Power Of Other Variables Research Articles

ABSI is a poor predictor of insulin resistance in Chinese adults and elderly without diabetes.

Recently, a new obesity index (A Body Shape Index, ABSI) based on waist circumference (WC) was developed, and high ABSI corresponds to a more central concentration of body volume. It is well known that central obesity is closely linked with insulin resistance (IR). Therefore, our study aimed to examine the discriminatory power of ABSI for IR in Chinese adults and elderly without diabetes. In 2007, a cross-sectional study was made. In this study, 570 individuals without diabetes were available for analysis (male: 56.1%, mean age: 62.3 ± 6.5 years). Insulin resistance was assessed by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were determined to identify variables/models that could predict insulin resistance. ABSI was associated with IR, the cut-off points was 0.0785 m11/6kg-2/3 to identifying IR and the area under the ROC (AUC) curve was 0.618 (95%CI: 0.561-0.675), which was not better than body mass index BMI (AUC = 0.753; 95%CI: 0.706-0.801), WC (AUC = 0.749; 95%CI: 0.700-0.797), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG, AUC = 0.752; 95%CI: 0.705-0.799). Furthermore, combination with ABSI could improve the discriminatory power of other variables for IR. The AUC curve increased from 0.753 to 0.771for BMI, 0.749 to 0.754 for WC, 0.752 to 0.769 for FPG, respectively. ABSI is associated with IR in the general Chinese adults and elderly without diabetes, but the discriminatory power for IR is poor. It is recommended that ABSI be used in combination with other variables.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy With Significant Coronary Stenosis and Atrioventricular Conduction Block: A Rare Case Report With 3 Year Follow-Up

Background: Anxiety is one of the most primary and common reactions to a cardiac event can lead to hypertension, tachycardia, and high cardiac output. Objectives: To investigate the predictors of clinical anxiety aggravation at the end of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study used a database of a CR ward of a hospital in Iran. The demographic and clinical information of 574 patients participating in the CR program from April 2005 through April 2010 were analyzed. In order to determine the predictors of anxiety, binary logistic regression was performed. Results: After adjustment for gender, age and education, the results showed that 16.7% of the patients completed their CR program with increased levels of clinical anxiety. The following study variables were independently predictive of increased anxiety at the end of the CR program: male gender (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.11 to 3.33, P = 0.048), no history of diabetes (OR = 4.24, 95% CI = 172 to 10.44, P = 0.002), family history of cardiac disease (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.03 to 6.74, P = 0.043), and not quitting smoking (OR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.38 to 7.85, P = 0.007). These variables could explain 9% - 15% of the variance in the dependent variable. Conclusions: It is possible to predict higher anxiety levels at the end of the CR program and implement preventive measures to control anxiety by considering certain demographic and clinical variables. Future studies should assess the predictive power of other variables.

Predictors of Clinical Anxiety Aggravation at the End of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

Background:Anxiety is one of the most primary and common reactions to a cardiac event can lead to hypertension, tachycardia, and high cardiac output.Objectives:To investigate the predictors of clinical anxiety aggravation at the end of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program.Patients and Methods:This retrospective study used a database of a CR ward of a hospital in Iran. The demographic and clinical information of 574 patients participating in the CR program from April 2005 through April 2010 were analyzed. In order to determine the predictors of anxiety, binary logistic regression was performed.Results:After adjustment for gender, age and education, the results showed that 16.7% of the patients completed their CR program with increased levels of clinical anxiety. The following study variables were independently predictive of increased anxiety at the end of the CR program: male gender (OR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.11 to 3.33, P = 0.048), no history of diabetes (OR = 4.24, 95% CI = 172 to 10.44, P = 0.002), family history of cardiac disease (OR = 2.63, 95% CI = 1.03 to 6.74, P = 0.043), and not quitting smoking (OR = 3.29, 95% CI = 1.38 to 7.85, P = 0.007). These variables could explain 9% - 15% of the variance in the dependent variable.Conclusions:It is possible to predict higher anxiety levels at the end of the CR program and implement preventive measures to control anxiety by considering certain demographic and clinical variables. Future studies should assess the predictive power of other variables.

