World Journal of Methodology

186 Pages·2017·10.41 MB·English

ISSN 2222-0682 (online)
World Journal of
Methodology
World J Methodol 2017 March 26; 7(1): 1-32
Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc
W J M World Journal of
Methodology
Editorial Board
2016-2019
The World Journal of Methodology Editorial Board consists of 618 members, representing a team of worldwide
experts in methodology. They are from 59 countries, including Argentina (6), Australia (17), Austria (5), Belgium
(3), Brazil (7), Bulgaria (2), Canada (14), Chile (2), China (66), Colombia (1), Croatia (2), Cuba (1), Cyprus (2), Czech
Repoublic (6), Denmark (4), Egypt (11), Finland (3), France (10), Germany (16), Greece (10), Hungary (5), India (24),
Iran (7), Ireland (1), Israel (5), Italy (68), Japan (29), Jordan (1), Lithuania (2), Malaysia (5), Martinique (1), Mexico
(5), Netherlands (6), New Zealand (1), Norway (3), Oman (1), Pakistan (2), Poland (7), Portugal (8), Romania (8),
Russia (4), Saudi Arabia (2), Senegal (1), Serbia (1), Singapore (3), Slovenia (1), South Africa (1), South Korea (13),
Spain (21), Sweden (4), Switzerland (1), Thailand (7), Trinidad and Tobago (1), Turkey (15), Uganda (1), United
Arab Emirates (1), United Kingdom (26), United States (137), and Uruguay (1).
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF MEMBERS OF THE EDITORIAL
Yicheng Ni, Leuven BOARD
Austria
ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gerwin A Bernhardt, Graz
Siegfried Trattnig, Vienna
Guido Gainotti, Rome Argentina
Martin Voracek, Vienna
António Vaz Carneiro, Lisboa
Paula Abate, Córdoba Andreas Weinhausel, Vienna
Val Gebski, Sydney
José Miguel Belizán, Buenos Aires
Bo Hang, Berkeley
Rodolfo Rey, Buenos Aires
George A Kelley, Morgantown Enrique Roberto Soriano, Buenos Aires Belgium
Sang-Soo Lee, Chuncheon Alejandro Sosnik, Buenos Aires
Zeger Debyser, Leuven
Gerhard Litscher, Graz Rodolfo G Wuilloud, Mendoza
Piet K Vanhoenacker, Aalst
GUEST EDITORIAL BOARD
MEMBERS
Australia
Brazil
Wen-Hsiung Chan, Chung Li
Felix Acker, Melbourne
John WC Chang, Taoyuan Monica L Andersen, São Paulo
Long-Sen Chang, Kaohsiung Seetal Dodd, Geelong Mariana de Andrea Hacker, Rio de Janeiro
Gwo-Shing Chen, Kaohsiung Guy D Eslick, Sydney Fábio S Lira, Sao Paulo
Gaoqian Feng, Melbourne Delfim Soares Júnior, Juiz de Fora
Tsung-Chi Cheng, Taipei
Daniel A Galvao, Joondalup Moacyr A Rebello, Rio de Janeiro
Yuh-Shan Ho, Taichung
Adrian J Gibbs, Canberra Flavio A Sekeff-Sallem, Sao Paulo
Shuchen Hsieh, Kaohsiung
Phillipa J Hay, Sydney Luci F Teixeira-Salmela, Belo Horizonte
Chien-Han Lai, Taipei
Moyez Jiwa, Bentley
Ping-Shan Lai, Taichung
Pupalan Iyngkaran, Northcote
Shih-Chang Lin, Taipei
Michael HJ Maes, Geelong
Bulgaria
Hung-Jen Liu, Taichung Sanjay Patole, Perth
Ko-Huang Lue, Taichung Clive JC Phillips, Gatton Todor Dudev, Sofia
Yavor Enchev, Varna
Rong-Jong Wai, Chung Li Janine Stevenson, Wentworthville
Chin-Tsan Wang, I-Lan Zhonghua Sun, Perth
Yau-Huei Wei, New Taipei City Shuhong Wang, Adelaide
Ching-Feng Weng, Hualien Ming Wei, Gold Coast Canada
Cheuk-Kwan Sun, Kaohsiung Jiake Xu, Crawley Ahmed M Abou-Setta, Edmonton
WJM|www.wjgnet.com I March 2, 2016
