Dealing with Careless Responding in Survey Data: Prevention, Identification, and Recommended Best Practices.

Surveys administered online have several benefits, but they are particularly prone to careless responding, which occurs when respondents fail to read item content or give sufficient attention, resulting in raw data that may not accurately reflect respondents' true levels of the constructs being measured. Careless responding can lead to various psychometric issues, potentially impacting any area of psychology that uses self-reported surveys and assessments. This review synthesizes the careless responding literature to provide a comprehensive understanding of careless responding and ways to prevent, identify, report, and clean careless responding from data sets. Further, we include recommendations for different levels of screening for careless responses. Finally, we highlight some of the most promising areas for future work on careless responding.

Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Hot environmental conditions can result in a high core-temperature and dehydration which can impair physical and cognitive performance. This study aimed to assess the effects of a hot operating theatre on various performance, physiological and psychological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery. METHODS: Due to varying activity levels, surgery staff were allocated to either an Active (n = 9) or Less-Active (n = 8) subgroup, with both subgroups performing two simulated burn surgery trials (CONTROL: ambient conditions; 23±0.2°C, 35.8±1.2% RH and HOT: 34±0°C, 28.3±1.9% RH; 150 min duration for each trial), using a crossover design with four weeks between trials. Manual dexterity, core-temperature, heart-rate, sweat-loss, thermal sensation and alertness were assessed at various time points during surgery. RESULTS: Pre-trials, 13/17 participants were mildly-significantly dehydrated (HOT) while 12/17 participants were mildly-significantly dehydrated (CONTROL). There were no significant differences in manual dexterity scores between trials, however there was a tendency for scores to be lower/impaired during HOT (both subgroups) compared to CONTROL, at various time-points (Cohen's d = -0.74 to -0.50). Furthermore, alertness scores tended to be higher/better in HOT (Active subgroup only) for most time-points (p = 0.06) compared to CONTROL, while core-temperature and heart-rate were higher in HOT either overall (Active; p<0.05) or at numerous time points (Less-Active; p<0.05). Finally, sweat-loss and thermal sensation were greater/higher in HOT for both subgroups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A hot operating theatre resulted in significantly higher core-temperature, heart-rate, thermal sensation and sweat-loss in staff. There was also a tendency for slight impairment in manual dexterity, while alertness improved. A longer, real-life surgery is likely to further increase physiological variables assessed here and in turn affect optimal performance/outcomes.

Assessment of glomerular filtration rate during pregnancy using the MDRD formula.

It is now recommended practice to use estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values to screen for and monitor chronic renal disease. The most frequently used formula in the general population is that described following the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study whereby serum creatinine is adjusted for age, gender and race. This study evaluates the performance of the MDRD formula in pregnancy by comparing eGFR with measured values obtained by inulin clearance studies in early and late normal pregnancy and in pregnancies complicated by renal disease or pre-eclampsia. Our results indicate that in all situations, MDRD substantially underestimates glomerular filtration rate during pregnancy and cannot be recommended for use in clinical practice.

Sex and the pregnant kidney: does renal allograft gender influence gestational renal adaptation in renal transplant recipients?

BACKGROUND: Animal work indicates that ovarian hormones are important in initiating and maintaining enhanced renal function in pregnant rats and that a renal response resembling pregnancy can be provoked in male rats exposed to pregnancy hormones. Women becoming pregnant following renal transplantation provide an opportunity to compare the functional response of male and female allografts to the gestational endocrine environment. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included 20 renal allograft recipients (age 29.7 +/- 2.4 yrs) (mean +/- SE) who had 22 pregnancies beyond 24 weeks (gestation at delivery 35.5 +/- 0.6 weeks). Donor characteristics, transplant details, renal follow-up data, and information about pregnancy and allograft function were obtained from hospital notes. RESULTS: Thirteen women received male allografts (donor age 30.0 +/- 3.9 years) (mean +/- SEM) and 7 women, female allografts (donor age 45.1 +/- 6.0 years) (P = .04). There were no significant differences between the two groups in maternal recipient age, transplant to pregnancy interval, antenatal complications, pregnancy outcome, or postnatal graft function. Compared to prepregnancy values serum creatinine (SCr) decrements and augmented 24-hour creatinine clearance (CrCl) were observed over the first trimester in both male and female allografts: Delta CrCl from 106.8 +/- 13.2 mL/min to 114.4 +/- 11.4 mL/min (35.6% increase) and 71.8 +/- 7.4 to 89.5 +/- 11.3 mL/min (24.7% increase), respectively, and Delta SCr from 90.1 +/- 5.4 micromol/L to 73.6 +/- 6.6 micromol/L (17.8% decrease) and 99.8 +/- 9.7 micromol/L to 78.0 +/- 5.7 micromol/L (13.5% decrease), respectively. Differences between the two groups did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Donor gender and/or age do not appear to influence the gestational renal response in kidney transplant recipients.

