Radar plots: a useful way for presenting multivariate health care data.

OBJECTIVE: Health care researchers have not taken full advantage of the potential to effectively convey meaning in their multivariate data through graphical presentation. The aim of this paper is to translate knowledge from the fields of analytical chemistry, toxicology, and marketing research to the field of medicine by introducing the radar plot, a useful graphical display method for multivariate data. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study based on literature review. RESULTS: The radar plotting technique is described, and examples are used to illustrate not only its programming language, but also the differences in tabular and bar chart approaches compared to radar-graphed data displays. CONCLUSION: Radar graphing, a form of radial graphing, could have great utility in the presentation of health-related research, especially in situations in which there are large numbers of independent variables, possibly with different measurement scales. This technique has particular relevance for researchers who wish to illustrate the degree of multiple-group similarity/consensus, or group differences on multiple variables in a single graphical display.

The Bellagio Report: Cardiovascular risks of spaceflight: implications for the future of space travel.

BACKGROUND: Long-duration space missions, as well as emerging civilian tourist space travel activities, prompted review and assessment of data available to date focusing on cardiovascular risk and available risk mitigation strategies. The goal was the creation of tools for risk priority assessments taking into account the probability of the occurrence of an adverse cardiovascular event and available and published literature from spaceflight data as well as available risk mitigation strategies. METHODS: An international group of scientists convened in Bellagio, Italy, in 2004 under the auspices of the Aerospace Medical Association to review available literature for cardiac risks identified in the Bioastronautics Critical Path Roadmap (versions 2000, 2004). This effort led to the creation of a priority assessment framework to allow for an objective assessment of the hazard, probability of its occurrence, mission impact, and available risk mitigation measures. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Spaceflight data are presented regarding evidence/ no evidence of cardiac dysrhythmias, cardiovascular disease, and cardiac function as well as orthostatic intolerance, exercise capacity, and peripheral resistance in presyncopal astronauts compared to non-presyncopal astronauts. Assessment of the priority of different countermeasures was achieved with a tabular framework with focus on probability of occurrence, mission impact, compliance, practicality, and effectiveness of countermeasures. Special operational settings and circumstances related to sensitive portions of any mission and the impact of environmental influences on mission effectiveness are addressed. The need for development of diagnostic tools, techniques, and countermeasure devices, food preparation, preservation technologies and medication, as well as an infrastructure to support these operations are stressed. Selected countermeasure options, including artificial gravity and pharmacological countermeasures need to be systematically evaluated and validated in flight, especially after long-duration exposures. Data need to be collected regarding the emerging field of suborbital and orbital civilian space travel, to allow for sound risk assessment.

Changes in rates of natural rubber latex sensitivity among dental school students and staff members after changes in latex gloves.

BACKGROUND: A high rate of sensitization and clinical allergy to natural rubber latex (NRL) gloves has been reported in dental students and staff members. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a change in glove use from high-protein/powdered to low-protein/powder-free latex gloves at a previously surveyed dental school reduced the prevalence of NRL sensitivity among students and staff members. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed through use of a questionnaire and skin prick testing to low ammoniated NRL extract; the method was similar to that used in a study conducted in 1995. Analyses were performed on the entire groups as well as on a subset of senior students. RESULTS: A total of 97 subjects (61 students and 36 staff members) completed the questionnaire and underwent skin prick testing; this compared with 131 subjects in 1995. Percentages of subjects reporting asthma symptoms, rhinitis or conjunctivitis, urticaria, or pruritus within minutes of NRL exposure were 4%, 7%, 6%, and 8%, respectively; the corresponding percentages in the 1995 survey were 7% (P = not significant), 13% (P = not significant), 20% (P =.004), and 22% (P =.005). Results were similar for the subset of senior students, but in addition there were also significantly fewer complaints of rhinoconjunctivitis in 2000 than in 1995 (0% and 12%, respectively; P =.007). Of 97 subjects who underwent skin prick testing, 3 (3%) had positive skin prick test responses of 2+ or greater to NRL; this compared with 13 (10%) of 131 subjects in 1995 (P =.03). There were 3 positive skin test responses among staff members in 2000; there were none among students. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a preventive effect on NRL allergy in dental students from the change to low-protein/powder-free NRL gloves in the dental school.