Amir Azarpazhooh, Toronto Shao-Bing Zhou, Chengdu Mohammed M Bettahar, Nancy
Tarik Zine Belhocine, Toronto Jun-Jie Zhu, Nanjing Niko Hildebrandt, Orsay
Kenneth R Chapman, Toronto Guido Kroemer, Villejuif
Issam El Naqa, Montreal Florian Lesage, Valbonne
Martin A Katzman, Toronto Patrick Maison, Creteil
Alejandro Lazo-Langner, London Colombia Sandrine Marquet, Marseille
Richard WJ Neufeld, London Angela Dominguez, Cali Yolanda Prezado, Grenoble
Prakesh S Shah, Toronto JM Regimbeau, Amiens
Bhagirath Singh, London Jean Y Rotge, Bordeaux
Léon C van Kempen, Montreal
Yuzhuo Wang, Vancouver Croatia
Man Yu, Toronto
Marijeta Kralj, Zagreb
Haishan Zeng, Vancouver Germany
Ivana Maric, Rijeka
Hojjat Ahmadzadehfar, Bonn
Henryk Barthel, Leipzig
Harald Hampel, Frankfurt
Chile
Cuba Stefan Holdenrieder, Bonn
Emilio A Herrera, Santiago Joachim Jankowski, Berlin
Mariano R Ricard, Habana
Mauricio Venegas, Santiago Dmitrij Kollins, Regensburg
Philipp le Coutre, Berlin
Zoltan Lukacs, Hamburg
Cyprus Jan-Christoffer Luers, Cologne
China Margarete Odenthal, Cologne
George J Kontoghiorghes, Limassol
Deng-Feng Cao, Beijing Frank Peinemann, Cologne
Dimitrios Stasinopoulos, Nicosia
Gilbert Y S Chan, Hong Kong Nikolai G Rainov, Augsburg
George G Chen, Hong Kong Stefan Reuter, Münster
William CS Cho, Hong Kong M Lienhard Schmitz, Giessen
Raymond Chuen-Chung, Hong Kong Czech Republic Alfons Schnitzler, Duesseldorf
Meng-Jie Dong, Hangzhou Frank Werner, Magdeburg
Kamil Kuca, Hradec Kralove
Jun-Bao Du, Beijing
Bozena Novotna, Prague
Zhi-Sheng Duan, Beijing
Jan Plzak, Prague
Hani El-Nezami, Hong Kong
Jiri Sedy, Prague Greece
Shen Gao, Shanghai
David Skoloudik, Ostrava
Wei-Qiang Gao, Shanghai Konstantinos P Economopoulos, Athens
Miroslav Sip, Ceske Budejovice
Rajiv Kumar Jha, Xi’an Don M Estes, Athens
Lin Jia, Guangzhou Georgios A Koumantakis, Patra
Chun-Ping Jiang, Nanjing Michael Koutsilieris, Athens
Gang Jin, Beijing Denmark Giannis Mountzios, Athens
Vincent Lai, Hong Kong Demosthenes Panagiotakos, Athens
Huang-Xian Ju, Nanjing Jorgen R Jepsen, Esbjerg Issidora Papassideri, Athens
Fan-Sheng Kong, Jinan Hans E Johnsen, Aalborg Falaras Polycarpos, Pallini Attikis
Joey Sum-Wing Kwong, Hong Kong Lars J Petersen, Aalborg Paschalis Steiropoulos, Alexandroupolis
Hui Li, Zhejiang Hans Sanderson, Roskilde George Vaos, Alexandroupolis
Yun-Feng Lin, Chengdu
Hong Liu, Nantong
Wing-Yee Lui, Hong Kong
Feng-Ming Luo, Chengdu Egypt Hungary
Jing-Yun Ma, Beijing Asmaa G Abdou, Shebein Elkom László Czakó, Szeged
Zheng Ma, Beijing Mohammed F Amin, Elminya Jozsef G Joo, Budapest
Ling-Jie Meng, Xi'an ASM Arafa, Dokki Péter Halász, Budapest
Hong-Xiang Sun, Hangzhou Hussein M Atta, El- Minia András Komócsi, Pécs
Nian-Sheng Tang, Kunming Hala Salah Elwakil, Cairo László Vécsei, Szeged
Bo-Chu Wang, Chongqing
Maysaa El Sayed Zaki, Mansoura
Ji-Bo Wang, Shenyang
Mustafa Abdel Hafiz El Sherbini, Cairo
Zhi-Ming Wang, Chengdu
Kamal K Gadalla, Tanta
Chuan-Lai Xu, Wuxi
Ashraf A Khalil, Alexandria India
Hui-Xiong Xu, Shanghai
Ahmad Nofal, Zagazig
Tong-Wen Xu, Hefei Chandrasekhar Bal, New Delhi
Nervana SH Bayoumi, Cairo
Shi-Ying Xuan, Qingdao Pranjal Chandra, Guwahati