Long-term follow-up of patients presenting to adult nephrologists with chronic pyelonephritis and 'normal' renal function.

We studied the natural history, and therefore prognosis, of patients with chronic pyelonephritis presenting to adult nephrologists with a plasma or serum creatinine <90 mmol/l. From the Newcastle chronic pyelonephritis database, 255 patients with radiologically-proven disease were reviewed. Median follow-up was 95 months (95%CI 82. 3-109.3). Plasma creatinine was < or =90 micromol/l (P(Cr)< or =90 group) at presentation in 138. At presentation, hypertension, bilateral disease and proteinuria were less frequent in the P(Cr)< or =90 group (hypertension 19% vs. 32%, p<0.05; bilateral disease 25% vs. 70%, p<0.001; proteinuria 18% vs. 60%, p<0.001). With the exception of two patients, the renal prognosis of this group was excellent. Patients over the age of 18 years presenting to adult nephrologists with a diagnosis of chronic pyelonephritis and a creatinine < or =90 micromol/l can be reassured that the chances of developing end-stage renal failure in the future are very small. Most could be referred back to their general practitioner for long-term follow-up.

Correction of acidosis in hemodialysis patients increases the sensitivity of the parathyroid glands to calcium.

Correction of acidosis in hemodialysis patients increases the sensitivity of the parathyroid glands to calcium. In this study, the parathyroid response to the correction of acidosis in eight hemodialysis patients was determined by performing dynamic assessment of parathyroid function before and after the correction of acidosis. The parathyroid response to intravenous calcitriol before and after the correction of acidosis was also assessed. After optimal correction of acidosis, there were no significant changes in blood pH, ionized calcium, phosphate, or alkaline phosphatase values, but the level of venous total CO2 increased significantly. Parathyroid hormone/ionized calcium curves were displaced downward after correction of acidosis, but not after the administration of intravenous calcitriol. The correction of metabolic acidosis in hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism can suppress parathyroid hormone secretion by increasing the sensitivity of the parathyroid glands to ionized calcium.

Withdrawal of renal replacement therapy in Newcastle upon Tyne: 1964-1993.

