Effect of Prior Anterior Superior Iliac Spine Compression Testing on Second Assessor Findings: Implications for Inter-Examiner Reliability Testing

BACKGROUND: Osteopathic physicians use palpation to diagnose sacroiliac joint somatic dysfunction (SD) -- including the Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS) Compression Test for dysfunctional side lateralization. (Literature suggests right-sided lateralization in 80% of asymptomatic individuals). Accurate, reliable tests are crucial however to diagnose SD and kappa (κ) analysis is a gold-standard to determine the degree of interexaminer reliability for tests. Few studies have examined the effect the palpatory examination has on subsequent diagnostic findings and therefore on κ-values

Inter-Examiner Reliability of an Anterior Superior Iliac Spine Compression Test used to Lateralize Pelvic Somatic Dysfunction to the Right Side or Not

BACKGROUND: Osteopathic physicians use a number of palpatory structural examinations to diagnose pelvic somatic dysfunction (SD). They may elect to use the Anterior Superior Iliac Spine (ASIS) Compression Test to lateralize the dysfunctional side. Accurate, reliable tests are crucial to neuromusculoskeletal diagnosis and this study employs the kappa (κ) analysis protocol recommended for assessing interexaminer reliability of manual medicine tests (published by the Fédération Internationale de Médecine Manuelle [FIMM]). κ-values ≥0.40 (moderate agreement) are considered to be acceptable for use in the clinical setting

The Use of Objective Data to Improve Interexaminer Reliability

BACKGROUND: In Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) and Manual/Musculoskeletal Medicine (MMM), palpatory diagnosis is performed on a regular basis to diagnose somatic dysfunction (SD). This examination requires careful and precise touch coupled with subjective interpretation by individual examiners who may have been trained to evaluate SD through different methods. Interexaminer reliability studies aim to minimize variance by providing quantifiable scientific data to evaluate specific test protocols which can then be taught to practitioners. In a previous PCOM study, two examiners independently diagnosed innominate bone dysfunction lateralized using the ASIS compression test on a large group of subjects. A pressure monitoring system (IsoTOUCH®, Chattanooga TN) has been used in various studies at the PCOM Human Performance & Biomechanics Laboratory (Kuchera, Jean et al 2006 & Kuchera, Vardy et al 2005) to quantify or standardize forces used in palpatory diagnosis or OMM/MMM treatment applications. This study gathered data during the tesing phase of a new and improved model of this system, using the protocol of the previous ASIS interexaminer reliability study. The data collected during standardization of the system was analyzed in the same manner as the previous study to compare the results of interexaminer reliability to results achieved using live data feed for baseline pressure synchronization between examiners

Comparing Inter-Examiner Reliability Levels when Diagnosing Male & Female Innominate Dysfunctions Using a Hemi-Pelvise Compression Lateralization Test and Pelvic Landmark Levels.

BACKGROUND: When diagnosing innominate somatic dysfunctions it may be relevant to recognize that structural, functional, and hormonal differences exist between male and female pelvises. The female pelvis is less massive, ilia are less sloped, and female hormones influence ligamentous tension. Despite these differences, few studies have analyzed gender effects on inter-examiner reliability when using palpatory diagnosis to diagnose innominate dysfunctions. In this study, we hypothesized that interexaminer reliability would be higher in male subjects than in female subjects due cyclic variability of hormonal influence of ligamentous tension in the female pelvis. The kappa (κ) statistic was selected to evaluate inter-examiner reliability as it is designed to eliminate agreement by chance. The agreement scale as proposed by Landis and Koch was used in the evaluation if the κ-value

Statistical Inference for Valued-Edge Networks: Generalized Exponential Random Graph Models

Across the sciences, the statistical analysis of networks is central to the production of knowledge on relational phenomena. Because of their ability to model the structural generation of networks, exponential random graph models are a ubiquitous means of analysis. However, they are limited by an inability to model networks with valued edges. We solve this problem by introducing a class of generalized exponential random graph models capable of modeling networks whose edges are valued, thus greatly expanding the scope of networks applied researchers can subject to statistical analysis

Attenuation of liver cancer development by oral glycerol supplementation in the rat

PURPOSE: Glycerol usage is increasing in food industry for human and animal nutrition. This study analyzed the impact of glycerol metabolism when orally supplemented during the early stage of rat liver carcinogenesis. METHODS: Wistar rats were subjected to a 2-phase model of hepatocarcinogenesis (initiated-promoted, IP group). IP animals also received glycerol by gavage (200 mg/kg body weight, IPGly group). RESULTS: Glycerol treatment reduced the volume of preneoplastic lesions by decreasing the proliferative status of liver foci, increasing the expression of p53 and p21 proteins and reducing the expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 1. Besides, apoptosis was enhanced in IPGly animals, given by an increment of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, Bad and PUMA mitochondrial expression, a concomitant increase in cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation. Furthermore, hepatic levels of glycerol phosphate and markers of oxidative stress were increased in IPGly rats. Oxidative stress intermediates act as intracellular messengers, inducing p53 activation and changes in JNK and Erk signaling pathways, with JNK activation and Erk inhibition. CONCLUSION: The present work provides novel data concerning the preventive actions of glycerol during the development of liver cancer and represents an economically feasible intervention to treat high-risk individuals.Fil: Capiglioni, Alejo Matías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Lorenzetti, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Ariel Dario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Área Morfología; ArgentinaFil: Parody, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Ronco, Maria Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pisani, Gerardo B.. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Área Morfología; ArgentinaFil: Carrillo, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Área Morfología; ArgentinaFil: Ceballos Mancini, María Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, María de Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Fisiología Experimental; Argentin