Research on quality difference of standard decoction of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba based on fingerprint and multicomponent determination / 中国中药杂志

The extract rates, multicomponent content and fingerprint were determined in this study to investigate the quality diffe-rence between standard decoction of raw Paeoniae Radix Alba and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba. UPLC fingerprint was established for 17 batches of standard decoction of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba, and the contents of gallic acid, catechin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin and benzoyl paeoniflorin were determined. The peak areas of standard decoction were analyzed by the independent t-test and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. There was no significant difference in extract rates between the standard decoction of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba. After fried processing, the content of albiflorin increased by 0.26%, while the contents of gallic acid, catechin, paeoniflorin and benzoyl paeoniflorin decreased by 13.04%, 27.97%, 10.30% and 18.79% respectively. There were 14 common peaks in the fingerprint of standard decoction of raw Paeoniae Radix Alba, and 16 common peaks in the fried Paeoniae Radix Alba. Peak 1 and peak 3 were new ones after processing, among which the peak 3 was 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. The results showed that peak 1, peak 3, peak 11 and peak 15 were the key compounds to distinguish standard decoction of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba. In conclusion, this method is stable and can be used for the study of quantity transfer and quality control in the preparation process of standard decoction, granules and other dosage forms for raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba, providing reference for the identification of raw and fried Paeoniae Radix Alba and related preparations.

Application of student's t-test, analysis of variance, and covariance

Student's t test (t test), analysis of variance (ANOVA), and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) are statistical methods used in the testing of hypothesis for comparison of means between the groups. The Student's t test is used to compare the means between two groups, whereas ANOVA is used to compare the means among three or more groups. In ANOVA, first gets a common P value. A significant P value of the ANOVA test indicates for at least one pair, between which the mean difference was statistically significant. To identify that significant pair(s), we use multiple comparisons. In ANOVA, when using one categorical independent variable, it is called one-way ANOVA, whereas for two categorical independent variables, it is called two-way ANOVA. When using at least one covariate to adjust with dependent variable, ANOVA becomes ANCOVA. When the size of the sample is small, mean is very much affected by the outliers, so it is necessary to keep sufficient sample size while using these methods.

Discrimination of toxic ingredient between raw and processed Pinellia ternata by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS with principal component analysis and T-test / 中草药·英文版

Objective: To investigate the toxicity difference between raw and processed Pinelliae Rhizoma (Banxia in Chinese, BX), the rhizoma of Pinellia ternata, from the view of chemical composition. Methods: Sixteen samples of raw and processed BX were prepared and analyzed by UPLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS. The discrimination (chemical marker)between the two group was investigated by principal component analysis (PCA)and T-test analysis. According to the accurate charge-to-mass ratio, MS/MS fragments, and comparison of corresponding data with the reference or database, the chemical markers were identified preliminarily. Results: Liquiritin, liquiritigenin, and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)were identified as the characteristic markers. The reducing of LPC in processed BX was one of the main reasons for detoxification because LPC could induce the inflammatory response; Liquiritin and liquiritigenin showed the anti-inflammatory effect and reduced liver injury, therefore the appearance of them in processed BX was an another reason for detoxification. Conclusion: An approach to explain the mechanisms of reducing the toxicity in medicinal plants by processing was proposed. Moreover, the chemical markers of toxicity could be used to differentiate the raw material from processed herbs for the quality control and safety application in clinical practice.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of the effects of vitamin D supplementation among diagnosed atopic dermatitis patients

Background@#Atopic Dermatitis is an emerging public health concern. Recently, several studies have explored the role of Vitamin D in atopic dermatitis. To date, there is no local study using Vitamin D supplementation as an adjunct in the treatment of atopic dermatitis.@*Objective@#To determine the efficacy of Vitamin D supplementation in improvement of the disease severity in atopic dermatitis patients.@*Methods@#This is a Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The participants were newly diagnosed atopic dermatitis patients aged 19 to 50 years old. Participants were randomly assigned to take either 1 capsule of oral Vitamin D supplement (2200 IU/capsule) or a comparable placebo capsule, once daily for 60 days. Vitamin D level and disease severity using SCORAD index was evaluated at the start and end of the study.@*Results@#The mean value of serum Vitamin D levels at the start of treatment was deficient and comparable between the treatment and placebo group. The mean change in the serum Vitamin D levels of patients in the Treatment and Placebo group were 10.4 ng/mL ± 5.8 and -0.4 ng/mL ± 3.5, respectively. The mean change in the SCORAD index scores of patients in the Treatment and Placebo group were -20.2 ± 20.6 and 2.2 ± 6.8, respectively. Result of the two-sample independent t-test showed that the mean change in the SCORAD index scores significantly varied according to treatment group (p<0.0001).@*Conclusion@#The results from this study indicate that vitamin D supplementation may ameliorate clinical signs of the disease and can be considered as a safe and well-tolerated form of therapy.

