Measuring static seated pressure distributions and risk for skin pressure ulceration in ice sledge hockey players.

PubMed

Darrah, Shaun D; Dicianno, Brad E; Berthold, Justin; McCoy, Andrew; Haas, Matthew; Cooper, Rory A

2016-01-01

To determine whether sledge hockey players with physical disability have higher average seated pressures compared to non-disabled controls. Fifteen age-matched controls without physical disability and 15 experimental participants with physical disability were studied using a pressure mapping device to determine risk for skin pressure ulceration and the impact of cushioning and knee angle positioning on seated pressure distributions. Regardless of participant group, cushioning, or knee angle, average seated pressures exceeded clinically acceptable seated pressures. Controls had significantly higher average seated pressures than the disability group when knees were flexed, both with the cushion (p = 0.013) and without (p = 0.015). Knee extension showed significantly lower average pressures in controls, both with the cushion (p < 0.001) and without (p < 0.001). Placement of the cushion resulted in significantly lower average pressure in controls when knees were extended (p = 0.024) but not when flexed (p = 0.248). Placement of the cushion resulted in no difference in pressure (p = 0.443) in the disability group. Pressures recorded indicate high risk for skin ulceration. Cushioning was effective only in the control group with knees extended. That knee extension significantly lowered average seated pressures is important, as many sledge hockey players utilize positioning with larger knee flexion angles. Implications for Rehabilitation Ice sledge hockey is a fast growing adaptive sport. Adaptive sports have been associated with several positive improvements in overall health and quality of life, though may be putting players at risk for skin ulceration. Measured static seated pressure in sledges greatly exceeds current clinically accepted clinical guidelines. With modern improvements in wheelchair pressure relief/cushioning there are potential methods for improvement of elevated seated pressure in ice hockey sledges.

Topographic analysis of individual activation patterns in medial frontal cortex in schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Stern, Emily R.; Welsh, Robert C.; Fitzgerald, Kate D.; Taylor, Stephan F.

2009-01-01

Individual variability in the location of neural activations poses a unique problem for neuroimaging studies employing group averaging techniques to investigate the neural bases of cognitive and emotional functions. This may be especially challenging for studies examining patient groups, which often have limited sample sizes and increased intersubject variability. In particular, medial frontal cortex (MFC) dysfunction is thought to underlie performance monitoring dysfunction among patients with previous studies using group averaging to have yielded conflicting results. schizophrenia, yet compare schizophrenic patients to controls To examine individual activations in MFC associated with two aspects of performance monitoring, interference and error processing, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired while 17 patients with schizophrenia and 21 healthy controls performed an event-related version of the multi-source interference task. Comparisons of averaged data revealed few differences between the groups. By contrast, topographic analysis of individual activations for errors showed that control subjects exhibited activations spanning across both posterior and anterior regions of MFC while patients primarily activated posterior MFC, possibly reflecting an impaired emotional response to errors in schizophrenia. This discrepancy between topographic and group-averaged results may be due to the significant dispersion among individual activations, particularly among healthy controls, highlighting the importance of considering intersubject variability when interpreting the medial frontal response to error commission. PMID:18819107

40 CFR 63.503 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 storage vessel, batch front-end process vent... will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1 emission points... Group 1 emission points that are controlled to a level less stringent than the reference control...

40 CFR 63.503 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 storage vessel, batch front-end process vent... will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1 emission points... Group 1 emission points that are controlled to a level less stringent than the reference control...

40 CFR 63.503 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 storage vessel, batch front-end process vent... will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1 emission points... Group 1 emission points that are controlled to a level less stringent than the reference control...

40 CFR 63.503 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 storage vessel, batch front-end process vent... will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1 emission points... Group 1 emission points that are controlled to a level less stringent than the reference control...

40 CFR 63.503 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 storage vessel, batch front-end process vent... will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1 emission points... Group 1 emission points that are controlled to a level less stringent than the reference control...

Improving excellence in scoliosis rehabilitation: a controlled study of matched pairs.

PubMed

Weiss, H-R; Klein, R

2006-01-01

Physiotherapy programmes so far mainly address the lateral deformity of scoliosis, a few aim at the correction of rotation and only very few address the sagittal profile. Meanwhile, there is evidence that correction forces applied in the sagittal plane are also able to correct the scoliotic deformity in the coronal and frontal planes. So it should be possible to improve excellence in scoliosis rehabilitation by the implementation of exercises to correct the sagittal deformity in scoliosis patients. An exercise programme (physio-logic exercises) aiming at a physiologic sagittal profile was developed to add to the programme applied at the centre or to replace certain exercises or exercising positions. To test the hypothesis that physio-logic exercises improve the outcome of Scoliosis Intensive Rehabilitation (SIR), the following study design was chosen: Prospective controlled trial of pairs of patients with idiopathic scoliosis matched by sex, age, Cobb angle and curve pattern. There were 18 patients in the treatment group (SIR + physio-logic exercises) and 18 patients in the control group (SIR only), all in matched pairs. Average Cobb angle in the treatment group was 34.5 degrees (SD 7.8) Cobb angle in the control group was 31.6 degrees (SD 5.8). Age in the treatment group was at average 15.3 years (SD 1.1) and in the control group 14.7 years (SD 1.3). Thirteen of the 18 patients in either group had a brace. Outcome parameter: average lateral deviation (mm), average surface rotation ( degrees ) and maximum Kyphosis angle ( degrees ) as evaluated with the help of surface topography (Formetric-system). Lateral deviation (mm) decreased significantly after the performance of the physio-logic programme and highly significantly in the physio-logic ADL posture; however, it was not significant after completion of the whole rehabilitation programme (2.3 vs 0.3 mm in the controls). Surface rotation improved at average 1.2 degrees in the treatment group and 0.8 degrees in the controls while Kyphosis angle did not improve in both groups. The physio-logic programme has to be regarded as a useful 'add on' to Scoliosis Rehabilitation with regards to the lateral deviation of the scoliotic trunk. A longitudinal controlled study is necessary to evaluate the long-term effect of the the physio-logic programme also with the help of X-rays.

Does Musical Training Improve School Performance?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wetter, Olive Emil; Koerner, Fritz; Schwaninger, Adrian

2009-01-01

In a retrospective study, we compared school performance of 53 children practicing music (group 1) with 67 controls not practicing music (group 2). Overall average marks as well as average marks of all school subjects except sports were significantly higher in children who do (group 1) than in those who do not practice music (group 2). In a…

Evaluation of treatment-induced cerebral white matter injury by using diffusion-tensor MR imaging: initial experience.

PubMed

Kitahara, Sawako; Nakasu, Satoshi; Murata, Kiyoshi; Sho, Keizen; Ito, Ryuta

2005-10-01

Treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for brain tumors can cause white matter (WM) injury. Conventional MR imaging, however, cannot always depict treatment-induced transient WM abnormalities. We investigated the ability of diffusion-tensor (DT) MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy to detect the treatment-induced transient changes within normal-appearing WM. DT MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy were performed in 8 patients treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for brain tumors (17 examinations) and 11 age-matched controls. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, fractional anisotropy (FA) value, and N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio were obtained from 27 hemispheres with normal-appearing WM in the patients. We divided the datasets of isotropic ADC, FA, and NAA/Cr, on the basis of the time period after completion of radiation therapy, into 4 groups: group 1 (0-2 months; n = 10), group 2 (3-5 months; n = 5), group 3 (6-9 months; n = 7), and group 4 (10-12 months; n = 5). We compared averages of mean isotropic ADC, mean FA, and NAA/Cr of each patient group with those of the control group by using a t test. In the group 2, averages of mean FA and NAA/Cr decreased and average of mean isotopic ADC increased in comparison with those of the control group (P = .004, .04, and .0085, respectively). There were no significant differences in the averages between the control group and patient groups 1, 3, and 4. DT MR imaging and proton MR spectroscopy can provide quantitative indices that may reflect treatment-induced transient derangement of normal-appearing WM.

Differential lexical and semantic spreading activation in Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Foster, Paul S; Drago, Valeria; Yung, Raegan C; Pearson, Jaclyn; Stringer, Kristi; Giovannetti, Tania; Libon, David; Heilman, Kenneth M

2013-08-01

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is known to be associated with disruption in semantic networks. Previous studies examining changes in spreading activation in AD have used a lexical decision task paradigm. We have used a paradigm based on average word frequencies obtained from the words generated on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) and the Animal Naming (AN) test. The COWAT and AN tests were administered to a group of 25 patients with AD and 20 control participants. We predicted that the patients with AD would have higher average word frequencies on the COWAT and AN tests than the control participants. The results indicated that the AD group generated words with a higher average word frequency on the AN test but a lower average word frequency on the COWAT. The reasons for the discrepancy in average word frequencies on the AN test and COWAT are discussed.

Efficacy of mummy on healing of pressure ulcers: A randomized controlled clinical trial on hospitalized patients in intensive care unit

PubMed Central

Moghadari, Masoud; Rezvanipour, Mozafar; Mehrabani, Mitra; Ahmadinejad, Mehdi; Hashempur, Mohammad Hashem

2018-01-01

Background Mummy is a mineral substance which according to Persian medicine texts, may be useful in treatment of chronic ulcers. Objective The present study was performed with the aim of determining the effect of mummy on healing of pressure in male patients who had been hospitalized due to cerebrospinal injury in the Intensive Care Unit. Methods This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 75 patients who had pressure ulcer at Shahid Bahonar Hospital in Kerman, Iran, from September 2016 to March 2017. The control group received normal saline and routine wound dressing, while the intervention group received mummy water solution 20% in addition to normal saline and routine wound dressing on a daily basis. Data was recorded based on the PUSH method. In both groups, ulcers were evaluated on days 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 for the variables of ulcer surface area, the amount of exudate and type of tissue. Data analysis was done through SPSS 21 and using t-test, Repeated Measure Analysis, Cox Regression and Chi-square. Results Both groups showed reduction in the average ulcer surface area (3.26 to 0.53 in the intervention group and 5.1 to 3.46 in the control group), the average exudate amount (1.26 to 0.26 in the intervention group and 1.83 to 1.06 in the control group) and the average tissue score (1.36 to 0.23 in the intervention group and 2.13 to 1.26 in the control group). Over the entire study period, the intervention group showed more acceptable signs of healing compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion The healing process was more prominent in the intervention group than the control group. Clinical trial registration The trial was registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials with registered NO. (IRCT2014042917494N1) (29/04/2014). Funding No financial support for the research. PMID:29588812

40 CFR 63.1332 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... other controls for a Group 1 storage vessel, batch process vent, aggregate batch vent stream, continuous... in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1 emission points, identified in paragraph (c)(3) of... applicable reference control technology or standard and the emissions allowed for the Group 1 emission point...

40 CFR 63.1332 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... other controls for a Group 1 storage vessel, batch process vent, aggregate batch vent stream, continuous... in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1 emission points, identified in paragraph (c)(3) of... reference control technology or standard and the emissions allowed for the Group 1 emission point. Said...

Effects of valproate on the carotid artery intima-media thickness in epileptics.

PubMed

Luo, Xinming; Zhang, Ming; Deng, Liying; Zhao, Jing

2015-01-01

The objective was to explore the effects of valproate (VPA) on the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) in epileptics. A total of 30 epileptic patients treated with VPA was included as disease group, while 33 healthy people who matched general basic demographic details were the control group. The IMTs of the left and right carotids of the both groups were measured, and the average CA-IMT was calculated. The IMT-related risk factors were acquired for the univariate and multivariate analysis. The bilateral carotid and average CA-IMTs of the disease group were significantly higher than the control group (P < 0.001). The multivariant gradual regressive analysis screened out two CA-IMT-related factors, namely the disease duration and the drug administration duration were positively correlated with the average CA-IMT. The epileptic patients with disease course of more than 3 years had much higher average CA-IMT than that of the epileptics with ≤3 years disease (P < 0.001). The average CA-IMT of the patients with VPA-administration duration >1 year was also higher than that of the patients with VPA-administration duration <1 year, while the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.196). The average CA-IMT of the epileptic patients treated with VPA was higher than that of healthy people.

[Comparison of piezosurgery and chisel osteotomy in the extraction of mandibular impacted third molars].

PubMed

Gao, Yongbo; Jiang, Ai; Li, Boyou; Yang, Liming

2011-08-01

To study the effect of piezosurgery in the extraction of mandibular impacted third molars. 228 mandibular impacted third molars with relative difficulty for extraction according to the scheme of degree of difficulty for extraction were included in the study, and were divided into two groups (114 teeth each group): Test group (treated by piezosurgery), control group (treated by traditional chisel osteotomy). The surgery time and pain, restriction of mouth opening and facial swelling after surgery, were evaluated in both groups. The average surgery time was (16 +/- 5.2) min in test group and (30 +/- 8.7) min in control group. The surgery time, pain, facial swelling rate, and restriction of mouth opening were lower than control group (P<0.05). Compared with traditional chisel osteotomy, the average surgery time with piezosurgery was significantly shorter and the complications are obviously reduced.

[Correlation between dialysis solution type and cardiovascular morbidity rate in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis].

PubMed

Stanković-Popović, Verica; Maksić, Doko; Vucinić, Zarko; Lepić, Toplica; Popović, Dragan; Milicić, Biljana

2008-03-01

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the cardiovascular changes in patients undergoing chronic PD and the eventual existing differences depending on biocompatibility of dialysis solutions. After 3 +/- 2 years of starting PD, 21 PD patients on the treatment with bioincompatible dialysis solutions (conventional glucose- based solutions: PDP-1), average age 47.43 +/- 12.87 years, and 21 PD patients on the treatment with biocompatible dialysis solutions (neutral solutions with lower level of glucose degradation products, lower concentration of Ca2+ and neutral pH: PDP-2), average age 68.62 +/- 13.98 years, participated in the longitudinal study. The average number of episodes of peritonitis was similar in both groups: 1 episode per 36 months of the treatment. The control group included 21 patients with preterminal phase of chronic renal failure (Glomerular Filtration Rate: 22.19 +/- 10.73 ml/min), average age 65.29 +/- 13.74 years. All the patients underwent transthoracal echocardiography (in order to detect: eject fraction (EF), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), and valvular calcification (VC) and B-mode ultrasonography of common carotid artery (CCA): IMT, lumen narrowing, and plaque detection. The values of EF were: in PDP-1 group 62.05 +/- 5.65%, in PDP-2 group 53.43 +/- 7.47%, and in the control group 56.71 +/- 8.12% (Bonferroni test, p = 0.001). The recorded LVH was: in PDP-1 group in 47.6% of the patients; in PDP-2 group in 61.9% of the patients; and in control the group in 52.4% (chi2 test; p = 0.639). The detected VC was: in PDP-1 in 52.4% of the patients, in PDP-2 group in 42.9% of the patients, and in the control group in 23.8% of the patients (chi2 test; p = 0.776). The IMT was: in PDP-1 group 1.26 +/- 0.54 mm, in PDP-2 group 1.23 +/- 0.32, and in the control group 1.25 +/- 0.27 mm (Bonferroni test; p = 0.981). An average lumen narrowing was: in PDP-1 group 13.78 +/- 18.26%, in PDP-2 group 18.57 +/- 22.98%, and in the control group 25.00 +/- 28.02% (Kruskal Wallis test; p = 0.413). Calcified plaques of CCA were detected in PDP-1 group in 61.9% of the patients, in PDP-2 group in 85.7%, of the patients and p = 0.159). Generally, PD had a significant influence on cardiovascular morbidity in the treated patients, especially on the left ventricular function and peripheral atherosclerosis. The age of the patients had more influence on acceleration of atherosclerosis than the length of dialysis or biocompatibility of dialysis solutions.

Study on the clinical value of alprostadil combined with α-lipoic acid in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with erectile dysfunction.

PubMed

Zhang, L; Zhang, H-Y; Huang, F-C; Huang, Q; Liu, C; Li, J-R

2016-09-01

We investigated the clinical value of alprostadil combined with the α-lipoic acid in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction (DMED). We selected a total of 76 cases of patients who were admitted to endocrinology department of our hospital from June 2014 to June 2015 and diagnosed as DMED, and the average age was (46.7 ± 7.2) years old, average course of diabetes mellitus was (6.2 ± 2.8) years and average body mass index was (25.4 ± 1.3) kg/m2. 40 cases were randomly divided in the observation group while 36 cases were divided in the control group. They received blood glucose control therapy. The patients in the observation group received 60 mg alprostadil hydrochloride and 600 mg α-lipoic acid added into 250 mL normal saline, intravenous drip once per day for 2 weeks. The patients in the control group took tadalafil 5 mg orally, once per night for 2 weeks as a course of treatment. There were no cases of loss. The effective rate of treatment in observation group is significantly higher than that in the control group (95.0% vs. 80.5%, p < 0.05). The score of IIEF-5, EHGS and the FMD value of brachial artery of the observation group after the operation were significantly higher than that of the control group (p < 0.05). The adverse reaction rate in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (7.5% vs. 13.9%, p < 0.05). Alprostadil combined with α-lipoic acid can improve DMED patients' vascular endothelial function and erection hardness to treat erectile dysfunction with less adverse effects and better safety.

Differential association of body mass index on glycemic control in type 1 diabetes.

PubMed

Lee, Eun Young; Lee, Yong-Ho; Jin, Sang-Man; Yang, Hae Kyung; Jung, Chang Hee; Park, Cheol-Young; Cho, Jae Hyoung; Lee, Woo Je; Lee, Byung-Wan; Kim, Jae Hyeon

2017-01-01

In contrast to type 2 diabetes, the association of body mass index (BMI) with glycemic control in type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between BMI and average HbA 1c levels in subjects with T1D. In this multi-centre observational study, we analysed 719 subjects with T1D aged ≥18 years. Average HbA 1c levels over 18 months and other clinical and laboratory parameters were evaluated. The mean age and duration of diabetes at baseline were 41.5 ± 13.9 and 11.3 ± 8.7 years, respectively. A U-shaped correlation between BMI and 18-month average HbA 1c levels was documented by a spline curve. Based on this finding, subjects were divided into three groups according to BMI (group I, <21; group II, 21-23; and group III, ≥23 kg/m 2 ). In group I, the BMI negatively correlated with average HbA 1c (r = -0.172, p = 0.011), while a positive relationship was observed (r = 0.162, p = 0.012) in group III. Average HbA 1c levels were lower and the proportion of individuals with well-controlled glycemia (HbA 1c <7%) were increased in the higher BMI tertile group among subjects with group I as well as in the lower BMI tertile group among subjects with group III BMI. After adjustment with additional covariates in the multiple regression model, these associations between BMI and HbA 1c levels according to the different BMI ranges remained significant. In Korean subjects with T1D, an inverse relationship of BMI with HbA 1c levels was observed in the low BMI group, while a positive correlation was shown in the high BMI group. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The effect of short-term workshop on improving clinical reasoning skill of medical students

PubMed Central

Yousefichaijan, Parsa; Jafari, Farshad; Kahbazi, Manijeh; Rafiei, Mohammad; Pakniyat, AbdolGhader

2016-01-01

Background: Clinical reasoning process leads clinician to get purposeful steps from signs and symptoms toward diagnosis and treatment. This research intends to investigate the effect of teaching clinical reasoning on problem-solving skills of medical students. Methods: This research is a semi-experimental study. Nineteen Medical student of the pediatric ward as case group participated in a two-day workshop for training clinical reasoning. Before the workshop, they filled out Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (DTI) questionnaires. Fifteen days after the workshop the DTI questionnaire completed and "key feature" (KF) test and "clinical reasoning problem" (CRP) test was held. 23 Medical student as the control group, without passing the clinical reasoning workshop DTI questionnaire completed, and KF test and CRP test was held. Results: The average score of the DTI questionnaire in the control group was 162.04 and in the case group before the workshop was 153.26 and after the workshop was 181.68. Compare the average score of the DTI questionnaire before and after the workshop there is a significant difference. The difference between average KF test scores in the control and the case group was not significant but between average CRP test scores was significant. Conclusion: Clinical reasoning workshop is effectiveness in promoting problem-solving skills of students. PMID:27579286

The effect of short-term workshop on improving clinical reasoning skill of medical students.

PubMed

Yousefichaijan, Parsa; Jafari, Farshad; Kahbazi, Manijeh; Rafiei, Mohammad; Pakniyat, AbdolGhader

2016-01-01

Clinical reasoning process leads clinician to get purposeful steps from signs and symptoms toward diagnosis and treatment. This research intends to investigate the effect of teaching clinical reasoning on problem-solving skills of medical students. This research is a semi-experimental study. Nineteen Medical student of the pediatric ward as case group participated in a two-day workshop for training clinical reasoning. Before the workshop, they filled out Diagnostic Thinking Inventory (DTI) questionnaires. Fifteen days after the workshop the DTI questionnaire completed and "key feature" (KF) test and "clinical reasoning problem" (CRP) test was held. 23 Medical student as the control group, without passing the clinical reasoning workshop DTI questionnaire completed, and KF test and CRP test was held. The average score of the DTI questionnaire in the control group was 162.04 and in the case group before the workshop was 153.26 and after the workshop was 181.68. Compare the average score of the DTI questionnaire before and after the workshop there is a significant difference. The difference between average KF test scores in the control and the case group was not significant but between average CRP test scores was significant. Clinical reasoning workshop is effectiveness in promoting problem-solving skills of students.

40 CFR 63.150 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Group 1 emission points to which the reference control technology (defined in § 63.111 of this subpart... prevention measure is used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 emission point, the pollution... which case credit will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1...

40 CFR 63.150 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Group 1 emission points to which the reference control technology (defined in § 63.111 of this subpart... prevention measure is used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 emission point, the pollution... which case credit will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1...

40 CFR 63.150 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... Group 1 emission points to which the reference control technology (defined in § 63.111 of this subpart... prevention measure is used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 emission point, the pollution... which case credit will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1...

40 CFR 63.150 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... Group 1 emission points to which the reference control technology (defined in § 63.111 of this subpart... prevention measure is used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 emission point, the pollution... which case credit will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1...

40 CFR 63.150 - Emissions averaging provisions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... Group 1 emission points to which the reference control technology (defined in § 63.111 of this subpart... prevention measure is used in conjunction with other controls for a Group 1 emission point, the pollution... which case credit will be allowed only for the increase in control after November 15, 1990. (2) Group 1...

Randomized controlled trial on the effects of a combined sleep hygiene education and behavioral approach program on sleep quality in workers with insomnia.

PubMed

Kaku, Akiko; Nishinoue, Nao; Takano, Tomoki; Eto, Risa; Kato, Noritada; Ono, Yutaka; Tanaka, Katsutoshi

2012-01-01

To evaluate the effects of a combined sleep hygiene education and behavioral approach program on sleep quality in workers with insomnia, we conducted a randomized controlled trial at a design engineering unit in Japan. Employees evaluated for insomnia by the Athens Insomnia Scale (≥6 points) were divided into an intervention and control group. The intervention group received a short-term intervention (30 min) program that included sleep hygiene education and behavioral approaches (relaxation training, stimulus control, and sleep restriction) performed by occupational health professionals. We calculated differences in change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores between the two groups from baseline to three months after the start of intervention after adjusting for gender, age, job title, job category, average number of hours of overtime during the study period, marital status, smoking habit, average number of days of alcohol consumption per week, exercise habits, K6 score, and baseline PSQI score. Results showed that the average PSQI score decreased by 1.0 in the intervention group but increased by 0.9 in the control group. Additionally, the difference in variation between the two groups was 1.9 (95% confidence interval: 0.6 to 3.4), which was significant. Taken together, these results indicate that the intervention program significantly improved the sleep quality of workers with insomnia.

Effects of orthokeratology on the progression of low to moderate myopia in Chinese children.

PubMed

He, Mengmei; Du, Yaru; Liu, Qingyu; Ren, Chengda; Liu, Junling; Wang, Qianyi; Li, Li; Yu, Jing

2016-07-27

To investigate the effectiveness of orthokeratology (ortho-k) in reducing the development of myopia in Chinese children with low to moderate myopia. This was a retrospective study. In the ortho-k group, there were141 subjects, and the average age was (9.43 ± 1.10) years. The average spherical equivalent refractive error (SER) was (-2.74 ± 1.15)D, with examinations performed 1, 7, 30, and 90 days and 12 months after the patients started wearing ortho-k lenses. In the control group, there were 130 subjects, and the average age was (9.37 ± 1.00) years. The average SER was (-2.88 ± 1.39)D, with examinations performed every 6 months. Axial elongation, which is an important parameter reflecting the progression of myopia, was measured at baseline from the same IOLMaster each time by the same masked examiner and was compared between the groups after 1 year. The subjects were divided into two sub-groups according to age to further study the development of myopia at different ages. An unpaired t-test, paired t-test, Chi-square test and Spearman test were performed to analyze the data. After 1 year, the average axial elongation was (0.27 ± 0.17) mm in the ortho-k lens group and (0.38 ± 0.13) mm in the control group, with a significant difference between the groups (P < 0.001). Axial elongation was not correlated with SER but had a negative correlation with initial age (ortho-k group: r s = -0.309, p < 0.01; control group: r s = -0.472, p < 0.01). The percentages of individuals with fast myopic progression (axial elongation > 0.36 mm per year) were 38.0 % among younger children (7.00 to 9.40 years) and 24.3 % among older children (9.40 to 12.00 years), whereas the respective percentages were 76.5 and 12.9 % in the control group. When SER ranged from -5.0D to -6.0D, the axial elongation in the ortho-k group was 57.1 % slower than that in the control group. Ortho-k lenses are effective in controlling myopic progression in Chinese children, particularly in younger children and in children with higher myopia.

A study of the impact of collaborative learning on student learning of major concepts in a microbiology laboratory exercise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baumgarten, Kristyne A.

This study investigated the possible relationship between collaborative learning strategies and the learning of core concepts. This study examined the differences between two groups of nursing students enrolled in an introductory microbiology laboratory course. The control group consisted of students enrolled in sections taught in the traditional method. The experimental group consisted of those students enrolled in the sections using collaborative learning strategies. The groups were assessed on their degrees of learning core concepts using a pre-test/post-test method. Scores from the groups' laboratory reports were also analyzed. There was no difference in the two group's pre-test scores. The post-test scores of the experimental group averaged 11 points higher than the scores of the control group. The lab report scores of the experimental group averaged 15 points higher than those scores of the control group. The data generated from this study demonstrated that collaborative learning strategies can be used to increase students learning of core concepts in microbiology labs.

[Application of clinical nursing path in standard management of advanced schistosomiasis patients with splenomegaly].

PubMed

Yang, Liu; Liu, Juan-Juan

2013-04-01

To study the feasibility and effect of clinical nursing path in the standard management of advanced schistosomiasis patients with splenomegaly. A total of 64 advanced schistosomiasis patients with splenomegaly were randomly divided into a routine nursing group (control group) and a clinical nursing pathway group (CNP group), and the postoperative situation, average hospitalization days, cost of hospitalization and the satisfaction of the patients of the 2 groups were compared. The complications, average hospitalization days, costs of hospitalization in the CNP group were significantly decreased compared with those in the control group, and satisfaction rate of the patients in the CNP group increased from 81.25% to 100%. The implementation of CNP effectively reduces the length of hospitalization, costs and complications, and improves the satisfaction of the patients.

Use of digital applications in the medicament calculation education for nursing.

PubMed

Fernandes Pereira, Francisco Gilberto; Afio Caetano, Joselany; Marques Frota, Natasha; Gomes da Silva, Maguida

2016-06-01

To evaluate the influence of the use of digital applications in medicament calculation education for nursing students. An experimental study was developed with a sample of 100 nursing students, who were divided randomly into two groups (use of the Calculation Medicines - CalcMed application - available free on the Internet, n=50) and control (conventional method of the calculator use and pre-math skills, n=50). Both groups were assessed before and after the application of the teaching strategy through a test with ten specific questions of medicament calculations. The study group showed a mean score of 8.14 versus an average of 5.02 in the control group. The average time of test execution was faster in the study group compared to the control group (15.7 versus 38.9 minutes). The strategy of using this application positively influences learning and enables greater security in the implementation of medicament calculations.

The effect of deep shoulder infections on patient outcomes after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair: a retrospective comparative study.

PubMed

Atesok, Kivanc; MacDonald, Peter; Leiter, Jeff; McRae, Sheila; Singh, Mandip; Stranges, Greg; Old, Jason

2017-01-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of deep shoulder infections after RCR on patient outcomes. A retrospective chart review was conducted involving all patients with deep shoulder infections after arthroscopic RCR (study group). Another group of patients who were matched with the study group by age, gender and rotator cuff tear size, and did not develop deep shoulder infections after arthroscopic RCR were randomly identified (control group). The two groups were compared in terms of time to start physiotherapy, shoulder function, and delay in return to work. There were 10 patients in each group. The mean time to start physiotherapy after surgery was 145.3 (SD=158.8) days for the study group and 40.0 (SD=13.7) days for the control group (p=.051). The average forward elevation of the operated shoulder was 133 (SD=33.4) degrees for the study group, and 172 (SD=12.0) degrees for the control group (p=0.003). The average time to return to work at preoperative level was 5.6 months for the study group and 3 months for the control group. Deep shoulder infections after RCR significantly impedes time to start physiotherapy, shoulder function, and patients' ability to return to work. III b [retrospective comparative (case-control) study].

Evaluating clinical trial design: systematic review of randomized vehicle-controlled trials for determining efficacy of benzoyl peroxide topical therapy for acne.

PubMed

Lamel, Sonia A; Sivamani, Raja K; Rahvar, Maral; Maibach, Howard I

2015-11-01

Determined efficacies of benzoyl peroxide may be affected by study design, implementation, and vehicle effects. We sought to elucidate areas that may allow improvement in determining accurate treatment efficacies by determining rates of active treatment and vehicle responders in randomized controlled trials assessing the efficacy of topical benzoyl peroxide to treat acne. We conducted a systematic review of randomized vehicle-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of topical benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of acne. We compared response rates of vehicle treatment arms versus those in benzoyl peroxide arms. Twelve trials met inclusion criteria with 2818 patients receiving benzoyl peroxide monotherapy treatment and 2004 receiving vehicle treatment. The average percent reduction in total number of acne lesions was 44.3 (SD = 9.2) and 27.8 (SD = 21.0) for the active and vehicle treatment groups, respectively. The average reduction in non-inflammatory lesions was 41.5 % (SD = 9.4) in the active treatment group and 27.0 % (SD = 20.9) in the vehicle group. The average percent decrease in inflammatory lesions was 52.1 (SD = 10.4) in the benzoyl peroxide group and 34.7 (SD = 22.7) in the vehicle group. The average percentage of participants achieving success per designated study outcomes was 28.6 (SD = 17.3) and 15.2 (SD = 9.5) in the active treatment and vehicle groups, respectively. Patient responses in randomized controlled trials evaluating topical acne therapies may be affected by clinical trial design, implementation, the biologic effects of vehicles, and natural disease progression. "No treatment" groups may facilitate determination of accurate treatment efficacies.

[Effects of acupuncture on circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension].

PubMed

Lei, Yun; Jin, Jiu; Ban, Haipeng; Du, Yuzheng

2017-11-12

To observe the effects of acupuncture combined with medication on circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. Sixty-four patients of essential hypertension were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 32 cases in each group. All the patients maintained original treatment (taking antihypertensive medication); the patients in the observation group were treated with acupuncture method of " Huoxue Sanfeng , Shugan Jianpi ", once a day, five times per week, for totally 6 weeks (30 times). The circadian rhythm of blood pressure and related dynamic parameters were observed before and after treatment in the two groups. (1) The differences of daytime average systolic blood pressure (dASBP), daytime average diastolic blood pressure (dADBP), nighttime average systolic blood pressure (nASBP) and circadian rhythm of systolic blood pressure before and after treatment were significant in the observation group (all P <0.05); the differences of circadian rhythm of blood pressure and related dynamic parameters before and after treatment were insignificant in the control group (all P >0.05). The nASBP and circadian rhythm of systolic blood pressure in the observation group were significantly different from those in the control group (all P <0.05). (2) After the treatment, the spoon-shaped rate of circadian rhythm of blood pressure in the observation group was higher than that in the control group ( P <0.05). The acupuncture combined with medication could effectively improve the circadian rhythm of blood pressure and related dynamic parameters in patients with essential hypertension.

[Evoked potentials and psychometric tests in the diagnosis of subclinical neurological damage in a group of workers exposed to low concentrations of mercury vapor].

PubMed

Martínez Vázquez, C; Rodríguez Sáez, E; Gil Fernández, M; Torres Pombo, J; Rodríguez, M; Iglesias Groba, M T; Herves Beloso, C

1996-05-01

We study the effects of low concentrations of mercury vapour on the nervous system of a group of eleven workers of a chloroalkali plant exposed to it. Twenty-three non-exposed workers in the same factory were used as control group. We used clinical and analytic explorations, psychometric tests and evoked potentials to evaluate the subjects. The average Hg in urine of the exposed group was 41.74 micrograms/gr creatinine and the average of the non-exposed group as 9.71 mu/yr. In the exposed group the evoked potentials have found a slowing-down of conduction in all the nervous paths studied (optical, auditive and somatosensory) and in the latency of P300 wave, although this was not statistically significant compared to the control group. Of the psychometric test used, only Rey's Complex Figure Test showed deterioration in the visual memory subtest of the exposed group (p < 0.05) compared to the control group, although in Wechsler's digit span test lower scores were obtained which were close to being statistically significant comparing the averages of the two groups (0.05 < p < 0.051). Bearing in mind these results we think that the amounts of Hg in urine and TLV-TWA (50 micrograms/gr creatinine and 50 micrograms/m3 respectively) accepted by most authors as innocuous should be reduced.

Does Retinal Neurodegeneration Seen in Diabetic Patients Begin in the Insulin Resistance Stage?

PubMed

Arıkan, Sedat; Erşan, İsmail; Eroğlu, Mustafa; Yılmaz, Mehmet; Tufan, Hasan Ali; Gencer, Baran; Kara, Selçuk; Aşık, Mehmet

2016-12-01

To investigate whether retinal neurodegeneration and impairment in contrast sensitivity (CS), which have been demonstrated to begin in diabetic patients before the presence of signs of diabetic retinal vasculopathy, also occur in the stage of insulin resistance. The average, minimum and sectoral (inferior, superior, inferonasal, superonasal, inferotemporal and superotemporal) thicknesses of the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) measured using optical coherence tomography were compared between an insulin-resistant group and control group in order to evaluate the presence of retinal neurodegeneration. The CS of the two groups was also compared according to the logarithmic values measured at spatial frequencies of 1.5, 3, 6, 12 and 18 cycles per degree in photopic light using functional acuity contrast test (FACT). Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients with insulin resistance (insulin resistant group) and 25 eyes of 25 healthy subjects (control group) were included in this study. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in any of the spatial frequencies in the FACT. The mean average GCIPL thickness and mean GCIPL thickness in the inferotemporal sector were significantly less in the insulin-resistant group when compared with the control group (mean average GCIPL thicknesses in the insulin-resistant and control groups were 83.6±4.7 µm and 86.7±3.7 µm respectively, p=0.01; mean inferotemporal GCIPL thicknesses in the insulin-resistant and control groups were 83±6.0 µm and 86.7±4.6 µm respectively, p=0.02). Although it may not lead to functional visual impairment such as CS loss, the retinal neurodegeneration seen in diabetic patients may begin in the insulin resistance stage.

Evaluation of an Affordable Wireless Node Sensor (Mote69) Designed for Internet of Thing (IoT) Device

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruhiyat, Z. F.; Somantri, Y.; Wahyudin, D.; Hakim, D. L.

2018-02-01

This research aims to determine the student’s response to the implementation of Internet of Things (IoT) device based on RFM69, called Mote69, for practical work of Aircraft Electronic Circuits and Controllers. Participants in this study were students of a vocational high school of Aircraft Electronics which consisted of three groups. The first group is the students who have grades above the average class. The second group is the students who have grade the average class. The third group is the students who have grades below the average class. The research phase consisted of (1). Observation and Assessment of Empirical Issues; (2). Testing of Media Feasibility and Research Instruments; (3). Accumulate and Processing of Field Data; and (4). Results and Data Conclusions. The result of media feasibility showed that Mote69 is appropriate to be used in practical work of Aircraft Electronic Circuits and Controllers subject.

76 FR 55658 - Applications for New Awards; Supporting Effective Educator Development Grant Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-08

... defined in this notice), or other strategies. Definitions: Carefully matched comparison group design means... in the project (control group). The effect of the project is the average difference in outcomes between the treatment and control groups. High-need students means students at risk of educational failure...

Major Re-Selection Advising and Academic Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKenzie, Deborah; Tan, Tony Xing; Fletcher, Edward C.; Jackson-Williams, Andrea

2017-01-01

We sought to determine whether receiving major re-selection (MRS) advising benefits undergraduate students' grade-point averages (GPAs). We used a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design to compare a treatment group (n = 219) of undergraduates who changed their majors after receiving MRS advising with a control group (n = 206) who…

Performance of Mentally Retarded Children on a Hierarchically Sequenced Introductory Mathematics Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, Nirbhay N.; Ahrens, Michael G.

1979-01-01

Results at the end of one year showed that the experimental group mastered an average of 32 objectives while the control group averaged 15.5, suggesting that hierarchically sequenced mathematics curricula may provide an effective approach to the teaching of number concepts to the severely and moderately retarded. (Author/DLS)

Birth Order and Sibling Sex Ratio in Homosexual Male Adolescents and Probably Prehomosexual Feminine Boys.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blanchard, Ray; And Others

1995-01-01

Examined the hypothesis that male homosexuals have a greater than average proportion of male siblings and a later than average birth order, by comparing a group of prehomosexual boys (individuals exhibiting cross-gender behaviors) and homosexual adolescents with a control group. Both predicted results were confirmed. (MDM)

Girls Thrive Emotionally, Boys Falter After Move to Better Neighborhood

MedlinePlus

... averaging 34 percent, compared to 50 percent for control group families. Mental illness is more prevalent among youth ... compared to 3.5 percent among boys in control group families who did not receive vouchers. Rates of ...

40 CFR 63.5170 - How do I demonstrate compliance with the standards?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... for individual or groups of coil coating lines; or overall organic HAP control efficiency is at least... compliant coatings and control devices and maintaining an acceptable equivalent emission rate Average... facility. (6) Control efficiency calculation of HAP emitted. For each work station or group of work...

40 CFR 63.5170 - How do I demonstrate compliance with the standards?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... for individual or groups of coil coating lines; or overall organic HAP control efficiency is at least... compliant coatings and control devices and maintaining an acceptable equivalent emission rate Average... facility. (6) Control efficiency calculation of HAP emitted. For each work station or group of work...

The Influence of Protein Supplementation on Muscle Hypertrophy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fardi, A.; Welis, W.

2018-04-01

The problem of this study was the lack of knowledge about nutrition, so the use of protein supplements to support the occurrence of muscle hypertrophy is not optimal. The use of natural supplements is a substitute of the manufacturer's supplements. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of natural protein supplementation to muscle hypertrophy.The method of the research was a quasi experiment. There are 26 subject and were divided two group. Instrument of this research is to use tape measure and skinfold to measure muscle rim and thickness of fat in arm and thigh muscle. Then to calculate the circumference of the arm and thigh muscles used the formula MTC - (3.14 x TSF). MTC is the arm muscle or thigh muscle and TSF is the thickness of the muscles of the arm or thigh muscles. Data analysis technique used was t test at 5% significant level. The result of the research showed that average score of arm muscle hypertrophy at pretest control group was 255.61 + 17.69 mm and posttest average score was 263.48.58 + 17.21 mm and average score of thigh muscle hypertrophy at pretest control group was 458.32 + 8.72 mm and posttest average score was 468.78 + 11.54 mm. Average score of arm muscle hypertrophy at pretest experiment group was 252.67 + 16.05 mm and posttest average score was 274.58 ± 16.89 mm and average score of thigh muscle hypertrophy at pretest experiment group was 459.49 ± 6.99 mm and posttest average score was 478.70 + 9.05 mm. It can be concluded that there was a significant effect of natural protein supplementation on muscle hypertrophy.

Dropped head syndrome after cervical laminoplasty: A case control study.

PubMed

Koda, Masao; Furuya, Takeo; Kinoshita, Tomoaki; Miyashita, Tomohiro; Ota, Mitsutoshi; Maki, Satoshi; Ijima, Yasushi; Saito, Junya; Takahashi, Kazuhisa; Yamazaki, Masashi; Aramomi, Masaaki; Mannoji, Chikato

2016-10-01

Dropped head syndrome (DHS) is characterized by apparent neck extensor muscle weakness and difficulty extending the neck to raise the head against gravity. The aim of the present study was to elucidate possible risk factors for DHS after cervical laminoplasty. Five patients who developed DHS after cervical laminoplasty (DHS group) and twenty age-matched patients who underwent laminoplasty without DHS after surgery (control group) were compared. The surgical procedure was single-door laminoplasty with strut grafting using resected spinous processes or hydroxyapatite spacers from C3 to C6 or C7. Analyses of preoperative images including the C2-C7 angle, C7-T1 kyphosis, T1 tilt, center of gravity line from the head-C7 sagittal vertical axis (CGH-C7 SVA) were performed on lateral plain cervical spine radiographs. Preoperative T2-weighted MRI at the C5 vertebral level was used to measure the cross-sectional area of the deep extensor muscles. Widths of the lateral gutters were assessed postoperatively using CT scans of the C5 vertebral body. The average preoperative C2-C7 angle was significantly smaller in the DHS group compared with the control group. The average preoperative C7-T1 angle was significantly larger in the DHS group compared with the control group. The average preoperative CGH-C7 SVA was significantly larger in the DHS group compared with the control group. In conclusion, patients with more pronounced preoperative C2-C7 kyphosis, C7-T1 kyphosis, and CGH-C7 SVA are more likely to develop DHS following laminoplasty. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Acute Diarrhoea in Children: Determination of Duration Using a Combined Bismuth Hydroxide Gel and Oral Rehydration Solution Therapy vs. Oral Rehydration Solution

PubMed Central

Oviedo, Adriana; Díaz, Mirna; Valenzuela, María Laura; Vidal, Victoria; Racca, Liliana; Bottai, Hebe; Priore, Graciela; Peluffo, Graciela; Di Bartolomeo, Susana; Cabral, Graciela; Toca, María del Carmen

2016-01-01

Oral rehydration salt (ORS) treatment in young children with acute diarrhoea (AD) has contributed to decrease mortality associated with dehydration although effective strategies to reduce morbidity associated with this disease are required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diarrhoea duration when using combined colloidal bismuth hydroxide gel (CBHG) and oral rehydration salt treatment compared with ORS therapy in children with AD. We designed a double-blind, randomised prospective study with treatment and control groups. Patients aged one to 12 years, with no prior pathology and with AD of less than 48 h were included. The Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney tests were used, as well as the Cox proportional hazards model and the Kaplan-Meier estimator. Patients were randomised into an ORS and CBHG treatment group and a control group for ORS plus placebo. (Average age: 3.2 years). The result of the post-treatment evaluation with respect to the average duration of AD was 25.5 h for the treated group vs. 41.5 h for the control group (p = 0.015). The average number of stools was 4.8 in the treated group and 8.2 in the control group (p = 0.032). We conclude that the use of CBHG plus ORS significantly reduced the duration of AD, the number of stools and the percentage of children with persistent AD after 24 h of treatment compared to the control group. AD remitted almost twice as fast in patients treated with CBHG and ORS compared to those who received ORS plus placebo. PMID:28009823

Interventions to address deficits of pharmacological pain management in nursing home residents--A cluster-randomized trial.

PubMed

Könner, F; Budnick, A; Kuhnert, R; Wulff, I; Kalinowski, S; Martus, P; Dräger, D; Kreutz, R

2015-10-01

To evaluate the effect of interventions for general practitioners and nursing home staff to improve pain severity and appropriateness of pain medication in nursing home residents (NHR). This cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in six nursing homes in the intervention and control group, respectively. Pain management was analysed before (T0) and after (T1, T2) an educational intervention in 239 NHR, aged ≥65 years, without moderate or severe cognitive impairment. Primary and secondary outcomes were average pain severity and appropriateness of pain medication as determined with the Numeric Rating Scale and Pain Medication Appropriateness Scale (PMASD ), respectively. At T0, 72.2% and 73.7% of NHR (mean age 83 years) reported pain (average pain severity 2.4) in the intervention and control group, respectively. The PMASD at T0 was 53.9 in the intervention group and 60.8 in the control group (p = 0.12), while 20.6% compared to 6.9% (p = 0.009) received no pain medication in the two groups. At T2, non-significant improvements in the average pain severity (1.59) and PMASD (61.07) were observed in the intervention group. Moreover, the mean individual PMASD increased by 8.09 (p = 0.03) and the proportion of NHR without pain medication decreased by 50% (p = 0.03) in the intervention group. No appreciable changes were found in the control group at T2. NHR exhibited a high prevalence of pain with overall low severity, while a high proportion of individuals received inappropriate pain medications. Both findings were not significantly improved by the intervention, although some aspects of drug treatment were meaningful improved. © 2015 European Pain Federation - EFIC®

78 FR 11858 - Applications for New Awards; Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Program

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-20

... the treatment for project participants and, where feasible, for a comparison group of non... in the project (control group). The effect of the project is the average difference in outcomes between the treatment and control groups. Integrating means (i) encouraging the use of high-quality arts...

Comparative efficacy of diclazuril (Vecoxan®) and toltrazuril (Baycox bovis®) against natural infections of Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii in French calves.

PubMed

Philippe, P; Alzieu, J P; Taylor, M A; Dorchies, Ph

2014-12-15

A blinded, randomized, controlled, multi-centric field study was conducted on French dairy farms (n = 9) to evaluate the long term efficacy of metaphylactic, single oral treatments with either 1 mg/kg body weight (BW) of diclazuril (Vecoxan®), or 15 mg/kg BW of toltrazuril (Baycox®) against natural infections with Eimeria zuernii and/or Eimeria bovis, compared to untreated control animals. A total of 199 calves from nine commercial farms aged between 21 and 55 days old at the start of study were included and randomly allocated to one of three groups. Calves on all farms were observed for a period of 78 days post treatment, using both parasitological (oocyst excretion), and clinical parameters (faecal score and body weight). The assessment of efficacy was based on both control of oocyst excretion, and on the average daily weight gains throughout the study. During the whole study period, the mean number of days with diarrhoea (≥ 2) was similar (0.7 days) between treated groups. Excretion in the untreated group peaked at 21 days after treatment. In both the diclazuril and toltrazuril-treated groups, mean oocyst excretion decreased dramatically in the five days following treatment. Thereafter, particularly towards the end of the study period, oocyst counts and percentage levels of E. zuernii were highest in the toltrazuril-treated group. In pooled data from all trial sites, the average daily weight gain was significantly (p = 0.01) higher (+ 0.057 kg/day) in the diclazuril group when compared to the toltrazuril group, and the average body weight gain of the diclazuril treated group was 4.4 kg higher than the toltrazuril group. On eight of the nine trial sites, the average daily gain was greater in the diclazuril group than in the toltrazuril group. This study demonstrates that, over an extended observation period of 78 days, metaphylactic treatment with both diclazuril and toltrazuril reduces the impact of coccidiosis, but greater performance benefits based on average daily weight gains, were achieved following the use of diclazuril. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Computer as a Teaching Aid for Eleventh Grade Mathematics: A Comparison Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kieren, Thomas Ervin

To determine the effect of learning computer programming and the use of a computer on mathematical achievement of eleventh grade students, for each of two years, average and above average students were randomly assigned to an experimental and control group. The experimental group wrote computer programs and used the output from the computer in…

Cost effectiveness of adopted quality requirements in hospital laboratories.

PubMed

Hamza, Alneil; Ahmed-Abakur, Eltayib; Abugroun, Elsir; Bakhit, Siham; Holi, Mohamed

2013-01-01

The present study was designed in quasi-experiment to assess adoption of the essential clauses of particular clinical laboratory quality management requirements based on international organization for standardization (ISO 15189) in hospital laboratories and to evaluate the cost effectiveness of compliance to ISO 15189. The quality management intervention based on ISO 15189 was conceded through three phases; pre - intervention phase, Intervention phase and Post-intervention phase. In pre-intervention phase the compliance to ISO 15189 was 49% for study group vs. 47% for control group with P value 0.48, while the post intervention results displayed 54% vs. 79% for study group and control group respectively in compliance to ISO 15189 and statistically significant difference (P value 0.00) with effect size (Cohen's d) of (0.00) in pre-intervention phase and (0.99) in post - intervention phase. The annual average cost per-test for the study group and control group was 1.80 ± 0.25 vs. 1.97 ± 0.39, respectively with P value 0.39 whereas the post-intervention results showed that the annual average total costs per-test for study group and control group was 1.57 ± 0.23 vs 2.08 ± 0.38, P value 0.019 respectively, with cost-effectiveness ratio of (0.88) in pre -intervention phase and (0.52) in post-intervention phase. The planned adoption of quality management requirements (QMS) in clinical laboratories had great effect to increase the compliance percent with quality management system requirement, raise the average total cost effectiveness, and improve the analytical process capability of the testing procedure.

Endoscopic sphenopalatine ganglion blockade efficacy in pain control after endoscopic sinus surgery.

PubMed

Al-Qudah, Mohannad

2016-03-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of bilateral endoscopic injection of lidocaine with epinephrine in the sphenopalatine ganglion at the end of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in controlling postoperative pain and rescue analgesic requirements. A prospective, double blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial of 60 patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) undergoing general anesthesia for ESS was undertaken. Patients were randomized to receive injection of 2 mL of 2% lidocaine with epinephrine or 2 mL saline at the end of surgery. Postoperatively, patients were observed for 24 hours. Pain severity was reported immediately, 6 hours, and 24 hours after surgery using a 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS). The need of rescue analgesia was recorded and compared between the 2 groups. The 2 groups were matched in demographic and intraoperative details. Postoperative pain severity average was 3.4, 3.0, and 1.6 in the saline group compared to 1.6, 1.7, and 1.0 in the lidocaine group. These differences reached statically significant for the first 2 follow-up intervals. Also, there was significant difference in the whole-day postoperative average score between the 2 groups (2.6 vs 1.4). Twelve patients in the saline group required rescue analgesia compared to 5 in the lidocaine group. The average rescue analgesia dose was 27.5 mg of tramadol in the saline group vs 11.6 in the lidocaine group. These differences were statistically significant. No complications were reported in either group. Sphenopalatine ganglion injection of lidocaine at the end of surgery is safe, simple, noninvasive, and an effective method of short-term pain control after sinus surgery. © 2015 ARS-AAOA, LLC.

The Role of the Tamsulosin in the Medical Expulsion Therapy for Distal Ureteral Stones

PubMed Central

Nuraj, Petrit; Hyseni, Nexhmi

2017-01-01

Background: This research aims to evaluate the role of tamsulosin in the medical expulsion therapy for distal ureteral stones, including her effects in stone expulsion time, expulsion rates, stone size, pain episodes and analgesic dosage usage. Material and methods: The 104 patients with distal ureteral calculi were examined, with the size of the stones 4-10 mm. They were randomly divided into two groups: study group (n=52), received tamsulosin 0.4 mg in morning, for 28 days, analgesic (diclofenac 75 mg), high fluid intake and Control group (n=52) received analgesic (diclofenac 75 mg), high fluid intake. Results: There is no significant difference between groups, based on sex (P=0.835) and age (P=0.987). Average size of the stones was 6.5 mm (SD ± 1.6 mm), with no significant difference (P=0.996). Stone expulsion rate is 90.4% in the study group and 71.2% from the control group, with statistical significance (P=0.023). The average time of the expulsion of stones in the study group was 9.6 days (SD ± 7.1 days), control group 13.7 days (SD ± 7.3 days), with statistical significance, (P=0.034). Average dose of analgesics in the study group was 63.7 mg (SD ± 45.2 mg), control group is 109.2 (SD ± 53.3), with statistical significance (P=0.019). Conclusion: Our study reveals that tamsulosin is efficient for the treatment of distal ureteral stones. Tamsulosin decrease the number of ureteral colic episodes, by acting as a spasmolytic, increase and hasten stone expulsion rates, reduce days of stone expulsion, decrease analgesic dose usage. PMID:28790547

Ex vivo tracheomalacia model with 3D-printed external tracheal splint.

PubMed

Kaye, Rachel; Goldstein, Todd; Aronowitz, Danielle; Grande, Daniel A; Zeltsman, David; Smith, Lee P

2017-04-01

To design and evaluate an ex vivo model of tracheomalacia with and without a three-dimensional (3D)-printed external tracheal splint. Prospective, ex vivo animal trial. Three groups of ex vivo porcine tracheas were used: 1) control (unmanipulated trachea), 2) tracheomalacia (tracheal rings partially incised and crushed), and 3) splinted tracheomalacia (external custom tracheal splint fitted onto group 2 trachea). Each end of an ex vivo trachea was sealed with a custom-designed and 3D-printed cap; a transducer was placed through one end to measure the pressure inside the trachea. Although the negative pressure was applied to the tracheal lumen, the tracheal wall collapse was measured externally and internally using a bronchoscope. Each group had at least three recorded trials. Tracheal diameter was evaluated using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) and was averaged between two raters. Average tracheal occlusion percentage was compared using Student t test. The average occlusion was 31% for group 1, 87.4% for group 2, and 20% for group 3. Significant differences were found between the control and tracheomalacia groups (P < 0.01) and the tracheomalacia and splinted tracheomalacia groups (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the control and splinted tracheomalacia groups (P = 0.13). Applied pressure was plotted against occlusion and regression line slope differed between the tracheomalacia (0.91) and control (0.12) or splinted tracheomalacia (0.39) groups. We demonstrate the potential for an ex vivo tracheomalacia model to reproduce airway collapse and show that this collapse can be treated successfully with a 3D-printed external splint. These results are promising and justify further studies. N/A. Laryngoscope, 127:950-955, 2017. © 2016 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Comparison of Cerebral Oximeter and Pulse Oximeter Values in the First 72 Hours in Premature, Asphyctic and Healthy Newborns.

PubMed

Kaya, A; Okur, M; Sal, E; Peker, E; Köstü, M; Tuncer, O; Kırımi, E

2014-12-01

The monitoring of oxygenation is essential for providing patient safety and optimal results. We aimed to determine brain oxygen saturation values in healthy, asphyctic and premature newborns and to compare cerebral oximeter and pulse oximeter values in the first 72 hours of life in neonatal intensive care units. This study was conducted at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Van Yüzüncü Yil University Research and Administration Hospital. Seventy-five neonatal infants were included in the study (28 asphyxia, 24 premature and 23 mature healthy infants for control group). All infants were studied within the first 72 hours of life. We used a Somanetics 5100C cerebral oximeter (INVOS cerebral/somatic oximeter, Troy, MI, USA). The oxygen saturation information was collected by a Nellcor N-560 pulse oximeter (Nellcor-Puriton Bennet Inc, Pleasanton, CA, USA). In the asphyxia group, the cerebral oximeter average was 76.85 ± 14.1, the pulse oximeter average was 91.86 ± 5.9 and the heart rate average was 139.91 ± 22.3. Among the premature group, the cerebral oximeter average was 79.08 ± 9.04, the pulse oximeter average was 92.01 ± 5.3 and the heart rate average was 135.35 ± 17.03. In the control group, the cerebral oximeter average was 77.56 ± 7.6, the pulse oximeter average was 92.82 ± 3.8 and the heart rate average was 127.04 ± 19.7. Cerebral oximeter is a promising modality in bedside monitoring in neonatal intensive care units. It is complementary to pulse oximeter. It may be used routinely in neonatal intensive care units.

Comparison of Cerebral Oximeter and Pulse Oximeter Values in the First 72 Hours in Premature, Asphyctic and Healthy Newborns

PubMed Central

Kaya, A; Okur, M; Sal, E; Peker, E; Köstü, M; Tuncer, O; Kirimi, E

2014-01-01

ABSTRACT Aim: The monitoring of oxygenation is essential for providing patient safety and optimal results. We aimed to determine brain oxygen saturation values in healthy, asphyctic and premature newborns and to compare cerebral oximeter and pulse oximeter values in the first 72 hours of life in neonatal intensive care units. Methods: This study was conducted at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Van Yüzüncü Yil University Research and Administration Hospital. Seventy-five neonatal infants were included in the study (28 asphyxia, 24 premature and 23 mature healthy infants for control group). All infants were studied within the first 72 hours of life. We used a Somanetics 5100C cerebral oximeter (INVOS cerebral/somatic oximeter, Troy, MI, USA). The oxygen saturation information was collected by a Nellcor N-560 pulse oximeter (Nellcor-Puriton Bennet Inc, Pleasanton, CA, USA). Results: In the asphyxia group, the cerebral oximeter average was 76.85 ± 14.1, the pulse oximeter average was 91.86 ± 5.9 and the heart rate average was 139.91 ± 22.3. Among the premature group, the cerebral oximeter average was 79.08 ± 9.04, the pulse oximeter average was 92.01 ± 5.3 and the heart rate average was 135.35 ± 17.03. In the control group, the cerebral oximeter average was 77.56 ± 7.6, the pulse oximeter average was 92.82 ± 3.8 and the heart rate average was 127.04 ± 19.7. Conclusion: Cerebral oximeter is a promising modality in bedside monitoring in neonatal intensive care units. It is complementary to pulse oximeter. It may be used routinely in neonatal intensive care units. PMID:25867556

The Application of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 to Determine the Duration Between Shockwave Lithotripsy Sessions.

