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BMC Medical Research Methodology Sep 2017Several statistical approaches have been proposed to assess and correct for exposure measurement error. We aimed to provide a critical overview of the most common... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Several statistical approaches have been proposed to assess and correct for exposure measurement error. We aimed to provide a critical overview of the most common approaches used in nutritional epidemiology.
METHODS
MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS and CINAHL were searched for reports published in English up to May 2016 in order to ascertain studies that described methods aimed to quantify and/or correct for measurement error for a continuous exposure in nutritional epidemiology using a calibration study.
RESULTS
We identified 126 studies, 43 of which described statistical methods and 83 that applied any of these methods to a real dataset. The statistical approaches in the eligible studies were grouped into: a) approaches to quantify the relationship between different dietary assessment instruments and "true intake", which were mostly based on correlation analysis and the method of triads; b) approaches to adjust point and interval estimates of diet-disease associations for measurement error, mostly based on regression calibration analysis and its extensions. Two approaches (multiple imputation and moment reconstruction) were identified that can deal with differential measurement error.
CONCLUSIONS
For regression calibration, the most common approach to correct for measurement error used in nutritional epidemiology, it is crucial to ensure that its assumptions and requirements are fully met. Analyses that investigate the impact of departures from the classical measurement error model on regression calibration estimates can be helpful to researchers in interpreting their findings. With regard to the possible use of alternative methods when regression calibration is not appropriate, the choice of method should depend on the measurement error model assumed, the availability of suitable calibration study data and the potential for bias due to violation of the classical measurement error model assumptions. On the basis of this review, we provide some practical advice for the use of methods to assess and adjust for measurement error in nutritional epidemiology.
Topics: Bias; Calibration; Diet Surveys; Humans; Nutrition Assessment; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Reproducibility of Results; Statistics as Topic
PubMed: 28927376
DOI: 10.1186/s12874-017-0421-6 -
Archives of Physical Medicine and... Mar 2017To conduct a systematic review of community integration measures used with populations with limb trauma, amputation, or both, and to evaluate each measure's focus,... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
To conduct a systematic review of community integration measures used with populations with limb trauma, amputation, or both, and to evaluate each measure's focus, content, and psychometric properties.
DATA SOURCES
Searches of PubMed and CINAHL for the terms social participation, community integration, social function, outcome assessment, wounds and injuries, and amputation/rehabilitation.
STUDY SELECTION
Included English-language articles with a sample size of ≥20 adults with limb trauma or amputation. Measures were deemed eligible if they contained a majority of items related to the construct of participation as defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health.
DATA EXTRACTION
Data on internal consistency; test-retest, interrater, and intrarater reliability; content, structural, construct, concurrent, and predictive validity; responsiveness; and floor/ceiling effects were extracted from each article and confirmed by a second investigator.
DATA SYNTHESIS
A total of 156 articles containing 34 measures and 94 subscales were reviewed. Psychometric properties were rated, and an overall score was calculated for each measure. Content of the highest scoring measures was examined. Scant evidence was found regarding the psychometric properties of most measures. Eight scales from 5 instruments had the strongest measurement properties: the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience (TAPES) social restriction and adjustment to limitation scales; Community Reintegration of Injured Service Members (CRIS) extent of participation and perceived limitations scales; Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) role-physical and social functioning scales; the 136-item Sickness Impact Profile (SIP) psychosocial domain scale; and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS-II) 12-item total score.
CONCLUSIONS
Eights scales from 5 instruments-the TAPES, CRIS, SF-36, the 136-item SIP, and the WHODAS-II 12-item measure-had the strongest measurement properties.
Topics: Amputation, Surgical; Amputation, Traumatic; Community Integration; Disability Evaluation; Disabled Persons; Humans; Psychometrics; Quality of Life; Social Adjustment; Social Participation
PubMed: 27612941
DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.08.463 -
American Journal of Speech-language... May 2017This systematic review summarizes the effects of isometric lingual strength training on lingual strength and swallow function in adult populations. Furthermore, it... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
This systematic review summarizes the effects of isometric lingual strength training on lingual strength and swallow function in adult populations. Furthermore, it evaluates the designs of the reviewed studies and identifies areas of future research in isometric lingual strength training for dysphagia remediation.
METHOD
A comprehensive literature search of 3 databases and additional backward citation search identified 10 studies for inclusion in the review. The review reports and discusses the isometric-exercise intervention protocols, pre- and postintervention lingual-pressure data (maximum peak pressures and lingual-palatal pressures during swallowing), and oropharyngeal swallowing measures such as penetration-aspiration scales, oropharyngeal residue and duration, lingual volumes, and quality-of-life assessments.
