Interobserver agreement was measured with weighted kappa statistics. McNemar tests were used to compare
sensitivity between the readers. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the effects of body mass index, patient sex, and type of CT scanner on appendiceal visualization.
Results: The kappa statistics for each reader pair were as follows: 0.97 for agreement between readers 1 and 2, 0.93 for agreement between readers 2 and 3, and 0.92 for agreement between readers 1 and 3. Each reader clearly identified buy Baf-A1 the entire appendix in 213 (96.0%), 209 (94.1%), and 205 (92.3%) of the 222 patients without a history of appendectomy. When unsurely or partly visualized appendices were included, the frequencies increased to
99.1% (n = 220), 98.7% (n = 219), and 97.3% (n = 216), respectively, find protocol for readers 1, 2, and 3. These frequencies rarely differed between the readers. (P values ranged from .021 to greater than .99.) The three readers consistently reported that the appendix was not visualized in the 37 patients who had undergone appendectomy. None of the tested variables significantly affected appendix visualization.
Conclusion: Most normal appendices are visualized on thin-section LD unenhanced CT images reviewed with the sliding slab averaging technique. (C) RSNA, 2009″
“BackgroundThere is growing concern about declining levels of physical activity in childhood cancer survivors. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an integrated adventure-based training and health education program in promoting changes in exercise behavior and enhancing the physical activity levels, self-efficacy, and quality of check details life of Hong Kong Chinese childhood cancer survivors.
MethodsA randomized controlled trial, two-group pretest and repeated post-test, between-subjects design was conducted to 71 childhood cancer
survivors (9- to 16-year-olds). Participants in the experimental group joined a 4-day integrated adventure-based training and health education program. Control group participants received the same amount of time and attention as the experimental group but not in such a way as to have any specific effect on the outcome measures. Participants’ exercise behavior changes, levels of physical activity, self-efficacy, and quality of life were assessed at the time of recruitment, 3, 6, and 9months after starting the intervention.
ResultsParticipants in the experimental group reported statistically significant differences in physical activity stages of change (p<0.001), higher levels of physical activity (p<0.001) and self-efficacy (p=0.04) than those in the control group. Besides, there were statistically significant mean differences (p<0.001) in physical activity levels (-2.6), self-efficacy (-2.0), and quality of life (-4.3) of participants in the experimental group from baseline to 9months after starting the intervention.