Xi-Lin Yang, Hong Kong Dipshikha Chakravortty, Bangalore
Dengfu Yao, Nantong Mukul Das, Lucknow
He-Rui Yao, Guangzhou Finland Pankaj K Garg, Delhi
Bang-Ce Ye, Shanghai Ravindra K Garg, Lucknow
Yi-Cong Ye, Beijing Ilmo H Kellokumpu, Jyvaskyla Neeta D Grover, Sangli
Fu-Zai Yin, Qinhuangdao Terho Lehtimaki, Tampere KP Haresh, New Delhi
Jin-Hua Yu, Nanjing Simo Saarakkala, Oulu Devinder K Dhawan, Chandigarh
Jin-Tai Yu, Qingdao R Jayakumar, Cochin
Wen-Wu Yu, Nanjing Rudagi Kavita, Wardha
Zhong-Heng Zhang, Jinhua Abdul V Khan, Aligarh
France
Zhong-Ying Zhao, Hong Kong Geetha Manivasagam, Vellore
Chun-Fu Zheng, Wuhan Marc Y Bardou, Dijon Bijoy P Mathew, Delhi
WJM|www.wjgnet.com II March 2, 2016
MS Muthu, Varanasi Stefano Girotti, Bologna Hisanori Umehara, Ishikawa
T Padma, Salem Stefania Gonfloni, Rome
Jacob Peedicayil, Vellore Roberto Grassi, Napoli
Yenamandra S Prabhakar, Lucknow Paola Irato, Padua
Jordan
Kaushal K Prasad, Chandigarh Michelangelo Mancuso, Pisa
Debasish Sarkar, Rourkela Giovanni Mantovani, Cagliari Mohammad Y Khassawneh, Irbid
Prashant Sharma, Chandigarh Santino Marchi, Pisa
Baljinder Singh, Chandigarh Giovanni Martinotti, Rome
Rakesh K Sinha, Jharkhand Mario Mascalchi, Florence
Divya Vohora, New Delhi Patrizia Mecocci, Perugia Lithuania
Vincenzo G Mirone, Naples Giedrius Barauskas, Kaunas
Simone Mocellin, Padua A Bunevicius, Palanga
Giuseppe Murdaca, Genova
Iran
Vincenzo Neri, Foggia
Mohammad HK Ansari, Urmia Robert Nistico, Rome
Azam Bolhassani, Tehran Germano Orrù, Cagliari Malaysia
Hafez T Fakheri, Sari Paola Perego, Milan Subash CB Gopinath, Perlis
Mehran Javanbakht, Tehran Raffaele Pezzilli, Bologna Yeong Y Lee, Kota Bahru
Enayat Kalantar, Sanandaj Giusepe Piccione, Messina Veeranoot Nissapatorn, Kuala Lumpur
Shekoufeh Nikfar, Tehran Umberto Romeo, Rome Subhada P Pani, Ipoh
Babak Saedi, Tehran Maurizio Pompili, Rome Iis Sopyan, Kuala Lumpur
Stefano Pontone, Rome
Roberto Ria, Bari
Carlo Riccardi, Perugia
Ireland
AC Rossi, Bari Martinique
Arpad Palfi, Dublin Domenico Rubello, Rovigo Vincent Vinh-Hung, Fort-de-France
Ferdinando C Sasso, Naples
Antonio Sommariva, Padova
Francesco Soldovieri, Napoli
Israel
Gianfranco Spalletta, Rome Mexico
Rami M Abu Fanne, Jerusalem Alberto Spalice, Roma
Javier Camacho, Mexico City
Itay Ben-Zion, Tel Hashomer Gambardella Stefano, Rome
Elvira G Gonzalez, Monterrey
Dan Frenkel, Tel Aviv Giovanni Storto, Rionero
Juan M Mejia-Arangure, Mexico
Tamar Tadmor, Hifa Achille Tarsitano, Bologna
Martha Rodríguez-Moran, Durango
Eliezer Shalev, Haifa Carlo Torti, Catanzaro
Julio Sotelo, Mexico City
Giovanni L Tripepi, Reggio Calabria
Mauro Valtieri, Rome
Italy
Netherlands
Michele Anzidei, Rome
Emira Ayroldi, Perugia Japan Rienk E Jeeninga, Amsterdam
Bart J Polder, Nijmegen
Zora Baretta, Padova Kohei Akazawa, Niigata
Wiep Scheper, Amsterdam
Silvio Bellino, Turin Minoru Fukuda, Nagasaki
Frank NM Twisk, Limmen
Guido Bocci, Pisa Masafumi Goto, Miyagi
Paulus J van Diest, Utrecht
Carlo Bonanno, Vicenza Koichi Hattori, Tokyo
Arjan Vissink, Groningen
Paolo Borrione, Rome Satoshi Hirohata, Okayama
Francesco Boscia, Bari Yukihiro Ikeda, Osaka-sayama
Francesco Brigo, Verona Hiroo Imazu, Tokyo
