Relationship between psychosocial factors and effects of acupuncture after four weeks in patients with chronic low back pain (2nd Report) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

[Objective] In the past, we reported results focusing on the immediate effect of psychosocial factors that influence the effects of acupuncture on patients with chronic low back pain. In the present study, we conducted a retrospective analysis of the data before and after four weeks of acupuncture therapy.[Materials and Methods] Fifty-three patients with an initial diagnosis of chronic low back pain who visited the Acupuncture Department of the Center for Integrative Medicine, Tsukuba University of Technology between August and December 2019 and showed baseline lumbar pain intensity by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) > 30 mm, were subjects of this study. Psychosocial scales viz, Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ), social factors (cohabitation family situation, final education, social participation status), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ), and impression of acupuncture were recorded using a self-administered questionnaire at the first visit and at four weeks after the first acupuncture therapy. Based on VAS, RDQ, and anchor questions about low back pain before and four weeks after the acupuncture therapy, patients were classified into "effective group" and "non-effective group"; then, the logistic regression analysis was performed using this classification as a dependent variable. In addition, r repeated measures analysis of variance (rANOVA) was performed on the data before and after four weeks of acupuncture therapy.[Results and Discussion] The number of patients in the "effective group" and "non-effective group" were 24 and 29, respectively. Among items used as covariates in the logistic regression analysis, the PCS (OR: 0.924, P = 0.037) and age (OR: 0.418, P = 0.005) showed statistical significance. In the rANOVA, all the evaluated items showed statistically significant differences before and after four weeks; only VAS in motion showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.046) regarding the presence or absence of an immediate effect. Therefore, it was suggested that it is important to focus on psychosocial factors from an early stage of therapy, and to make appropriate evaluations and judgments based on both physical and psychosocial aspects of patients to treat them effectively.

Análisis reproductivo de vacas Suizo Pardo x Cebú y Simmental x Cebú en condiciones tropicales / Reproductive analysis of Brown Swiss x Zebu and Simmental x Zebu cows in tropical conditions

RESUMEN Objetivo. Comparar la fertilidad de vacas cruzadas Suizo Pardo x Cebú y Simmental x Cebú criadas en un ambiente tropical. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron características reproductivas de 185 vacas cruzadas Suizo Pardo x Cebú y Simmental x Cebú con diversos porcentajes de raza europea. El pastoreo de las vacas fue rotacional. El ordeño fue dos veces al día con la ayuda (amamantamiento) del becerro, el cual se mantuvo atado cerca de la vaca mientras ella se ordeñaba. Las características se evaluaron ajustando un modelo de mediciones repetidas (excepto para edad a primer parto). Periodo interparto, edad a primer parto, días abiertos, periodo parto-primer servicio y peso al parto fueron analizados con PROC MIXED de SAS. Tasa de gestación a primer servicio y servicios por concepción, se analizaron con PROC GENMOD del mismo programa. Resultados. Las vacas Simmental x Cebú se sirvieron después del parto 39 días antes (p<0.05) y tuvieron 47 días abiertos menos (p<0.05) que las Suizo Pardo x Cebú. El periodo interparto de las vacas Simmental x Cebú fue 45 días más corto (p<0.05) que el de las Suizo Pardo x Cebú. Las vacas Simmental x Cebú pesaron 34 kg más al parto (p<0.05) que las Suizo Pardo x Cebú. Conclusiones. Las vacas Simmental x Cebú tuvieron mejor fertilidad que las Suizo Pardo x Cebú.

ABSTRACT Objective. Compare the fertility of Brown Swiss x Zebu and Simmental x Zebu crossbred cows reared in a tropical environment. Materials and methods. Reproductive traits of 185 Brown Swiss x Zebu and Simmental x Zebu crossbred cows with diverse percentages of European breed were evaluated. Grazing of cows was rotational. The milking was twice daily with the help (suckling) of the calf, which was kept tied next to the dam while she was milked. Traits were evaluated fitting a repeated measures model (except for age at first calving). Calving interval, age at first calving, days open, interval from calving to first service, and weight at calving were analyzed with PROC MIXED of SAS. Pregnancy rate at first service and services per conception were analyzed with PROC GENMOD of the same software. Results. Simmental x Zebu cows started to re-bred 39 days earlier after calving (p<0.05) and had 47 fewer days open (p<0.05) than Brown Swiss x Zebu cows. The calving interval of the Simmental x Zebu cows was 45 days shorter (p<0.05) than that of the Brown Swiss x Zebu cows. Simmental x Zebu cows were 34 kg heavier at calving (p<0.05) than Brown Swiss x Zebu cows. Conclusions. Simmental x Zebu cows had better fertility than Brown Swiss x Zebu cows.

