ACL injuries – next to damage to the collateral ligaments, menisci of the knee – are the most common injuries of the knee joint and very often require surgical treatment. The main aim of the ...treatment is to restore normal gait pattern. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of reconstructed ACL on selected gait parameters by using an accelerometer system.
The study involved 34 people aged 18-54 who were divided in two groups. The first group consisted of 20 people after ACL reconstruction, aged 19-54 years old (mean 29). The second group consisted of 14 healthy people between the age of 18-45 (mean 25.36). Gait analysis in normal and fast rate was performed using the CQMotion Electronik System, MEMS type.
Differences in the results were observed in the first group. In 75% of people during normal walking and in 95% during fast walking, a 5% difference between the healthy limb and the limb after ACL reconstruction was observed. The gait rate had influence on acceleration value which was observed in RMS values in both of the groups. The RMS value was different, depending on the gait rate.
Accelerometric gait analysis shows that the differences in comparing rate values between limbs are not so great, however, the gait pace has influence on some gait parameters. parameters.
The quality of information that oncological patients receive from health care professionals is an underestimated issue in Poland and Eastern European countries. There is lack of sufficient data on ...this subject. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) supplies a new tool for measuring the quality of information provided to cancer patients. The purpose of the study is the translation into Polish, pilot testing and preliminary validation of the EORTC information module (INFO25). Following the EORTC translation procedures, forward and back translations of the questionnaire were performed (English → Polish, Polish → English). The intermediate version of the INFO25 was pilot-tested together with the general questionnaire of quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C30). Reliability, validity and known-group comparison tests were performed. A total of 21 patients with different cancer diagnoses were recruited into the study (7 women and 14 men; mean age of 60,2 years, age range 25–73 years). Apart from filling out the INFO25, patients were interviewed about the difficulties with answering every questionnaire item. Patients' comments were analyzed and minor language changes were made to the initial translation. The internal consistency of the INFO25 showed a reliability of 0,78. The final version of the Polish translation of the INFO25 module was obtained and approved by the EORTC Quality of Life Department. It can now be used in clinical setting and for scientific purposes.
The anterior communicating artery (ACoA) is the most frequent site of intracranial aneurysm location. Despite many studies the frequency of aneurysm occurrence with anatomical anomalies is still ...poorly described. Moreover the significance of the A2 segment of anterior cerebral artery anomalies has been neglected. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and types of variations of the anterior cerebral circulation in patients with ACoA aneurysms and to analyze their relation to aneurysm occurrence in the Polish population.
We studied 50 patients with an established radiological diagnosis of ACoA aneurysm and 100 healthy age- and sex-matched controls using Computed Tomgraphy Angio- graphy. Maximum Intensity and Volume Rendering Projections were used to examine the cerebral arterial circulation. Univariate logistic regression was used to determine the statistical association between ACoA complex anomalies and aneurysm occurrence.
Patients in the study group had a significantly higher incidence of hypoplastic A1 seg- ment of the anterior cerebral artery (24% vs. 7%; p <0.01) and aplastic A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery (12% vs. 3%; p = 0.03). The frequency of A1 segment hypoplasia or aplasia in the study group was 36%. There was a statistical trend regarding A2 segment aplasia/hypoplasia as a potential predictor of ACoA aneurysm (6% vs. 1%; p = 0.07).
Occurrence of an ACoA aneurysm is associated with hypoplasia or aplasia of the A1 segment of the anterior cerebral artery. A2 segment anomalies may potentially be associated with aneurysm formation.
The aim of our study was to report preliminary validation data on the EORTC translated, Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 questionnaire to show that this tool is an acceptable and ...psychometrically robust measure to collect HRQoL data in Polish patients with head and neck malignancies.
Patients with histological confirmation of head and neck malignancies were eligible for the study. All patients filled out the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 module in addition to EORTC QLQ-C30 and a demographic questionnaire. Standardized validity and reliability analyses were performed.
Fifty-one patients (23 females - 45.1%) were enrolled into the study, with a mean age of 51.3 ± 12.9 years. Cronbach alpha coefficients, range 0.72-0.85, showed positive internal consistency. Satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity in multi-trait scaling analyses was seen.
Basing on the preliminary data from this report, one can say that the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-H&N35 module is a reliable and valid tool for measuring HRQoL in patients with head and neck malignancies. However further research is needed to establish the full psychometric properties of the described module, especially test-retest and responsiveness over time.