PubMed

Aydin, Hasan R; Irkilata, Lokman; Aydin, Mustafa; Daggulli, Mansur; Taskin, Mehmet H; Demirel, Huseyin C; Adanur, Senol; Moral, Caner; Atilla, Mustafa K; Sancaktutar, Ahmet A

2016-01-01

We aimed to evaluate the role of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) in determining the intervals between shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) sessions. This was a prospective, controlled study. It included 40 patients with unilateral kidney stones and 40 healthy persons of a similar age group as controls. The patients' midflow urine samples were collected before SWL and 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month after the procedure. The average age in the SWL and control groups was 45 ± 14 and 39 ± 15 years, respectively (P = 0.336). The average KIM-1 value before SWL was 0.74 ± 0.35 ng/mL, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.51 ± 0.14 ng/mL) (P < 0.001). Similarly, the average values of the urine samples after SWL were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.001). When the KIM-1 values of the patients given SWL were compared within the group, the KIM-1 values 1 hour (1.06 ± 0.51) and 1 day (0.99 ± 0.67) after the procedure were statistically clearly higher than those before the procedure (P < 0.001) and statistically clearly higher than those of the control group (P = 0.005). The KIM-1 values 1 week and 1 month after the procedure were not significantly different than the preprocedure values (P = 0.652 and P = 0.747, respectively). KIM-1 is a noninvasive biomarker that may be used to show renal damage because of stones and early-stage renal damage linked to SWL. In addition, post-SWL KIM-1 values may be used to determine the interval between SWL sessions.

Effects of Rice Bran, Flax Seed, and Sunflower Seed on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, Fatty Acid Composition, Free Amino Acid and Peptide Contents, and Sensory Evaluations of Native Korean Cattle (Hanwoo)

PubMed Central

Choi, Chang Bon; Kwon, Hana; Kim, Sung Il; Yang, Un Mok; Lee, Ju Hwan; Park, Eun Kyu

2016-01-01

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with rice bran, flax seed, or sunflower seed to finishing native Korean cattle (Hanwoo) on growth performances, carcass characteristics, fatty acid composition, free amino acid and peptide contents, and sensory evaluations of Longissimus muscle (LM). A total of 39 Hanwoo steers (average age of 22.2 mo and average body weight (BW) of 552.2 kg) were randomly divided into Control, rice bran (RB), flax seed (FS), or Sunflower seed (SS) groups. The steers were group fed for 273 d until they reached an average age of 31.2 mo. Final BW was 768.2, 785.8, 786.2, and 789.0 kg, and average daily gain was 0.79, 0.85, 0.82, and 0.84 kg for the Control, RS, FS, and SS groups, respectively (p>0.05). Fat thickness of the FS group (19.8 mm) was greater (p<0.05) than that of the other groups. Final yield grade converted into numerical values was 2.0 for the RB group, 1.7 for the Control and SS groups, and 1.4 for the FS group. Marbling degrees for the Control, SS, RB, and FS groups were 5.3, 5.1, 4.7, and 4.6, respectively. Percentages of palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and arachidic acid (C20:0) in the LM were not different among the groups. Palmitoleic (C16:1) acid was higher (p<0.05) in the SS group. The concentration of oleic acid was highest (p<0.05) in the Control group (47.73%). The level of linolenic acid (C18:3) was 2.3 times higher (p<0.05) in the FS group compared to the other groups. Methionine concentration was (p<0.05) higher in FS (1.7 mg/100 g) and SS (1.2 mg/100 g) steers than in the Control or RB groups. Glutamic acid and α-aminoadipic acid (α-AAA) contents were (p<0.05) higher in the FS group compared to the other groups. LM from the FS group had numerically higher (p>0.05) scores for flavor, umami, and overall palatability in sensory evaluations. In conclusion, supplementation of flax seed to diets of finishing Hanwoo steers improved sensory evaluations which might have been caused by increases in flavor related amino acids such as methionine, glutamic acid and α-AAA and peptides, anserine and carnosine, and their complex reactions. PMID:26732444

Evaluation of the utility of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale in the diagnosis of social anxiety, impulsivity and depression.

PubMed

Tyrała, Kinga; Seweryn, Mariusz; Bonk, Magdalena; Bulska, Weronika; Orszulak, Kamila; Bratek, Agnieszka; Krysta, Krzysztof

2015-09-01

Often mental disorders are serious problems concerning psychological well-being. They require comprehensive and specialized psychiatric and psychological help, but there are no public methods of controlling your mental state. The aim of study was the evaluation of the utility of Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale in the diagnosis of social anxiety, impulsivity and depression. The study included 85 persons. The study group had 34 patients treated in an open ward of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. The control group included 51 persons without mental disorders. Three self-rating questionnaires were used: Beck Depression Inventory, Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale. Statistica v10 Statsoft software was used for statistical analysis. The analyzed groups had significant differences in terms of Beck Scale (U Mann-Whitney test p=0.000001). Average score in study group: 22.94±12.50; in control group: 7.15±6.44. Groups had significant differences in terms of Liebowitz Scale (U test Mann-Whitney test, p=0.000164). Average score in the study group: 60.41±30.30; in control group: 35.01±23.94. Groups had significant differences in terms of Barratt Scale (t-student test p=0.000601). Average in study group: 66.35±9,49; in control group: 59.54±7.87. Significant positive correlation was observed between the results of Beck Scale and Liebowitz Scale (r=0.64465). Correlation was not observed between the results of the Liebowitz and Barrat (r=0.12091 and Beck and Barrat (r=0.21482). The intensity of the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale is directly proportional to the severity of depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory. The degree of impulsivity by Barrat Impulsiveness Scale does not correlate with the level of depression according to Beck Depression Inventory. The analyzed scales are relevant in the diagnosis of mental disorders.

Simulated Keratometry Repeatability in Subjects with & without Down Syndrome

PubMed Central

Ravikumar, Ayeswarya; Marsack, Jason D.; Benoit, Julia S.; Anderson, Heather A.

2016-01-01

Purpose To assess the repeatability of simulated keratometry measures obtained with Zeiss Atlas topography for subjects with and without Down syndrome (DS). Methods Corneal topography was attempted on 140 subjects with DS and 138 controls (aged 7 to 59 years). Subjects who had at least 3 measures in each eye were included in analysis (DS: n=140 eyes (70 subjects) and controls: n=264 eyes (132 subjects)). For each measurement the steep corneal power (K), corneal astigmatism, flat K orientation, power vector representation of astigmatism (J0, J45), and astigmatic dioptric difference were determined for each measurement (collectively termed keratometry values here). For flat K orientation comparisons, only eyes with >0.50 DC of astigmatism were included (DS: n=131 eyes (68 subjects) and control: n=217 eyes (119 subjects)). Repeatability was assessed using 1) group mean variability (average standard deviation (SD) across subjects), 2) coefficient of repeatability (COR) 3) coefficient of variation (COV), and 4) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results The keratometry values showed good repeatability as evidenced by low group mean variability for DS vs control eyes (≤0.26D vs ≤0.09D for all dioptric values; 4.51° vs 3.16° for flat K orientation); however, the group mean variability was significantly higher in DS eyes than control eyes for all parameters (p≤0.03). On average, group mean variability was 2.5× greater in the DS eyes compared to control eyes across the keratometry values. Other metrics of repeatability also indicated good repeatability for both populations for each keratometry value, although repeatability was always better in the control eyes. Conclusions DS eyes showed more variability (on average: 2.5×) compared to controls for all keratometry values. Although differences were statistically significant, on average 91% of DS eyes had variability ≤0.50D for steep K and astigmatism, and 75% of DS eyes had variability ≤5 degrees for flat K orientation. PMID:27741083

Selenium-methionine and chromium-methionine supplementation of sheep around parturition: impacts on dam and offspring performance.

PubMed

Mousaie, Amir; Valizadeh, Reza; Chamsaz, Mahmoud

2017-04-01

To examine the effects of maternal energy restriction along with selenium-methionine (Se-Met) and chromium-methionine (Cr-Met) supplementation on performance of pregnant sheep and their offspring, the following treatments were allotted randomly to 40 multiparous Baluchi ewes (53.9 ± 1.15 kg of body weight [BW]) from 5 weeks prior to 5 weeks after parturition: (1) Control diet (60% and 100% of NRC energy requirements in pre- and post-partum, respectively); (2) Control diet plus 5 mg Se-Met/kg dry matter (DM); (3) Control diet plus 3 mg Cr-Met/kg DM and (4) Control diet plus 5 mg Se-Met and 3 mg Cr-Met/kg DM (Se-Cr-Met) of concentrate diet. The results indicated that Cr-Met alone or in combination with Se-Met increased average DM intake of ewes. In addition, Group Cr-Met had higher average BW than the Control (p < 0.05). Se-Met and/or Cr-Met supplementation led to decreased average serum cholesterol of the ewes (p < 0.05). Groups Cr-Met and Se-Cr-Met displayed decreased average serum malondialdehyde compared to the Control (p < 0.05). At 24 h post-partum, Group Se-Cr-Met had a greater serum Se content than the Control (p = 0.006). Compared with the Control, the Se concentration in milk was significantly increased from 30 to 138 µg/l and 197 µg/l in Groups Se-Met and Se-Cr-Met, respectively (p < 0.01), which proved that Se-Met supplementation can increase the Se concentration of ewe milk. Furthermore, feeding Cr-Met may attenuate BW loss post-partum and Se-Met and/or Cr-Met supplements may ameliorate oxidative stress condition in ewes around parturition.

Application of the perineal ostomy in severe organophosphate poisoned patients after catharsis.

PubMed

Zhang, D-M; Xiao, Q

2014-01-01

To investigate the efficacy of the one-piece ostomy bags for severe organophosphate poisoned patients after catharsis. Sixty cases of severe organophosphate poisoned patients who were given rhubarb catharsis after thorough nasal lavage were divided into two groups. The observation group used the one-piece ostomy bags whilst the control group used the disposable changing mats. The perineal skin changes, average daily hours of care, and cost of care rates were compared between the two groups. The rates of perineal skin changes were lower in the observation group than the control group (p < 0.05). The average daily hours of nursing and the cost of care were lower in the observation group than in the control group (p < 0.05). The application of one-piece perineal paste ostomy bag in poisoned patients after the catharsis can prevent the risk of nursing by protecting and promoting the care quality, reducing the nursing workload and improving their work efficiency. It can enhance the nurses' self-esteem, reduce patients' expenses and provide an objective basis for assessing the treatments.

A standardized model for predicting flap failure using indocyanine green dye

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmermann, Terence M.; Moore, Lindsay S.; Warram, Jason M.; Greene, Benjamin J.; Nakhmani, Arie; Korb, Melissa L.; Rosenthal, Eben L.

2016-03-01

Techniques that provide a non-invasive method for evaluation of intraoperative skin flap perfusion are currently available but underutilized. We hypothesize that intraoperative vascular imaging can be used to reliably assess skin flap perfusion and elucidate areas of future necrosis by means of a standardized critical perfusion threshold. Five animal groups (negative controls, n=4; positive controls, n=5; chemotherapy group, n=5; radiation group, n=5; chemoradiation group, n=5) underwent pre-flap treatments two weeks prior to undergoing random pattern dorsal fasciocutaneous flaps with a length to width ratio of 2:1 (3 x 1.5 cm). Flap perfusion was assessed via laser-assisted indocyanine green dye angiography and compared to standard clinical assessment for predictive accuracy of flap necrosis. For estimating flap-failure, clinical prediction achieved a sensitivity of 79.3% and a specificity of 90.5%. When average flap perfusion was more than three standard deviations below the average flap perfusion for the negative control group at the time of the flap procedure (144.3+/-17.05 absolute perfusion units), laser-assisted indocyanine green dye angiography achieved a sensitivity of 81.1% and a specificity of 97.3%. When absolute perfusion units were seven standard deviations below the average flap perfusion for the negative control group, specificity of necrosis prediction was 100%. Quantitative absolute perfusion units can improve specificity for intraoperative prediction of viable tissue. Using this strategy, a positive predictive threshold of flap failure can be standardized for clinical use.

An excellent navigation system and experience in craniomaxillofacial navigation surgery: a double-center study

PubMed Central

Dai, Jiewen; Wu, Jinyang; Wang, Xudong; Yang, Xudong; Wu, Yunong; Xu, Bing; Shi, Jun; Yu, Hongbo; Cai, Min; Zhang, Wenbin; Zhang, Lei; Sun, Hao; Shen, Guofang; Zhang, Shilei

2016-01-01

Numerous problems regarding craniomaxillofacial navigation surgery are not well understood. In this study, we performed a double-center clinical study to quantitatively evaluate the characteristics of our navigation system and experience in craniomaxillofacial navigation surgery. Fifty-six patients with craniomaxillofacial disease were included and randomly divided into experimental (using our AccuNavi-A system) and control (using Strker system) groups to compare the surgical effects. The results revealed that the average pre-operative planning time was 32.32 mins vs 29.74 mins between the experimental and control group, respectively (p > 0.05). The average operative time was 295.61 mins vs 233.56 mins (p > 0.05). The point registration orientation accuracy was 0.83 mm vs 0.92 mm. The maximal average preoperative navigation orientation accuracy was 1.03 mm vs 1.17 mm. The maximal average persistent navigation orientation accuracy was 1.15 mm vs 0.09 mm. The maximal average navigation orientation accuracy after registration recovery was 1.15 mm vs 1.39 mm between the experimental and control group. All patients healed, and their function and profile improved. These findings demonstrate that although surgeons should consider the patients’ time and monetary costs, our qualified navigation surgery system and experience could offer an accurate guide during a variety of craniomaxillofacial surgeries. PMID:27305855

Determination of Selected Amino Acids in Serum of Patients with Liver Disease.

PubMed

Kanďár, Roman; Drábková, Petra; Toiflová, Tereza; Čegan, Alexander

2016-01-01

The determination of amino acids can be a reliable approach for extended diagnosis of liver diseases. This is because liver disease can be a cause of impaired amino acid metabolism. Therefore, a method for the determination of serum amino acids, applicable for clinical purposes, is necessary. The aim of this study was to find differences in the levels of selected amino acids between patients with liver disease and a control group. Samples of peripheral venous blood were obtained from a group of patients with liver disease (n = 131, 59 women at an average age of 60 years and 72 men at an average age of 52 years) and a control group (n = 105, 47 women at an average age of 62 years and 58 men at an average age of 58 years). Before the separation, the amino acids were derivatized with naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde. For the separation, reverse phase column was used. The effluent was monitored with a fluorescence detector. There were significant differences in the concentrations of some amino acids between the patients and the control group, but also between women and men. Correlations between some amino acids and markers of liver blood tests and lipid metabolism were observed. A simple, relatively rapid and selective HPLC method with fluorescence detection for the determination of selected amino acids in serum has been developed.

Radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma in difficult locations: Strategies and long-term outcomes

PubMed Central

Yang, Wei; Yan, Kun; Wu, Gong-Xiong; Wu, Wei; Fu, Ying; Lee, Jung-Chieh; Zhang, Zhong-Yi; Wang, Song; Chen, Min-Hua

2015-01-01

AIM: To investigate the treatment strategies and long-term outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in difficult locations and to compare the results with non-difficult HCC. METHODS: From 2004 to 2012, a total of 470 HCC patients underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA. Among these HCC patients, 382 with tumors located ≤ 5 mm from a major vessel/bile duct (n = 87), from peripheral important structures (n = 232) or from the liver capsule (n = 63) were regarded as difficult cases. There were 331 male patients and 51 female patients, with an average age of 55.3 ± 10.1 years old. A total of 235 and 147 patients had Child-Pugh class A and class B liver function, respectively. The average tumor size was 3.4 ± 1.2 cm. Individual treatment strategies were developed to treat these difficult cases. During the same period, 88 HCC patients with tumors that were not in difficult locations served as the control group. In the control group, 74 patients were male, and 14 patients were female, with an average age of 57.4 ± 11.8 years old. Of these, 62 patients and 26 patients had Child-Pugh class A and class B liver function, respectively. Regular follow-up after RFA was performed to assess treatment efficacy. Survival results were generated from Kaplan-Meier estimates, and multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox regression model. RESULTS: Early tumor necrosis rate in the difficult group was similar to that in the control group (97.6% vs 94.3%, P = 0.080). The complication rate in the difficult group was significantly higher than that in the control group (4.9% vs 0.8%, P = 0.041). The follow-up period ranged from 6 to 116 mo, with an average of 28 ± 22.4 mo. Local progression rate in the difficult group was significantly higher than that in the control group (12.7% vs 7.1%, P = 0.046). However, the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year overall survival rates in the difficult group were not significantly different from those in the control group (84.3%, 54.4%, 41.2%, and 29.9% vs 92.5%, 60.3%, 43.2%, and 32.8%, respectively, P = 0.371). Additionally, a multivariate analysis revealed that tumor location was not a significant risk factor for survival. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in long-term overall survival between the two groups even though the local progression rate was higher in the difficult group. PMID:25663774

Effect on long-term average spectrum of pop singers' vocal warm-up with vocal function exercises.

PubMed

Guzman, Marco; Angulo, Mabel; Muñoz, Daniel; Mayerhoff, Ross

2013-04-01

Abstract This case-control study aimed to investigate if there is any change on the spectral slope declination immediately after vocal function exercises (VFE) vs traditional vocal warm-up exercises in normal singers. Thirty-eight pop singers with perceptually normal voices were divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 20) and a control group (n = 18). One single session with VFE for the experimental group and traditional singing warm-up exercises for the control group was applied. Voice was recorded before and after the exercises. The recorded tasks were to read a phonetically balanced text and to sing a song. Long-term average spectrum (LTAS) analysis included alpha ratio, L1-L0 ratio, and singing power ratio (SPR). Acoustic parameters of voice samples pre- and post-training were compared. Comparison between VFE and control group was also performed. Significant changes after treatment included the alpha ratio and singing power ratio in speaking voice, and SPR in the singing voice for VFE group. The traditional vocal warm-up of the control group also showed pre-post changes. Significant differences between VFE group and control group for alpha ratio and SPR were found in speaking voice samples. This study demonstrates that VFE have an immediate effect on the spectrum of the voice, specifically a decrease on the spectral slope declination. The results of this study provide support for the advantageous effect of VFE as vocal warm-up on voice quality.

Fast Facts about Group B Strep and Pregnancy

MedlinePlus

... Y Z # Start of Search Controls Search Form Controls Cancel Submit Search The CDC Group B Strep (GBS) Note: Javascript is disabled or ... people’s bodies without symptoms. The rate of serious group B strep disease increases with age. The average age of cases in non-pregnant adults is about 60 years old. ... HHS/Open USA.gov TOP

The effect of bibliotherapy on the psychological capital of the staff of the School of Management and Medical Informatics of Isfahan University of Medical Science

PubMed Central

Papi, Ahmad; Mosharraf, Zahra; Farashbandi, Firoozeh Zare; Samouei, Rahele; Hassanzadeh, Akbar

2017-01-01

BACKGROUND: Bibliotherapy is defined as using dynamic interaction along with reading a book in order to help the people to increase their cognitive understanding. This study aims to investigate the effect of bibliotherapy on the psychological capital of the employees of the Department of Management and Medical Informatics of Isfahan University of Medical Science. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an applied study using a semi-empirical method. The statistical population consists of all nonfaculty employees of the target department (70 people). Twenty eight people were randomly selected and divided into experiment and control groups and answered the psychological capital questionnaire. The data gathering tool was the psychological capital questionnaire of Luthans. The experiment group underwent six 2-h sessions of bibliotherapy where the control group underwent no interference. Both groups answered the questionnaire again 1-month after the final bibliotherapy session. The information was analyzed using descriptive (average and frequency distribution) and analytical (independent t-test, paired t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann–Whitney U-test) with the help of SPSS 20 software. RESULTS: The findings showed no meaningful distinction average scores of the physiological capital of both groups before interference. However, the average physiological capital score and an average score of each factor in the experiment group was meaningfully higher than that of the control group after the bibliotherapy sections. CONCLUSION: The results showed that bibliotherapy is a suitable method for increasing the psychological capital of the employees of different organizations which will in turn provide both the employees themselves and the organization with material and spiritual gains. PMID:28584831

Eight Weeks of Strength and Power Training Improves Club Head Speed in Collegiate Golfers.

PubMed

Oranchuk, Dustin J; Mannerberg, Jason M; Robinson, Tracey L; Nelson, Megan C

2018-02-14

Club head speed (CHS) is a major determinant of drive distance, a key component of golf performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the indirect effects of an eight-week strength and power program on CHS. Twelve (6 male, 6 female) NCAA Division II golfers (20.3±1.5 years) randomly assigned to an intervention or control group, underwent either a periodized strength and power program consisting of high-load barbell movements or a bodyweight and rotational movement focused resistance training program. Outcomes were CHS, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and 1RM back squat (BS), power clean (PC), and deadlift (DL). Dependent t-tests were utilized to assess differences in outcome variables pre-to-post for each group, independent t-tests were utilized to assess differences between groups, and Pearson correlations were utilized to assess associations between CHS and outcome variables. On average, the intervention group experienced improvements in all outcome variables except peak CHS (p=0.60); the control group displayed no changes in any outcome variable except a decrease in average CHS (p=0.028). Compared to the control group, the intervention group experienced greater improvements in average CHS, BS, PC, and average and peak CMJ height (p<0.05). Additionally, CHS had large associations with PC (r=0.70, p=0.012), BS (r=0.64, p=0.025), DL (r=0.54, p=0.068) and CMJ (r=0.73, p=0.007). These results suggest improving muscular strength and power by increasing PC, BS, and CMJ is associated with increased CHS in collegiate golfers. Integrating a high-load, barbell-focused strength and power program may be beneficial for improving CHS and indirectly, golf performance.

Initial Observations of Lingual Movement Characteristics of Children With Cerebral Palsy

PubMed Central

Arias, Carlos R.; Morita, Kristen; Richardson, Hannah

2017-01-01

Purpose This preliminary study compared the speech motor control of the tongue and jaw between children with cerebral palsy (CP) and their typically developing (TD) peers. Method Tongue tip and jaw movements of 4 boys with spastic CP and 4 age- and sex-matched TD peers were recorded using an electromagnetic articulograph during 10 repetitions of “Dad told stories today.” The duration, path distance, average speed, and speech movement stability of the movements were calculated for each repetition. Results The children with CP had longer durations than their TD peers. Children with CP had longer path distances and faster average speed as compared with their TD peers for both articulators. The TD group but not the CP group had longer path distances and faster average speeds for the tongue than the jaw. The CP group had reduced speech movement stability for the tongue as compared with their TD peers, but both groups had similar speech movement stability for the jaw. Conclusions Children with CP had impaired speech motor control of the tongue and jaw as compared with their TD peers, and these speech motor control deficits were more pronounced in the tongue tip than the jaw. PMID:28655047

Isometric strength ratios of the hip musculature in females with patellofemoral pain: a comparison to pain-free controls.

PubMed

Magalhães, Eduardo; Silva, Ana Paula M C C; Sacramento, Sylvio N; Martin, RobRoy L; Fukuda, Thiago Y

2013-08-01

The purpose of the study was to compare hip agonist-antagonist isometric strength ratios between females with patellofemoral pain (PFP) syndrome and pain-free control group. One hundred and twenty females between 15 and 40 years of age (control group: n = 60; PFP group: n = 60) participated in the study. Hip adductor, abductor, medial rotator, lateral rotator, flexor, and extensor isometric strength were measured using a hand-held dynamometer. Comparisons in the hip adductor/abductor and medial/lateral rotator and flexor/extensor strength ratios were made between groups using independent t-tests. Group comparisons also were made between the anteromedial hip complex (adductor, medial rotator, and flexor musculature) and posterolateral hip complex (abductor, lateral rotator, and extensor musculature). On average, the hip adductor/abductor isometric strength ratio in the PFP group was 23% higher when compared with the control group (p = 0.01). The anteromedial/posterolateral complex ratio also was significantly higher in the PFP group (average 8%; p = 0.04). No significant group differences were found for the medial/lateral rotator ratio and flexor/extensor strength ratios. The results of this study demonstrate that females with PFP have altered hip strength ratios when compared with asymptomatic controls. These strength imbalances may explain the tendency of females with PFP to demonstrate kinematic tendencies that increase loading on the patellofemoral joint (i.e., dynamic knee valgus).

[Clinical randomized controlled trial on ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy for the treatment of early stage distal radius fractures].

PubMed

Wang, Guan-Jie; Liu, Jia

2012-07-01

To explore the effect of application of ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy instrument on the swelling regression in distal radius fractures treated by splint external fixation in initial stage. From March 2007 to May 2010,90 patients with distal radial fracture were treated by manual reduction and splint external fixation. After manual reduction and small splints external fixation, these patients were randomly divided into electrical physical therapy group, western medicine group and the control group by the order of calling number, with 30 cases each group. In control group, there were 9 males and 21 females with an average age of (61.29 +/- 1.97) years, the patients raised and exercise the limb and fingers only. The other two groups also carried out this treatment. In electrical physical therapy group, there were 9 males and 21 females with an average age of (62.37 +/- 2.48) years, the patients were treated with ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy instrument for early intervention, once a day, 5 days for a course of treatment and three cycle were operated. In western medicine group,there were 8 males and 22 females with an average age of (60.12 +/- 2.87) years, the patients were injected with beta-aescin (20 mg, intravenous injection,once a day) for 5 days, followed by Danshen injection (20 ml, intravenous injection, once a day) for 10 days. The limb swelling of patients were assessed every day for 20 days after manual reduction and small splints external fixation. The time of swelling regression in electrical physical therapy group, western medicine group and the control group were respectively (9.62 +/- 3.32), (10.05 +/- 3.05) and (14.57 +/- 2.93) days. Both of that in electrical physical therapy group and western medicine group were shorter than that in the control group (P<0.05), then there were not statistical difference between electrical physical therapy group and western medicine group (P>0.05). The effective rate of swelling regression in electrical physical therapy group, western medicine group and the control group were 86.67%, 80.00%, 46.66% respectively. There was no significant differences between electrical physical therapy group and western medicine group in the curative effect, but both of them had advantage over the control group. Application of ultrashort wave and magnetic therapy instrument for treatment of distal radial fractures in initial stage can promote the regression of limb swelling evidently, which is similar to the intravenous infusion of beta-aescin injection and Danshen injection in curative effect.

Effects of Meridian Acupressure Massage on Body Composition, Edema, Stress, and Fatigue in Postpartum Women.

PubMed

Jung, Geum-Sook; Choi, In-Ryoung; Kang, Hee-Young; Choi, Eun-Young

2017-10-01

This study aims to investigate the effects of meridian acupressure massage on body composition, edema, stress, and fatigue in postpartum women. A quasi-experimental design with a nonequivalent control group was utilized. The Postpartum Care Center of Women's Hospital in Gwangju City, Republic of Korea. The study group consisted of 39 postpartum women, 19 in the experimental group and 20 in the control group, recruited from the postpartum care center of Women's Hospital in Gwangju city, South Korea. The experimental group was provided with meridian acupressure massage for 90 min daily over 5 days as an experimental therapy. Body composition (body weight, BMI, total body water, ECW ratio, LBM, and body fat) Edema (subjective edema, average girth of the upper limbs, and average girth of the lower limbs), Stress (psychological stress and physical stress), and Fatigue. The experimental group demonstrated a significantly larger decrease compared with the control group in measures of body composition, edema, total subjective stress, psychological stress, and subjective fatigue. Meridian acupressure massage can hasten the return to original body composition after childbirth.

Effect of Withania somnifera Root Extract on Spontaneous Estrogen Receptor-Negative Mammary Cancer in MMTV/Neu Mice

PubMed Central

KHAZAL, KAMEL F.; HILL, DONALD L.; GRUBBS, CLINTON J.

2015-01-01

The cancer-preventive activity of an extract of Withania somnifera (WS) roots was examined in female transgenic (MMTV/Neu) mice that received a diet containing the extract (750 mg/kg of diet) for 10 months. Mice in the treated group (N=35) had an average of 1.66 mammary carcinomas, and mice in the control group (N=33) had 2.48, a reduction of 33%. The average weights of the carcinomas were 2.36 g for mice in the treated group and 2.63 g for the controls, a difference of 10%. Labeling indices for Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen marker in mammary carcinomas of the treated group were 35% and 30% lower, respectively, than those of the corresponding control group. Expression of the chemokine was reduced by 50%. These results indicate that the root extract reduced the number of mammary carcinomas that developed and reduced the rate of cell division in the carcinomas. PMID:25368231

Effect of an Extract of Withania somnifera Root on Estrogen Receptor-positive Mammary Carcinomas

PubMed Central

KHAZAL, KAMEL F.; SAMUEL, TEMESGEN; HILL, DONALD L.; GRUBBS, CLINTON J.

2013-01-01

The chemopreventive activity of an extract of Withania somnifera (WS) roots was examined in female Sprague-Dawley rats that received the mammary carcinogen methylnitrosourea (MNU). The dose of the extract, administered by gavage, was 150 mg/kg body weight daily for 155 days after injection of MNU. Rats in the treated group (N=15) had an average of 3.47 tumors, and rats in the control group (N=15) had 4.53, a reduction of 23%. The average weights of tumors were 4.98 g for rats in the treated group and 6.30 g for the controls, a difference of 21%. Labeling indices for Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) markers in cancers of the treated group were 42% and 38% lower, respectively, than those of the corresponding indices for the control group. These results indicate that the root extract significantly reduced the rate of cell division in the mammary tumors. PMID:23564793

Molecular Signatures and Diagnostic Biomarkers of Cumulative Blast-Graded Mild TBI

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

100 ± 9% 191 ± 20%* Values are mean ± SE of 4 rats/ group expressed as percentage of control . The level of the averaged control for each...protein is arbitrarily set to 100 with SE adjusted proportionally with remaining groups normalized to the level in control . *Significantly increased...not significant vs sham; **- pɘ.05, and ***-pɘ.01 Rat number in each group ranged 4-7. Mean, pg/ml for GFAP and UCHL1 and AU in % control

Cost Effectiveness of Adopted Quality Requirements in Hospital Laboratories

PubMed Central

HAMZA, Alneil; AHMED-ABAKUR, Eltayib; ABUGROUN, Elsir; BAKHIT, Siham; HOLI, Mohamed

2013-01-01

Background The present study was designed in quasi-experiment to assess adoption of the essential clauses of particular clinical laboratory quality management requirements based on international organization for standardization (ISO 15189) in hospital laboratories and to evaluate the cost effectiveness of compliance to ISO 15189. Methods: The quality management intervention based on ISO 15189 was conceded through three phases; pre – intervention phase, Intervention phase and Post-intervention phase. Results: In pre-intervention phase the compliance to ISO 15189 was 49% for study group vs. 47% for control group with P value 0.48, while the post intervention results displayed 54% vs. 79% for study group and control group respectively in compliance to ISO 15189 and statistically significant difference (P value 0.00) with effect size (Cohen’s d) of (0.00) in pre-intervention phase and (0.99) in post – intervention phase. The annual average cost per-test for the study group and control group was 1.80 ± 0.25 vs. 1.97 ± 0.39, respectively with P value 0.39 whereas the post-intervention results showed that the annual average total costs per-test for study group and control group was 1.57 ± 0.23 vs 2.08 ± 0.38, P value 0.019 respectively, with cost-effectiveness ratio of (0.88) in pre -intervention phase and (0.52) in post-intervention phase. Conclusion: The planned adoption of quality management requirements (QMS) in clinical laboratories had great effect to increase the compliance percent with quality management system requirement, raise the average total cost effectiveness, and improve the analytical process capability of the testing procedure. PMID:23967422

Cooperation and control in multiplayer social dilemmas

PubMed Central

Hilbe, Christian; Wu, Bin; Traulsen, Arne; Nowak, Martin A.

2014-01-01

Direct reciprocity and conditional cooperation are important mechanisms to prevent free riding in social dilemmas. However, in large groups, these mechanisms may become ineffective because they require single individuals to have a substantial influence on their peers. However, the recent discovery of zero-determinant strategies in the iterated prisoner’s dilemma suggests that we may have underestimated the degree of control that a single player can exert. Here, we develop a theory for zero-determinant strategies for iterated multiplayer social dilemmas, with any number of involved players. We distinguish several particularly interesting subclasses of strategies: fair strategies ensure that the own payoff matches the average payoff of the group; extortionate strategies allow a player to perform above average; and generous strategies let a player perform below average. We use this theory to describe strategies that sustain cooperation, including generalized variants of Tit-for-Tat and Win-Stay Lose-Shift. Moreover, we explore two models that show how individuals can further enhance their strategic options by coordinating their play with others. Our results highlight the importance of individual control and coordination to succeed in large groups. PMID:25349400

Improving Study Habits of Junior High School Students Through Self-Management versus Group Discussion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Mary B.; Trujillo, Amaryllis E.

1975-01-01

Both a self-management approach, teaching the principles of behavior modification and self-control (n=36), and a group-discussion technique, involving discussion of study habits and problems (n=41), led to improvements in grade point averages compared with a no-treatment control group (n=36) for low-achieving junior high school students. (Author)

[Application of damage control concept in severe limbs fractures combining with multiple trauma].

PubMed

Bayin, Er-gu-le; Jin, Hong-bing; Li, Ming

2015-09-01

To discuss the application and clinical effect of damage control concept in the treatment of severe limbs fractures combining with multiple trauma. From July 2009 to July 2012, 30 patients with severe limbs fractures combining with multiple trauma were treated with the damage control concept, included 20 males and 10 females with an average age of (34.03 ± 12.81) years old ranging from 20 to 60 years old; the ISS averaged (35.00 ± 12.81) points (ranged from 26 to 54 points). And the control group also contained 30 patients with severe limbs fractures combining with multiple trauma treated by the traditional operation from June 2006 to June 2009, there were 23 males and 7 females with an average age of (34.23 ± 11.04) years old ranging from 18 to 65 years old. The ISS averaged (35.56 ± 11.04) points (ranged from 26 to 51 points). The age, gender, ISS, Gustilo classification, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, blood transfusion,postoperative complications and mortality rate were observed and compared. In the damage control concept group,there were 28 cases surviving and 2 cases (6.7%) death; 6 cases of postoperative complication included 2 cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome, 1 case of multiple organ failure, 1 case of disseminated intravascular coagulation and 2 cases of wound infection. In the control group, there were 22 cases surviving and 8 cases death(26.7%); 13 cases of postoperative complication included 4 cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome,2 cases of multiple organ failure, 2 cases of disseminated intravascular coagulation and 3 cases of wound infection. There were no statistically significant differences between two groups in age, gender, ISS, Gustilo classfication and complication (P > 0.05), however there were statistically significant differences in mortality rate, operation time, blodd loss, blodd transfusion between two groups (P < 0.05). Damage control concept is used to treat severe limbs fractures combining with multiple trauma which has the rapid and effective therapy, can improve survival rate and reduce complication.

Walking prescription of 10 000 steps per day in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomised trial in Nigerian general practice.

PubMed

Fayehun, Ayorinde F; Olowookere, Olufemi O; Ogunbode, Adetola M; Adetunji, Adedotun A; Esan, Arinola

2018-02-01

In clinical practice, translating the benefits of a sustained physically active lifestyle on glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is difficult. A walking prescription may be an effective alternative. To examine the effect of a 10 000 steps per day prescription on glycaemic control of patients with T2DM. Forty-six adults with T2DM attending a general outpatient clinic were randomised into two equal groups. The intervention group was given goals to accumulate 10 000 steps per day for 10 weeks, whereas the control group maintained their normal activity habits. Daily step count was measured with waist-mounted pedometer and baseline and endline average steps per day. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), anthropometric, and cardiovascular measurements were also obtained. An intention-to-treat analysis was done. The average baseline step count was 4505 steps per day for all participants, and the average step count in the intervention group for the last 4 weeks of the study period was higher by 2913 steps per day (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1274 to 4551, F (2, 37.7) = 18.90, P <0.001). Only 6.1% of the intervention group participants achieved the 10 000 steps per day goal. The mean baseline HbA1c was 6.6% (range = 5.3 to 9.0). Endline HbA1c was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (mean difference -0.74%, 95% CI = -1.32 to -0.02, F = 12.92, P = 0.015) after adjusting for baseline HbA1c. There was no change in anthropometric and cardiovascular indices. Adherence to 10 000 steps per day prescription is low but may still be associated with improved glycaemic control in T2DM. Motivational strategies for better adherence would improve glycaemic control. © British Journal of General Practice 2018.

Evaluation of the severity of malocclusions in children affected by osteogenesis imperfecta with the peer assessment rating and discrepancy indexes.

PubMed

Rizkallah, Jean; Schwartz, Stephane; Rauch, Frank; Glorieux, Francis; Vu, Duy-Dat; Muller, Katia; Retrouvey, Jean-Marc

2013-03-01

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a heritable disorder affecting bone and tooth development. Malocclusion is frequent in those affected by osteogenesis imperfecta, but this has not been studied in detail. The purpose of this study was to describe and quantify the severity of malocclusions in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta. Articulated dental casts were obtained from 49 patients diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta (ages 5-19 years; 28 female) and 49 age- and sex-matched control subjects who did not have osteogenesis imperfecta. Both groups were seeking orthodontic treatment. Malocclusions were scored by using the peer assessment rating (PAR) and the discrepancy index (DI). The average United Kingdom weighted PAR scores were 31.1 (SD, 14.5) for the osteogenesis imperfecta group and 22.7 (SD, 10.7) for the control group (P <0.05). The mean United States weighted PAR scores were 32.2 (SD, 15.0) for patients with osteogenesis imperfecta and 21.6 (SD, 9.6) for the controls (P <0.05). The average modified DI scores were 29.8 (SD, 20.2) for the osteogenesis imperfecta group and 12.4 (SD, 6.8) for the control group (P <0.05). Group differences were greatest for lateral open bite (osteogenesis imperfecta group, 7.1; control group, 0.3) for the DI parameters and anterior crossbite (osteogenesis imperfecta group, 13.0; control group, 3.8 [United Kingdom]) for the PAR. Both the PAR and the DI showed that malocclusions were significantly more severe in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta than in the control group. There was a higher incidence of Class III malocclusion associated with anterior and lateral open bites in patients affected by osteogenesis imperfecta. Copyright © 2013 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

An additional reference axis improves femoral rotation alignment in image-free computer navigation assisted total knee arthroplasty.

PubMed

Inui, Hiroshi; Taketomi, Shuji; Nakamura, Kensuke; Sanada, Takaki; Tanaka, Sakae; Nakagawa, Takumi

2013-05-01

Few studies have demonstrated improvement in accuracy of rotational alignment using image-free navigation systems mainly due to the inconsistent registration of anatomical landmarks. We have used an image-free navigation for total knee arthroplasty, which adopts the average algorithm between two reference axes (transepicondylar axis and axis perpendicular to the Whiteside axis) for femoral component rotation control. We hypothesized that addition of another axis (condylar twisting axis measured on a preoperative radiograph) would improve the accuracy. One group using the average algorithm (double-axis group) was compared with the other group using another axis to confirm the accuracy of the average algorithm (triple-axis group). Femoral components were more accurately implanted for rotational alignment in the triple-axis group (ideal: triple-axis group 100%, double-axis group 82%, P<0.05). Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Correlation between femoral offset loss and dynamic hip screw cut-out complications after pertrochanteric fractures: a case-control study.

PubMed

Boukebous, Baptiste; Guillon, Pascal; Vandenbussche, Eric; Rousseau, Marc Antoine

2018-04-27

Screw-plates disassembly incidence after pertrochanteric fracture (PF) amounts to 1 and 16% among the elderly population. The main occurrence is early cervical screw cut-out. The population at highest risk of disassembly remains difficult to identify. The correlation between femoral offset loss and disassembly occurrence has never been surveyed. A radiological prognosis score for screw plate disassembly was defined to reflect trochanteric impaction (TI); it was based on a femoral offset ratio. Our single-centre retrospective case-control study surveyed patients suffering from Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS, Synthes ® ) disassembly following osteosynthesis of non-pathological osteoporotic PF between 2004 and 2014. All cases were categorised by age and gender and paired to three patients in the control group. The primary endpoint was TI measurement, corresponding to offset loss on the operated hip compared to healthy hip offset and expressed as a percentage. The measurement was done on an immediate postoperative X-ray. The secondary endpoints were tip apex distance (TAD) measurement, Ender and AO classifications, as well as postoperative weight-bearing prescription. Twenty-three cases and 69 controls were surveyed. The case group's average age was 87; 70% of the cases were women. The main disassembly occurrence delay was after 27 days. Average TI was 26% within the patients global group and 12% within the control group (p < 10 -5 ). Over a 21% impaction percentage, disassembly occurrence represents a greater risk: OR = 21.95% CI [5.4-104.3], p < 10 -5 . Ender 3 type fractures were the most frequent indication for surgery within the case group. Average TAD was 20 mm within the case group, and 17 mm within the control group (p = 0.03). The weight-bearing prescription rate was 52% within the control group and 21% within the case group (p = 0.014). 14.5% of the control group had a TI > 21%. Using the offset ratio tool, TI measurement was associated with a greater risk of DHS disassembly when it was higher than 21%. The exclusive use of a DHS device does not seem optimal for a TI > 21%. Weight-bearing may be prescribed for all the patients with a TI < 21%, provided good implant positioning is secured.

Leisure education reduces stress among older adults.

PubMed

Chang, Liang-Chih

2014-01-01

The objectives of this study were to examine whether a leisure education program could facilitate leisure competence among older adults and whether it could also reduce their stress. A pre-test-post-test randomized experimental design was conducted. Subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). A leisure education program was used to serve as the intervention. A day before this experiment was carried out, pre-test data were collected using leisure competence and stress scales. Thirty minutes after this experiment ended, post-test data were collected using the same scales. These data were analyzed using an analysis of covariance. The results indicated that the average post-test scores of leisure competence in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group and that the average post-test scores of stress in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Healthcare practitioners should adopt the provision of leisure education as a priority to facilitate leisure competence and reduce stress among older adults.

The effects of hypervitaminosis A in sheep following intramuscular administrations of vitamin A.

PubMed

Raoofi, Afshin; Asadi, Farzad; Mardjanmehr, Seyed Hossein; Kazempoor, Reza

2010-01-01

Ten ewe lambs (median age 11 months and average weight 29.2+/-2.5 kg) were used in the present study. They were divided into two groups: test (n=5) and control (n=5). Housing and all diets were identical. In the test group vitamin A was injected into the thigh muscle at a daily dose of 5000 IU/kg body weight for 16 days. The average final body weight of sheep in the test group was significantly (P<0.05) less than the control group. All animals were slaughtered at day 17. The lambs' feet were X-rayed to evaluate any difference for radiographic signs between test and control groups. No significant differences were seen for PCV, WBC, differential leukocyte count, and total serum protein between groups. There were no significant differences for serum AST, ALT, and ALP activities and serum calcium, inorganic phosphate, and magnesium concentrations between groups. Histological examination revealed an increased number of lipid droplets in the cytoplasm of the stellate cells of the liver in the test group. The results showed that daily administrations of vitamin A approximately 150 times greater than the daily requirement were well tolerated by sheep. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Minigrants for Community Health: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Their Impact on Family Food Gardening.

PubMed

Porter, Christine M; McCrackin, Peggy G; Naschold, Felix

2016-01-01

To evaluate the impact of minigrants on home food gardening and review 28 health-related minigrant programs reported in the literature for lessons relevant for using minigrant programs to promote community health. Randomized controlled trial of the impact of minigrants on square footage of food garden area and on garden initiation in 2010 versus 2011. Interviews with participants were also conducted and coded and the literature was reviewed for findings from other community health minigrant programs. Laramie, Wyoming. Sixty adults living in 53 households who attended a gardening training workshop in April 2011. A $40 minigrant in the form of a voucher, valid at a local gardening store. Minigrant recipients were more likely to increase their gardening space than the control group. The average increase for the intervention group was 39.2 ft (3.62 m) while the control group average garden plot size decreased slightly, on average, by 1.4 ft (-0.13 m). However, the data were not normally distributed and, therefore, nonparametric statistical tests were used. For the subset of 20 households that did not garden at all in 2010, minigrants also provided motivation to start gardening (8 of 10 minigrant households started a garden vs 2 of 10 control households). Results reported from other health minigrant programs are also positive, though few had quantitative outcomes or control groups for comparison. Even with very small amounts of money, minigrants show promise as an ethical, inexpensive, empowering, and effective health promotion strategy to enable families and communities to improve their health.

More controlling child-feeding practices are found among parents of boys with an average body mass index compared with parents of boys with a high body mass index.

PubMed

Brann, Lynn S; Skinner, Jean D

2005-09-01

To determine if differences existed in mothers' and fathers' perceptions of their sons' weight, controlling child-feeding practices (ie, restriction, monitoring, and pressure to eat), and parenting styles (ie, authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive) by their sons' body mass index (BMI). One person (L.S.B.) interviewed mothers and boys using validated questionnaires and measured boys' weight and height; fathers completed questionnaires independently. Subjects were white, preadolescent boys and their parents. Boys were grouped by their BMI into an average BMI group (n=25; BMI percentile between 33rd and 68th) and a high BMI group (n=24; BMI percentile > or = 85th). Multivariate analyses of variance and analyses of variance. Mothers and fathers of boys with a high BMI saw their sons as more overweight (mothers P=.03, fathers P=.01), were more concerned about their sons' weight (P<.0001, P=.004), and used pressure to eat with their sons less often than mothers and fathers of boys with an average BMI (P<.0001, P<.0001). In addition, fathers of boys with a high BMI monitored their sons' eating less often than fathers of boys with an average BMI (P=.006). No differences were found in parenting by boys' BMI groups for either mothers or fathers. More controlling child-feeding practices were found among mothers (pressure to eat) and fathers (pressure to eat and monitoring) of boys with an average BMI compared with parents of boys with a high BMI. A better understanding of the relationships between feeding practices and boys' weight is necessary. However, longitudinal research is needed to provide evidence of causal association.

Topical effectiveness of kiwifruit versus fibrinolysin ointment on removal of necrotic tissue of full-thickness burns in male rats.

PubMed

Kooshiar, Hadi; Abbaspour, Hadi; Motamed Al Shariati, Seyed Mohamad; Rakhshandeh, Hasan; Khajavi Rad, Abolfazl; Esmaily, Habibollah; Vahdati Nia, Behnam

2012-01-01

Formation of necrotic tissues is a major issue affecting treatment of full-thickness burns. This study was designed to compare topical effectiveness of applying kiwifruit versus fibrinolysin on removal of necrotic tissue of burns. Ten adult male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups. For group 1, the right-side wounds were treated with kiwifruit and the other side with fibrinolysin. For group 2, the wounds on the right side were treated with kiwifruit or fibrinolysin, and the left sides were kept as control group 2. All wounds in group 3 were considered as control group 1. The control wounds were left to heal naturally. In each group and for each wound, the time of debridement were noted. The results indicated that for the wounds where kiwifruit was applied, the average time for removal of dead tissue was 5.7 days, which is significantly shorter than the average 18.5 days it took for treatment with fibrinolysin (p = 0.02). However, there were no significant differences between control wounds 1 and 2. Findings of the present study can open new horizons and provide a new treatment modality for patients with deep burns. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Impaired performance on advanced Theory of Mind tasks in children with epilepsy is related to poor communication and increased attention problems.

PubMed

Lunn, Judith; Lewis, Charlie; Sherlock, Christopher

2015-02-01

Children with epilepsy (CWE) have social difficulties that can persist into adulthood, and this could be related to problems with understanding others' thoughts, feelings, and intentions. This study assessed children's ability to interpret and reason on mental and emotional states (Theory of Mind) and examined the relationships between task scores and reports of communication and behavior. Performance of 56 CWE (8-16years of age) with below average IQ (n=17) or an average IQ (n=39) was compared with that of 62 healthy controls with an average IQ (6-16years of age) on cognition, language, and two advanced Theory of Mind (ToM) tasks that required children to attribute mental or emotional states to eye regions and to reason on internal mental states in order to explain behavior. The CWE-below average group were significantly poorer in both ToM tasks compared with controls. The CWE - average group showed a significantly poorer ability to reason on mental states in order to explain behavior, a difference that remained after accounting for lower IQ and language deficits. Poor ToM skills were related to increased communication and attention problems in both CWE groups. There is a risk for atypical social understanding in CWE, even for children with average cognitive function. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Comparison of Recidivism Rates for Operation Outward Reach (OOR) Participants and Control Groups of Non-Participants for the Years 1990 through 1994.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ryan, Thomas P.; Desuta, Joesph F.

2000-01-01

A 5-year study of Operation Outward Reach, a nonprofit program providing community-based vocational training in carpentry and masonry for Pennsylvania inmates, compared completers and control groups. Results showed average differences in recidivism between the groups of 16% per year. Fiscal and social cost savings were also identified. (JOW)

Adverse effects of pesticides on central auditory functions in tobacco growers.

PubMed

França, Denise Maria Vaz Romano; Bender Moreira Lacerda, Adriana; Lobato, Diolen; Ribas, Angela; Ziliotto Dias, Karin; Leroux, Tony; Fuente, Adrian

2017-04-01

To investigate the effects of exposure to pesticides on the central auditory functions (CAF) of Brazilian tobacco growers. This was a cross-sectional study carried out between 2010 and 2012. Participants were evaluated with two behavioural procedures to investigate CAF, the random gap detection test (RGDT) and the dichotic digit test in Portuguese (DDT). A total of 22 growers exposed to pesticides (study group) and 21 subjects who were not exposed to pesticides (control group) were selected. No significant differences between groups were observed for pure-tone thresholds. A significant association between pesticide exposure and the results for RGDT and DDT was found. Significant differences between pesticide-exposed and nonexposed subjects were found for RGDT frequency average and DDT binaural average, when including age and hearing level as covariates. Age was significantly associated with RGDT frequency average, DDT left ear score, DDT binaural average and DDT right ear advantage. Hearing levels were not significantly associated with any of the test scores. The relative risk of failing the DDT and RGDT for the study group was 1.88 (95% CI: 1.10-3.20) and 1.74 (95% CI: 1.06-2.86), respectively, as compared with the control group. The results showed that tobacco growers exposed to pesticides exhibited signs of central auditory dysfunction characterised by decrements in temporal processing and binaural integration processes/abilities.

Coronal leakage of four intracanal medications after exposure to human saliva in the presence of a temporary filling material.

PubMed

Verissimo, Rebeca Dibe; Gurgel-Filho, Eduardo Diogo; De-Deus, Gustavo; Coutinho-Filho, Tauby; de Souza-Filho, Francisco Jose

2010-01-01

To determine the time required for the recontamination of root canals medicated with four different materials. A total of 60 intact, caries-free, human single-rooted teeth with straight roots were selected for this study. After chemo-mechanical preparation they must be changed in the specimens into seven groups: 10 teeth medicated with calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH) 2) + Camphorated paramonochlorophanol (CPMC) (G.1); 10 medicated with 2.5% Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCL) (G.2); 10 medicated with 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX) in gel (G.3); 10 medicated with 2% CHX in gel + Ca(OH) 2 (G.4); 10 without intracanal medicament and sealed with a coronal temporary filling (G.5). Five teeth were without intracanal medicament and coronally unsealed, used as the positive control group (PC) (G.6) and 5 teeth with intact crowns used as the negative control group (NC) (G.7). Glass vials with rubber stoppers were adjusted for use. The medicaments were prepared and injected into the root canals using sterile plastic syringes. An apparatus was used to evaluate for 30 days leakage. The chamber was filled with 3 ml of human saliva and Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth, incubated at 37 degrees C and checked daily for the appearance of turbidity in the BHI broth. Recontamination was detected after an average time of 2.6 days in group 2, 15.9 days in group 3, 30 days in group 1, 27.6 days in group 4, 2.9 days in group 5, 1 day in the positive control, and there was no contamination in the negative control group. The NaOCl group showed the highest worst average of recontamination; on the other hand, high averages were also shown by Ca(OH) 2 + CPMC and Ca(OH) 2 + 2% CHX in gel.

The Relationship between Vitamin D and Coronary Artery Ectasia in Subjects with a Normal C-Reactive Protein Level

PubMed Central

Cagirci, Goksel; Yuksel, Isa Oner; Bayar, Nermin; Koklu, Erkan; Guven, Ramazan; Arslan, Sakir

2017-01-01

Background and Objectives Vitamin D is generally known to be closely related to inflammation. The effects of vitamin D on coronary artery disease (CAD) are not fully explained. Nowadays, coronary artery ectasia (CAE) cases are common and are regarded as being a kind of CAD. We aimed to investigate, in a case-control study, the relationship between vitamin D and CAE without an associated inflammatory process. Subjects and Methods This study population included 201 patients (CAE group, 121 males; mean age, 61.2±6.4 years) with isolated CAE; and 197 healthy individuals (control group, 119 males; mean age, 62.4±5.8 years), comprising the control group, who had normal coronary arteries. These participants concurrently underwent routine biochemical tests, tests for inflammatory markers, and tests for 25-OH vitamin D in whole-blood draws. These parameters were compared. Results There are no statistical significance differences among the groups for basic clinical characteristics (p>0.05). Inflammatory markers were recorded and compared to exclude any inflammatory process. All of them were similar, and no statistical significance difference was found. The average parathyroid hormone (PTH) level of patients was higher than the average PTH level in controls (41.8±15.1 pg/mL vs. 19.1±5.81 pg/mL; p<0.001). Also, the average 25-OH vitamin D level of patients was lower than the average 25-OH vitamin D level of controls (14.5±6.3 ng/mL vs. 24.6±9.3 ng/mL; p<0.001). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the observed cut-off value for vitamin D between the control group and patients was 10.8 and 85.6% sensitivity and 75.2% specificity (area under the curve: 0.854, 95% confidence interval: 0.678-0.863). Conclusion We found that there is an association between vitamin D and CAE in patients who had no inflammatory processes. Our study may provide evidence for the role of vitamin D as a non-inflammatory factor in the pathophysiology of CAE. PMID:28382079

[Control of intelligent car based on electroencephalogram and neurofeedback].

PubMed

Li, Song; Xiong, Xin; Fu, Yunfa

2018-02-01

To improve the performance of brain-controlled intelligent car based on motor imagery (MI), a method based on neurofeedback (NF) with electroencephalogram (EEG) for controlling intelligent car is proposed. A mental strategy of MI in which the energy column diagram of EEG features related to the mental activity is presented to subjects with visual feedback in real time to train them to quickly master the skills of MI and regulate their EEG activity, and combination of multi-features fusion of MI and multi-classifiers decision were used to control the intelligent car online. The average, maximum and minimum accuracy of identifying instructions achieved by the trained group (trained by the designed feedback system before the experiment) were 85.71%, 90.47% and 76.19%, respectively and the corresponding accuracy achieved by the control group (untrained) were 73.32%, 80.95% and 66.67%, respectively. For the trained group, the average, longest and shortest time consuming were 92 s, 101 s, and 85 s, respectively, while for the control group the corresponding time were 115.7 s, 120 s, and 110 s, respectively. According to the results described above, it is expected that this study may provide a new idea for the follow-up development of brain-controlled intelligent robot by the neurofeedback with EEG related to MI.

Prospective, nonrandomized controlled trials to compare the effect of a silk-like fabric to standard hospital linens on the rate of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers.

PubMed

Coladonato, Joseph; Smith, Annette; Watson, Nancy; Brown, Anne T; McNichol, Laurie L; Clegg, Amy; Griffin, Tracy; McPhail, Lora; Montgomery, Terry G

2012-10-01

Hospital bedding and gowns influence skin moisture, temperature, friction, and shear, which in turn may affect the development of pressure ulcers. To evaluate the effect of a new silk-like synthetic fabric on the incidence of pressure ulcers in an acute care setting, two consecutive 6-month clinical trials were conducted among 307 consecutively admitted patients in a Medical Renal Unit (August 2008 and March 2010) and in 275 patients admitted to a Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (September 2009 to March 2010). During the first 8 weeks, all patients used standard hospital bed linens, reusable underpads, and gowns. During the second 8 weeks, all admitted patients used the intervention linens (a silk-like fabric) followed by another 8 weeks of control (standard linen) use. Demographic variables and the prevalence of pressure ulcers on admission were statistically similar for control and intervention groups in both study populations with the exception of gender in the Renal Unit study (13% higher proportion of men in intervention group). Average Braden Scores were also similar and low (<18) in all study patients. Upon admission to the Medical Renal Unit, 21 of 154 patients (13.6%) in the control and 26 of 153 patients (17.0%) in the intervention group had a pressure ulcer. The incidence of new ulcers was 12.3% in the control and 4.6% in the intervention group (P = 0.01); average length of stay was 5.97 days (σ = 4.0) for control and 5.31 days (σ = 3.8) for intervention patients (P = 0.07). In the Surgical ICU group, 18 of 199 patients in the control (9.1%) and four of 76 patients in the intervention group (5.3%) were admitted with a pressure ulcer; the incidence of new pressure ulcers was 7.5 % in the control and 0% in the intervention group (P = 0.01). Average length of stay was 4.5 days and 4.33 days in the control and intervention groups, respectively (P = 0.33). The significant differences between the control and intervention group in the rate of pressure ulcer development suggests that the type of linens used affect pressure ulcer risk and that this silk-like synthetic fabric technology may help reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers in high-risk patients. Controlled clinical studies in other patient populations are warranted.