Impacto de la intensidad horaria de la estadística en las pruebas saber 11 / Impact of the time intensity of statistics in the saber 11 tests / Impacto da intensidade temporal da estatística sobre as provas saber 11

Resumen Introducción. En Colombia la Ley General de Educación dio la potestad a las instituciones educativas de organizar sus propios currículos acorde con los proyectos educativos institucionales. Con base en esta autonomía, algunas instituciones fragmentaron el área de matemáticas en asignaturas como estadística y geometría con distribución de tiempo semanal a cada una de ellas. Otras instituciones se organizan en temas y los desarrollan en momentos particulares del año escolar. En ese sentido, conocer los efectos que podrían tener una u otra organización en los procesos educativos representa un interés para profesores, investigadores e instituciones educativas. Objetivo. Determinar el efecto que la distribución de la intensidad horaria de la asignatura estadística podría tener en el desempeño de los estudiantes en la Prueba Saber 11° en instituciones educativas públicas de Medellín-Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Los datos se extrajeron de los resultados de Pruebas Saber 11. Se hizo ajuste de un modelo lineal con efectos mixtos. Resultados. Después de controlar el efecto institución, algunas variables específicas de los estudiantes sí inciden en los resultados obtenidos en matemáticas, pero la distribución de la intensidad horaria que se dedica a la enseñanza de la estadística no es un factor significativo. Conclusiones. La distribución del tiempo e intensidad horaria dedicada a la estadística no tiene un efecto automático ni inmediato en el desempeño de los estudiantes, las instituciones deben considerar estrategias para promover competencias de los estudiantes acordes con su condición económica y social.

Abstract Introduction. In Colombia, the General Education Law gave Educational Institutions the authority to organize their academic curricula according to their corresponding Educational Projects. Based on this institutional autonomy, some educational institutions have divided the area of mathematics into subjects such as statistics and geometry; also they have allocated a weekly time to each one of these subjects. In contrast, other institutions organize the area of mathematics by themes developed at specific times during the school year. In this sense, knowing the effects that one or another allocation could have on educational processes represents an interest for research and for teachers and educational institutions. Objective. Determine the effect that the allocation of teaching hours spent on the statistics subject could have on student performance on the Saber 11th Test in public educational institutions from Medellín-Colombia. Materials and Method. Data were extracted from the Saber 11-test results. A linear model was adjusted with mixed effects. Results. After controlling for the institution effect, it was found that some student-specific variables do impact the results in mathematics. However, allocation of teaching hours spent on statistics is not a significant factor. Conclusions. Time allocation and teaching hours spent on a statistics course do not have automatic or immediate impact on student performance. Every institution should consider strategies to promote student competencies according to their economic and social conditions.

Resumo Introdução. Na Colômbia a Lei Geral da Educação forneceu o poder às instituições educativas de organizar seus próprios currículos conforme com os projetos educativos institucionais. Com base nesta autonomia, algumas instituições fragmentaram a área de matemáticas em disciplinas como estatística e geometria com distribuição do tempo semanal em cada uma delas. Outras instituições organizam-se em temas e os desenvolvem em momentos particulares do ano escolar. Neste sentido, conhecer os efeitos que poderiam ter uma ou outra organização nos processos educativos representa um interesse para professores, pesquisadores e instituições educativas. Objetivo. Determinar o efeito que a distribuição da intensidade temporal da disciplina estatística poderia ter no desempenho dos estudantes nas Prova Saber 11° em instituições educativas públicas de Medellín-Colômbia. Materiais e Métodos. Os dados foram extraídos dos resultados das Provas Saber 11. Realizou-se o ajuste de um modelo lineal com efeitos misturados. Resultados. Depois de controlar o efeito instituição, algumas variáveis específicas dos estudantes sim incidiram nos resultados obtidos em matemáticas, mas a distribuição da intensidade temporal que se dedica ao ensino da estatística não é um fator significativo. Conclusões. A distribuição do tempo e intensidade temporal dedicada à estatística não tem um efeito automático e nem imediato no desempenho dos estudantes, as instituições devem considerar estratégias para promover habilidades dos estudantes acordes com sua condição econômica e social.