Exploring teacher self-efficacy for inclusive practices in three diverse countries

The purpose of this study was to explain teachers' perceived efficacy for teaching in inclusive classrooms by using a sample of 1911 in-service teachers from China, Finland, and South Africa. Bandura's theory of self-efficacy was used as a starting point to develop distinct models for each country. We found that in all countries, experience in teaching students with disabilities was the strongest predictor of self-efficacy, while the predictive power of other variables differed from country to country. Our findings illustrate ways to improve teacher education to respond better to the challenges set by the global inclusive education movement.

Spatial variation in size and density of adult and post-settlement Semibalanus balanoides: effects of oceanographic and local conditions

Regional oceanographic processes are emerging as strong influences on growth and recruitment of intertidal species, with important consequences for populations. Yet local conditions such as wave exposure are also important. To disentangle these effects for the intertidal barnacle Semibalanus balanoides, we surveyed 259 sites around Scotland in July and August over 6 yr (from 2001 to 2006). Scaled digital photographs at 3 shore levels gave sizes and densities of juvenile and adult barnacles for comparison with wave fetch, remotely sensed chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration and seasonal sea surface temperature (SST). Patterns were also compared with site 'openness': the area of connected open sea <30 km away. Patterns at the 3 shore levels were similar. Hierarchical partitioning (HP) showed that survey year had the biggest effect and improved the predictive power of other variables: wave fetch for adult and juvenile densities, chl a for juvenile size and openness for adult size. SST had little effect. Regression models selected using information theoretic measures included positive effects of chl a, varying among surveys, on average size of barnacles (R 2 from 0.5 to 0.6), and larger high shore barnacles in greater wave exposure. Population densities of adults and juveniles increased with wave fetch, with chl a only influencing density at high shore levels (R 2 from 0.1 to 0.4). Despite temporal and spatial variation in responses to chl a and wave fetch among surveys, relationships were consistent with growth and size in S. balanoides being limited by food supply, and increased recruitment and adult densities in increased wave exposure. Large-scale ecological patterns in this rocky intertidal species thus result from large-scale oceanographic effects on food concentration with habitat-scale wave-mediated effects on supply of food and larvae.

Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: prognostic factors after curative surgery: a series of 45 cases.

Some adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy could be important for patients operated on for tumours of the ampulla of Vater, especially for those having a higher risk of recurrence. To evaluate prognostic factors after curative surgery based on a series of 45 cases of malignant tumours of the Oddi sphincter. From 1970 to 1992, a curative resection was performed in 45 patients (age 62.8 (SD 10.1) years) with adenocarcinoma of the ampulla. Surgical procedures included pancreatoduodenectomy (n = 42) and resection of the ampulla (n = 3). Actuarial survival was 44 (SD 9)% at five years. Various prognostic variables were studied: clinical manifestations, macroscopic aspect, differentiation, noninvasive adenomatous component, mucin histochemistry, immunohistochemistry (CEA, CA19.9, p53, Ki67), and accepted classifications (Blumgart and Kennedy, Martin, Yamaguchi and Enjoji, Talbot et al, pTNM). Variables with prognostic power, in order of importance were: Classification of Talbot et al; CA19.9; pTNM; sialomucins; classification of Yamaguchi and Ejoji; Martin classification; sulphomucins; non-invasive adenomatous component (positive > negative); jaundice; tumour localisation. This series confirmed the prognostic power of former classifications and showed the prognostic power of other variables (mucin, non-invasive adenomatous component, CA19.9).

Predictors of further suicidal behavior in hospitalized patients following a suicide attempt. Literature review

In a review of 70 follow-up studies of patients hospitalised after attempted suicide, those follow-up studies were listed which tried to find predictors of further suicidal behaviour by statistical methods. The following predictors for patients with attempted suicide hospitalised in different institutions were found: "Previous attempted suicide" (risk of repetition of attempted suicide as well as of suicide), "previous psychiatric treatment" (risk of repeated attempted suicide), addiction (suicide or repetition of attempted suicide), personality disorder (repetition of attempted suicide), old age and male sex (suicide). There is only small evidence for the predictive power of other variables. Possibilities of improving the prognosis of suicide attempts are discussed.