Pituitary oxytocin and vasopressin content of rats flown on Cosmos 2044

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keil, L.; Evans, J.; Grindeland, R.; Krasnov, I.

1992-01-01

Preliminary studies in rats (COSMOS 1887) suggested that levels of posterior pituitary hormones were reduced by exposure to spaceflight. To confirm these preliminary findings, pituitary tissue from rats flown for 14 days on Cosmos 2044 is obtained. Posterior pituitary content of oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) were measured in these tissues as well as those from ground-based controls. The synchronous control group had feeding and lighting schedules synchronized to those in the spacecraft and were maintained in flight-type cages. Another group was housed in vivarium cages; a third group was tail suspended (T), a method used to simulate microgravity. Flight rats showed an average reduction of 27 in pituitary OT and VP compared with the three control groups. When hormone content was expressed in terms of pituitary protein (microg hormone/mg protein), the average decrease in OT and VP for the flight animals ranged from 20 to 33 percent compared with the various control groups. Reduced levels of pituitary OT and VP were similar to preliminary measurements from the Cosmos 1887 mission and appear to result from exposure to spaceflight. These data suggest that changes in the rate of hormone secretion or synthesis may have occurred during exposure to microgravity.

The effect of chronic carbon-monoxide exposure on the peak expiratory flow values of grill-kebab chefs.

PubMed

Al, Behcet; Yildirim, Cuma; Zengin, Suat; Cavdar, Murat; Togun, Ismail

2009-06-01

To determine the effect of chronic carbon-monoxide (CO) exposure on blood carboxy-hemoglobin (COHb) values in grill-kebab chefs, and if there is any subsequent airway obstruction. The study was carried out in Sahinbey Hospital, Medical School of Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey, between March 2007 and November 2007. Forty male grill-kebab chefs, working in restaurants for at least 3 years, and 48 non-smoker, male healthy volunteers were gathered for this study. The ages, body mass indexes (BMI), blood pressure (BP), COHb, N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values of the grill-kebab chefs and controls was measured. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SSPS 13.0 software. The average age for the study group was 33.0 +/- 9.1, and for the control group was 34.7+/- 6.5 years. The average occupation time for the study group was 16.1+/-7.3 years. The clinical attributes, ages, BMI, BP, and NT-proBNP values of both groups were similar. The COHb (6.5+/-1.5/2.0+/-1.1%) values were higher in grill-kebab chefs compared with the control group. The NT-proBNP values were determined as normal (<60 microg/L) in both groups. A higher decrease in PEF speed (average: 65.1/7.1 L/min) was recorded in the grill-kebab chefs. Chronic exposure to CO decreases PEF, with narrowing of the airway in grill-kebab chefs.

Evaluating multicenter DTI data in Huntington's disease on site specific effects: An ex post facto approach.

PubMed

Müller, Hans-Peter; Grön, Georg; Sprengelmeyer, Reiner; Kassubek, Jan; Ludolph, Albert C; Hobbs, Nicola; Cole, James; Roos, Raymund A C; Duerr, Alexandra; Tabrizi, Sarah J; Landwehrmeyer, G Bernhard; Süssmuth, Sigurd D

2013-01-01

Assessment of the feasibility to average diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of MRI data acquired in the course of a multicenter study. Sixty-one early stage Huntington's disease patients and forty healthy controls were studied using four different MR scanners at four European sites with acquisition protocols as close as possible to a given standard protocol. The potential and feasibility of averaging data acquired at different sites was evaluated quantitatively by region-of-interest (ROI) based statistical comparisons of coefficients of variation (CV) across centers, as well as by testing for significant group-by-center differences on averaged fractional anisotropy (FA) values between patients and controls. In addition, a whole-brain based statistical between-group comparison was performed using FA maps. The ex post facto statistical evaluation of CV and FA-values in a priori defined ROIs showed no differences between sites above chance indicating that data were not systematically biased by center specific factors. Averaging FA-maps from DTI data acquired at different study sites and different MR scanner types does not appear to be systematically biased. A suitable recipe for testing on the possibility to pool multicenter DTI data is provided to permit averaging of DTI-derived metrics to differentiate patients from healthy controls at a larger scale.

Field efficacy study of a novel ready-to-use vaccine against mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and porcine circovirus type 2 in a Greek farm.

PubMed

Tzika, Eleni D; Tassis, Panagiotis D; Koulialis, Dimitrios; Papatsiros, Vassileios G; Nell, Tom; Brellou, Georgia; Tsakmakidis, Ioannis

2015-01-01

The primary objective of this study was to assess the efficacy, under field conditions, of a novel ready-to use Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M hyo) and Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) combination vaccine given to piglets as one vaccination (1-shot) at 3 weeks of age. The study was carried out according to a controlled, randomised, and blinded design in a Greek pig herd with clinical M. hyo and subclinical PCV2 infection. Moreover, based on serology at the time of vaccination, the average PCV2 titre was 9.15 log 2 and represented the level of maternally derived antibodies (MDA). In total 602 healthy suckling piglets, originating from 4 weekly farrowing batches were allocated randomly, within litters, to one of two groups. The pigs in one group were vaccinated with the test product and the other pigs were injected with saline. Vaccination significantly reduced lesions of craneo-ventral pulmonary consolidation in vaccinated group [expressed as lung lesion score (LLS)] (Mixed model ANOVA: p  < 0.0001). The mean LLS was 17.1 in the controls and 10.6 in the treatment group, respectively. The average daily weight gain (ADWG) during the finishing (54 g better in the treatment group) and whole study period (34 g better in vaccinated animals) was significantly greater in vaccinated than control pigs. The vaccinated pigs had a significant reduction of PCV2 viraemia when compared with the controls. The test product was considered effective in the face of average MDA, based on significantly reduced severity of LLS and PCV2 viral load, as well as improved ADWG in vaccinated versus control pigs.

Impact of prescription drug-monitoring program on controlled substance prescribing in the ED.

PubMed

McAllister, Matthew W; Aaronson, Patrick; Spillane, Joe; Schreiber, Mark; Baroso, Genelyn; Kraemer, Dale; Smotherman, Carmen; Gray-Eurom, Kelly

2015-06-01

In 2009, Florida initiated a statewide prescription drug-monitoring program (PDMP) to encourage safer prescribing of controlled substances and reduce drug abuse and diversion. Data supporting the utility of such programs in the emergency department (ED) is scarce. This study sought to determine the effect of PDMP data on controlled substance prescribing from the ED. In this pre-post study utilizing a historical control, pharmacists in the ED provided prescribers with a summary of the PDMP data for their patients. The number of controlled substances prescribed in the intervention group was compared with that prescribed in the historical control to determine if the intervention resulted in a change in the average number of controlled substance prescribed. Among the 710 patients evaluated, providing prescribers with PDMP data did not alter the average number of controlled substance per patient prescribed (0.23 controlled substances per patient in the historical control compared with 0.28 controlled substances per patient in the intervention group; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.016 to 0.116; P = .125). All prescribers surveyed indicated that having PDMP data altered their controlled substance prescribing and felt more comfortable prescribing controlled substances. Although the results did not demonstrate a change in the average number of controlled substances prescribed when prescribers were provided with PDMP data, results from the survey indicate that prescribers felt the data altered their prescribing of controlled substances, and thus were more contented prescribing controlled substances. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Case control study on clinical effects of sacrococcygeal manipulation in the treatment of coccyx pain].

PubMed

Wang, Di; Luo, Jie; Li, Jia-Dong; Pei, Ming-Ming; Zhang, Wei

2016-09-25

To study the clinical efficacy of sacral manual therapy in the treatment of coccygodynia. From November 2013 to July 2015, 184 patients with sacrococcygeal pain were divided into treatment group and control group. There were 26 males and 65 females in the treatment group, with an average age of (39.63±11.62) years old. In the control group, there were 31 males and 62 females, with an average age of (41.47±11.56) years old. The patients in the treatment group were treated with sacrococcygeal massage therapy, 3 times a week for 2 weeks. The patients in the control group were treated with Diclofenac Diethylamine Emulgel, 2 times a day for 2 weeks. The VAS pain score, score in rating scale of sacrococcygeal pain and degree of tenderness were obtained on the first day of treatment, 2, 7, 14 days and 3 months after treatment to evaluate clinical results. When comparing the VAS pain score of sacrococcygeal pain within the two groups, the differences began to reach statistical significance on the second day( P <0.001). The chagne of VAS pain scores, the change of scores in rating scale of sacrococcygeal pain and the degree of tenderness in the treatment group were all significontly larger that those in the contral group from the second day. The curative effect of sacral manipulation group is better than that of Diclofenac Diethylamine Emulgel group in the treatment of sacrococcygeal pain.

Impact of a Pilot Videogame-Based Physical Activity Program on Walking Speed in Adults with Schizophrenia.

PubMed

Leutwyler, H; Hubbard, E; Cooper, B A; Dowling, G

2017-11-10

The purpose of this report is to describe the impact of a videogame-based physical activity program using the Kinect for Xbox 360 game system (Microsoft, Redmond, WA) on walking speed in adults with schizophrenia. In this randomized controlled trial, 28 participants played either an active videogame for 30 min (intervention group) or played a sedentary videogame for 30 min (control group), once a week for 6 weeks. Walking speed was measured objectively with the Short Physical Performance Battery at enrollment and at the end of the 6-week program. The intervention group (n = 13) showed an average improvement in walking speed of 0.08 m/s and the control group (n = 15) showed an average improvement in walking speed of 0.03 m/s. Although the change in walking speed was not statistically significant, the intervention group had between a small and substantial clinically meaningful change. The results suggest a videogame based physical activity program provides clinically meaningful improvement in walking speed, an important indicator of health status.

A randomized clinical trial on the effects of remote intercessory prayer in the adverse outcomes of pregnancies.

PubMed

da Rosa, Maria Inês; Silva, Fabio Rosa; Silva, Bruno Rosa; Costa, Luciana Carvalho; Bergamo, Angela Mendes; Silva, Napoleão Chiaramonte; Medeiros, Lidia Rosi de Freitas; Battisti, Iara Denise Endruweit; Azevedo, Rafael

2013-08-01

The scope of this article was to investigate whether intercessory prayer (IP) influences the adverse outcomes of pregnancies. A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted with 564 pregnant women attending a prenatal public health care service. The women were randomly assigned to an IP group or to a control group (n = 289 per group). They were simultaneously and randomly assigned to practice prayer off-site or not. The following parameters were evaluated: Apgar scores, type of delivery and birth weight. The mean age of the women was 25.1 years of age (± 7.4), and the average gestational age was 23.4 weeks (± 8.1). The average number of years of schooling for the women was 8.1 years (± 3.1). The women in the IP and control groups presented a similar number of adverse medical events with non-significant p. No significant differences were detected in the frequency of adverse outcomes in pregnant women who practiced IP and those in the control group.

Severe tinnitus and its effect on selective and divided attention.

PubMed

Stevens, Catherine; Walker, Gary; Boyer, Morten; Gallagher, Melinda

2007-05-01

The effect of chronic, severe tinnitus on two visual tasks was investigated. A general depletion of resources hypothesis states that overall performance would be impaired in a tinnitus group relative to a control group whereas a controlled processing hypothesis states that only tasks that are demanding, requiring strategic processes, are affected. Eleven participants who had experienced severe tinnitus for more than two years comprised the tinnitus group. A control group was matched for age and verbal IQ. Levels of anxiety, depression, and high frequency average hearing level were treated as covariates. Tasks consisted of the say-word (easy) and say-color (demanding) conditions of the Stroop task, a single (baseline) reaction time (RT) task, and dual tasks involving word reading or category naming while performing a concurrent RT task. Results supported the general depletion of resources hypothesis: RT of the tinnitus group was slower in both conditions of the Stroop task, and in the word reading and category naming conditions of the dual task. Differences were not attributable to high frequency average hearing level, anxiety, or depression.

Childhood lead poisoning prevention through prenatal housing inspection and remediation in St. Louis, MO.

PubMed

Berg, Daniel R; Eckstein, Erin T; Steiner, Matt S; Gavard, Jeffrey A; Gross, Gilad A

2012-03-01

We assessed the screening and remediation of home lead hazards prenatally in a high-risk population, hypothesizing that average blood-lead level and the number of poisonings would drop by 25%. One hundred fifty-two women underwent prenatal home inspections by certified lead inspectors. The hazards that were identified were remediated. The blood-lead levels of children of participating women were compared with matched control subjects. Blood-lead levels were obtained from 60 children and compared with matched control subjects. The average blood-lead level of children in the treatment group was 2.70 μg/dL vs 3.73 μg/dL in control subjects (P = .019). The percentage of children with levels >10 μg/dL in the treatment group was 0% vs 4.2% in control subjects (P = .128). Screening and remediation of houses of pregnant women is effective to reduce the average blood-lead level and number of children that exceed the federal level of concern for lead poisoning in a high-risk population. Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Arbi Care application increases preschool children's hand-washing self-efficacy among preschool children.

PubMed

Arbianingsih; Utario, Yossy; Rustina, Yeni; Krianto, Tri; Ayubi, Dian

2018-02-01

This research aimed to examine the effectiveness of an Android mobile game application called Arbi Care as a means to prevent diarrhea and build self-efficacy in hand washing among preschool children. This research used a pre- and post-test control group and time series design approach. Respondents were chosen randomly from a group of four to six years children. The intervention group (n = 60) received Arbi Care intervention for 25 minutes, twice a week, for five weeks while the control group (n = 60) received standard education. Self-efficacy was measured by using questionnaire and observation. Measurement was carried out three times in the sixth, eight, and tenth week post-intervention. The data was analyzed using the GLMRM test. There was a significant increase in the average score of self-efficacy in hand washing for the intervention group versus the control group. Moreover, there were significant differences in the results of average scores in which the intervention group showed much better self-efficacy improvement over the control group during the first, second, and final post-test after the intervention was given (p < 0.001). An Android-based educational game can be an effective medium to improve hand washing self-efficacy among preschool children, thus helping to prevent diarrhea. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Effects and Safety of Gyejibongnyeong-Hwan on Dysmenorrhea Caused by Blood Stagnation: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PubMed Central

Park, Jeong-Su; Park, Sunju; Cheon, Chun-Hoo; Jo, Seong-Cheon; Cho, Han Baek; Lim, Eun-Mee; Lim, Hyung Ho; Shin, Yong-Cheol; Ko, Seong-Gyu

2013-01-01

Objective. This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and controlled trial with two parallel arms: the GJBNH group and the placebo group. This trial recruited 100 women aging 18 to 35 years with primary dysmenorrhea caused by blood stagnation. The investigational drugs, GJBNH or placebo, were administered for two menstrual periods (8 weeks) to the participants three times per day. The participants were followed up for two menstrual cycles after the administration. Results. The results were analyzed by the intention-to-treat (ITT) dataset and the per-protocol (PP) dataset. In the ITT dataset, the change of the average menstrual pain VAS score in the GJBNH group was statistically significantly lower than that in the control group. Significant difference was not observed in the SF-MPQ score change between the GJBNH group and the placebo group. No significant difference was observed in the PP analyses. In the follow-up phase, the VAS scores of the average menstrual pain and the maximum menstrual pain continually decreased in the placebo group, but they increased in the GJBNH group. Conclusion. GJBNH treatment for eight weeks improved the pain of the dysmenorrhea caused by blood stagnation, but it should be successively administered for more than two menstrual cycles. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with Current Controlled Trials no. ISRCTN30426947. PMID:24191165

Learning physics: A comparative analysis between instructional design methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathew, Easow

The purpose of this research was to determine if there were differences in academic performance between students who participated in traditional versus collaborative problem-based learning (PBL) instructional design approaches to physics curricula. This study utilized a quantitative quasi-experimental design methodology to determine the significance of differences in pre- and posttest introductory physics exam performance between students who participated in traditional (i.e., control group) versus collaborative problem solving (PBL) instructional design (i.e., experimental group) approaches to physics curricula over a college semester in 2008. There were 42 student participants (N = 42) enrolled in an introductory physics course at the research site in the Spring 2008 semester who agreed to participate in this study after reading and signing informed consent documents. A total of 22 participants were assigned to the experimental group (n = 22) who participated in a PBL based teaching methodology along with traditional lecture methods. The other 20 students were assigned to the control group (n = 20) who participated in the traditional lecture teaching methodology. Both the courses were taught by experienced professors who have qualifications at the doctoral level. The results indicated statistically significant differences (p < .01) in academic performance between students who participated in traditional (i.e., lower physics posttest scores and lower differences between pre- and posttest scores) versus collaborative (i.e., higher physics posttest scores, and higher differences between pre- and posttest scores) instructional design approaches to physics curricula. Despite some slight differences in control group and experimental group demographic characteristics (gender, ethnicity, and age) there were statistically significant (p = .04) differences between female average academic improvement which was much higher than male average academic improvement (˜63%) in the control group which may indicate that traditional teaching methods are more effective in females, whereas there was no significant difference noted in the experimental group between male and female participants. There was a statistically significant and negative relationship (r = -.61, p = .01) between age and physics pretest scores in the control group. No statistical analyses yielded significantly different average academic performance values in either group as delineated by ethnicity.

Can wireless text messaging improve adherence to preventive activities? Results of a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Cocosila, Mihail; Archer, Norm; Haynes, R Brian; Yuan, Yufei

2009-04-01

To determine the effectiveness of cell phone wireless text messaging for improving adherence to a healthy behaviour. A randomised, unblinded, controlled trial was conducted with 102 subjects, 18 years or older, each having a cell phone and willing to take 1 vitamin C pill per day for 1 month for preventive reasons. Intervention group participants received text messaging reminders and were asked to acknowledge receiving their messages after taking the vitamins, whereas control group subjects had no text messaging activity. Self-reported adherence and the number of participant text messages acknowledging vitamins taken. Both groups reported an increased adherence after the trial: by 246% for the intervention group and by 131% for the control group. There was a non-significant difference between the two groups at endpoint: an average difference of 0.8 between the number of pills missed in the last week of the trial (2.5 out of 7 in the intervention and 3.3 out of 7 in the control group) with a power of 0.54. The study revealed a significant correlation (coefficient=-0.352, sig.=0.01) between the average number of text messaging acknowledgements sent by the intervention group participants and the number of pills they reported missed during the last week of the trial. This was a small randomised controlled trial with inconclusive but encouraging results. It suggests a new approach in addressing insufficient adherence in outpatient conditions and shows that the use of information technology tools for compliance warrants further research.

My Body Looks Like That Girl’s: Body Mass Index Modulates Brain Activity during Body Image Self-Reflection among Young Women

PubMed Central

Wen, Xin; She, Ying; Vinke, Petra Corianne; Chen, Hong

2016-01-01

Body image distress or body dissatisfaction is one of the most common consequences of obesity and overweight. We investigated the neural bases of body image processing in overweight and average weight young women to understand whether brain regions that were previously found to be involved in processing self-reflective, perspective and affective components of body image would show different activation between two groups. Thirteen overweight (O-W group, age = 20.31±1.70 years) and thirteen average weight (A-W group, age = 20.15±1.62 years) young women underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a body image self-reflection task. Among both groups, whole-brain analysis revealed activations of a brain network related to perceptive and affective components of body image processing. ROI analysis showed a main effect of group in ACC as well as a group by condition interaction within bilateral EBA, bilateral FBA, right IPL, bilateral DLPFC, left amygdala and left MPFC. For the A-W group, simple effect analysis revealed stronger activations in Thin-Control compared to Fat-Control condition within regions related to perceptive (including bilateral EBA, bilateral FBA, right IPL) and affective components of body image processing (including bilateral DLPFC, left amygdala), as well as self-reference (left MPFC). The O-W group only showed stronger activations in Fat-Control than in Thin-Control condition within regions related to the perceptive component of body image processing (including left EBA and left FBA). Path analysis showed that in the Fat-Thin contrast, body dissatisfaction completely mediated the group difference in brain response in left amygdala across the whole sample. Our data are the first to demonstrate differences in brain response to body pictures between average weight and overweight young females involved in a body image self-reflection task. These results provide insights for understanding the vulnerability to body image distress among overweight or obese young females. PMID:27764116

My Body Looks Like That Girl's: Body Mass Index Modulates Brain Activity during Body Image Self-Reflection among Young Women.

PubMed

Gao, Xiao; Deng, Xiao; Wen, Xin; She, Ying; Vinke, Petra Corianne; Chen, Hong

2016-01-01

Body image distress or body dissatisfaction is one of the most common consequences of obesity and overweight. We investigated the neural bases of body image processing in overweight and average weight young women to understand whether brain regions that were previously found to be involved in processing self-reflective, perspective and affective components of body image would show different activation between two groups. Thirteen overweight (O-W group, age = 20.31±1.70 years) and thirteen average weight (A-W group, age = 20.15±1.62 years) young women underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while performing a body image self-reflection task. Among both groups, whole-brain analysis revealed activations of a brain network related to perceptive and affective components of body image processing. ROI analysis showed a main effect of group in ACC as well as a group by condition interaction within bilateral EBA, bilateral FBA, right IPL, bilateral DLPFC, left amygdala and left MPFC. For the A-W group, simple effect analysis revealed stronger activations in Thin-Control compared to Fat-Control condition within regions related to perceptive (including bilateral EBA, bilateral FBA, right IPL) and affective components of body image processing (including bilateral DLPFC, left amygdala), as well as self-reference (left MPFC). The O-W group only showed stronger activations in Fat-Control than in Thin-Control condition within regions related to the perceptive component of body image processing (including left EBA and left FBA). Path analysis showed that in the Fat-Thin contrast, body dissatisfaction completely mediated the group difference in brain response in left amygdala across the whole sample. Our data are the first to demonstrate differences in brain response to body pictures between average weight and overweight young females involved in a body image self-reflection task. These results provide insights for understanding the vulnerability to body image distress among overweight or obese young females.

Continuously measured renal blood flow does not increase in diabetes if nitric oxide synthesis is blocked.

PubMed

Bell, Tracy D; DiBona, Gerald F; Biemiller, Rachel; Brands, Michael W

2008-11-01

This study used 16 h/day measurement of renal blood flow (RBF) and arterial pressure (AP) to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in mediating the renal vasodilation caused by onset of type 1 diabetes. The AP and RBF power spectra were used to determine the autoregulatory efficiency of the renal vasculature. Rats were instrumented with artery and vein catheters and a Transonic flow probe on the left renal artery and were divided randomly into four groups: control (C), diabetes (D), control plus nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; CL), and diabetes plus L-NAME (DL). Mean AP averaged 90 +/- 1 and 121 +/- 1 mmHg in the D and DL groups, respectively, during the control period, and RBF averaged 5.9 +/- 1.2 and 5.7 +/- 0.7 ml/min, respectively. Respective C and CL groups were not different. Onset of diabetes (streptozotocin 40 mg/kg iv) in D rats increased RBF gradually, but it averaged 55% above control by day 14. In DL rats, on the other hand, RBF remained essentially constant, tracking with RBF in the nondiabetic C and CL groups for the 2-wk period. Diabetes did not change mean AP in any group. Transfer function analysis revealed impaired dynamic autoregulation of RBF overall, including the frequency range of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF), and L-NAME completely prevented those changes as well. These data strongly support a role for NO in causing renal vasodilation in diabetes and suggest that an effect of NO to blunt RBF autoregulation may play an important role.

Continuously measured renal blood flow does not increase in diabetes if nitric oxide synthesis is blocked

PubMed Central

Bell, Tracy D.; DiBona, Gerald F.; Biemiller, Rachel; Brands, Michael W.

2008-01-01

This study used 16 h/day measurement of renal blood flow (RBF) and arterial pressure (AP) to determine the role of nitric oxide (NO) in mediating the renal vasodilation caused by onset of type 1 diabetes. The AP and RBF power spectra were used to determine the autoregulatory efficiency of the renal vasculature. Rats were instrumented with artery and vein catheters and a Transonic flow probe on the left renal artery and were divided randomly into four groups: control (C), diabetes (D), control plus nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; CL), and diabetes plus l-NAME (DL). Mean AP averaged 90 ± 1 and 121 ± 1 mmHg in the D and DL groups, respectively, during the control period, and RBF averaged 5.9 ± 1.2 and 5.7 ± 0.7 ml/min, respectively. Respective C and CL groups were not different. Onset of diabetes (streptozotocin 40 mg/kg iv) in D rats increased RBF gradually, but it averaged 55% above control by day 14. In DL rats, on the other hand, RBF remained essentially constant, tracking with RBF in the nondiabetic C and CL groups for the 2-wk period. Diabetes did not change mean AP in any group. Transfer function analysis revealed impaired dynamic autoregulation of RBF overall, including the frequency range of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF), and l-NAME completely prevented those changes as well. These data strongly support a role for NO in causing renal vasodilation in diabetes and suggest that an effect of NO to blunt RBF autoregulation may play an important role. PMID:18753304

Biomechanical Comparison of 3 Inferiorly Directed Versus 3 Superiorly Directed Locking Screws on Stability in a 3-Part Proximal Humerus Fracture Model.

PubMed

Donohue, David M; Santoni, Brandon G; Stoops, T Kyle; Tanner, Gregory; Diaz, Miguel A; Mighell, Mark

2018-06-01

To quantify the stability of 3 points of inferiorly directed versus 3 points of superiorly directed locking screw fixation compared with the full contingent of 6 points of locked screw fixation in the treatment of a 3-part proximal humerus fracture. A standardized 3-part fracture was created in 10 matched pairs (experimental groups) and 10 nonmatched humeri (control group). Osteosynthesis was performed using 3 locking screws in the superior hemisphere of the humeral head (suspension), 3 locking screws in the inferior hemisphere (buttress), or the full complement of 6 locking screws (control). Specimens were tested in varus cantilever bending (7.5 Nm) to 10,000 cycles or failure. Construct survival (%) and the cycles to failure were compared. Seven of 10 controls survived the 10,000-cycle runout (70%: 8193 average cycles to failure). No experimental constructs survived the 10,000-cycle runout. Suspension and buttress screw groups failed an average of 331 and 516 cycles, respectively (P = 1.00). The average number of cycles to failure and the number of humeri surviving the 10,000-cycle runout were greater in the control group than in the experimental groups (P ≤ 0.006). Data support the use of a full contingent of 6 points of locking screw fixation over 3 superior or 3 inferior points of fixation in the treatment of a 3-part proximal humerus fracture with a locking construct. No biomechanical advantage to the 3 buttress or 3 suspension screws used in isolation was observed.

A pilot randomized controlled trial evaluating motivationally matched pedometer feedback to increase physical activity behavior in older adults.

PubMed

Strath, Scott J; Swartz, Ann M; Parker, Sarah J; Miller, Nora E; Grimm, Elizabeth K; Cashin, Susan E

2011-09-01

Increasing physical activity (PA) levels in older adults represents an important public health challenge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of combining individualized motivational messaging with pedometer walking step targets to increase PA in previously inactive and insufficiently active older adults. In this 12-week intervention study older adults were randomized to 1 of 4 study arms: Group 1--control; Group 2--pedometer 10,000 step goal; Group 3--pedometer step goal plus individualized motivational feedback; or Group 4--everything in Group 3 augmented with biweekly telephone feedback. 81 participants were randomized into the study, 61 participants completed the study with an average age of 63.8 ± 6.0 years. Group 1 did not differ in accumulated steps/day following the 12-week intervention compared with participants in Group 2. Participants in Groups 3 and 4 took on average 2159 (P < .001) and 2488 (P < .001) more steps/day, respectively, than those in Group 1 after the 12-week intervention. In this 12-week pilot randomized control trial, a pedometer feedback intervention partnered with individually matched motivational messaging was an effective intervention strategy to significantly increase PA behavior in previously inactive and insufficiently active older adults.

The Effect of Music Therapy on Anxiety and Various Physical Findings in Patients With COPD in a Pulmonology Service.

PubMed

Horuz, Dilek; Kurcer, Mehmet Ali; Erdoğan, Zeynep

This interventional study was carried out to determine the effect of music therapy on anxiety and the various physical findings in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the pulmonary diseases service. Ninety-six patients (28 females, 68 males) of 114 adult patients who were hospitalized between November 10, 2013, and March 10, 2014, were included in the study. Ninety-six patients were separated in 3 groups. The data for the study were collected from a questionnaire form of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, a patient follow-up form, and the Beck Anxiety Scale. SPPS 11.5 was used for data analysis. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test was used to determine whether the data showed normal distribution. The nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis Test was used to determine the differences between mean anxiety scores on day 0, day 5, and day 15, and the differences in physiological findings on day 0, day 5, and day 15. There was a significant decrease in anxiety level average on day 5 (P ≤ .0001) and day 15 (P ≤ .0001) of the study in both the Western classical music and Turkish classical music groups compared with control group. There was also a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure averages in both music groups compared with control group (P ≤ .005). There was no significant difference in heart rates and respiration rate average between the Western classical music and Turkish classical music groups compared with the control group (P > .05).

Executive dysfunction among children with reading comprehension deficits.

PubMed

Locascio, Gianna; Mahone, E Mark; Eason, Sarah H; Cutting, Laurie E

2010-01-01

Emerging research supports the contribution of executive function (EF) to reading comprehension; however, a unique pattern has not been established for children who demonstrate comprehension difficulties despite average word recognition ability (specific reading comprehension deficit; S-RCD). To identify particular EF components on which children with S-RCD struggle, a range of EF skills was compared among 86 children, ages 10 to 14, grouped by word reading and comprehension abilities: 24 average readers, 44 with word recognition deficits (WRD), and 18 S-RCD. An exploratory principal components analysis of EF tests identified three latent factors, used in subsequent group comparisons: Planning/ Spatial Working Memory, Verbal Working Memory, and Response Inhibition. The WRD group exhibited deficits (relative to controls) on Verbal Working Memory and Inhibition factors; S-RCD children performed more poorly than controls on the Planning factor. Further analyses suggested the WRD group's poor performance on EF factors was a by-product of core deficits linked to WRD (after controlling for phonological processing, this group no longer showed EF deficits). In contrast, the S-RCD group's poor performance on the planning component remained significant after controlling for phonological processing. Findings suggest reading comprehension difficulties are linked to executive dysfunction; in particular, poor strategic planning/organizing may lead to reading comprehension problems.

A randomized, controlled comparison of home versus institutional rehabilitation of patients with hip fracture.

PubMed

Kuisma, Raija

2002-08-01

To compare ambulation outcomes between home and institutional rehabilitation of patients with hip fracture. Randomized controlled clinical equivalence trial. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Hong Kong. Eighty-one patients with hip fracture. Study group patients (40) were discharged directly home from the acute hospital and visited by a physiotherapist an average of 4.6 times. The control group subjects (41) were discharged to a rehabilitation centre for further treatment lasting on average 36.2 days (SD 14.6) and they received physiotherapy daily. Ambulation ability measured on a categorical scale. The mean age of the subjects was 75 years (SD 8.3 years). Females comprised 60% of all the subjects and majority were retired or home makers. Both groups of patients improved in their ambulation ability during their rehabilitation period but neither group achieved their pre-ambulatory status by the time of completion of the study. The study group achieved significantly higher ambulation scores (p < 0.05) for community and household ambulation compared with the control group by the end of the study, a year after operation. Five visits by a physiotherapist in the patient's home after discharge from an acute hospital after surgical treatment for hip fracture yielded better results in ambulation ability than one month of conventional institution-based rehabilitation.

Auditory attention in autism spectrum disorder: An exploration of volumetric magnetic resonance imaging findings.

PubMed

Lalani, Sanam J; Duffield, Tyler C; Trontel, Haley G; Bigler, Erin D; Abildskov, Tracy J; Froehlich, Alyson; Prigge, Molly B D; Travers, Brittany G; Anderson, Jeffrey S; Zielinski, Brandon A; Alexander, Andrew; Lange, Nicholas; Lainhart, Janet E

2018-06-01

Studies have shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to perform significantly below typically developing individuals on standardized measures of attention, even when controlling for IQ. The current study sought to examine within ASD whether anatomical correlates of attention performance differed between those with average to above-average IQ (AIQ group) and those with low-average to borderline ability (LIQ group) as well as in comparison to typically developing controls (TDC). Using automated volumetric analyses, we examined regional volume of classic attention areas including the superior frontal gyrus, anterior cingulate cortex, and precuneus in ASD AIQ (n = 38) and LIQ (n = 18) individuals along with 30 TDC. Auditory attention performance was assessed using subtests of the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL) compared among the groups and then correlated with regional brain volumes. Analyses revealed group differences in attention. The three groups did not differ significantly on any auditory attention-related brain volumes; however, trends toward significant size-attention function interactions were observed. Negative correlations were found between the volume of the precuneus and auditory attention performance for the AIQ ASD group, indicating larger volume related to poorer performance. Implications for general attention functioning and dysfunctional neural connectivity in ASD are discussed.

Effectiveness of premarital sexual counselling program on sexual satisfaction of recently married couples.

PubMed

Vural, Bilgin Kiray; Temel, Ayla Bayik

2009-09-01

Through its ability to address and remove fear and misunderstanding and the resulting sexual reluctance and related problems, pre-marital sexual education and counselling can contribute to sexual satisfaction. This quasi-experimental research conducted in a pre-test-post-test control group design aimed to examine the effectiveness of nursing interventions on a premarital counselling program and its impacts on the sexual satisfaction of couples (36 couples in the experimental group and 35 couples in the control group). Although no difference was detected between the experimental and control groups in terms of the level of knowledge on pre-test point averages, the difference between them in terms of post-test knowledge gain averages was statistically significant. Approval rates for sexual myths in the pre-test were 27.87% in the experimental group and 37.03% in the control group; in the post-test they were 23.51% and 36.66% respectively. In the experimental group, 80.6% of the women and 63.9% of the men, and in the control group, 77.1% of the women and 71.4% of the men were established as having a problem-free sexual life. It was also discovered that levels of sexual satisfaction were shown to be higher among women and men in the experimental group who had attended premarital sexual counselling education than the women and men in the control group. A recommendation to encourage engaged couples to attend premarital sexual counselling is made based on the findings. It is thought that an intervention plan prepared within the framework of the Information, Motivation, Behavioural Skills theoretical model will help nurses guide recently-married couples to greater sexual satisfaction.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy as Augmentation for Sertraline in Treating Patients with Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness.

PubMed

Yu, Yi-Chuan; Xue, Hui; Zhang, Ying-Xin; Zhou, Jiying

2018-01-01

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a common vestibular disorder. This study was conducted to assess whether the addition of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) could significantly improve the efficacy and acceptability of sertraline in treating PPPD. PPPD patients were recruited and randomly assigned to control and experiment groups. Patients in both groups received sertraline 50-200 mg/day, and only patients in the experiment group received CBT (twice a week, one hour per time). The treatment was continued for eight weeks. At baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8, the 25-item Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) were used to assess the self-perceived handicapping effects caused by PPPD, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, respectively. The dose of sertraline used and the adverse events in both groups were recorded and analyzed. In total, 91 PPPD patients were randomly assigned to the control group ( n = 45) and experiment group ( n = 46). After eight weeks of treatment, the average DHI scores, HDRS scores, and HARS scores were significantly decreased in both groups. But compared to the control group, the experiment group had significantly lower average DHI score, HDRS score, and HARS score at weeks 4 and 8. Moreover, the dose of sertraline used in the experiment group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and adverse events occurred more frequently in the control group than in the experiment group (48.9% versus 26.1%, p = 0.025). These results demonstrated that the addition of CBT could significantly improve the efficacy and acceptability of sertraline in treating PPPD and reduce the dose of sertraline used.

Retinal nerve fiber layer thinning: a window into rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorders in Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Yang, Zi-Jiao; Wei, Jing; Mao, Cheng-Jie; Zhang, Jin-Ru; Chen, Jing; Ji, Xiao-Yan; Liu, Jun-Yi; Shen, Yun; Xiong, Kang-Ping; Huang, Jun-Ying; Yang, Ya-Ping; Liu, Chun-Feng

2016-12-01

Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thinning occurs in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Idiopathic RBD (iRBD) is a well-established prodromal hallmark of synucleinopathies and occurs secondary to many neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. The aim of this study is to determine whether or not retinal structures are altered with the onset of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorders (RBD). In all, a total of 63 patients with PD, 14 patients with idiopathic RBD, and 26 sex- and age-matched healthy controls were enrolled and underwent optical coherence tomography measurements (HD-OCT (Zeiss) ) for the average and every quadrant of RNFL thickness. The REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ) was used to classify PD patients with clinically probable RBD (PD + pRBD) or without probable RBD (PD - pRBD). Patients with iRBD were identified by polysomnography. For patients with RBD (idiopathic or secondary to PD), we found a significant decrease in RNFL thickness compared with groups without RBD (PD - pRBD and healthy controls) (all p < 0.05). Average RNFL thickness in patients with iRBD is significantly thinner than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). In PD, the average RNFL thickness was dramatically thinner in the PD + pRBD group than the PD - pRBD group (p < 0.005). Compared with healthy controls, RNFL thickness was slightly thinner in the drug-naive PD group but not the PD group with drug treatment. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that RBDSQ score was negatively associated with average and inferior RNFL variation in PD (all p < 0.005). The findings show that RNFL was slightly but significantly thinner in idiopathic RBD. In PD, RNFL thickness may vary depending on the presence of RBD.

Effects of music on pain in patients with fibromyalgia.

PubMed

Alparslan, Güler Balcı; Babadağ, Burcu; Özkaraman, Ayşe; Yıldız, Pınar; Musmul, Ahmet; Korkmaz, Cengiz

2016-05-01

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic syndrome characterized by diffuse musculoskeletal system pain and painful tender points in certain areas of the body. The aim of the investigation was to determine the effects of music on pain in fibromyalgia patients. This randomized clinical trial was carried out with 37 fibromyalgia outpatients as an experimental group (n = 21) and control group (n = 16) at a University Hospital Internal Medicine and Rheumatology Clinic between 1 June and 1 December 2014. The research instruments used were descriptive characteristics questionnaire, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), music CD which includes water and wave sounds recommended by the Turkish Psychological Association for psychological relaxation, and pain evaluation form. According to the findings, the average age of patients was 43.59 years ± 10.30, 94.6 % were women and 81.1 % were married. The fibromyalgia patients had the disease ranged from 1 month to 20 years, the average of disease duration was 23.6 ± 45.5 months, and the average of pain intensity was 6.89 ± 1.64 on the VAS. Average pain was reported in the experimental group in VAS on day 1 (5.45 ± 2.73), day 7 (4.57 ± 2.71), and day 14 (4.14 ± 2.45), and significant reduction in pain in the listening music group was seen (p = 0.026). A repeated measure analysis of variance controlling for differences between days demonstrated a significant decrease in pain between day 1 and day 14 (p = 0.022). There was no significant decrease in pain among control group participants. The effect of music has been found to control pain in fibromyalgia patients. Music therapy should be suggested in pain management for fibromyalgia patients as an non-pharmacologic nursing intervention.

Spaceflight effects on biomechanical and biochemical properties of rat vertebrae

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zernicke, R. F.; Vailas, A. C.; Grindeland, R. E.; Kaplansky, A.; Salem, G. J.; Martinez, D. A.

1990-01-01

The biomechanical and biochemical responses of lumbar vertebral bodies during a 12.5-day spaceflight (Cosmos 1887 biosatellite) were determined for rapidly growing rats (90-day-old, Czechoslovakian-Wistar). By use of age-matched vivarium controls (normal cage environment) and synchronous controls (simulated flight conditions), as well as a basal control group (killed before lift-off on the 1st day of flight), the combined influences of growth and space-flight could be examined. Centra of the sixth lumbar vertebrae (L6) were compressed to 50% strain at a fast strain rate while immersed in physiological buffer (37 degrees C). The body masses of vivarium and synchronous controls were significantly heavier than either the flight or basal controls. The flight group had an L6 vertebral body compressional stiffness that was 39% less than the vivarium controls, 47% less than the synchronous control, and 16% less than the basal controls. In addition, the average initial maximum load of the flight L6 was 22% less than vivarium controls and 18% less than the synchronous controls, whereas the linear compressional load of the flight group averaged 34% less than the vivarium and 25% less than the synchronous groups. The structural properties of the vertebrae from the 12.5-day-younger basal group closely resembled the flight vertebrae. Calcium, phosphorous, and hydroxyproline concentrations were not significantly different among the groups. Nevertheless, the lack of strength and stiffness development in spaceflight, coupled with a smaller proportion of mature hydroxypyridinoline cross-links, suggested that the 12.5 days of spaceflight slowed the maturation of trabecular bone in the vertebral bodies of rapidly growing rats.

DialBetics

PubMed Central

Fujita, Hideo; Uchimura, Yuji; Omae, Koji; Aramaki, Eiji; Kato, Shigeko; Lee, Hanae; Kobayashi, Haruka; Kadowaki, Takashi; Ohe, Kazuhiko

2014-01-01

Numerous diabetes-management systems and programs for improving glycemic control to meet guideline targets have been proposed, using IT technology. But all of them allow only limited—or no—real-time interaction between patients and the system in terms of system response to patient input; few studies have effectively assessed the systems’ usability and feasibility to determine how well patients understand and can adopt the technology involved. DialBetics is composed of 4 modules: (1) data transmission module, (2) evaluation module, (3) communication module, and (4) dietary evaluation module. A 3-month randomized study was designed to assess the safety and usability of a remote health-data monitoring system, and especially its impact on modifying patient lifestyles to improve diabetes self-management and, thus, clinical outcomes. Fifty-four type 2 diabetes patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, 27 in the DialBetics group and 27 in the non-DialBetics control group. HbA1c and fasting blood sugar (FBS) values declined significantly in the DialBetics group: HbA1c decreased an average of 0.4% (from 7.1 ± 1.0% to 6.7 ± 0.7%) compared with an average increase of 0.1% in the non-DialBetics group (from 7.0 ± 0.9% to 7.1 ± 1.1%) (P = .015); The DialBetics group FBS decreased an average of 5.5 mg/dl compared with a non-DialBetics group average increase of 16.9 mg/dl (P = .019). BMI improvement—although not statistically significant because of the small sample size—was greater in the DialBetics group. DialBetics was shown to be a feasible and an effective tool for improving HbA1c by providing patients with real-time support based on their measurements and inputs. PMID:24876569

Does regular garlic intake affect the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in asymptomatic subjects?

PubMed

Salih, Barik A; Abasiyanik, Fatih M

2003-08-01

The in vitro antibacterial activity of garlic against Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is well documented and the potential for its use in vivo was suggested. Garlic intake, a traditional habit by the Taskopru population in Turkey for decades, was examined for its effect on the prevalence of H. pylori and compared with the non garlic consuming group. Eighty-one garlic consuming asymptomatic subjects in Kastamonu province in Turkey (68 males, 13 females) of 23-82 years of age (average 46) were selected on a very restricted bases in regards to the garlic intake (raw or cooked, or both), amount, duration and other criteria. Control group (non-garlic consuming) of 81 asymptomatic subjects (66 males, 15 females) of 23-90 years of age (average 43) were enrolled for comparison with the garlic consuming group. Serum samples were collected from both groups during the period from September 2001 through to April 2002 and examined by the enzyme linked immunoassay test for anti H.pylori antibodies. An overall H.pylori prevalence of 79% and 81% was detected in the garlic and non garlic consuming groups. A significantly lower average antibody titer was detected in the garlic consuming group than that of the control group and similarly in those who consumed mixture of raw plus cooked garlic as compared to those who consumed raw or cooked garlic alone. Garlic intake for long durations (years) did not appear to have an effect on the prevalence of H.pylori infection. Garlic consuming subjects had a significantly lower average antibody titer than non garlic consuming groups, which might suggest an indirect inhibitory effect on the reproduction of H.pylori and possibly progression to more serious peptic ulcer diseases.

The role of oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation in maintaining acid-base balance and its influence on the cardiovascular system in chronic hemodialysis patients - results of a prospective study.

PubMed

Voiculeț, C; Zară, O; Bogeanu, C; Văcăroiu, I; Aron, G

2016-01-01

Background: Major acid-base variations during dialysis and the imbalances in serum calcium levels intensified by them play a role in cardiovascular damage of hemodialysis patients. Early vascular walls modifications can be objectified by determining the pulse wave velocity (PWV) - a marker of vascular stiffness that is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Material and methods: This was a prospective study conducted on 63 chronic hemodialysis patients with diuresis above 500 mL/ 24 hours and predialysis blood pressure below 160 mmHg (treatment controlled) randomized in two groups for 12 months - the study group receiving interdialitic oral sodium bicarbonate doses and control group, without oral sodium bicarbonate supplementation, but receiving higher bicarbonate prescriptions in dialysis. All the patients were monthly evaluated by biochemical tests (serum calcium, phosphate, iPTH, bicarbonate), the assessment of prescribed doses of phosphate binders being undergone. Two PWV determinations and chest X-ray exams for coronary calcifications were done - at the beginning and end of the study for every patient. Results: In the study group (n = 29), the mean age was 56.48 ± 12.78 years and the average duration of dialysis was 55.51 ± 34.53 months, the mean dialysis bicarbonate was 29.81 ± 1.41 mEq/ L and 27 of them (subgroup 0) had alkaline reserve (AR) 20-22 mEq/ L. The control group (n = 34) had a mean age of 57.35 ± 15.32 years and the mean dialysis duration 59.67 ± 34.79 months, with an average level of dialysis bicarbonate of 33 ± 2.2 mEq/ L necessary to maintain AR within guidelines. Depending on the mean AR obtained, this group was divided into three subgroups (subgroup 1, subgroup 2, and subgroup 3). There were statistically significant differences regarding the necessary of dialysis bicarbonate (p < 0.001), average serum calcium levels (p < 0.001) and serum phosphorus (p < 0.001), as well as PWV mean values and the number of vascular calcifications (p = 0.036) between the study and the control group. The average dose of phosphate binders was significantly higher in the study group (p = 0.01). At the end of the study, the serum iPTH average levels were decreased in the study group (p < 0.001) and significantly increased in the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Avoiding large variations in serum bicarbonate levels is an important step in hemodialysis patients' management because wide acidosis-alkalosis variation can increase cardiovascular risks in terms of altering the vessel walls elasticity and favoring their calcifications. Abbreviations : GFR = glomerular filtration rate,PWV = pulse wave velocity, iPTH = intact parathyroid hormone,AR = alkaline reserve, BP = blood pressure,mEq = milliequivalents,L = liter.

Influence of dietary supplementation of prebiotics (mannanoligosaccharide) on the performance of crossbred calves.

PubMed

Ghosh, Sudipta; Mehla, Ram Kumar

2012-03-01

Thirty-six Holstein cross calves 5 days of age in their preruminant stage were used to study the effect of feeding prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) on their performance up to the age of 2 months. Treatment and control groups consisted of 18 calves each. Treatment group was supplemented with 4 g prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide)/calf/day. Performance was evaluated by measuring average body weight (BW) gain, feed intake [dry matter (DM), total digestible nutrient (TDN) and crude protein(CP)], feed conversion efficiency (DM, TDN, and CP), fecal score, fecal coliform count and feeding cost. Body weight measured weekly, feed intake measured twice daily, proximate analysis of feeds and fodders analyzed weekly, fecal score monitored daily and fecal coliform count done weekly. There was a significant increase in average body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion efficiency; and a significant decrease in severity of scours as measured by fecal score and fecal coliform count in the treatment group compared with control group (P < 0.01). Feed cost/kg BW gain was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to control group (P < 0.01). The results suggest that prebiotic (mannanoligosaccharide) can be supplemented to the calves for better performance.

Efficacy of honey in reduction of post tonsillectomy pain, randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Mohebbi, Saleh; Nia, Fatemeh Hasan; Kelantari, Farbood; Nejad, Sheqhayeqh Ebrahim; Hamedi, Yaghoob; Abd, Reza

2014-11-01

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations performed in pediatric population. One of the most prevalent tonsillectomy complications is early or delayed post-operative hemorrhage. Other important morbidity is post-operative pain. Historically, honey has been used for wound control, reducing the inflammation, and healing acceleration. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of honey on reducing pain after tonsillectomy in children 5-15 years old. After tonsillectomy, 80 patients were randomly divided in two equal groups. Patients in the first group were treated with antibiotic and acetaminophen, while those in the second group were treated with antibiotic, acetaminophen and honey. Data was gathered via a questionnaire and observation of tonsillar bed healing. Data was analyzed by SPSS17 software and related tests. Pain comparison between two groups showed that the average time required for pain relief in patients who received honey was less than the control. The pain intensity was higher during the first 9 days post-operatively in control group. Results also showed that acetaminophen consumption in patients who received honey is lower. In the case group, the average time to resume regular diet and the frequency of awakening at night is significantly less than the control group. Honey administration after tonsillectomy has valuable effect in pain relief and it can be used as an adjunctive regimen after surgery for better pain control. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Academic and Personal Development through Group Work: An Exploratory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Steen, Sam

2011-01-01

This exploratory study linked academic and personal development within a group counseling intervention. A pre-test post-test research design compared social skills, learning behaviors, and achievement with a convenience sample and control group of students from three elementary schools. For the treatment group, grade point average in Language Arts…

Improving the Q:H strength ratio in women using plyometric exercises.

PubMed

Tsang, Kavin K W; DiPasquale, Angela A

2011-10-01

Plyometric training programs have been implemented in anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention programs. Plyometric exercises are designed to aid in the improvement of muscle strength and neuromuscular control. Our purpose was to examine the effects of plyometric training on lower leg strength in women. Thirty (age = 20.3 ± 1.9 years) recreationally active women were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group performed a plyometric training program for 6 weeks, 3 d·wk(-1). All subjects attended 4 testing sessions: before the start of the training program and after weeks 2, 4, and 6. Concentric quadriceps and hamstring strength (dominant leg) was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer at speeds of 60 and 120°·s(-1). Peak torque, average peak torque, and average power (AvgPower) were measured. The results revealed a significant (p < 0.05) interaction between time and group for flexion PkTq and AvgPower at 120°·s(-1). Post hoc analysis further revealed that PkTq at 120°·s(-1) was greater in the plyometric group than in the control group at testing session 4 and that AvgPower was greater in the plyometric group than in the control group in testing sessions 2-4. Our results indicate that the plyometric training program increased hamstring strength while maintaining quadriceps strength, thereby improving the Q:H strength ratio.

Correlation between epithelial thickness in normal corneas, untreated ectatic corneas, and ectatic corneas previously treated with CXL; is overall epithelial thickness a very early ectasia prognostic factor?

PubMed

Kanellopoulos, Anastasios John; Aslanides, Ioannis M; Asimellis, George

2012-01-01

To determine and correlate epithelial corneal thickness (pachymetric) measurements taken with a digital arc scanning very high frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy (HF UBM) imaging system (Artemis-II), and compare mean and central epithelial thickness among normal eyes, untreated keratoconic eyes, and keratoconic eyes previously treated with collagen crosslinking (CXL). Epithelial pachymetry measurements (topographic mapping) were conducted on 100 subjects via HF UBM. Three groups of patients were included: patients with normal eyes (controls), patients with untreated keratoconic eyes, and patients with keratoconic eyes treated with CXL. Central, mean, and peripheral corneal epithelial thickness was examined for each group, and a statistical study was conducted. Mean, central, and peripheral corneal epithelial thickness was compared between the three groups of patients. Epithelium thickness varied substantially in the keratoconic group, and in some cases there was a difference of up to 20 μm between various points of the same eye, and often a thinner epithelium coincided with a thinner cornea. However, on average, data from the keratoconic group suggested an overall thickening of the epithelium, particularly over the pupil center of the order of +3 μm, while the mean epithelium thickness was on average +1.1 μm, compared to the control population (P = 0.005). This overall thickening was more pronounced in younger patients in the keratoconic group. Keratoconic eyes previously treated with CXL showed, on average, virtually the same average epithelium thickness (mean -0.7 μm, -0.2 μm over the pupil center, -0.9 μm over the peripheral zone) as the control group. This finding further reinforces our novel theory of the "reactive" component of epithelial thickening in corneas that are biomechanically unstable, becoming stable when biomechanical rigidity is accomplished despite persistence of cornea topographic irregularity. A highly irregular epithelium may be suggestive of an ectatic cornea. Our results indicate that the epithelium is thinner over the keratoconic protrusion, but to a much lesser extent than anticipated, and on average epithelium is thicker in this group of patients. This difference appears to be clinically significant and may become a screening tool for eyes suspected for ectasia.

Correlation between epithelial thickness in normal corneas, untreated ectatic corneas, and ectatic corneas previously treated with CXL; is overall epithelial thickness a very early ectasia prognostic factor?

PubMed Central

Kanellopoulos, Anastasios John; Aslanides, Ioannis M; Asimellis, George

2012-01-01

Purpose To determine and correlate epithelial corneal thickness (pachymetric) measurements taken with a digital arc scanning very high frequency ultrasound biomicroscopy (HF UBM) imaging system (Artemis-II), and compare mean and central epithelial thickness among normal eyes, untreated keratoconic eyes, and keratoconic eyes previously treated with collagen crosslinking (CXL). Methods Epithelial pachymetry measurements (topographic mapping) were conducted on 100 subjects via HF UBM. Three groups of patients were included: patients with normal eyes (controls), patients with untreated keratoconic eyes, and patients with keratoconic eyes treated with CXL. Central, mean, and peripheral corneal epithelial thickness was examined for each group, and a statistical study was conducted. Results Mean, central, and peripheral corneal epithelial thickness was compared between the three groups of patients. Epithelium thickness varied substantially in the keratoconic group, and in some cases there was a difference of up to 20 μm between various points of the same eye, and often a thinner epithelium coincided with a thinner cornea. However, on average, data from the keratoconic group suggested an overall thickening of the epithelium, particularly over the pupil center of the order of +3 μm, while the mean epithelium thickness was on average +1.1 μm, compared to the control population (P = 0.005). This overall thickening was more pronounced in younger patients in the keratoconic group. Keratoconic eyes previously treated with CXL showed, on average, virtually the same average epithelium thickness (mean −0.7 μm, −0.2 μm over the pupil center, −0.9 μm over the peripheral zone) as the control group. This finding further reinforces our novel theory of the “reactive” component of epithelial thickening in corneas that are biomechanically unstable, becoming stable when biomechanical rigidity is accomplished despite persistence of cornea topographic irregularity. Conclusion A highly irregular epithelium may be suggestive of an ectatic cornea. Our results indicate that the epithelium is thinner over the keratoconic protrusion, but to a much lesser extent than anticipated, and on average epithelium is thicker in this group of patients. This difference appears to be clinically significant and may become a screening tool for eyes suspected for ectasia. PMID:22701079

Ultrasound-guided minimally invasive surgery for achilles tendon rupture: preliminary results.

PubMed

Wang, Chen-Chie; Chen, Pei-Yu; Wang, Ting-Ming; Wang, Chung-Li

2012-07-01

Many surgeons prefer surgical repair for Achilles tendon ruptures in an attempt to reduce the risk of rerupture. To minimize wound complications, the use of minimally invasive surgery has become more popular recently. In line with this, the use of ultrasound to guide Achilles tendon repair is reported in this study. From March 2005 to January 2008, 23 patients with Achilles tendon rupture were repaired by the same surgeon. The ages of the patients ranged from 19 to 67 years old, with an average of 43 years old. The repair of the Achilles tendon was achieved through a stab wound under the guidance of ultrasonography. A control group consisted of 25 patients who received traditional open Achilles tendon repair. The average operation time was 52 minutes, and the average wound size was 1.1 cm. The short leg cast was removed 4 weeks after the surgery, and serial casting was used for another 3 to 4 weeks. The postoperative AOFAS ankle-hindfoot scores were 98.7 in the experimental group, 96.5 in the control group with no significant difference. The rates of local infection, stiffness of the ankle, pain of the scar and sural nerve injury were better in the experimental group than in the control group with significant difference. Ultrasound-guided surgery was a good choice due to its availability and real-time soft tissue visualization. It can further minimize the size of the surgical wound. Our method has the potential to achieve reliable results.

[Effect of manual cleaning and machine cleaning for dental handpiece].

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaoli; Huang, Hao; He, Xiaoyan; Chen, Hui; Zhou, Xiaoying

2013-08-01

Comparing the dental handpiece' s cleaning effect between manual cleaning and machine cleaning. Eighty same contaminated dental handpieces were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, each group contains 40 pieces. The experimental group was treated by full automatic washing machine, and the control group was cleaned manually. The cleaning method was conducted according to the operations process standard, then ATP bioluminescence was used to test the cleaning results. Average relative light units (RLU) by ATP bioluminescence detection were as follows: Experimental group was 9, control group was 41. The two groups were less than the recommended RLU value provided by the instrument manufacturer (RLU < or = 45). There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The cleaning quality of the experimental group was better than that of control group. It is recommended that the central sterile supply department should clean dental handpieces by machine to ensure the cleaning effect and maintain the quality.

