Changed incidence and case-fatality rates of first-ever stroke between 1970 and 1993 in Tartu, Estonia

Double blind tests to check the correlation between pulse diagnosis and liver function tests were performed. Blood tests including T-Bil, D-Bil, SGOT and SGPT of 70 chemical factory workers were compared with pulse analysis. Special attention was paid to the indicators of liver and lung meridians for pulse diagnosis. It was found that using the criterion (1) C1 > or = 3+ and C1 + C4 > or = 4+ (hyperfunction) and (2) C1 < or = 3-(hypofunction) as abnormal liver meridian (for C1, every 5% above normal give one +, every 5% below normal give one-; for C4 every 10% above normal give one +, every 10% below normal give one -). The correlation or agreement between the blood tests and the pulse diagnosis was very high (noncorrelation chance checked by X2-test, P < 0.001, degree of agreement checked by Kappa test Ka = 0.61 which means a substantial relationship). Suggestions such as more tests, more criteria and precautions for future study are also proposed.