Development and validation of a computerized South Asian Names and Group Recognition Algorithm (SANGRA) for use in British health-related studies.
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BACKGROUND: Studies on ethnic variations in health have played an important role in aetiological and health services research. Most routine datasets, however, do not include information on ethnicity. South Asians, one of the largest minority ethnic groups in Britain, have distinctive names that also allow differentiation of the main sub-groups with their important differences in health-related exposures and disease risks. METHODS: A computerized name recognition algorithm (SANGRA) was developed incorporating directories of South Asian first names and surnames together with their religious and linguistic origin. SANGRA was validated using health-related data with self-ascribed information on ethnicity. RESULTS: SANGRA was successful in recognizing South Asian origin in reference datasets, with sensitivity of 89-96 per cent, specificity of 94-98 per cent, positive predictive value (PPV) of 80-89 per cent and negative predictive value (NPV) of 98-99 per cent. Religious origin was correctly assigned in the majority of cases: sensitivity, specificity and PPV were 94 per cent, 91 per cent and 90 per cent for Hindus; 90 per cent, 99 per cent and 98 per cent for Muslims; and 76 per cent, 99 per cent and 94 per cent for Sikhs. SANGRA correctly identified 76 per cent Gujerati and 70 per cent Punjabi names, although only 62 per cent of Gujerati names were sufficiently distinct to be allocated to the Gujerati-only category and only 53 per cent Punjabi names were allocated to the Punjabi-only category. However, specificity and PPV were high for both languages (respectively 97 per cent and 93 per cent for Gujerati, and 99 per cent and 97 per cent for Punjabi). CONCLUSIONS: SANGRA provides a practical and valid method of ascertaining South Asian origin by name and, to a lesser degree of accuracy, of differentiating between the main religious and linguistic subgroups living in Britain. This algorithm will be useful in health-related studies where information on self-ascribed ethnicity is not available or is of a limited nature. (+info)
Management of smell and taste problems.
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Lost or impaired smell or taste should be taken seriously, as it puts a person at higher risk for toxic exposures, such as gas leaks, smoke, and rotting food, and it also takes away the enjoyment of some of life's pleasures, such as the fragrance of flowers or the taste of good food or fine wine. In many patients, the loss follows a viral upper respiratory tract infection, and the only real treatment is to reassure patients that the problem may resolve if the damaged sensory cells regenerate. In other patients, the loss has more subtle causes and deserves a careful investigation and appropriate treatment. This article reviews the proper steps to take when investigating and treating chemosensory difficulties. (+info)
VARIETIES OF INFORMATION REQUESTS IN A MEDICAL LIBRARY.
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In an analysis of the information requests received and recorded in the Cleveland Medical Library over a two-year period, the requests were classified in four groups according to whether they were direct inquiries (factual), indirect (subject), biographical and directory, or requests for verification of literature citations. An attempt was made to discover some of the major characteristics and the volume of activity in each class. The results reflect the information services supplied by a single library with its own unique clientele and functions, rather than provide a means of generalizing about information services in all libraries, although they may give us some useful insights. Detailed analyses are made of direct and of biographical and directory questions. The largest number of inquiries received were those in which literature references on a specified subject were requested (indirect inquiries); these represented over 50 percent of the total. Most of the requests in this category called for limited coverage (five articles or less) in the recent literature (not over five years). Requests for verification of citations ranked next with 25 percent of the total, followed by direct (factual) inquiries (12 percent) and biographical and directory inquiries (9 percent), although it is recognized that these last two classes are probably underrepresented in the sample. (+info)
Directory of clinical databases: improving and promoting their use.
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BACKGROUND: The controversy surrounding the actual and potential use of clinical databases partly reflects the huge variation in their content and quality. In addition, use of existing clinical databases is severely limited by a lack of knowledge of their availability. OBJECTIVES: To develop and test a standardised method for assessing the quality (completeness and accuracy) of clinical databases and to establish a web based directory of databases in the UK. METHODS: An expert group was set up (1). to establish the criteria for inclusion of databases; (2). to develop a quality assessment instrument with high content validity, based on epidemiological theory; (3). to test empirically, modify, and retest the acceptability to database custodians, face validity and floor/ceiling effects; and (4). to design a website. RESULTS: Criteria for inclusion of databases were the provision of individual level data; inclusion in the database defined by a common circumstance (e.g. condition, treatment), an administrative arrangement, or an adverse outcome; and inclusion of data from more than one provider. A quality assessment instrument consisting of 10 items (four on coverage, six on reliability and validity) was developed and shown to have good face and content validity, no floor/ceiling effects, and to be acceptable to database custodians. A website (www.docdat.org) was developed. Indications over the first 18 months (number of visitors to the site) are that it is increasingly popular. By November 2002 there were around 3500 hits a month. CONCLUSIONS: A website now exists where visitors can identify clinical databases in the UK that may be suitable to meet their aims. It is planned both to develop a local version for use within a hospital and to encourage similar national systems in other countries. (+info)
Using publicly available directories to trace survey nonresponders and calculate adjusted response rates.