[Efficacy evaluation of epsiprantel (Cestex) against Echinococcus mutilocularis in dogs and cats].

PubMed

Eckert, J; Thompson, R C; Bucklar, H; Bilger, B; Deplazes, P

2001-01-01

Helminth-free dogs and cats were experimentally infected with protoscoleces of Echinococcus multilocularis and used in controlled trials for efficacy evaluation of the cestodicide epsiprantel. In two separate trials each 4 dogs were treated at day 20 post infection (p.i.) with average oral dosages of 5.1 (4.9-5.3) and 5.4 (5.2-5.8) mg/kg body weight (b.w.) epsiprantel, respectively, and necropsied at day 24 p.i. Among each 4 dogs of the two untreated control groups all animals were infected and had high intestinal worm burdens with averages of 33.575 and 100.725 E. multilocularis specimens per animal (individual worm burdens in group Ib 59,500-149,800, group IIb 20,500-43,200); in the two groups of treated dogs the average worm burdens were reduced by 99.6 and 99.9%. Among 8 treated dogs 4 were helminth-free, the other 4 had residual worm burdens (10-70 in 3 dogs, 1480 in 1 dog). In each 5 cats single oral treatments with average doses of 2.7 (2.7-2.8) and 5.5 (5.5-5.5) mg/kg b.w. epsiprantel were 100% effective against E. multilocularis 20 days p.i. and eliminated the worm burdens from all 10 animals. In the untreated group of 5 cats the average worm burden was 2864 per animal (individual worm burdens 20-6830). Side effects of the drug treatment were not observed. The results of the study show that in single therapeutic dosages recommended by the producer (dogs 5.5 mg, cats 2.75 mg/kg b.w.) epsiprantel eliminates E. multilocularis to over 99% or completely, but residual worm burdens may persist in some animals.

Prevention of diabetes in family medicine.

PubMed

Alibasic, Esad; Ramic, Enisa; Alic, Alma

2013-01-01

none declared. The incidence of diabetes type 2 (diabetes mellitus type 2 - DM 2) is rapidly increasing worldwide. Physical inactivity and obesity are the major determinants of the disease. Primary prevention of DM 2 entails health monitoring of people at risk category. People with impaired glycemic control are at high risk for development of DM 2 and enter the intensive supervision program for primary and secondary prevention. To evaluate the impact of metformin and lifestyle modification on glycemia and obesity in patients with prediabetes. The study was conducted on three groups of 20 patients each (total of 60 patients) aged from 45 to 80, with an abnormal glycoregulation and prediabetes. The study did not include patients who already met the diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes. During the study period of 6 months, one group was extensively educated on changing lifestyle (healthy nutrition and increased physical activity), the second group was treated with 500 mg metformin twice a day, while the control group was advised about diet and physical activities but different from the first two groups. At beginning of the study, all patients were measured initial levels of blood glucose, HbA1C, BMI (Body Mass Index), body weight and height and waist size. Also the same measurements were taken at the end of the conducted research, 6 months later. For the assessment of diabetes control was conducted fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test and 2 hours after a glucose load, and HbA1C. At the beginning of the study the average HbA1C (%) values in three different groups according to the type of intervention (lifestyle changes, metformin, control group) were as follows: (6.4 ± 0.5 mmol / l), (6.5 ± 1.2 mmol / l), (6.7 ± 0.5 mmol / l). At the end of the research, the average HbA1C values were: 6.2 ± 0.3 mmol / l, 6.33 ± 0.5 mmol / l and 6.7 ± 1.4 mmol / l. In the group of patients who received intensive training on changing lifestyle or group that was treated with metformin, the average reduction in blood glucose and HbA1C remained within the reference range and there were no criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes. Unlike the control group, a group that was well educated on changing habits decreased average body weight by 4.25 kg, BMI by 1.3 and waist size by 2.5 cm. Metformin therapy led to a reduction in the average weight of 3.83 kg, BMI of 1.33 and 3.27 for waist size. Changing lifestyle (healthy diet and increased physical activity) has led to a reduction in total body weight in 60% of patients, BMI in 65% of patients, whereas metformin therapy led to a reduction of the total body weight in 50%, BMI in 45% of patients. In the control group, the overall reduction in body weight was observed in 25%, and BMI in 15% of patients. Modification of lifestyle, such as diet and increased physical activity or use of metformin may improve glycemic regulation, reduce obesity and prevent or delay the onset of developing DM 2.

[Effects of ß-alanine supplementation on wingate tests in university female footballers].

PubMed

Rodríguez Rodríguez, Fernando; Delgado Ormeño, Alex; Rivera Lobos, Patricio; Tapia Aranda, Víctor; Cristi-Montero, Carlos

2014-11-01

Football is a sport that develops actions intermittent high-intensity exercise using the anaerobic pathway, for that reason, the muscle fatigue would produce primarily by increasing acidosis. Carnosine, which is formed from L-histidine, ß-alanine, has proven to produce an effect "buffer" of acidosis. To determine the effect of ß-alanine supplementation, on three successive Wingate tests and compare the average power, maximum power and lactate blood in selected female college soccer. We evaluated 10 football players who were three Wingate, 5 min rest between each sprint, determining the average power, maximum and lactate at the end of each test, then consumed 2,4 gr/day of ß-alanine for 30 days and repeated the tests. The control group (n=8) performed the same tests, but without consuming the supplement. Monark cycle ergometer was used (Ergomedic 874E) and to measure lactate the Lactate Pro 2. The group with supplementation significantly improved mean power difference from the control group. The maximum power improved only in the first sprint unlike the control group and Lactate did not differ. The evidence shows that the ß-alanine improves performance on tests of more than 30 second long, but in our study improves average power and peak power even when performing consecutive sprint, being able to emulate the reality of the football game. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Correlation of the protein structure and gelling properties in dried egg white products.

PubMed

Handa, A; Hayashi, K; Shidara, H; Kuroda, N

2001-08-01

The relationship between protein structure and aggregation, as well as heat-induced gelling properties, of seven dried egg white (DEW) products was investigated. Strong correlations were found between average molecular weight and hydrophobicity plus surface SH groups of DEW-soluble protein aggregate (SPA). This suggests that hydrophobic interactions and disulfide bond formation between protein molecules were involved in the aggregation. The average molecular weight of DEW products with alkaline pHs was relatively higher than those with neutral pHs and the same degree of protein unfolding, probably because of more disulfide bond formation between protein molecules. In addition, strong correlations were found between hydrophobicity, surface SH groups plus average molecular weight of DEW-SPA, and physical properties of the gels from DEW products. These data indicated that controlling the aggregation of DEW proteins in the dry state is crucial to controlling the gelling properties of DEW.

77 FR 17044 - Applications for New Awards; Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-23

... 27637), and apply to the priorities in this notice: Carefully matched comparison group design means a... make when designing a carefully matched comparison group study. Applicants might want to consider...) or not to participate in the project (control group). The effect of the project is the average...

Diffusion tensor imaging as a biomarker for assessing neuronal stem cell treatments affecting areas distal to the site of spinal cord injury.

PubMed

Jirjis, Michael B; Valdez, Chris; Vedantam, Aditya; Schmit, Brian D; Kurpad, Shekar N

2017-02-01

OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to determine if the morphological and functional changes induced by neural stem cell (NSC) grafts after transplantation into the rodent spinal cord can be detected using MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and, furthermore, if the DTI-derived mean diffusivity (MD) metric could be a biomarker for cell transplantation in spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS A spinal contusion was produced at the T-8 vertebral level in 40 Sprague Dawley rats that were separated into 4 groups, including a sham group (injury without NSC injection), NSC control group (injury with saline injection), co-injection control group (injury with Prograf), and the experimental group (injury with NSC and Prograf injection). The NSC injection was completed 1 week after injury into the site of injury and the rats in the experimental group were compared to the rats from the sham, NSC control, and co-injection groups. The DTI index, MD, was assessed in vivo at 2, 5, and 10 weeks and ex vivo at 10 weeks postinjury on a 9.4-T Bruker scanner using a spin-echo imaging sequence. DTI data of the cervical spinal cord from the sham surgery, injury with saline injection, injury with injection of Prograf only, and injury with C17.2 NSC and Prograf injection were examined to evaluate if cellular proliferation induced by intrathoracic C17.2 engraftment was detectable in a noninvasive manner. RESULTS At 5 weeks after injury, the average fractional anisotropy, longitudinal diffusion (LD) and radial diffusion (RD) coefficients, and MD of water (average of the RD and LD eigenvalues in the stem cell line-treated group) increased to an average of 1.44 × 10 -3 sec/mm 2 in the cervical segments, while the control groups averaged 0.98 × 10 -3 s/mm 2 . Post hoc Tukey's honest significant difference tests demonstrated that the transplanted stem cells had significantly higher MD values than the other groups (p = 0.032 at 5 weeks). In vivo and ex vivo findings at 10 weeks displayed similar results. This statistical difference between the stem cell line and the other groups was maintained at the 10-week postinjury in vivo and ex vivo time points. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the DTI-derived MD metric collected from noninvasive imaging techniques may provide useful biomarker indices for transplantation interventions that produce changes in the spinal cord structure and function. Though promising, the results demonstrated here suggest additional work is needed before implementation in a clinical setting.

Mechanical evaluation of articulating instruments and cross-handed manipulation in laparoendoscopic single-site surgery.

PubMed

Xu, An An; Zhu, Jiang Fan; Xie, Xiaofeng; Su, Yuantao

2014-08-01

Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) is limited by loss of triangulation and internal instruments conflict. To overcome these difficulties, some concepts have been introduced, namely, articulating instruments and cross-handed manipulation, which causes the right hand to control the left instrument tip and vice versa. The aim of this study was to compare task performance with different approaches based on a mechanical evaluation platform. A LESS mechanical evaluation platform was set up to investigate the performance of 2 tasks (suture pass-through rings and clip-cut) with 3 different settings: uncrossed manipulation with straight instruments (group A, the control group), uncrossed manipulation with articulating instruments (group B), and cross-handed manipulation with articulating instruments (group C). The operation time and average load required for accomplishment of the standard tasks were measured. Group A presented significantly better time scores than group B, and group C consumed the longest time to accomplish the 2 tasks (P < .05). Comparing of average load required to perform the suture pass-through rings task, it differed significantly between dominant and nondominant hand in all groups (P < .01) and was less in group A and group B than group C in dominant hand (P < .01), while it was almost the same in all groups in the nondominant hand. In terms of average load requirement to accomplish clip-cut task, it was almost equal not only between group A and B but also between dominant and nondominant hand while the increase reached statistical significance when comparing group C with other groups (P < .05). Compared with conventional devices and maneuvering techniques, articulating instruments and cross-handed manipulation are associated with longer operation time and higher workload. Instruments with better maneuverability should be developed in the future for LESS. © The Author(s) 2013.

Evaluating multicenter DTI data in Huntington's disease on site specific effects: An ex post facto approach☆

PubMed Central

Müller, Hans-Peter; Grön, Georg; Sprengelmeyer, Reiner; Kassubek, Jan; Ludolph, Albert C.; Hobbs, Nicola; Cole, James; Roos, Raymund A.C.; Duerr, Alexandra; Tabrizi, Sarah J.; Landwehrmeyer, G. Bernhard; Süssmuth, Sigurd D.

2013-01-01

Purpose Assessment of the feasibility to average diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of MRI data acquired in the course of a multicenter study. Materials and methods Sixty-one early stage Huntington's disease patients and forty healthy controls were studied using four different MR scanners at four European sites with acquisition protocols as close as possible to a given standard protocol. The potential and feasibility of averaging data acquired at different sites was evaluated quantitatively by region-of-interest (ROI) based statistical comparisons of coefficients of variation (CV) across centers, as well as by testing for significant group-by-center differences on averaged fractional anisotropy (FA) values between patients and controls. In addition, a whole-brain based statistical between-group comparison was performed using FA maps. Results The ex post facto statistical evaluation of CV and FA-values in a priori defined ROIs showed no differences between sites above chance indicating that data were not systematically biased by center specific factors. Conclusion Averaging FA-maps from DTI data acquired at different study sites and different MR scanner types does not appear to be systematically biased. A suitable recipe for testing on the possibility to pool multicenter DTI data is provided to permit averaging of DTI-derived metrics to differentiate patients from healthy controls at a larger scale. PMID:24179771

[Study on clinical effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion on acute Bell's facial paralysis: randomized controlled clinical observation].

PubMed

Wu, Bin; Li, Ning; Liu, Yi; Huang, Chang-qiong; Zhang, Yong-ling

2006-03-01

To investigate the adverse effects of acupuncture on the prognosis, and effectiveness of acupuncture combined with far infrared ray in the patient of acute Bell's facial paralysis within 48 h. Clinically randomized controlled trial was used, and the patients were divided into 3 groups: group A (early acupuncture group), group B (acupuncture combined with far infrared ray) and group C (acupuncture after 7 days). The facial nerve functional classification at the attack, 7 days after the attack and after treatment, the clinically cured rate of following-up of 6 months, and the average cured time, the cured time of complete facial paralysis were observed in the 3 groups. There were no significant differences among the 3 groups in the facial nerve functional classification 7 days after the attack, the clinically cured rate of following-up of 6 months and the average cured time (P > 0.05), but the cured time of complete facial paralysis in the group A and the group B were shorter than that in the group C (P < 0.05). The patient of acute Bell's facial paralysis can be treated with acupuncture and moxibustion, and traditional moxibustion can be replaced by far infrared way.

Maternal and perinatal outcomes after bariatric surgery: a case control study.

PubMed

de Alencar Costa, Laura Arrais Sydrião; Araujo Júnior, Edward; de Lucena Feitosa, Francisco Edson; Dos Santos, Andréa Cavalcante; Moura Júnior, Luiz Gonzaga; Costa Carvalho, Francisco Herlânio

2016-05-01

To compare the results of maternal and perinatal pregnancies of obese women after bariatric surgery. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out on 63 women who had undergone bariatric surgery and 73 obese women (control). Demographic data, the characteristics of the bariatric surgery, and the maternal and perinatal results were evaluated. The Student's t-test and chi-square test (χ2) were used to compare the groups. The gestational complications of the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus, anemia, and preeclampsia were analyzed using simple and multivariate logistical regression and odd ratios (OD) with their respective confidence intervals (CI) of 95%. The average body mass index (BMI) at the 1st prenatal appointment of the control group was 34.6±3.3 kg/m2 and that of the post-surgical group was 26.5±4.2 kg/m2. The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass was used in 100% of cases; no complications were observed during or after the surgeries. The average weight loss in patients with a prior bariatric surgery was statistically significant (P=0.000). The average weight at birth of the control group was significantly higher than in the post-bariatric surgery group (P=0.017). The women who had a prior bariatric surgery had a higher chance of anemia (OR=3.5; CI 95%: 1.5-8.3) and a reduced chance of macrosomia (OR=0.2; CI 95%:0.1-0.5), and prematurity (OR=0.3; CI 95%:0.1-0.7). Those women who had been submitted to bariatric surgery presented better maternal and perinatal results when compared to obese women.

The Effect of Using Case Studies in Business Statistics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pariseau, Susan E.; Kezim, Boualem

2007-01-01

The authors evaluated the effect on learning of using case studies in business statistics courses. The authors divided students into 3 groups: a control group, a group that completed 1 case study, and a group that completed 3 case studies. Results evidenced that, on average, students whom the authors required to complete a case analysis received…

A 20-year study of persistence of lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary incontinence in young women treated in childhood.

PubMed

Petrangeli, F; Capitanucci, M L; Marciano, A; Mosiello, G; Alvaro, R; Zaccara, A; Finazzi-Agro, E; De Gennaro, M

2014-06-01

To determine whether urinary incontinence (UI) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) persist over years, patients treated for UI and LUTS in childhood were re-evaluated in adulthood. Forty-seven women (cases) treated in childhood for daytime UI/LUTS (group A) and nocturnal enuresis (group B) self-completed (average age: 24.89 ± 3.5 years) the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Female with LUTS (ICIQ-FLUTS). ICIQ-FLUTS was self-administered to 111 healthy women (average age: 23 ± 5.1 years) from a nursing school as a control group. Data obtained from ICIQ-FLUTS and quality of life (QoL) score (0-10) were compared (Fisher's exact test) between patients and controls, and between group A (n = 28) and group B (n = 19). Prevalence of LUTS was higher in patients than in controls. The difference between patients and controls was statistically significant (p = 0.0001) for UI (34% vs. 7%) and feeling of incomplete bladder emptying (49% vs. 28%). QoL score was >5 in 59% of patients and 1% of controls (p = 0.0001). No significant differences were found between groups A and B. UI and LUTS are confirmed in young women who suffered for the same condition in childhood. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess if these symptoms persist or are newly onset. Copyright © 2014 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Controlled clinical trials of external using of Cheezheng Qingpeng ointment on reliving analgesia and swelling for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].

PubMed

Zhou, Cai-Yun; Pan, Zheng; Ma, Fang; Tang, Jin-Yang

2009-12-01

To observe the clinical efficacy on analgesia and detumescence of Cheezheng Qingpeng ointment in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. From December 2004 to May 2006, 78 patients were divided into the treatment group and the control group randomly using PROC PLAN from SAS software. There were 40 patients in the treatment group, 30 patients were male and 10 patients were female, with an average age of (48.2+/-9.7) years, who were treated with Cheezheng Qingpeng ointment external treatment. Thirty-eight patients were in the control group, 30 patients were male and 8 patients were female, with an average age of (47.7+/-13.7) years, and were treated with Diclofenac diethylamine emugel. All the patients were treated for 2 weeks. The metacarpophalangeal joint with most severe pain and swelling was observed. The indexes including joint pain, tenderness, swelling, joint motion and morning stiffness were detected and the VAS scores were compared between the two groups. All the patients completed the trial, 35 patients in the treatment group and 33 patients in the control group. At the end of 2 weeks, 1 patient in the treatment group obtained an excellent result, 27 good and 7 bad; in the control group, 2 patients got an excellent result, 20 good and 11 bad. There were no statistically difference of therapeutic effects between the two groups. At the 1st week after treatment, the joint swelling score of the treatment group was (4.0+/-1.4), which was lower than the (5.5+/-1.9) in the control group. There is no obvious difference of therapeutic effects between Cheezheng Qingpeng ointment and diclofenac diethylamine emugel for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, but the relieving of swelling of Cheezheng Qingpeng ointment is better than that of Diclofenac Diethylamine Emugel.

A randomized comparison of print and web communication on colorectal cancer screening.

PubMed

Weinberg, David S; Keenan, Eileen; Ruth, Karen; Devarajan, Karthik; Rodoletz, Michelle; Bieber, Eric J

2013-01-28

New methods to enhance colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates are needed. The web offers novel possibilities to educate patients and to improve health behaviors, such as cancer screening. Evidence supports the efficacy of health communications that are targeted and tailored to improve the uptake of recommendations. We identified unscreened women at average risk for CRC from the scheduling databases of obstetrics and gynecology practices in 2 large health care systems. Participants consented to a randomized controlled trial that compared CRC screening uptake after receipt of CRC screening information delivered via the web or in print form. Participants could also be assigned to a control (usual care) group. Women in the interventional arms received tailored information in a high- or low-monitoring Cognitive Social Information Processing model-defined attentional style. The primary outcome was CRC screening participation at 4 months. A total of 904 women were randomized to the interventional or control group. At 4 months, CRC screening uptake was not significantly different in the web (12.2%), print (12.0%), or control (12.9%) group. Attentional style had no effect on screening uptake for any group. Some baseline participant factors were associated with greater screening, including higher income (P = .03), stage of change (P < .001), and physician recommendation to screen (P < .001). A web-based educational intervention was no more effective than a print-based one or control (no educational intervention) in increasing CRC screening rates in women at average risk of CRC. Risk messages tailored to attentional style had no effect on screening uptake. In average-risk populations, use of the Internet for health communication without additional enhancement is unlikely to improve screening participation. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00459030.

The effect of inquiry-flipped classroom model toward students' achievement on chemical reaction rate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paristiowati, Maria; Fitriani, Ella; Aldi, Nurul Hanifah

2017-08-01

The aim of this research is to find out the effect of Inquiry-Flipped Classroom Models toward Students' Achievement on Chemical Reaction Rate topic. This study was conducted at SMA Negeri 3 Tangerang in Eleventh Graders. The Quasi Experimental Method with Non-equivalent Control Group design was implemented in this study. 72 students as the sample was selected by purposive sampling. Students in experimental group were learned through inquiry-flipped classroom model. Meanwhile, in control group, students were learned through guided inquiry learning model. Based on the data analysis, it can be seen that there is significant difference in the result of the average achievement of the students. The average achievement of the students in inquiry-flipped classroom model was 83,44 and the average achievement of the students in guided inquiry learning model was 74,06. It can be concluded that the students' achievement with inquiry-flipped classroom better than guided inquiry. The difference of students' achievement were significant through t-test which is tobs 3.056 > ttable 1.994 (α = 0.005).

Economic impact of nutritional grouping in dairy herds.

PubMed

Kalantari, A S; Armentano, L E; Shaver, R D; Cabrera, V E

2016-02-01

This article evaluates the estimated economic impact of nutritional grouping in commercial dairy herds using a stochastic Monte Carlo simulation model. The model was initialized by separate data sets obtained from 5 commercial dairy herds. These herds were selected to explore the effect of herd size, structure, and characteristics on the economics and efficiency of nutrient usage according to nutritional grouping strategies. Simulated status of each cow was updated daily together with the nutrient requirements of net energy for lactation (NEL) and metabolizable protein (MP). The amount of energy consumed directly affected body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS) changes. Moreover, to control the range of observed BCS in the model, constraints on lower (2.0) and upper (4.5) bounds of BCS were set. Each month, the clustering method was used to homogeneously regroup the cows according to their nutrient concentration requirements. The average NEL concentration of the group and a level of MP (average MP, average MP+0.5SD, or average MP+1SD) were considered to formulate the group diet. The calculated income over feed costs gain (IOFC, $/cow per yr) of having >1 nutritional group among the herds ranged from $33 to $58, with an average of $39 for 2 groups and $46 for 3 groups, when group was fed at average NEL concentration and average MP+1SD concentration. The improved IOFC was explained by increased milk sales and lower feed costs. Higher milk sales were a result of fewer cows having a milk loss associated with low BCS in multi-group scenarios. Lower feed costs in multi-group scenarios were mainly due to less rumen-undegradable protein consumption. The percentage of total NEL consumed captured in milk for >1 nutritional group was slightly lower than that for 1 nutritional group due to better distribution of energy throughout the lactation and higher energy retained in body tissue, which resulted in better herd BCS distribution. The percentage of fed N captured in milk increased with >1 group and was the most important factor for improved economic efficiency of grouping strategies. Copyright © 2016 American Dairy Science Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy

PubMed Central

Guber, Robert D.; Takyar, Varun; Kokkinis, Angela; Fox, Derrick A.; Alao, Hawwa; Kats, Ilona; Bakar, Dara; Remaley, Alan T.; Hewitt, Stephen M.; Kleiner, David E.; Liu, Chia-Ying; Hadigan, Colleen; Fischbeck, Kenneth H.; Rotman, Yaron

2017-01-01

Objective: To determine the prevalence and features of fatty liver disease in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Methods: Two groups of participants with SBMA were evaluated. In the first group, 22 participants with SBMA underwent laboratory analysis and liver imaging. In the second group, 14 participants with SBMA were compared to 13 female carriers and 23 controls. Liver biopsies were done in 4 participants with SBMA. Results: Evidence of fatty liver disease was detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in all participants with SBMA in the first group, with an average dome intrahepatic triacylglycerol of 27% (range 6%–66%, ref ≤5.5%). Liver dome magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements were significantly increased in participants with SBMA in the second group relative to age- and sex-matched controls, with average disease and male control measurements of 17% and 3%, respectively. Liver biopsies were consistent with simple steatosis in 2 participants and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in 2 others. Conclusions: We observed evidence of nonalcoholic liver disease in nearly all of the participants with SBMA evaluated. These observations expand the phenotypic spectrum of the disease and provide a potential biomarker that can be monitored in future studies. PMID:29142082

A problem unstuck? Evaluating the effectiveness of sticker prompts for encouraging household food waste recycling behaviour.

PubMed

Shearer, Linzi; Gatersleben, Birgitta; Morse, Stephen; Smyth, Matthew; Hunt, Sally

2017-02-01

This Randomised Control Trial (RCT) investigated the effectiveness of using stickers as a visual prompt to encourage the separate collection of household food waste for recycling in two local authorities in South East England. During a baseline period of up to 15weeks, separately collected food waste was weighed (in tonnes) and averaged across households in both treatment (N=33,716 households within 29 defined areas) and control groups (N=30,568 households within 26 areas). A sticker prompt was then affixed to the lids of refuse bins in the treatment group area only. Weights for both groups were subsequently measured across a 16-week experimental period. Results showed that, in the control group, there was no change in the average weight of food waste captured for recycling between the baseline and experimental period. However, there was a significant increase (20.74%) in the treatment group, and this change in behaviour persisted in the longer term. Sticker prompts therefore appear to have a significant and sustained impact on food waste recycling rates, while being simple, practically feasible and inexpensive (£0.35 per household) for local authorities to implement at scale. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A longitudinal study of ice hockey in boys aged 8--12.

PubMed

MacNab, R B

1979-03-01

A group of fifteen boys (experimental or competitive) were studied over a five year period of competitive ice hockey beginning at age 8. The subjects were members of a team which averaged 66 games per year, ranging from 50 at age 8 to 78 at age 12. In addition, they practiced twice a week with heavy stress on skating and individual puck handling skills. A second group of eleven boys (control or less competitive) were studied from age 10 to 12. The latter subjects played an average of 25 games per year and practiced once a week. All subjects were measured each year on skating and puck control skills, fitness-performance tests, grip strength, physical work capacity as well as height and weight. The results demonstrate learning curves for skating and puck control tests which, while typical in nature, show extremely high levels of achievement. Fitness-Performance, grip strength and physical work capacity levels of the competitive group are extremely high in comparison with data from other countries.

Cost comparisons of raising a child from birth to 17 years among samples of abused, delinquent, violent, and homicidal youth using victimization and justice system estimates.

PubMed

Zagar, Agata Karolina; Zagar, Robert John; Bartikowski, Boris; Busch, Kenneth G

2009-02-01

Data from youth studied by Zagar and colleagues were randomly sampled to create groups of controls and abused, delinquent, violent, and homicidal youth (n=30 in each). Estimated costs of raising a nondelinquent youth from birth to 17 yr. were compared with the average costs incurred by other youth in each group. Estimates of living expenses, direct and indirect costs of victimization, and criminal justice system expenditures were summed. Groups differed significantly on total expenses, victimization costs, and criminal justice expenditures. Mean total costs for a homicidal youth were estimated at $3,935,433, while those for a control youth were $150,754. Abused, delinquent, and violent youth had average total expenses roughly double the total mean costs of controls. Prevention of dropout, alcoholism, addiction, career delinquency, or homicide justifies interception and empirical treatment on a cost-benefit basis, but also based on the severe personal costs to the victims and to the youth themselves.

Preliminary evidence of hippocampal damage in chronic users of ecstasy.

PubMed

den Hollander, Bjørnar; Schouw, Marieke; Groot, Paul; Huisman, Henk; Caan, Matthan; Barkhof, Frederik; Reneman, Liesbeth

2012-01-01

Various studies have shown that ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) users display significant memory impairments, whereas their performance on other cognitive tests is generally normal. The hippocampus plays an essential role in short-term memory. There are, however, no structural human data on the effects of ecstasy on the hippocampus. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the hippocampal volume of chronic ecstasy users is reduced when compared with healthy polydrug-using controls, as an indicator of hippocampal damage. The hippocampus was manually outlined in volumetric MRI scans in 10 male ecstasy users (mean age 25.4 years) and seven healthy age- and gender-matched control subjects (21.3 years). Other than the use of ecstasy, there were no statistically significant differences between both groups in exposure to other drugs of abuse and alcohol. The ecstasy users were on average drug-free for more than 2 months and had used on average 281 tablets over the past six and a half years. The hippocampal volume in the ecstasy using group was on average 10.5% smaller than the hippocampal volume in the control group (p=0.032). These data provide preliminary evidence that ecstasy users may be prone to incurring hippocampal damage, in line with previous reports of acute hippocampal sclerosis and subsequent atrophy in chronic users of this drug.

Spinal cord stimulation in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy: a multicentre randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

de Vos, Cecile C; Meier, Kaare; Zaalberg, Paul Brocades; Nijhuis, Harold J A; Duyvendak, Wim; Vesper, Jan; Enggaard, Thomas P; Lenders, Mathieu W P M

2014-11-01

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a peripheral neuropathic pain condition that is often difficult to relieve. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is a proven effective therapy for various types of mixed neuropathic conditions, yet effectiveness of SCS treatment for PDN is not well established. To our knowledge, ours is the first multicentre randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of SCS in patients with PDN. Sixty patients with PDN in the lower extremities refractory to conventional medical therapy were enrolled and followed for 6 months. They were randomized 2:1 to best conventional medical practice with (SCS group) or without (control group) additional SCS therapy, and both groups were assessed at regular intervals. At each follow-up visit, the EuroQoL 5D, the short form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) and a visual analogue scale (VAS, ranging 0-100) to measure pain intensity were recorded. The average VAS score for pain intensity was 73 in the SCS group and 67 in the control group at baseline. After 6 months of treatment, the average VAS score was significantly reduced to 31 in the SCS group (P<.001) and remained 67 (P=.97) in the control group. The SF-MPQ and EuroQoL 5D questionnaires also showed that patients in the SCS group, unlike those in the control group, experienced reduced pain and improved health and quality of life after 6 months of treatment. In patients with refractory painful diabetic neuropathy, spinal cord stimulation therapy significantly reduced pain and improved quality of life. Copyright © 2014 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Eye movements during visual search in patients with glaucoma

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Glaucoma has been shown to lead to disability in many daily tasks including visual search. This study aims to determine whether the saccadic eye movements of people with glaucoma differ from those of people with normal vision, and to investigate the association between eye movements and impaired visual search. Methods Forty patients (mean age: 67 [SD: 9] years) with a range of glaucomatous visual field (VF) defects in both eyes (mean best eye mean deviation [MD]: –5.9 (SD: 5.4) dB) and 40 age-related people with normal vision (mean age: 66 [SD: 10] years) were timed as they searched for a series of target objects in computer displayed photographs of real world scenes. Eye movements were simultaneously recorded using an eye tracker. Average number of saccades per second, average saccade amplitude and average search duration across trials were recorded. These response variables were compared with measurements of VF and contrast sensitivity. Results The average rate of saccades made by the patient group was significantly smaller than the number made by controls during the visual search task (P = 0.02; mean reduction of 5.6% (95% CI: 0.1 to 10.4%). There was no difference in average saccade amplitude between the patients and the controls (P = 0.09). Average number of saccades was weakly correlated with aspects of visual function, with patients with worse contrast sensitivity (PR logCS; Spearman’s rho: 0.42; P = 0.006) and more severe VF defects (best eye MD; Spearman’s rho: 0.34; P = 0.037) tending to make less eye movements during the task. Average detection time in the search task was associated with the average rate of saccades in the patient group (Spearman’s rho = −0.65; P < 0.001) but this was not apparent in the controls. Conclusions The average rate of saccades made during visual search by this group of patients was fewer than those made by people with normal vision of a similar average age. There was wide variability in saccade rate in the patients but there was an association between an increase in this measure and better performance in the search task. Assessment of eye movements in individuals with glaucoma might provide insight into the functional deficits of the disease. PMID:22937814

The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratios of our pediatric patients with Bell's palsy.

PubMed

Eryilmaz, Aylin; Basal, Yesim; Tosun, Ayse; Kurt Omurlu, Imran; Basak, Sema

2015-12-01

Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is considered to be a reliable indicator in etiological investigation and identification of the disease severity in inflammatory disorders. There are numerous observations or evidences suggesting that Bell's palsy is an inflammatory disorder. Our aim was to investigate the presence of any clue which might suggest inflammatory etiology and also the presence of compliance between NLR elevation and inflammation severity in children. Patients younger than 18 years with Bell's palsy and who had not another inflammatory disorder in addition to Bell's palsy were included. A total of 25 patients and 25 healthy individuals were taken. The patient group and the control group were compared in terms of NLR, neutrophil and lymphocytes. The relationship of NLR with pre-treatment House-Brackmann classification was evaluated. The mean age was 9.86±5.07 in the patient group and 9.14±5.94 in the control group. In all members of the patient group, oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg/d) was administered for 7 days. The post-treatment House-Brackmann classification of all patients was determined as grade 1. The average neutrophil values were significantly higher in the patient group. In terms of average lymphocyte values, no statistically significant difference was found. The average NLR value was 1.78 (0.93-4.58) in the pediatric patient group and 1.1 (0.6-2.05) in the control group. NLR was significantly higher in the patient group. NLR and pre-treatment House-Brackmann classification showed no statistically significant correlation (r=0.173, p>0.05). When cut-off value was taken as 3 for NLR, no statistically significant difference was found between groups. High NLR values determined in pediatric patients with Bell's palsy support the inflammatory feature of this disease. NLR is recommended as a supportive parameter in the diagnosis of pediatric patients with Bell's palsy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

40 CFR 63.653 - Monitoring, recordkeeping, and implementation plan for emissions averaging.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) For each emission point included in an emissions average, the owner or operator shall perform testing, monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting equivalent to that required for Group 1 emission points complying... internal floating roof, external roof, or a closed vent system with a control device, as appropriate to the...

Effects of an education program on the health and illness profile of rural breast-fed babies.

PubMed

Nakao, R M

1988-01-01

In the Philippines, researchers followed 135 babies born between August 1985-January 1986 to determine the effects of health education on infant health. Mothers in the experimental group learned about infant care, frequent nursing, personal hygiene, waiting until 4-6 months to begin supplementary foods, and the importance of the colostrum. Those in the control group received no such education. Both groups of mothers breast fed. 65% of the babies in the control group were healthy after 1 month, 48% after 4 months, 64% after 6 months, and 25% at 1 year while 57% of those from the experimental group were healthy after 1 month, 52% after 2 months, 3% after 5 months, and non at 1 year. There was a statistical difference in mean weights between the experimental and control groups at birth, 8 and 11 months. The average weights for babies in the experimental group were in the Class II category (weight for age 25th percentile and or = 50% percentile) while the average weight for those in the control group were in the Class I category (weight for age or = 25% percentile). Babies of multigravida mothers were more likely to be in Class III and IV (both classes 50th percentile) categories than those of primigravida mothers. No experimental group 5-7 month old babies had gastroenteritis while 6.1% 5 month olds, 16.1% 6 month olds, and 17.1% 7 months old in the control group had gastroenteritis. The incidence of respiratory infections was higher among control babies than experimental babies, except at 9 months. The incidence of fever was basically the same in both groups, except 9 and 12 month old experimental babies did not have any fever. Results of this study indicate that health education on infant health contributes to a lower incidence of gastroenteritis and respiratory infections and to higher weight gains.

Study on relationship of nitric oxide, oxidation, peroxidation, lipoperoxidation with chronic chole-cystitis

PubMed Central

Zhou, Jun-Fu; Cai, Dong; Zhu, You-Gen; Yang, Jin-Lu; Peng, Cheng-Hong; Yu, Yang-Hai

2000-01-01

AIM: To study relationship of injury induced by nitric oxide, oxidation, peroxidation, lipoperoxidation with chronic cholecystitis. METHODS: The values of plasma nitric oxide (P-NO), plasma vitamin C (P-VC), plasma vitamin E (P-VE), plasma β-carotene (P-β-CAR), plasma lipoperoxides (P-LPO), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (E-SOD), erythrocyte catalase (E-CAT), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (E-GSH-Px) activities and erythrocyte lipoperoxides (E-LPO) level in 77 patients with chro nic cholecystitis and 80 healthy control subjects were determined, differences of the above average values between t he patient group and the control group and differences of the average values bet ween preoperative and postoperative patients were analyzed and compared, linear regression and correlation of the disease course with the above determination values as well as the stepwise regression and correlation of the course with th e values were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the average values of P-NO, P-LPO, E-LPO were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and of P-VC, P-VE, P-β-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px decreased (P < 0.01) in the patient group. The analysis of the lin ear regression and correlation s howed that with prolonging of the course, the values of P-NO, P-LPO and E-LPO in the patients were gradually ascended and the values of P-VC, P-VE, P-β-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px descended (P < 0.01). The analysis of the stepwise regression and correlation indicated that the correlation of the course with P-NO, P-VE and P-β-CAR values was the closest. Compared with the preoperative patients, the average values of P-NO, P-LPO and E-LPO were significantly decre ased (P < 0.01) and the average values of P-VC, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px in postoperative pa tients increased (P < 0.01) in postoperative patients. But there was no signif icant difference in the average values of P-VE, P-β-CAR preope rative and postoperative patients. CONCLUSION: Chronic cholecystitis could induce the increase of nitric oxide, oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation. PMID:11819637

The Differences in Homocysteine Level between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients and Controls: A Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

Dong, Jiaqi; Zhang, Rui; Lu, Meixia; Kong, Weijia

2014-01-01

Background Studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and homocysteine (HCY) level. This study aimed to assess the difference in plasma HCY level between OSA patients and controls by conducting a meta-analysis of published studies. Methods Database of PubMed, SCI, and China National Knowledge Internet (CNKI) were comprehensively searched. Eligible studies regarding plasma HCY level in OSA patients were identified by two independent reviewers. RevMan (version 5.2) and STATA (version 12.0) were employed for data synthesis. Results A total of 10 studies involving 432 subjects were included. Meta-analysis showed that plasma HCY levels in OSA group were 3.11 µmol/l higher than that in control group (95% confidence interval: 2.08 to 4.15, P<0.01). Subgroup analysis revealed a more significant differences between OSA patients and controls when average body mass index ≥30 (the total weighted mean difference (WMD) was 3.64), average age<50 (the total WMD was 3.96) and average apnea hypopnea index ≥35 (the total WMD was 4.54). Conclusions In this meta-analysis, plasma HCY levels were found to be higher in OSA patients compared to control subjects. PMID:24769854

Intensive glycemic control is not associated with fractures or falls in the ACCORD randomized trial.

PubMed

Schwartz, Ann V; Margolis, Karen L; Sellmeyer, Deborah E; Vittinghoff, Eric; Ambrosius, Walter T; Bonds, Denise E; Josse, Robert G; Schnall, Adrian M; Simmons, Debra L; Hue, Trisha F; Palermo, Lisa; Hamilton, Bruce P; Green, Jennifer B; Atkinson, Hal H; O'Connor, Patrick J; Force, Rex W; Bauer, Douglas C

2012-07-01

Older adults with type 2 diabetes are at high risk of fractures and falls, but the effect of glycemic control on these outcomes is unknown. To determine the effect of intensive versus standard glycemic control, we assessed fractures and falls as outcomes in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) randomized trial. ACCORD participants were randomized to intensive or standard glycemia strategies, with an achieved median A1C of 6.4 and 7.5%, respectively. In the ACCORD BONE ancillary study, fractures were assessed at 54 of the 77 ACCORD clinical sites that included 7,287 of the 10,251 ACCORD participants. At annual visits, 6,782 participants were asked about falls in the previous year. During an average follow-up of 3.8 (SD 1.3) years, 198 of 3,655 participants in the intensive glycemia and 189 of 3,632 participants in the standard glycemia group experienced at least one nonspine fracture. The average rate of first nonspine fracture was 13.9 and 13.3 per 1,000 person-years in the intensive and standard groups, respectively (hazard ratio 1.04 [95% CI 0.86-1.27]). During an average follow-up of 2.0 years, 1,122 of 3,364 intensive- and 1,133 of 3,418 standard-therapy participants reported at least one fall. The average rate of falls was 60.8 and 55.3 per 100 person-years in the intensive and standard glycemia groups, respectively (1.10 [0.84-1.43]). Compared with standard glycemia, intensive glycemia did not increase or decrease fracture or fall risk in ACCORD.

Cost--effectiveness analysis of salpingectomy prior to IVF, based on a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Strandell, Annika; Lindhard, Anette; Eckerlund, Ingemar

2005-12-01

In patients with ultrasound-visible hydrosalpinges, salpingectomy prior to IVF increases the chance of a live birth. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of this strategy (intervention) with that of optional salpingectomy after a failed cycle (control). Data from a Scandinavian randomized controlled trial were used to calculate the individual number of treatments and their outcomes. Only patients with ultrasound-visible hydrosalpinges were considered in the main analysis, and a maximum of three fresh cycles were included. The costs for surgical procedures, IVF treatment, medication, complications, management of pregnancy and delivery as well as of early pregnancy losses were calculated from standardized hospital charges. Among the 51 patients in the intervention group, the live birth rate was 60.8% compared with 40.9% in 44 controls. The average cost per patient was 13,943 euro and 12,091 euro, respectively. Thus, the average cost per live birth was 22,823 euro in the intervention group and 29,517 euro in the control group. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for adopting the intervention strategy was estimated at 9306 euro. The incremental cost to achieve the higher birth rate of the intervention strategy seems reasonable.

Effects of music on complications during hemodialysis for chronic renal failure patients.

PubMed

Koca Kutlu, Adalet; Eren, Ayşe Gül

2014-10-01

The study was planned as a case-control study to examine the effects of music on some of the complications experienced by chronic renal failure (CRF) patients during hemodialysis. A total of 60 patients (30 intervention and 30 control) diagnosed with end-stage renal failure undergoing hemodialysis treatment participated in this study. The study was conducted in Manisa Merkez Efendi State Hospital Hemodialysis Unit and Manisa Özel Anemon Hemodialysis between April 2012 and July 2012. The intervention group listened 30 minutes in each session (12 total sessions) Turkish art music at the beginning of the third hour of their hemodialysis sessions. Patient Information Form and visual analog scale to assess pain, nausea, vomiting, and cramps during hemodialysis session were used. For the analysis of data, the number, percentage, chi-square test, and significance test of independent group differences between two averages were conducted. According to the findings of the study, the average of the intervention and control group ages, respectively, was 50.86 ± 11.3 and 55.13 ± 9.68. The primary duration of hemodialysis treatment for both intervention and control groups was "1 year and above" (70.0%). The intervention group's pain and nausea scores were lower than the control group for all 12 sessions. The difference between the intervention and the control group's pain scores was significant (P < 0.05). However, in pain scores from the first session to 12th session, continuous decreasing trend was not observed. According to the results, music can be used as an independent nursing practice for reduction of complications for CRF patients receiving hemodialysis treatment. © 2014 International Society for Hemodialysis.

[Case-control study on methods of limb length control in hip arthroplasty].

PubMed

Zhang, Yang-yang; Zuo, Jian-lin; Gao, Zhong-li

2016-02-01

To introduce a new measuring tool for measuring postoperative limb length exactly, and to provide a convenient and effective method to control limb length after total hip replacement. From January 2013 to September 2014, 102 patients undergoing primary unilateral hip replacement were divided into two groups: experimental group and control group. There were 51 patients in the experimental group, including 25 males and 26 females, ranging in age from 37 to 92 years old, with an average of 60.41 years old. The patients in experimental group were treated with new method to control limb length. Other 51 patients in the control group, including 27 males and 24 females, ranging in age from 35 to 87 years old, with an average of 61.00 years old. The patients in the control group were treated with normal methods such as shuck test or limb touching. All the patients were operated by the same experienced surgeon. In the experimental group,total hip arthroplasties (THA) were performed on 35 patients with avascular necrosis of the femoral head or femoral neck fracture, and 16 patients were treated with hemiarthroplasty (HA). In the control group, 38 patients received THA and 13 patients received HA. On the anterior-posterior X-ray radiograph, several indexes were measured as follows: the distance of bilateral femoral offset (a), the height from tip of great trochanter to the rotation center of the femoral head (b) and the vertical distance between the top of the minor trochanter and the two tear drops line (c). The leg length discrepancy can be assessed with three parameters as follows: d1, the absolute value of the difference between the bilateral a values; d2, the difference between the bilateral b values; d3, the difference between the bilateral c values. The SPSS 21.0 was applied for the statistical analysis. In the experimental and control groups, d1 were 4.49 mm and 7.32 mm (P = 0.013); d2 were 2.37 mm and 4.32 mm (P = 0.033); d3 were 3.32 mm and 6.08 mm (P = 0.031). The values of d1, d2 and d3 in the experimental group were significant smaller than those in the control group. The new measuring tool and method can be used to control the limb length and offset effectively during operation.

Effectiveness of Switch to Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA) Biosimilars versus Maintenance of ESA Originators in the Real-Life Setting: Matched-Control Study in Hemodialysis Patients.

PubMed

Minutolo, Roberto; Bolasco, Piergiorgio; Chiodini, Paolo; Sposini, Stefano; Borzumati, Maurizio; Abaterusso, Cataldo; Mele, Alessandra A; Santoro, Domenico; Canale, Valeria; Santoboni, Alberto; Filiberti, Oliviero; Fiorini, Fulvio; Mura, Carlo; Imperiali, Patrizio; Borrelli, Silvio; Russo, Luigi; De Nicola, Luca; Russo, Domenico

2017-10-01

In hemodialysis (HD), switching from erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA) originators to biosimilars is associated with the need for doses approximately 10% higher, according to industry-driven studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy on anemia control of switching from ESA originators to biosimilars in daily clinical practice. We retrospectively selected consecutive HD patients receiving stable intravenous ESA doses, and who had not been transfused in the previous 6 months, from 12 non-profit Italian centers. Patients switched from originators to biosimilars (n = 163) were matched with those maintained on ESA originators (n = 163) using a propensity score approach. The study duration was 24 weeks, and the primary endpoint was the mean dose difference (MDD), defined as the difference between the switch and control groups of ESA dose changes during the study (time-weighted average ESA dose minus baseline ESA dose). Age (70 ± 13 years), male sex (63%), diabetes (29%), history of cardiovascular disease (40%), body weight (68 ± 14 kg), vascular access (86% arteriovenous fistula), hemoglobin [Hb] (11.2 ± 0.9 g/dL) and ESA dose (8504 ± 6370 IU/week) were similar in the two groups. Hb remained unchanged during the study in both groups. Conversely, ESA dose remained unchanged in the control group and progressively increased in the switch group from week 8 to 24. The time-weighted average of the ESA dose was higher in the switch group than in the control group (10,503 ± 7389 vs. 7981 ± 5858 IU/week; p = 0.001), leading to a significant MDD of 2423 IU/week (95% confidence interval [CI] 1615-3321), corresponding to a 39.6% (95% CI 24.7-54.6) higher dose of biosimilars compared with originators. The time-weighted average of Hb was 0.2 g/dL lower in the switch group, with a more frequent ESA hyporesponsiveness (14.7 vs. 2.5%). Iron parameters and other resistance factors remained unchanged. In stable dialysis patients, switching from ESA originators to biosimilars requires 40% higher doses to maintain anemia control.

Responses of meiofauna and nematode communities to crude oil contamination in a laboratory microcosm experiment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kang, Teawook; Oh, Je Hyeok; Hong, Jae-Sang; Kim, Dongsung

2016-09-01

We examined the effects of crude oil contamination on community assemblages of meiofauna and nematodes after exposure to total petroleum hydrocarbons in the laboratory. We administered a seawater solution that had been contaminated with total petroleum hydrocarbons to seven treatment groups at different concentrations, while the control group received uncontaminated filtered seawater. The average density of total meiofauna in the experimental microcosms diluted with 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% contaminated seawater was higher than the density in the control. The average density of total meiofauna in the 8%, 15%, and 20% microcosms was lower than the density in the control. The density of nematodes was similar to that of the total meiofauna. Cluster analysis divided the microcosms into group 1 (control, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% microcosms) and group 2 (8%, 15%, and 20% microcosms). However, SIMPROF analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups ( p > 0.05). Bolbolaimus spp. (37.1%) were dominant among the nematodes. Cluster analysis showed similar results for nematode and meiofaunal communities. The total meiofaunal density, nematode density, and number of Bolbolaimus spp. individuals were significantly negatively associated with the concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (Spearman correlation coefficients, p < 0.05). Within the nematodes, epistrate feeders (group 2A: 46%) were the most abundant trophic group. Among the treatment groups, the abundance of group 2A increased in low-concentration microcosms and decreased in high-concentration microcosms. Thus, our findings provide information on the effects of oil pollution on meiofauna in the intertidal zones of sandy beaches.

The effect of dietary garlic supplementation on body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion efficiency, faecal score, faecal coliform count and feeding cost in crossbred dairy calves.

PubMed

Ghosh, Sudipta; Mehla, Ram K; Sirohi, S K; Roy, Biswajit

2010-06-01

Thirty-six crossbred calves (Holstein cross) of 5 days of age were used to study the effect of garlic extract feeding on their performance up to the age of 2 months (pre-ruminant stage). They were randomly allotted into treatment and control groups (18 numbers in each group). Performance was evaluated by measuring average body weight (BW) gain, feed intake (dry matter (DM), total digestible nutrient (TDN) and crude protein (CP)), feed conversion efficiency (FCE; DM, TDN and CP), faecal score, faecal coliform count and feeding cost. Diets were the same for the both groups. In addition, treatment group received garlic extract supplementation at 250 mg/kg BW per day per calf. Body weight measured weekly, feed intake measured twice daily, proximate analysis of feeds and fodders analysed weekly, faecal scores monitored daily and faecal coliform count done weekly. There was significant increase in average body weight gain, feed intake and FCE and significant decrease in severity of scours as measured by faecal score and faecal coliform count in the treatment group compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Feed cost per kilogramme BW gain was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to control group (P < 0.01). The results suggest that garlic extract can be supplemented to the calves for better performance.

[Outcome of cataract surgery in patients with pigmentary retinal degeneration].

PubMed

Grześk, Magdalena; Kałuzny, Józef; Malukiewicz-Wiśniewska, Grazyna

2007-01-01

To evaluate the results of cataract surgery in patients with RP because retinitis pigmentosa is one of the disease entities that belongs to tapeto-retinal degenerations. The occurrence of RP appearance is 1:4000 to 1:3000. Twenty patients with RP (7 women and 13 men, 33 eyes), who underwent cataract surgery were examined retrospectively. Average age in our group was 46.6 years. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slip lamp examination, fundus examination, cataract morphology, visual field were taken before surgery and on discharge, on the basis of medical documentation. Control examination was taken, on average, eighty one months after cataract surgery. Nine eyes were operated by phacoemulsification, 24 eyes by means of extracapsular cataract extraction. In the same way control group of 18 patients who underwent cataract surgery without RP (33 eyes) was examined. In RP group in 63.6% patients on discharge from the hospital and in 60.6% patients during the control examination, improvement of visual acuity was revealed. Deterioration was noted in 18.2% of patients on discharge from hospital and in 24.2% of patients during the control examination. In the control group improvement of visual acuity was revealed in 90.9% of patients on discharge and in 97% patients during the control examination, whereas deterioration of visual acuity occurred in 6.1% patients on discharge and in 3% patients during the check examination. In patients with retinitis pigmentosa cataract occurs earlier then in the control group. Cataract surgery for relatively minor opacities is beneficial in patients with RP, and causes improvement of visual acuity in most of eyes undergoing surgery.

[Adhesion prevention after Cesarean section by short-term biological barrier of modified chitosan].

PubMed

Shen, Wei; Shen, Guofang; Li, Lüwei

2014-02-25

To evaluate the efficacies of modified chitosan, an adhesive prevention substance, as a biological barrier for preventing adhesion after Cesarean section. A total of 250 cases undergoing primary Cesarean section from January 2011 to June 2012 at our hospital were recruited. They were randomly divided into experiment (n = 130) and control (n = 120) groups. The experiment group received modified chitosan during Cesarean section while no adhesive prevention substance was offered for the control group. Postoperative flatus time, postoperative infection and pelvic adhesion were used to evaluate the clinical efficacies. For the experiment group, the average postoperative flatus time was (25 ± 7) hours. Three cases had postoperative infections with a postoperative infection rate of 2.3%. There were 2 cases of pelvic adhesion (pelvic adhesion rate: 1.5%) during the postoperative follow-up period. For the control group, the average postoperative flatus time was (34 ± 11) hours. Five cases had postoperative infections with a postoperative infection rate of 4.2%. There were 5 cases of pelvic adhesion (pelvic adhesion rate: 4.2%) during the postoperative follow-up period. There were significant inter-group differences in postoperative flatus time, postoperative infection and pelvic adhesion (P < 0.05). Modified chitosan can prevent pelvic adhesion after Cesarean section.

Biomass of Spirulina maxima enriched by biosorption process as a new feed supplement for swine.

PubMed

Saeid, A; Chojnacka, K; Korczyński, M; Korniewicz, D; Dobrzański, Z

2013-04-01

This paper deals with the new mineral feed additives with Cu produced in a biosorption process from a semi-technical scale. The natural biomass of edible microalga Spirulina sp. was enriched with Cu(II) and then used as a mineral supplement in feeding experiments on swine to assess its nutrition properties. A total of 24 piglets divided into two groups (control and experimental) were used to determine the bioavailability of a new generation of mineral feed additives based on Spirulina maxima . The control group was feed using traditional inorganic supplements of microelements, while the experimental group was fed with the feed containing the biomass of S. maxima enriched with Cu by biosorption. The apparent absorption was 30 % ( P  < 0.05) higher in the experimental group. No effect on the production results (average daily feed intake, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio) was detected. It was found that copper concentration in feces in the experimental group was 60 % ( P  < 0.05) lower than in the control group. The new preparation-a dietary supplement with microelements produced by biosorption based on biomass of microalgae S. maxima -is a promising alternative to currently used inorganic salts as the source of nutritionally important microelements.

[IMPACT OF PERIOPERATIVE AVERAGE BLOOD-GLUCOSE LEVEL ON PROGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WITH HIP FRACTURE AND DIABETES MELLITUS].

PubMed

Wang, Guoqi; Long, Anhua; Zhang, Lihai; Zhang, Hao; Yin, Peng; Tang, Peifu

2014-07-01

To explore the impact of perioperative average blood-glucose level on the prognosis of patients with hip fracture and diabetes mellitus. A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 244 patients with hip fracture and diabetes mellitus who accorded with the inclusion criteria between September 2009 and September 2012. Of 244 patients, 125 patients with poorly controlled fasting blood-glucose (average fasting blood-glucose level > 7.8 mmol/L) were assigned in group A, and 119 patients with well controlled fasting blood-glucose (average fasting blood-glucose level ≤ 7.8 mmol/L) were assigned in group B according to "China guideline for type 2 diabetes" criteria. There was no significant difference in gender, age, disease duration of diabetes mellitus, serum albumin, fracture type and disease duration, surgical procedure, anaesthesia, and complications between 2 groups (P > 0.05). Group A had a higher hemoglobin level and fewer patients who can do some outdoor activities than group B (t = -2.353, P = 0.020; χ2 = 4.333, P = 0.037). The hospitalization time, days to await surgery, stitch removal time, the postoperative complication rate, the mortality at 1 month and 1 year after operation, and ambulatory ability at 1 year after operation were compared between the 2 groups. A total of 223 patients (114 in group A and 109 in group B) were followed up 12-15 months (mean, 13.5 months). The days to await surgery of group A were significantly more than those of group B (t = -2.743, P=0.007), but no significant difference was found in hospitalization time and stitch removal time between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The postoperative complication rate of group A (19.2%, 24/125) was significantly higher than that of group B (8.4%, 10/119) (χ2 =5.926, P = 0.015). Group A had a higher mortality at 1 month after operation than group B (6.1% vs. 0) (χ2 = 5.038, P = 0.025), but no significant difference was shown at 1 year after operation between groups A and B (8.8% vs. 4.6%) (χ2 = 1.555, P = 0.212). At 1 year after operation in patients who can do some outdoor activities, the proportions of patients who turned to do some indoor activities was 19.2% (15/78) in the group A and 13.5% (12/89) in group B, showing no significant difference (χ2 = l.013, P = 0.314). Poorly controlled perioperative fasting blood-glucose may lead undesirable influence on the prognosis of patients with hip fracture and diabetes mellitus. In order to reduce the complication rate and other accidents, the fasting blood-glucose level should be controlled to 7.8 mmol/L or less.

[Case-control study on T-shaped locking internal fixation and external fixation for the treatment of dorsal Barton's fracture].

