When competing risks are present, the appropriate estimate of the failure probabilities is the cumulative incidence. stcompet creates new variables containing the estimate of this function, its standard error, and ln(− ln) transformed confidence bounds. Two examples are presented to illustrate the use of the new command and some key features of the cumulative incidence.

BackgroundSymmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a small molecule formed by methylation of arginine, and released into blood during protein degradation. SDMA is primarily eliminated by renal excretion and is a promising endogenous marker of glomerular filtration rate (GFR).ObjectivesTo validate an assay for SDMA measurement, determine stability of SDMA in blood, and compare SDMA with serum creatinine concentration (sCr) and GFR for early detection of decreasing kidney function in dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD).AnimalsEight male dogs affected with X‐linked hereditary nephropathy and 4 unaffected male littermates.MethodsProspective study validating SDMA measurement using liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, assessing stability of SDMA in serum and plasma, and serially determining sCr, SDMA, and GFR (using iohexol clearance) in dogs during progression from preclinical disease to end‐stage renal failure. Correlations were determined using linear regression. Timepoints at which sCr, SDMA, and GFR identified decreased renal function were compared using defined cutoffs, trending in an individual dog, and comparison with unaffected littermates.ResultsSymmetric dimethylarginine was highly stable in serum and plasma, and the assay demonstrated excellent analytical performance. In unaffected dogs, SDMA remained unchanged whereas in affected dogs, SDMA increased during disease progression, correlating strongly with an increase in sCr (r = 0.95) and decrease in GFR (r = −0.95). Although trending improved sCr's sensitivity, SDMA identified, on average, <20% decrease in GFR, which was earlier than sCr using any comparison method.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceSymmetric dimethylarginine is useful for both early identification and monitoring of decreased renal function in dogs with CKD.

Adult diet quality indices are shown to predict nutritional adequacy of dietary intake as well as all-cause morbidity and mortality. This study describes the reproducibility and validity of a food-based diet quality index, the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS). ARFS was developed to reflect alignment with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and is modelled on the US Recommended Food Score. Dietary intakes of 96 adult participants (31 male, 65 female) age 30 to 75 years were assessed in two rounds, five months apart. Diet was assessed using a 120-question semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The ARFS diet quality index was derived using a subset of 70 items from the full FFQ. Reproducibility of the ARFS between round one and round two was confirmed by the overall intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.87 (95% CI 0.83, 0.90), which compared favourably to that for the FFQ at 0.85 (95% CI 0.80, 0.89). ARFS was correlated with FFQ nutrient intakes, particularly fiber, vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C (0.53, 95% CI 0.37–0.67), and with mineral intakes, particularly calcium, magnesium and potassium (0.32, 95% CI 0.23–0.40). ARFS is a suitable brief tool to evaluate diet quality in adults and reliably estimates a range of nutrient intakes.

No abstract