Sample size determination for repeated measures design using G Power software

Repeated measures designs are widely used in the field of anesthesiology because they allow the detection of within-person change over time and provide a higher statistical power for detecting differences than a single measure design while reducing the costs and efforts to conduct a study. However, the complex process of calculating the sample size for repeated measures design requires profound statistical knowledge and also programming skills in some instances. In the present article, the author describes 1) the basic statistics for repeated measures design, 2) the explanation for G Power software, and 3) how to calculate the sample size using an example.

On comparison of SAS codes with GLM and MIXED for the crossover studies with QT interval data

The structural complexity of crossover studies for bioequivalence test confuses analysts and leaves them a hard choice among various programs. Our study reviews PROC GLM and PROC MIXED in SAS and compares widely used SAS codes for crossover studies. PROC MIXED based on REML is more recommended since it provides best linear unbiased estimator of the random between-subject effects and its variance. Our study also considers the covariance structure within subject over period which most PK/PD studies and crossover studies ignore. The QT interval data after the administration of moxifloxacin for a fixed time point are analyzed for the comparison of representative SAS codes for crossover studies.

Baseline adjustment for statistical efficiency on clinical controlled trial

In a clinical controlled trial involving repeated measures of continuous outcomes such as quality of life, distress, pain, activity level at baseline and after treatment, the possibilities of analyzing these outcomes can be numerous with quite varied findings. This paper examined four methods of statistical analysis using data from an outcome study of a clinical controlled trial to contrast the statistical power on those with baseline adjustment. In this study, data from a CCT with women with breast cancer were utilized. The experiment (n=67) and control (n=74) were about equal ratio. Four method of analysis were utilized, two using ANOVA for repeated measures and two using ANCOVA. The multivariate between subjects of the combined dependents variables and the univariate between subjects test were examined to make a judgement of the statistical power of each method. The results showed that ANCOVA has the highest statistical power. ANOVA using raw data is the least power and is the worst method with no evidence of an intervention effect even when the treatment by time interaction is statistically significant. In conclusion, ANOVA using raw data is the worst method with the least power whilst ANCOVA using baseline as covariate has the highest statistical power to detect a treatment effect other than method. The second best method as shown in this study was in using change scores of the repeated measures.

Correct Use of Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance / 대한진단검사의학회지

In biomedical research, researchers frequently use statistical procedures such as the t-test, standard analysis of variance (ANOVA), or the repeated measures ANOVA to compare means between the groups of interest. There are frequently some misuses in applying these procedures since the conditions of the experiments or statistical assumptions necessary to apply these procedures are not fully taken into consideration. In this paper, we demonstrate the correct use of repeated measures ANOVA to prevent or minimize ethical or scientific problems due to its misuse. We also describe the appropriate use of multiple comparison tests for follow-up analysis in repeated measures ANOVA. Finally, we demonstrate the use of repeated measures ANOVA by using real data and the statistical software package SPSS (SPSS Inc., USA).

Efeito da duração da amamentação predominante no crescimento infantil: um estudo prospectivo com modelos não lineares de efeitos mistos / Effect of predominant breastfeeding duration on infant growth: prospective study using nonlinear mixed effect models