BACKGROUND: Termination of renal replacement therapy (RRT) is common in North America and Australia but is considered to be rare in Europe. METHODS: In order to review the phenomenon of RRT termination in all patients treated in Newcastle upon Tyne between 1964 and 1993 a retrospective study of clinical case notes was undertaken. In all RRT patients sex, age at start of RRT, renal diagnosis and history of RRT were recorded. In addition, mortality data and marital and residential status were recorded in all patients who died, and Karnofsky index, bodyweight, complications, history of bereavement, place of death, overall survival, survival after withdrawal of treatment, other medical problems, higher mental function and surgical history in all patients stopping treatment. RESULTS: 1639 patients started RRT between 1964 and September 1993 inclusive. Eighty-eight patients were identified in whom death was a result of treatment being stopped (17% of all deaths). The first was in 1985. In these patients, age was greater (62 vs 47 years, P < 0.001) and diabetes was more prevalent (15 vs 7%, P < 0.03) than in the total RRT population. The Karnofsky index was 70 at the start and 33 at withdrawal of treatment (P < 0.001). The Karnofsky index at the start of RRT was weakly related to that at withdrawal and overall survival (r = 0.36 and 0.28 respectively, P < 0.01). The Karnofsky index at treatment withdrawal correlated with the following survival (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). The median survival of patients stopping treatment was significantly lower than in all RRT patients (16 vs 74 months, P < 0.001) and the majority survived less than 2 years. After dialysis withdrawal the median survival was 8 days, 15 patients survived 3 days or less and 19 more than 10 days. The majority (80%) received terminal care in hospital. At treatment withdrawal 11 patients were demented and 34 showed signs of early dementia. Seventy-eight patients (89%) stopped treatment as a consequence of multiple medical problems. The possibility of dialysis withdrawal was raised by physicians in 50.5%, the patient in 23.8% and the patients' relatives in 21.9% of cases. Four patients (3.8%) committed suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Death from dialysis termination is a relatively common cause of death in RRT patients in Newcastle upon Tyne. These patients are older with a higher prevalence of diabetes. In 89% of cases the decision to stop treatment was related to multiple medical problems with a recent deterioration. Physicians raised the issue of withdrawal in the majority of cases and most patients subsequently received terminal care in hospital.

Computed tomography evaluation of renal parenchymal volume in patients with chronic pyelonephritis and its relationship to glomerular filtration rate.

The measurement of renal parenchymal volume using a calibrated computed tomography image processing method has been evaluated clinically on a cohort of patients with chronic pyelonephritis. Comparison of renal volume with function as assessed by 99Tcm DTPA renography demonstrated a simple linear relationship in patients who were normotensive and aproteinuric. The implications of this result on the interpretation of prognostic factors determining declining renal function in chronic pyelonephritis are discussed.

1% amino acid peritoneal dialysate: single-cycle study in diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease.

Uremia is associated with multiple abnormalities of carbohydrate and protein metabolism, which are partially corrected by continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with dextrose-based solutions. The hormonal and metabolic effects of amino acid (AA)-based peritoneal dialysis have been studied in nondiabetic uremic patients. Such solutions may be particularly suitable for diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease provided the safety and efficacy of such solutions can be established. We have studied and compared the metabolic and hormonal responses to a single-cycle exchange of dextrose versus a 1% AA-based continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis solution in six diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease. In the fasting state and under similar free insulin concentrations, use of the AA solution led to a higher mean glucose concentration (109 +/- 16 mg/dL with dextrose solution v 128 +/- 25 mg/dL with AA solution, P < 0.05). Levels of alanine, lactate, pyruvate, glycerol, non-esterified fatty acids, and triglycerides were similar with the use of either solution. Use of the AA-based solution led to increases in the mean values of the branched chain AAs for the period of the study (valine 131 +/- 10 mumol/L with dextrose solution v 331 +/- 40 mumol/L with AA solution, P < 0.01; leucine 72 +/- 7 mumol/L with dextrose solution v 129 +/- 11 mumol/L with AA solution, P < 0.01; isoleucine 48 +/- 5 mumol/L with dextrose solution v 103 +/- 11 mumol/L with AA solution, P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Urea kinetic modeling: comparing the options.

In this study 6 commercially produced kinetic modeling packages utilizing a variable volume, single pool urea model, as well as formulae to determine the delivery of therapy, have been compared by applying to each the same set of rigorously collected data for a group of 12 patients. Comparison of the kinetically derived parameters (urea generation rate [G], urea distribution volume [V], delivery of therapy [Kt/V], and normalized protein catabolic rate [nPCR]) showed that the values obtained for both G and V differed between packages owing to the numerical methods and the clearance used in the solution of the differential equations. Although a broad agreement between the values established for Kt/V and nPCR was noted, the 95% limits of agreement indicated that it would be prudent to exercise caution when comparing results established by different modeling packages.

Adequacy of dialysis and nutritional status in CAPD.