Filippo Cademartiri, Giovanni XXIII Yasuhiro Ito, Kobe New Zealand
Marco Casaccia, Genova Tatehiro Kagawa, Isehara
Valery Feigin, Auckland
Sergio Casciaro, Lecce Kazuhiro Kasai, Morioka
Alberto Chiesa, Romer Hitoshi Kawamata, Shimotsuga
Claudio Chiesa, Rome Tomoyuki Kawase, Niigata
Marco M Ciccone, Bari Mitsuhiro Kawata, Tsukuba Norway
Annamaria Cimini, L’Aquila Kazushi Kishi, Wakayama
Antonio Crovace, Bari Masahiro Kohzuki, Sendai Sara Germans, Nord-Trondelag
Claudio Dazzi, Ravenna Yoshinori Marunaka, Kyoto Cato Gronnerod, Oslo
Giovanni Di Leo, San Donato Milanese Kenji Miura, Saitama David F Mota, Oslo
Gabriele Di Lorenzo, Palermo Ryuichi Morishita, Suita
Francesco Doglietto, Rome Koichi Nagata, Shimotsuke-shi
Rosario Donato, Perugia Akinori Nakamura, Matsumoto
Oman
Pasquale Esposito, Pavia Atsushi Nanashima, Nagasaki
Maria F Faienza, Bari Mitsuhiko Noda, Tokyo Mohamed Mabruk, Muscat
Umberto Falcone, Naples Kenoki Ohuchida, Fukuoka
Alfio Ferlito, Udine Naoki Oiso, Osaka-Sayama
Giovanna Ferraioli, Pavia Yurai Okaji, Tokyo
Pakistan
Patrizia Ferroni, Rome Hirosato Seki, Osaka
Maurizio Fiasché, Milan Minoru Tomizawa, Yotsukaido City Muhammad A Noor, Islamabad
Irene Floriani, Milan Yutaka Tonomura, Toyonaka Yasir Waheed, Islamabad
WJM|www.wjgnet.com III March 2, 2016
Poland South Africa Trinidad and Tobago
Andrzej M Bugaj, Poznań Robin A Emsley, Cape Town Rao R Suresh, Mt.Hope
Piotr Dziegiel, Wroclaw
Dominik Golicki, Warszawa
Barbara M Jarzab, Gliwice
South Korea
Tadeusz Robak, Lodz Turkey
Dorota I Wasko-Czopnik, Wroclaw Byeong-Cheol Ahn, Daegu
Kemal Behzatoglu, Istanbul
Cezary W Watala, Lodz Yongdoo Choi, Goyang
Mehmet Dogan, Balikesir
Sang Soo Hah, Seoul
Cevdet Duran, Konya
Tae-Ho Hwang, Busan
Ilknur I Gumus, Ankara
Soung Won Jeong, Seoul
Portugal Serkan Kahyaoglu, Ankara
Beom Joon Kim, Seoul
Oner Mentes, Ankara
Sofia Braga, Lisbon Young-Jin Kim, Hwasun
Tomris Ozben, Antalya
Ilídio J Correia, Covilha Chang-Yong Lee, Kongju
Emin Ozkaya, Istanbul
Paula Freitas, Porto Kwan Sik Lee, Seoul
Ferda E Percin, Ankara
Nuno Lunet, Porto Jong-Lyel Roh, Seoul
Kemal Polat, Bolu
Fernando Ribeiro, Aveiro Yun Kyoung Yim, Daejeon
Funda Saglam, Aydin
Hugo Sousa, Porto Myonggeun Yoon, Seoul Seckin Tuncer, Konya
Fernando SRR Teles, Lisboa
Nurver S Turfaner, Istanbul
Ahmet Yildirim, Bornova-Izmir
Aysegul Yildiz, Izmir
Spain
Romania
Salvador F Alino PelliIcer, Valencia
Radu Albulescu, Bucharest Mohamed F Allam, Córdoba
Bogdan N Manolescu, Bucharest Alejandro Cifuentes, Madrid Uganda
Elena Moldoveanu, Bucharest Miren Lopez de Alda, Barcelona Vincent Batwala, Mbarara
Monica Neagu, Bucharest Joaquin de Haro, Madrid
Florin-Dan Popescu, Bucharest Carlos Gonzalez-Juanatey, Lugo
Eugen Rusu, Galati Emma Garcia-Meca, Murcia
Aurora Szentagotai, Cluj-Napoca Mónica H Giménez, Zaragoza United Arab Emirates
Cristiana P Tanase, Bucharest Josep M Guerrero, Barcelona Hassib Narchi, Al Ain
Antonio J Jara, Murcia
David Lobo, Santander
Fernando Marin, Madrid
Russia
José A Roldán Nofuentes, Granada United Kingdom
Zhanna E Belaya, Moscow José A Orosa, A Coruña
Nadeem A Afzal, Southampton
Galina B Bolshakova, Moscow Jesús Osada, Zaragoza
Suhail Anwar, Huddersfield
