Showing papers by "McMaster University published in 1987"
TL;DR: Responsiveness should join reliability and validity as necessary requirements for instruments designed primarily to measure change over time in psychometric measures.
1,867 citations
TL;DR: It has been shown that the questionnaire is precise, valid, and responsive and can therefore serve as a useful disease specific measure of quality of life for clinical trials.
Abstract: Since the relationships between pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and functional state or quality of life are generally weak, a self report questionnaire has been developed to determine the effect of treatment on quality of life in clinical trials. One hundred patients with chronic airflow limitation were asked how their quality of life was affected by their illness, and how important their symptoms and limitations were. The most frequent and important items were used to construct a questionnaire evaluating four dimensions: dyspnoea, fatigue, emotional function, and the patient's feeling of control over the disease (mastery). Reproducibility, tested by repeated administration to patients in a stable condition, was excellent: the coefficient of variation was less than 12% for all four dimensions. Responsiveness (sensitivity to change) was tested by administering the questionnaire to 13 patients before and after optimisation of their drug treatment and to another 28 before and after participation in a respiratory rehabilitation programme. In both cases large, statistically significant improvements in all four dimensions were noted. Changes in questionnaire score were correlated with changes in spirometric values, exercise capacity, and patients' and physicians' global ratings. Thus it has been shown that the questionnaire is precise, valid, and responsive. It can therefore serve as a useful disease specific measure of quality of life for clinical trials.
1,661 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that monocyte-derived hepatocyte-stimulating factor and IFN-beta 2 share immunological and functional identity and that IFN -beta 2, also known as B-cell stimulatory factor and hybridoma plasmacytoma growth factor, has the hepatocyte as a major physiologic target and thereby is essential in controlling the hepatic acute phase response.
Abstract: One of the oldest and most preserved of the homeostatic responses of the body to injury is the acute phase protein response associated with inflammation. The liver responds to hormone-like mediators by the increased synthesis of a series of plasma proteins called acute phase reactants. In these studies, we examined the relationship of hepatocyte-stimulating factor derived from peripheral blood monocytes to interferon beta 2 (IFN-beta 2), which has been cloned. Antibodies raised against fibroblast-derived IFN-beta having neutralizing activity against both IFN-beta 1 and -beta 2 inhibited the major hepatocyte-stimulating activity derived from monocytes. Fibroblast-derived mediator elicited the identical stimulated response in human HepG2 cells and primary rat hepatocytes as the monocyte cytokine. Finally, recombinant-derived human B-cell stimulatory factor type 2 (IFN-beta 2) from Escherichia coli induced the synthesis of all major acute phase proteins studied in human hepatoma HepG2 and primary rat hepatocyte cultures. These data demonstrate that monocyte-derived hepatocyte-stimulating factor and IFN-beta 2 share immunological and functional identity and that IFN-beta 2, also known as B-cell stimulatory factor and hybridoma plasmacytoma growth factor, has the hepatocyte as a major physiologic target and thereby is essential in controlling the hepatic acute phase response.
1,611 citations
1,111 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that the utility approach is beyond the experimental stage, and is now a viable alternative for investigators to use in measuring health-related quality of life.
1,038 citations
TL;DR: This compilation and analysis of promoters with known transcriptional start points for E. coli genes should be useful for studies of promoter structure and function and for programs which identify potential promoter sequences.
Abstract: We have compiled and analyzed 263 promoters with known transcriptional start points for E. coli genes. Promoter elements (-35 hexamer, -10 hexamer, and spacing between these regions) were aligned by a program which selects the arrangement consistent with the start point and statistically most homologous to a reference list of promoters. The initial reference list was that of Hawley and McClure (Nucl. Acids Res. 11, 2237-2255, 1983). Alignment of the complete list was used for reference until successive analyses did not alter the structure of the list. In the final compilation, all bases in the -35 (TTGACA) and -10 (TATAAT) hexamers were highly conserved, 92% of promoters had inter-region spacing of 17 +/- 1 bp, and 75% of the uniquely defined start points initiated 7 +/- 1 bases downstream of the -10 region. The consensus sequence of promoters with inter-region spacing of 16, 17 or 18 bp did not differ. This compilation and analysis should be useful for studies of promoter structure and function and for programs which identify potential promoter sequences.