PubMed

Chen, Huan-qing; Wen, Xi-le; Li, Yang-ming; Wen, Cong-you

2015-06-01

To compare clinical effect of T-shaped locking internal fixation and external fixation in treating dorsal Barton's fracture,and investigate selective strategy of internal fixation. From January 2008 to January 2013, 100 patients with dorsal Barton's fracture were randomly divided into two groups. In treatment group, there were 30 males and 20 females with an average age of (33.8±3.6) years old;30 cases were type B, 20 cases were type C;and treated with T-shaped locking internal fixation. In control group, there were 32 male and 18 females with an average age of (32.9±3.4) years old; 29 cases were type B, 21 cases were type C; and treated with external fixation. Volar tilt, ulnar deviation and radial height at 3 months after operation were detected and compared between two groups. Mechara functional evaluation were used to evaluate postoperative clinical effects. Clinical cure time, postoperative complications,joint mobility and function score were recorded and compared between two groups. In treatment group,volar tilt was (11.9±2.7)°, ulnar deviation was (20.8+ 2.9)°,and radial height was (10.9±1.8) mm; while volar tilt was (9.1±1.6)°, ulnar deviation was (17.1±2.9)°, and radial height was (8.1±1.5) mm in control group. Treatment group was better than control group in volar tilt, ulnar deviation and radial height. Clinical cure time in treatment group was(12.0±2.3) weeks, shorter than control group (18.0±4.1) weeks. The incidence of complications in treatment group was lower than control group. According to Mehara functional evaluation,20 cases got excellent results, 25 good, 3 moderate and 2 poor in treatment group; 16 cases got excellent results, 14 good, 10 moderate and 10 poor in control group. Treatment group was better than control group in clinical effects. T-shaped locking internal fixation with postoperative functional exercise for the treatment of dorsal Barton's fracture fits for biomechanics demands,and has advantages of stable fixation,rapid recovery, less complications and good functional recovery, it has better clinical effects.

Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease.

PubMed

Ornish, D; Scherwitz, L W; Billings, J H; Brown, S E; Gould, K L; Merritt, T A; Sparler, S; Armstrong, W T; Ports, T A; Kirkeeide, R L; Hogeboom, C; Brand, R J

1998-12-16

The Lifestyle Heart Trial demonstrated that intensive lifestyle changes may lead to regression of coronary atherosclerosis after 1 year. To determine the feasibility of patients to sustain intensive lifestyle changes for a total of 5 years and the effects of these lifestyle changes (without lipid-lowering drugs) on coronary heart disease. Randomized controlled trial conducted from 1986 to 1992 using a randomized invitational design. Forty-eight patients with moderate to severe coronary heart disease were randomized to an intensive lifestyle change group or to a usual-care control group, and 35 completed the 5-year follow-up quantitative coronary arteriography. Two tertiary care university medical centers. Intensive lifestyle changes (10% fat whole foods vegetarian diet, aerobic exercise, stress management training, smoking cessation, group psychosocial support) for 5 years. Adherence to intensive lifestyle changes, changes in coronary artery percent diameter stenosis, and cardiac events. Experimental group patients (20 [71%] of 28 patients completed 5-year follow-up) made and maintained comprehensive lifestyle changes for 5 years, whereas control group patients (15 [75%] of 20 patients completed 5-year follow-up) made more moderate changes. In the experimental group, the average percent diameter stenosis at baseline decreased 1.75 absolute percentage points after 1 year (a 4.5% relative improvement) and by 3.1 absolute percentage points after 5 years (a 7.9% relative improvement). In contrast, the average percent diameter stenosis in the control group increased by 2.3 percentage points after 1 year (a 5.4% relative worsening) and by 11.8 percentage points after 5 years (a 27.7% relative worsening) (P=.001 between groups. Twenty-five cardiac events occurred in 28 experimental group patients vs 45 events in 20 control group patients during the 5-year follow-up (risk ratio for any event for the control group, 2.47 [95% confidence interval, 1.48-4.20]). More regression of coronary atherosclerosis occurred after 5 years than after 1 year in the experimental group. In contrast, in the control group, coronary atherosclerosis continued to progress and more than twice as many cardiac events occurred.

77 FR 68692 - 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene; Amendment to an Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-16

... across the treatment and control groups and average fetal weights were unaffected. No structural... expanding the current exemption to include all sprouting root and tuber vegetables (EPA Crop Group 01) and all bulb vegetables (EPA Crop Group 03). On behalf of D-I-1-4, Inc., a division of 1,4Group, Inc...

[Effect of Radix euphorbiae pekinensis extract on bioavailability of paclitaxel after their oral co-administration].

PubMed

Li, Minghua; Peng, Li; Yang, Fuheng; Liu, Sijia; Wang, Shengqi

2015-06-01

To evaluate the effect of Radix euphorbiae pekinensis extract on the permeability and bioavailability of paclitaxel co-administered orally. Based on Ussing Chamber and in vivo experiment, the permeability and bioavailability of paclitaxel were evaluated after oral co-administration with radix euphorbiae pekinensis in rats. The contents of paclitaxel in the permeates and the blood samples were determined using HPLC and LC-MS/MS method, respectively. In Radix euphorbiae pekinensis co-administration group, the Papp of the mucosal-to-serosal (M-S) transport or serosal-to-mucosal transport (S-M) of paclitaxel in the jejunum or ileum segment differed significantly from those in verapamil co-administration group and blank control group (P<0.05), but the Papp of S-M transport in the colon showed no significant difference from that in the blank control group. In the blank group, the average absolute bioavailability (AB%) of orally administered paclitaxel was only 2.81%, compared to that of 7.63% in radix euphorbiae pekinensis group. The average AB% in verapamil group was about 1.5 times that of the blank group. Co-administration of Radix euphorbiae pekinensis extract can increase the bioavailability of orally administered paclitaxel.

[Class III surgical patients facilitated by accelerated osteogenic orthodontic treatment].

PubMed

Wu, Jia-qi; Xu, Li; Liang, Cheng; Zou, Wei; Bai, Yun-yang; Jiang, Jiu-hui

2013-10-01

To evaluate the treatment time and the anterior and posterior teeth movement pattern as closing extraction space for the Class III surgical patients facilitated by accelerated osteogenic orthodontic treatment. There were 10 skeletal Class III patients in accelerated osteogenic orthodontic group (AOO) and 10 patients in control group. Upper first premolars were extracted in all patients. After leveling and alignment (T2), corticotomy was performed in the area of maxillary anterior teeth to accelerate space closing.Study models of upper dentition were taken before orthodontic treatment (T1) and after space closing (T3). All the casts were laser scanned, and the distances of the movement of incisors and molars were digitally measured. The distances of tooth movement in two groups were recorded and analyzed. The alignment time between two groups was not statistically significant. The treatment time in AOO group from T2 to T3 was less than that in the control group (less than 9.1 ± 4.1 months). The treatment time in AOO group from T1 to T3 was less than that in the control group (less than 6.3 ± 4.8 months), and the differences were significant (P < 0.01). Average distances of upper incisor movement (D1) in AOO group and control group were (2.89 ± 1.48) and (3.10 ± 0.95) mm, respectively. Average distances of upper first molar movement (D2) in AOO group and control group were (2.17 ± 1.13) and (2.45 ± 1.04) mm, respectively.No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). Accelerated osteogenic orthodontic treatment could accelerate space closing in Class III surgical patients and shorten preoperative orthodontic time. There were no influence on the movement pattern of anterior and posterior teeth during pre-surgical orthodontic treatment.

Gossypol with methyltestosterone and ethinylestradiol male does not affect rat spermatogonial stem cell differentiation.

PubMed

Cui, G; Zheng, W; Sun, Y; Zhang, Q; Deng, X; Chen, X

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether administration of the regimen of gossypol at 12 mg/kg/day combined with methyltestosterone at 20 mg/kg/day and ethinylestradiol at 100 microg/kg/day for a long term of twenty-four weeks could affect the existence and differentiation of rat spermatogonial stem cell. This was assessed by conducting TdT-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling detection, spermatogonial stem cell transplantation and fertility recovery evaluation. Our results showed that spontaneous apoptosis was observed in normal rats' testes from the control group with an apoptotic index (AI) average of 10.24+/-1.52. In the regimen-treated group, the predominant apoptotic cells were spermatocytes and spermatids in the seminiferous tubules. Spermatogonia were not apoptotic (AI averaged 113.42+/-13.24). Two to three months after transplantation of spermatogonial stem cells isolated from regimen-treated rats into recipient nude mice, elongated rat spermatids were identified in the seminiferous tubules of recipient nude mice. Six weeks after withdrawal of the administration, fertility of the regimen-treated rats was recovered compared with that of the control group. The number of litters produced by females mated with regimen-treated males averaged 9.88+/-0.166 matched 10.30+/-0.171 of control group and the litters of the first generation appeared to be normal. These results indicated that the administration of this regimen did not affect the existence and differentiation potential of spermatogonial stem cells of the regimen-treated rats.

[The impacts of the multidisciplinary team model on the length of stay and hospital expenses of patients with lung cancer].

PubMed

Zou, Jing; Xu, Xingxiang; Wang, Daxin; Xu, Jin; Gu, Wenju

2015-05-01

To explore the impacts of the multidisciplinary team model on the average length of stay and hospital expenses of patients with lung cancer. After the multidisciplinary team discussion, 97 patients with lung cancer were selected as the lung cancer group according to the enrollment and elimination criteria the control group was 97 patients with lung cancer managed without team discussion during the same period. All the patients were firstly diagnosed to have lung cancer from December 2011 to December 2013 in Subei People's Hospital. The length of stay, hospital expenses, stages of tumor, types of tumor, Zubrod-ECOG-WHO score, the form of payment, smoking history, sex and age of all the patients were collected. The difference in the average length of stay and hospital expenses between the 2 groups and the associated factors were analyzed by using χ² test, t test and multi-factor stepwise regression analysis. There were 68 males and 29 females with a mean age of (61 ± 9) years in the lung cancer group, while there were 73 males and 24 females with a mean age of (63 ± 10) years in the control group. There were no differences between the 2 groups in tumor staging, tumor types, Zubrod-ECOG-WHO score, the form of payment, smoking history, sex and age (χ² = 4.854, P = 0.563, χ² = 4.248, P = 0.097; χ² = 0.395, P = 0.821; χ² = 1.191, P = 0.554; χ² = 0.108, P = 0.977; χ² = 1.011, P = 0.389; χ² = 0.649, P = 0.519; P = 0.474, P = 0.845, respectively). The average hospital expenses (13 303 vs 16 553, Yuan) were lower and the length of stay (10.33 vs 12.49, days) was shorter in the lung cancer group as compared to the control group (t = 2.616, P = 0.010; t = 2.730, P = 0.007), especially so for the first clinical hospitalization (15 953 vs 19 485 yuan, t = 2.315, P = 0.022; 12.71 vs 14.75 days, t = 1.979, P = 0.049). The average length of stay and the tumor stages were the main factors associated with the average hospital expenses. Except for patients with the limited stage of small cell lung cancer, the average length of stay and hospital expenses showed a tendency to reduce in different stages of the lung cancer group. The hospital cost was lower and the length of stay shorter for patients with stages Ia-IIIa and IIIb-IV in the lung cancer group as compared to the control group (6 722 vs 8 188 yuan; 1.09 vs 2.65 days). The multidisciplinary team model was an effective measure to cut down the hospital expenses and shorten the length of stay of lung cancer patients, especially for the first hospitalization. Patients may benefit from the multidisciplinary team approach according to their stages. On the basis of reducing the hospital costs and the length of stay, it further reduced the gap of the length of stay and hospital expenses between patients with Ia-IIIa and IIIb-IV diseases, while patients with stage Ia-IIIa disease seemed to benefit more.

The efficacy of a single continuous nylon suture for control of post keratoplasty astigmatism.

PubMed Central

Van Meter, W

1996-01-01

PURPOSE: Post operative adjustment of a single continuous suture is an effective means of reducing post keratoplasty astigmatism. This study evaluates post keratoplasty keratometry following suture adjustment with an adjusted suture in place and after the suture is removed. METHODS: Average keratometric astigmatism was measured over 24 months time in 26 patients with an adjusted continuous suture and 24 patients with a continuous suture that was not adjusted. Average keratometry in 43 patients with an adjusted continuous suture was compared with 37 patients with combined continuous and interrupted sutures. Finally, suture out astigmatism in 19 adjusted patients was compared to six patients with no adjustment. RESULTS: There was an increase in average corneal astigmatism over two years of 2.2 diopters in the adjusted group and 1.7 diopters in the non-adjusted group with sutures in place. One year following surgery, average keratometry flattened from 47.5 to 42.9 diopters in the adjusted continuous group and from 47.0 to 46.0 diopters in the group with combined continuous and interrupted sutures. Following suture removal, average astigmatism in patients who had suture adjustment was 4.4 diopters +/- 2.5 diopters (range 1-10 diopters), and 6.01 diopters (range 4-7) in the non-adjusted group. CONCLUSIONS: Average post keratoplasty astigmatism increases after a continuous suture is adjusted but the increase is comparable to patients with acceptable astigmatism who do not require adjustment. More progressive corneal flattening over 12 months time is seen with a continuous suture than which combined sutures. Average suture out astigmatism was 4.0 diopters following suture adjustment, compared to an average of 8.4 diopters prior to adjustment. Images FIGURE 1 FIGURE 2 FIGURE 3 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 7A FIGURE 7B PMID:8981721

Wear resistance of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) with the Addition of Bone Ash, Hydroxylapatite and Keratin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emre, G.; Akkus, A.; Karamış, M. B.

2018-01-01

In this study mechanichal and tribological properties of keratin, bone ash and hydroxylapatite by adding to PMMA ( known as the main prosthesis material) were investigated. Hydroxylapatite, bone ash, and keratin materials were added as PMMA in to the content of PMMA, in the proportions of %1, %3 and %5, respectively. The resulting mixtures were put into the molds and solidified in order to obtain samples to be used in the wear experiments. Each experiment was conducted by preparing three experimental samples. The wear data were compared according to the average values of the experimental samples. In the wear test, the results were also evaluated according to the average values obtained from each group and the results of the control group. It was observed that, the wear resistance of the PMMA including 3%, 5% bone ash and PMMA including 5% keratin flour were higher than the values of the control group.

Performance of Mashona doelings supplemented with different levels of velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens L. DC. var. utilis) seed meal.

PubMed

Madzimure, James; Mutema, Nyasha; Chimonyo, Michael; Bakare, Archibold Garikai; Mapiye, Cletos

2014-06-01

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of feeding increasing levels of velvet bean seed meal (VBM; 0, 12, 24, and 36 %) on the performance of Mashona doelings. Dry matter intake was lower (P < 0.05) for the control diet compared to VBM diets, but linearly declined (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of VBM. Average daily weight gain was significantly different between experimental groups. Doelings' final live weights and average daily gains were slightly higher in control group than other three supplemented groups where they linearly declined (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of VBM. The cost per kilogram of feed, however, decreased with high inclusion level of VBM. Result suggested that high inclusion level of VBM negatively influenced the growth of young goats probably due to the presence of some anti-nutritional factors which needs further investigation.

The effect of a beeswax, olive oil and Alkanna tinctoria (L.) Tausch mixture on burn injuries: An experimental study with a control group.

PubMed

Gümüş, Kenan; Özlü, Zeynep Karaman

2017-10-01

This study was planned to investigate the effect of a mixture of beeswax, olive oil and A. Tinctoria (L.) Tausch on burn wounds to determine the impact on burn healing, pain during dressing changes and duration of hospital stay. The study was conducted between May 2014 and August 2015 in the Burn Unit of Ataturk University Research Hospital. The sample of this experimental study consisted of 64 patients (31 experimental group and 33 control group) who met its inclusion criteria. While the specially prepared dressing material was applied to the experimental group, the control group was administered the clinic's routine dressing. The injuries were photographed before each dressing. Each picture was uploaded to a computer for measurement with ImageJ software. Numbers, percentages, chi square, Independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to assess the data. The patients in the experimental and control groups had similar descriptive characteristics and burn injury features (p>0.05). The average age of the patients in the control group was 5.52±0.64years, and 6.68±1.09years in the experimental group. The majority of the patients were male (control: 54.5%, experimental: 58.1%). Boiling liquids were the most common cause of both groups' burns (control: 93.9%, experiment: 83.9%). The most common first aid practice used was the application of cold water (control: 75.0%, experimental: 43.6%). The epithelization initiation time average of the experimental group patients (3.00±0.85days) was found to be earlier than that of the control group patients (6.90±1.77days), and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). The mean pain scores experienced by the patients in the experimental group during dressing (8.12±1.38) were determined to be lower than those of the control group (9.39±1.05), and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). It was also found that mean hospitalization durations of the patients in the experimental group (8.22±3.05) were shorter than those of the control group (14.42±7.79), and this difference was also found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). When a beeswax, olive oil and A. tinctoria (L.) Tausch mixture was applied to second degree burns, this accelerated epithelization, reduced the pain experienced during dressing changes and shortened the hospital stay durations of the patients. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Estrus, ovulation, and serum progesterone, estradiol, and LH concentrations in mares after an increased photoperiod during winter.

PubMed

Oxender, W D; Noden, P A; Hafs, H D

1977-02-01

On December 11, 1974, 15 seasonally anestrous mares were assigned at random to 1 of 3 experimental groups: outdoor-control, indoor-control, or indoor light-treated (a 16-hour photo-period). This experiment was terminated on April 21, 1975. The five mares in the indoor light-treated group ovulated 59.0+/-6.9 days later, which was 74 days earlier (P less than 0.01) than 2 of the 5 outdoor-controls (the other 3 ovulated after April 21 during a subsequent experiment) and 50 days earlier (P less than 0.05) than the indoor-controls. Durations of the 1st estrus for the 3 groups of mares were 13.3+/-3.6, 8.4+/-2.0, and 6.0+/-1.0 days for the indoor light-treated, indoor-control, and outdoor-control groups, respectively. The indoor light-treated mares averaged 4.2 estrous cycles before April 21, the indoor-control mares averaged 1.4 estrous cycles, and 2 of 5 outdoor-control mares ovulated 1 time during the experiment. The peripheral blood luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, and progesterone concentrations were minimal during winter anestrous. The hormone changes normally associated with estrous cycle activity in mares--maximal estradiol and luteinizing hormone concentrations near ovulation and maximal progesterone concentration during diestrus--were observed in all mares beginning at the 1st estrus. Hair loss was observed earlier in the light-treated mares, than in either of the other groups. In conclusion, a 16-hour photo-period initiated in early December for anestrous brood mares caused endocrinologically normal estrous cycles to begin within 2 months. This may allow breeding and foaling considerably earlier than normally expected.

Relationship of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Postconcussion Recovery in Youth Athletes.

PubMed

Mautner, Kenneth; Sussman, Walter I; Axtman, Matthew; Al-Farsi, Yahya; Al-Adawi, Samir

2015-07-01

To investigate whether attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) influences postconcussion recovery, as measured by computerized neurocognitive testing. This is a retrospective case control study. Computer laboratories across 10 high schools in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area. Immediate postconcussion assessment and cognitive testing (ImPACT) scores of 70 athletes with a self-reported diagnosis of ADHD and who sustained a sport-related concussion were compared with a randomly selected age-matched control group. Immediate postconcussion assessment and cognitive testing scores over a 5-year interval were reviewed for inclusion. Postconcussion recovery was defined as a return to equivalent baseline neurocognitive score on the ImPACT battery, and a concussion symptom score of ≤7. Athletes with ADHD had on average a longer time to recovery when compared with the control group (16.5 days compared with 13.5 days), although not statistically significant. The number of previous concussions did not have any effect on the rate of recovery in the ADHD or the control group. In addition, baseline neurocognitive testing did not statistically differ between the 2 groups, except in verbal memory. Although not statistically significant, youth athletes with ADHD took on average 3 days longer to return to baseline neurocognitive testing compared with a control group without ADHD. Youth athletes with ADHD may have a marginally prolonged recovery as indexed by neurocognitive testing and should be considered when prognosticating time to recovery in this subset of student athletes.

Effect of home care service on the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer.

PubMed

Aktas, Demet; Terzioglu, Fusun

2015-01-01

The purpose of the research was to determine the effect of home care service on the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer. This randomized case control study was carried out in a womans hospital between September 2011 and February 2012. Women undergoing gynecological cancer treatment were separated into intervention and control groups, of 35 patients each. The intervention group was provided with nursing care service through hospital and home visits (1st, 12th weeks) within the framework of a specifically developed nursing care plan. The control group was monitored without any intervention through the hospital routine protocols (1st, 12th weeks). Data were collected using An Interview Form, Home Visit Monitoring Form and Quality of Life Scale/Cancer Survivors. Effects of home care service on the quality of life in gynecological cancer patients were investigated using chi-square tests, McNemar's test, independent t-test and ANOVA. This study found that the intervention group receiving home care service had a moderately high quality of life (average mean: 6.01±0.64), while the control group had comparatively lower quality (average mean: 4.35±0.79) within the 12 week post- discharge period (p<0.05). This study found home care services to be efficient in improving the quality of life in patients with gynecological cancer.

Rectal Diclofenac Versus Rectal Paracetamol: Comparison of Antipyretic Effectiveness in Children.

PubMed

Sharif, Mohammad Reza; Haji Rezaei, Mostafa; Aalinezhad, Marzieh; Sarami, Golbahareh; Rangraz, Masoud

2016-01-01

Fever is the most common complaint in pediatric medicine and its treatment is recommended in some situations. Paracetamol is the most common antipyretic drug, which has serious side effects such as toxicity along with its positive effects. Diclofenac is one of the strongest non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drugs, which has received little attention as an antipyretic drug. This study was designed to compare the antipyretic effectiveness of the rectal form of Paracetamol and Diclofenac. This double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 children aged six months to six years old. One group was treated with rectal Paracetamol suppositories at 15 mg/kg dose and the other group received Diclofenac at 1 mg/kg by rectal administration (n = 40). Rectal temperature was measured before and one hour after the intervention. Temperature changes in the two groups were compared. The average rectal temperature in the Paracetamol group was 39.6 ± 1.13°C, and 39.82 ± 1.07°C in the Diclofenac group (P = 0.37). The average rectal temperature, one hour after the intervention, in the Paracetamol and the Diclofenac group was 38.39 ± 0.89°C and 38.95 ± 1.09°C, respectively (P = 0.02). Average temperature changes were 0.65 ± 0.17°C in the Paracetamol group and 1.73 ± 0.69°C in the Diclofenac group (P < 0.001). In the first one hour, Diclofenac suppository is able to control the fever more efficient than Paracetamol suppositories.

Executive Dysfunction Among Children With Reading Comprehension Deficits

PubMed Central

Locascio, Gianna; Mahone, E. Mark; Eason, Sarah H.; Cutting, Laurie E.

2010-01-01

Emerging research supports the contribution of executive function (EF) to reading comprehension; however, a unique pattern has not been established for children who demonstrate comprehension difficulties despite average word recognition ability (specific reading comprehension deficit; S-RCD). To identify particular EF components on which children with S-RCD struggle, a range of EF skills was compared among 86 children, ages 10 to 14, grouped by word reading and comprehension abilities: 24 average readers, 44 with word recognition deficits (WRD), and 18 S-RCD. An exploratory principal components analysis of EF tests identified three latent factors, used in subsequent group comparisons: Planning/Spatial Working Memory, Verbal Working Memory, and Response Inhibition. The WRD group exhibited deficits (relative to controls) on Verbal Working Memory and Inhibition factors; S-RCD children performed more poorly than controls on the Planning factor. Further analyses suggested the WRD group’s poor performance on EF factors was a by-product of core deficits linked to WRD (after controlling for phonological processing, this group no longer showed EF deficits). In contrast, the S-RCD group’s poor performance on the planning component remained significant after controlling for phonological processing. Findings suggest reading comprehension difficulties are linked to executive dysfunction; in particular, poor strategic planning/organizing may lead to reading comprehension problems. PMID:20375294

Emergency Manuals Improved Novice Physician Performance During Simulated ICU Emergencies

PubMed Central

Wang, Jacob; Stiegler, Marjorie P.; Nguyen, Dung; Rebel, Annette; Isaak, Robert S.

2017-01-01

Background Emergency manuals, which are safety essentials in non-medical high-reliability organizations (e.g., aviation), have recently gained acceptance in critical medical environments. Of the existing emergency manuals in anesthesiology, most are geared towards intraoperative settings. Additionally, most evidence supporting their efficacy focuses on the study of physicians with at least some meaningful experience as a physician. Our aim was to evaluate whether an emergency manual would improve the performance of novice physicians (post-graduate year [PGY] 1 or first year resident) in managing a critical event in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods PGY1 interns (n=41) were assessed on the management of a simulated critical event (unstable bradycardia) in the ICU. Participants underwent a group allocation process to either a control group (n=18) or an intervention group (emergency manual provided, n=23). The number of successfully executed treatment and diagnostic interventions completed was evaluated over a ten minute (600 seconds) simulation for each participant. Results The participants using the emergency manual averaged 9.9/12 (83%) interventions, compared to an average of 7.1/12 (59%) interventions (p < 0.01) in the control group. Conclusions The use of an emergency manual was associated with a significant improvement in critical event management by individual novice physicians in a simulated ICU patient (23% average increase). PMID:29600255

Emergency Manuals Improved Novice Physician Performance During Simulated ICU Emergencies.

PubMed

Kazior, Michael R; Wang, Jacob; Stiegler, Marjorie P; Nguyen, Dung; Rebel, Annette; Isaak, Robert S

2017-01-01

Emergency manuals, which are safety essentials in non-medical high-reliability organizations (e.g., aviation), have recently gained acceptance in critical medical environments. Of the existing emergency manuals in anesthesiology, most are geared towards intraoperative settings. Additionally, most evidence supporting their efficacy focuses on the study of physicians with at least some meaningful experience as a physician. Our aim was to evaluate whether an emergency manual would improve the performance of novice physicians (post-graduate year [PGY] 1 or first year resident) in managing a critical event in the intensive care unit (ICU). PGY1 interns (n=41) were assessed on the management of a simulated critical event (unstable bradycardia) in the ICU. Participants underwent a group allocation process to either a control group (n=18) or an intervention group (emergency manual provided, n=23). The number of successfully executed treatment and diagnostic interventions completed was evaluated over a ten minute (600 seconds) simulation for each participant. The participants using the emergency manual averaged 9.9/12 (83%) interventions, compared to an average of 7.1/12 (59%) interventions (p < 0.01) in the control group. The use of an emergency manual was associated with a significant improvement in critical event management by individual novice physicians in a simulated ICU patient (23% average increase).

Wide topical negative pressure wound dressing treatment for patients undergoing abdominal dermolipectomy following massive weight loss.

PubMed

Dragu, Adrian; Schnürer, Stefan; Unglaub, Frank; Wolf, Maya B; Beier, Justus P; Kneser, Ulrich; Horch, Raymund E

2011-11-01

Postbariatric plastic surgery is considered to be a high-risk procedure, which entails such frequent minor complications as postoperative seroma, bleeding and wound dehiscence. These occur with a high incidence, especially, following postbariatric abdominal dermolipectomy. In order to reduce these complication rates, a new type of dressing with wide abdominal topical negative pressure (TNP) application was applied. We performed abdominal dermolipectomy in 23 obese patients. The average body mass index was 32.8 kg/m(2), and the median age of the patients was 42.9 years. Ten patients received conventional standard dressings (control group I), whereas the other 13 patients received a wide TNP dressing including the ventral and lateral trunk (negative pressure group II). Postoperative exudate volumes were collected, tallied and documented for each group separately until all drains could be removed. The conventionally treated control group (I) showed a significantly higher postoperative secretion volume compared with the negative pressure group (II). In addition, the average time to postoperative final drain removal was significantly lower in the negative pressure group (II) compared with the control group (I). The results indicate that widely applied external TNP wound dressing on the ventral and lateral trunk following postbariatric abdominal dermolipectomy leads to a significant reduction in exudate formation, enables early drain removal and thus, decreases length of hospitalization.

Analogical Transfer: Are There Performance Differences among High-Ability Students?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McVey, Mary D.

This study investigated the role of problem structure and metacognitive control in the analogical transfer of performance of 40 13- and 14-year-old gifted and highly gifted math students. Average and above average 16-, 17-, and 18-year-olds served as comparison groups. Students were given three algebra problems with solutions, followed by two…

Lexical Tone Awareness among Chinese Children with Developmental Dyslexia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Li, Wing-Sze; Ho, Connie Suk-Han

2011-01-01

This study examined the extent and nature of lexical tone deficit in Chinese developmental dyslexia. Twenty Cantonese-speaking Chinese dyslexic children (mean age 8 ; 11) were compared to twenty average readers of the same age (CA control group, mean age 8 ; 11), and another twenty younger average readers of the same word reading level (RL control…

A Comparison of Stimulus Control and Reinforcement Techniques for Weight Reduction.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harris, Mary B.; Collins, Grace

This study compares three six-week programs for weight control that were followed by several booster sessions and a 15-week followup. Although subjects in all programs showed significant weight losses (an average of 8.1 pounds for the 22 weeks), no significant differences between groups emphasizing stimulus control, reinforcement or general…

Active management of labor

PubMed Central

Rogers, Rebecca G; Gardner, Michael O; Tool, Kevin J; Ainsley, Jeanne; Gilson, George

2000-01-01

Objective To compare the costs of a protocol of active management of labor with those of traditional labor management. Design Cost analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Methods From August 1992 to April 1996, we randomly allocated 405 women whose infants were delivered at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, to an active management of labor protocol that had substantially reduced the duration of labor or a control protocol. We calculated the average cost for each delivery, using both actual costs and charges. Results The average cost for women assigned to the active management protocol was $2,480.79 compared with an average cost of $2,528.61 for women in the control group (P = 0.55). For women whose infant was delivered by cesarean section, the average cost was $4,771.54 for active management of labor and $4,468.89 for the control protocol (P = 0.16). Spontaneous vaginal deliveries cost an average of $27.00 more for actively managed patients compared with the cost for the control protocol. Conclusions The reduced duration of labor by active management did not translate into significant cost savings. Overall, an average cost saving of only $47.91, or 2%, was achieved for labors that were actively managed. This reduction in cost was due to a decrease in the rate of cesarean sections in women whose labor was actively managed and not to a decreased duration of labor. PMID:10778374

DialBetics: A Novel Smartphone-based Self-management Support System for Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

PubMed

Waki, Kayo; Fujita, Hideo; Uchimura, Yuji; Omae, Koji; Aramaki, Eiji; Kato, Shigeko; Lee, Hanae; Kobayashi, Haruka; Kadowaki, Takashi; Ohe, Kazuhiko

2014-03-01

Numerous diabetes-management systems and programs for improving glycemic control to meet guideline targets have been proposed, using IT technology. But all of them allow only limited-or no-real-time interaction between patients and the system in terms of system response to patient input; few studies have effectively assessed the systems' usability and feasibility to determine how well patients understand and can adopt the technology involved. DialBetics is composed of 4 modules: (1) data transmission module, (2) evaluation module, (3) communication module, and (4) dietary evaluation module. A 3-month randomized study was designed to assess the safety and usability of a remote health-data monitoring system, and especially its impact on modifying patient lifestyles to improve diabetes self-management and, thus, clinical outcomes. Fifty-four type 2 diabetes patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, 27 in the DialBetics group and 27 in the non-DialBetics control group. HbA1c and fasting blood sugar (FBS) values declined significantly in the DialBetics group: HbA1c decreased an average of 0.4% (from 7.1 ± 1.0% to 6.7 ± 0.7%) compared with an average increase of 0.1% in the non-DialBetics group (from 7.0 ± 0.9% to 7.1 ± 1.1%) (P = .015); The DialBetics group FBS decreased an average of 5.5 mg/dl compared with a non-DialBetics group average increase of 16.9 mg/dl (P = .019). BMI improvement-although not statistically significant because of the small sample size-was greater in the DialBetics group. DialBetics was shown to be a feasible and an effective tool for improving HbA1c by providing patients with real-time support based on their measurements and inputs. © 2014 Diabetes Technology Society.

Minimum Abutment Height to Eliminate Bone Loss: Influence of Implant Neck Design and Platform Switching.

PubMed

Spinato, Sergio; Galindo-Moreno, Pablo; Bernardello, Fabio; Zaffe, Davide

This retrospective study quantitatively analyzed the minimum prosthetic abutment height to eliminate bone loss after 4.7-mm-diameter implant placement in maxillary bone and how grafting techniques can affect the marginal bone loss in implants placed in maxillary areas. Two different implant types with a similar neck design were singularly placed in two groups of patients: the test group, with platform-switched implants, and the control group, with conventional (non-platform-switched) implants. Patients requiring bone augmentation underwent unilateral sinus augmentation using a transcrestal technique with mineralized xenograft. Radiographs were taken immediately after implant placement, after delivery of the prosthetic restoration, and after 12 months of loading. The average mesial and distal marginal bone loss of the control group (25 patients) was significantly more than twice that of the test group (26 patients), while their average abutment height was similar. Linear regression analysis highlighted a statistically significant inverse relationship between marginal bone loss and abutment height in both groups; however, the intercept of the regression line, both mesially and distally, was 50% lower for the test group than for the control group. The marginal bone loss was annulled with an abutment height of 2.5 mm for the test group and 3.0 mm for the control group. No statistically significant differences were found regarding marginal bone loss of implants placed in native maxillary bone compared with those placed in the grafted areas. The results suggest that the shorter the abutment height, the greater the marginal bone loss in cement-retained prostheses. Abutment height showed a greater influence in platform-switched than in non-platform-switched implants on the limitation of marginal bone loss.

Application of a hyaluronic acid gel after intrauterine surgery may improve spontaneous fertility: a randomized controlled trial in New Zealand White rabbits.

PubMed

Huberlant, Stephanie; Fernandez, Herve; Vieille, Pierre; Khrouf, Mohamed; Ulrich, Daniela; deTayrac, Renaud; Letouzey, Vincent

2015-01-01

Intrauterine adhesions (IUAs) are the most common complication after hysteroscopy in patients of reproductive age. Intra-abdominal anti-adhesion gel reduces the incidence of adhesions, but effects on fertility after uterine surgery are not known. The objective of our work was to evaluate the effect of intrauterine anti-adhesion gel on spontaneous fertility after repeated intrauterine surgery with induced experimental synechiae in the rabbit model. Twenty New Zealand White rabbits underwent a double uterine curettage 10 days apart and were randomized into two groups. Each rabbit served as its own control: one uterine tube was the treatment group (A), the second uterine tube was the control group (B) to avoid bias through other causes of infertility. Group A received a post curettage intrauterine instillation of anti-adhesion gel whereas group B, the control group, underwent curettage without instillation of the gel. After a recovery period, the rabbits were mated. An abdominal ultrasound performed 21 days after mating allowed us to diagnose pregnancy and quantify the number of viable fetuses. There was a significant difference in total fetuses in favor of group A, with an average of 3.7 (range, 0-9) total fetuses per tube against 2.1 (0-7) in group B (p = .04). The number of viable fetuses shows a trend in favor of group A, with an average of 3.4 (0-7) viable fetuses per tube against 1.9 (0-6) viable fetuses per tube in group B (p = .05). The use of immediate postoperative anti-adhesion gel improved fertility in an animal model after intrauterine surgery likely to cause uterine synechiae. This experimental model will permit comparison of different anti-adhesion solutions, including assessment of their tolerance and potential mucosal toxicity on embryonic development.

Jet-lag: prevention with Pycnogenol. Preliminary report: evaluation in healthy individuals and in hypertensive patients.

PubMed

Belcaro, G; Cesarone, M R; Steigerwalt, R J; Di Renzo, A; Grossi, M G; Ricci, A; Stuard, S; Ledda, A; Dugall, M; Cornelli, U; Cacchio, M

2008-10-01

This study was conducted with the aim of showing the effects of Pycnogenol on controlling jet-lag symptoms. Oral Pycnogenol, 50 mg tablets 3 times/die, for 7 days starting 2 days prior to the flight was used. The study was divided into two separate parts. In study 1 the most common complaints of patients with jet-lag were evaluated with a rating scale consisting in of a scoring system. In study 2 a brain CT scan was performed after the flight in order to assess minimal brain edema (MBE) in association with typical signs and symptoms, observed in previous published flight studies. Study one included 38 subjects treated with Pycnogenol and 30 controls. The symptomatic jet-lag related total score was significantly lower (indicating a lower level of jet-lag) in the Pycnogenol group. The average duration of any jet lag symptom following the flight was significantly reduced from 39.3 (SD=0.8) hours in controls to an average of 18.2 (SD=3.3) hours in the Pycnogenol group (P<0.05). Study 2 included 34 subjects treated with Pycnogenol and 31 controls. The main observation was the brain CT scan performed within 28 hours after the end of the flight. The difference between the Pycnogenol and the control groups was statistically significant (P<0.05) for all items assessed including the cerebral edema score obtained by CT scan. The short-term memory was significantly altered in the control group and associated to edema and swelling of the lower limbs. The score (and the level of edema) was comparatively higher in a subgroup of hypertensive subjects in the control group. Minor alterations of cardiac function were observed in association with de-stabilisation of blood pressure. Fatigue was also significantly higher in the control group in comparison with the Pycnogenol group. A number of spontaneously reported symptoms was also scored and there was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) between the Pycnogenol and control groups. In conlusion, Pycnogenol was useful to control jet-lag and minimal brain edema.

Youth Attitude Tracking Study II, Fall 1983.

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-01-01

one - group pretest - posttest design." In this, though a . "before" group of the same individuals is introduced...there is no control group that is not exposed to the event. S Both the one -shot case study and the one - group pretest - posttest design are subject to a...segmentation analysis -A identified five Recruiting Priority Groups on the basis of educational status and average grades earned in high school.

40 CFR 63.9634 - How do I demonstrate continuous compliance with the emission limitations that apply to me?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... selected for initial performance testing and defined within a group of similar emission units in accordance... similar air pollution control device applied to each similar emission unit within a defined group using... emission units within group “k”; Pi = Daily average parametric monitoring parameter value corresponding to...

40 CFR 63.9634 - How do I demonstrate continuous compliance with the emission limitations that apply to me?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... selected for initial performance testing and defined within a group of similar emission units in accordance... similar air pollution control device applied to each similar emission unit within a defined group using... emission units within group “k”; Pi = Daily average parametric monitoring parameter value corresponding to...

DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS OF POSTCONDITIONING DOES NOT ATTENUATE MESENTERIC ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION INJURY AFTER SHORT-TERM REPERFUSION

PubMed Central

BRITO, Marcus Vinicius Henriques; YASOJIMA, Edson Yuzur; MACHADO, Andressa Abnader; SILVEIRA, Matheus Paiva Pacheco Reis; TEIXEIRA, Renan Kleber Costa; YAMAKI, Vitor Nagai; COSTA, Felipe Lobato da Silva

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Background: Mesenteric ischemia is a challenging diagnosis. Delay in diagnosis can lead to extent bowel necrosis and poor outcomes. Ischemia and reperfusion syndrome plays an important role in this scenario. Aim: To access effects of different post-conditioning cycles on mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion syndrome. Method: Twenty-five rats were assigned into five groups: Sham, used to establish normal parameters; control group, submitted to mesenteric ischemia for 30 min; in groups GP3, GP1 and GP30, ischemia was followed by post-conditioning protocol, which consisted of 1 cycle of 3 min (GP3), 3 cycles of 1 min (GP1) or 6 cycles of 30 s (GP30), respectively. Ileum samples were harvested after one hour of reperfusion. Intestinal mucosal injury was evaluated through histopathological analysis. Results: The average of mesenteric injury degree was 0 in the sham group, 3.6 in the control group, 3.4 in GP3, 3.2 in GP1, and 3.0 in GP30; villous length average was 161.59 in sham group, 136.27 in control group, 135.89 in GP3, 129.46 in GP1, and 135.18 in GP30. Was found significant difference between sham and other groups (p<0.05); however, there was no difference among post-conditioning groups. Conclusion: Post-conditioning adopted protocols were not able to protect intestinal mucosa integrity after mesenteric ischemia and short term reperfusion. PMID:28489164

The transfer of skill from short tennis to lawn tennis.

PubMed

Coldwells, A; Hare, M E

1994-01-01

The purpose of this study was to establish if short tennis skills transferred to lawn tennis. The experiment was conducted in two parts. In the first experiment 16 children (average age 8.9 years) were coached for 20 h (2 h/day for 2 weeks). The experimental group (n = 8) received 10 h of short tennis coaching followed by 10h of tennis coaching. The control group (n = 8) received tennis coaching only. In the second experiment 14 children (average age 8.5 years) were coached for 8h in group strokes alone (only ground strokes were tested and analysed). The experimental group (n = 7) received 4h of short tennis coaching and 4h of tennis coaching; the control group (n = 7) received tennis coaching only. Prior to coaching, all children were tested on the Dyer Backboard Test. The tests were video-taped for later analysis of technique. The video was analysed by three coaches in terms of backswing, positioning (position where player stood in reference to the bounce of the ball), follow-through, and placement (accuracy with which the ball was hit). The experimental group improved more than the control group on the Dyer Backboard Test (p < 0.05) in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2 both groups improved (p < 0.05) with coaching; there was no difference (p > 0.05) between the two groups following coaching. This implied that the short tennis skills positively transferred to tennis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Correlation of neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratio with visual acuity and macular thickness in age-related macular degeneration

PubMed Central

Sengul, Elvan Alper; Artunay, Ozgur; Kockar, Alev; Afacan, Ceyda; Rasier, Rifat; Gun, Palmet; Yalcin, Nazli Gul; Yuzbasioglu, Erdal

2017-01-01

AIM To investigate the place of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) in the diagnosis of and prognosis for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS One hundred AMD patients and 100 healthy controls were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained from the venous blood, which is used for routine analysis, and these samples were subjected to complete blood count. NLR was defined as the neutrophil count divided by the number of lymphocytes, and PLR was defined as the platelet count divided by the number of lymphocytes. RESULTS No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups under consideration in terms of demographic features (P>0.05). The average NLR in the patient group was found to be significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The average PLR was significantly higher in the patient group as compared to the control group (P<0.05). As best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) increased, both NLR and PLR decreased (significant negative correlations at 49.8% and 63.0%, respectively), whereas as central macular thickness (CMT) increased, both NLR and PLR increased (significant positive correlations at 59.3% and 70.0%, respectively). CONCLUSION NLR and PLR levels are higher among neovascular AMD patients as compared to healthy control group. NLR and PLR levels were found to be inversely proportional to BCVA and directly proportional to CMT. PMID:28546933

Effect of Carica papaya Leaf Extract Capsule on Platelet Count in Patients of Dengue Fever with Thrombocytopenia.

PubMed

Gadhwal, Ajeet Kumar; Ankit, B S; Chahar, Chitresh; Tantia, Pankaj; Sirohi, P; Agrawal, R P

2016-06-01

Thrombocytopenia in dengue fever is a common and serious complication. However, no specific treatment is available for dengue fever induced thrombocytopenia. In few countries (Pakistan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries) the leaf extract of Carica papaya has been effectively used for thrombocytopenia. So, the study is planned to access effect of Carica papaya leaf extract on platelet count in dengue fever patients. All participants were randomised into two groups, study group and control group; the study group was given papaya leaf extract capsule of 500 mg once daily and routine supportive treatment for consecutive five days. The controls were given only routine supportive treatment. Daily complete blood counts, platelet counts and haematocrit level, liver function test, renal function test of both groups were observed. On the first day platelet count of study group and control group was (59.82±18.63, 61.06±20.03 thousands, p value 0.36). On the 2nd day platelet count of both study and control groups was not significantly different (61.67±19.46 and 59.93±19.52 thousands, p value 0.20) but on 3rd day platelet count of study group was significantly higher than control group (82.96±16.72, 66.45±17.36 thousands, p value < 0.01). On 4th and 5th day platelet count of study group (122.43±19.36 and 112.47±17.49 thousands respectively) was also significantly higher than the control group (88.75±21.65 and 102.59±19.35 thousands) (p value < 0.01). On 7th day platelet count of study group and control group were not significantly different (124.47±12.35 and 122.46±19.76 thousands respectively, p value 0.08). Average hospitalization period of study group v/s control group was 3.65±0.97 v/s 5.42±0.98 days (p value < 0.01). Average platelet transfusion requirement in study group was significantly less than control group (0.685 units per patient v/s 1.19 units per patient) (p value <0.01). It is concluded that Carica papaya leaf extract increases the platelet count in dengue fever without any side effect and prevents the complication of thrombocytopenia. So, it can be used in dengue fever with thrombocytopenia patients.

Reaction time following yoga bellows-type breathing and breath awareness.

PubMed

Telles, Shirley; Yadav, Arti; Gupta, Ram Kumar; Balkrishna, Acharya

2013-08-01

The reaction time (RT) was assessed in two groups of healthy males, yoga group (M age = 29.0 yr.) and non-yoga or control group (M age = 29.0 yr.), with 35 participants each. The yoga group had an average experience of 6 months, while the control group was yoga-naïve. The yoga group was assessed in two sessions, (i) bhastrika pranayama or bellows breathing and (ii) breath awareness, while the control group had a single control session. The two experimental sessions, one with each type of breathing, and the control session consisted of pre- (5 min.), during (18 min.), and post-session epochs (5 min.). Assessments were made in the pre- and post-session epochs using a Multi-Operational Apparatus for Reaction Time. Following 18 min. of bhastrika pranayama there was a statistically significant reduction in number of anticipatory responses compared to before the practice. This suggests that the immediate effect of bhastrika pranayama is to inhibit unnecessary responding to stimuli.

Effectiveness of physical therapy for patients with neck pain: an individualized approach using a clinical decision-making algorithm.

PubMed

Wang, Wendy T J; Olson, Sharon L; Campbell, Anne H; Hanten, William P; Gleeson, Peggy B

2003-03-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an individualized physical therapy intervention in treating neck pain based on a clinical reasoning algorithm. Treatment effectiveness was examined by assessing changes in impairment, physical performance, and disability in response to intervention. One treatment group of 30 patients with neck pain completed physical therapy treatment. The control group of convenience was formed by a cohort group of 27 subjects who also had neck pain but did not receive treatment for various reasons. There were no significant differences between groups in demographic data and the initial test scores of the outcome measures. A quasi-experimental, nonequivalent, pretest-posttest control group design was used. A physical therapist rendered an eclectic intervention to the treatment group based on a clinical decision-making algorithm. Treatment outcome measures included the following five dependent variables: cervical range of motion, numeric pain rating, timed weighted overhead endurance, the supine capital flexion endurance test, and the Patient Specific Functional Scale. Both the treatment and control groups completed the initial and follow-up examinations, with an average duration of 4 wk between tests. Five mixed analyses of variance with follow-up tests showed a significant difference for all outcome measures in the treatment group compared with the control group. After an average 4 wk of physical therapy intervention, patients in the treatment group demonstrated statistically significant increases of cervical range of motion, decrease of pain, increases of physical performance measures, and decreases in the level of disability. The control group showed no differences in all five outcome variables between the initial and follow-up test scores. This study delineated algorithm-based clinical reasoning strategies for evaluating and treating patients with cervical pain. The algorithm can help clinicians classify patients with cervical pain into clinical patterns and provides pattern-specific guidelines for physical therapy interventions. An organized and specific physical therapy program was effective in improving the status of patients with neck pain.

[Contact characteristics research of acetabular weight-bearing area with different internal fixation methods after compression fracture of acetabular dome].

PubMed

Xu, Bowen; Zhang, Qingsong; An, Siqi; Pei, Baorui; Wu, Xiaobo

2017-08-01

To establish the model of compression fracture of acetabular dome, and to measure the contact characteristics of acetabular weight-bearing area of acetabulum after 3 kinds of internal fixation. Sixteen fresh adult half pelvis specimens were randomly divided into 4 groups, 4 specimens each group. Group D was the complete acetabulum (control group), and the remaining 3 groups were prepared acetabular dome compression fracture model. The fractures were fixed with reconstruction plate in group A, antegrade raft screws in group B, and retrograde raft screws in group C. The pressure sensitive films were attached to the femoral head, and the axial compression test was carried out on the inverted single leg standing position. The weight-bearing area, average stress, and peak stress were measured in each group. Under the loading of 500 N, the acetabular weight-bearing area was significantly higher in group D than in other 3 groups ( P <0.05), and the average stress and peak stress were significantly lower than in other 3 groups ( P <0.05). The acetabular weight-bearing area were significantly higher in group B and group C than in group A, and the average stress and peak stress were significantly lower than in group A ( P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the above indexes between group B and group C ( P >0.05). For the compression fracture of the acetabular dome, the contact characteristics of the weight-bearing area can not restore to the normal level, even if the anatomical reduction and rigid internal fixation were performed; compared with the reconstruction plate fixation, antegrade and retrograde raft screws fixations can increase the weight-bearing area, reduce the average stress and peak stress, and reduce the incidence of traumatic arthritis.

40 CFR 63.3370 - How do I demonstrate compliance with the emission standards?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... equivalent allowable organic HAP (Equation 13a or b of § 63.3370). (4) Use of a capture system and control... control devices (i) Average equivalent organic HAP emission rate does not exceed 0.2 kg organic HAP per kg... material applied on the web coating line or group of web coating lines controlled by a common control...

40 CFR 63.3370 - How do I demonstrate compliance with the emission standards?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... equivalent allowable organic HAP (Equation 13a or b of § 63.3370). (4) Use of a capture system and control... control devices (i) Average equivalent organic HAP emission rate does not exceed 0.2 kg organic HAP per kg... material applied on the web coating line or group of web coating lines controlled by a common control...

40 CFR 63.3370 - How do I demonstrate compliance with the emission standards?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... equivalent allowable organic HAP (Equation 13a or b of § 63.3370). (4) Use of a capture system and control... control devices (i) Average equivalent organic HAP emission rate does not exceed 0.2 kg organic HAP per kg... material applied on the web coating line or group of web coating lines controlled by a common control...

The natural history of the anterior knee instability by stress radiography

PubMed Central

de Rezende, Márcia Uchôa; Hernandez, Arnaldo José; Camanho, Gilberto Luis

2014-01-01

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the anteroposterior displacement of the knee by means of stress radiography in individuals with unilateral anterior knee instability and relate to time of instability. METHODS: Sixty individuals with intact knees (control group) and 125 patients with unilateral anterior instability (AI group) agreed to participate in the study. Gender, age, weight, height, age at injury, time between injury and testing, and surgical findings are studied. Both groups are submitted to anterior and posterior stress radiographies of both knees. Anterior (ADD) and posterior displacement difference (PDD) were calculated between sides. RESULTS: In the control group ADD and PDD are in average, zero, whereas in the AI group ADD averaged 9.8mm and PDD, 1.92mm. Gender, age, weight, height, age at trauma and presence of menisci's lesions do not intervene in the values of ADD and PDD. Meniscal injuries increase with time. ADD and PDD do not relate with the presence or absence of associated menisci's lesions. The ADD and the PDD are related to each other and increase with time. CONCLUSION: There is a permanent anterior subluxation of the injured knee that is related to the amount of anterior displacement that increases with time. Level of Evidence III, Study Types Case-control study. PMID:25246846

The pollution control of fluorine and arsenic in roasted corn in "coal-burning" fluorosis area Yunnan, China.

PubMed

Li, Ling; Luo, Kun-li; Liu, Yong-lin; Xu, Yong-xin

2012-08-30

Pilot experiments were carried out to reduce the fluorine (F) and arsenic (As) pollution of roasted corn dried by open ovens in "coal-burning" fluorosis area Yunnan, China. The results indicated that the average emission amount of F and As in briquettes in experimental group were 29.20mg/kg and 0.76 mg/kg in Xiaolongdong, and 46.8 mg/kg and 0.54 mg/kg in Mangbu respectively. The results also indicated that the fixing rate of F and As in briquettes in experimental group was more than 4 times and 1.2 times of that in control group respectively. The average concentration of F and As in roasted corn in experimental group were 3.86 mg/kg and 13.23 μg/kg in Xiaolongdong, and 4.77 mg/kg and 122.96 μg/kg in Mangbu respectively, which reduced by more than 65% and 75% respectively compared with that in control group. Adding local natural calcium-based materials in briquettes can reduce the emission of F and As and their pollution on roasted corn largely, and thus will reduce the risk of fluorosis for residents greatly in "coal-burning" fluorosis area of southwestern China. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of electromagnetic radiation on the hemorheology of rats

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Zhiwei; Tian, Tian; Xiao, Bo; Li, Wen

2017-01-01

The current work examines the effects of electromagnetic radiation on the hemorheology to provide an experimental basis for radiation protection. Electromagnetic radiation was generated by a Helmholtz coil constructed from copper wire. There were six rats altogether: three rats in the experimental group, and three rats in the control group. The rats in the experimental group were continuously exposed to radiation for 10 hours every day, and rats in the control group remained in a normal environment. After 30 days, the characteristics of hemorheology of the two groups were compared. The average plasma viscosity, whole blood high shear velocity, and whole blood low shear viscosity were lower in rats in the experimental group than in rats in the control group, while the whole blood shear viscosity was higher in the experimental group than in the control group. Results suggest that long term exposure to electromagnetic radiation does have certain impacts on the cardiovascular system, deeming it necessary to take preventative measures.

EDI OCT evaluation of choroidal thickness in Stargardt disease

PubMed Central

Sodi, Andrea; Bacherini, Daniela; Caporossi, Orsola; Murro, Vittoria; Mucciolo, Dario Pasquale; Cipollini, Francesca; Passerini, Ilaria; Virgili, Gianni; Rizzo, Stanislao

2018-01-01

Purpose Choroidal thickness (CT) evaluation with EDI-OCT in Stargardt Disease (STGD), considering its possible association with some clinical features of the disease. Methods CT was evaluated in 41 STGD patients and in 70 controls. Measurements were performed in the subfoveal position and at 1000 μm nasally and temporally. CT average values in STGD and in the control group were first compared by means of Student’s T test. Then, the possible association between CT and some clinical features was evaluated by means of linear regression analysis. Considered clinical parameters were: age, age on onset, duration of the disease, visual acuity, foveal thickness, Fishman clinical phenotype, visual field loss and ERG response. Results Average CT was not significantly different between controls and STGD patients. In the STGD group the correlation between CT and age (r = 0.22, p = 0.033) and age of onset (r = 0.05, p = 0.424) was modest, while that of CT with disease duration (r = 0.30, p<0.001) was moderate. CT and foveal thickness were also significantly but modestly correlated (r = 0.15, p = 0.033). Conclusion In our series average CT is not significantly changed in STGD in comparison with the controls. Nevertheless a choroidal thinning may be identified in the more advanced stages of the disease. PMID:29304098

The effects of reflexology on anxiety and pain in patients after abdominal hysterectomy: A randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Öztürk, Ruşen; Sevil, Ümran; Sargin, Asuman; Yücebilgin, M Sait

2018-02-01

This study aimed at finding out the effects of reflexology on pain, anxiety levels after abdominal hysterectomy. The study was performed on women hospitalized in the intensive care unit and gynecology services of Ege University Hospital in İzmir after abdominal hysterectomy between September 2013 and September 2014. This study was designed and conducted as a randomized controlled trial. The study sample consisted of 63 female patients: 32 in the experimental group and 31 in the control group. The postoperative daily monitoring sheet, Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (SAI), was employed to collect research data and "visual analog scale" to evaluate pain levels. The female patients' average age was found to be 47.23 ± 4.71. The three-day monitoring showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of average pain levels and anxiety scores after reflexology (p < 0.05). Foot reflexology may serve as an effective nursing intervention to increase the well-being and decrease the pain of female patients after abdominal hysterectomy, and nurses should be aware of the benefits of reflexology. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Physical therapy treatments for low back pain in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Low back pain (LBP) in adolescents is associated with LBP in later years. In recent years treatments have been administered to adolescents for LBP, but it is not known which physical therapy treatment is the most efficacious. By means of a meta-analysis, the current study investigated the effectiveness of the physical therapy treatments for LBP in children and adolescents. Methods Studies in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, and carried out by March 2011, were selected by electronic and manual search. Two independent researchers coded the moderator variables of the studies, and performed the effect size calculations. The mean effect size index used was the standardized mean change between the pretest and posttest, and it was applied separately for each combination of outcome measures, (pain, disability, flexibility, endurance and mental health) and measurement type (self-reports, and clinician assessments). Results Eight articles that met the selection criteria enabled us to define 11 treatment groups and 5 control groups using the group as the unit of analysis. The 16 groups involved a total sample of 334 subjects at the posttest (221 in the treatment groups and 113 in the control groups). For all outcome measures, the average effect size of the treatment groups was statistically and clinically significant, whereas the control groups had negative average effect sizes that were not statistically significant. Conclusions Of all the physical therapy treatments for LBP in children and adolescents, the combination of therapeutic physical conditioning and manual therapy is the most effective. The low number of studies and control groups, and the methodological limitations in this meta-analysis prevent us from drawing definitive conclusions in relation to the efficacy of physical therapy treatments in LBP. PMID:23374375

Physical therapy treatments for low back pain in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Calvo-Muñoz, Inmaculada; Gómez-Conesa, Antonia; Sánchez-Meca, Julio

2013-02-02

Low back pain (LBP) in adolescents is associated with LBP in later years. In recent years treatments have been administered to adolescents for LBP, but it is not known which physical therapy treatment is the most efficacious. By means of a meta-analysis, the current study investigated the effectiveness of the physical therapy treatments for LBP in children and adolescents. Studies in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, and carried out by March 2011, were selected by electronic and manual search. Two independent researchers coded the moderator variables of the studies, and performed the effect size calculations. The mean effect size index used was the standardized mean change between the pretest and posttest, and it was applied separately for each combination of outcome measures, (pain, disability, flexibility, endurance and mental health) and measurement type (self-reports, and clinician assessments). Eight articles that met the selection criteria enabled us to define 11 treatment groups and 5 control groups using the group as the unit of analysis. The 16 groups involved a total sample of 334 subjects at the posttest (221 in the treatment groups and 113 in the control groups). For all outcome measures, the average effect size of the treatment groups was statistically and clinically significant, whereas the control groups had negative average effect sizes that were not statistically significant. Of all the physical therapy treatments for LBP in children and adolescents, the combination of therapeutic physical conditioning and manual therapy is the most effective. The low number of studies and control groups, and the methodological limitations in this meta-analysis prevent us from drawing definitive conclusions in relation to the efficacy of physical therapy treatments in LBP.

