Search results for "Statistics as topic"
showing 10 items of 188 documents
Dynamics of the General Factor of Personality in Response to a Single Dose of Caffeine
2011
General Factor of Personality (GFP) research is an emergent field in personality research. This paper uses a theoretical mathematical model to predict the short-term effects of a dose of a stimulant drug on GFP and reports the results of an experiment showing how caffeine achieves this. This study considers the General Factor of Personality Questionnaire (GFPQ) a good psychometric approach to assess GFP. The GFP dynamic mechanism of change is based on the Unique Trait Personality Theory (UTPT). This theory proposes the existence of GFP which occupies the apex of the hierarchy of personality, and extends from an impulsiveness-and-aggressiveness pole (approach tendency) to an anxiety-andintro…
1H and 13C HR-MAS spectroscopy of intact biopsy samples ex vivo and in vivo 1H MRS study of human high grade gliomas.
2004
High-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been used to study intact glioblastoma (GBM) brain tumour tissue. The results were compared with in vitro chemical extract and in vivo spectra. The resolution of 1H one-dimensional, 1H TOCSY and 13C HSQC HR-MAS spectra is comparable to that obtained on perchloric extracts. 13C HSQC HR-MAS spectra have been particularly useful for the identification of 37 different metabolites in intact biopsy tumours, excluding water and DSS components. To our knowledge, this is the most detailed assignment of biochemical compounds obtained in intact human tissue, in particular…
Predictive value for disease progression of serum thyroglobulin levels measured in the postoperative period and after (131)I ablation therapy in pati…
2004
The aim of our study was to evaluate and compare in thyroid cancer patients the predictive value for disease progression of thyroglobulin (Tg) levels measured under thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulation, in the postoperative period just before (131)I ablative therapy and at the time of control 6-12 mo later.Two-hundred twelve consecutive patients treated for a well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (184 papillary, 28 follicular) with no initial distant metastases were retrospectively studied. All patients had a total or near-total thyroidectomy followed by ablation with 3.7 GBq (131)I. Tg levels were determined just before ablative therapy (Tg1) and 6-12 mo later (Tg2). Thresholds of…
Comparative analysis of observer depression scales
1985
Abstract The Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Bech Rafaelsen Melancholia Scale (BRMS) and Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) are analyzed according to mean discriminatory power, internal consistency, homogeneity and transferability. The analysis was done separately in different samples of patients with depressive syndromes: a) operationally defined depressive syndrome; b) Major Depressive Disorder (RDC); c) Major Depressive Disorder, endogenous type (RDC). BRMS and MADRS were superior to HAMD in all evaluated aspects. Further, the BRMS was superior to MADRS according to the criteria of homogeneity and transferability.
Detection of Depression in Acute Schizophrenia: Sensitivity and Specificity of 2 Standard Observer Rating Scales
2006
Objective: To compare the psychometric properties of the Calgary Depression Rating Scale (CDRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) for severity assessment of depression in acute schizophrenia. Method: During clinical routine treatment, we investigated 119 inpatients with acute schizophrenia, using the CDRS, the HDRS, and a global 4-point Depression Severity Scale (DEP-SEV). We compared CDRS and HDRS sum scores regarding their diagnostic accuracy, with global severity of depression as the criterion. We estimated sensitivity and specificity on the basis of receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: According to global clinical ratings (DEP-SEV), 31% of patients had no dep…
Dopamine D2/D3 receptor availability and venturesomeness.
2011
The construct of impulsivity is considered as a major trait of personality. There is growing evidence that the mesolimbic dopamine system plays an important role in the modulation of impulsivity and venturesomeness, the two key components within the impulsivity-construct. The aim of the present study was to explore an association between trait impulsivity measured with self-assessment and the dopaminergic neurotransmission as measured by positron emission tomography (PET) in a cohort of healthy male subjects. In vivo D2/D3 receptor availability was determined with [(18)F]fallypride PET in 18 non-smoking healthy subjects. The character trait impulsivity was measured using the Impulsiveness-V…
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone has stimulatory effects on ventilation in humans
1991
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates pituitary thyrotropin synthesis and release and also regulates autonomic nervous system functions by acting as a neuromodulator and neurotransmitter. In experimental animals a stimulation of ventilation by thyrotropin-releasing hormone was shown when applied at central nervous system sites that affect respiratory motor output. It was the goal of our study to investigate the respiratory properties of thyrotropin-releasing hormone on basal and stimulated (i.e. CO2-rebreathing) conditions following systemic thyrotropin-releasing hormone application in healthy humans. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (200 micrograms, 400 micrograms intravenous) initia…
Adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol plasma levels directly correlate with childhood neglect and depression measures in addicted patients.
2008
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction has been reported to be involved in vulnerability to alcohol and drug dependence in humans, possibly underlying both addictive behaviour and depression susceptibility. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible interactions between childhood adverse experiences, depressive symptoms and HPA axis function in addicted patients, in comparison with healthy control. Eighty-two abstinent heroin or cocaine dependent patients and 44 normal controls, matched for age and sex, completed the symptoms Check List-90 (SCL-90), measuring depressive symptoms, and the Childhood Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire. Blood samples wer…
Hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia: contrast-enhanced ultrasound findings with emphasis on lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity
2010
To correlate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings of hepatic focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) with lesion size, depth and liver echogenicity and to compare CEUS with baseline US. Two radiologists evaluated baseline US and CEUS examinations of 92 FNHs (mean size: 3.1 +/- 1.7 cm) in 71 patients (59 women and 12 men) to detect the "spoke-wheel" sign, central scar and feeding vessel. The FNHs were grouped and analysed by dimension, depth and liver echogenicity. At least one sign could be detected at CEUS in 27 out of 36 (75%) FNHs larger than 3 cm and in 17 out of 56 (30%) FNH measuring 3 cm or less (p 0.05) as well as between CEUS or baseline US/CD with regard to lesion size, depth or l…
Indeterminate focal liver lesions incidentally discovered at gray-scale US: role of contrast-enhanced sonography.
2011
OBJECTIVES: to assess the role of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in the characterization of focal liver lesions (FLLs) incidentally discovered but indeterminate at gray-scale ultrasound (US). MATERIALS AND METHODS: one hundred forty-two consecutive patients with 174 FLLs (169 benign and 5 malignant) incidentally discovered but indeterminate at gray-scale US, underwent CEUS after the administration of SonoVue. Two readers independently reviewed CEUS scans and: (1) classified each lesion as malignant or benign on a 5-point scale of confidence by means of definite diagnostic criteria; (2) provided if possible a specific diagnosis; (3) were requested if further imaging was needed for lesio…