1,028 citations
TL;DR: A large cohort of infants studied consecutively in the postnatal period allowed us to determine the normal development of the human coagulation system in the full-term infant and found that near-adult values are achieved for most components by 6 months of life.
1,003 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the results of a calorimetric study of the glassy state of water obtained by rapid cooling or by hyperquenching, demonstrate the reversibility of its glass-liquid transition in the temperature range 113-148 K, and consider the implication to our understanding of its other non-crystalline solid forms.
Abstract: Non-crystalline solid forms of water prepared by the usual two methods of vapour-deposition on a substrate1,2 and by compression of hexagonal ice in a piston cylinder apparatus at 77 K (refs 3,4) do not seem to undergo a glass–liquid transition on heating2,5–7. Neither of these two, or possibly three, non-crystalline forms seem to be interconvertible by a single thermodynamic path involving only temperature or pressure. Also, their molecular structures are thermodynamically discontinuous8, with the structure of bulk water above 273 K and of emulsified water in the supercooled state near 230 K (see also refs 2 and 9). It has been difficult, therefore, to resolve whether or not water supercools to a glassy state in a thermodynamically reversible manner. We now report the results of a calorimetric study of the glassy state of water obtained by rapid cooling or by hyperquenching, demonstrate the reversibility of its glass–liquid transition in the temperature range 113–148 K, and consider the implication to our understanding of its other non-crystalline solid forms.
696 citations
TL;DR: The opinion is that all physicians in the community who care for children with chronic health problems should become skilled in the recognition of existing or incipient mental health and social problems and familiar with preventive and treatment approaches that may lessen the excessive burden of psychosocial problems among those with chronic ill-health.
Abstract: Chronic childhood illness, disability, and psychosocial problems are receiving major attention in current pediatric care. Much of the evidence associating chronic physical problems and mental health and adjustment problems has come from clinic-based studies and is often inconsistent in its conclusions. This paper reports the findings of the Ontario Child Health Study, an epidemiologic survey of 3,294 children 4 to 16 years of age in the general community, concerning the relationship of psychiatric disorders and social adjustment problems among children with chronic illness, medical conditions, and long-term disability in contrast to children free of chronic physical health problems. Age- and sex-adjusted risks for psychiatric disorders and social problems, compared with those for healthy peers, were calculated: children with both chronic illness and associated disability were at greater than threefold risk for psychiatric disorders and considerable risk for social adjustment problems. Children with chronic medical conditions, but no disability, were at considerably less risk: about a twofold increase in psychiatric disorders but little increased risk for social adjustment problems was observed. A relative underuse of specialized mental health services by children who might benefit supports the opinion that all physicians in the community who care for children with chronic health problems should become skilled in the recognition of existing or incipient mental health and social problems and familiar with preventive and treatment approaches that may lessen the excessive burden of psychosocial problems among those with chronic ill-health.
553 citations
TL;DR: There is evidence of cellular inflammation in the airway of stable asthmatics and that small volume washings do not add to the information concerning the cell profile of asthMatics and nonasthmatics provided by conventional lavage.
Abstract: Asthma is associated with increased airway responsiveness to pharmacologic agents such as methacholine. Increases in airway responsiveness after exposure to allergen or ozone are associated with increased inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage both in human and in animal studies. We studied the total and differential cell counts in 10 stable atopic asthmatics who had airway hyperresponsiveness but no clinical features of airway inflammation and 10 nonasthmatic subjects, using a conventional 100-ml lavage and a 20-ml washing. Metachromatic cell numbers and eosinophils were increased in both the lavage (p < 0.01 for metachromatic cells; p = 0.05 for eosinophils) and washing (p < 0.025 for metachromatic cells and p = 0.03 for eosinophils) compared with those in nonasthmatics. In asthmatics, metachromatic cell numbers in the lavage and washing, and total cell count and, to a lesser extent, eosinophils in lavage were significantly correlated with measurements of airway responsiveness. Major basic protein...
485 citations
TL;DR: The two methods of presenting response options show comparable responsiveness in a questionnaire measuring quality of life in chronic lung disease, and the ease of administration and interpretation of the seven-point scale recommend its use in clinical trials.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the independent effects of status differential on intergroup behavior and found that high and equal status group members were more discriminatory against outgroups and more positive about their own group membership.