RESULTS
Studies reported gains in maximum peak lingual pressures following isometric lingual strength training for both healthy adults and select groups of individuals with dysphagia. However, due to the variability in study designs, it remains unclear whether strength gains generalize to swallow function.
CONCLUSION
Although isometric lingual strength training is a promising intervention for oropharyngeal dysphagia, the current literature is too variable to confidently report specific therapeutic benefits. Future investigations should target homogenous patient populations and use randomized controlled trials to determine the efficacy of this treatment for individuals with dysphagia.
Topics: Adult; Deglutition Disorders; Exercise; Humans; Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; Pressure; Reference Values; Tongue
PubMed: 28282484
DOI: 10.1044/2016_AJSLP-15-0051 -
Annals of Oncology : Official Journal... Jan 2009Fatigue in cancer is very common and can be experienced at all stages of disease and in survivors. There is no accepted definition of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and no... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Fatigue in cancer is very common and can be experienced at all stages of disease and in survivors. There is no accepted definition of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and no agreement on how it should be measured. A number of scales have been developed to quantify the phenomenon of CRF. These vary in the quality of psychometric properties, ease of administration, dimensions of CRF covered and extent of use in studies of cancer patients. This review seeks to identify the available tools for measuring CRF and to make recommendations for ongoing research into CRF.
METHODS
A systematic review methodology was used to identify scales that have been validated to measure CRF. The inclusion criteria required the scale to have been validated for use in cancer patients and/or widely used in this population. Scales also had to meet a minimum quality score for inclusion.
RESULTS
The reviewers identified 14 scales that met the inclusion criteria. The most commonly used scales and best validated were the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Fatigue (FACT F), the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C30) (fatigue subscale) and the Fatigue Questionnaire (FQ).
CONCLUSIONS
Unidimensional scales are the easiest to administer and have been most widely used. The authors recommend the use of the EORTC QLQ C30 fatigue subscale or the FACT F. The FQ gives a multidimensional assessment and has also been widely used. A substantial minority of the scales identified have not been used extensively or sufficiently validated in cancer patients and cannot be recommended for routine use without further validation.
Topics: Algorithms; Fatigue; Health Planning Guidelines; Humans; Neoplasms; Psychometrics; Validation Studies as Topic; Weights and Measures
PubMed: 18678767
DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdn537 -
Tissue Engineering. Part C, Methods Oct 2019Articular cartilage is integral to the mechanical function of many joints in the body. When injured, cartilage lacks the capacity to self-heal, and thus, therapies and...
Articular cartilage is integral to the mechanical function of many joints in the body. When injured, cartilage lacks the capacity to self-heal, and thus, therapies and replacements have been developed in recent decades to treat damaged cartilage. Given that the primary function of articular cartilage is mechanical in nature, rigorous physical evaluation of cartilage tissues undergoing treatment and cartilage constructs intended for replacement is an absolute necessity. With the large number of groups developing cartilage tissue engineering strategies, however, a variety of mechanical testing protocols have been reported in the literature. This lack of consensus in testing methods makes comparison between studies difficult at times, and can lead to misinterpretation of data relative to native tissue. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to systematically review mechanical testing of articular cartilage and cartilage repair constructs over the past 10 years (January 2009-December 2018), to highlight the most common testing configurations, and to identify key testing parameters. For the most common tests, key parameters identified in this systematic review were validated by characterizing both cartilage tissue and hydrogels commonly used in cartilage tissue engineering. Our findings show that compression testing was the most common test performed (80.2%; 158/197), followed by evaluation of frictional properties (18.8%; 37/197). Upon further review of those studies performing compression testing, the various modes (ramp, stress relaxation, creep, dynamic) and testing configurations (unconfined, confined, ) are described and systematically reviewed for parameters, including strain rate, equilibrium time, and maximum strain. This systematic analysis revealed considerable variability in testing methods. Our validation testing studies showed that such variations in testing criteria could have large implications on reported outcome parameters (e.g., modulus) and the interpretation of findings from these studies. This analysis is carried out for all common testing methods, followed by a discussion of less common trends and directions in the mechanical evaluation of cartilage tissues and constructs. Overall, this work may serve as a guide for cartilage tissue engineers seeking to rigorously evaluate the physical properties of their novel treatment strategies. Impact Statement Articular cartilage tissue engineering has made significant strides with regard to treatments and replacements for injured tissue. The evaluation of these approaches typically involves mechanical testing, yet the plethora of testing techniques makes comparisons between studies difficult, and often leads to misinterpretation of data compared with native tissue. This study serves as a guide for the mechanical testing of cartilage tissues and constructs, highlighting recent trends in test conditions and validating these common procedures. Cartilage tissue engineers, especially those unfamiliar with mechanical testing protocols, will benefit from this study in their quest to physically evaluate novel treatment and regeneration approaches.