More about the basic assumptions of t-test: normality and sample size / 대한마취과학회지

Most parametric tests start with the basic assumption on the distribution of populations. The conditions required to conduct the t-test include the measured values in ratio scale or interval scale, simple random extraction, normal distribution of data, appropriate sample size, and homogeneity of variance. The normality test is a kind of hypothesis test which has Type I and II errors, similar to the other hypothesis tests. It means that the sample size must influence the power of the normality test and its reliability. It is hard to find an established sample size for satisfying the power of the normality test. In the current article, the relationships between normality, power, and sample size were discussed. As the sample size decreased in the normality test, sufficient power was not guaranteed even with the same significance level. In the independent t-test, the change in power according to sample size and sample size ratio between groups was observed. When the sample size of one group was fixed and that of another group increased, power increased to some extent. However, it was not more efficient than increasing the sample sizes of both groups equally. To ensure the power in the normality test, sufficient sample size is required. The power is maximized when the sample size ratio between two groups is 1 : 1.

Quantitative Determination and Differentiated Component of Ginsenosides between the Imported Red Ginseng and China Red Ginseng / 中国药学杂志

OBJECTIVE: To establish an HPLC-UV method for the quantitative determination of ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rb2 and the qualitative determination of ginsenosides Rb3 and Rd in Red Ginseng. This method is used to make different between the imported Red Ginseng and China Red Ginseng. METHODS: The analysis were performed on a YMC-Pack ODS-A column(4.6 mm×100 mm,3 μm), the mobile phase was acetonitrile -0.1% phosphoric acid at the flow rate of 0.6 mL•min-1, the detection wavelength was set at 203 nm,the column temperature was maintained at 30 ℃. RESULTS: The method herein is effective. The data of samples was subjected to t test and principal component analysis(PCA)in order to find the marker constituents. According to the information of t test and PCA,ginsenoside Rg1 and ginsenoside Rd were the main factor to classify Korean Red Ginseng and Chinese Red Ginseng. CONCLUSION: The peak area ratio of ginsenoside Rg1 to ginsenoside Rd is used as the quality control parameters. This method is suitable to classify Korean Red Ginseng and Chinese Red Ginseng.

Rust effect estimation in soybean crosses for tolerance to Asian rust / Estimativa do efeito ferrugem em cruzamentos de soja para tolerância à ferrugem asiática

ABSTRACT: Asian soybean rust is an important disease that has deeply troubled farmers and researchers since it was first reported. The causal agent, biotrophic fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow & P. Sydow, has found extremely favorable conditions for its dissemination in Brazil. The most characteristic symptom of infection appears in the leaves, initially on the adaxial leaf surface, as small angular points less than 1mm in diameter, together with gray-colored uredospores (spores). Management involves a set of practices that guarantee coexistence between the plant and the pathogen without significant damage to the crop. The objective of this research was to evaluate tolerance to Asian rust by estimating losses caused by natural infection in the field. Experiments with generation F4 (2014/15) plants were established in a randomized blocks design with four replicates, with two types of genotypes (crosses and parents) and two schemes for disease management using fungicides. For analysis of the data, a test was applied on two dependent samples to verify the significance of the estimate of the rust effect. With regard to grain yield and tolerance, the most outstanding crosses were 104 (USP14-01-20 × EMGOPA313) and 149 (USP93-05.552 × EMGOPA313). Crosses 147 (USP93-05552 × PI153.282) and 137 (USP70.108 × PI153.282) were graded as tolerant in the evaluation of both yield reduction and seed size. We found evidence of tolerance to Asian rust in both crosses and parents. The statistical test revealed the significance of the rust effect estimates in soybean.