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da duração da amamentação predominante no crescimento infantil com uso de modelos para medidas repetidas. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo prospectivo com quatro ondas de seguimento realizadas com aproximadamente 0,5, 2, 6 e 9 meses pós-parto, que incluiu entrevistas estruturadas e coleta de dados de peso, comprimento e sobre práticas de aleitamento. O estudo foi desenvolvido em um Centro Municipal de Saúde no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, entre 1999 e 2001. Quatrocentos e setenta e nove mulheres e seus filhos foram estudados. As variáveis dependentes foram o peso e o comprimento, aferidas em cinco momentos (ao nascimento, 0,5, 2, 6 e 9 meses). O crescimento foi analisado usando modelos não lineares de efeitos mistos. RESULTADOS: Crianças com maior duração de aleitamento predominante apresentaram maior velocidade de crescimento durante os primeiros meses de vida, mas alcançaram peso e comprimento de equilíbrio menor quando comparadas com crianças que receberam outros leites não humanos no início da vida. A idade na qual a velocidade de crescimento de crianças alimentadas com fórmulas tornou-se maior do que as amamentadas foi de 6,75 meses para meninos e 7 meses para meninas. CONCLUSÕES: Esse estudo confirma a presença de diferenças no crescimento físico segundo práticas de aleitamento a partir dos 6 meses de vida. O uso de modelos não lineares permitiu maior precisão na estimativa dos parâmetros. Acredita-se que essa abordagem facilite a análise e interpretação de dados de crescimento nos níveis individual e populacional.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of predominant breastfeeding duration on infant growth by means of repeated measurements model. METHODS: This prospective study is comprised of four follow-up evaluations at approximately 0.5, 2, 6 and 9 months after birth, including structured interviews that simultaneously gathered information regarding infant growth and breastfeeding practices. The study took place in a healthcare center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 1999 to 2001. Four hundred seventy-nine postpartum women and their newborns were enrolled in the cohort. Body weight and length measurements taken at five different occasions (birth, 0.5, 2, 6, and 9 months) constituted the dependent variables. We expressed the growth process using nonlinear mixed models. RESULTS: Infants with longer predominant breastfeeding duration, although growing faster in the first months of life, reached an inferior equilibrium body weight and length compared to infants who received nonhuman milk earlier in life. The age at which the rate of weight gain of the formula-fed infants becomes greater than that of the breastfed infants is approximately 6.75 months for boys and 7 months for girls. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the differences observed in infant growth according to different breastfeeding practices starting from the sixth month of life. Use of nonlinear models allowed for a greater precision of parameter estimates. We believe that this approach facilitates the analysis and interpretation of growth data at the individual and population levels.

Milk and fat production of crossbred Holstein-Gir cows (Bos taurus taurus-Bos taurus indicus) in the agreste region of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco

The productive performance of four Holstein-Gir genetic groups (1/2H, 1/4H, 5/8H, 5/8Hinter se) and the effects of non-genetic factors on production traits was evaluated using a data set of 7,951 test-day samples collected between January 1980 and December 1999 from the Arcoverde Experimental Station in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco (Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuária). The statistical model included the fixed effects of calving year (1980 to 1999) and month (January to December), genetic group of the cow, age at months of calving (33 to 190) and days in milk at each test-day. Random effects were sire, cow and residual with test-days treated as repeated records within each cow within each lactation. For the four genetic groups the milk yield (MY) means were 1/2H = 8.61 kg ± 1.16 kg, 1/4H = 5.34 kg ± 0.46 kg, 5/8H = 7.42 kg ± 0.39 kg and 5/8Hinter se = 5.76 kg ± 0.46 kg; the fat yield (FY) means were 1/2H = 0.375 kg ± 0.052 kg, 1/4H = 0.231 kg ± 0.026 kg, 5/8H = 0.299 kg ± 0.025 kg and 5/8Hinter se = 0.231 kg ± 0.026 kg; and the fat percentage (FP) means were 1/2H = 4.45 kg ± 0.29 percent, 1/4H = 4.08 kg ± 0.12 percent, 5/8H = 3.87 kg ± 0.10 percent and 5/8Hinter se = 3.89 kg ± 0.12 percent. Phenotypic correlations between tests were MY = 0.97, FY = 0.94 and FP = 0.98. The best productive performance was for the 1/2H group, followed by the 5/8H group. The performance of the synthetic group was substantially below the performance of the 5/8H group.

Análisis de tres procedimientos estadísticos para la evaluación del crecimiento de mautas mestizas bajo diferentes regímenes nutricionales / Analysis of Three Statistical Procedures to Evaluate Growth in Crossbred Heifer Under Different Nutritional Levels.