Purpose
The aim of this study was to explore what methods should be used to determine the minimal important difference (MID) and minimal important change (MIC) in scores for the European Organisation ...for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Module, the EORTC QLQ-HN43.
Methods
In an international multi-centre study, patients with head and neck cancer completed the EORTC QLQ-HN43 before the onset of treatment (t1), three months after baseline (t2), and six months after baseline (t3). The methods explored for determining the MID were: (1) group comparisons based on performance status; (2) 0.5 and 0.3 standard deviation and standard error of the mean. The methods examined for the MIC were patients' subjective change ratings and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves, predictive modelling, standard deviation, and standard error of the mean. The EORTC QLQ-HN43 Swallowing scale was used to investigate these methods.
Results
From 28 hospitals in 18 countries, 503 patients participated. Correlations with the performance status were |
r
|< 0.4 in 17 out of 19 scales; hence, performance status was regarded as an unsuitable anchor. The ROC approach yielded an implausible MIC and was also discarded. The remaining approaches worked well and delivered MID values ranging from 10 to 14; the MIC for deterioration ranged from 8 to 16 and the MIC for improvement from − 3 to − 14.
Conclusions
For determining MIDs of the remaining scales of the EORTC QLQ-HN43, we will omit comparisons of groups based on the Karnofsky Performance Score. Other external anchors are needed instead. Distribution-based methods worked well and will be applied as a starting strategy for analyses. For the calculation of MICs, subjective change ratings, predictive modelling, and standard-deviation based approaches are suitable methods whereas ROC analyses seem to be inappropriate.
The aim of our study was to report preliminary validation data on the EORTC translated, Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-ELD14 questionnaire to show that this tool is an acceptable and ...psychometrically robust measure to collect HRQoL data in Polish elderly patients with cancer.
Patients with histological confirmation of primary cancer were eligible for the study. All patients filled out the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-ELD14 module in addition to EORTC QLQ-C30 and a demographic questionnaire. Standardized validity and reliability analyses were performed.
Sixty-five patients (41 females - 63.1%) were enrolled into the study, with a mean age of 76.4 ± 5.7 years. Cronbach alpha coefficients, range 0.70-0.84, showed positive internal consistency. Satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity in multi-trait scaling analyses was seen. Strong correlations were observed between the EORTC QLQ-ELD14 (especially mobility and burden of illness), and the EORTC QLQ-C30 (r = -0.30-(-0.83); p <0.001).
Basing on the preliminary data from this study, the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-ELD14 module is a reliable and valid tool for measuring HRQoL in elderly cancer patients. However further research is needed to establish the full psychometric properties of the described module, especially in regards to test-retest and responsiveness over time.
To assess influencing factors and main health-related quality of life (HRQoL) issues in patients with cancers of the oesophago-gastric region using the European Organization for Research and ...Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and its oesophago-gastric module (QLQ-OG25).
Patients were qualified for this study based on the histological confirmation of oesophageal, oesophago-gastric or gastric cancers. Each patient filled out the Polish version of the EORTC QLQ-C30, the QLQ-OG25 module and a personal questionnaire. Patients were divided into groups based on gender, age, treatment intention, tumour localization, working status and level of education.
Our study included 112 patients - 39 women (35%) and 73 men (mean age ± SD; 60.2 ±10.9). Thirty-five patients (31.3%) completed the questionnaires twice. Eighty-four (75%) patients had gastric cancer (GC), twenty-six (23.2%) oesophageal cancer (OC) and two (1.8%) cancer of the oesophago-gastric junction (OGJC). Eighty (71.4%) patients underwent surgical treatment prior to either chemo-, radio- or chemoradiotherapy. The Global Health Status scale of the QLQ-C30 inversely correlated with all the other QLQ-C30 and QLQ-OG25 symptom scales (r = -0.26 to -0.61; p < 0.05).
The main HRQoL problems of Polish OC, OGJC and GC patients are fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and appetite and weight loss. Older age, receiving palliative treatment, having gastric cancer, being on retirement and having lower education are factors associated with higher symptom scores (worse symptoms) and thus poorer HRQoL.
Purpose
The aim of this study was to explore what methods should be used to determine the minimal important difference (MID) and minimal important change (MIC) in scores for the European Organisation ...for Research and Treatment of Cancer Head and Neck Cancer Module, the EORTC QLQ-HN43.