RESUMO: A ferrugem asiática da soja é a doença que mais tem preocupado os produtores e pesquisadores desde sua primeira evidência. Ela é causada pelo fungo biotrófico Phakopsora pachyrhizi Sydow & P. Sydow que encontrou condições extremamente favoráveis para a sua disseminação no Brasil. O sintoma mais característico apresenta-se nas folhas, inicialmente na face adaxial, como pequenos pontos angulares com menos de um milímetro de diâmetro, juntamente com os uredósporos (esporos) de coloração acinzentada. O manejo se dá por meio de um conjunto de práticas que garanta a boa convivência entre a planta e o patógeno e sem que ocorra danos significativos à lavoura. O trabalho objetivou avaliar a tolerância à ferrugem asiática estimando as perdas causadas pela infestação natural a campo. Os experimentos com a geração F4 (2014/15) foram delineados em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições. Foram realizadas categorias de experimentos, envolvendo dois tipos de genótipos (cruzamentos e genitores) e dois tipos de manejos de doenças com fungicidas. Para a análise dos dados foi aplicado um teste, para duas amostras dependentes, a fim de verificar a significância da estimativa do efeito ferrugem. Considerando a produtividade e a tolerância, os cruzamentos mais importantes foram 104 (USP 14-01-20 x EMGOPA 313) e 149 (USP 93-05.552 x EMGOPA 313). Os cruzamentos 147 (USP 93-05.552 x PI 153.282) e 137 (USP 70.108 x PI 153.282) foram tolerantes tanto na avaliação de redução da produtividade e do tamanho de semente. Houveram evidências de tolerância à ferrugem asiática nos cruzamentos e nos genitores. O teste estatístico revelou a significância das estimativas de efeito ferrugem em soja.

Comparison of the Reference Intervals of 2 3 Analytes between Wet Chemistry and Dry Chemistry in 2 3 1 Clinical Laboratories in China / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To compare the current application status of reference intervals in dry chemistry to the reference inter-vals of anlytes of wet chemistry in the same hospital.Methods By using web-based external quality assessment (EQA) software system,collecting the submitted data from the laboratories which attended national reference intervals investigation of reference intervals of analytes in dry chemistry and wet chemistry,using professional statistical software for analyzing the data,including paired-samples t test and Yates’Chi-square test.Results 231 laboratories submitted their investigation re-sults including the reference intervals of 23 analytes of dry and wet chemistry.69.6% (32/46)of reference intervals of ana-lytes in dry chemistry have significant statistical differences compared with the wet chemistry in paired-samples t tests. 80.4% (37/46)of medians of reference intervals of analytes in dry chemistry had significant statistical differences in loca-tions and distributions compared with medians of reference intervals of wet chemistry in the same institute.Conclusion The reference intervals of analytes of dry chemistry have differences compared with the wet chemistry in the same hospital.The medians of reference interval’s lower and higher limits of dry and wet chemistry have difference in locations and distribu-tions.Proposed to create our own reference intervals of dry chemistry in China.

Misunderstandings of statistics in medical research / 中华医学科研管理杂志

To explore the misunderstandings of statistics in medical research,we surveyed related papers from CNKI published in the first quarter of 2012 and analysed the statistical application in those papers.Misunderstandings were identified and solutions were proposed to avoid them.

A Review of Fundamentals of Statistical Concepts in Clinical Trials

Statistical analysts engaged in typical clinical trials often have to confront a tight schedule to finish massive statistical analyses specified in a Standard Operation Procedure (SOP). Thus, statisticians or not, most analysts would want to reuse or slightly modify existing programs. Since even a slight misapplication of statistical methods or techniques can easily drive a whole conclusion to a wrong direction, analysts should arm themselves with well organized statistical concepts in advance. This paper will review basic statistical concepts related to typical clinical trials. The number of variables and their measurement scales determine an appropriate method. Since most of the explanatory variables in clinical trials are designed beforehand, the main statistics we review for clinical trials include univariate data analysis, design of experiments, and categorical data analysis. Especially, if the response variable is binary or observations collected from a subject are correlated, the analysts should pay special attention to selecting an appropriate method. McNemar's test and multiple McNemar's test are respectively recommended for comparisons of proportions between correlated two samples or proportions among correlated multi-samples.

Analysis on Reports of Statistical Testing for Mean Differences in Articles in the Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the accuracy and adequacy of research studies reporting statistical testing for mean differences in studies of the Korean Journal of Women Health. METHODS: Among articles published in the journal from 2007 to 2009, 75 studies using t-test, chi2-test, and ANOVA were identified. The studies were evaluated using structured analysis format for adequacy of research title, accuracy of statistical methods and presentation styles, and errors in reported statistical outcomes. RESULTS: In this study, the research titles generally reflected the purpose of research and study designs. Thus the research titles were quite comprehensive. Also, there was compatibility between the research purpose and research design. Most important though, many errors were identified in the tables of results of the statistical analysis in articles published from 2004 to 2006. CONCLUSION: Over six years, 2004 to 2009, accuracy and adequacy of research studies has improved in many aspects. In order to enhance the completeness of the published papers and to be an internationally recognized nursing journal, close attention of the researchers, reviewers and editors is necessary to avoid errors and present adequate and accurate research.