Cross-cultural differences in the management of children and adolescents with diabetes.

PubMed

Greene, A C; Tripaldi, M; Chiarelli, F; McKiernan, P; Morris, A; Newton, R; Greene, S

2002-01-01

Glycaemic control deteriorates frequently in adolescents with diabetes. There is a considerable body of work on the effect of psychological aspects of management in this age group, but few randomized controlled trials of the effect of specific behavioural therapy and lifestyle modification on the improvement of glycaemic control. Of recent interest have been the observations from the Hvidøre Study Group on cross-cultural differences in glycaemic control. The average glycosylated haemoglobin in 22 centres, across 18 countries, varied in young people, with HbA1c levels ranging from 7.6 to 10.2%. No obvious differences in management were identified in this survey that could account for the disparities in glycaemic control. Data from the Scottish Study Group demonstrated similar variation in average glycaemic control in centres across a single culture. Using the qualitative methodology of anthropological research, some specific factors were identified that appear to influence young people's response to diabetes management and strategies employed by health professionals in their advice and care of the diabetes, particularly in relation to intensive insulin regimens. The main cultural factors influencing glycaemic control appear to be communication, reciprocal support between young people and professional heart carers and family structure within an individualistic, as against an egalitarian, society. Shared beliefs about teenage risk behaviour together with the medicalization of adolescence within medical culture also appears to be highly influential. The aim of this educational discussion group was to explore how a variety of health care professionals from distinctive cultures approach diabetes care delivery in this age group. The specific success and difficulties in different cultures in managing the young person with diabetes were investigated. Also discussed was how qualitative research methodology may generate further research in this area. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

[Effect of glutamine on small intestinal repair in weanling rats after chronic diarrhea].

PubMed

Huang, Zu-xiong; Ye, Li-yan; Zheng, Zhi-yong; Chen, Xin-min; Ren, Rong-na; Tong, Guo-yuan

2005-05-01

To investigate the nutrient effect of glutamine on small intestinal repair in weanling rats after chronic diarrhea. Forty 21-day-old wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (8 in each). Animal model of chronic diarrhea was induced by a lactose enriched diet in the weanling Wistar rat, normal control group was fed with a standard semipurified diet, and after 14 days the rats in both groups were killed to test the establishment of the model. After the establishment of the model, the other groups were fed with the standard semipurified diet to recover for 7 days, and were randomly divided into three groups: non-intervention group, glutamine (Gln)-intervention group and control group. Glutamine concentrations in blood was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Morphological changes including villus height and villus surface area of the jejunum were measured under a light microscope and electron microscope, expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) as an index of cell proliferation was observed using immunohistochemical staining and image analysis. The diarrhea rate in model group was 100 percent, average diarrhea index was 1.16 +/- 0.06, but both diarrhea rate and average diarrhea index in control group were 0 (P < 0.01), which affirmed establishment of the model. There was significant decrease of body weight, plasma Gln concentration, villus height, villus surface area and expression of PCNA in non-intervened group compared with the control group (P < 0.01). There was still significant decrease of body weight, villus height and villus surface area in Gln-intervened group compared with control group (P < 0.01), but plasma Gln concentration and expression of PCNA in Gln-intervened group had recovered to normal (P > 0.05). And compared with non-intervened group, except for body weight (P > 0.05), plasma glutamine, villus height, villus surface area and expression of PCNA were all significantly increased in Gln-intervened group. Chronic diarrhea can induce malnutrition and reduce the villus height, villus surface area, expression of PCNA and plasm glutamine concentration. Oral glutamine could improve the proliferation of crypt cell and promote repair of intestinal mucosa after chronic diarrhea.

Effects of a Fibrin Sealant on Skin Graft Tissue Adhesion in a Rodent Model.

PubMed

Balceniuk, Mark D; Wingate, Nicholas A; Krein, Howard; Curry, Joseph; Cognetti, David; Heffelfiner, Ryan; Luginbuhl, Adam

2016-07-01

To establish a rodent model for skin grafting with fibrin glue and examine the effects of fibrin glue on the adhesive strength of skin grafts without bolsters. Animal cohort. Academic hospital laboratory. Three skin grafts were created using a pneumatic microtome on the dorsum of 12 rats. Rats were evenly divided into experimental (n = 6) and control (n = 6) groups. The experimental group received a thin layer of fibrin glue between the graft and wound bed, and the control group was secured with standard bolsters. Adherence strength of the skin graft was tested by measurement of force required to sheer the graft from the recipient wound. Adhesion strength measurements were taken on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 2, and 3. The experimental group required an average force of 719 g on POD1, 895 g on POD2, and 676 g on POD3, while the average force in the control group was 161 g on POD1, 257 g on POD2, and 267 g on POD3. On each of the 3 PODs, there was a significant difference in adherence strength between the experimental and control groups (P = .036, P = .029, P = .024). There is a significant difference in the adhesion strength of skin grafts to the wound bed in the early postoperative period of the 2 groups. In areas of high mobility, using the fibrin sealant can keep the graft immobile during the critical phases of early healing. © American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2016.

Substance abuse may hasten motor onset of Huntington disease: Evaluating the Enroll-HD database.

PubMed

Schultz, Jordan L; Kamholz, John A; Moser, David J; Feely, Shawna M E; Paulsen, Jane S; Nopoulos, Peg C

2017-02-28

To investigate the relationship between substances of abuse and age at motor onset (AMO) in patients with Huntington disease (HD) in a large and diverse patient population. This was a retrospective, observational study of the Enroll-HD database. Participants were determined to belong to 1 of 3 substance abuse groups: (1) tobacco abusers, (2) alcohol abusers, and (3) drug abusers. A group of participants who had never abused substances served as a control group. The average AMO of patients in the substance abuse groups was compared to the control group. The number of CAG repeats was used as a covariate in all analyses. The average difference in AMOs of participants in the tobacco (n = 566), alcohol (n = 374), and drug abuse groups (n = 217) compared to the control group (n = 692) were 2.3 ( F 1, 1,258 = 33.8, p < 0.0001), 1.0 ( F 1, 1,066 = 4.2, p = 0.04), and 3.3 ( F 1, 909 = 29.7, p < 0.0001) years earlier, respectively. In all substance abuse groups, the AMO was lowered to a greater degree in female participants than it was in male participants. Substances of abuse have a strong effect on the AMO in patients with HD. These effects seem to be amplified in women with HD compared to men. These results may provide a safe intervention capable of adding disease-free years to patients with HD. © 2017 American Academy of Neurology.

The impact of a new standard labor protocol on maternal and neonatal outcomes.

PubMed

Wang, Dingran; Ye, Shenglong; Tao, Liyuan; Wang, Yongqing

2017-12-01

To analyze the clinical outcomes following the implementation of a new standard labor procedure. This was a retrospective analysis that included a study group consisting of patients managed based on a new standard labor protocol and a control group comprising patients managed under an old standard labor protocol. The following maternal and perinatal outcomes were compared in the two groups: the indications for a cesarean section and the incidence of cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage, fetal distress, neonatal asphyxia and pediatric intervention. We also compared the average number of days spent in the hospital, the incidence of medical disputes and hospitalization expenses. The cesarean section rates for the study and control groups were 19.29% (401/2079) and 33.53% (753/2246), respectively (P < 0.05). The main indications for a cesarean section in the study group were arrest of the active phase of labor, fetal distress and intrapartum fever; the percentages of each indication were significantly different from those of the control group (P < 0.001). The rates of postpartum hemorrhage in the study group and control group were 7.74% (130/1678) and 8.1% (121/1493), respectively (P = 0.710). The incidence rates of severe perineal lacerations were 0.48% (8/1678) for the study group and 0.2% (3/1493) for the control group (P = 0.187). The rates of forceps use were 4.29% (72/1678) in the study group and 2.41% (36/1493) in the control group (P = 0.004). The incidence rate of fetal distress in the study group was 6.24% (169/2709) and 4.67% (105/2246) (P = 0.006) in the control group. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of neonatal asphyxia and pediatric interventions between the two groups (0.74% (20/2709) vs. 8.12% (220/2709) and 17 (0.76%) vs. 161 (7.17%), respectively). The average length of hospital stay was 4.74 ± 1.15 and 2.13 ± 1.23 days (P < 0.01). The incidence of medical disputes was significantly different between the two groups: 1.44% (30/2079) in the study group and 0.53% (12/2246) in the control group (P < 0.01). The hospitalization expenses were 5401.29 ± 296.33 yuan in the study group and 5253.53 ± 3655.79 yuan in the control group (P = 0.06). The implementation of the new labor protocol reduced the cesarean section rate without negatively impacting maternal and neonatal outcomes. In practice, bed turnover and the hospital utilization rate should be better controlled, patient-doctor communication should be strengthened and the quality of obstetrical service should be improved.

[Case-control study on polymer polylactic acid absorbable medical film for preventing acromion adhesion after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair].

PubMed

Lin, Wei; Xu, Huan; Xing, Hai-Lin; Zheng, Rong-Zong; Ying, Jin-He

2018-03-25

To study effect of shoulder joint function after rotator cuff repair of polylactic acid absorbable membrane. From September 2015 to December 2016, 50 patients diagnosed with rotator cuff tear were selected and divided into treatment group and control group. There were 25 patients in control group, including 12 males and 13 females, with an average age of (48.7±3.5) years old, who received simple arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. There were 25 patients in treatment group, including 11 males and 14 females, with an average age of(49.2±4.1) years old, who performed arthroscopic rotator cuff repair with implanting polylactic acid absorbable membraneon shoulder of rotator cuff. Preoperative and postoperative VAS score, ASES score and UCLA score were recorded and compared between two groups. At 6 months after operation, preoperative VAS score in control group was 5.48±1.12, and decreased as 1.28±0.84 after operation; ASES score before operation was 52.24±4.64, and improved to 86.92±3.20 after operation;preoperative UCLA score improved from 14.36±1.89 before operation to 30.72±1.28 after operation. In treatment group, VAS score decreased from 5.36±1.32 before operation to 1.40±0.71 after operation;preoperative ASES score was 51.04±4.09, and improved to 88.96±2.79 after operation; UCLA score improved from 15.12±1.81 before operation to 32.12±1.33 after operation. There was no significant difference in VAS score between two groups, and ASES score, UCLA score in treatment group was obviously better than control group. Application of polylactic acid absorbable medical membrane could obviously improve shoulder function, and effectively prevent acromion adhesion after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Copyright© 2018 by the China Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology Press.

Academic profile of students who transferred to Zagreb School of Medicine from other medical schools in Croatia.

PubMed

Dusek, Davorka; Dolovcak, Svjetlana; Kljaković-Gaspić, Marko

2004-02-01

To assess the academic performance of students who transferred to the Zagreb School of Medicine from other three medical schools in Croatia. Academic performance of medical students who moved from Rijeka, Osijek, or Split University Medical Schools to the Zagreb University School of Medicine at the second or third year was compared with academic performance of students enrolled at the Zagreb University School of Medicine. Using the Zagreb Medical School's registry, we made a list of 57 transfer students to Zagreb Medical School in the 1985-1994 period. Control group was formed of students enrolled at the Zagreb School of Medicine in the same period, whose names followed in alphabetical order after the names of transfer students. Students' performance was analyzed according to their grade average before transfer, grade average in the first year after transfer, total grade average after transfer, overall grade average, and duration of studies. We also analyzed the proportion of students in each group who did not pass the admission test at the Zagreb School of Medicine in the year before the enrollment in Zagreb, Osijek, Rijeka, and Split Medical Schools. Nineteen transfer students, transferred between 1985 and 1988, and their controls were excluded from the analysis because of incomplete data. Transfer students had significantly lower grade average before transfer (3.2-/+0.6 vs 3.5-/+0.7, p=0.03, Student t-test), lower grade average in the first year after transfer (3.2-/+0.6 vs 3.5-/+0.7, p=0.03), lower total grade average after transfer (3.6-/+0.5 vs 4.0-/+0.6, p<0.001), and lower overall grade average (3.5-/+0.5 vs 3.9-/+0.6, p<0.001) than control students. Median time to graduate for transfer students was 7 years (range, 5-9) and 6 years (range, 5-9) for control students (p=0.375, Mann-Whitney test). There were significantly more students among transfer students who did not pass the admission test at the Zagreb School of Medicine in the year before the final enrollment than their controls (15/38 vs 4/38, p=0.009, chi-square test). Transfer students had poorer academic performance than students who passed the admission test and were enrolled at the Zagreb School of Medicine from the first year of studies.

Prolotherapy for Refractory Rotator Cuff Disease: Retrospective Case-Control Study of 1-Year Follow-Up.

PubMed

Lee, Doo-Hyung; Kwack, Kyu-Sung; Rah, Ueon Woo; Yoon, Seung-Hyun

2015-11-01

To determine the efficacy of prolotherapy for refractory rotator cuff disease. Retrospective case-control study. University-affiliated tertiary care hospital. Patients with nontraumatic refractory rotator cuff disease (N=151) who were unresponsive to 3 months of aggressive conservative treatment. Of the patients, 63 received prolotherapies with 16.5% dextrose 10-ml solution (treatment group), and 63 continued conservative treatment (control group). Not applicable. Visual analog scale (VAS) score of the average shoulder pain level for the past 1 week, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score, isometric strength of the shoulder abductor, active range of motion (AROM) of the shoulder, maximal tear size on ultrasonography, and number of analgesic ingestions per day. Over 1-year follow-up, 57 patients in the treatment group and 53 in the control group were analyzed. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in age, sex, shoulder dominance, duration of symptoms, and ultrasonographic findings at pretreatment. The average number of injections in the treatment group is 4.8±1.3. Compared with the control group, VAS score, SPADI score, isometric strength of shoulder abductor, and shoulder AROM of flexion, abduction, and external rotation showed significant improvement in the treatment group. There were no adverse events. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the efficacy of prolotherapy in rotator cuff disease. Prolotherapy showed improvement in pain, disability, isometric strength, and shoulder AROM in patients with refractory chronic rotator cuff disease. The results suggest positive outcomes, but one should still take caution in directly interpreting it as an effective treatment option, considering the limitations of this nonrandomized retrospective study. To show the efficacy of prolotherapy, further studies on prospective randomized controlled trials will be required. Copyright © 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Is Scientifically Based Reading Instruction Effective for Students with Below-Average IQs?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allor, Jill H.; Mathes, Patricia G.; Roberts, J. Kyle; Cheatham, Jennifer P.; Al Otaiba, Stephanie

2014-01-01

This longitudinal randomized-control trial investigated the effectiveness of scientifically based reading instruction for students with IQs ranging from 40 to 80, including students with intellectual disability (ID). Students were randomly assigned into treatment (n = 76) and contrast (n = 65) groups. Students in the treatment group received…

Modification of Decision-Making Behavior of Third-Year Medical Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Spiegel, Chariklia T.; And Others

1982-01-01

Modification of physician behavior, one approach to controlling health care expenditures, was studied. Students were divided into two groups. The experimental group scored better in their ability to determine diagnoses, make patient-management decisions, and choose essential diagnostic procedures; average charges were half the amount generated by…

Facilitating the analysis of the multifocal electroretinogram using the free software environment R.

PubMed

Bergholz, Richard; Rossel, Mirjam; Dutescu, Ralf M; Vöge, Klaas P; Salchow, Daniel J

2018-01-01

The large amount of data rendered by the multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG) can be analyzed and visualized in various ways. The evaluation and comparison of more than one examination is time-consuming and prone to create errors. Using the free software environment R we developed a solution to average the data of multiple examinations and to allow a comparison of different patient groups. Data of single mfERG recordings as exported in .csv format from a RETIport 21 system (version 7/03, Roland Consult) or manually compiled .csv files are the basis for the calculations. The R software extracts response densities and implicit times of N1 and P1 for the sum response, each ring eccentricity, and each single hexagon. Averages can be calculated for as many subjects as needed. The mentioned parameters can then be compared to another group of patients or healthy subjects. Application of the software is illustrated by comparing 11 patients with chloroquine maculopathy to a control group of 7 healthy subjects. The software scripts display response density and implicit time 3D plots of each examination as well as of the group averages. Differences of the group averages are presented as 3D and grayscale 2D plots. Both groups are compared using the t-test with Bonferroni correction. The group comparison is furthermore illustrated by the average waveforms and by boxplots of each eccentricity. This software solution on the basis of the programming language R facilitates the clinical and scientific use of the mfERG and aids in interpretation and analysis.

Twelve-month drug cost savings related to use of an electronic prescribing system with integrated decision support in primary care.

PubMed

McMullin, S Troy; Lonergan, Thomas P; Rynearson, Charles S

2005-05-01

We reported previously the results of a 6-month controlled trial in which the use of a commercially available electronic prescribing system with integrated clinical decision support and evidence-based message capability was associated with significantly lower primary care drug costs. The original study focused on new prescriptions, defined as claims for a medication that the patient had not received in the previous 12 months. The main objectives of this follow-up report were to (a) determine if the 6-month savings on new prescriptions were sustained during 12 months of follow-up, (b) evaluate the impact of the computerized decision support system (CDSS) on all pharmacy claims and per-member-per-month (PMPM) expenditures, and (c) evaluate the prescribing behaviors within 8 high-cost therapeutic categories that were frequently targeted by the electronic messages to prescribers to help verify that the drug cost savings were due to the recommendations in the electronic prescribing system. Two database queries were performed to identify additional pharmacy claims data for all Network Health Plan patients who were cared for by the 38 primary care clinicians (32 physicians, 4 nurse practitioners, and 2 physician assistants) included in our original 6-month study. This follow-up analysis (a) identified all new prescription claims for the 2 groups of clinicians throughout the 12-month follow-up period (June 2002 through May 2003) and (b) assessed all pharmacy claims during the same 12-month period to provide more complete savings estimates and to examine between-group differences in PMPM expenditures. During 12 months of follow-up, clinicians using the electronic prescribing system continued to have lower prescription costs than the controls. Clinicians using the electronic prescribing system had average costs for 26,674 new prescriptions that were dollar 4.12 lower (95% confidence interval, dollar 1.53-dollar 6.71; P=0.003) and PMPM expenditures that were dollar 0.57 lower than expected based on the changes observed for 24,507 new prescriptions written by clinicians in the control group. The average drug cost savings on new prescriptions were dollar 482 per prescriber per month (PPPM), based upon prescription cost and dollar 465 PPPM based upon PMPM analysis. When all pharmacy claims (156,429) were analyzed, the intervention group.s average prescription cost was dollar 2.57 lower and their PMPM expenditures were dollar 1.07 lower than expected based on the changes observed in the control group. The average drug cost savings on all pharmacy claims were dollar 863 PPPM based on average prescription cost and dollar 873 PPPM based on PMPM analysis. The proportion of prescriptions for highcost drugs that were the target of the CDSS messages to prescribers was a relative 17.5% lower among the intervention group (35.8%) compared with the control group (43.4%; P=0.03). An electronic prescribing system with integrated decision support shifted prescribing behavior away from high-cost therapies and significantly lowered prescription drug costs. The savings associated with altered prescribing behavior offset the monthly subscription cost of the system.

77 FR 4287 - Notice of Proposed Information Collection Requests

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-27

... other will not have experienced the feature (``control''). Average test scores of the two groups will... Promising Features of Teacher Preparation Programs; Phase 1--Recruitment. OMB Control Number: 1850-NEW... baseline student achievement test for an experimental study of the effect on student learning of teachers...

Rib fracture fixation in the 65 years and older population: A paradigm shift in management strategy at a Level I trauma center.

PubMed

Fitzgerald, Michael T; Ashley, Dennis W; Abukhdeir, Hesham; Christie, D Benjamin

2017-03-01

Rib fractures after chest wall trauma are a common injury; however, they carry a significant morbidity and mortality risk. The impact of rib fractures in the 65-year and older patient population has been well documented as have the mortality and pneumonia rates. We hypothesize that patients 65 years and older receiving rib plating (RP) have decreased mortality, complication rates, and an accelerated return to normal functional states when compared with controls. With institutional review board approval, a retrospective review analyzed patients 65 years and older with rib fractures admitted from 2009 to 2015 receiving RP (RP group) (n = 23) compared to nonoperative, injury-matched controls admitted from 2003 to 2008 (NO group) (n = 50). Patients were followed prospectively with regard to lifestyle and functional satisfaction. Independent variables analyzed included Injury Severity Score (ISS), number of rib fractures, mortalities, hospital days, intensive care unit days, pneumonia development, respiratory complications, readmission rates, need for and length of rehabilitation stay time. Comparisons were by χ tests/Fisher's exact tests, Student's t tests and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. From 2003 to 2008, 50 NO patients were admitted with ages ranging 65 to 97 years, average ISS of 18.47 (14.28-22.66) versus ages ranging from 63 to 89 years, average ISS of 20.71 (15.7-25.73) for the RP group (n = 23). Average hospital days were 16.76 (10.35-23.18) and 18.36 (13.61-23.11) in the NO and RP groups, respectively. Average intensive care unit days were 11.65 (6.45-16.85) and 8.29 (5.31-11.26) days in the NO and RP groups, respectively. Four respiratory readmissions, two deaths, seven pneumonias, seven pleural-effusions, and 19 recurrent pneumothoraces were encountered in the NO group versus 0 in the RP group (p < 0.001). An equal percentage of patients in both groups entered rehabilitation facilities with average stay time of 18.5 and 28.53 days for the RP and NO groups, respectively. RP in the 65-year and older trauma population demonstrates a measurable decrease in mortality and respiratory complications, improves respiratory mechanics, and permits an accelerated return to functioning state. Therapeutic/care management study, level IV.

40 CFR 63.10009 - May I use emissions averaging to comply with this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... performance test must not be less than the design efficiency of the emissions control technology employed 180... properties, belonging to a single major industrial grouping, which are under common control of the same person (or persons under common control); and (ii) You use CEMS (or sorbent trap monitoring systems for...

40 CFR 63.10009 - May I use emissions averaging to comply with this subpart?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... performance test must not be less than the design efficiency of the emissions control technology employed 180... properties, belonging to a single major industrial grouping, which are under common control of the same person (or persons under common control); and (ii) You use CEMS (or sorbent trap monitoring systems for...

Average of delta: a new quality control tool for clinical laboratories.

PubMed

Jones, Graham R D

2016-01-01

Average of normals is a tool used to control assay performance using the average of a series of results from patients' samples. Delta checking is a process of identifying errors in individual patient results by reviewing the difference from previous results of the same patient. This paper introduces a novel alternate approach, average of delta, which combines these concepts to use the average of a number of sequential delta values to identify changes in assay performance. Models for average of delta and average of normals were developed in a spreadsheet application. The model assessed the expected scatter of average of delta and average of normals functions and the effect of assay bias for different values of analytical imprecision and within- and between-subject biological variation and the number of samples included in the calculations. The final assessment was the number of patients' samples required to identify an added bias with 90% certainty. The model demonstrated that with larger numbers of delta values, the average of delta function was tighter (lower coefficient of variation). The optimal number of samples for bias detection with average of delta was likely to be between 5 and 20 for most settings and that average of delta outperformed average of normals when the within-subject biological variation was small relative to the between-subject variation. Average of delta provides a possible additional assay quality control tool which theoretical modelling predicts may be more valuable than average of normals for analytes where the group biological variation is wide compared with within-subject variation and where there is a high rate of repeat testing in the laboratory patient population. © The Author(s) 2015.

GROUP COUNSELING FOR GIFTED UNDERACHIEVING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SEQUOIA HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

FINNEY, BEN C.; VAN DALSEM, ELIZABETH L.

BECAUSE OF THE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE UNDERACHIEVER, IT WAS SOUGHT TO DETERMINE WHETHER GROUP COUNSELING ON A LONG-TERM BASIS WOULD HAVE ANY POSITIVE EFFECT. STUDENTS CHOSEN WERE IN THE TOP 25 PERCENT IN APTITUDE, WITH GRADE AVERAGES CONSIDERABLY BELOW THE MEAN. A CONTROL AND AN EXPERIMENTAL GROUP WERE CHOSEN. IT WAS…

Effects of Functional Fascial Taping on pain and function in patients with non-specific low back pain: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Chen, Shu-Mei; Alexander, Ron; Lo, Sing Kai; Cook, Jill

2012-10-01

To compare the short-term and medium-term effect of Functional Fascial Taping to placebo taping on pain and function in people with non-specific low back pain. A pilot randomized controlled trial with a 2-week intervention, and 2-, 6- and 12-week follow-up. Individuals with non-specific low back pain recruited from local communities. Forty-three participants with non-specific low back pain for more than 6 weeks were randomized into either Functional Fascial Taping group (n = 21) or placebo group (n = 22). The intervention group was treated with Functional Fascial Taping while the control group was treated with placebo taping. Both groups received four treatments over 2 weeks. Worst and average pain and function were assessed at baseline, after the 2-week intervention, and at 6 and 12 weeks follow-up. The Functional Fascial Taping group demonstrated significantly greater reduction in worst pain compared to placebo group after the 2-week intervention (P = 0.02, effect size = 0.74; 95% confidence interval 0.11-1.34). A higher proportion of participants in Functional Fascial Taping group attained the minimal clinically important difference in worst pain (P = 0.007) and function (P = 0.007) than those in placebo group after the 2-week intervention. There were no significant differences in either group's disability rating or clinically important difference in average pain at any time. Functional Fascial Taping reduced worst pain in patients with non-acute non-specific low back pain during the treatment phase. No medium-term differences in pain or function were observed.

Recipient-Matching of Passenger Leukocytes Prolongs Survival of Donor Lung Allografts in Miniature Swine

PubMed Central

Madariaga, Maria Lucia L.; Michel, Sebastian G.; La Muraglia, Glenn M.; Sihag, Smita; Leonard, David A.; Farkash, Evan A.; Colvin, Robert B.; Cetrulo, Curtis L.; Huang, Christene A.; Sachs, David H.; Madsen, Joren C.; Allan, James S.

2014-01-01

Background Allograft rejection continues to be a vexing problem in clinical lung transplantation, and the role played by passenger leukocytes in the rejection or acceptance of an organ is unclear. Here we tested whether recipient-matching of donor graft passenger leukocytes would impact graft survival in a preclinical model of orthotopic left lung transplantation. Methods In the experimental group (Group 1), donor lungs were obtained from chimeric swine, in which the passenger leukocytes (but not the parenchyma) were MHC-matched to the recipients (n=3). In the control group (Group 2), both the donor parenchyma and the passenger leukocytes were MHC-mismatched to the recipients (n = 3). Results Lungs harvested from swine previously rendered chimeric by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using recipient-type cells showed a high degree of passenger leukocyte chimerism by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The chimeric lungs containing passenger leukocytes matched to the lung recipient (Group 1) survived on average 107 days (range 80–156). Control lung allografts (Group 2) survived on average 45 days (range 29–64; p<0.05). Conclusion Our data indicate that recipient-matching of passenger leukocytes significantly prolongs lung allograft survival. PMID:25757217

Effects of an exercise and scheduled-toileting intervention on appetite and constipation in nursing home residents.

PubMed

Simmons, S F; Schnelle, J F

2004-01-01

To evaluate the effects of an exercise and scheduled-toileting intervention on appetite and constipation in nursing home (NH) residents. A controlled, clinical intervention trial with 89 residents in two NHs. Research staff provided exercise and toileting assistance every two hours, four times per day, five days a week for 32 weeks. Oral food and fluid consumption during meals was measured at baseline, eight and 32 weeks. Bowel movement frequency was measured at baseline and 32 weeks. The intervention group showed significant improvements or maintenance across all measures of daily physical activity, functional performance, and strength compared to the control group. Participants in both groups consumed an average of approximately 55% of meals at all three time points (approximately 1100 calories/day) with no change over time in either group. There was also no change in the frequency of bowel movements in either group, which averaged less than one in two days for both groups; and, approximately one-half of all participants had no bowel movement in two days. An exercise and scheduled-toileting intervention alone is not sufficient to improve oral food and fluid consumption during meals and bowel movement frequency in NH residents.

Fanconi anemia: correlating central nervous system malformations and genetic complementation groups.

PubMed

Johnson-Tesch, Benjamin A; Gawande, Rakhee S; Zhang, Lei; MacMillan, Margaret L; Nascene, David R

2017-06-01

Congenital central nervous system abnormalities in children with Fanconi anemia are poorly characterized, especially with regard to specific genetic complementation groups. To characterize the impact of genetic complementation groups on central nervous system anatomy. Through chart review we identified 36 patients with Fanconi anemia with available brain MRIs at the University of Minnesota (average age, 11.3 years; range, 1-43 years; M:F=19:17), which we reviewed and compared to 19 age- and sex-matched controls (average age, 7.9 years; range, 2-18 years; M:F=9:10). Genotypic information was available for 27 patients (15 FA-A, 2 FA-C, 3 FA-G, and 7 FA-D1 [biallelic mutations in BRCA2 gene]). Of the 36 patients, 61% had at least one congenital central nervous system or skull base abnormality. These included hypoplastic clivus (n=12), hypoplastic adenohypophysis (n=11), platybasia (n=8), pontocerebellar hypoplasia (n=7), isolated pontine hypoplasia (n=4), isolated vermis hypoplasia (n=3), and ectopic neurohypophysis (n=6). Average pituitary volume was significantly less in patients with Fanconi anemia (P<0.0001) than in controls. Basal angle was significantly greater in Fanconi anemia patients (P=0.006), but the basal angle of those with FA-D1 was not significantly different from controls (P=0.239). Clivus length was less in the Fanconi anemia group (P=0.002), but significance was only observed in the FA-D1 subgroup (P<0.0001). Of the seven patients meeting criteria for pontocerebellar hypoplasia, six belonged to the FA-D1 group. Patients with Fanconi anemia have higher incidences of ectopic neurohypophysis, adenohypophysis hypoplasia, platybasia and other midline central nervous system skull base posterior fossa abnormalities than age- and sex-matched controls. Patients with posterior fossa abnormalities, including pontocerebellar hypoplasia, are more likely to have biallelic BRCA2 mutations.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation and Pain Perception in Abdominal Surgery Patients

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-05-01

Twenty-one females were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: dental splint and physiotherapy , a relaxation program, or a minimal...overall treatment effect was average weekly frequency of pain (F = 5.25, p < .05). The relaxation and dental physiotherapy groups reported lower pain...significantly less pain intensity than the control group (TENS), while the dental/ physiotherapy group reported significantly less frequency of pain than

NUCLEAR REACTOR AS THE OBJECT OF CONTROL. AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT ENGINES . B.S. Voronkev Collection of Articles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

BS> The dynamics of a power reactor is treated in some detail. Although the reactor is described by a nonlinear differential equation of the seventh order, a two-group approximstion with prompt neutrons and one averaged group of delayed neutrons may be used. When the reactor is in equilibrium, the reactor equation may be linearized in two ways. The effects of positive and negative coefficients of tins of the reactor are discussed. The nonlinear character of the control rods is trested. (D.L.C.)

A Randomized Controlled Study of an Insulin Dosing Application That Uses Recognition and Meal Bolus Estimations

PubMed Central

Pańkowska, Ewa; Ładyżyński, Piotr; Foltyński, Piotr; Mazurczak, Karolina

2016-01-01

Background: Throughout the insulin pump therapy, decisions of prandial boluses programming are taken by patients individually a few times every day, and, moreover, this complex process requires numerical skills and knowledge in nutrition components estimation. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of the expert system, supporting the patient’s decision on meal bolus programming, on the time in range of diurnal glucose excursion in patients treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Methods: The crossover, randomized study included 12 adults, aged 19 to 53, with type 1 diabetes mellitus, duration ranging from 7 to 30 years. Patients were educated in complex food counting, including carbohydrate units (CU) and fat-protein units (FPU). Subsequently, they were randomly allocated to the experimental group (A), which used the expert software named VoiceDiab, and the control group (B), using a manual method of meal-bolus estimation. Results: It was found that 66.7% of patients within the A group statistically reported a relevant increase in the percentage (%) of sensor glucose (SG) in range (TIR 70-180 mg/dl), compared to the B group. TIR (median) reached 53.9% in the experimental group (A) versus 44% within the control group (B), P < .05. The average difference in the number of hypoglycemia episodes was not statistically significant (–0.2%, SD 11.6%, P = .93). The daily insulin requirement in both groups was comparable—the average difference in total daily insulin dose between two groups was 0.26 (SD 7.06 IU, P = .9). Conclusion: The expert system in meal insulin dosing allows improvement in glucose control without increasing the rates of hypoglycemia or the insulin requirement. PMID:28264177

Laryngeal findings and acoustic changes in hubble-bubble smokers.

PubMed

Hamdan, Abdul-latif; Sibai, Abla; Oubari, Dima; Ashkar, Jihad; Fuleihan, Nabil

2010-10-01

The purpose of our investigation was to evaluate the laryngeal findings and acoustic changes in hubble-bubble smokers. A total of 42 subjects with history of hubble-bubble smoking were recruited for this study. A corresponding group with a history of cigarette smoking and controls were matched. All subjects underwent laryngeal video-endostroboscopic evaluation and acoustic analysis. In the hubble-bubble smoking group, 61.9% were males. The average age was 30.02 +/- 9.48 years and the average number of years of smoking was 8.09 +/- 6.45 years. Three subjects had dysphonia at the time of examination. The incidence of benign lesions of the vocal folds in the hubble-bubble group was 21.5%, with edema being the most common at 16.7% followed by cyst at 4.8%. The incidence of laryngeal findings was significantly higher in the hubble-bubble group compared to controls. In the cigarette-smoking group, the most common finding was vocal fold cyst in 14.8% followed by polyps in 7.4%, and edema, sulcus vocalis and granuloma. These findings were not significantly different from the hubble-bubble group except for the thick mucus, which was significantly higher in the latter. There were no significant changes in any of the acoustic parameters between hubble-bubble smokers and controls except for the VTI and MPT, which were significantly lower in the hubble-bubble group. In comparison with the cigarette-smoking group, hubble-bubble smokers had significantly higher Fundamental frequency and habitual pitch (p value 0.042 and 0.008, respectively). The laryngeal findings in hubble-bubble smokers are comparable to cigarette smokers. These laryngeal findings are not translated acoustically, as all the acoustic parameters are within normal range compared to controls.

The effect of graded activity on patients with subacute low back pain: a randomized prospective clinical study with an operant-conditioning behavioral approach.

PubMed

Lindström, I; Ohlund, C; Eek, C; Wallin, L; Peterson, L E; Fordyce, W E; Nachemson, A L

1992-04-01

The aim of this study was to determine whether graded activity restored occupational function in industrial blue-collar workers who were sick-listed for 8 weeks because of subacute, nonspecific, mechanical low back pain (LBP). Patients with LBP, who had been examined by an orthopedic surgeon and a social worker, were randomly assigned to either an activity group (n = 51) or a control group (n = 52). Patients with defined orthopedic, medical, or psychiatric diagnoses were excluded before randomization. The graded activity program consisted of four parts: (1) measurements of functional capacity; (2) a work-place visit; (3) back school education; and (4) an individual, submaximal, gradually increased exercise program, with an operant-conditioning behavioral approach, based on the results of the tests and the demands of the patient's work. Records of the amount of sick leave taken over a 3-year period (ie, the 1-year periods before, during, and after intervention) were obtained from each patient's Social Insurance Office. The patients in the activity group returned to work significantly earlier than did the patients in the control group. The median number of physical therapist appointments before return to work was 5, and the average number of appointments was 10.7 (SD = 12.3). The average duration of sick leave attributable to LBP during the second follow-up year was 12.1 weeks (SD = 18.4) in the activity group and 19.6 weeks (SD = 20.7) in the control group. Four patients in the control group and 1 patient in the activity group received permanent disability pensions. The graded activity program made the patients occupationally functional again, as measured by return to work and significantly reduced long-term sick leave.

Pilates-based therapeutic exercise: effect on subjects with nonspecific chronic low back pain and functional disability: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Rydeard, Rochenda; Leger, Andrew; Smith, Drew

2006-07-01

A randomized controlled trial, prestest-posttest design, with a 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up. To investigate the efficacy of a therapeutic exercise approach in a population with chronic low back pain (LBP). Therapeutic approaches developed from the Pilates method are becoming increasingly popular; however, there have been no reports on their efficacy. Thirty-nine physically active subjects between 20 and 55 years old with chronic LBP were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. The specific-exercise-training group participated in a 4-week program consisting of training on specialized (Pilates) exercise equipment, while the control group received the usual care, defined as consultation with a physician and other specialists and healthcare professionals, as necessary. Treatment sessions were designed to train the activation of specific muscles thought to stabilize the lumbar-pelvic region. Functional disability outcomes were measured with The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMQ/RMDQ-HK) and average pain intensity using a 101-point numerical rating scale. There was a significantly lower level of functional disability (P = .023) and average pain intensity (P = .002) in the specific-exercise-training group than in the control group following the treatment intervention period. The posttest adjusted mean in functional disability level in the specific-exercise-training group was 2.0 (95% CI, 1.3 to 2.7) RMQ/RMDQ-HK points compared to a posttest adjusted mean in the control group of 3.2 (95% CI, 2.5 to 4.0) RMQ/RMDQ-HK points. The posttest adjusted mean in pain intensity in the specific-exercise-training group was 18.3 (95% CI, 11.8 to 24.8), as compared to 33.9 (95% CI, 26.9 to 41.0) in the control group. Improved disability scores in the specific-exercise-training group were maintained for up to 12 months following treatment intervention. The individuals in the specific-exercise-training group reported a significant decrease in LBP and disability, which was maintained over a 12-month follow-up period. Treatment with a modified Pilates-based approach was more efficacious than usual care in a population with chronic, unresolved LBP.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dagle, G.E.; Weller, R.E.; Watson, C.R.

The life-span biological effects of inhaled soluble, alpha-emitting radionuclides deposited in the skeleton and liver were studied in 5 groups of 20 beagles exposed to initial lung depositions ranging from 0.48 to 518 Bq/g of lung. Average plutonium amounts in the lungs decreased to approximately 1% of the final body deposition in dogs surviving 5 years or more; more than 90% of the final depositions accumulated in the liver and skeleton. The liver-to-skeletal ratio of deposited plutonium was 0.83. The incidence of bone tumors, primarily osteogenic sarcomas causing early mortality, at final group average skeletal depositions of 15.8, 2.1, andmore » 0.5 Bq/g was, respectively, 85%, 50%, and 5%; there were no bone tumors in exposure groups with mean average depositions lower than 0.5 Bq/g. Elevated serum liver enzyme levels were observed in exposure groups down to 1.3 Bq/g. The incidence of liver tumors at final group average liver depositions of 6.9, 1.3, 0.2, and 0.1 Bq/g, was, respectively, 25%, 15%, 15%, and 15%; one hepatoma occurred among 40 control dogs. The risk of the liver cancer produced by inhaled plutonium nitrate was difficult to assess due to the competing risks of life shortening from lung and bone tumors.« less

Multi-Axis Prosthetic Knee Resembles Alpine Skiing Movements of an Intact Leg

PubMed Central

Demšar, Ivan; Duhovnik, Jože; Lešnik, Blaž; Supej, Matej

2015-01-01

The purpose of the study was to analyse the flexion angles of the ski boot, ankle and knee joints of an above-knee prosthesis and to compare them with an intact leg and a control group of skiers. One subject with an above-knee amputation of the right leg and eight healthy subjects simulated the movement of a skiing turn by performing two-leg squats in laboratory conditions. By adding additional loads in proportion to body weight (BW; +1/3 BW, +2/3 BW, +3/3 BW), various skiing regimes were simulated. Change of Flexion Angle (CoFA) and Range of Motion (RoM) in the ski boot, ankle and knee joints were calculated and compared. An average RoM in the skiing boot on the side of prosthesis (4.4 ± 1.1°) was significantly lower compared to an intact leg (5.9 ± 1.8°) and the control group (6.5 ± 2.3°). In the ankle joint, the average RoM was determined to be 13.2±2.9° in the prosthesis, 12.7 ± 2.8° in an intact leg and 14.8±3.6 in the control group. However, the RoM of the knee joint in the prosthesis (42.2 ± 4.2°) was significantly larger than that of the intact leg (34.7 ± 4.4°). The average RoM of the knee joint in the control group was 47.8 ± 5.4°. The influences of additional loads on the kinematics of the lower extremities were different on the side of the prosthesis and on the intact leg. In contrast, additional loads did not produce any significant differences in the control group. Although different CoFAs in the ski boot, ankle and knee joints were used, an above-knee prosthesis with a built-in multi-axis prosthetic knee enables comparable leg kinematics in simulated alpine skiing. Key points The RoM in the ski boot on the side of the prosthetic leg was smaller than the RoM of the intact leg and the control group of healthy subjects. The RoM in the ankle joint of prosthetic leg was comparable to that of the intact leg and the control group of healthy subjects. The RoM in the prosthetic knee joint was greater than the RoM in the knee joint of the intact leg and smaller than that of the control group. The total knee flexions in the laboratory measurements were comparable with field measurements. Additional load affects the RoM of the ski boot, ankle and knee joints for the amputated skier in both legs. No significant influence from the additional load was found on the RoM in the control group of healthy subjects. The above-knee prosthesis with a multiple-axis prosthetic knee reproduces the alpine skiing kinematics of an intact leg. PMID:26664282

40 CFR 63.653 - Monitoring, recordkeeping, and implementation plan for emissions averaging.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... § 63.120 of subpart G; and (ii) For closed vent systems with control devices, conduct an initial design..., monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting equivalent to that required for Group 1 emission points complying... control device. (2) The source shall implement the following procedures for each miscellaneous process...

Hypouricemic and arthritis relapse-reducing effects of compound tufuling oral-liquid in intercritical and chronic gout

PubMed Central

Xie, Zhijun; Wu, Huaxiang; Jing, Xiaoqing; Li, Xiuyang; Li, Yasong; Han, Yongmei; Gao, Xiangfu; Tang, Xiaopo; Sun, Jing; Fan, Yongshen; Wen, Chengping

2017-01-01

Abstract Trial Design: In the double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we aimed to evaluate the effects of compound tufuling oral liquid (CoTOL) on serum uric acid (sUA) levels and recurrence of acute gouty arthritis in intercritical and chronic gout treatment. Methods: A total of 210 patients with gout were screened from 8 hospitals to observe the sUA and acute gouty arthritis recurrence rate-reducing effects of CoTOL in intercritical and chronic gout during a 12-week treatment. We treated 139 and 71 patients with CoTOL and the placebo, respectively, and evaluated their sUA levels, acute gouty arthritis recurrence rate, and adverse events at week 0, 6, and 12. Results: Twenty-five and 12 patients in the treatment and control groups, respectively, had interrupted treatments, whereas 114 and 59 cases, respectively, completed their treatments. At the end of the 12-week treatment, the average decrease in sUA was 74.26 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 56.74–91.77 μmol/L) and 28.81 μmol/L (95% CI: 4.91–52.71 μmol/L) in the treatment and control groups, respectively (P = 0.004). The average decrease rate of sUA was 12.76% (95% CI: 9.82%–15.70%) and 4.57% (95% CI: 0.42%–8.71%) in the treatment and control groups, respectively (P = 0.004), and the gouty arthritis recurrence rate of the treatment group was lower than that of the control group (from week 6 to 12, 21.93% and 50.88% in the treatment and control group, respectively, P < 0.001; from baseline to week 12, 38.5% and 63.16%, respectively, P = 0.003). Severe adverse events were not observed in either groups, and fewer leucopenia incidences were observed in the treatment group than those in the control group (3/139 vs. 7/71, respectively, P = 0.033). Conclusion: CoTOL reduced sUA levels and effectively prevented acute arthritis recurrence in intercritical and chronic gout without serious adverse events. PMID:28296744

Effects of Social Network Exposure on Nutritional Learning: Development of an Online Educational Platform.

PubMed

Dagan, Noa; Beskin, Daniel; Brezis, Mayer; Reis, Ben Y

2015-10-05

Social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook have the potential to enhance online public health interventions, in part, as they provide social exposure and reinforcement. The objective of the study was to evaluate whether social exposure provided by SNSs enhances the effects of online public health interventions. As a sample intervention, we developed Food Hero, an online platform for nutritional education in which players feed a virtual character according to their own nutritional needs and complete a set of virtual sport challenges. The platform was developed in 2 versions: a "private version" in which a user can see only his or her own score, and a "social version" in which a user can see other players' scores, including preexisting Facebook friends. We assessed changes in participants' nutritional knowledge using 4 quiz scores and 3 menu-assembly scores. Monitoring feeding and exercising attempts assessed engagement with the platform. The 2 versions of the platform were randomly assigned between a study group (30 members receiving the social version) and a control group (33 members, private version). The study group's performance on the quizzes gradually increased over time, relative to that of the control group, becoming significantly higher by the fourth quiz (P=.02). Furthermore, the study group's menu-assembly scores improved over time compared to the first score, whereas the control group's performance deteriorated. Study group members spent an average of 3:40 minutes assembling each menu compared to 2:50 minutes in the control group, and performed an average of 1.58 daily sport challenges, compared to 1.21 in the control group (P=.03). This work focused on isolating the SNSs' social effects in order to help guide future online interventions. Our results indicate that the social exposure provided by SNSs is associated with increased engagement and learning in an online nutritional educational platform.

Conflict control of children with different intellectual levels: an ERP study.

PubMed

Liu, Tongran; Xiao, Tong; Shi, Jiannong; Zhao, Daheng; Liu, Jizhong

2011-02-25

Conflict control is an important cognitive ability in human behavioral regulation. The Eriksen flanker task was employed to explore the neural correlation between conflict control and intelligence with the aid of event-related potential (ERP) techniques. Two groups of early adolescents with different intellectual levels participated in the current study (an intellectually gifted group of 20 children vs. an intellectually average group of 21 children, with mean scores of 43 vs. 35.7 in Cattell's Culture Fair Test, respectively). Behavioral results indicate that the gifted children had better conflict control performances, with increased accuracy and faster response speeds than the intellectually average children. Electrophysiological results further show that the gifted children had more efficient N2 activations during conflict monitoring processing, faster P3 responses over frontal regions, and stronger P3 activations over central-parietal regions during attentional control processing. The difference waveform analysis showed that the gifted children had the weakest N2d activations when elicited by multiple conflicts. N2d amplitudes can be used to distinguish a stimulus conflict from a response conflict, and P3d amplitudes can be used to separate multiple conflicts from a single conflict. The results support the neural efficiency hypothesis of intelligence and shed light on the close relationship between conflict control ability and human intelligence. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Economic consequences of improved temperature forecasts: An experiment with the Florida citrus growers (an update of control group results)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Braen, C.

1978-01-01

The economic experiment, the results obtained to date and the work which still remains to be done are summarized. Specifically, the experiment design is described in detail as are the developed data collection methodology and procedures, sampling plan, data reduction techniques, cost and loss models, establishment of frost severity measures, data obtained from citrus growers, National Weather Service and Federal Crop Insurance Corp. Resulting protection costs and crop losses for the control group sample, extrapolation of results of control group to the Florida citrus industry and the method for normalization of these results to a normal or average frost season so that results may be compared with anticipated similar results from test group measurements are discussed.

Rat gestation during space flight: outcomes for dams and their offspring born after return to Earth.

PubMed

Wong, A M; DeSantis, M

1997-01-01

Sprague-Dawley rats were studied to learn whether gestation in the near-zero gravity, high radiation environment of space impacts selected mammalian postnatal events. Ten rats spent days nine to twenty of pregnancy aboard the space shuttle orbiter Atlantis (STS-66). Their movement was studied shortly after return to Earth; subsequently, several of their offspring were cross-fostered and examined through postnatal day 81 (P81) for whole body growth and somatic motor development. Values for the flight animals were compared to ground-based control groups. Relative to controls, the pregnant flight rats showed a marked paucity of locomotion during the first few hours after returning to Earth. There was greater likelihood of perinatal morbidity for the offspring of flight dams when compared to the control groups. Whole body weight of surviving offspring, averaged for each group separately, showed typical sigmoidal growth curves when plotted against postnatal age. The flight group for our study had a larger ratio of female to male pups, and that was sufficient to account for the lower average daily weight gained by the flight animals when compared to the control groups. Walking was universally achieved by P13 and preceded eye opening, which was complete in all pups by P17. Thus, both of these developmental horizons were attained on schedule in the flight as well as the control rats. Characteristic changes were observed in hind limb step length and gait width as the pups grew. These patterns occurred at the same time in each group of rats. Therefore, prenatal space flight from days nine to twenty of gestation did not interfere with the establishment of normal patterns for hind paw placement during walking.

Rat Gestation During Space Flight: Outcomes for Dams and Their Offspring Born After Return to Earth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wong, Andre M.; DeSantis, Mark

1997-01-01

Sprague-Dawley rats were studied to learn whether gestation in the near-zero gravity, high radiation environment of space impacts selected mammalian postnatal events. Ten rats spent days nine to twenty of pregnancy aboard the space shuttle orbiter Atlantis (STS-66). Their movement was studied shortly after return to Earth; subsequently, several of their offspring were cross-fostered and examined through postnatal day 81 (P81) for whole body growth and somatic motor development. Values for the flight animals were compared to ground-based control groups. Relative to controls, the pregnant flight rats showed a marked paucity of locomotion during the first few hours after returning to Earth. There was greater likelihood of perinatal morbidity for the offspring of flight dams when compared to the control groups. Whole body weight of surviving offspring, averaged for each group separately, showed typical sigmoidal growth curves when plotted against postnatal age. The flight group for our study had a larger ratio of female to male pups, and that was sufficient to account for the lower average daily weight gained by the flight animals when compared to the control groups. Walking was universally achieved by P13 and preceded eye opening, which was complete in all pups by P17. Thus, both of these developmental horizons were attained on schedule in the flight as well as the control rats. Characteristic changes were observed in hind limb step length and gait width as the pups grew. These patterns occurred at the same time in each group of rats. Therefore, prenatal space flight from days nine to twenty of gestation did not interfere with the establishment of normal patterns for hind paw placement during walking.

A cost-utility analysis of nursing intervention via telephone follow-up for injured road users

PubMed Central

Franzén, Carin; Björnstig, Ulf; Brulin, Christine; Lindholm, Lars

2009-01-01

Background Traffic injuries can cause physical, psychological, and economical impairment, and affected individuals may also experience shortcomings in their post-accident care and treatment. In an earlier randomised controlled study of nursing intervention via telephone follow-up, self-ratings of health-related quality of life were generally higher in the intervention group than in the control group. Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of nursing intervention via telephone follow-up by examining costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Methods A randomised controlled study was conducted between April 2003 and April 2005. Car occupants, cyclists, and pedestrians aged between 18 and 70 years and attending the Emergency Department of Umeå University Hospital in Sweden after an injury event in the traffic environment were randomly assigned to an intervention (n = 288) or control group (n = 280). The intervention group received routine care supplemented by nursing via telephone follow-up during half a year, while the control group received routine care only. Data were collected from a mail survey using the non-disease-specific health-related quality of life instrument EQ5D, and a cost-effectiveness analysis was performed including the costs of the intervention and the QALYs gained. Results Overall, the intervention group gained 2.60 QALYs (260 individuals with an average gain of 0.01 QALYs). The car occupants gained 1.54 QALYs (76 individuals, average of 0.02). Thus, the cost per QALY gained was 16 000 Swedish Crown (SEK) overall and 8 500 SEK for car occupants. Conclusion Nursing intervention by telephone follow-up after an injury event, is a cost effective method giving improved QALY to a very low cost, especially for those with minor injuries. Trial registration This trial registration number is: ISRCTN11746866. PMID:19515265

Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: A randomized controlled pilot study

PubMed Central

Morone, Natalia E.; Greco, Carol M.; Weiner, Debra K.

2008-01-01

The objectives of this pilot study were to assess the feasibility of recruitment and adherence to an eight-session mindfulness meditation program for community-dwelling older adults with chronic low back pain (CLBP) and to develop initial estimates of treatment effects. It was designed as a randomized, controlled clinical trial. Participants were 37 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and older with CLBP of moderate intensity occurring daily or almost every day. Participants were randomized to an 8-week mindfulness-based meditation program or to a wait-list control group. Baseline, 8-week and 3-month follow-up measures of pain, physical function, attention, and quality of life were assessed. Eighty-nine older adults were screened and 37 found to be eligible and randomized within a 6-month period. The mean age of the sample was 74.9 years, 21/37 (57%) of participants were female and 33/37 (89%) were white. At the end of the intervention 30/37 (81%) participants completed 8-week assessments. Average class attendance of the intervention arm was 6.7 out of 8. They meditated an average of 4.3 days a week and the average minutes per day was 31.6. Compared to the control group, the intervention group displayed significant improvement in the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire Total Score and Activities Engagement subscale (P = .008, P = .004) and SF-36 Physical Function (P = .03). An 8-week mindfulness-based meditation program is feasible for older adults with CLBP. The program may lead to improvement in pain acceptance and physical function. PMID:17544212

[Impact of streptozotocininduced hyperglycemia on anxiety level and physical fatigue of Wistar rats].

PubMed

Sidorova, Yu S; Shipelin, V A; Zorin, S N; Mazo, V K; Petrov, N A; Kochetkova, A A

2015-01-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate type 2 diabetes medicamental biomodel in 70-days experiment. Control group animals were provided with water ad libitum throughout the experiment, experimental group animals for the first two weeks were provided with 20% solution of fructose ad libitum instead of water. On the 15th day, experimental group animals (average body weight 257±8 g) were injected abdominally with streptozotocin (STZ) in dosage 40 mg/kg of body weight. For the next three weeks on the 22nd, 28th and 36th days, glucose level in blood taken from the tail vein was measured using portable electrochemical glucometer. On the 37th day animals with blood glucose level 11.0 mmol/L or higher were included in experimental group for further research. On the 44th and 60th day control measurements of glucose level were conducted. On the 70th day animals were taken out of experiment by decapitation under ether anesthesia. The concentration of glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, triglycerides, cholesterine, HLD and LDL were measured in blood serum. Additionally anxiety level of animals was evaluated before and after STZ injection using Elevated plusmaze. The comparison of physical fatigue of control and experimental groups was performed using treadmill. On the 37th day blood glucose concentration of control group animals was 6.6±0.4 mmol/L. 33% of animals (13 of 40) with glucose level 11.0 mmol/L or higher formed the experimental group (average glucose level 16.2±1.3 mmol/L), other 27 rats had normal glucose level. The anxiety level of diabetic rats was higher than in control group. Diabetic rats showed significantly lower physical fatigue than control rats. On the 44th and 60th day of experiment glucose level in experimental rats from group 2 (15.5±1.4 и 14.8±1.2 mmol/L) was significantly higher than of control animals (7.0±0.5 и 6.8±0.3 mmol/L). Glycated hemoglobin level in blood serum of diabetic group (7.2±0.7%) was significantly higher than of control group (3.3±0.2%). This proves the progression of stable long-term hyperglycemia. According to results represented model can be used for initial experimental evaluation of tested antidiabetic biologically active substances.

Brief electrical stimulation after facial nerve transection and neurorrhaphy: a randomized prospective animal study.

PubMed

Mendez, Adrian; Seikaly, Hadi; Biron, Vincent L; Zhu, Lin Fu; Côté, David W J

2016-02-01

Recent studies have examined the effects of brief electrical stimulation (BES) on nerve regeneration, with some suggesting that BES accelerates facial nerve recovery. However, the facial nerve outcome measurement in these studies has not been precise or accurate. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of BES on accelerating facial nerve functional recovery from a transection injury in the rat model. A prospective randomized animal study using a rat model was performed. Two groups of 9 rats underwent facial nerve surgery. Both group 1 and 2 underwent facial nerve transection and repair at the main trunk of the nerve, with group 2 additionally receiving BES on post-operative day 0 for 1 h using an implantable stimulation device. Primary outcome was measured using a laser curtain model, which measured amplitude of whisking at 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-operatively. At week 2, the average amplitude observed for group 1 was 4.4°. Showing a statistically significant improvement over group 1, the group 2 mean was 14.0° at 2 weeks post-operatively (p = 0.0004). At week 4, group 1 showed improvement having an average of 9.7°, while group 2 remained relatively unchanged with an average of 12.8°. Group 1 had an average amplitude of 13.63° at 6-weeks from surgery. Group 2 had a similar increase in amplitude with an average of 15.8°. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at 4 and 6 weeks after facial nerve surgery. This is the first study to use an implantable stimulator for serial BES following neurorrhaphy in a validated animal model. Results suggest performing BES after facial nerve transection and neurorrhaphy at the main trunk of the facial nerve is associated with accelerated whisker movement in a rat model compared with a control group.