Abstract: This study investigated the independent effects of status differential on intergroup behaviour. Using a variant of the minimal group paradigm (Tueland Turner, 1979), subjects were categorized into groups of differing status (high, equal, low) with two levels of category salience (high, low). Using Tajfel's matrices subjects rated the creativity of products ostensibly produced by ingroup and outgroup members. Own group identification, intergroup perceptions and self-reported strategies on the matrices constituted the other dependent measures. Results indicated a main effect for group status but none for salience. Equal status groups discriminated against each other thus replicating the minimal intergroup discrimination effect. High and equal status group members were more discriminatory against outgroups and more positive about their own group membership than were low status group members. In contrast, low status group members engaged in significant amounts of outgroup favouritism. Results also showed that social categorization per se was sufficient to elicit more ingroup than outgroup liking amongst all group members regardless of status differentials between groups. Overall, the results illustrate important aspects of the interplay between group status, social identity, prejudice and discrimination.
02 Nov 1987-Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research Section B-beam Interactions With Materials and Atoms
TL;DR: In this paper, the graphite produced by the reduction of carbon dioxide over a transition metal catalyst has been used as a sample material in the AMS counting of 14C for several years.
Abstract: Filamentous graphite produced by the reduction of carbon dioxide over a transition metal catalyst has been used as a sample material in the AMS counting of 14C for several years. While iron has been the most common catalyst used, cobalt and nickel have also been investigated. We have compared the reaction's total isotopic fractionation using these three metals in various powder forms. The graphites produced over these catalysts have been compared with respect to ion beam intensity and measured isotope ratio in our AMS system. The use of the reduction catalysts as graphite binders improved the very poor thermal conductivity of pure filamentous graphite. The relative advantages of the elements for modern contamination of the sample material were also determined.
TL;DR: The association between suppression of intragastric acidity and duodenal ulcer healing rates for a number of therapeutic regimens was examined and suppression of nocturnal acidity was found to be the single most important factor in explaining healing rates.
Abstract: FVMany different dosage schedules of antisecretory drugs for the treatment of duodenal ulcer are recommended. The relationship between degree of acid suppression and therapeutic efficacy has not been precisely defined for these drugs. We have examined the association between suppression of intragastric acidity and duodenal ulcer healing rates for a number of therapeutic regimens. For the H2 receptor antagonists alone, the most significant correlation with healing rates was with suppression of intragastric acidity at night (r = 0.926; p = 0.0001). When other classes of drug: high dose antacid, omeprazole and a synthetic prostaglandin (enprostil) were included in the analysis, the closest correlation was with suppression of total 24 hour intragastric acidity (r = 0.911; p less than F0.0001). Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to investigate the relative contributions to healing of suppression of acidity during the day and night. Suppression of nocturnal acidity was found to be the single most important factor in explaining healing rates. No further benefit was obtained with daytime suppression for H2 receptor antagonists; suppression of acidity at night accounted for 86.1% of the observed variation in healing rates among different regimens of H2 receptor antagonists. When all classes of drugs were analysed, inclusion of daytime suppression produced a significant improvement in correlation over nocturnal suppression alone. Drug regimens providing potent suppression of nocturnal acidity produce the highest healing rates in controlled clinical trials. The healing rate for any dose regimen of an antisecretory drug can be predicted from a knowledge of its effect on intragastric acidity. For the H2 receptor antagonists, suppression of nocturnal acidity is the most relevant in this context. Moderate suppression of acidity achieves ulcer healing rates at four to eight weeks which are comparable with those seen with potent suppression at two to four weeks. Increasing degrees of suppression merely accelerate healing.
TL;DR: The results demonstrate that, for the representative tissues studied, the total attenuation coefficients are of the order of 10-100 mm-1, and that the scattering is highly forward peaked, with average cosine of scatter in the range 0.6-0.97.