Methods
In an international multi-centre study, patients with head and neck cancer completed the EORTC QLQ-HN43 before the onset of treatment (t1), three months after baseline (t2), and six months after baseline (t3). The methods explored for determining the MID were: (1) group comparisons based on performance status; (2) 0.5 and 0.3 standard deviation and standard error of the mean. The methods examined for the MIC were patients' subjective change ratings and receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves, predictive modelling, standard deviation, and standard error of the mean. The EORTC QLQ-HN43 Swallowing scale was used to investigate these methods.
Results
From 28 hospitals in 18 countries, 503 patients participated. Correlations with the performance status were |r|< 0.4 in 17 out of 19 scales; hence, performance status was regarded as an unsuitable anchor. The ROC approach yielded an implausible MIC and was also discarded. The remaining approaches worked well and delivered MID values ranging from 10 to 14; the MIC for deterioration ranged from 8 to 16 and the MIC for improvement from − 3 to − 14.
Conclusions
For determining MIDs of the remaining scales of the EORTC QLQ-HN43, we will omit comparisons of groups based on the Karnofsky Performance Score. Other external anchors are needed instead. Distribution-based methods worked well and will be applied as a starting strategy for analyses. For the calculation of MICs, subjective change ratings, predictive modelling, and standard-deviation based approaches are suitable methods whereas ROC analyses seem to be inappropriate.
There are numerous variations reported regarding anatomy of the sphenoidal sinuses that include e.g. their pneumatisation, septation and relation to neurovascular structures. The following study ...aimed to examine the height of the MS in the sphenoidal sinuses, as well as its type (bony, membranous or mixed) and its course amongst the adult Polish population.
A retrospective analysis of 296 computed tomography (CT) images (147 females, 149 males) of the paranasal sinuses was conducted. Images in axial, coronal, and sagittal planes were visualised and analysed.
The average height of the MS was 2.1 ± 0.41 cm for the entire research group. Completely bony MS was found in 32.77% of the patients, partially membranous in 63.85%, and solely membranous in 3.38% of the patients. The course of the MS that changed from the anterior to the posterior section of the sinuses predominated (83.78%). The MS had the shape of the letter ‘C’ in 22.29% of the cases (C-shaped in 11.82% and inverted ‘C’ in 10.47%). The rarest was the MS resembling letter ‘S’, which only appeared in 11.48% of the patients (S-shaped in 5.74% and inverted ‘S’ in 5.74%). Only 16.22% of the patients had the MS that shifted neither its course nor its shape.
The MS might be an intraoperative marker of the midline, providing surgeons with good spatial orientation. Notwithstanding, the MS changed its course in the majority of the studied here patients, hence more careful transsphenoidal approach is needed to avoid iatrogenic neurovascular injuries.
•The average height of the septum was 2.1 ± 0.41 cm in the whole research group.•Mixed type of the septum predominated (partially ossified, partially membranous).•Its course changed most often from the anterior to the posterior part of the sinus.•The majority had the shift of only the posterior part of the septum to the right.
The literature lacks data on the histological structure of the median nerve on the level of the carpal tunnel, and its possible correlations with the anthropometric measurements of the hand.
The aim ...of this study was to assess the anthropometric measurements of human cadaver hands and their median nerves histological structure and whether a correlation existed between these two.
This study has been conducted using cadavers stored in a 10% solution of formaldehyde at the Department of Anatomy of the Jagiellonian University Medical College (JUMC) and cadavers from the Department of Forensic Medicine JUMC. Before dissection anthropometric measurements were carried out. After dissection the median nerves were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and histological slides were prepared. These were later photographed (16 x magnification) and analysed using ImageJ software.
The studied group comprised 8 women and 22 men (age between 23-92 years). Anthropometric measurements comparison by gender revealed statistically significantly larger CR-CU, MR-MU and TS-ID distances in men then in women. When comparing sides, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the right median nerve (0.216 +/- 0.06 cm2) was statistically significantly larger (p = 0.017) then the CSA of the left median nerve (0.173 +/- 0.05 cm2). No correlation was noted between the anthropometric and histological measurements obtained in this study.
Anthropometric measurements of the hand do not impact the histological structure of the human median nerve at the level of the carpal tunnel. Nerve bundles of the median nerve, at the level of the carpal tunnel, display no particular type of arrangement.
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