Effects of dietary arginine and glutamine on alleviating the impairment induced by deoxynivalenol stress and immune relevant cytokines in growing pigs.

PubMed

Wu, Li; Wang, Wence; Yao, Kang; Zhou, Ting; Yin, Jie; Li, Tiejun; Yang, Lin; He, Liuqin; Yang, Xiaojian; Zhang, Hongfu; Wang, Qi; Huang, Ruilin; Yin, Yulong

2013-01-01

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin that reduces feed intake and animal performance, especially in swine. Arginine and glutamine play important roles in swine nutrition. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with arginine and glutamine on both the impairment induced by DON stress and immune relevant cytokines in growing pigs. A total of forty 60-d-old healthy growing pigs with a mean body weight of 16.28±1.54 kg were randomly divided into 5 groups, and assigned to 3 amino acid treatments fed 1.0% arginine (Arg), 1.0% glutamine (Gln) and 0.5% Arg+0.5% Gln, respectively, plus a toxin control and a non-toxin control. Pigs in the 3 amino acid treatments were fed the corresponding amino acids, and those in non-toxin control and toxin control were fed commercial diet with 1.64% Alanine as isonitrogenous control for 7 days. The toxin control and amino acid treatments were then challenged by feeding DON-contaminated diet with a final DON concentration of 6 mg/kg of diet for 21 days. No significant differences were observed between toxin control and the amino acid groups with regard to the average daily gain (ADG), although the values for average daily feed intake (ADFI) in the amino acid groups were significantly higher than that in toxin control (P<0.01). The relative liver weight in toxin control was significantly greater than those in non-toxin control, arginine and Arg+Glu groups (P<0.01), but there were no significant differences in other organs. With regard to serum biochemistry, the values of BUN, ALP, ALT and AST in the amino acid groups were lower than those in toxin control. IGF1, GH and SOD in the amino acid groups were significantly higher than those in toxin control (P<0.01). The IL-2 and TNFα values in the amino acid groups were similar to those in non-toxin control, and significantly lower than those in toxin control (P<0.01). These results showed the effects of dietary supplementation with arginine and glutamine on alleviating the impairment induced by DON stress and immune relevant cytokines in growing pigs.

Using Duddingtonia flagrans in calves under an organic milk farm production system in the Mexican tropics.

PubMed

Ortiz Pérez, Diego Otoniel; Sánchez Muñoz, Bernardo; Nahed Toral, José; Orantes Zebadúa, Miguel Ángel; Cruz López, José Luis; Reyes García, María Eréndira; Mendoza de Gives, Pedro

2017-04-01

The reduction of the gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) larvae population in faeces of cattle treated with Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospores on a farm under an organic production system in Chiapas, Mexico, was assessed. Seventeen Cebu/Swiss crossbreed grazing calves naturally infected with GIN, were randomly distributed into two groups and treated as follows: Group 1, an oral administration of 2 × 10 6 D. flagrans chlamydospores/kg BW, every two days for 30 days; group 2, Control, without any treatment. Results indicated that the epg values in both groups remained similar (p > 0.05). The average number of (L 3 ) from coprocultures from the group treated with D. flagrans had an important reduction (53.8%) with respect to the control group and it reached 75.3% maximum larval reduction at the 14th sampling; although, no statistic significance was observed (p > 0.05). Likewise, the average of larvae (L3) recovered from grass corresponding to the animals treated with D. flagrans diminished at 25.1% with respect to the control group (p > 0.05). A mixture of GIN genera including Strongyloides sp., Haemonchus sp., Cooperia sp., Trichostrongylus sp., Oesophagostomum sp. and Mecistocirrus sp., were identified from coprocultures. It was concluded that treatment with D. flagrans chlamydospores reduces the GIN larvae population in grass and in faeces of calves maintained under an organic milk production system. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Clinical assessment of the efficacy of SpineCor brace in the correction of postural deformities in the course of idiopathic scoliosis.

PubMed

Plewka, Barbara; Sibiński, Marcin; Synder, Marek; Witoński, Dariusz; Kołodziejczyk-Klimek, Katarzyna; Plewka, Michał

2013-03-26

The objective of the study was to perform a clinical, comparative assessment of the degree of postural deformities before and after the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in patients treated with SpineCor brace compared to the control group. A group of 90 children with idiopathic scoliosis (including 74 girls) at the average age of 12.2 was subject to prospective observation. Average pre-treatment Cobb angle was 24.9° in the thoracic spine and 25.8° in the lumbar spine. The group actively treated with the SpineCor brace consisted of 45 children, while the control group consisted of the remaining 45 children with the natural course of the disease. Both groups did not differ significantly in terms of age, gender, height, body weight, Risser sign of skeletal maturity and baseline clinical and radiological parameters of scoliosis. Significant reduction of rib hump was observed upon 2-year SpineCor brace treatment (P=0.04) compared to the group treated by physiotherapy only (P=0.91). Similarly, improvement in lumbar prominence was observed in the actively treated group (P=0.009), with a trend towards worse results in the control group (P=0.07) In the group treated with the SpineCor brace, significant reduction in pectoral and hamstring muscle contractures as well as reduction in shoulder asymmetry and reduction in anterior and posterior vertical deviation were observed. Treatment using the SpineCor dynamic brace leads to a clinical improvement in posture, particularly to reduction in rib hump, lumbar prominence and muscular contractures.

Early changes in retinal structure and BMP2 expression in the retina and crystalline lens of streptozotocin-induced diabetic pigs.

PubMed

Jeong, Jae Seung; Lee, Woon-Kyu; Moon, Yeon Sung; Kim, Na Rae

2017-09-01

This study aims to evaluate early changes in retinal structure and BMP2 expression in the retina and crystalline lens by comparing streptozotocin-induced diabetic pigs and normal control group pigs. Five eye samples from five diabetic Micro-pigs (Medikinetics, Pyeongtaek, Korea) and five eye samples from five control pigs bred in a specific pathogen-free area were used. Diabetes was developed through intravenous injection of nicotinamide and streptozotocin, and the average fasting glucose level was maintained at 250 mg/dL or higher for 16 weeks. To evaluate BMP2 expression in the retina and crystalline lens, Western blotting was performed. In Hematoxylin and Eosin staining, most diabetic pigs showed structural abnormalities in the inner plexiform layer. The number of nuclei in the ganglion cell layer within the range of 10 4 µm 2 was 3.78±0.60 for diabetic pigs and 5.57±1.07 for control group pigs, showing a statistically significant difference. In immunohistochemical staining, diabetic retinas showed an overall increase in BMP2 expression. In Western blotting, the average BMP2/actin level of diabetic retinas was 1.19±0.05, showing a significant increase compared to the 1.06±0.03 of the control group retinas ( P =0.016). The BMP2/actin level of diabetic crystalline lenses was similar to the control group crystalline lenses ( P =0.730). Compared to control group pigs, the number of nuclei in the inner nuclear layer of retinas from streptozotocin-induced diabetic pigs decreased, while an increase in BMP2 expression was observed in the retina of diabetic pigs.

Effects of Dietary Zinc Pectin Oligosaccharides Chelate Supplementation on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Tissue Zinc Concentrations of Broilers.

PubMed

Wang, Zhongcheng; Yu, Huimin; Wu, Xuezhuang; Zhang, Tietao; Cui, Hu; Wan, Chunmeng; Gao, Xiuhua

2016-10-01

The experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of zinc pectin oligosaccharides (Zn-POS) chelate on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and tissue zinc concentrations of Arbor Acre broilers aged from 1 to 42 days. A total of 576 1-day-old broilers were randomly assigned into 4 groups with 9 replicates per group and 16 chicks per replicate. Chicks were fed either a basal diet (control) or basal diet supplemented with Zn-POS at 300 (Zn-POS-300), 600 (Zn-POS-600), or 900 mg/kg (Zn-POS-900), respectively, for 42 days. A 3-day metabolism trial was conducted during the last week of the experiment feeding. The average daily gain and the average daily feed intake of Zn-POS-600 were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of either the control, Zn-POS-300, or Zn-POS-900. Zn-POS-600 had the highest apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, and metabolic energy among all groups. The control group had the lowest apparent digestibility of dry matter (P < 0.05), whereas the apparent digestibility of dry matter in Zn-POS-600 was higher (P < 0.05) than that of Zn-POS-300. The apparent digestibility of crude protein in Zn-POS-600 or Zn-POS-900 was higher (P < 0.05) compared to Zn-POS-300 or the control. The apparent digestibility of metabolic energy in Zn-POS-600 or Zn-POS-900 was higher (P < 0.05) than that of Zn-POS-300. Zn-POS-600 had the highest liver zinc concentrations (P < 0.05), while Zn-POS-900 had the highest pancreatic zinc concentrations (P < 0.05). Our data suggest that the supplementation of 600 mg/kg Zn-POS is optimal in improving the average daily gain and the average daily feed intake, utilization of dietary dry matter and crude protein, and increasing tissue zinc concentrations in liver and pancreas of broilers.

Does cognitive behavioral therapy alter mental defeat and cognitive flexibility in patients with panic disorder?

PubMed

Nagata, Shinobu; Seki, Yoichi; Shibuya, Takayuki; Yokoo, Mizue; Murata, Tomokazu; Hiramatsu, Yoichi; Yamada, Fuminori; Ibuki, Hanae; Minamitani, Noriko; Yoshinaga, Naoki; Kusunoki, Muga; Inada, Yasushi; Kawasoe, Nobuko; Adachi, Soichiro; Oshiro, Keiko; Matsuzawa, Daisuke; Hirano, Yoshiyuki; Yoshimura, Kensuke; Nakazato, Michiko; Iyo, Masaomi; Nakagawa, Akiko; Shimizu, Eiji

2018-01-12

Mental defeat and cognitive flexibility have been studied as explanatory factors for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. This study examined mental defeat and cognitive flexibility scores in patients with panic disorder (PD) before and after cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and compared them to those of a gender- and age-matched healthy control group. Patients with PD (n = 15) received 16 weekly individual CBT sessions, and the control group (n = 35) received no treatment. Patients completed the Mental Defeat Scale and the Cognitive Flexibility Scale before the intervention, following eight CBT sessions, and following 16 CBT sessions, while the control group did so only prior to receiving CBT (baseline). The patients' pre-CBT Mental Defeat and Cognitive Flexibility Scale scores were significantly higher on the Mental Defeat Scale and lower on the Cognitive Flexibility Scale than those of the control group participants were. In addition, the average Mental Defeat Scale scores of the patients decreased significantly, from 22.2 to 12.4, while their average Cognitive Flexibility Scale scores increased significantly, from 42.8 to 49.5. These results suggest that CBT can reduce mental defeat and increase cognitive flexibility in patients with PD Trial registration The study was registered retrospectively in the national UMIN Clinical Trials Registry on June 10, 2016 (registration ID: UMIN000022693).

Fundamental movement skills in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

PubMed

Pan, Chien-Yu; Tsai, Chia-Liang; Chu, Chia-Hua

2009-12-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the movement skills of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and those without disabilities. Ninety-one children (ASD, n = 28; ADHD, n = 29; control, n = 34), ages 6-10 years, were of average IQ participated. After controlling for age, both ASD and ADHD groups scored significantly lower than controls (p's < .05) on overall gross motor development as well as locomotor and object control subtests, and the ASD group performed more poorly than the ADHD group (p's < .01) on both subtests. Of the children with ASD and ADHD, only 16% had clinical levels of impairment. Potential underlying factors are discussed, with suggestions for future research.

[Clinical trial on treatment of Parkinson's disease of Gan-Shen yin deficiency type by recipe for nourishing Gan-Shen].

PubMed

Zhao, Hong; Li, Wen-Wei; Gao, Jun-Peng

2007-09-01

To observe the curative effect of the recipe for nourishing Gan-Shen on Parkinson's disease (PD) of Gan-Shen yin deficiency type. One hundred and twenty-one PD patients were ran-domly assigned by blocking design to the control group and the treated group in the ratio of 1:1. All were treated according to the international medication guiding principle for PD treatment, but the treated group was ad-ministered with the recipe for nourishing Gan-Shen additionally. The treatment course lasted for 12 consecutive months, and the end point was the end of the 12th month. The unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UP-DRS) score, TCM primary and secondary symptom scores were evaluated before treatment, every 3 months of treatment and at the end point. The average daily levodopa dose and the Hoehn & Yahr grading were assessed before treatment and at the end point. After treatment, UPDRS score in both groups showed an ascending trend at a slower rate in the treated groups than in the control group. At the 9th and 12th month of medication, a significant difference was found in UPDRS score between the two groups (P < 0.05), and the TCM symptom score was obviously lower in the treated group than in the control group (P < 0.05). At the end point of the trial, the average daily levodopa dose used was lower in the treated group than in the control group (P < 0.05) and there was no significant difference in the Hoehn & Yahr score between the two groups (P > 0.05). The recipe for norishing Gan-Shen can slow the ascending trend of UPDRS score in the PD patients, improve the symptoms of Gan-Shen yin deficiency, and decrease the daily levodopa dose used, showing a curative effect on PD of Gan-Shen yin deficiency type.

Masticatory process in individuals with maxillary and mandibular osteoporosis: electromyographic analysis.

PubMed

Siéssere, S; de Albuquerque Lima, N; Semprini, M; de Sousa, L G; Paulo Mardegan Issa, J; Aparecida Caldeira Monteiro, S; Cecílio Hallak Regalo, S

2009-11-01

The masseter and temporal muscles of patients with maxillary and mandibular osteoporosis were submitted to electromyographic analysis and compared with a control group. In conclusion, individuals with osteoporosis did not show significantly lower masticatory cycle performance and efficiency compared to the control group during the proposal mastications. This study aimed to examine electromyographically the masseter and temporal muscles of patients with maxillary and mandibular osteoporosis and compare these patients with control patients. Sixty individuals of both genders with an average age of 53.0 +/- 5 years took part in the study, distributed in two groups with 30 individuals each: (1) individuals with osteoporosis; (2) control patients during the habitual and non-habitual mastication. The electromyographic apparel used was a Myosystem-BR1-DataHomins Technology Ltda., with five channels of acquisition and electrodes active differentials. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using SPSS version 15.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). The result of the Student's t test indicated no significant differences (p > 0.05) between the normalized values of the ensemble average obtained in masticatory cycles in both groups. Based on the results of this study, it was concluded that individuals with osteoporosis did not show significantly lower masticatory cycle performance and efficiency compared to control subjects during the habitual and non-habitual mastications. This result is very important because it demonstrates the functionality of the complex physiological process of mastication in individuals with osteoporosis at the bones that compose the face.

Dietary supplementation of l-arginine and chromium picolinate in sows during gestation affects the muscle fibre characteristics but not the performance of their progeny.

PubMed

Shi, Zhan; Song, Wentao; Sun, Yuecheng; Wang, Liansheng; Shi, Baoming; Shan, Anshan; Bi, Zhongpeng

2018-01-01

The present study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation of l-arginine and chromium picolinate (CrP) in sows during gestation on muscle fibre characteristics, performance and carcass characteristics of their progeny. Sixty healthy sows were randomly divided into four groups as a 2 × 2 factorial experiment design: one group received the control diet, another received the control diet + 10 g kg -1 l-arginine, the third group received the control diet + 400 ppb CrP, and the fourth group received the control diet + 10 g kg -1 l-arginine and 400 ppb CrP. The results showed that sows fed the diet supplemented with CrP produced progeny with higher muscle fibre numbers at birth, weaning and slaughter compared to sows fed the control diet. For mean fibre areas, the same result was found at weaning. For progeny of sows fed diets supplemented with l-arginine, only higher muscle fibre numbers at slaughter was observed. Almost no differences were observed regarding average daily gains, average daily feed intake, gain-to-feed ratios, carcass and meat traits. The results of the present study indicate that dietary supplementation of l-arginine and particularly CrP in sows during gestation alters muscle fibre numbers in their offspring, although not their performance or carcass characteristics. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

The effectiveness of ultrabrief and brief educational videos for training lay responders in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation: implications for the future of citizen cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

PubMed

Bobrow, Bentley J; Vadeboncoeur, Tyler F; Spaite, Daniel W; Potts, Jerald; Denninghoff, Kurt; Chikani, Vatsal; Brazil, Paula R; Ramsey, Bob; Abella, Benjamin S

2011-03-01

Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) improves survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) but often is not performed. We hypothesized that subjects viewing very short Hands-Only CPR videos will (1) be more likely to attempt CPR in a simulated OHCA scenario and (2) demonstrate better CPR skills than untrained individuals. This study is a prospective trial of 336 adults without recent CPR training randomized into 4 groups: (1) control (no training) (n=51); (2) 60-second video training (n=95); (3) 5-minute video training (n=99); and (4) 8-minute video training, including manikin practice (n=91). All subjects were tested for their ability to perform CPR during an adult OHCA scenario using a CPR-sensing manikin and Laerdal PC SkillReporting software. One half of the trained subjects were randomly assigned to testing immediately and the other half after a 2-month delay. Twelve (23.5%) controls did not even attempt CPR, which was true of only 2 subjects (0.7%; P=0.01) from any of the experimental groups. All experimental groups had significantly higher average compression rates (closer to the recommended 100/min) than the control group (P<0.001), and all experimental groups had significantly greater average compression depth (>38 mm) than the control group (P<0.0001). Laypersons exposed to very short Hands-Only CPR videos are more likely to attempt CPR and show superior CPR skills than untrained laypersons. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01191736.

A comparison of two independent measurements and analysis of jet aircraft flyover noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hosier, R. N.

1977-01-01

Flyover noise measurements were made simultaneously by two groups. The measurements were made close to one another for the same flyover conditions and with similar measurement procedures, but with different acoustic equipment and personnel. Each group also independently processed the data in accordance with FAR 36 procedures, indluding corrections to reference meteorological, performance, and flight-path conditions. Measured and corrected data, from 24 controlled flyovers processed by both groups, are compared and the differences in the results obtained by the two groups are discussed. It is observed that the average value of the difference between the groups' measured acoustic descriptors (PNL, PNLTM, and EPNL) was less than or = 0.8 db; the average difference for the corrected descriptors (PNL, PNLTM, and EPNL) was less than or = 1.5 db. Causes of the differences were found to be mainly related to different spectrum extrapolation and preemphasis techniques used by the two groups.

The Efficacy and Safety of On-demand Tramadol and Paroxetine Use in Treatment of Life Long Premature Ejaculation: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

PubMed Central

Hamidi-Madani, Ali; Motiee, Reza; Mokhtari, Gholamreza; Nasseh, Hamidreza; Esmaeili, Samaneh; Kazemnezhad, Ehsan

2018-01-01

Background: Several medical therapies have been proposed for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). Paroxetine and tramadol were both reported to be effective in treatment of PE. In this study, the therapeutic effects of tramadol, paroxetine and placebo were compared in treatment of primary PE. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 150 patients were divided into 3 groups. One group was treated with tramadol 50 mg ondemand, the other group took paroxetine 20 mg on-demand and the third group was treated with placebo. Before starting treatment and after 12 weeks, patients were asked to measure their average intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and fill the PEP (Premature Ejaculation Profile) questionnaire. Results: At the end of the 12th week, the mean IELT and average of PEP scores improved in all 3 groups. The increase in tramadol group was significantly higher than the paroxetine and placebo groups (p<0.0001). There were no significant differences in terms of side effects between the 3 groups. Conclusion: The results showed that despite an increase in mean IELT and PEP scores in all 3 groups, the rate of improvement in tramadol group was significantly more than the others. Thus, tramadol may be considered as an appropriate alternative therapeutic option for lifelong PE. PMID:29850442

The Efficacy and Safety of On-demand Tramadol and Paroxetine Use in Treatment of Life Long Premature Ejaculation: A Randomized Double-blind Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial.

PubMed

Hamidi-Madani, Ali; Motiee, Reza; Mokhtari, Gholamreza; Nasseh, Hamidreza; Esmaeili, Samaneh; Kazemnezhad, Ehsan

2018-01-01

Several medical therapies have been proposed for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). Paroxetine and tramadol were both reported to be effective in treatment of PE. In this study, the therapeutic effects of tramadol, paroxetine and placebo were compared in treatment of primary PE. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 150 patients were divided into 3 groups. One group was treated with tramadol 50 mg ondemand, the other group took paroxetine 20 mg on-demand and the third group was treated with placebo. Before starting treatment and after 12 weeks, patients were asked to measure their average intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and fill the PEP (Premature Ejaculation Profile) questionnaire. At the end of the 12th week, the mean IELT and average of PEP scores improved in all 3 groups. The increase in tramadol group was significantly higher than the paroxetine and placebo groups (p<0.0001). There were no significant differences in terms of side effects between the 3 groups. The results showed that despite an increase in mean IELT and PEP scores in all 3 groups, the rate of improvement in tramadol group was significantly more than the others. Thus, tramadol may be considered as an appropriate alternative therapeutic option for lifelong PE.

The role of clinical hypnosis and self-hypnosis to relief pain and anxiety in severe chronic diseases in palliative care: a 2-year long-term follow-up of treatment in a nonrandomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Brugnoli, Maria Paola; Pesce, Giancarlo; Pasin, Emanuela; Basile, Maria Francesca; Tamburin, Stefano; Polati, Enrico

2018-01-01

Patients with severe chronic diseases and advanced cancer receiving palliative care, have a complex range of pain and anxiety that can arise early in the course of illness. We studied two groups of patients with severe chronic diseases who participated in a nonrandomized clinical trial of early integration of clinical hypnosis in palliative care versus standard pharmacological care. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate whether a long-term intervention of 2 years with clinical hypnosis and self-hypnosis as an adjuvant therapy in chronic pain and anxiety, is more effective than pharmacological therapy alone. The study was performed at the Center of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy at the University of Verona, Italy. The study population consisted of 50 patients, 25 in the hypnosis group and 25 in the control group. Fourteen men and 36 women participated in the study. Evaluations with Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) for anxiety and the evaluation of the use of opioids and analgesic medicines were conducted at baseline and for a long-term follow-up (after 1 and 2 years). The two groups were homogeneous in the distribution of sex, age, type and subtypes of diseases and use of opioids and analgesic medicines at baseline. The patients suffered from 3 main types of severe chronic diseases: rheumatic (n=21), neurologic (n=16) and oncologic (n=13). The VAS score at baseline was similar in both the hypnosis group and control group (mean ± standard deviation, SD: 78±16 and 77±14, respectively). The average VAS value for the hypnosis group decreased from 81.9±14.6 at baseline to 45.9±13.8 at 1-year follow-up, to 38.9±12.4 at 2-year follow-up. The average VAS value for the control group decreased from 78.5±14.8 at baseline, to 62.1±15.4 at 1-year follow-up, to 57.1±15.9 at 2-year follow-up. The variance analysis indicated that the decrease in perceived pain was more significant in the hypnosis group patients than in the control group, after 1- and 2-year follow-up (P=0.0001). The average HAM-A Hamilton anxiety score decreased from 32.6 at baseline to 22.9 and 17.1 respectively at 1-year and 2-year follow-up for the hypnosis group, but it remained almost the same in the control group (29.8, 26.1 and 28.5 at baseline, first and second year respectively). ANOVA showed that the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.0001). Univariate analysis showed a 4-times greater risk of increasing analgesic medicines and opioids in the control group (adj.IRR: 4.36; 95% CI: 1.59-12.0) after 2-year follow-up. The patient group receiving hypnosis as an adjuvant therapy showed a statistically significant decrease in pain and anxiety and a significantly lower risk of increasing pharmacological pain treatment in a long term follow-up after 1 and 2 years compared to the control group. Clinical hypnosis can be considered an effective adjuvant therapy for pain and anxiety control in cancer as well as in severe chronic diseases for patients receiving palliative care.

[Transitory hypothermia as early prognostic factor in term newborns with intrauterine growth retardation].

PubMed

Lazić-Mitrović, Tanja; Djukić, Milan; Cutura, Nedjo; Andjelić, Spaso; Curković, Aleksandar; Soldo, Vesna; Radlović, Nedeljko

2010-01-01

According to numerous researches, transitory hypothermia is a part of the neonatological energetic triangle and represents a significant prognostic factor within morbidity and mortality in newborns with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), that are, due to their characteristics, more inclined to transitory hypothermia. The aim of the study was an analysis of frequency of transitory hypothermia in term newborns with IUGR, as well as an analysis of frequency of the most frequent pathological conditions typical of IUGR newborns depending on the presence of transitory hypothermia after birth (hypoglycaemia, perinatal asphyxia, hyperbilirubinaemia and hypocalcaemia). The study included 143 term newborns with IUGR treated at the Neonatology Ward of the Gynaecology-Obstetrics Clinic "Narodni front", Belgrade. The newborns were divided into two groups: the one with registered transitory hypothermia--the observed group, and the one without transitory hypothermia--the control group. The data analysis included the analysis of the frequency of transitory hypothermia depending on gestation and body mass, as well as the analysis of pathological conditions (perinatal asphyxia, hypoglycaemia, hypocalcaemia, hyperbilirubinaemia) depending on the presence of hypothermia. The analysis was done by statistical tests of analytic and descriptive statistics. In morbidity structure dominate hypothermia (65.03%), hypoglycaemia (43.36%), perinatal asphyxia (37.76%), hyperbilirubinaemia (30.77%), hypocalcaemia (25.17%). There were 93 newborns in the observed group, and 50 in the control one. Mean value of the measured body temperature was 35.9 degrees C. 20 newborns (32.26%) had moderate hypothermia, and 73 newborns (67.74%) had mild hypothermia. In the observed group, average gestation was 39.0 weeks, and 39.6 (p < 0.01) in the control group. Average body mass at birth in the whole group was 2339 g: 2214 g in the observed and 2571 g in the control group. The frequency of hypoglycaemia in the observed group was 53.8%, and 24% in the control group (p < 0.01). In the observed group, the frequency of pH < 7.25 was 38.71%, and 14% in the control group (p < 0.05). The frequency of hyperbilirubinaemia was 38.71% in the observed group, and 16% in the control group (p < 0.01). The frequency of hypocalcaemia was 32.26% in the observed, and 12% in the control group (p < 0.01). Transitory hypothermia in the first ten hours of life represents a significant risk factor for deepening hypoglycaemia, asphyxia, hyperbilirubinaemia and hypocalcaemia in term newborns with IUGR.

Dynamic multi-segmental postural control in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain compared to pain-free controls: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

McCaskey, Michael A; Wirth, Brigitte; Schuster-Amft, Corina; de Bruin, Eling D

2018-01-01

Reduced postural control is thought to contribute to the development and persistence of chronic non-specific low back pain (CNLBP). It is therefore frequently assessed in affected patients and commonly reported as the average amount of postural sway while standing upright under a variety of sensory conditions. These averaged linear outcomes, such as mean centre of pressure (CP) displacement or mean CP surface areas, may not reflect the true postural status. Adding nonlinear outcomes and multi-segmental kinematic analysis has been reported to better reflect the complexity of postural control and may detect subtler postural differences. In this cross-sectional study, a combination of linear and nonlinear postural parameters were assessed in patients with CNLBP (n = 24, 24-75 years, 9 females) and compared to symptom-free controls (CG, n = 34, 22-67 years, 11 females). Primary outcome was postural control measured by variance of joint configurations (uncontrolled manifold index, UI), confidence ellipse surface areas (CEA) and approximate entropy (ApEn) of CP dispersion during the response phase of a perturbed postural control task on a swaying platform. Secondary outcomes were segment excursions and clinical outcome correlates for pain and function. Non-parametric tests for group comparison with P-adjustment for multiple comparisons were conducted. Principal component analysis was applied to identify patterns of segmental contribution in both groups. CNLBP and CG performed similarly with respect to the primary outcomes. Comparison of joint kinematics revealed significant differences of hip (P < .001) and neck (P < .025) angular excursion, representing medium to large group effects (r's = .36 - .51). Significant (P's < .05), but moderate correlations of ApEn (r = -.42) and UI (r = -.46) with the health-related outcomes were observed. These findings lend further support to the notion that averaged linear outcomes do not suffice to describe subtle postural differences in CNLBP patients with low to moderate pain status.

The effect of ethics training on students recognizing ethical violations and developing moral sensitivity.

PubMed

Baykara, Zehra Gocmen; Demir, Sevil Guler; Yaman, Sengul

2015-09-01

Moral sensitivity is a life-long cognitive ability. It is expected that nurses who work in a professional purpose at "curing human beings" should have a highly developed moral sensitivity. The general opinion is that ethics education plays a significant role in this sense to enhance the moral sensitivity in terms of nurses' professional behaviors and distinguish ethical violations. This study was conducted as intervention research for the purpose of determining the effect of the ethics training on fourth-year students of the nursing department recognizing ethical violations experienced in the hospital and developing ethical sensitivity. The study was conducted with 50 students, with 25 students each in the experiment and control groups. Students in the experiment group were provided ethics training and consultancy services. The data were collected through the data collection form, which consists of questions on the socio-demographic characteristics and ethical sensitivity of the students, Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the observation form on ethical principle violations/protection in the clinic environment. The data were digitized on the computer with the SPSS for Windows 13.0 program. The data were evaluated utilizing number, percentile calculation, paired samples t-test, Wilcoxon test, and the McNemar test. The total Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire pre-test score averages of students in the experiment group were determined to be 93.88 ± 13.57, and their total post-test score averages were determined to be 89.24 ± 15.90. The total pre-test score averages of students in the control group were determined to be 91.48 ± 17.59, and their total post-test score averages were determined to be 97.72 ± 19.91. In the study, it was determined that the post-training ethical sensitivity of students in the experiment group increased; however, this was statistically not significant. Furthermore, it was determined that the number of ethical principle protection/violation observations and correct examples provided by students in the experiment group were higher than the control group and the difference was statistically significant. Written permission and ethical approval were obtained from the university where the study was conducted. Written consent was received from students accepting to participate in the study. As a result, ethics education given to students enables them to distinguish ethical violations in a hospital and make a proper observation in this issue. © The Author(s) 2014.

Case-Control Study of Injury Intervention for Preschool Children in Henggang, Shenzhen.

PubMed

Wang, Hong; Liu, Yi-Xin; Deng, Wen-Jiao; Yang, Wei-Jian; Wang, Fang

2015-10-01

To explore effective interventions for child accidental injury prevention and to reduce the incidence of injury. Cluster random sampling method was adopted, and children in 19 kindergartens in Henggang, Shenzhen and their parents were selected as the objects of study. Nineteen kindergartens were randomly divided into intervention group and control group to carry out the injury intervention case-control study. Through a series of interventions, there were certain effects. After the end of the project, the injury incidence rates of the intervention group and the control group were 4.91%, 10.64%, and the difference was significant; the average costs of treatment for injuries of the intervention group and the control group were 168.4 Yuan and 206.8 Yuan, and the difference was statistically significant; compared with before the implementation of the project, the rate of various types of injuries after the end of the project declined, in which, the rate of mechanical injury, pet bites, accidental falls, burns, and traffic accidents decreased significantly. The differences were significant. Injury interventions can effectively prevent and control the occurrence of injury.

Evaluation of the mutagenic and cytotoxic effects of mercurous chloride by the micronuclei technique in golden Syrian hamsters.

PubMed

Cortés-Gutiérrez, Elva I; Cerda-Flores, Ricardo M; González-Ramírez, Diego; Zúñiga-Charles, Miguel A; Lazcano-Martínez, Sigifredo; Sampayo-Reyes, Adriana; Leal-Garza, Carlos H

2004-05-01

The aims of this study were to evaluate the mutagenic and cytotoxic activity of mercurous chloride by the micronucleus technique in vivo on the bone marrow of golden Syrian hamsters after a single i.p. drug administration. Forty male golden Syrian hamsters were classified into eight groups: negative control, positive control and six groups treated with different doses of mercurous chloride (1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg). The negative control was injected with physiological saline i.p. and the positive control with cyclophosphamide at a dose of 80 mg/kg i.p. With respect to mutagenic effect, the average number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MPE) in hamsters treated with different doses of mercurous chloride was not significant compared with the negative control. With respect to cytotoxic effect, the average polychromatic erythrocyte/red blood cell ratio showed a significant decrease when the doses were higher than the 2.5 mg/kg dose compared with the negative control. In conclusion, this preliminary study shows a cytotoxic effect but not a mutagenic effect of calomel in vivo at one time point (24 h).

Effects of leisure education on self-rated health among older adults.

PubMed

Chang, Liang-Chih; Yu, Ping; Jeng, Mei-Yuan

2015-01-01

This study examined whether a leisure education program could promote leisure autonomy and self-rated health (SRH) among older adults. A pretest-posttest randomized experimental design was conducted. Subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 30) or a control group (n = 30). Data related to leisure autonomy and SRH were collected shortly before and after the experiment. Pretest and posttest data were analyzed using an analysis of covariance. The results indicated that the average posttest scores of leisure autonomy and SRH in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group. Implications of the results are discussed.

Propranolol attenuates hemorrhage and accelerates wound healing in severely burned adults.

PubMed

Ali, Arham; Herndon, David N; Mamachen, Ashish; Hasan, Samir; Andersen, Clark R; Grogans, Ro-Jon; Brewer, Jordan L; Lee, Jong O; Heffernan, Jamie; Suman, Oscar E; Finnerty, Celeste C

2015-05-04

Propranolol, a nonselective β-blocker, exerts an indirect effect on the vasculature by leaving α-adrenergic receptors unopposed, resulting in peripheral vasoconstriction. We have previously shown that propranolol diminishes peripheral blood following burn injury by increasing vascular resistance. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether wound healing and perioperative hemodynamics are affected by propranolol administration in severely burned adults. Sixty-nine adult patients with burns covering ≥ 30% of the total body surface area (TBSA) were enrolled in this IRB-approved study. Patients received standard burn care with (n = 35) or without (control, n = 34) propranolol. Propranolol was administered within 48 hours of burns and given throughout hospital discharge to decrease heart rate by approximately 20% from admission levels. Wound healing was determined by comparing the time between grafting procedures. Blood loss was determined by comparing pre- and postoperative hematocrit while factoring in operative graft area. Data were collected between first admission and first discharge. Demographics, burn size, and mortality were comparable in the control and propranolol groups. Patients in the propranolol group received an average propranolol dose of 3.3 ± 3.0 mg/kg/day. Daily average heart rate over the first 30 days was significantly lower in the propranolol group (P < 0.05). The average number of days between skin grafting procedures was also lower in propranolol patients (10 ± 5 days) than in control patients (17 ± 12 days; P = 0.02), indicative of a faster donor site healing time in the propranolol group. Packed red blood cell infusion was similar between groups (control 5.3 ± 5.4 units vs. propranolol 4.4 ± 3.1 units, P = 0.89). Propranolol was associated with a 5 to 7% improvement in perioperative hematocrit during grafting procedures of 4,000 to 16,000 cm(2) compared to control (P = 0.002). Administration of propranolol during the acute hospitalization period diminishes blood loss during skin grafting procedures and markedly improves wound healing in severely burned adults. As burn patients require serial surgical interventions for motor and cosmetic repair, restricting blood loss during operative intervention is optimal.

Effect of feeding of blend of essential oils on methane production, growth, and nutrient utilization in growing buffaloes

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Objective An experiment was conducted to study the effect of a blend of essential oils (BEO) on enteric methane emission and growth performance of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Methods Twenty one growing male buffaloes (average body weight of 279±9.3 kg) were divided in to three groups. The animals of all the three groups were fed on a ration consisting of wheat straw and concentrate mixture targeting 500 g daily live weight gain. The three dietary groups were; Group 1, control without additive; Group 2 and 3, supplemented with BEO at 0.15 and 0.30 mL/kg of dry matter intake (DMI), respectively. Results During six months feeding trial, the intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients (organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre) were similar in all the groups. The average body weight gain was tended to improve (p = 0.084) in Group 2 and Group 3 as compared to control animals. Feeding of BEO did not affect feed conversion efficiency of the animals. The calves of all the three groups were in positive nitrogen balance with no difference in nitrogen metabolism. During respiration chamber studies the methane production (L/kg DMI and L/kg digestible dry matter intake was significantly (p<0.001) lower in Group 2 and Group 3 as compared to control animals. Conclusion The results indicated that the BEO tested in the present study have shown potential to reduce enteric methane production without compromising the nutrient utilization and animal performance and could be further explored for its use as feed additive to mitigate enteric methane production in livestock. PMID:28231698

Influence of obesity on bone mineral density in postmenopausal asthma patients undergoing treatment with inhaled corticosteroids.

PubMed

Yanik, Burcu; Ayrim, Aylin; Ozol, Duygu; Koktener, Asli; Gokmen, Derya

2009-01-01

The etiology of osteoporosis in asthma is complex as various factors contribute to its pathogenesis. The purpose of our study was to investigate the effects of obesity and inhaled steroids, as well as the severity and duration of asthma, on osteoporosis in postmenopausal asthma patients as compared to healthy controls. A total of 46 patients with asthma and 60 healthy female controls, all postmenopausal, were enrolled in our study. Bone mineral density was assessed at the lumbar spine and hip using a Lunar DPX-L densitometer. Bone mineral density (BMD) scores were comparable between the asthmatic and control groups, with average scores of 0.95 +/- 0.29 and 0.88 +/- 0.14 g/cm(2), respectively. Likewise, osteoporosis was diagnosed in a similar percentage of patients in the asthmatic (39.1%) and control (43.3%) groups. Bone fracture was identified in four patients with asthma (8.6%) and in six patients from the control group (10%). We could not detect any relationship between BMD and duration of asthma, asthma severity, inhaled steroids or body mass index (BMI). There was no difference between the two groups with respect to age or years since menopause. Although asthma patients were more likely to be overweight and presented higher BMD scores on average than the control subjects, these differences were not statistically significant. There is a slight positive protective effect of high BMI against osteoporosis in asthma patients, but this effect is overcome by time and menopause status. Therefore, the protective effect of obesity against osteoporosis in asthma patients seems to not be significant.

Use of yeast (Pichia kudriavzevii) as a novel feed additive to ameliorate the effects of aflatoxin B1 on broiler chicken performance.

PubMed

Magnoli, A P; Rodriguez, M C; González Pereyra, M L; Poloni, V L; Peralta, M F; Nilson, A J; Miazzo, R D; Bagnis, G; Chiacchiera, S M; Cavaglieri, L R

2017-11-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of autochthonous Pichia kudriavzevii as a novel bioadsorbent for aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1 ). The selection of this yeast was based on the AFB 1 adsorption capacity previously demonstrated in vitro (Magnoli et al. 2016). One-day-old Cobb broilers (n = 160) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments (T1: basal diet (B); T2: B + 0.1% yeast; T3: B + AFB 1 , 100 μg/kg; T4: B + 0.1% yeast + AFB 1 , 100 μg/kg). Performance parameters (average daily weight gain body, average daily consumption, feed conversion ratio, carcass weight, and dead weight), biochemical parameters (albumin, globulin, and albumin/globulin), liver pathological changes, and AFB 1 residual levels in the liver and excreta were evaluated. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in performance parameters were observed among treatments and controls: T3 group showed the lowest average daily body weight gain value while in T4 group, the value of this parameter increased significantly (P < 0.05). T3 and T4 groups showed the lowest and highest values for average daily feed consumption, respectively. The feed conversion ratio (FC) showed no significant differences among treatments. T3 group showed the lowest dead weight and carcass weight compared with T1 group. The biochemical parameters showed no significant differences among treatments. T3 group showed macroscopic and microscopic liver changes compared to the control. Aflatoxin B 1 levels (μg/g) were detected in broiler livers and showed significant differences among treatments (P < 0.05). In conclusion, native P. kudriavzevii incorporation (0.1%) in broiler diets containing AFB 1 was shown to be effective in ameliorating the adverse effects of AFB 1 on production.

Transfer of SIMNET Training in the Armor Officer Basic Course

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-01-01

group correctly performed more tasks in the posttest , but the difference was not statistically significant for these small samples. Gains from pretest ...to posttest were not compared statistically, but the field-trained group showed little average gain. Based on these results and other supporting data...that serve as a control group , and (b) SIMNET classes after the change that serve as a treatment group . The comparison is termed quasi - experimental

Epsilon-aminocaproic acid influence in postoperative [corrected] bleeding and hemotransfusion [corrected] in mitral valve surgery.

PubMed

Benfatti, Ricardo Ádala; Carli, Amanda Ferreira; Silva, Guilherme Viotto Rodrigues da; Dias, Amaury Edgardo Mont'serrat Ávila Souza; Goldiano, José Anderson; Pontes, José Carlos Dorsa Vieira

2010-01-01

The epsilon aminocaproic acid is an antifibrinolytic used in cardiovascular surgery to inhibit the fibrinolysis and to reduce the bleeding after CPB. [corrected] To analyze the influence of the using of epsilon aminocaproic acid in the bleeding and in red-cell transfusion requirement in the first twenty-four hours postoperative of mitral valve surgery. Prospective studying, forty-two patients, randomized and divided in two equal groups: group #1 control and group #2--epsilon aminocaproic acid. In Group II were infused five grams of EACA in the induction of anesthesia, after full heparinization, CPB perfusate after reversal of heparin and one hour after the surgery, totaling 25 grams. In group I, saline solution was infused only in those moments. Group #1 showed average bleeding volume of 633.57 ± 305,7 ml, and Group #2, an average of 308.81 ± 210.1 ml, with significant statistic difference (P = 0.0003). Average volume of red-cell transfusion requirement in Groups 1 and 2 was, respectively, 942.86 ± 345.79 ml and 214.29 ± 330.58 ml, with significant difference (P < 0.0001). The epsilon aminocaproic acid was able to reduce the bleeding volume and the red-cell transfusion requirement in the immediate postoperative of patients submitted to mitral valve surgery.

Renal sympathetic denervation improves rate control in patients with symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation and hypertension.

PubMed

Qiu, Min; Shan, Qijun; Chen, Chun; Geng, Jie; Guo, Jiqun; Zhou, Xiujuan; Qian, Weichong; Tang, Lijun; Yin, Yuehui

2016-02-01

The aim of this study was to investigate whether renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) improves ventricular heart rate (HR) control in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Twenty-one patients (aged 57.5 ± 10.2 years, 76.2% male) with persistent AF and hypertension underwent RSD and completed 7-days follow-up evaluations, including 24-hour Holter monitoring (Holter), blood pressure (BP), 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Patients were grouped into tertiles of average HR at baseline Holter recording for evaluation of RSD effects on atrioventricular (AV) node (group 1: HR ≧ 90 bpm; group 2: 80 bpm ≦ HR < 90 bpm; group 3: HR < 80 bpm). All patients successfully underwent RSD without any complications. The clinical and procedural characteristics were similar in all groups of patients. No significant changes in BP were observed in the three groups before and after RSD. Compared with baseline, the average HR (Holter) of patients in group 1, 2 and 3 had a reduction of 22.6 ± 13.2 bpm (83.3 ± 4.9 vs 106.0 ± 14.6, P = 0.004), 9.7 ± 7.8 bpm (75.7 ± 7.6 vs 85.4 ± 3.7, P = 0.017) and 2.3 ± 2.9 bpm (71.4 ± 4.0 vs 73.7 ± 4.7, P = 0.089) at 7 days after RSD, respectively. RSD could improve ventricular HR control in patients with persistent AF. RSD slowed AV node conduction in baseline HR-dependent manner. RSD may become an alternative non-pharmaceutical tool for rate control in patients with persistent AF.

Modification of working conditions based on ergo THK reducing workload, muscle tension, and fatigue of rice milling workers in J village

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruliati, L. P.; Adiputra, N.; Sutjana, I. D. P.; Sutajaya, I. M.

2017-11-01

Rice mill is one of the businesses in informal sector. From the rice milling process, ergonomic problems arise when employees work with bent position that done repeatedly to lift grain sacks to be transferred to peeler machine. This situation will affect the comfort of work, thus increasing the workload, muscle tension, and fatigue. The consequence will certainly affect the health and productivity of workers. In this study introduces ergo Tri Hita Karana (ergo THK) as an ergonomics intervention model which solves ergonomics problems of the cultural aspects of THK. The study aim is to determine the modification of working conditions based Ergo THK to reduce workload, muscle tension and fatigue. This research uses Randomized Pretest and Posttest Control Group Design experimental design. The subjects were 30 male rice mill workers with an age range of 16 until 56 years, and then divided into 15 subjects in the control group and 15 subjects in the treatment group. The results showed that the average posttest workloads in the control group are 136.950 more less 0.297 and in the treatment group are 107.60 more less 0.396. Significance analysis showed that after the two groups done their activities, the average workload significantly different p less than 0.005. The amount of reduction in the workload between the two groups was 21.43 percent. In muscle tension posttest showed that the mean score of the muscle tension in the control group was 62.67 more less 7.31 and the treatment group was 20.96 more less 2.96. Significance analysis showed that both groups mean muscle-tension results were significantly different p less than 0.005. The amount of reduction in tension between the control group and the treatment group while working was 66.55 percent. At fatigue posttest showed that the mean score of fatigue in the control group was 76.40 more less 13.51 and the treatment group was 55.53 more less 9.51. Significant analysis showed that the mean fatigue of both groups significantly different p less than 0.005. The amount of reduction in fatigue between the control group and the treatment group while working was 27.31 percent. From this study it can be concluded that the modification of the working conditions based on Ergo THK can reduce the workload by 21.43 percent, muscle tension by 66.55 percent and fatigue by 27.31 percent.

Serum Concentration of Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Manganese, and Cu/Zn Ratio in Children and Adolescents with Myopia.

PubMed

Fedor, Monika; Socha, Katarzyna; Urban, Beata; Soroczyńska, Jolanta; Matyskiela, Monika; Borawska, Maria H; Bakunowicz-Łazarczyk, Alina

2017-03-01

The purpose of the present study was the assessment of the serum concentration of antioxidant microelements-zinc, copper, selenium, manganese, and Cu/Zn ratio in children and adolescents with myopia. Eighty-three children were examined (mean age 14.36 ± 2.49 years) with myopia. The control group was 38 persons (mean age 12.89 ± 3.84 years). Each patient had complete eye examination. The serum concentration of zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Cu/Zn ratio, which is the indicator of the oxidative stress, was also calculated. The average serum concentration of zinc in myopic patients was significantly lower (0.865 ± 0.221 mg L -1 ) in comparison to the control group (1.054 ± 0.174 mg L -1 ). There was significantly higher Cu/Zn ratio in myopic patients (1.196 ± 0.452) in comparison to that in the control group (0.992 ± 0.203). The average serum concentration of selenium in the study group was significantly lower (40.23 ± 12.07 μg L -1 ) compared with that in the control group (46.00 ± 12.25 μg L -1 ). There were no essential differences between serum concentration of copper and manganese in the study group and the control group. Low serum concentration of zinc and selenium in myopic children may imply an association between insufficiency of these antioxidant microelements and the development of the myopia and could be the indication for zinc and selenium supplementation in the prevention of myopia. Significantly, higher Cu/Zn ratio in the study group can suggest the relationship between myopia and oxidative stress.

The effects of ear acupressure, massage therapy and no therapy on symptoms of dementia: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Mansilla, Juan; González López-Arza, María Victoria; Varela-Donoso, Enrique; Montanero-Fernández, Jesús; González Sánchez, Blanca; Garrido-Ardila, Elisa María

2015-07-01

To assess the effectiveness of ear acupressure and massage vs. control in the improvement of pain, anxiety and depression in persons diagnosed with dementia. A pilot randomized controlled trial. Residential homes in Extremadura (Spain). A total of 120 elders with dementia institutionalized in residential homes. The participants were randomly allocated, in three groups. Control group - they continued with their routine activities; ear acupressure intervention group - they received ear acupressure treatment (pressure was applied to acupressure points on the ear); and massage therapy intervention group - they received relaxing massage therapy. The variables pain, anxiety and depression were assessed with the Doloplus2, Cornell and Campbell scales. The study was carried out during five months; three months of experimental treatment and two months with no treatment. The assessments were done at baseline, each month during the treatment and at one and two months of follow-up. In the statistical analysis the three groups were compared with each other. A total of 111 participants completed the study. Their aged ranged from 67 to 91 years old and 86 of them (77.4%) were women. The ear acupressure intervention group showed better improvements than the massage therapy intervention group in relation to pain and depression during the treatment period and at one month of follow-up. The best improvement in pain was achieved in the last (3rd) month of ear acupressure treatment (p  < 0.001) being the average improvement 8.55 (4.39) with IC 95% (7.14, 9.95). Regarding anxiety, the best results were also observed in the last month of treatment. The average improvement in anxiety was 9.63 (5.00) with IC 95% (8.02, 11.23) CONCLUSIONS: Ear acupressure and massage therapy showed better results than the control group in relation to pain, anxiety and depression. However, ear acupressure achieved more improvements. © The Author(s) 2014.

A study of the effects of gender and different instructional media (computer-assisted instruction tutorials vs. textbook) on student attitudes and achievement in a team-taught integrated science class

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eardley, Julie Anne

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of different instructional media (computer assisted instruction (CAI) tutorial vs. traditional textbook) on student attitudes toward science and computers and achievement scores in a team-taught integrated science course, ENS 1001, "The Whole Earth Course," which was offered at Florida Institute of Technology during the Fall 2000 term. The effect of gender on student attitudes toward science and computers and achievement scores was also investigated. This study employed a randomized pretest-posttest control group experimental research design with a sample of 30 students (12 males and 18 females). Students had registered for weekly lab sessions that accompanied the course and had been randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. The treatment group used a CAI tutorial for completing homework assignments and the control group used the required textbook for completing homework assignments. The Attitude toward Science and Computers Questionnaire and Achievement Test were the two instruments administered during this study to measure students' attitudes and achievement score changes. A multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), using hierarchical multiple regression/correlation (MRC), was employed to determine: (1) treatment versus control group attitude and achievement differences; and (2) male versus female attitude and achievement differences. The differences between the treatment group's and control group's homework averages were determined by t test analyses. The overall MANCOVA model was found to be significant at p < .05. Examining research factor set independent variables separately resulted in gender being the only variable that significantly contributed in explaining the variability in a dependent variable, attitudes toward science and computers. T test analyses of the homework averages showed no significant differences. Contradictory to the findings of this study, anecdotal information from personal communication, course evaluations, and homework assignments indicated favorable attitudes and higher achievement scores for a majority of the students in the treatment group.

Sulcal depth-based cortical shape analysis in normal healthy control and schizophrenia groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lyu, Ilwoo; Kang, Hakmook; Woodward, Neil D.; Landman, Bennett A.

2018-03-01

Sulcal depth is an important marker of brain anatomy in neuroscience/neurological function. Previously, sulcal depth has been explored at the region-of-interest (ROI) level to increase statistical sensitivity to group differences. In this paper, we present a fully automated method that enables inferences of ROI properties from a sulcal region- focused perspective consisting of two main components: 1) sulcal depth computation and 2) sulcal curve-based refined ROIs. In conventional statistical analysis, the average sulcal depth measurements are employed in several ROIs of the cortical surface. However, taking the average sulcal depth over the full ROI blurs overall sulcal depth measurements which may result in reduced sensitivity to detect sulcal depth changes in neurological and psychiatric disorders. To overcome such a blurring effect, we focus on sulcal fundic regions in each ROI by filtering out other gyral regions. Consequently, the proposed method results in more sensitive to group differences than a traditional ROI approach. In the experiment, we focused on a cortical morphological analysis to sulcal depth reduction in schizophrenia with a comparison to the normal healthy control group. We show that the proposed method is more sensitivity to abnormalities of sulcal depth in schizophrenia; sulcal depth is significantly smaller in most cortical lobes in schizophrenia compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05).

[Influence of the shift work on circadian-rhythms compare survey on health service employees and policemen].

PubMed

Santorek-Strumiłło, Edyta; Zawilska, Jolanta B; Misiak, Piotr; Jabłoński, Sławomir; Kordiak, Jacek; Brocki, Marian

2012-01-01

It has been estimating that about 20% working persons works in the shift system. It concerns health service employees and policemen among others. The shift work causes permanent conflict "of biological clock" with required working hours. The work in the night hours is less effective, it is held with greater expensive and triggering the increased tiredness.The aim of overtaken by the authors questionnaire survey amongst the population working in shifts, was to determining the influence of the shift work on the length and the quality of the dream and the tiredness and the sleepiness during day in comparison to group working only on the day shift. The survey was conducted in the group of employees of the Health Service (30 persons) and policemen (20 persons) working in shifts. Healthy volunteers working in the system of the daily work constituted the control group (30 persons). The examination consisted of questionnaire forms which were filled in anonymously, the duration of examining one person lasted 4 weeks. Age and sex of the examined and control group were similar. In the examined period of time the number of night shift was averaged 6. During holidays 47 persons had night changes. Average time of dream was approximately 7 hours, for those who was working only at daily shift. On the following day after the night shift examined slept additionally average about 3 hours. Those who didn't work in shifts slept average 7.5 hour/24. Clinically significant sleeplessness was developed: examined group--18 persons, control group--3 persons. Amongst respondents we measured level of sleepiness during night shift using carolain scale of the sleepiness. Increase of sleepiness and decrease of activity appeared between 2:00 and 6:00 a.m. In the process of the examination a measurement of appearing the indications of exaggerated sleepiness and tiredness was also conducted using the ATS scale. The frequency of appearing was two or even three times bigger in the examined group. In examined group most common was reduction of psychophysical activity and difficulty in maintaining opened eyes. We have noted most often reduction of psychophysical activity and the problem with concentrating the eyesight on the object in the examined group. 1. The shift work is connected with a substantial effect to the clinical insomnia. 2. Insufficiency of sleep is a frequent occurrence in those who works in shifts especially having above 6 night shift monthly and also having children below 7 years.

Cost analysis of the CTLB Study, a multitherapy antenatal education programme to reduce routine interventions in labour

PubMed Central

Dahlen, Hannah G; Smith, Caroline A; Finlayson, Kenneth William; Downe, Soo

2018-01-01

Objective To assess whether the multitherapy antenatal education ‘CTLB’ (Complementary Therapies for Labour and Birth) Study programme leads to net cost savings. Design Cost analysis of the CTLB Study, using analysis of outcomes and hospital funding data. Methods We take a payer perspective and use Australian Refined Diagnosis-Related Group (AR-DRG) cost data to estimate the potential savings per woman to the payer (government or private insurer). We consider scenarios in which the intervention cost is either borne by the woman or by the payer. Savings are computed as the difference in total cost between the control group and the study group. Results If the cost of the intervention is not borne by the payer, the average saving to the payer was calculated to be $A808 per woman. If the payer covers the cost of the programme, this figure reduces to $A659 since the average cost of delivering the programme was $A149 per woman. All these findings are significant at the 95% confidence level. Significantly more women in the study group experienced a normal vaginal birth, and significantly fewer women in the study group experienced a caesarean section. The main cost saving resulted from the reduced rate of caesarean section in the study group. Conclusion The CTLB antenatal education programme leads to significant savings to payers that come from reduced use of hospital resources. Depending on which perspective is considered, and who is responsible for covering the cost of the programme, the net savings vary from $A659 to $A808 per woman. Compared with the average cost of birth in the control group, we conclude that the programme could lead to a reduction in birth-related healthcare costs of approximately 9%. Trial registration number ACTRN12611001126909. PMID:29439002

Altering the Rate of Mitosis by Introducing Low-Gigahertz Radiation to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garg, S.; Ashby, C.

2017-12-01

This experiment aims to assess the impact of low-frequency radiation (from common technological tools such as cell phones, scanners, and wifi) on the mitotic rates of cells. In particular, the focus of the study was on the growth and development of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cultures that were exposed to radio waves from a wifi router, which were then compared to a cohort of the same species without exposure. Though routers emit a low gigahertz frequency, they are categorized as Group 2B radiation (possibly carcinogenic) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization, signifying that constant exposure poses a potential risk to humans. Twelve agar dishes of active Saccharomyces cerevisiae solution were prepared, with six dishes acting as the control under no added radiation and six acting as the experimental group under 2.4 GHz of radiation due to their proximity to the router. Data on how many cultures proliferated in each dish was collected every three days, with the experiment running for a total of twelve days. All subjects experienced growth curves until day 9 when the experimental group's growth peaked with an average of 62 colonies/dish. Three of the six dishes in this group lost colonies in the following three days, leaving the experimental group with an average of 61 colonies/dish on day 12, while the control group was still increasing by day 12 with an average of 48 colonies/dish, with only one dish undergoing a loss of colonies. Exposing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells to low grade radiation resulted in accelerated mitosis, and though the experimental group faced colony death after nine days, the loss was likely due to overpopulation in the dish.

Web app based patient education in psoriasis - a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Hawkins, Spencer D; Barilla, Steven; Feldman, Steven R

2017-04-15

Patients report wanting more information about psoriasis and clear expectations from the onset of therapy. Dermatologists do not think patients receive or internalize adequate information. There isa need for further explanation of treatment regimens to increase knowledge, compliance, and patient satisfaction. Recent advancements in web technology have the potential to improve these psoriasis outcomes. A web based application was created to educate psoriasis patients using video, graphics, and textual information. An investigator blinded, randomized, controlled study evaluated the website's efficacy in 50 psoriasis patients at Wake Forest Baptist Health Dermatology. Patients were randomized into two groups: Group 1 received a link to the educational web app and a survey following their visit; Group 2 received a link to the survey with no educational web app. The survey assessed patient knowledge, self reported adherence to medication, and adequacy of addressing concerns. Twenty two patients completed the study. Patients in the web app group scored an average of 11/14 on the psoriasis knowledge quiz, whereas patients in the control group scored an average of 9/14 for an improvement of roughly 18% (p=0.008, n=22). Web app based education via DermPatientEd.Com is an efficient way to improve knowledge, but we did not demonstrate improvements in self-reported medication adherence or the ability to address concerns of psoriasis patients.