Existen investigaciones donde se miden variables en varios períodos de tiempo sobre el mismo animal. Este tipo de información puede analizarse estadísticamente mediante tres opciones: Análisis univariados con la instrucción RANDOM del GLM; Análisis univariados o multivariados a través de transformaciones lineales mediante la instrucción REPEATED del GLM; y con modelos mixtos de covarianza con el procedimiento MIXED. Con el objetivo de evaluar estos tres métodos estadísticos y conocer cual es más preciso, se analizaron durante 7 meses los pesos corporales quincenales de una finca ubicada en el estado Táchira, Venezuela, (bosque húmedo tropical), donde 30 mautas mestizas con un peso y edad promedio de 176,9 ± 24,6 Kg y 17,22 ± 2,23 meses respectivamente, fueron distribuidas aleatoriamente dentro tres grupos de suplementación: (1) Control, (2) Alimento balanceado comercial, y (3) Harina de Gliricidia sepium con harina de maíz y melaza. Se obtuvieron estructuras de covarianzas, comparándose el procedimiento GLM con sus instrucciones RANDOM y REPEATED vs. el procedimiento MIXED en sus opciones CS, UN y AR1, todas del paquete estadístico SAS. Como variable respuesta se evaluó el peso de las mautas durante el período del ensayo y como variable independiente el grupo de suplementación, el período y la interacción lineal entre ambas. Así mismo, al realizar el análisis de la varianza utilizando la estructura de errores más indicada, se pudo corroborar que existe una interacción significativa entre el tratamiento y el período (P<0,01), es decir, que las curvas de crecimiento tienden a no ser paralelas. Los resultados indican que el análisis más ajustado es el Procedimiento MIXED con la opción AR1, ya que permite ajustar la matriz de covarianza.

There are investigations where variables are measured in periods of time on the same animal. This type of information should be analyzed statistically trough three ways: univariate analyses with the RANDOM statement of the GLM procedure; univariate or multivariate analysis with the method of lineal transformations with the REPEATED statement of the GLM; and with mixed models of covariance with the MIXED procedure. With the objective of evaluating these three statistical methods and to know the most precise, biweekly live weight coming from a rehearsal carried out located in the Tachira State, Venezuela (topical damp woods) was analyzed during 7 weeks, where 30 crossbred heifers with an average weight and age of 176.9 ± 24.6 Kg and 17.22 ± 2.23 months respectively, were randomly distributed between three groups: (1) control, (2) balanced commercial feed, and (3) Flour of Gliricidia sepium with flour of corn and molasses. It was modeled covariance structures, comparing the GLM procedure with its RANDOM and REPEATED statements vs. the MIXED procedure in its CS, UN and AR1 options, of the statistical package SAS. As dependent variable it was studied the weight of the heifers during the assay period and as independent variables the supplementation group, the period and the linear interaction among both. When carrying out the analysis of variance using the most suitable structure of errors, it can be conclude that there was a significant interaction between treatment and period (P<0.01), and that is to say that the curves of growth spread unless parallel. Results indicate that the best fitting analysis is the Proc MIXED with the AR1 option, since it allows to adjust the covariance womb.

Analysis of variance of repeated measure data / 中华创伤骨科杂志

Sometimes results are expressed by repeated measure data in the field of medical research. Inappropriate statistical methods were widely used in the national medical literature. For instance, two way ANOVA or single effect analysis were usually used to analyze this kind of data. This paper introduces the repeated measure ANOVA. For repeated measure data, how to apply the SPSS 10.0 to conduct data analysis and how to report the statistically analyzed results correctly in the medical literature are also answered here.

Application of Visual Analogue Scales in Assessment of Symptomatic Outcome Data / 中医杂志

Visual analogue scales(VAS) is extensively applied on evaluating symptomatic outcome data,such as the pain intensity,but currently most of the management of relevant data can't conform to the statistical standard.This article categories the data measured with VAS and the eligible statistical methods,give a specific explanation about analysis of repeated measures data which may commonly misused in practice.It provides a reference criterion for statistical analysis with VAS in clinical research.