Abstract: Measurements have been made of the total attenuation coefficient sigma t and the scattering phase function, S(theta), of 632.8 nm of light for a number of animal model tissues, blood, and inert scattering and absorbing media. Polystyrene microspheres of known size and refractive index, for which sigma t and S(theta) can be calculated by Mie theory, were used to test the experimental methods. The purpose of the study was to define typical ranges for these optical properties of tissues, as a contribution to the development of experimental and theoretical methods of light dosimetry in tissue, particularly related to photodynamic therapy of solid tumors. The results demonstrate that, for the representative tissues studied, the total attenuation coefficients are of the order of 10-100 mm-1, and that the scattering is highly forward peaked, with average cosine of scatter in the range 0.6-0.97.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this article, the correlation of response with dose intensity of single-agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) against colorectal cancer, multi-agent CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-FU), and adjuvant therapy in stage II breast cancer was analyzed.
TL;DR: It is suggested that physicians cannot rely on severity of airflow limitation as an indicator of the impact of CAL on patients' lives and patients should be specifically asked about problem areas, especially emotional difficulties, and spouses' view of the problems should be obtained.
Abstract: One hundred patients with chronic airflow limitation (CAL) randomly selected from over 600 such patients seen in the previous 2 years at a respiratory referral centre were asked about the ways in which their lives were adversely effected by their lung problems. Major problem areas included dyspnoea on day-to-day activities, fatigue and certain areas of emotional function including embarrassment, depression, anxiety and frustration. Severity of airflow limitation was only weakly related to patients' problems. Patients did not volunteer items easily, and most problems were elicited by specific probes. In 36 subjects, relatives were asked about the patients' problems. Relatives tended to identify fewer items, but items identified were judged more important; there was a limited relation between spouses' and patients' assessment of CAL-related problems (Pearson's r = 0.42-0.60). These results suggest that physicians cannot rely on severity of airflow limitation as an indicator of the impact of CAL on patients' lives. Patients should be specifically asked about problem areas, especially emotional difficulties, and spouses' view of the problems should be obtained.
TL;DR: Post hoc analysis suggests that the inclusion of gastrointestinal side effects in the consent form may have increased the likelihood of patients attributing gastrointestinal symptoms to drug therapy, leading to subsequent withdrawl from the study.
Abstract: In a multicenter trial of aspirin or sulfinpyrazone in the treatment of unstable angina, we examined the possible importance to the outcome of mentioning potential side effects in the consent form. Inclusion, in two of the three centers, of a statement outlining possible gastrointestinal side effects resulted in a sixfold increase (P less than 0.001) in the number of subjects in these centers withdrawing from the study because of subjective, minor gastrointestinal symptoms. Major gastrointestinal complications such as peptic ulcer or bleeding as diagnosed by study physicians were similar in the three centers. Furthermore, no patient discontinued therapy because of subjective, nongastrointestinal side effects. Post hoc analysis suggests that the inclusion of gastrointestinal side effects in the consent form may have increased the likelihood of patients attributing gastrointestinal symptoms to drug therapy, leading to subsequent withdrawal from the study.
TL;DR: A glycoprotein on the surface of cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) which, in conjunction with gE, binds immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the findings that gE and g70 are coprecipitated with IgG and with an anti-gE monoclonal antibody suggests that gW and gE form a complex which binds IgG.
Abstract: We detected a glycoprotein on the surface of cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) which, in conjunction with gE, binds immunoglobulin G (IgG). The novel glycoprotein, which has an apparent molecular mass of 70 kilodaltons and was provisionally named g70, was first detected in extracts of HSV-1-infected cells labeled by lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination and precipitated with rabbit sera or IgG and protein A-Sepharose. In subsequent experiments, g70 and gE were coprecipitated from extracts of HSV-1-infected cells labeled with [35S]methionine, [35S]cysteine, or 14C-amino acids. We were unable to precipitate a polypeptide analogous to g70 or gE from extracts of HSV-2-infected cells with rabbit IgG and protein A-Sepharose. Partial proteolytic peptide analysis indicated that g70 is structurally distinct from gE and gI). In addition, g70 was electrophoretically distinct from the HSV-1 Us4 glycoprotein gG. HSV-1 gE, expressed in mouse cells transfected with the gE gene, was not precipitated with rabbit IgG, nor could these cells bind radiolabeled IgG, suggesting that gE alone cannot act as an IgG (Fc) receptor. This result, coupled with the findings that gE and g70 are coprecipitated with IgG and with an anti-gE monoclonal antibody, suggests that gE and g70 form a complex which binds IgG. The electrophoretic mobilities of g70 molecules induced by different strains of HSV-1 differed markedly, arguing that g70 is encoded by the virus and is not a cellular protein induced by virus infection.