Urea kinetic modelling (UKM) was used to assess adequacy of dialysis in 50 CAPD patients. Nutritional status was assessed from the measurement of visceral protein status (total protein, albumin, transferrin, immunoglobulins, complement), somatic protein status (anthropometry), and dietary intake (1 week weighed dietary inventory and normalized protein catabolic rate (NPCR) from UKM). Morbidity was assessed from the peritonitis and admission history. Mean Kt/V (corrected to x3 weekly dialysis) was 0.66 +/- 0.02. Dietary protein intake estimated from the NPCR (1.08 +/- 0.03 g kg-1 day-1) correlated well (r = 0.72, P < 0.001) with that estimated from the dietary inventory (1.10 +/- 0.04 g kg-1 day-1). There was a strong correlation between Kt/V and NPCR corrected for actual weight (r = 0.65, P < 0.001), but when NPCR was corrected for IBW this correlation was weaker (r = 0.35, P < 0.05). Patients were divided by Kt/V into two groups (> 0.65, n = 22 and < 0.65, n = 28). There were no significant differences in the indices of visceral protein status between the two groups. Weight, height, BMI, fat free mass and arm muscle area were significantly greater in the group Kt/V < 0.65. Residual renal function (creatinine clearance) was higher in the group Kt/V > 0.65 (3.8 +/- 0.7 versus 1.9 +/- 0.5 1/24 h, P < 0.05) and plasma creatinine less (913 +/- 51 versus 1265 +/- 51 mumol/l, P < 0.001). Hb, potassium, bicarbonate, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, PTH, and blood pressure were not different. Neither was there any difference between the two groups in any of the indices of morbidity.

Long-term follow-up of non-systemic lupus erythematosus glomerulonephritis in patients with hereditary angioedema: report of four cases.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is characterized by a deficiency in C1 inhibitor protein (C1 INH) and by clinical symptoms of episodic swelling of subcutaneous or mucosal tissue. It has rarely been reported in association with non-systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) glomerulonephritis (GN). A recent report of two cases indicates the prognosis to be poor, with both patients progressing to chronic renal failure 8 and 20 years after diagnosis. This report describes the 5-year follow-up of a previously unreported case of an 8-year-old boy with HAE and non-SLE membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). The patient developed macroscopic hematuria, azotemia, and a vasculitic rash. Treatment included prednisone and cyclophosphamide, resulting in clinical improvement. The present report also summarizes the long-term follow-up of three previously reported cases of HAE and non-SLE GN, 25, 16, and 10 years after their initial presentation. Patients monitored for 25 and 16 years had MPGN and normal renal function and received no therapy. The third patient, monitored for 10 years, had segmental MPGN. This patient presented with urinary abnormalities and, after treatment with prednisone, had improvement in her hematuria. None of these four patients developed chronic renal failure. These observations indicate a variable outcome in patients with HAE and non-SLE GN.

Aluminium intoxication in renal disease.

Aluminium intoxication in renal failure occurred over weeks or months when dialysis fluid or parenteral solutions were heavily contaminated and over many years when the main source was oral administration of aluminium-containing phosphate binders. Encephalopathy was common during subacute intoxication but in slow aluminium poisoning the main brunt was borne by the bones. However, in both tempos of intoxication several organs or systems were involved. Encephalopathy was usually accompanied by bone disease, bone disease by parathyroid suppression and both by anaemia. The heart and the lymphocytes are probably damaged by aluminium overload. Among the many questions left unanswered 15 years after the incrimination of aluminium as the cause of this multi-system illness are: (1) does low level aluminium overload in renal failure cause gradual deterioration in cerebral function? And, if so, (2) does it resemble Alzheimer's disease or a slow-onset version of dialysis encephalopathy? The evidence we review suggests that the answer to (1) is 'yes' and to (2) 'probably the latter'.

Wegener's granulomatosis. A distinct gingival lesion.

A hyperplastic (strawberry) gingivitis is a feature of Wegener's granulomatosis. A further case is described in which the only manifestations to date have been the gingival lesion. The diagnostic value of the ANCA test is discussed for patients who present with an unusual hyperplastic gingivitis.