The differences in body volume and skinfold thickness between basketball players and footballers / Diferencias en el volumen corporal y el grosor de los pliegues cutáneos entre los jugadores de baloncesto y jugadores de fútbol

The human body is composed of lean tissues that are metabolically active, and fat tissue that is not metabolically active, but is an essential part of human body. Training is a significant factor affecting body composition, performance, as well and physiological parameters. The aim of this study was through changeable of 13 measured anthropometrical variables, to research the influence of different sports in body composition. The anthropometrical tests were done on 90 basketball players and 512 footballers from Kosova. The gained results were analyzed in terms of basic statistical parameters, T-test, and Canonical Discriminant Analysis. T-test shows that basketballers and footballers have realized significant differences in almost all measured variables. Canonical Discriminative Analysis indicates the characteristics of tested sportsmen: The basketballers are taller and heavier than footballers, as well they have the greater bodily volume, and more skinfold thickness, compared with footballers. It seems that the bodily volume of the tested basketballers has been influenced by the elements of basketball, than the bodily volume of footballers by the elements of football. As for subcutaneous adipose tissue that is less disperse on the footballers body compared with basketballers, could be explained with different ratio between aerobic and anaerobic demands of different sports.

El cuerpo humano se compone de tejido blando que es metabólicamente activo y tejido graso que no es metabólicamente activo, pero es una parte esencial del cuerpo. El entrenamiento es un factor significativo que afecta la composición corporal, el rendimiento y los parámetros fisiológicos. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la influencia de los diferentes deportes en la composición corporal, a través de la medición de 13 variables antropométricas. Las pruebas antropométricas fueron realizadas en 90 jugadores de baloncesto y 512 jugadores de fútbol de la ciudad de Kosovo. Los resultados obtenidos fueron analizados estadísticamente utilizándose el T-test y el análisis discriminante canónico. El T-test mostró que los jugadores de baloncesto y los futbolistas poseen diferencias significativas en casi todas las variables estudiadas. El análisis discriminante canónico de las características de los deportistas evaluados mostraron que: los jugadores de baloncesto son más altos y de mayor peso que los futbolistas y tenían mayor volumen corporal y pliegues cutáneos en comparación con los futbolistas. El volumen corporal de los jugadores de baloncesto han sido más influenciados por los elementos del baloncesto, que el volumen corporal de los futbolistas por los elementos del fútbol. En cuanto a tejido adiposo subcutáneo, es menos disperso en el cuerpo de los futbolistas comparado con jugadores de baloncesto, lo que podría explicarse por una relación diferente entre las demandas aeróbica y anaeróbica exigidas en los diferentes deportes.

Analysis on Reports of Statistical Testings for Mean Differences / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and adequacy of research papers reporting statistical testings for mean differences. METHODS: Original research articles utilized t-test, Chi-square test, and ANOVA were reviewed from Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing published from the year 2004 to 2006. Seventy-six papers were evaluated in accordance with formatted criteria in respect to an inclusiveness of research title, accuracy of statistical methods and presentation styles, and errors in reporting statistical outcomes. RESULTS: Research titles were quite comprehensive, however overall accuracy of statistical values and basic formats reached only 60 to 80% by items. Details of the presentation in the reporting of outcomes were not complied with the guidelines, which need careful concerns of the writers. Errors of English in table presentation were found in more than 30% of the papers. CONCLUSION: The outcome would be reflected in the submission guidelines for future writers. To reach the level comparable with internationally recognized nursing journals, concrete knowledge to apply statistical methods should be ensured in the processes of submission, reviews, and editing.

The agreement between two methods to continuous variable / 第三军医大学学报

Objective To study a statistical method about agreement testing to continuous variable.Methods Two measurements was carried out to the same subject,or the same two instruments were used to measure many paired individuals.Results We provided a statistical method(scatter gram,F-test)to repeated data and non-repeated data.Conclusion Correct choice of statistical method relies on the purpose and condition of actual problem.

Thickness of cranial bone: preliminary study

Statistical Methods Used in the Journal of Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine

Statistical methods are widely used for the analysis of data obtained from experimental or observational studies. We examined the statistical methods used for papers published in the Journal of Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine in 1996. The issues included the mean, coefficient of variation, t-test, chi-square test, ANOVA and type IV error. The mean and the standard deviation in descriptive statistics and the t-test in inferential statistics were most frequently used. Statistical methods should incorporate statistical modelling and the needed assumptions. Trials of new statistical models and methods are recommended.