TL;DR: Prophylaxis was started within 7 days of the onset of stroke with a loading dose of 1000 anti-factor-Xa units intravenously followed by a fixed dose of 750 anti- Factor Xa units twice a day subcutaneously; it was continued for 14 days or until hospital discharge, if earlier.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify different types or dimensions of new product success and the specific determinants of these different success types, including financial performance, opportunity windows and market share.
Abstract: The research seeks to identify different types or dimensions of new product success and the specific determinants of these different success types. Based on a sample of 125 companies, including 123 new product successes and 80 failures, three independent dimensions of success were found: financial performance, opportunity windows and market share. The determinants of success differ for the three performance dimensions. Managerial implications are discussed.
TL;DR: It is found that oligo(dT)18 can be used to normalize signal strengths rapidly and conveniently from total or oligo (dT)-selected eukaryotic RNA.
TL;DR: The images obtained with 6–[l8F]fluoro‐l‐DOPA and positron emission tomography in humans can now be interpreted in neurochemical terms.
Abstract: The tracers 6-[18F]fluoro-1-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-alanine (6–[18F]fluoro-l-DOPA) and 1-[14C]DOPA were injected simultaneously into rhesus monkeys, and the time course of their metabolites was measured in the striatum and in the occipital and frontal cortices. In the striatum, 6-[18F]fluoro-L-DOPA was metabolized to 6–[18F]fluorodo-pamine, 3,4-dihydroxy-6–[18F]fluorophenylaceticacid, and 6–[18F]fluorohomovanillic acid. The metabolite pattern was qualitatively similar to that of 1-[14C]DOPA. 6–[18F]Fluorodopamine was synthesized faster than [14C]do-pamine. In the frontal cortex, the major metabolite was also 6–[18F]fluorodopamine or [14C]dopamine. In the occipital cortex, the major metabolite was 3-O-methyl-6–[18F]fluoro-L-DOPA. On the basis of these data, the images obtained with 6–[l8F]fluoro-l-DOPA and positron emission tomography in humans can now be interpreted in neurochemical terms.
TL;DR: In this chapter, investigations on the potential for neuropeptide regulation of tnucosal immunity include both in vitro and in vivo studies involving substance P, somatostatin and vasoactive intestinal peptide, and evidence that nerve growth factor may be an important molecule in regulating both lymphocytes and mast cells in mucosal tissues is presented.
Abstract: In this chapter, we discuss in detail our investigations on the potential for neuropeptide regulation of tnucosal immunity. This includes both in vitro and in vivo studies involving substance P (SP), somatostatin (SOM) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). We have examined the effects of these neuropeptides on lymphocyte proliferation and immunoglobulin synthesis, and on mast cell degranulation. We also present evidence that nerve growth factor (NGE) may be an important molecule in regulating both lymphocytes and mast cells in mucosal tissues. The majority of our studies have involved the gastrointestinal tract and we shall use this organ to illustrate the basic concepts and our hypotheses. It is recognized that not everyone reading this paper will be familiar with the mucosal immune system, nor the potential sources of neuropeptides within mucosae. Accordingly, we have included a brief overview of these areas, with reference to review articles for further information. The reader should note that there is extensive literature on the involvement of other neuropeptides in immune regulation; however, it is not our intention to review this work in detail. Other chapters in this volume present considerable evidence for the extensive interplay of the immune and nervous systems and there is inevitably some overlap between these contributions and our own studies. The reader is referred to the extensive bibliographies throughout this volume for additional useful references.
TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that non-nuclear attractors may be typical of the alkali metals and are responsible for their characteristic properties in charge distributions of both Li and Na atoms, and the properties of the resulting pseudo atoms as determined by the theory of atoms in molecules are similar for both sets of clusters.
TL;DR: Membrane proteins from rabbit and human platelets were separated by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and the resolved polypeptides blotted on nitrocellulose and a family of GTP-binding proteins, termed Gn proteins, was detected by incubation of these blots with [alpha-32P]GTP in the presence of Mg2+.
