Chapter 6 - Qualitative versus quantitative analysis

BACKGROUND The prognostic significance of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glucose and protein levels among patients with leptomeningeal disease (LMD) is unknown. This single-institution retrospective study aims to investigate the association of CSF glucose and protein levels with overall survival (OS) among metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients with LMD. METHODOLOGY MBC patients diagnosed with LMD between Jan 1st, 2010, and Jan 1st, 2023, were included. Patients without known CSF glucose or protein levels at the time of LMD diagnosis were excluded. OS was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. For multivariate analysis, a step-wise model selection was performed after the inclusion of sub-type of interest, and variables meeting entry (p<0.10) and staying criteria (p<0.05). Median glucose and protein levels were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS 28 patients met inclusion criteria. Positive CSF cytology samples (CSF+) had significantly lower glucose levels vs CSF cytology negative samples (CSF-) [median (IQR) 40 (18-58) vs. 64 (53-92) mg/dl, p=0.006]. Prior study from this data set had shown that the CSF- group was associated with better OS vs the CSF+ group. Hence, four groups were created based on the CSF (+/-) and glucose (Low vs High/Normal). Median OS (months), 95% confidence Interval (CI) for CSF+/Glucose_Low, CSF+/Glucose_Normal/High, CSF-/Glucose_Low and CSF-/Glucose_High/Normal were 3.4(0.23-NE), 16.5(2.9-NE), 3.1(1.28-NE), 51.5(4.9-NE), p=0.03. Glucose_Low overall was associated with shorter OS in multivariate analysis [hazard ratio (HR), 95%CI 4.64 (1.71, 13.2)]. Median CSF protein was not different between CSF+/– groups. Median OS (months), 95%CI for Protein_High and Protein_Low /Normal groups were 28.5 (2.9, 51.5) vs. 6.5 (0.85, 8.0), p=0.36. In multivariate analysis, CSF protein level was not associated with OS. CONCLUSION The association between low CSF glucose level and worse survival among patients with MBC LMD was observed.

The current study aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of linguopalatal contact patterns in participants with acquired apraxia of speech (AOS). Tongue‐to‐palate contacts were recorded for three participants with AOS during consonant singletons and consonant clusters using the Reading Electropalatograph (EPG3) system. Amount and pattern of linguopalatal contact were analysed using qualitative and quantitative analysis methods and the degree of spatial variability was quantified. The results obtained for each of the apraxic speakers were individually compared to those obtained by a control group (n = 5). Misdirected articulatory gestures and distorted spatial configurations for alveolar fricatives were detected in the linguopalatal contact patterns recorded for each of the participants with AOS. Lingual overshoot, right‐side dominant contact, and increased spatial variability were also evidenced by some participants. True omission errors were absent. Overall, the combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques proved valuable in providing a comprehensive analysis of linguopalatal contact in AOS. Results provided support for a motoric account of articulatory and prosodic deficits in AOS.

Qualitative Analysis with Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging & Quantification for Differential Diagnosis of Breast Lesions Compared with Quantitative Analysis

ObjectiveTo analyze the characteristics of high-frame-rate contrast-enhanced ultrasound (H-CEUS) in solid renal tumors using qualitative and quantitative methods.MethodsSeventy-five patients who underwent preoperative conventional ultrasound (US), conventional contrast-enhanced ultrasound (C-CEUS), and H-CEUS examination of renal tumors were retrospectively analyzed, with a total of 89 renal masses. The masses were divided into the benign (30 masses) and malignant groups (59 masses) based on the results of enhanced computer tomography and pathology. The location, diameter, shape, border, calcification, and color doppler blood flow imaging (CDFI) of the lesions were observed by US, and the characteristics of the C-CEUS and H-CEUS images were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The χ² test or Fisher’s exact probability method was used to compare the US image characteristics between the benign and malignant groups, and the image characteristics of C-CEUS and H-CEUS between the benign and malignant groups. Moreover, the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the differences in C-CEUS and H-CEUS time-intensity curve (TIC) parameters.ResultsSignificant differences in gender, surgical approach, echogenicity, and CDFI were observed between the malignant and benign groups (p = 0.003, < 0.001, < 0.001, = 0003). Qualitative analysis also revealed significant differences in the mode of wash-out and fill-in direction between C-CEUS and H-CEUS in the malignant group (p = 0.041, 0.002). In addition, the homogeneity of enhancement showed significant differences between the two contrast models in the benign group (p = 0.009). Quantitative analysis indicated that the TIC parameters peak intensity (PI), deceleration time (DT) /2, area under the curve (AUC), and mean transition time (MTT) were significantly lower in the H-CEUS model compared to the C-CEUS model in both the benign and malignant groups. (all p < 0.001). In contrast, ascending slope of rise curve (AS) was significantly higher in the H-CEUS model compared to the C-CEUS model in the malignant group (p = 0.048).ConclusionsIn renal tumors, H-CEUS shows clearer internal enhancement of the mass and the changes in the wash-out period. The quantitative TIC parameters PI, DT/2, AUC, and MTT were lower in H-CEUS compared to C-CEUS. Both the quantitative and qualitative analyses indicated that H-CEUS better displays the characteristics of solid renal masses compared with C-CEUS.