Nikolay V Klassen, Chernogolovka Bernardino Roca, Castellón de la Plana
Richard H Barton, London
Sergey V Dorozhkin, Moscow Soledad Rubio, Córdoba
Simon Bramhall, Hereford
Helmut Schröder, Barcelona
Paolo De Coppi, London
Jesus Simal-Gandara, Ourense
Paul C Evans, Sheffield
Gabriela Topa, Madrid
Saudi Arabia Giuseppe Garcea, Leicester
Miguel A Vallejo, Madrid
Marta I Garrido, London
Fawad Javed, Riyadh
David E Gilham, Manchester
Abdulhamit Subasi, Jeddah
Richard O Jenkins, Leicester
Sinead Keeney, Northern Ireland
Sweden
Ji-Liang Li, Plymouth
Senegal Stefan Karlsson, Lund Tracey A Martin, Cardiff
Maria Koltowska-Haggstrom, Stockholm Maurice J O’Kane, Northern Ireland
Badara Cissé, Dakar Ludmilla Morozova-Roche, Umea Abdullah Pandor, Sheffield
Jenny Selander, Stockholm Susan Pang, Middlesex
Dmitry Pchejetski, London
Robert Perneczky, London
Serbia
Shahzad G Raja, London
Switzerland
Branka S Radojcic, Novi Sad Pankaj Sharma, London
Giorgio Treglia, Bellinzona Sami M Shimi, Dundee
Andrew H Sims, Edinburgh
David E Whitworth, Aberystwyth
Singapore
Jenny Worthington, Coleraine
Thailand
Desmond Heng, Singapore Feng Wu, Oxford
Thomas WaiThong Ho, Singapore Amporn Jariyapongskul, Bangkok Shangming Zhou, Singleton Park
Yong Zhang, Singapore Rungroj Krittayaphong, Bangkok
Sombat Muengtaweepongsa, Pathum Thani
Apiwat Mutirangura, Bangkok
United States
Kittisak Sawanyawisuth, Khon Kaen
Slovenia
Bungorn Sripanidkulchai, Khon Kaen Nasar U Ahmed, Miami
Tomaz Velnar, Ljubljana Chonlaphat Sukasem, Bangkok Mike Allen, Milwaukee
WJM|www.wjgnet.com IV March 2, 2016
Faisal M I Al-Mufarrej, Seattle Michael Huncharek, Columbia P Hemachandra Reddy, Bethesda
Wilbert S Aronow, Valhalla Reinhold J Hutz, Milwaukee Brian Rodgers, New Olreans
Srinivas Ayyadevara, Little Rock Joseph Irudayaraj, West Lafayette James V Rogers, Columbus
Charles F Babbs, West Lafayette Bankole A Johnson, Charlottesville Troy T Rohn, Boise
Janet Barletta, Hyattsville Joseph M Kaminski, Silver Spring L Ross, Research Triangle Park
Steven Benish, Platteville Yong S Kim, Bethesda Juan C Salazar, Farmington
Lawrence T Bish, Philadelphia Mark S Kindy, Charleston Paul R Sanberg, Tampa
Richard W Bohannon, Storrs Georgios D Kitsios, Boston Tor C Savidge, Galveston
Mark Bounthavong, San Diego Ronald L Klein, Shreveport Dong-Chul Seo, Bloomington
Rohit Budhiraja, Tucson Erna M Kojic, Providence Igor Sevostianov, Las Cruces
Alejandro Cárabe-Fernández, Philadel- Wen-Shuo Kuo, Boston John D Sheppard, Norfolk
Qizhen Shi, Milwaukee
phia S Lakshmivarahan, Norman
Yanggu Shi, Omaha
Zheng Chang, Durham Benedict Law, Fargo
Michael J Silverman, Minneapolis
M Ahmad Chaudhry, Burlington Chi H Lee, Kansas City
Kenji Suzuki, Chicago
Sant P Chawla, Santa Monica Renat Letfullin, Terre Haute
Weihong Tan, Gainesville
Yong Q Chen, Winston-Salem Da-Wei Li, New Haven
Judy Y Tan, Storrs
Tao Chen, Jefferson Qingdi Q Li, Bethesda
Guangwen Tang, Boston
Pei Chen, Beltsville Guozheng Liu, Worcester
Paul D Terry, Knoxville
Lili Chen, Philadelphia Yiyan Liu, Newark
Guochuan E Tsai, Torrance
Undurti N Das, Federal Way Wei Liu, Houston
Yusuke Tsugawa, Boston
Lisandra de Castro Brás, Jackson Huaguang Lu, State College
Catherine EU Ulbricht, Somerville
