Ultrasonographic (US) assessment of diaphragmatic kinetic is a fast, reliable and reproducible method [3], but its predictive value on NIMV success is not known.
This 150-question, multiple-choice examination is intended for self-assessment of physiatric knowledge, but its predictive value for performance on the part 1 American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Certification Examination (ABPMR-CE) is unknown.
The Timed-Up-and-Go Test (TUG) is recommended as a screening tool for falls but its predictive value has been challenged.
IFA positivity for Babesia spp. IgG antibody at >1 64 has a high specificity (90%100%%) (14 ), but its predictive value is uncertain because disease prevalence is unknown for healthy blood donors.
There is substantial evidence that hsCRP is an independent cardiovascular risk factor in the general population, but its predictive value in early stages of atherosclerosis is doubtful [ 44, 45].
The change of intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) has been widely used to detect the response of antiangiogenic therapy in animal models, but its predictive value of treatment response was questioned in clinical settings because of some limitations[ 12, 13].
The amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG) is reputed to be one of the best predictors of neurological outcome following hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy in term newborns and was used to select infants into trials of neuroprotection with hypothermia, but its predictive value and the effect of moderate hypothermia on the aEEG have not previously been examined in a randomised study.
The existence of a correlation underlines a link that is not deterministic but probabilistic, since its predictive value at the individual and preventive level is limited.
Tumour cell proliferation has been shown to be a prognostic marker in some reports (Remvikos et al, 1989; Bonetti et al, 1996; Chevillard et al, 1996), but data on its predictive value are conflicting.
A significant impact in breast cancer prognosis has also been suggested for the mitotic count [ 15, 16], but few studies have considered its predictive value in the response to chemotherapy [ 17, 18].
