmonary venous flow (Q pv ) were 1.97±0.55 L/min/m 2 and 3.49±0.76 L/min/m 2 , respectively. The PVRI using CMR Q pv was 1.38±0.47 WU*m 2 . The paired mean differences between Q p by FP and CMR Q pa or CMR Q pv were 0.53 (95%CI 0.41, 0.66; p&lt;0.001) and -0.98(95%CI -1.13, -0.83; p&lt;0.001), respectively. The paired mean difference between PVRI by FP and PVRI by CMR Qpv was 0.53(95%CI 0.44, 0.61; p&lt;0.001). The difference between CMR Q pv and FP derived Q p were correlated with aortopulmonary collateral flow (Pearson r=0.615, p&lt;0.001). PVRI derived from FP (1.91±0.61 WU*m 2 ) was higher than that from CMR (1.38±0.47, p&lt;0.001). However, this only resulted in one FP based PVRI estimate being &gt;4.0WU*m 2 when the CMR PVRI was &lt;4.0WU*m 2 . Conclusion: s: FP derived Q p is lower than CMR Q pv resulting in higher PVRI estimates by FP. In most patients this will not affect clinical risk stratification based on PVRI. In high-risk candidates for the Fontan, CMR based flow measurements are preferrable.