Phonetics with mechanics and aesthetics are considered cardinal factors contributing to the success of complete dentures. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the changes in speech in complete denture patients with and without palatal surface changes. The data collected for the study involved completely edentulous Patients (n= 80). Patients were divided into two groups. Group A: Up to 50 years (n= 40); Group B: Above 50 years (n= 40) (including male and female). Each group was further divided into four subgroups for speech analysis-without dentures (A1/B1); with conventional dentures (A2/B2); dentures with a palatogram (A3/B3) and dentures with palate sandblasted (A4/B4). The speech sounds of all patients were evaluated for pitch and intensity using a spectrophotogram (Praat software) and Likert scale. The data so obtained from the quantitative and qualitative analysis were statistically analysed through one-way ANOVA, unpaired student's t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficient. Qualitative analysis was done with the Mann-Whitney U test. The maximum mean value of the pitch and intensity in Groups A and B was subgroup A3 (Palatogram) 190.37 ± 21.50 and 77.07 ± 7.58, B3 (Palatogram) 190.87 ± 24.36 and 75.33 ± 8.12. When comparing Groups A [A1, A2, A3, A4] and B [B1, B2, B3, B4] on the basis of pitch and intensity, a statistically insignificant value was found. No changes in speech sounds (pitch and intensity) were observed in terms of age. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis results showed that speech sounds in the patients with palatogram, had the highest pitch and intensity and were most clear to the listener and there were statistically significant differences from other groups. Speech was better in palatogram-based dentures in comparison to a sandblasted denture, conventional denture and without denture in terms of qualitative and quantitative analysis. The physiologic nature of the palatogram fabrication technique produces the palatal part of the denture more compatible with the tongue, thus producing better speech.

PurposeTo quantify artifacts from different root filling materials in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images acquired using different exposure parameters.Materials and MethodsFifteen single-rooted teeth were scanned using 8 different exposure protocols with 3 different filling materials and once without filling material as a control group. Artifact quantification was performed by a trained observer who made measurements in the central axial slice of all acquired images in a fixed region of interest using ImageJ. Hyperdense artifacts, hypodense artifacts, and the remaining tooth area were identified, and the percentages of hyperdense and hypodense artifacts, remaining tooth area, and tooth area affected by the artifacts were calculated. Artifacts were analyzed qualitatively by 2 observers using the following scores: absence (0), moderate presence (1), and high presence (2) for hypodense halos, hypodense lines, and hyperdense lines. Two-way ANOVA and the post-hoc Tukey test were used for quantitative and qualitative artifact analysis. The Dunnet test was also used for qualitative analysis. The significance level was set at P<.05.ResultsThere were no significant interactions among the exposure parameters in the quantitative or qualitative analysis. Significant differences were observed among the studied filling materials in all quantitative analyses. In the qualitative analyses, all materials differed from the control group in terms of hypodense and hyperdense lines (P<.05). Fiberglass posts did not differ statistically from the control group in terms of hypodense halos (P>.05).ConclusionDifferent exposure parameters did not affect the objective or subjective observations of artifacts in CBCT images; however, the filling materials used in endodontic restorations did affect both types of assessments.