Thilo Deckersbach, Boston Christian Machado, Southfield
John Varlotto, Hershey
Stephanie C Deluca, Roanoke Kenneth Maiese, Newark
Alexander Vlassov, Austin
Kavit A Desouza, New York Sameer Malhotra, New York Moritz C Wyler von Ballmoos, Milwaukee
Feng Ding, Chapel Hill Zdravka Medarova, Charlestown Thomas TH Wan, Orlando
Elijah Dixon, Houston Jawahar L Mehta, Little Rock Huamin Wang, Houston
Mary E Edgerton, Houston Ray M Merrill, Provo Xiao-Jing Wang, Aurora
Sherif A El-Nashar, Cleveland Grover P Miller, Little Rock Jang-Yen Wu, Boca Raton
Ronnie Fass, Tucson Murielle Mimeault, Omaha Qing Wu, Scottsdale
Robert J Fletcher, Kingston Ron B Mitchell, St Louis Eleftherios S Xenos, Lexington
Naveen Gara, Washington Bing-Liang Mitchell, Houston Lijun Xia, Oklahoma City
Vesna D Garovic, Rochester Anirban P Mitra, Los Angeles Xiong Xu, New Orleans
Alexandros G Georgakilas, Greenville Pavlos Msaouel, New York Lijun Yang, Gainesville
Ronald Gillam, Logan Marcus O Muench, San Francisco Wan-Cai Yang, Chicago
Shannon S Glaser, Temple Walter P Murphy, Evanston Xinan Yang, Chicago
GA Nagana Gowda, Lafayette Najmunnisa Nasreen, Gainesville Fahd A Zarrouf, Anderson
Anton B Guliaev, San-Francisco Marja T Nevalainen, Philadelphia Henry C Zeringue, Pittsburgh
Zongsheng Guo, Pittsburgh Tianye Niu, Atlanta Jingbo Zhang, New York
James P Hardwick, Rootstown Ify Osunkwo, Atlanta Zhongyun Zhao, Thosand Oaks
Diane M Harper, Louisville Yan Peng, Dallas Li Zhong, Worcester
Odette A Harris, Stanford George Perry, San Antonio Hongming Zhuang, Philadelphia
Rod Havriluk, Tallahassee Ilona Petrikovics, Huntsville
Kremer Heidemarie, Miami Krishna C Poudel, Amherst
Moonseong Heo, Bronx Shengping Qin, Davis
Uruguay
Narayan S Hosmane, DeKalb Peter J Quesenberry, Providence
Guoyuan Huang, Evansville Swapan K Ray, Columbia Matías Victoria, Salto
WJM|www.wjgnet.com V March 2, 2016
W J M World Journal of
Methodology
Contents Quarterly Volume 7 Number 1 March 26, 2017
MINIREVIEWS
1 Laboratory evaluation in rheumatic diseases
Birtane M, Yavuz S, Taştekin N
9 Chromogranin A as a valid marker in oncology: Clinical application or false hopes?
Gkolfinopoulos S, Tsapakidis K, Papadimitriou K, Papamichael D, Kountourakis P
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Basic Study
16 Towards automated calculation of evidence-based clinical scores
Aakre CA, Dziadzko MA, Herasevich V
Observational Study
25 Patch testing and cross sensitivity study of adverse cutaneous drug reactions due to anticonvulsants: A
preliminary report
Shiny TN, Mahajan VK, Mehta KS, Chauhan PS, Rawat R, Sharma R
WJM|www.wjgnet.com I March 26, 2017|Volume 7|Issue 1|
World Journal of Methodology
Contents
Volume 7 Number 1 March 26, 2017
ABOUT COVER Editorial Board Member of World Journal of Methodology, Lars J Petersen, DSc,
MD, Doctor, Professor, Department of Nuclear Medicine, Aalborg University
Hospital, DK-9000 Aalborg, Denmark
AIM AND SCOPE World Journal of Methodology (World J Methodol, WJM, online ISSN 2222-0682, DOI: 10.5662)
is a peer-reviewed open access academic journal that aims to guide clinical practice and
improve diagnostic and therapeutic skills of clinicians.
