Don McNeil

On the receiving end—II. Linear analogue self-assessment (LASA) in evaluation of aspects of the quality of life of cancer patients receiving therapy

Linear analogue self-assessment (LASA) scales were used to measure general well-being and specific factors (mood, pain, nausea and vomiting, appetite, breathlessness, physical activity) in patients receiving therapy for malignant melanoma, small cell bronchogenic carcinoma (SCBC) or ovarian cancer. Among the patients with SCBC and melanoma, high correlations were observed between LASA scores for general well-being, mood and appetite. There was a significant relationship between performance status and LASA scores for general well-being, pain and appetite. Among patients with ovarian cancer, there was a significant association between performance status and LASA scores for general well-being, breathlessness and physical activity. Objective response category was related to change in LASA scores for pain. Changes in LASA scores during treatment reflected increased morbidity during radiotherapy in patients also receiving chemotherapy for SCBC. The LASA technique provides a convenient method for the assessment of quality of life in patients receiving cancer therapy, and potentially allows comparison of patient perception of treatment-related morbidities.

Mefenamic acid in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome.

&NA; The use of mefenamic acid in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) was investigated in 15 women over six menstrual cycles. A randomized, double‐blind, cross‐over, placebo‐controlled design was used to overcome the methodologic criticisms of other medication trials in this condition. Mefenamic acid significantly improved many of the physical, mood, and performance symptoms associated with PMS. The physical symptoms that showed marked improvement were fatigue, headache, and general aches and pains (P < .001). Most mood symptoms were improved, the most significant being freedom from mood swings (P < .005). (Obstet Gynecol 68:395, 1986)

Predictors for the risk of hookworm infection: experience from endemic villages in southern Thailand

To assess the role of defaecation pattern in predicting the level of risk for hookworm infection in southern Thailand, 4 villages in different geographical settings in endemic areas were studied. Close observation and stool examinations for hookworm were carried out. The first village was used for exploring the risk factors for hookworm infection. The resultant statistical model was then tested using the other 3 villages. Only 23-40% of the sample regularly defaecated in a latrine. The pattern of defaecation did not differ between the sexes, but was associated with age and site of residence. In the first village, the following variables were not statistically significant: sex, age, level of past education, household income, having neighbouring houses within 20 m, latrine availability, site of defaecation. The only statistically significant protective factor was shoe wearing, which showed an exposure-outcome severity relationship. Similar results were obtained in the other 3 villages. These results refute the protective effect of latrine use on the individual user, who may still get infection from the faeces of other community members. Promotion of shoe-wearing, which provides individual protection, should be an important supplementary strategy for hookworm control programmes in such areas.

A Refined Method of Robust Smoothing

Abstract Nonlinear data smoothers (filters) have the drawback that too many local peaks and troughs in a data sequence may be preserved. If Gaussian assumptions are not met, linear smoothers do not offer a desirable alternative. A refined method of smoothing out local peaks and troughs, while retaining the broad ones, is proposed. When used for signal recovery from data sequences contaminated with noise, this procedure, termed splicing, appears superior to other methods considered. Application to a real data sequence is presented as an illustration of the technique.

Menstrual protection. Young women's knowledge, practice and attitudes

A gynaecological history may necessitate enquiries about menstrual protection. The use of and attitudes to menstrual protection of 1377 young women (15-19 years) were investigated. Most young women (84%) used pads for their first few menstrual periods. At the time of survey 34% were using tampons regularly although 64% had tried and found them too difficult to insert. Tampons were the preferred type of menstrual protection. Although mothers were the first source of information about menstrual protection only 25% had explained to their daughters how to use a tampon.Information about Toxic Shock Syndrome had little effect on the use of tampons, over half the women failing to remove a tampon within the 5 h recommended by manufacturers and only 12 subjects ceasing to use tampons.Women who use tampons were older, had a knowledge of menstruation and had no desire to change their type of menstrual protection. Those women who preferred to insert a tampon digitally rather than using an applicator held few misconce...

Testing in robust anova

The bisquare analysis of a simple linear model using an iteratively reweighted least squares (IRLS) algorithm is considered. A standard weighted least squares analysis of variance using the final configuration of weights is employed to derive a robust analysis of variance. The small sample properties of the resulting pseudo F-statistic are explored by means of experimental sampling. Employing six error distributions and nine configurations of effects, the robustness of validity and power characteristics of the statistic are established. In addition, the problem of nuisance effects and the role of the noncentrality parameter are investigated. Approximating the distribution of the statistic by an F-distribution proves quite successful, with the chief difficulty being the correct assignment of the degrees of freedom.

Remote sensing techniques to predict salinity intrusion: application for a data-poor area of the coastal Mekong Delta, Vietnam

ABSTRACT Salinity intrusion is a complex issue in coastal and estuarine areas. Currently, remote sensing techniques have been widely used to monitor water quality changes, ranging from inland river networks to deep oceans. The Vietnamese Mekong Delta is an important rice-growing area, and intrusion of saline water into irrigated freshwater-based agriculture areas is one of the most crucial constraints for agriculture development. This study aimed at building a numerical model to realize the salinity intrusion through the relationship between reflectance from the Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager images and salinity levels measured in situ. A total of 103 observed samples were divided into 50% training and 50% test. Multiple Linear Regression, Decision Trees and Random Forest (RF) approaches were applied in the study. The result showed that the RF approach was the best model to estimate salinity along the coastal river network in the study area. However, the large samples size needed was a significant challenge to circumscribe predicting ability of the RF model. The reflectance has a good correlation with salinity when locations (latitude–longitude) of salinity measured stations were added as a parameter of the Step-wise model with R-square 77.48% in training and 74.16% in test while Root Mean Square Error was smaller than 3.