Topics: Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Cartilage, Articular; Compressive Strength; Humans; Lubrication; Materials Testing; Reference Standards; Stress, Mechanical; Tissue Engineering
PubMed: 31288616
DOI: 10.1089/ten.TEC.2019.0116 -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Jan 2022Metadata are created to describe the corresponding data in a detailed and unambiguous way and is used for various applications in different research areas, for example,... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Metadata are created to describe the corresponding data in a detailed and unambiguous way and is used for various applications in different research areas, for example, data identification and classification. However, a clear definition of metadata is crucial for further use. Unfortunately, extensive experience with the processing and management of metadata has shown that the term "metadata" and its use is not always unambiguous.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to understand the definition of metadata and the challenges resulting from metadata reuse.
METHODS
A systematic literature search was performed in this study following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for reporting on systematic reviews. Five research questions were identified to streamline the review process, addressing metadata characteristics, metadata standards, use cases, and problems encountered. This review was preceded by a harmonization process to achieve a general understanding of the terms used.
RESULTS
The harmonization process resulted in a clear set of definitions for metadata processing focusing on data integration. The following literature review was conducted by 10 reviewers with different backgrounds and using the harmonized definitions. This study included 81 peer-reviewed papers from the last decade after applying various filtering steps to identify the most relevant papers. The 5 research questions could be answered, resulting in a broad overview of the standards, use cases, problems, and corresponding solutions for the application of metadata in different research areas.
CONCLUSIONS
Metadata can be a powerful tool for identifying, describing, and processing information, but its meaningful creation is costly and challenging. This review process uncovered many standards, use cases, problems, and solutions for dealing with metadata. The presented harmonized definitions and the new schema have the potential to improve the classification and generation of metadata by creating a shared understanding of metadata and its context.
Topics: Humans; Metadata; Publications; Reference Standards
PubMed: 35014967
DOI: 10.2196/25440 -
Developmental Medicine and Child... Aug 2008This review aims to determine how head shape is measured and describes the use of orthoses in the management of deformational plagiocephaly. A systematic review was... (Review)
Review
This review aims to determine how head shape is measured and describes the use of orthoses in the management of deformational plagiocephaly. A systematic review was conducted and papers published in English up to and including 2006 were sourced from nine databases. After initial screening, 20 papers were included; three literature reviews and 17 original papers. Of the original papers, eight concerned the method of head shape measurement. Measurements are important in determining clinical classification and treatment modality of deformational plagiocephaly. All studies were appraised and assigned a level of evidence according to the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network. Methodological quality was inadequate. Publications involving the use of cranial orthoses used convenience samples, were not blinded, and used different measurement techniques. No comparison groups were included and participants were not randomized. Evidence suggests that conservative treatments might reduce skull deformity although the quality is poor. Clinical studies investigating the use of cranial orthoses reported beneficial effects. Further research is required to identify the efficacy of cranial orthoses in the treatment of deformational plagiocephaly based on a standardized measurement technique to facilitate classification of this condition.
Topics: Anthropometry; Child, Preschool; Head; Humans; Infant; Orthotic Devices; Plagiocephaly, Nonsynostotic; Reference Values; Supine Position
PubMed: 18754893
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.03017.x -
AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology Sep 2021Echocardiography is the primary noninvasive technique for left ventricular (LV) strain measurement. MRI has potential advantages, although reference ranges and... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Echocardiography is the primary noninvasive technique for left ventricular (LV) strain measurement. MRI has potential advantages, although reference ranges and thresholds to differentiate normal from abnormal left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), left ventricular global circumferential strain (LVGCS), and left ventricular global radial strain (LVGRS) are not yet established. The purpose of our study was to determine the mean and lower limit of normal (LLN) of MRI-derived LV strain measurements in healthy patients and explore factors potentially influencing these measurements. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies published through January 1, 2020, that reported MRI-derived LV strain measurements in at least 30 healthy individuals. Mean and LLN measurements of LV strain were pooled using random-effects models overall and for studies stratified by measurement method (feature tracking [FT] or tagging). Additional subgroup and meta-regression analyses were performed. Twenty-three studies with a total of 1782 healthy subjects were included. Pooled means and LLNs for all studies were -18.6% (95% CI, -19.5% to -17.6%) and -13.3% (-13.9% to 12.7%) for LVGLS, -21.0% (-22.4% to -19.6%) and -15.6% (-17.0% to -14.3%) for LVGCS, and 38.7% (30.5-46.9%) and 20.6% (15.1-26.1%) for LVGRS. Pooled means and LLNs for LVGLS by strain measurement method were -19.4% (95% CI, -20.6% to -18.1%) and -13.1% (-14.2% to -12.0%) for FT and -15.6% (-16.2% to -15.1%) and -13.1% (-14.1% to -12.2%) for tagging. A later year of study publication, increasing patient age, and increasing body mass index were associated with more negative mean LVGLS values. An increasing LV end-diastolic volume index was associated with less negative mean LVGLS values. No factor was associated with LLN of LVGLS. We determined the pooled means and LLNs, with associated 95% CIs, for LV strain by cardiac MRI to define thresholds for normal, abnormal, and borderline strain in healthy patients. The method of strain measurement by MRI affected the mean LVGLS. No factor affected the LLN of LVGLS. This meta-analysis lays a foundation for clinical adoption of MRI-derived LV strain measurements, with management implications in both healthy patients and patients with various disease states.
