[Assessment of health needs, their geographic distribution and association of health care indicators in Districts within the Czech Republic].

Background: The objective of the present study was to use available data provided by the programme Health Services Indicators (HSI) for partial analyses focused on the estimated health services needs in different districts of the Czech Republic (CR) and on evaluation of some intentions of the health policy.

Methods And Results: After evaluation of the standardized and gross mortality rates in different districts of the CR the authors evaluated relationships of selected indicators recorded in 1995. The correlation of the gross mortality as an orientational estimate of health services needs in different districts of the CR and expenditures of health insurance companies for health care per one insured subject was low and was not statistically significant (r = -0.

Orally administered bacterial lysate Broncho-Vaxom for the treatment of common variable immunodeficiency.

Broncho-Vaxom (B-V) is a lysate of eight bacterial pathogens of the respiratory tract with immunomodulatory properties. It is used in prophylaxis of respiratory tract infections. We conducted an open, placebo controlled, cross-over trial of B-V treatment in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID).

[Use of nonparametric methods in medicine. VIII. Conclusion].

The submitted paper terminates the series of eight articles on the application of non-parametric methods in medicine, which were published in this journal in 1990-1991. Attention is drawn, on the one hand, to the urgent need of knowledge of mathematical and statistical methods, on the other hand, to the fact that proper processing of experimental data is not guaranteed by the use of computer technique alone, the complexity and numerical correctness of calculations but by interpretation of results and their plausibility which depends above all on the correctness of the reflections of the research worker. On a general level attention is paid to the description, comparison and evaluation of correlations, in particular the possibility to conclude from statistical correlation that a causal relationship exists.

[Use of nonparametric methods in medicine. VII. Kendall's coefficient of concordance in several sequences].

The authors describe the procedure, suggested by Kendall for evaluation of the concordance of several sequences. Kendall's coefficient, called also coefficient of concordance, can be used when it is possible to assess the sequence of investigated variables. The calculation procedure and interpretation of the coefficient is explained on a simple example.

[Use of nonparametric methods in medicine. VI. Evaluation using dependence by rank].

The authors deal with the evaluation of dependence between two quantitative variables. They analyze Spearman's and Kendall's rank correlation coefficients. The procedure is explained on examples.

[Use of nonparametric methods in medicine. V. A probability test using iteration].

The authors give an account of the so-called Wald-Wolfowitz test of iteration of two types of elements by means of which it is possible to test the probability of the pattern of two types of elements. To facilitate the application of the test five percent critical values are given for the number of iterations for left-sided, right-sided and bilateral alternative hypotheses. The authors present also tables of critical values for up and down iterations which are obtained when we replace the originally assessed sequence of observations by a sequence +1 and -1, depending on the sign of the consecutive differences.

[Use of nonparametric methods in medicine. IV. Comparison of levels in more than 2 samples].

The authors mention two tests for comparison of the level of random variables in more than two random samples. It is thus a question of generalization of methods presented in parts II and III. Friedman's test resolves the position for dependent samples when data assembled during different experimental situations in the same group are to be evaluated.

[Use of nonparametric methods in medicine. III. Comparison of levels in 2 independent samples].

The authors present two nonparametric tests which can be used to compare the level of a random variable based on two independent random samplings. Wilcoxon's (Mann-Whitney's) test is based on the sum of sequences which are appropriate for individual elements in a common group. In large samples the tested criterium is based on the normal distribution, for small samples a table of critical values is enclosed which makes rapid decision possible.

[Use of nonparametric methods in medicine. II. Comparison of levels in 2 related samples].

The authors present two non-parametric tests which are suitable for comparison of the level of a random variable on the basis of results obtained from two dependent samples. The sign test is discussed which is based on the evaluation of the statistical significance of the difference in the number of positive and negative deviations. The application of this test in practice is facilitated by the enclosed table which gives critical frequencies which still lead to the refusal of the zero hypothesis.

[Use of nonparametric methods in medicine. I. Introduction].

This is the introductory article of a series of eight where the authors discuss non-parametric methods. They compare the advantages and disadvantages of non-parametric methods with parametric ones. Non-parametric methods can be used in particular where the investigated variables do not have a normal distribution, where the small size of the investigation and the type of classification do not permit to test, when information on the investigated variables are presented by means of rank or normal scales etc.