Logistic regression model for prediction of airway reversibility using peak expiratory flow

Using peak expiratory flow [PEF] as an alternative to spirometry parameters [FEV1 and FVC], for detection of airway reversibility in diseases with airflow limitation is challenging. We developed logistic regression [LR] model to discriminate bronchodilator responsiveness [BDR] and then compared the results of models with a performance of >18%, >20%, and >22% increase in delta PEF% [PEF change relative to baseline], as a predictor for bronchodilator responsiveness [BDR]. PEF measurements of pre-bronchodilator, postbronchodilator and delta PEF% of 90 patients with asthma [44] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [46] were used as inputs of model and the output was presence or absence of the BDR. Although delta PEF% was a poor discriminator, LR model could improve the accuracy of BDR. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of LR were 68.89%, 67.27%, 71.43%, and 78.72%, respectively. The LR is a reliable method that can be used clinically to predict BDR based on PEF measurements

Pulmonary function and methacholine challenge tests in patients with ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory chronic disease which is believed to be a multi organ condition. The prevalence of ulcerative colitis is reportedly increasing in Iran presenting with the same clinical characteristics as in developing countries. Pulmonary manifestations of ulcerative colitis are increasingly reported. In this study, we investigated the incidence of bronchial hyper-responsiveness [BHR] in ulcerative colitis [UC] patients. Fifty-one UC patients with definite diagnosis referred to Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran, were selected to be evaluated with methacholine challenge test from October 2010 to October 2011. Patients were compared for their methacholine test outcome and its association with age, sex, diagnosis time, and disease activity. The median age was 41 [range 15 to 65] years. The median time of diagnosis was 7 [range <1 to 16] years. Forty-five percent were females, 18% had active disease and 13% had comorbidity. Nine percent of patients with UC had abnormal PFT in our study. Three cases [5%] had bronchial hyperresponsiveness that was not correlated with sex, age, time of diagnosis, or disease activity. A small number of ulcerative colitis patients in our study had disturbed pulmonary function test which is in concord with the findings of other studies. However, higher rates of bronchial hyper-responsiveness have been reported in other studies. Confounding factors like cigarette smoking and medications, which were negative or minimal in our study, may influence the results

[ correlation between students' evaluation of faculty and faculty self-assessment in Ahvaz Jondishapour university of medical sciences in 2008]

Introduction: Investigating the results of faculty evaluation by students and the scores attained from their self-assessment may prove helpful in recognizing the weaknesses and strengths of evaluation system and consequently lead to quality improvement which is the main goal of evaluation. This study was performed to investigate the correlation between faculty members' self-assessment scores and their scores from evaluation by students in Ahvaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences [AJUMS]

Methods: This was a correlational study in which the study samples included all students and non clinical faculty members of Ahvaz Jondishapur University of Medical Sciences during the academic years of 2007- 2008. Data gathering tool was a questionnaire using five degree Likert scale and including 15 questions. Data was analyzed by SPSS software

Results: The correlation coefficient between the scores of faculty evaluation by students and the scores of self-assessment was.158 [p=.034]. The mean score of faculty members' self-assessment was 4.53+/-0.36 and the mean score of evaluation by students was 4.04+/-0.39 [t=13.34, p=0.001]. The mean score of more than 90% of faculty members' self-assessment was higher than 4 [excellent]

Conclusion: The results of this study revealed an insignificant correlation between evaluation by student and faculty members' self-assessment. Considering the importance of faculty members' evaluation by students, there is a need to prepare the situation for faculty members to pay attention to and accept the results of evaluation by students