Abstract: Membrane proteins from rabbit and human platelets were separated by SDS/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and the resolved polypeptides blotted on nitrocellulose. A family of GTP-binding proteins, termed Gn proteins, was detected by incubation of these blots with [alpha-32P]GTP in the presence of Mg2+. A major Gn protein with a molecular mass of 27 kDa (Gn27) and lesser amounts of 23, 24 and 25 kDa Gn proteins were observed in platelet membranes; much smaller amounts were in the platelet soluble fraction. Binding of [alpha-32P]GTP by platelet Gn proteins was blocked by GDP, GTP or guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, but not by GMP or adenosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate. Rabbit and human red-cell membranes contained only Gn27. When rat tissues were analysed for Gn proteins, the largest amounts were found in brain, which contained two membrane-bound forms (Gn27 and Gn26) and a soluble form (Gn26).
TL;DR: In vitro, exogenous adrenaline reduced the Bohr and Root shifts caused by elevated PaCO2 and depressed plasma pH in rainbow trout blood, but not in starry flounder blood, and the observation that catecholamines did not affect the in vitro blood--O2 dissociation curve, suggests that additional factors may be involved in regulating O2 transport after exercise inFlounder.
Abstract: In vitro, exogenous adrenaline reduced the Bohr and Root shifts caused by elevated PaCO2 and depressed plasma pH in rainbow trout blood, but not in starry flounder blood. In vivo immediately after exercise, plasma adrenaline (Ad) and noradrenaline (NAd) increased about 12-fold in rainbow trout. Associated with this catecholamine mobilization was a significant haemoconcentration, red blood cell (RBC) swelling and a reduction in RBC [NTP]; the latter was larger than that explained by cell swelling alone, indicating metabolic degradation of nucleoside triphosphate (NTP). RBC intracellular pH (pHi) fell only slightly after exercise (0.07 units) at 0 h, but was restored by 0.5 h in the face of a large plasma acidosis (0.4 units). [O2]/[Hb] fell significantly, but this decline may have been due in part to the significant reduction in PaO2. The reduction in [O2]/[Hb] was less than predicted from in vitro O2-dissociation curves at low (0.5 nmol l-1) catecholamine levels, but similar to that predicted at high (90 nmol l-1) catecholamine levels. In flounder, resting Ad and NAd levels were about 10 times those in trout and did not change significantly after exercise. As a consequence, there was no reduction in RBC [NTP], and RBC pHi fell significantly (0.10 units) after exercise in the face of a large plasma acidosis (0.4 units) and remained depressed until 4 h, although RBC swelling did occur. These factors in addition to the increased PaCO2 may have contributed to the reduction in arterial [O2]/[Hb], in the face of a constant PaO2. However, [O2]/[Hb] was restored to resting levels prior to the correction of RBC pHi and PaCO2. This, in conjunction with the observation that catecholamines did not affect the in vitro blood--O2 dissociation curve, suggests that additional factors may be involved in regulating O2 transport after exercise in flounder.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors have shown that compliance with short-term treatments (less than 2 weeks) can be improved by clear instructions; by parenteral dosage forms; by special ‘reminder’ pill containers and calendars; and by simplified drug regimens.
TL;DR: It is indicated that a variety of cognitive deficits are present in SLE patients taken together as a group and there is no significant association between cognitive impairment and emotional disturbance.
Abstract: Eighty-six females with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were grouped according to present or past history of neuropsychiatric (NP) symptomatology (Active, Inactive, or Never). Performance of these three groups was compared to that of 35 normal women on an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests sampling a wide range of cognitive functions. In addition to making group comparisons, we also devised a system for identifying individual impairment using decision rules for both quantitative and qualitative data. Our results indicate that a variety of cognitive deficits are present in SLE patients taken together as a group; there is no significant association between cognitive impairment and emotional disturbance; patients with resolved NP symptomatology are as impaired as patients with active NP symptoms, suggesting residual CNS involvement; in spite of no significant difference emerging on direct group comparisons, significantly more Never NP-SLE patients are impaired than are controls on several summary scores, suggesting subclinical CNS involvement in these patients.
TL;DR: The proper management of compliance in therapeutic trials depends in part on the objectives of the trial and efforts should be made to balance the numbers of low compliers across the treatment groups, compliance should be monitored, and compliance improving strategies should be employed.