BackgroundWest Nile virus (WNV) infection has become endemic in the continental United States. Eighty percent of the West Nile virus infections are asymptomatic. One in 150 individuals with West Nile virus infection develops West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND). The neurological manifestations include encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, meningitis, and acute flaccid paralysis.MethodsWe performed a retrospective descriptive study in our tertiary care hospital in Louisiana to describe the clinical features, Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings and clinical outcomes. Patients aged >18 years admitted in our hospital between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017 were included. Hospital Electronic Health records were screened for diagnosis of WNND by ICD codes and positive WNV antibody testing in CSF.ResultsThere were a total of 23 patients identified with positive WNV IgM or IgG in CSF. Fifteen patients were males and eight were female. The median age was 48.8 years. Six patients were diagnosed with meningitis, 12 with encephalitis, and five with meningoencephalitis. Most Common presenting symptoms were altered mental status and fever in 15 patients. Only two patients gave history of mosquito bite. Incidence was peak in the month of August, July, and September.WNV IgG and IgM antibodies were positive in CSF in 13 patients. Four patients had only positive WNV IgM and six patients had only positive WNV IgG. The average number of days from the admission to diagnosis of infection ranged from 3 to 16 days with average of 8.9 days. CSF protein was >45 mg/dL in 12 patients and elevated white cell count (>5 mm3) in 20 patients. CSF protein >100 mg/dL was seen in nine patients. Lymphocytosis was present in 10 patients. The average length of stay was 13.3 days and nine patients required ICU stay. Only one patient was not given any antibiotics. The average duration of antibiotics was 6.4 days. On 1 year follow-up, eight patients had no residual deficits, four patients had residual deficits, two patients were deceased, and nine patients were lost to follow-up.ConclusionWNV infection has become endemic in Southern United States especially in summer months. Identifying the infection early in its clinical course would help to avoid unnecessary antibiotics when patients present with fever and meningeal symptoms. Including WNV antibodies in CSF studies is critical in making a diagnosis.DisclosuresAll authors: No reported disclosures.

Objective To investigate the change of 14-3-3 protein in cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) in different types of meningoencephalitis in children and its value in judging brain injury. Methods CSF 14-3-3 protein bands were detected by means of Western blot in 22 patients with viral meningoencephalitis and 20 cases of purulent meningoencephalitis and with 15 cases of febrile seizures as the control group from Jul. 2009 to Jun. 2010, and in addition, the quantitative detection of 14-3-3 protein was done by way of ELISA.Correlation was analyzed between the clinical manifestations, prognosis, EEG, head CT or MRI and the changes of 14-3-3 protein. Results The positive rate of 14-3-3 protein in cases of purulent meningitis was 65.0(13/22 cases), higher than viral meningoencephalitis group(27.3%, 6/22 cases), and the difference was significant.In the quantitative detection, 14-3-3 protein was increased in both the purulent meningitis [(5.6±0.2) μg/L]and viral encephalitis groups[(3.2±0.3) μg/L]compared with the control group[(0.9±0.1) μg/L]. After treatment, 14-3-3 proteins were less than before in the purulent meningitis and viral meningoencephalitis groups.In the cases with severe clinical manifestations and severe injury brain suggested by imaging and EEG, the 14-3-3 protein in cerebrospinal fluid was elevated; and the prognosis of the cases with increased 14-3-3 protein was poor, as a result of epilepsy, death and so on. Conclusions 14-3-3 protein in the CSF increases with disease severity, so to a certain extent, it can be used to identify viral meningitis and purulent meningitis. Key words: 14-3-3 protein; Meningoencephalitis; Child