The primary task of WJM is to rapidly publish high-quality original articles, reviews,
and commentaries that deal with the methodology to develop, validate, modify and
promote diagnostic and therapeutic modalities and techniques in preclinical and clinical
applications. WJM covers topics concerning the subspecialties including but not exclusively
anesthesiology, cardiac medicine, clinical genetics, clinical neurology, critical care, dentistry,
dermatology, emergency medicine, endocrinology, family medicine, gastroenterology
and hepatology, geriatrics and gerontology, hematology, immunology, infectious diseases,
internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopedics,
otolaryngology, radiology, serology, pathology, pediatrics, peripheral vascular disease,
psychiatry, radiology, rehabilitation, respiratory medicine, rheumatology, surgery, toxicology,
transplantation, and urology and nephrology.
INDEXING/ABSTRACTING World Journal of Methodology is now indexed in PubMed, PubMed Central.
FLYLEAF I-V Editorial Board
EDITORS FOR Responsible Assistant Editor: Xiang Li Responsible Science Editor: Jin-Xin Kong
Responsible Electronic Editor: Ya-Jing Lu Proofing Editorial Office Director: Xiu-Xia Song
THIS ISSUE
Proofing Editor-in-Chief: Lian-Sheng Ma
NAME OF JOURNAL EDITORIAL OFFICE PUBLICATION DATE
World Journal of Methodology Xiu-Xia Song, Director March 26, 2017
World Journal of Methodology
COPYRIGHT
ISSN Baishideng Publishing Group Inc © 2016 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. Articles pub-
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WJM|www.wjgnet.com II March 26, 2017|Volume 7|Issue 1|
W J M World Journal of
Methodology
Submit a Manuscript: http://www.wjgnet.com/esps/ World J Methodol 207 March 26; 7(): -8
DOI: 0.5662/wjm.v7.i. ISSN 2222-0682 (online)
MINIREVIEWS
Laboratory evaluation in rheumatic diseases
Murat Birtane, Selçuk Yavuz, Nurettin Taştekin
Murat Birtane, Selçuk Yavuz, Nurettin Taştekin, Department of carefully they allow rapid diagnosis and appropriate
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya treatment. However, as they may be present in healthy
University, Edirne 22040, Turkey population they may cause confusion for interpreting
the situation. False positive test results may lead to
Author contributions: All authors equally contributed to this
wrong treatment and unnecessary anxiety for patients.
paper with literature review, drafting, critical revision, editing,
Autoantibody positivity alone does not make a diagnosis.
and final approval of the final version.
Similarly, the absence of autoantibodies alone does not
exclude diagnosis. The success of the test is closely
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no potential
related to sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios. So,
conflicts of interests for this paper and no financial support.
interpretation of these is very important for a proper
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was laboratory evaluation. In conclusion, in spite of the
selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external remarkable advances in science and technology, a deeply
reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative investigated anamnesis and comprehensive physical
Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, examination still continue to be the best diagnostic
which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this method. The most correct approach is that clinicians
work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on
apply laboratory tests to confirm or exclude preliminary
different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and
diagnosis based on anamnesis and physical examination.
the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/
This review will discuss these issues.
licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Manuscript source: Invited manuscript Key words: Autoantibodies; Rheumatic diseases; Auto-
immune diseases; Laboratory biomarkers; Diagnostic
Correspondence to: Selçuk Yavuz, MD, Department of markers
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine,
Trakya University, Balkan Campus, Edirne 22040, © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Baishideng Publishing
Turkey. [email protected] Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Core tip: Serological and proteomic biomarkers are useful
in confirming clinically suspected preliminary diagnosis,
Received: August 26, 2016
monitoring the treatment response and prognosis of
Peer-review started: August 26, 2016
autoimmune diseases. Tests for acute phase proteins,
First decision: November 29, 2016
rheumatoid factor, anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies
Revised: January 6, 2017
and antinuclear antibodies, may support the diagnoses
Accepted: January 16, 2017
Article in press: January 18, 2017 of rheumatic diseases. But these biomarkers should be
Published online: March 26, 2017 used beside a careful anamnesis and detailed physical
examination. Improper using of these tests may cause
false-positive results and unnecessary harmful treatments.
The sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios of the
test must be known. If the test is highly specific, the
Abstract
diagnosis can be confirmed in case of positivity and
Autoantibodies can help clinicians to allow early detection if it is highly sensitive, the possible diagnosis can be
of autoimmune diseases and their clinical manifestations, excluded in case of negativity.
to determine effective monitoring of prognosis and the
treatment response. From this point, they have a high
impact in rheumatic disease management. When used Birtane M, Yavuz S, Taştekin N. Laboratory evaluation in rheumatic
WJM|www.wjgnet.com  March 26, 207|Volume 7|Issue |
Birtane M et al. Laboratory evaluation in rheumatic diseases
diseases. World J Methodol 2017; 7(1): 1-8 Available from: URL: are unique to a disease. In addition to rheumatic diseases
http://www.wjgnet.com/2222-0682/full/v7/i1/1.htm DOI: http:// they may increase with infections and malignancy. The
dx.doi.org/10.5662/wjm.v7.i1.1 most common tests used by clinicians are ESR and CRP.