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In population-based surveys, sample lists are often out of date by the time data collection begins. Consequently, response rates, and the perceived validity of the survey, may be compromised by the unknowing inclusion of ineligible subjects. A strategy to address this issue is ascertainment of survey nonrespondents' eligibility status, enabling post hoc adjustment of response rates. In 1995-1996, population surveys were carried out in two Ontario, Canada, communities. Despite intensive follow-up, the status of 8949 (18.6%) of the 48218 potential subjects in these surveys remained unknown. In response, 500 "unknowns" from each community were randomly selected for tracing by using publicly available telephone directories and, where applicable, city directories. These tracing efforts classified persons into one of three groups: "ineligible" (moved before the mailing), "true nonresponder" (present when the survey was mailed), and "remains unknown" (no directory listing found). Publicly available directories clarified the status of 76.0% of potential participants, reducing the proportion of "unknowns" from 18.6% to 4.6%. Applying the estimated proportions of "ineligibles" from each area resulted in response rates adjusted from 63.8% to 71.2% and from 72.8% to 74.9% in the survey areas. Publicly available directories were used to successfully trace the majority of survey nonresponders, thus strengthening confidence in the survey's results. (+info)
The first 25 years of the Northwestern Ontario Medical Programme.
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OBJECTIVE: A tracking study of the undergraduate medical students and postgraduate residents who participated in the Northwestern Ontario Medical Programme (NOMP) during its first 25 years (1972-1997) was conducted to search for factors related to physician recruitment to Northwestern Ontario. METHODS: Annual editions of the Canadian Medical Directory were used to determine how many participants returned to practise in Northwestern Ontario. RESULTS: A total of 1982 (84.9%) of the 2335 NOMP participants were located using the Canadian Medical Directory. Of those located, 217 (10.9%) had established practice in Northwestern Ontario. Significantly higher recruitment rates (p < 0.001) were found for postgraduate residents (88/410 [21.5%]) than for undergraduates (95/1445 [6.6%]). Undergraduates who returned for multiple placements were significantly (p < 0.001) more likely to practise in Northwestern Ontario. Furthermore, significant differences in recruitment rates (p < 0.001) were found among the 5 Ontario medical schools. A "snapshot" of 1999 identified that undergraduate medical students and postgraduate residents who undertook a NOMP placement were significantly (p < 0.001) more likely to practise in Northwestern Ontario (odds ratio 7.11, 95% confidence interval 5.11-9.90) than those graduating from Ontario universities who did not experience a NOMP placement. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of 25 years of student tracking data confirms that NOMP placements were significantly associated with physician recruitment to Northwestern Ontario. Recruitment rates from participation in NOMP were higher for postgraduate residents, undergraduate medical students who returned for multiple placements, and for undergraduate medical students from certain Ontario universities. (+info)
IMGT/GENE-DB: a comprehensive database for human and mouse immunoglobulin and T cell receptor genes.
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IMGT/GENE-DB is the comprehensive IMGT genome database for immunoglobulin (IG) and T cell receptor (TR) genes from human and mouse, and, in development, from other vertebrates. IMGT/GENE-DB is the international reference for the IG and TR gene nomenclature and works in close collaboration with the HUGO Nomenclature Committee, Mouse Genome Database and genome committees for other species. IMGT/GENE-DB allows a search of IG and TR genes by locus, group and subgroup, which are CLASSIFICATION concepts of IMGT-ONTOLOGY. Short cuts allow the retrieval gene information by gene name or clone name. Direct links with configurable URL give access to information usable by humans or programs. An IMGT/GENE-DB entry displays accurate gene data related to genome (gene localization), allelic polymorphisms (number of alleles, IMGT reference sequences, functionality, etc.) gene expression (known cDNAs), proteins and structures (Protein displays, IMGT Colliers de Perles). It provides internal links to the IMGT sequence databases and to the IMGT Repertoire Web resources, and external links to genome and generalist sequence databases. IMGT/GENE-DB manages the IMGT reference directory used by the IMGT tools for IG and TR gene and allele comparison and assignment, and by the IMGT databases for gene data annotation. IMGT/GENE-DB is freely available at http://imgt.cines.fr. (+info)
The Bioinformatics Links Directory: a compilation of molecular biology web servers.
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The Bioinformatics Links Directory is an online community resource that contains a directory of freely available tools, databases, and resources for bioinformatics and molecular biology research. The listing of the servers published in this and previous issues of Nucleic Acids Research together with other useful tools and websites represents a rich repository of resources that are openly provided to the research community using internet technologies. The 166 servers highlighted in the 2005 90002 are included in the more than 700 links to useful online resources that are currently contained within the descriptive biological categories of the Bioinformatics Links Directory. This curated listing of bioinformatics resources is available online at the Bioinformatics Links Directory web site, http://bioinformatics.ubc.ca/resources/links_directory/. A complete listing of the 2005 Nucleic Acids Research 90002 servers is available online at the Nucleic Acids web site, http://nar.oupjournals.org/, and on the Bioinformatics Links Directory web site, http://bioinformatics.ubc.ca/resources/links_directory/narweb2005/. (+info)