Kencur (Kaempferia galanga L.) is one of the plants in the Zingiberaceae family (gingers) that is often used by people in Asia, including Indonesia. Kencur is also widely used as a traditional medicine because it contains active compounds that are beneficial for treatment. This research aims to conduct a qualitative and quantitative analysis of secondary metabolites in Kencur extract samples. Qualitative analysis was conducted using thin layer chromatography with three variations of the mobile phase: Chloroform : Methanol (95:5), Chloroform : Methanol : Glacial Acetic Acid (94:5:1), Chloroform : n-Hexane : Methanol (1:1:0.1), and the stationary phase Silica Gel GF254. Meanwhile, the quantitative analysis was conducted using UV-Vis spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 429.5 nm. The research results show that Kencur contains compounds such as tannins, glycosides, and terpenoids. This research also identifies the presence of curcumin, which has antioxidant effects and other benefits. The results indicate that 2 out of 3 experiments showed positive results, with Kencur containing curcumin at levels of 0.4593% and 0.4393%. The methods used were qualitative methods through thin-layer chromatography and quantitative analysis of curcumin levels in the samples using UV-Vis spectrophotometry.

Quantitative proteomic analysis of age-related changes in human cerebrospinal fluid

A review of the qualitative research methods discussed in papers that study software engineering teams showed most of those papers did not follow a systematic process during the qualitative analysis. This finding is concerning as this deficiency in research analysis procedure may reduce the validity and/or completeness of the qualitative results. Such a lack of rigor may be a result of qualitative research not being as firmly established in software engineering as quantitative research methodologies. In engineering research, quantitative methods are typically more prevalent and qualitative analysis is part of a mixed-method analysis process. However, when researching teams, where human activity is abundant, qualitative analysis may need to take precedence. In this paper, we focus on the qualitative analysis method called content analysis with the goal of presenting a rigorous process for content analysis in the context of software engineering. We then present and demonstrate the use of that content analysis process for software engineering researchers using two examples. An analysis of 215 articles that were a result of a mapping study on software engineering team research is presented. Those papers were analyzed to determine which utilized a qualitative data analysis method in their research in addition to the rigor and type of qualitative analysis performed. We ultimately included 23 papers in this study. We present a mapping study and a content analysis process that include a straightforward way to select, code, and present data in both inductive and deductive studies. We demonstrated the process using the keywords from the papers included in this study as well as on a second data set that utilized responses from structured interview transcripts from practicing software engineers. The first dataset also resulted in a taxonomy to categorize software engineering team research. We presented and demonstrated a content analysis process in terms of software engineering in order to improve future qualitative software engineering research that would benefit from systematic content analysis.

A long tradition in innovation research asserts that data-driven organizations excel at incremental innovation, but allocate resources away from less-measurable breakthrough innovations. Questioning this premise, I distinguish the magnitude of an organization’s use of quantitative analysis from the epistemic plasticity of its organizational culture (the extent to which its members use different kinds of analyses). I argue that organizations using more quantitative analysis will actually produce more breakthrough innovations—provided that their cultures are plastic enough to use qualitative analysis liberally as well. To test my theory, I measure innovation performance using product-level sales and attribute data for over 3,500 consumer product launches from 61 organizations between 2010 and 2016; I measure use of qualitative and quantitative analyses using natural language processing on employee résumés. I find that increased reliance on quantitative analysis decreases innovation performance when qualitative analysis is low, and, conversely, increases when qualitative analysis is high. Additional analyses show that this relationship is particularly strong for novel products, and in markets characterized by high uncertainty. I also explore antecedents: management fads, not organizational learning, appear to account for excessively data-driven cultures. The paper contributes to organizational theories of innovation, and to research linking organizational culture to strategic performance.

IntroductionUrinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common pediatric infections. UTI may be associated with bacteremia and even meningitis in small babies, warranting full septic work up including a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), especially in infants below the age of 60 days. Literature regarding the co-existence of meningitis in infants diagnosed with UTI is conflicting. It is critical to be able to correctly identify and treat any co-existing meningitis, as both the choice and duration of antibiotic used for UTI, is often insufficient to effectively treat meningitis.ObjectiveThe primary objective of this study was to determine the rate of co-existing bacterial meningitis in infants below the age of 60 days with a diagnosed urinary tract infection (UTI) and to determine if age, sex and prematurity and bacteremia were risk factors.MethodA retrospective observational study was conducted at Hamad General Hospital, a tertiary medical institution in the State of Qatar. Patients under the age of 2 months hospitalized with a first episode of UTI from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2013 were included in the study. UTI was defined as urine culture growing a single organism, with a colony count of greater than 103, where in the urine sample was obtained by either catheterization or supra-pubic aspiration. Infants with pre-exisiting clinical conditions like spina bifida or meningomyelocele and those diagnosed with congenital renal anamolies, were excluded from the study because of their higher likelihood of developing UTI. Infants with a questionable diagnosis of UTI (not in accordance with American Academy of Pediatrics definition of UTI) were also excluded.The study was approved by the Medical Research Center at Hamad Medical Corporation.Results113 patients met the inclusion criteria. 51 patients (44.3%) were neonates (0?28 days old) and 64 patients (55.7%) were between the age group of 29 to 60 days. 43.5% of the infants were male, and most (86.1%) were term. All 113 patients had culture proven UTI. The commonest pathogens causing UTI were Escherichia coli (38%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (15%), Enterococcus faecalis (13%), Group B Streptococcus sp(7%), and Citrobacter (6%). As per the routine practice in our institution, blood culture was ordered in all but one patient. Among these 112 patients, 3 (2.6%) had bacteremia. All 3 patients were Term female babies, 2 of them were neonates and 1 was between 29 to 60 days of age. Of the three pts who had a positive blood culture, CSF study was done in two babies, which was negative and 1 patient's family refused CSF study. A cerebrospinal tap was done in 78 patients i.e. 69% of the sudy population. None of these patients had a postive CSF culture. Physicians were more likely to order a CSF study in babies who were neonates (80% had a CSF study, as opposed to 60.3% of babies in the 29 to 60 day age group).ConclusionOur study demonstrated that in the 78 patients with culture proven UTI, who had a CSF study, none of the patients had co-existing bacterial meningitis. Our results are reflective of several other studies which also show a low risk of meningitis in patients with UTI. We tried to overcome some of the limitations of these studies by maintaining very strict criteria for diagnosing UTI. CSF study is a part of the septic work up in neonates. In contrast for patients between the age group of 29 to 60 days, more selective approach to lumbar puncture is warranted.

BackgroundTo evaluate the effect of several representative decontamination methods of oral biofilms on different implant surfaces.Material and methodsEleven participants wore a hard resin splint carrying 6 rough (GC Aadva® implant; 3.3-mm diameter, 8-mm length) or machined (not commercially available) surface implants for 4 days to accumulate dental plaque naturally on the titanium surfaces of the implants. Apart from surface roughness, the morphology of all implants was identical. After detaching the implants from the splints, the ability of the following decontamination methods—gauze soaked in saline (G), ultrasonic scaler (US), air abrasive (Air), rotary stainless steel instrument (Rot), and Er:YAG laser (Las)—to cleanse the contaminated implant surface for 1 min extra-orally was tested. The control (Cont) group did not receive any decontamination. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) investigation of one participant’s samples was employed to examine the post-instrumented implant surface for qualitative analysis, and bacterial culture of the remaining 10 participants’ samples was performed to count the number of colony-forming units (CFU) for quantitative analysis. The experimental sequence was initially performed for the rough surface implants and then similarly repeated for the machined surface implants. Bacterial CFU counts among the six groups were analyzed using the Steel-Dwass test, and differences between rough and machined surface implants were determined using the Mann-Whitney U test.ResultsG and Rot eliminated most biofilms on machined surface implants according to SEM analysis. G, Air, and Rot removed significantly more of the biofilms on rough and machined surface implants compared with US according to CFU counts. Moreover, G significantly reduced more biofilms than Las on machined surface implants. The analysis between rough and machined surface implants showed that Cont, G, and US were better able to cleanse biofilms on machined surface implants compared with rough surface implants.ConclusionsGauze soaked in saline and rotary stainless steel instruments may be advantageous for cleansing contaminated implant surfaces based on the qualitative and quantitative analyses. In contrast, air abrasives were not shown to be preferable in the qualitative analyses. Additionally, apart from the Er:YAG laser, the reduction of biofilms assessed in both qualitative and quantitative analyses demonstrated that all decontamination methods were better at cleansing machined surface implants compared with rough surface implants.

A comprehensive quality evaluation strategy of Mailuoning oral liquid based on fingerprint, qualitative and quantitative analyses