In an experiment, multiple reagent test strips from 90 urine samples were examined twice: observed visually by one of two persons and analyzed by spectrophotometry. Interobserver and intra-observer agreement were calculated and expressed as Cohen's K. Interobserver and intra-observer agreement were moderate to good, but lower than one might expect. Enhancing discoloration of the test pads could improve reproducibility. FULL-TEXT AVAILABRLE IN [...]

AIM:To evaluate the reliability of dipstick measurements of urine specific gravity (U-SG). METHODS: Fresh urine specimens were tested for urine pH and osmolality (U-pH, U-Osm) by a pH meter and an osmometer, and for U-SG by three different methods (refractometry, automatic readout of a dipstick (Clinitek-50), and (visual) change of colour of the dipstick). RESULTS: The correlations between the visual U-SG dipstick measurements and U-SG determined by a refractometer and the comparison [...]

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of state, minimally invasive clinical and physical signs (or sets of signs) to be used as screening tests for detecting impending or current water-loss dehydration, or both, in older people by systematically reviewing [...]

PURPOSE:Understanding the importance of euhydration in humans in order to ensure good health in various situations, the purpose of this review is to examine the available techniques in assessing hydration status. RECENT FINDINGS: During the past 20 years, many indices have been developed to assess hydration levels accurately in humans. Changes in body weight, haematological and urine parameters, bioelectrical impedance, [...]

Objectives: to examine current practice with regard to hydration in acute stroke (part 1) to identify problem areas, to develop, implement and evaluate an intervention package (part 2). Design: prospective, repeated measures, between subjects Setting: a district general hospital. Participants: consecutive admissions with an acute stroke. Part 1 involved 30 patients, 14 of whom were [...]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Origin of sex difference in urinary osmolality. METHODS: In 495 healthy children aged 4.0-14.9 years participating in the DONALD (Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed) study (247 boys, 248 girls), the water intake recorded in 24-hour weighed dietary records along with urinary volume, osmolality and free water reserve in 24-hour urine samples from the same day as the dietary record were determined. RESULTS: Boys showed [...]

1. The present study examined whether reductions in muscle blood flow with exercise-induced dehydration would reduce substrate delivery and metabolite and heat removal to and from active skeletal muscles during prolonged exercise in the heat. A second aim was to examine the effects of dehydration on fuel utilisation across the exercising leg and identify factors related to fatigue. 2. Seven cyclists performed two [...]

Elderly patients with heart failure (HF) may be troubled by thirst, despite the fact that elderly have an impaired ability to sense thirst. The present study was undertaken to compare the intensity of thirst in patients with and without HF and to evaluate how this symptom relates to the health-related quality of life and indices [...]