Topics: Heart Ventricles; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Reference Values; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left
PubMed: 33084383
DOI: 10.2214/AJR.20.24264 -
International Journal of Cardiology Sep 2013Non-invasive methods based on applanation tonometry have been proposed to estimate central blood pressure. However, the accuracy of these methods hasn't been... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Non-invasive methods based on applanation tonometry have been proposed to estimate central blood pressure. However, the accuracy of these methods hasn't been systematically examined.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing estimated and invasively measured central BP.
RESULTS
Sufficient data were available in 22 studies for meta-analysis (857 subjects and 1167 measurements). Acquired arterial pressure waveforms in these studies were directly measured, calibrated to match invasive aortic mean BP and diastolic BP or calibrated to match brachial BP measured with a sphygmomanometer, cuff BP. Of the former 2 conditions, the errors of estimated central BP were small with a mean and standard deviation of difference -1.1 ± 4.1mm Hg (95% limits of agreement -9.1-6.9 mm Hg) for central systolic BP; -0.5 ± 2.1mm Hg (-4.6-3.6mm Hg) for central diastolic BP; and -0.8 ± 5.1mm Hg (-10.8-9.2mm Hg) for central pulse pressure. However, the errors inflated to -8.2 ± 10.3mm Hg (-28.4-12.0mm Hg) for central systolic BP, 7.6 ± 8.7 mm Hg (-9.5-24.6mm Hg) for central diastolic BP, and -12.2 ± 10.4mm Hg (-32.5-8.1mm Hg) for central pulse pressure, when calibrated to cuff BP. The findings were still evident in subgroup analysis conducted with different central BP estimating methods and validated cuff BP monitors.
CONCLUSION
Present tonometry-based central BP estimating methods are acceptable in theory, with small errors. However, based on current available evidence, there is substantial room for improvement in measurement accuracy of central BP when cuff BP is used to calibrate the peripheral waveforms.
Topics: Blood Pressure; Blood Pressure Determination; Calibration; Humans; Manometry
PubMed: 22622052
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.04.155 -
Revista Paulista de Pediatria : Orgao... 2017To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the ability of anthropometric indicators to predict clustered cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) in children and... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the ability of anthropometric indicators to predict clustered cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF) in children and adolescents.
DATA SOURCE
Studies published from June 1st, 2011 to May 31st, 2016 in the PubMed, SciELO and LILACS databases were analyzed. The research was based on keywords derived from the terms "anthropometric indicators" AND "cardiometabolic risk factors". Observational studies on the ability of anthropometric indicators as predictors of clustered CMRF in children and adolescents in Portuguese, English and Spanish languages were included. Studies with a specific group of obese patients or with other diseases were not included.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Of the 2,755 articles retrieved, 31 were selected for systematic review. Twenty-eight studies analyzed body mass index (BMI) as a predictor of clustered CMRF. Only 3 of the 25 cross-sectional studies found no association between anthropometric indicators and clustered CMRF. The results of six studies that compared the predictive ability of different anthropometric measures for clustered CMRF were divergent, and it was not possible to define a single indicator as the best predictor of clustered CMRF. Only six articles were cohort studies, and the findings suggested that changes in adiposity during childhood predict alterations in the clustered CMRF in adolescence.
CONCLUSIONS
BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were predictors of clustered CMRF in childhood and adolescence and exhibited a similar predictive ability for these outcomes. These findings suggest anthropometric indicators as an interesting screening tool of clustered CMRF at early ages.
Topics: Adolescent; Body Weights and Measures; Cardiovascular Diseases; Child; Cluster Analysis; Humans; Metabolic Diseases; Risk Factors
PubMed: 28977298
DOI: 10.1590/1984-0462/;2017;35;3;00013