ESR
The increase in acute phase proteins, especially
fibrinogen, occurs with an increase in ESR in plasma
INTRODUCTION
concentrations. The protein with the most aggregation
When the organism’s own immune system elements effect of all plasma proteins is fibrinogen. This is followed
attack its own tissue or cells it is called autoimmunity, by albumin and globulins[1]. ESR is observed vertical to
with the antibodies formed called autoantibodies and gravity in sodium citrate blood after being left for 1 h in
the diseases occurring called autoimmune diseases. Westergren or Wintrobe tubes. ESR is stated in mm (mm/
Autoantibodies can be successfully used to confirm h)[2]. ESR may increase during the acute phase response
the preliminary diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, to to RA, polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), systemic lupus
determine prognosis, identify disease activity, and to erythematosus (SLE) and vasculitis. The sensitivity of this
monitor the response to treatment and medication side test is high; however the specificity is very low. In 10%
effects. From this aspect, they have important roles in of RA patients and 20% of PMR patients ESR levels may
the management of rheumatic diseases. When used be within normal limits[3,4]. It may increase in situations
carefully they allow rapid diagnosis and appropriate without accompanying inflammation. Additionally errors in
treatment. However, in some situations instead of the measurement technique (delay in evaluation, tube not
helping the clinician to reach a conclusion, they may held vertical, room temperature) and physiological factors
cause even more confusion. This is because some positive (male sex, age, pregnancy) may cause deviations from
autoantibodies for many autoimmune diseases may the normal levels[5]. As an expected increase happens
be encountered in healthy population. False positive in ESR with ageing, it is necessary to make a correction
test results may lead to inappropriate treatment and for age. The formula (age + 10)/2 is used for women,
unnecessary anxiety for patients. Autoantibody positivity with the formula age/2 for men. For all of these reasons
alone does not make a diagnosis. Similarly, the absence attempting to monitor inflammation with ESR may not
of autoantibodies alone does not exclude diagnosis. work sometimes[6].
The success of the test is closely related to sensitivity,
specificity and likelihood ratios. As a result, in spite of the
CRP
remarkable advances in science and technology, a deeply This name was given due to the ability of the protein to
investigated anamnesis and comprehensive physical precipitate with pneumococcal C polysaccharide. It is
examination still continue to be the best diagnostic synthesized in the liver during the acute phase response
method. The most correct approach is that clinicians and serum levels may increase up to 1000 times[7]. The
apply laboratory tests to confirm or exclude preliminary causes to increase ESR also increase CRP. However, the
diagnosis based on anamnesis and physical examination. increase and return to normal levels of CRP is more rapid
Also common rheumatic diseases like osteoarthritis, and is not affected by age and sex. It begins to increase
rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) within the first 4­6 h after inflammation, peaks at 2­3
may be diagnosed without laboratory tests. d and has a half­life of nearly 18 h[8]. It has both pro­
In this review we examine serologic and proteomic inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects[9,10].
biomarkers used for diagnosis and monitoring of rheu­ As a general rule, CRP levels are staged as follows:
matologic diseases and common errors in daily practice. Normal < 0.2 mg/dL, indeterminate = 0.2 mg/dL - 1.0
This article also reviews the use of inflammatory activity mg/dL and inflammatory > 1 mg/dL[2]. While high levels
tests currently available in health care. may indicate bacterial infection (> 10 mg/dL), there may
be a slight increase observed in situations such as obesity,
diabetes, smoking, hypertension, physical inactivity,
ACUTE PHASE PROTEINS
alcohol, chronic tiredness and depression. Additionally
One of the characteristic features of rheumatologic examples of other diseases where CRP is used for
diseases is inflammation. The inflammation response diagnosis and monitoring include myocardial infarction and
developing secondary to tissue damage eliminates patho­ atherosclerosis[5]. In conclusion CRP, which increases in
gens, limits injury and allows tissue regeneration. All of many inflammatory and non-inflammatory situations, has
these changes are connected with increases [complement, high sensitivity and lower specificity like ESR.
ceruloplasmin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),
C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, haptoglobin, fibrinogen, Rheumatic diseases and acute phase reaction
alpha­1 antitrypsin and amyloid A] or decreases (albumin, RA: CRP levels may be used to distinguish RA from
transferrin, and transthyretin) of some certain proteins. osteoarthritis. However in some types of osteoarthritis
The serum levels of these markers are combined with CRP levels may increase. Due to the previously men­
clinical information and used to assess disease activity tioned properties, CRP is more sensitive compared to
and treatment response. However, none of these markers ESR in terms of showing variation in disease activity[11].
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