Background Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). The objective of this study was to compare the differences in the predictive va...Background Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). The objective of this study was to compare the differences in the predictive value of RDW in patients with HF due to different causes. Methods We retrospectively investigated 1,021 HF patients from October 2009 to December 2011 at Fuwai Hospital (Beijing, China). HF in these patients was caused by three diseases; coronary heart disease (CHD), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and valvular heart disease (VHD). Patients were followed-up for 21 ~ 9 months. Results The RDW, mortality and survival duration were significantly different among the three groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative survival decreased significantly with increased RDW in patients with HF caused by CHD and DCM, but not in those with HF patients caused by VHD. In a multivariable model, RDW was identified as an independent predictor for the mortality of HF patients with CHD (P 〈 0.001, HR 1.315, 95% CI 1.122-1.543). The group with higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and higher RDW than median had the lowest cumulative survival in patients with HF due to CHD, but not in patients with HF due to DCM. Conclusions RDW is a prognostic indicator for patients with HF caused by CHD and DCM; thus, RDW adds important information to NT-proBNP in CHD caused HF patients.展开更多
Background:The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patella(VISA-P) scale is the most condition-specific patient-reported outcome measure used to assess symptom severity in athletes with patellar tendinopathy.Prev...Background:The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patella(VISA-P) scale is the most condition-specific patient-reported outcome measure used to assess symptom severity in athletes with patellar tendinopathy.Previous exploratory factor analyses have been conducted to evaluate the scale's dimensionality,with inconsistent results,and the factor structure of the scale remains unclear.The aims of the present study were to determine the factorial structure of the VISA-P scale using confirmatory factor analysis(CFA) and test measurement invariance across sexes.Methods:The study included a convenience sample of 249 Spanish athletes with patellar tendinopathy.CFA was performed to assess factorial validity.Hypothesized 1-and 2-factor models were tested.Measurement invariance across sexes was evaluated via multi-group CFA with several fit indices using EQS 6.1 software.Results:The internal consistency coefficient was 0.74.Several CFA models were examined and the 1-factor model in which errors for Items 7 and8 were correlated showed acceptable fit in terms of comparative fit index(CFI) and goodness-of-fit index(GFI) statistics(CFI = 0.93;GFI = 0.94;standardized root mean square residual = 0.06;root mean square error of approximation = 0.10;90% confidence interval:0.08–0.13).This model was invariant across sexes.Conclusion:The 1-factor model of the Spanish version of the VISA-P scale(VISA-P-Sp) in which errors for Items 7 and 8 were correlated demonstrated relative fit in CFA.Scores obtained via VISA-P-Sp can be compared between men and women without sexes bias.Further studies should examine the VISA-P scale and other single-score patient-reported outcome measures concurrently.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To investigate the available parameters in gynecological screening for cervical lesions by liquid-based cytology technology (ThinPrep Cytology Test, TCT) and The Bethesda System (TBS), also with computer...OBJECTIVE To investigate the available parameters in gynecological screening for cervical lesions by liquid-based cytology technology (ThinPrep Cytology Test, TCT) and The Bethesda System (TBS), also with computer image analysis. METHODS With application of the image analysis system, all grades of cervical lesion cells were detected quantitatively and sorted in atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with the mean optical density (MOD), average grey (AG), positive units (PU), and nucleus to cytoplasmic ratio (N: C). Differences between each group of cells were compared and analyzed statistically. RESULTS Apart from four stereologic parameters in LSIL and HSIL groups there were no differences among them, in the other groups, there was statistically significant in differences between MOD, AG and PU values. Differences between them in the ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm were highly statistically significant. CONCLUSION Stereological indexes may serve as a screening tool for cervical lesions. The image analysis system is expected to become a new means of cytological assisted diagnosis.展开更多
文摘Background Increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) is associated with adverse outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). The objective of this study was to compare the differences in the predictive value of RDW in patients with HF due to different causes. Methods We retrospectively investigated 1,021 HF patients from October 2009 to December 2011 at Fuwai Hospital (Beijing, China). HF in these patients was caused by three diseases; coronary heart disease (CHD), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and valvular heart disease (VHD). Patients were followed-up for 21 ~ 9 months. Results The RDW, mortality and survival duration were significantly different among the three groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative survival decreased significantly with increased RDW in patients with HF caused by CHD and DCM, but not in those with HF patients caused by VHD. In a multivariable model, RDW was identified as an independent predictor for the mortality of HF patients with CHD (P 〈 0.001, HR 1.315, 95% CI 1.122-1.543). The group with higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and higher RDW than median had the lowest cumulative survival in patients with HF due to CHD, but not in patients with HF due to DCM. Conclusions RDW is a prognostic indicator for patients with HF caused by CHD and DCM; thus, RDW adds important information to NT-proBNP in CHD caused HF patients.
文摘Background:The Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patella(VISA-P) scale is the most condition-specific patient-reported outcome measure used to assess symptom severity in athletes with patellar tendinopathy.Previous exploratory factor analyses have been conducted to evaluate the scale's dimensionality,with inconsistent results,and the factor structure of the scale remains unclear.The aims of the present study were to determine the factorial structure of the VISA-P scale using confirmatory factor analysis(CFA) and test measurement invariance across sexes.Methods:The study included a convenience sample of 249 Spanish athletes with patellar tendinopathy.CFA was performed to assess factorial validity.Hypothesized 1-and 2-factor models were tested.Measurement invariance across sexes was evaluated via multi-group CFA with several fit indices using EQS 6.1 software.Results:The internal consistency coefficient was 0.74.Several CFA models were examined and the 1-factor model in which errors for Items 7 and8 were correlated showed acceptable fit in terms of comparative fit index(CFI) and goodness-of-fit index(GFI) statistics(CFI = 0.93;GFI = 0.94;standardized root mean square residual = 0.06;root mean square error of approximation = 0.10;90% confidence interval:0.08–0.13).This model was invariant across sexes.Conclusion:The 1-factor model of the Spanish version of the VISA-P scale(VISA-P-Sp) in which errors for Items 7 and 8 were correlated demonstrated relative fit in CFA.Scores obtained via VISA-P-Sp can be compared between men and women without sexes bias.Further studies should examine the VISA-P scale and other single-score patient-reported outcome measures concurrently.
基金This work was supported by a grant from the Natural Science Foundation of Nenan Province, China (No.102300410078).
文摘OBJECTIVE To investigate the available parameters in gynecological screening for cervical lesions by liquid-based cytology technology (ThinPrep Cytology Test, TCT) and The Bethesda System (TBS), also with computer image analysis. METHODS With application of the image analysis system, all grades of cervical lesion cells were detected quantitatively and sorted in atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), atypical squamous cells-cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with the mean optical density (MOD), average grey (AG), positive units (PU), and nucleus to cytoplasmic ratio (N: C). Differences between each group of cells were compared and analyzed statistically. RESULTS Apart from four stereologic parameters in LSIL and HSIL groups there were no differences among them, in the other groups, there was statistically significant in differences between MOD, AG and PU values. Differences between them in the ratio of nucleus to cytoplasm were highly statistically significant. CONCLUSION Stereological indexes may serve as a screening tool for cervical lesions. The image analysis system is expected to become a new means of cytological assisted diagnosis.