Kangaroo mother care for low birth weight infants: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Suman, Rao P N; Udani, Rekha; Nanavati, Ruchi

2008-01-01

To compare the effect of Kangaroo mother care (KMC) and conventional methods of care (CMC) on growth in LBW babies (> 2000 g). Randomized controlled trial. Level III NICU of a teaching institution in western India. 206 neonates with birth weight < 2000 g. The subjects were randomized into two groups: the intervention group (KMC-103) received Kangaroo mother care. The control group (CMC: 103) received conventional care. Growth, as measured by average daily weight gain and by other anthropometrical parameters at 40 weeks postmenstrual age in preterm babies and at 2500 g in term SGA infants was assessed. The KMC babies had better average weight gain per day (KMC: 23.99 g vs CMC: 15.58 g, P< 0.0001). The weekly increments in head circumference (KMC: 0.75 cm vs CMC: 0.49 cm, P = 0.02) and length (KMC: 0.99 cm vs CMC: 0.7 cm, P = 0.008) were higher in the KMC group. A significantly higher number of babies in the CMC group suffered from hypothermia, hypoglycemia, and sepsis. There was no effect on time to discharge. More KMC babies were exclusively breastfed at the end of the study (98% vs 76%). KMC was acceptable to most mothers and families at home. Kangaroo mother care improves growth and reduces morbidities in low birth weight infants. It is simple, acceptable to mothers and can be continued at home.

Embitterment in War Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

PubMed

Sabic, Dzevad; Sabic, Adela; Batic-Mujanovic, Olivera

2018-04-01

The aim of this study was to analyze frequency of embitterment in war veterans with Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It was analyzed 174 subjects (from Health Center Zivinice/ Mental Health Center) through a survey conducted in the period from March 2015 to June 2016, of witch 87 war veterans with PTSD and control subjects 87 war veterans without PTSD. The primary outcome measure was the Post-Traumatic Embitterment Disorder Self-Rating Scale (PTED Scale) who contains 19 items designed to assess features of embitterment reactions to negative life events. Secondary efficacy measures included the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale - V (CAPS), the PTSD CheckList (PCL), the Combat Exposure Scale (CES), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale ( WHOQOL-Bref). All subjects were male. The average age of patients in the group war veterans with PTSD was 52·78 ± 5·99. In the control group average age was 51·42 ± 5·98. Statistical data were analyzed in SPSS statistical program. Comparing the results, t tests revealed significant difference between group veterans with PTSD and control group (t=-21·216, p<0·0001). War veterans group with PTSD (X= 51·41 SD= 8·91), war veterans without PTSD (X=14·39, SD=13·61). Embitterment is frequent in war veterans with PTSD.

Effects of breast and colorectal cancer on labour market outcomes-average effects and educational gradients.

PubMed

Heinesen, Eskil; Kolodziejczyk, Christophe

2013-12-01

We estimate causal effects of breast and colorectal cancer on labour market outcomes 1-3 years after the diagnosis. Based on Danish administrative data we estimate average treatment effects on the treated by propensity score weighting methods using persons with no cancer diagnosis as control group. We conduct robustness checks using matching, difference-in-differences methods and an alternative control group of later cancer patients. The different methods give approximately the same results. Cancer increases the risks of leaving the labour force and receiving disability pension, and the effects are larger for the less educated. Effects on income are small and mostly insignificant. We investigate some of the mechanisms which may be important in explaining the educational gradient in effects of cancer on labour market attachment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Use of tylvalosin in the control of porcine enzootic pneumonia.

PubMed

Pallarés, F J; Lasa, C; Roozen, M; Ramis, G

2015-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of tylvalosin (Aivlosin Water Soluble Granules, ECO Animal Health) in drinking water for control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M hyo) on a farm with chronic enzootic pneumonia (EP) problems and high prevalence of mycoplasma-like lesions at slaughter. On a 4000-sow farm in the southeast of Spain, 1500 animals of same age were randomly divided into two groups: 900 pigs in the treated group (TG) and 600 pigs in the non-treated control group (CG). TG was medicated for seven days with tylvalosin in drinking water (2.5 mg tylvalosin/kg bodyweight (BW)) at weaning (from 21st to 28th day of life) and a second treatment when moved to finisher barn (from 63rd to 70th day of life). In the TG, there was a significant reduction in the severity (P<0.001) and number of animals with lung lesions (P<0.001) compared with CG. TG had an increased average daily gain and decreased average number of days in finishing. TG had a lower average carcase weight, but improved homogeneity. M hyo was not detected by q-PCR in samples, taken from lungs with characteristic EP lesions in the TG (0/9), in contrast to the CG (8/9 positive). A strategic medication with Aivlosin at 2.5 mg tylvalosin/kg BW in drinking water for seven days at weaning and when moved to finisher barn significantly reduces mycoplasma-like lung lesions and improves productivity parameters.

Comparing the impact of acupuncture and pethidine on reducing labor pain

PubMed Central

Allameh, Zahra; Tehrani, Hatav Ghasemi; Ghasemi, Mojdeh

2015-01-01

Background: Generally 50 to 70 percent of women suffer from a severe and unbearable pain during their childbirth. Abnormal fetal heart patterns, an increase of caesarian delivery rate, prolonged labor and low APGAR score in newborn are some of adverse effects of labor pain. Disagreement between different studies regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of acupuncture on labor pain led us to do this study. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial study. Sampling was done randomly in Esfahan, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, based on the subjects’ characteristics. Patients were classified into three groups of control, Pethidine and acupuncture (27–30 women in each group). All women with a first and second pregnancy. VAS pain ruler was used as data collection tool. Data were analyzed in SPSS software, and using ANOVA and kruskal–Wallis tests. Results: The average pain score in control group 30 min after intervention was 7.80, while in Pethidine and acupuncture groups respectively were 6.87 and 5.77. Kruskal–Walis test showed that three groups in pain severity had significant difference at this time. The average length of the active phase of labor in Pethidine and acupuncture groups was 175 min while this time in control group was 243 min that ANOVA test showed a significant difference (P = 0.000). Conclusion: Results showed that acupuncture can significantly reduce labor pain in 30 min after intervention, while it had no effect on labor pain at full dilatation. However, both in Pethidine and acupuncture groups, the length of the active phase has been considerably shortened. PMID:25789272

Assessment of the psychopathological effects of a horticultural therapy program in patients with schizophrenia.

PubMed

Oh, Yun-Ah; Park, Sin-Ae; Ahn, Byung-Eun

2018-02-01

This study assessed the psychopathological effects of participation in a 10-session horticultural therapy program in patients with schizophrenia. The study design was pre and post test design of experimental and control groups. Twenty-eight Korean patients with schizophrenia, recruited from a mental health clinic and two mental health rehabilitation centers in Suwon, South Korea, were voluntarily assigned to either a control group (average age: 33.4±9.4years) or a horticultural therapy group (average age: 42.1±13.0years). The participants in the horticultural therapy group participated in a 10-session horticultural therapy program designed around various plant cultivating activities. The horticultural therapy program involved sessions once a week from April 2017 to June 2017. A psychiatrist evaluated the psychopathological symptoms of schizophrenic patients in both groups. To assess the clinical psychopathological effects, the Korean version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) were used. The horticultural therapy group significantly improved in terms of positive, negative, and general symptoms on the PANSS after the 10-session horticultural therapy program. Moreover, the horticultural therapy group significantly improved in terms of clinical symptoms of schizophrenia in BPRS after the 10-session horticultural therapy program. However, there was no change in the PANSS and BPRS scores in the control group. This study showed the potential of horticultural therapy in improving psychopathological symptoms in psychiatric patients. Future studies should investigate the effects of long-term horticultural therapy program on the chronic symptoms of patients with schizophrenia. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intraoperative Cryoanalgesia for Reducing Post-Tonsillectomy Pain: A Systemic Review.

PubMed

Raggio, Blake S; Barton, Blair M; Grant, Maria C; McCoul, Edward D

2018-06-01

Summarize the effectiveness of intraoperative cryoanalgesia in the management of postoperative pain among patients undergoing palatine tonsillectomy. A systematic review of PubMED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane trial registries was performed through January 2017 using the PRISMA standards. We included English-language randomized controlled trials evaluating patients of all age groups with benign pathology who underwent tonsillectomy with cryoanalgesia versus without. Three limited quality randomized controlled trials involving 153 participants (age range, 1-60 years) were included. Cryoanalgesia was performed with a cryotherapy probe (-56°C) in 1 trial and ice-water cooling (4°C to 10°C) in 2. In the 3 trials reviewed, patients who received cryoanalgesia reported 21.38%, 28.33%, and 31.53% less average relative postoperative pain than controls on the visual analog scale. Review of secondary outcomes suggested no significant difference in time to resume normal diet (2 studies) or postoperative bleeding (2 studies) between the 2 groups. Cryoanalgesia allowed patients to return to work 4 days earlier than controls in 1 study. Two studies reported a trend toward less postoperative analgesia use among the treatment group; however, no statistical conclusions could be drawn. The available evidence suggests that patients undergoing tonsillectomy with cryoanalgesia experience less average postoperative pain without additional complications.

Lower Sodium Intake and Risk of Headaches: Results From the Trial of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in the Elderly.

PubMed

Chen, Liwei; Zhang, Zhenzhen; Chen, Wen; Whelton, Paul K; Appel, Lawrence J

2016-07-01

To determine the effect of sodium (Na) reduction on occurrence of headaches. In the Trial of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in the Elderly, 975 men and woman (aged 60-80 years) with hypertension were randomized to a Na-reduction intervention or control group and were followed for up to 36 months. The study was conducted between 1992 and 1995 at 4 clinical centers (Johns Hopkins University, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and the University of Tennessee). Mean difference in Na excretion between the Na-reduction intervention and control group was significant at each follow-up visit (P < .001) with an average difference of 38.8 millimoles per 24 hours. The occurrence of headaches was significantly lower in the Na-reduction intervention group (10.5%) compared with control (14.3%) with a hazard ratio of 0.59 (95% confidence interval = 0.40, 0.88; P = .009). The risk of headaches was significantly associated with average level of Na excretion during follow-up, independent of most recent blood pressure. The relationship appeared to be nonlinear with a spline relationship and a knot at 150 millimoles per 24 hours. Reduced sodium intake, currently recommended for blood pressure control, may also reduce the occurrence of headaches in older persons with hypertension.

Obesity and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk: Determining the Role of Growth Factor-Induced Aromatase Expression

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-01

those placed on the low -fat control diet at the end of each of the study’s time points (the final average weight for each group excludes mice...diet in the 2-month and 4-month on diet groups, but not the 6-month group.  Figure 1c: No difference in tumor latency between the DIO and control...not promote more or less total ER expression in MCF-7 or ZR75 cells vs Con sera. Tasks 5g and 5j:  Figure 5: MCF-7 cells exposed to Ob serum for

Particulate matter concentrations in residences: an intervention study evaluating stand-alone filters and air conditioners

PubMed Central

Batterman, S.; Du, L.; Mentz, G.; Mukherjee, B.; Parker, E.; Godwin, C.; Chin, J.-Y.; O'Toole, A.; Robins, T.; Rowe, Z.; Lewis, T.

2014-01-01

This study, a randomized controlled trial, evaluated the effectiveness of free-standing air filters and window air conditioners (ACs) in 126 low-income households of children with asthma. Households were randomized into a control group, a group receiving a free-standing HEPA filter placed in the child's sleeping area, and a group receiving the filter and a window-mounted AC. Indoor air quality (IAQ) was monitored for week-long periods over three to four seasons. High concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and carbon dioxide were frequently seen. When IAQ was monitored, filters reduced PM levels in the child's bedroom by an average of 50%. Filter use varied greatly among households and declined over time, for example, during weeks when pollutants were monitored, filter use was initially high, averaging 84 ± 27%, but dropped to 63 ± 33% in subsequent seasons. In months when households were not visited, use averaged only 34 ± 30%. Filter effectiveness did not vary in homes with central or room ACs. The study shows that measurements over multiple seasons are needed to characterize air quality and filter performance. The effectiveness of interventions using free-standing air filters depends on occupant behavior, and strategies to ensure filter use should be an integral part of interventions. PMID:22145709

Symptomatic endometriosis of the posterior cul-de-sac is associated with impaired sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness and insomnia: a case-control study.

PubMed

Leone Roberti Maggiore, Umberto; Bizzarri, Nicolò; Scala, Carolina; Tafi, Emanuela; Siesto, Gabriele; Alessandri, Franco; Ferrero, Simone

2017-02-01

To assess the impact of endometriosis of the posterior cul-de-sac on quality of sleep, average daytime sleepiness and insomnia. This age-matched case-control study was conducted in a tertiary referral centre for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis between May 2012 and December 2013. It included 145 women with endometriosis of the posterior cul-de-sac (cases; group E) and 145 patients referred to our Institution because of routine gynaecologic consultations (controls; group C). This study investigated whether sleep is impaired in patients with endometriosis of the posterior cul-de-sac. Sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and insomnia were assessed using the following self-administered questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Epworth sleepiness scale and the Insomnia Severity Index, respectively. The primary objective of the study was to evaluate sleep quality in the two study groups. Secondary outcomes of the study were to assess average daytime sleepiness and insomnia in the two study groups. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was significantly higher in group E (64.8%) than in group C (15.1%; p<0.001). The prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness was significantly higher in group E (23.4%) than in group C (12.9%; p=0.033). Patients of group E experienced subthreshold insomnia (29.0%) and moderate clinical insomnia (16.6%) significantly more frequently than patients in group C (24.4% and 5.0%; p=0.002). A substantial proportion of women with endometriosis of the posterior cul-de-sac experiences poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness and insomnia. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of a fenbendazole treatment on cyst excretion and weight gain in calves experimentally infected with Giardia duodenalis.

PubMed

Geurden, Thomas; Vandenhoute, Els; Pohle, Herbert; Casaert, Stijn; De Wilde, Nathalie; Vercruysse, Jozef; Claerebout, Edwin

2010-04-19

A total of 28 Holstein-Friesian calves were experimentally infected with 10(5)Giardia duodenalis cysts. Eleven days later, all animals were allocated into two groups of 14 animals each, based on the average pre-treatment cyst counts. Treatment was randomly assigned to one of the two groups, and all animals in the treatment group received a daily oral dosage of 15mg fenbendazole per kg bodyweight during 3 consecutive days. The calves in the control group received a placebo (water). From 3 days after treatment onwards, cyst excretion was determined three times a week during 4 consecutive weeks. The faecal consistency and general health were recorded on a daily basis, and all animals were weighed prior to treatment and weekly thereafter. At the end of the experimental period, there was a significant (P<0.001) reduction (98%) of the cumulative cyst excretion. There were no significant differences in general health between both groups, but faecal consistency was significantly lower (P<0.002) in the control group compared to the treatment group, although none of the animals displayed overt gastro-intestinal symptoms. Prior to treatment the weight did not differ between both experimental groups. At the end of the 4-week experimental period however, the animals in the treatment group gained on average 2.86kg (=102g per day) more than the animals in the control group (P<0.031). This study demonstrates for the first time a significant difference in weight gain between fenbendazole treated and untreated calves experimentally infected with G. duodenalis, although additional data need to confirm the need for treatment in natural conditions.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Xiaofeng; Yoshida, Emi; Cassidy, Richard J.

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of ultrasound Nakagami imaging to quantitatively assess radiation-induced neck fibrosis, a common sequela of radiation therapy (RT) to the head and neck. Methods and Materials: In a pilot study, 40 study participants were enrolled and classified into 3 subgroups: (1) a control group of 12 healthy volunteers; (2) an asymptomatic group of 11 patients who had received intensity modulated RT for head and neck cancer and had experienced no neck fibrosis; and (3) a symptomatic group of 17 post-RT patients with neck fibrosis. Each study participant underwent 1 ultrasound study in which scans were performedmore » in the longitudinal orientation of the bilateral neck. Three Nakagami parameters were calculated to quantify radiation-induced tissue injury: Nakagami probability distribution function, shape, and scaling parameters. Physician-based assessments of the neck fibrosis were performed according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group late morbidity scoring scheme, and patient-based fibrosis assessments were rated based on symptoms such as pain and stiffness. Results: Major discrepancies existed between physician-based and patient-based assessments of radiation-induced fibrosis. Significant differences in all Nakagami parameters were observed between the control group and 2 post-RT groups. Moreover, significant differences in Nakagami shape and scaling parameters were observed among asymptomatic and symptomatic groups. Compared with the control group, the average Nakagami shape parameter value increased by 32.1% (P<.001), and the average Nakagami scaling parameter increased by 55.7% (P<.001) for the asymptomatic group, whereas the Nakagami shape parameter increased by 74.1% (P<.001) and the Nakagami scaling parameter increased by 83.5% (P<.001) for the symptomatic group. Conclusions: Ultrasonic Nakagami imaging is a potential quantitative tool to characterize radiation-induced asymptomatic and symptomatic neck fibrosis.« less

Magnetic resonance imaging DTI-FT study on schizophrenic patients with typical negative first symptoms.

PubMed

Gu, Chengyu; Zhang, Ying; Wei, Fuquan; Cheng, Yougen; Cao, Yulin; Hou, Hongtao

2016-09-01

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) together with a white matter fiber tracking (FT) technique was used to assess different brain white matter structures and functionalities in schizophrenic patients with typical first negative symptoms. In total, 30 schizophrenic patients with typical first negative symptoms, comprising an observation group were paired 1:1 according to gender, age, right-handedness, and education, with 30 healthy individuals in a control group. Individuals in each group underwent routine MRI and DTI examination of the brain, and diffusion-tensor tractography (DTT) data were obtained through whole brain analysis based on voxel and tractography. The results were expressed by fractional anisotropy (FA) values. The schizophrenic patients were evaluated using a positive and negative symptom scale (PANSS) as well as a Global Assessment Scale (GAS). The results of the study showed that routine MRIs identified no differences between the two groups. However, compared with the control group, the FA values obtained by DTT from the deep left prefrontal cortex, the right deep temporal lobe, the white matter of the inferior frontal gyrus and part of the corpus callosum were significantly lower in the observation group (P<0.05). The PANSS positive scale value in the observation group averaged 7.7±1.5, and the negative scale averaged 46.6±5.9, while the general psychopathology scale averaged 65.4±10.3, and GAS averaged 53.8±19.2. The Pearson statistical analysis, the left deep prefrontal cortex, the right deep temporal lobe, the white matter of the inferior frontal gyrus and the FA value of part of the corpus callosum in the observation group was negatively correlated with the negative scale (P<0.05), and positively correlated with GAS (P<0.05). In conclusion, a decrease in the FA values of the left deep prefrontal cortex, the right deep temporal lobe, the white matter of the inferior frontal gyrus and part of the corpus callosum may be associated with schizophrenia with typical first negative symptoms and the application of MRI DTI-FT can improve diagnostic accuracy.

Early home-based intervention in the Netherlands for children at familial risk of dyslexia.

PubMed

van Otterloo, Sandra G; van der Leij, Aryan; Henrichs, Lotte F

2009-08-01

Dutch children at higher familial risk of reading disability received a home-based intervention programme before formal reading instruction started to investigate whether this would reduce the risk of dyslexia. The experimental group (n=23) received a specific training in phoneme awareness and letter knowledge. A control group (n=25) received a non-specific training in morphology, syntax, and vocabulary. Both interventions were designed to take 10 min a day, 5 days a week for 10 weeks. Most parents were sufficiently able to work with the programme properly. At post-test the experimental group had gained more on phoneme awareness than the control group. The control group gained more on one of the morphology measures. On average, these specific training results did not lead to significant group differences in first-grade reading and spelling measures. However, fewer experimental children scored below 10th percentile on word recognition. (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Impact of a Mindfulness-Based Weight-Loss Intervention on Sleep Quality Among Adults with Obesity: Data from the SHINE Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Adler, Elizabeth; Dhruva, Anand; Moran, Patricia J; Daubenmier, Jennifer; Acree, Michael; Epel, Elissa S; Bacchetti, Peter; Prather, Aric A; Mason, Ashley; Hecht, Frederick M

2017-03-01

Sleep disturbance is a common problem among adults with obesity. Mindfulness interventions have been shown to improve sleep quality in various populations but have not been investigated in adults with obesity. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a mindfulness-based weight-loss intervention with an active control on self-reported sleep quality among adults with obesity. This study was a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial and included 194 adults with a body mass index in the range 30-45 kg/m 2 . The treatment intervention included mindfulness-based eating and stress-management practices, and the active control intervention included training in progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Both groups received identical diet and exercise guidelines in 17 group sessions conducted over 5.5 months that were matched for time, attention, and social support. The primary outcome of this analysis was between-group change in self-reported sleep quality, which was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months. Between-group differences in mean PSQI change scores in the mindfulness group (n = 100) compared to the control group (n = 94) were -0.27 (-0.68, 1.22; p = 0.58) at 6 months, -0.57 (-0.35, 1.50; p = 0.22) at 12 months, and -0.50 (-0.53, 1.53; p = 0.34) at 18 months, all in the direction of more sleep improvement in the mindfulness group but none reaching statistical significance. In the mindfulness group, average weekly minutes of meditation practice time was associated with improved sleep quality from baseline to 6 months. No statistically significant evidence was found that a weight-loss program that incorporates mindfulness improves self-reported sleep quality compared to a control diet/exercise intervention that included PMR. Within the mindfulness group, average weekly minutes of mindfulness practice was associated with improved sleep quality.

A Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention Enhanced With Multiple-Behavior Self-Monitoring Using Mobile and Connected Tools for Underserved Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes and Comorbid Overweight or Obesity: Pilot Comparative Effectiveness Trial.

PubMed

Wang, Jing; Cai, Chunyan; Padhye, Nikhil; Orlander, Philip; Zare, Mohammad

2018-04-10

Self-monitoring is a cornerstone of behavioral lifestyle interventions for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mobile technology has the potential to improve adherence to self-monitoring and patient outcomes. However, no study has tested the use of a smartphone to facilitate self-monitoring in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus living in the underserved community. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of and compare preliminary efficacy of a behavioral lifestyle intervention using smartphone- or paper-based self-monitoring of multiple behaviors on weight loss and glycemic control in a sample of overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus living in underserved communities. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a behavioral lifestyle intervention. Overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited from an underserved minority community health center in Houston, Texas. They were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (1) behavior intervention with smartphone-based self-monitoring, (2) behavior intervention with paper diary-based self-monitoring, and (3) usual care group. Both the mobile and paper groups received a total of 11 face-to-face group sessions in a 6-month intervention. The mobile group received an Android-based smartphone with 2 apps loaded to help them record their diet, physical activity, weight, and blood glucose, along with a connected glucometer, whereas the paper group used paper diaries for these recordings. Primary outcomes of the study included percentage weight loss and glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) changes over 6 months. A total of 26 patients were enrolled: 11 in the mobile group, 9 in the paper group, and 6 in the control group. We had 92% (24/26) retention rate at 6 months. The sample is predominantly African Americans with an average age of 56.4 years and body mass index of 38.1. Participants lost an average of 2.73% (mobile group) and 0.13% (paper group) weight at 6 months, whereas the control group had an average 0.49% weight gain. Their HbA 1c changed from 8% to 7 % in mobile group, 10% to 9% in paper group, and maintained at 9% for the control group. We found a significant difference on HbA 1c at 6 months among the 3 groups (P=.01). We did not find statistical group significance on percentage weight loss (P=.20) and HbA 1c changes (P=.44) overtime; however, we found a large effect size of 0.40 for weight loss and a medium effect size of 0.28 for glycemic control. Delivering a simplified behavioral lifestyle intervention using mobile health-based self-monitoring in an underserved community is feasible and acceptable and shows higher preliminary efficacy, as compared with paper-based self-monitoring. A full-scale randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm the findings in this pilot study. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02858648; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02858648 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ySidjmT7). ©Jing Wang, Chunyan Cai, Nikhil Padhye, Philip Orlander, Mohammad Zare. Originally published in JMIR Mhealth and Uhealth (http://mhealth.jmir.org), 10.04.2018.

A Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention Enhanced With Multiple-Behavior Self-Monitoring Using Mobile and Connected Tools for Underserved Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes and Comorbid Overweight or Obesity: Pilot Comparative Effectiveness Trial

PubMed Central

Cai, Chunyan; Padhye, Nikhil; Orlander, Philip; Zare, Mohammad

2018-01-01

Background Self-monitoring is a cornerstone of behavioral lifestyle interventions for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mobile technology has the potential to improve adherence to self-monitoring and patient outcomes. However, no study has tested the use of a smartphone to facilitate self-monitoring in overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus living in the underserved community. Objective The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of and compare preliminary efficacy of a behavioral lifestyle intervention using smartphone- or paper-based self-monitoring of multiple behaviors on weight loss and glycemic control in a sample of overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus living in underserved communities. Methods We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a behavioral lifestyle intervention. Overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited from an underserved minority community health center in Houston, Texas. They were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (1) behavior intervention with smartphone-based self-monitoring, (2) behavior intervention with paper diary-based self-monitoring, and (3) usual care group. Both the mobile and paper groups received a total of 11 face-to-face group sessions in a 6-month intervention. The mobile group received an Android-based smartphone with 2 apps loaded to help them record their diet, physical activity, weight, and blood glucose, along with a connected glucometer, whereas the paper group used paper diaries for these recordings. Primary outcomes of the study included percentage weight loss and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) changes over 6 months. Results A total of 26 patients were enrolled: 11 in the mobile group, 9 in the paper group, and 6 in the control group. We had 92% (24/26) retention rate at 6 months. The sample is predominantly African Americans with an average age of 56.4 years and body mass index of 38.1. Participants lost an average of 2.73% (mobile group) and 0.13% (paper group) weight at 6 months, whereas the control group had an average 0.49% weight gain. Their HbA1c changed from 8% to 7 % in mobile group, 10% to 9% in paper group, and maintained at 9% for the control group. We found a significant difference on HbA1c at 6 months among the 3 groups (P=.01). We did not find statistical group significance on percentage weight loss (P=.20) and HbA1c changes (P=.44) overtime; however, we found a large effect size of 0.40 for weight loss and a medium effect size of 0.28 for glycemic control. Conclusions Delivering a simplified behavioral lifestyle intervention using mobile health–based self-monitoring in an underserved community is feasible and acceptable and shows higher preliminary efficacy, as compared with paper-based self-monitoring. A full-scale randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm the findings in this pilot study. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02858648; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02858648 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ySidjmT7) PMID:29636320

Effect of fluoroscopically guided caudal epidural steroid or local anesthetic injections in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and radiculitis: a randomized, controlled, double blind trial with a two-year follow-up.

PubMed

Manchikanti, Laxmaiah; Singh, Vijay; Cash, Kimberly A; Pampati, Vidyasagar; Damron, Kim S; Boswell, Mark V

2012-01-01

Lumbar disc herniation and radiculitis are common elements of low back and lower extremity pain. Among minimally invasive treatments, epidural injections are one of the most commonly performed interventions. However, the literature is mixed about their effectiveness in managing low back and lower extremity pain. In general, individual studies and systematic reviews of epidural steroid injections have been hampered by their study design, baseline differences between treatment groups, inadequate sample sizes, highly controlled settings, lack of validated outcome measures, and the inability to confirm the injectate location because fluoroscopy was not used. A randomized, controlled, double blind, active control trial. A private, interventional pain management practice, specialty referral center in the United States. To assess the effectiveness of fluoroscopically directed caudal epidural injections with local anesthetic with or without steroids in managing chronic low back and lower extremity pain in patients with disc herniation and radiculitis. One hundred twenty patients were randomized to two groups: Group I received 10 mL caudal epidural injections of local anesthetic, lidocaine 0.5%; Group II patients received caudal epidural injections of 0.5% lidocaine, 9 mL, mixed with 1 mL of steroid. Multiple outcome measures were utilized. The primary outcome measures were Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Oswestry Disability Index 2.0 (ODI). Secondary outcome measures were employment status and opioid intake. Significant pain relief improvement was defined as 50% or more improvement in NRS and ODI scores. In the successful category, 77% of Group I had significant pain relief of >/= 50% and functional status improvement of >/= 50% reduction in ODI scores; in Group II it was 76%, whereas overall it was 60% and 65% in Groups I and II. Over the two years, Group I had an average number of procedures of 5.5 ± 2.8; Group II was 5.3 ± 2.4. Even though there was no significant difference in overall relief between the two groups, the average relief for each procedure was superior for steroids. Presumed limitations of this evaluation include lack of a placebo group. Caudal epidural injections of local anesthetic with or without steroids might be an effective therapy for patients with disc herniation or radiculitis. The present evidence illustrates the potential superiority of steroids compared with local anesthetic at two year follow up based on average relief per procedure. NCT00370799.

A supplemental video teaching tool enhances splinting skills.

PubMed

Mehrpour, Saeed Reza; Aghamirsalim, Mohamadreza; Motamedi, Seyed Mohammad Kalantar; Ardeshir Larijani, Fatemeh; Sorbi, Reza

2013-02-01

The ability to apply casts and splints is a technical skill that requires practice and understanding of basic principles of musculoskeletal medicine. A video in which a given procedure is simulated on a dummy can represent reality under controlled conditions. A decrease in physician competency in musculoskeletal medicine is the result of educational deficiencies at the medical school level. We asked whether (1) a supplemental video educational program enhances performance of medical students' musculoskeletal clinical skills and (2) factors such as the proportion of orthopaedic professors to students, sex, age, and previous scores of medical students affected the clinical skills of medical students. We allocated 474 medical students into one of two groups: all participants received 90 minutes of lecture instruction on how to splint and cast but one group viewed the supplemental instructional video and the other did not. There were no differences in terms of sex, age, basic science exam scores, or grade point average of the groups. Thirteen specific skills in splinting an injured limb were evaluated. We recorded grade point averages. We developed a 10-point scoring system and graded each student on their splinting skills 6 months after the lectures. The medical students who watched the video had an average score of 7.6, whereas the control group's average score was 2.0. We observed a positive association between watching the educational video and clinical exam score. A higher professor-to-student ratio was associated with lower student Objective Structured Clinical Examination score. Our observations suggest a supplemental video instructional program improved the performance of musculoskeletal clinical skills in comparison to only a traditional lecture series.

Hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth.

PubMed

Madden, Kelly; Middleton, Philippa; Cyna, Allan M; Matthewson, Mandy; Jones, Leanne

2012-11-14

This review is one in a series of Cochrane Reviews investigating pain management for childbirth. These reviews all contribute to an overview of systematic reviews of pain management for women in labour, and share a generic protocol. We examined the current evidence regarding the use of hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth. This review updates the findings regarding hypnosis from an earlier review of complementary and alternative therapies for pain management in labour into a stand-alone review. To examine the effectiveness and safety of hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth. We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (11 January 2012) and the reference lists of primary studies and review articles. Randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing preparation for labour using hypnosis and/or use of hypnosis during labour, with or without concurrent use of pharmacological or non-pharmacological pain relief methods versus placebo, no treatment or any analgesic drug or technique. Two assessors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. Where possible we contacted study authors seeking additional information about data and methodology. We included seven trials randomising a total of 1213 women. All but one of the trials were at moderate to high risk of bias. Although six of the seven trials assessed antenatal hypnotherapy, there were considerable differences between these trials in timing and technique. One trial provided hypnotherapy during labour. No significant differences between women in the hypnosis group and those in the control group were found for the primary outcomes: use of pharmacological pain relief (average risk ratio (RR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39 to 1.01, six studies, 1032 women), spontaneous vaginal birth (average RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.96, four studies, 472 women) or satisfaction with pain relief (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.20, one study, 264 women). There was significant statistical heterogeneity in the data for use of pharmacological pain relief and spontaneous vaginal birth. The primary outcome of sense of coping with labour was reported in two studies as showing no beneficial effect (no usable data available for this review).  For secondary outcomes, no significant differences were identified between women in the hypnosis group and women in the control group for most outcomes where data were available. For example, there was no significant difference for satisfaction with the childbirth experience (average RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.52 to 3.59, two studies, 370 women), admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit (average RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.12 to 2.89, two studies, 347 women) or breastfeeding at discharge from hospital (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.03, one study, 304 women). There was some evidence of benefits for women in the hypnosis group compared with the control group for pain intensity, length of labour and maternal hospital stay, although these findings were based on single studies with small numbers of women. Pain intensity was found to be lower for women in the hypnosis group than those in the control group in one trial of 60 women (mean difference (MD) -0.70, 95% CI -1.03 to -0.37). The same study found that the average length of labour from 5 cm dilation to birth (minutes) was significantly shorter for women in the hypnosis group (mean difference -165.20, 95% CI -223.53 to -106.87, one study, 60 women). Another study found that a smaller proportion of women in the hypnosis group stayed in hospital for more than two days after the birth compared with women in the control group (RR 0.11, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.83, one study, 42 women). There are still only a small number of studies assessing the use of hypnosis for labour and childbirth. Although the intervention shows some promise, further research is needed before recommendations can be made regarding its clinical usefulness for pain management in maternity care.

[Case-control study on minimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate internal fixation for the treatment of type II and III pilon fractures].

PubMed

Zhang, Zhi-Da; Ye, Xiu-Yi; Shang, Li-Yong; Xu, Rong-Ming; Zhu, Yan-Zhao

2011-12-01

To explore the clinical efficacy of delayed open reduction and internal fixation with minimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate for the treatment of type II and III Pilon fractures. From January 2007 to September 2009, 32 patients with type II and III Pilon fractures were treated with open reduction and anatomic plate fixation (AP group) and minimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate osteosynthesis (LCP group). There were 11 males and 6 females in AP group, with an average age of (37.4 +/- 13.3) years (ranged, 19 to 55 years). And there were 10 males and 5 females in LCP group, with an average age of (34.6 +/- 11.3) years(ranged, 21 to 56 years). The operating time, fracture healing time, aligned angulation and ankle function were compared between the two groups. All the patients were followed up, and the during ranged from 12 to 25 months, with a mean of (15.0 +/- 1.7) months. The average operation time was (76.5 +/- 8.3) min for AP group and (58.3 +/- 3.4) min for LCP group; the average time of fracture healing was (20.5 +/- 0.4) weeks for AP group and (15.7 +/- 0.2) weeks for LCP group; the total angulation between anterior posterior film and lateral film was averaged (6.6 +/- 0.5) degrees for AP group and (3.6 +/- 0.2) degrees for LCP group. As to above index, the results of LCP group were better than those of AP group (P < 0.05). According to Kofoed criteria for ankle joint, the results of LCP group were better than those of AP group in ankle joint pain, wakling and ankle joint function (P < 0.05). The method of minimally invasive percutaneous locking compression plate internal fixation is effective in the treatment of Pilon fracture with less invasion, faster bone union, more stabilized fixation, quicker recovery of ankle function and fewer complications, which is more advantaged for type II and III Pilon fractures.

Family functioning in the families of psychiatric patients: a comparison with nonclinical families.

PubMed

Trangkasombat, Umaporn

2006-11-01

To examine family functioning in the families of psychiatric patients. Families of psychiatric patients and nonclinical families were compared. There were 60 families in each group. The instrument included a semistructured interview of family functioning and the Chulalongkorn Family Inventory (CFI), a self-report questionnaire designed to assess the perception of one's family. From the assessment by semistructured interview, 83.3% of psychiatric families and 45.0% of nonclinical families were found to be dysfunctional in at least one dimension. The difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The average number of dysfunctional dimensions in the psychiatric families was significantly higher than in the nonclinical control group, 3.5 +/- 1.9 and 0.98 +/- 1.5 respectively, p < 0.0001. The CFI scores of the psychiatric families were significantly lower than the control group, reflecting poor family functioning. The dysfunctions were mostly in the following dimensions: problem-solving, communication, affective responsiveness, affective involvement, and behavior control. Psychiatric families faced more psychosocial stressors and the average number of stressors was higher than the control families, 88.3% vs. 56.7% and 4.2 +/- 2.7 vs. 1.3 +/- 1.47 stressors respectively, p < 0.0001. Family functioning of psychiatric patients was less healthy than the nonclinical control. The present study underlined the significance of family assessment and family intervention in the comprehensive care of psychiatric patients.

Effect of feeding Rumen-protected capsule containing niacin, K2SO4, vitamin C, and gamma-aminobutyric acid on heat stress and performance of dairy cows.

PubMed

Guo, W J; Zhen, L; Zhang, J X; Lian, S; Si, H F; Guo, J R; Yang, H M

2017-10-01

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental rumen-protected capsule (RPC) on animal performance, serological indicators, and serum heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) of lactating Holstein cows under heat stress (HS). During summer months, 30 healthy multiparous lactating Holstein cows with a parity number of 3.1 ± 0.44, 70 ± 15 d in milk, an average body weight of 622 ± 62kg, and an average milk yield of 32.28 ± 0.96kg/d, were used. The cows were randomly allocated to two groups: a control group and an RPC-supplemented group (0.13373kg K 2 SO 4 , 0.02488kg vitamin C, 0.021148kg niacin, and 0.044784kggamma-aminobutyric acid per cow). During the 42-d experiment, ambient air temperature and relative humidity inside and outside the barn were recorded hourly every day for the determination of temperature-humidity index (THI). Milk and blood samples were collected every week, and body weight and body condition scoring were measured on day 0. Based on the THI values, the animals had moderate HS. On day 42, the RPC group had lower HSP70, adrenocorticotropic hormone (P = 0.0001), lactate dehydrogenase (P = 0.0338), and IL-6 (P = 0.0724) levels than the control group, with no significant differences in creatine kinase, glucocorticoid, or IL-2 levels. Milk yield, energy-corrected milk, and dry matter intake were higher in RPC than in the control group (P = 0.0196). There were no significant differences in milk fat or daily protein levels between the two groups; however, daily protein and milk fat levels were higher in the RPC group than in the control group (P = 0.0114 and P = 0.0665, respectively). Somatic cell counts were no different between the two groups. In conclusion, RPC may alleviate HS and improve dairy cow performance. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Use of a Lysine-Derived Urethane Surgical Adhesive as an Alternative to Progressive Tension Sutures in Abdominoplasty Patients: A Cohort Study.

PubMed

Spring, Michelle A

2018-04-07

Fluid accumulation is a common complication after abdominoplasty procedures, and is typically managed by the placement of post-surgical drains. Progressive tension sutures (PTS) have been shown to be an effective approach to reduce the dead space by point-wise mechanical fixation, allowing for drain-free procedures. Lysine-derived urethane surgical adhesive provides an alternative approach for mechanical fixation and reduction of dead space, and may reduce surgery time compared to PTS. This prospective, controlled, single center clinical study compared progressive tension suture wound closure technique without drains (control) to tissue adhesive wound closure technique without drains (test) during abdominoplasty surgery. The objective was to determine if lysine-derived urethane surgical adhesive is an effective alternative to PTS for drain-free abdominoplasty procedures. Patients undergoing abdominoplasty who met the established inclusion/exclusion criteria were consented and enrolled in the study. Ten PTS (control) cases were performed, followed immediately by ten tissue adhesive (test) cases. Drains were not used in any procedures. Key outcome measures included all major and minor post-surgical complications requiring any intervention, the time to place progressive tension sutures versus time for tissue adhesive application, and number of PTS attachments versus number of adhesive drops applied. Surgeries were completed over an 8-month period. No statistical differences were identified between the two groups with regard to age, BMI, dissection surface area or flap weight. No clinical seroma formation was observed in either group. In the control (PTS) group, two patients developed small areas of dermal closure suture abscess requiring removal of suture material. One control patient developed drainage and fat necrosis thought to be related to PTS above the incision and later required a scar revision. One tissue adhesive patient developed hypertrophic scars of both her breast reduction and abdominoplasty scars requiring additional treatment. The average time to place PTS in the control group was 10.7 minutes (range, 7-18 minutes) and the average number of sutures placed was 16.6 (range, 12-22 sutures). In the test group, the average time to place the tissue adhesive and hold pressure was 5.9 minutes (range 5.5-8.0 minutes). The average number of tissue adhesive drops applied was 69.6 (range: 63-78 drops). In the tissue adhesive group, both the reduction in time for flap adhesion and the increased number of adhesive points were statistically significant when compared to PTS. Lysine-derived urethane surgical adhesive was applied in less time than progressive tension sutures, even after accounting for holding pressure for 5 minutes. The tissue adhesive provided four times the number of attachment points compared to PTS, although the significance of this is not clear. There were no postoperative clinical seromas detected in either group and there were no major complications in either group. Based on these results, the use of lysine-derived urethane surgical adhesive was found to be a safe and effective alternative to progressive tension sutures to reduce seroma formation in drain-free abdominoplasty procedures.

Quantitative assessment of local perfusion change in acute intracerebral hemorrhage areas with and without "dynamic spot sign" using CT perfusion imaging.

PubMed

Fu, Fan; Sui, Binbin; Liu, Liping; Su, Yaping; Sun, Shengjun; Li, Yingying

2018-01-01

Background Positive "dynamic spot sign" has been proven to be a potential risk factor for acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) expansion, but local perfusion change has not been quantitatively investigated. Purpose To quantitatively evaluate perfusion changes at the ICH area using computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging. Material and Methods Fifty-three patients with spontaneous ICH were recruited. Unenhanced computed tomography (NCCT), CTP within 6 h, and follow-up NCCT were performed for 21 patients in the "spot sign"-positive group and 32 patients in the control group. Cerebral perfusion change was quantitatively measured on regional cerebral blood flow/regional cerebral blood volume (rCBF/rCBV) maps. Regions of interest (ROIs) were set at the "spot-sign" region and the whole hematoma area for "spot-sign"-positive cases, and at one of the highest values of three interested areas and the whole hematoma area for the control group. Hematoma expansion was determined by follow-up NCCT. Results For the "spot-sign"-positive group, the average rCBF (rCBV) values at the "spot-sign" region and the whole hematoma area were 21.34 ± 15.24 mL/min/100 g (21.64 ± 21.48 mL/100g) and 5.78 ± 6.32 mL/min/100 g (6.07 ± 5.45 mL/100g); for the control group, the average rCBF (rCBV) values at the interested area and whole hematoma area were 2.50 ± 1.83 mL/min/100 g (3.13 ± 1.96 mL/100g) and 3.02 ± 1.80 mL/min/100 g (3.40 ± 1.44 mL/100g), respectively. Average rCBF and rCBV values of the "spot-sign" region were significantly different from other regions ( P < 0.001; P = 0.004). The average volumes of hematoma expansion in the "spot-sign"-positive and control groups were 25.24 ± 19.38 mL and -0.41 ± 1.34 mL, respectively. Conclusion The higher perfusion change at ICH on CTP images may reflect the contrast extravasation and be associated with the hematoma expansion.

Demographic and fertility characteristics of 4 squatter settlements.

PubMed

Yusof, K; Zulkifli, S N

1985-01-01

The demographic and fertility profiles of 4 squatter areas, 2 with Sang Kancil, a community development project designed specifically for squatter settlements in Kuala Lumpur, are described. Data were taken from a census conducted in 1982. Figure 1 maps out the location of the study areas in the Federal Territory. The squatter household (5.4 members) varied little from the average Malaysian household. The average age of the male head of household was 40 years, i.e., not within the high fertility group; the mean duration of stay was 10 years. Household income/month averaged M$760, falling between estimates for urban and rural mean. Comparing the data on the 2 squatter areas, the non-Sang Kancil head of household was, on average, slightly older and had stayed about 2 years longer than his Sang Kancil counterpart. These differences were statistically significant. Both areas were comparable with regard to household income and size. Ethnically, the Sang Kancil areas were predominantly Malay, comprising 86% of total households. The control areas had a more mixed ethnic structure. From 1978-81, annual increases in total population had been fairly uniform, at around 2%, in non-Sang Kancil Areas. Yet, the Sang Kancil population experienced a growth spurt in 1980, which subsequently declined and appeared to level off. 1982 figures were disregarded in this analysis as they were based on a 1/2 year enumeration only. The age distribution pattern of all squatter areas combined was fairly similar to the national distribution pyramid but for a higher proportion of people in the 15-44 age group than national figures. The proportion of dependents, 0-14 years, was comparable despite having more people in this fertile age group. The proportion of infants (0-11 months) in the control population was constant, but there was a decline down to control values by the end of the surveyed period in the Sang Kancil group. In the toddler group, decreases were evident for both populations. Additionally, the proportion of the population in the 20-39 age group, considered the most fertile, was consistently higher in the Sang Kancil areas throughout the 4.5 years. Thus, for Sang Kancil areas, fertility appeared to have dropped; it has remained fairly steady in non-Sang Kancil controls. In addition to contraceptive practice, 2 others factors most likely have contributed to fertility declines: a progressive decline in those who were married, which is likely to have had a negative effect on fertility rates; and evidence of induced abortion.

[Application of individually designed trans-fissure approach in brain surgery: analysis of 90 cases].

PubMed

Zhao, Ji-Zong; Wang, Shuo; Zhang, Mao-Zhi; Wang, Lei; Wang, Rong; Tang, Ya-Juan

2009-01-06

To explore the feasibility and value of trans-fissure approaches in brain surgery through individually designed craniotomy. Ninety patients with intracranial space-occupying lesions, 47 males and 58 females, aged (43 +/- 14) (1 - 68), were treated by individualized trans-fissure approach surgeries. Linear scalp incision or "horseshoe shape" scalp incision were designed to perform the operation, with a bone flap 3 - 4 cm in diameter. The shortest approach to reach the lesion was decided under the guidance of neuro-navigation and real-time B-mode ultrasonography. Then the lesions were removed through natural cortical fissures. Another 79 patients with intracranial space-occupying lesions, 53 males and 51 females, aged (42 +/- 11) (15 -73), undergoing classical surgeries in the same period were used as control group. The average operation time, size of bone flap, amount of blood loss, hospitalization time, and hospitalization cost were compared between these 2 groups. The operation time of the individually designed trans-fissure approach group was (3.1 +/- 1.6) hours (1.33 - 10.83 hours), significantly shorter than that of the control group [(4.8 +/- 1.9) hrs, P < 0.05]. The amount of blood loss of the individually designed trans-fissure approach group was (173 +/- 168) ml (20 m - 500 ml), significantly less than that of the control group [(410 +/- 61) ml, P < 0.01]. The size of bone flap of the individually designed trans-fissure approach group was (12 +/- 5) cm2 [(1 - 25) cm2], significantly smaller than that of the control group [(20. +/- 9) cm2, P < 0.01]. Four of the 90 patients of the individually designed trans-fissure approach group received retransfusion, compared to 15 in the control group, during operation. No infection or other significant complications occurred after operation in the individually designed trans-fissure approach group. The hospitalization time of the individually designed trans-fissure approach group was (20 +/- 6) days (9 - 39 days), significantly shorter than that of the control group [(24 +/- 7) days, P < 0.01]. The average hospitalization cost of the individually designed trans-fissure approach group was (23171 +/- 7280) yuan RMB; significantly lower than that of the control group [(28096 +/- 10822) yuan, P < 0.01]. One of the land markers of minimally invasive neurosurgery, individualized trans-fissure approach has been proved to be an effective minimally invasive approach that leads to better outcome and fewer complications after operation.

Combined EEG-fNIRS decoding of motor attempt and imagery for brain switch control: an offline study in patients with tetraplegia.

PubMed

Blokland, Yvonne; Spyrou, Loukianos; Thijssen, Dick; Eijsvogels, Thijs; Colier, Willy; Floor-Westerdijk, Marianne; Vlek, Rutger; Bruhn, Jorgen; Farquhar, Jason

2014-03-01

Combining electrophysiological and hemodynamic features is a novel approach for improving current performance of brain switches based on sensorimotor rhythms (SMR). This study was conducted with a dual purpose: to test the feasibility of using a combined electroencephalogram/functional near-infrared spectroscopy (EEG-fNIRS) SMR-based brain switch in patients with tetraplegia, and to examine the performance difference between motor imagery and motor attempt for this user group. A general improvement was found when using both EEG and fNIRS features for classification as compared to using the single-modality EEG classifier, with average classification rates of 79% for attempted movement and 70% for imagined movement. For the control group, rates of 87% and 79% were obtained, respectively, where the "attempted movement" condition was replaced with "actual movement." A combined EEG-fNIRS system might be especially beneficial for users who lack sufficient control of current EEG-based brain switches. The average classification performance in the patient group for attempted movement was significantly higher than for imagined movement using the EEG-only as well as the combined classifier, arguing for the case of a paradigm shift in current brain switch research.

A Methodology to Detect Abnormal Relative Wall Shear Stress on the Full Surface of the Thoracic Aorta Using 4D Flow MRI

PubMed Central

van Ooij, Pim; Potters, Wouter V.; Nederveen, Aart J.; Allen, Bradley D.; Collins, Jeremy; Carr, James; Malaisrie, S. Chris; Markl, Michael; Barker, Alex J.

2014-01-01

Purpose To compute cohort-averaged wall shear stress (WSS) maps in the thoracic aorta of patients with aortic dilatation or valvular stenosis and to detect abnormal regional WSS. Methods Systolic WSS vectors, estimated from 4D flow MRI data, were calculated along the thoracic aorta lumen in 10 controls, 10 patients with dilated aortas and 10 patients with aortic valve stenosis. 3D segmentations of each aorta were co-registered by group and used to create a cohort-specific aortic geometry. The WSS vectors of each subject were interpolated onto the corresponding cohort-specific geometry to create cohort-averaged WSS maps. A Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to generate aortic P-value maps (P<0.05) representing regional relative WSS differences between groups. Results Cohort-averaged systolic WSS maps and P-value maps were successfully created for all cohorts and comparisons. The dilation cohort showed significantly lower WSS on 7% of the ascending aorta surface, whereas the stenosis cohort showed significantly higher WSS aorta on 34% the ascending aorta surface. Conclusions The findings of this study demonstrated the feasibility of generating cohort-averaged WSS maps for the visualization and identification of regionally altered WSS in the presence of disease, as compared to healthy controls. PMID:24753241

A stable pattern of EEG spectral coherence distinguishes children with autism from neuro-typical controls - a large case control study.

PubMed

Duffy, Frank H; Als, Heidelise

2012-06-26

The autism rate has recently increased to 1 in 100 children. Genetic studies demonstrate poorly understood complexity. Environmental factors apparently also play a role. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies demonstrate increased brain sizes and altered connectivity. Electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence studies confirm connectivity changes. However, genetic-, MRI- and/or EEG-based diagnostic tests are not yet available. The varied study results likely reflect methodological and population differences, small samples and, for EEG, lack of attention to group-specific artifact. Of the 1,304 subjects who participated in this study, with ages ranging from 1 to 18 years old and assessed with comparable EEG studies, 463 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); 571 children were neuro-typical controls (C). After artifact management, principal components analysis (PCA) identified EEG spectral coherence factors with corresponding loading patterns. The 2- to 12-year-old subsample consisted of 430 ASD- and 554 C-group subjects (n = 984). Discriminant function analysis (DFA) determined the spectral coherence factors' discrimination success for the two groups. Loading patterns on the DFA-selected coherence factors described ASD-specific coherence differences when compared to controls. Total sample PCA of coherence data identified 40 factors which explained 50.8% of the total population variance. For the 2- to 12-year-olds, the 40 factors showed highly significant group differences (P < 0.0001). Ten randomly generated split half replications demonstrated high-average classification success (C, 88.5%; ASD, 86.0%). Still higher success was obtained in the more restricted age sub-samples using the jackknifing technique: 2- to 4-year-olds (C, 90.6%; ASD, 98.1%); 4- to 6-year-olds (C, 90.9%; ASD 99.1%); and 6- to 12-year-olds (C, 98.7%; ASD, 93.9%). Coherence loadings demonstrated reduced short-distance and reduced, as well as increased, long-distance coherences for the ASD-groups, when compared to the controls. Average spectral loading per factor was wide (10.1 Hz). Classification success suggests a stable coherence loading pattern that differentiates ASD- from C-group subjects. This might constitute an EEG coherence-based phenotype of childhood autism. The predominantly reduced short-distance coherences may indicate poor local network function. The increased long-distance coherences may represent compensatory processes or reduced neural pruning. The wide average spectral range of factor loadings may suggest over-damped neural networks.

77 FR 40889 - Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and Recommendations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-11

... evaluation study will be conducted using a group-randomized controlled trial multi-time series design. Four... their time. Estimated Annualized Burden Hours Number of Average burden Respondents Number of responses...

The efficacy of the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) for patulous Eustachian tube patient.

PubMed

Ikeda, Ryoukichi; Kikuchi, Toshiaki; Miyazaki, Hiromitsu; Hidaka, Hiroshi; Kawase, Tetsuaki; Katori, Yukio; Kobayashi, Toshimitsu

2018-01-01

To assess the efficacy of the Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Questionnaire (ETDQ-7) for patulous Eustachian tube (PET) patients. A prospective survey of medical records identified 36 patients and 47 ears with PET, and 15 patients and 15 ears as control. The ETDQ-7, patulous Eustachian tube handicap inventory-10 (PHI-10) and Likert scale were evaluated. PET patients were divided into two groups based on severity of symptoms using the PHI score. The Cronbach α value of the PET group was 0.765. The average total score of the ETDQ-7 in the control group was 7.6 ± 1.1 and 22.5 ± 10.0 in the PET group (p < .01). No correlation was found between ETDQ-7 and Likert scale (r = 0.248, p = .09). The average total score of the ETDQ-7 in the mild or moderate PET group was 19.9 ± 9.0 and 25.3 ± 11.1 in the severe PET group and this was not statistically different (p = .08). The highest ETDQ-7 score was also observed in PET patients and in ET dysfunction patients. These findings necessitate careful discrimination between ET dysfunction and PET in balloon dilation Eustachian tuboplasty (BET) based on ETDQ-7.

Development skills of children born premature with low and very low birth weight.

PubMed

Ribeiro, Camila da Costa; Pachelli, Mariane Regina de Oliveira; Amaral, Natalie Camillo de Oliveira; Lamônica, Dionísia Aparecida Cusin

2017-01-30

To compare the performance of children born premature with low birth weight (LBW) and very low birth-weight (VLBW) with that of children born at term, within the age range of one to three years, regarding child development in the gross motor, fine motor-adaptive, personal-social and language domains. This is a cross-sectional study in a cohort of 150 infants born premature (experimental group) and at term (control group) divided into eight groups with respect to weight (low birth weight: <2500 grams and very low birth weight: <1500 grams) and age range (aged 12 to 24 and 25 to 36 months). The control groups were paired with the experimental groups as for gender, chronological age, and socioeconomic level. Assessment comprised the application of anamnesis protocol, socioeconomic classification, and Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST-II). Corrected age was calculated for premature children up to 24 months of age. Descriptive statistical analysis and the Student's t-test were used. No statistically significant difference was found in the comparison between the groups of infants born premature and at term for all domains evaluated. The performance of infants born premature was lower than that of infants born at term regarding the gross motor, fine motor-adaptive, personal-social and language domains. In this study, the preterm groups presented different performances, i.e., normative, average, and below average performances were observed within the same group.

Effect of Metoprolol Succinate in Patients with Stable Angina and Elevated Heart Rate Receiving Low-Dose β-Blocker Therapy.

PubMed

Jiang, Jie; Cong, Hongliang; Zhang, Yan; Li, Zhanquan; Tao, Guizhou; Li, Xiaodong; Qing, Liang; Tan, Ning; Zhao, Zhichen; Dong, Yugang; Ji, Zheng; Chen, Yundai; Ge, Junbo; He, Ben; Sun, Yingxian; Cao, Kejiang; Huo, Yong

2017-01-01

Aims: β-blockers are underused in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease. The prescribed dose is often low. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metoprolol succinate doses of 95 mg and 190 mg on heart rate (HR) control, as well as drug tolerance, in Chinese patients with stable angina, low-dose β-blocker use and unsatisfactory HR control. Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial in 15 clinical sites. Patients with stable angina, taking low-dose β-blockers (equivalent to metoprolol succinate 23.75-47.5 mg/day), and having a resting HR of ≥ 65 bpm were enrolled and randomized to either the metoprolol 95-mg group or the 190-mg group. The change in 24-h average HR from baseline recorded by Holter monitoring and the percentages of patients with resting HR controlled to ≤ 60 bpm were compared between the two groups. Results: Two hundred thirty-one patients entered the intent-to-treat population for the main analysis. The change in 24-h average HR from baseline was -0.62 ± 0.66 bpm in the 95 mg group and -2.99 ± 0.62 bpm in the 190 mg group (p = 0.0077) after 8 weeks of treatment. The percentages of patients with resting HR controlled to ≤ 60 bpm were 24.1% (95% CI: 16.35%, 31.93%) and 40.0% (95% CI: 31.05%, 48.95%), respectively (p = 0.0019). Only 4 and 2 of the patients, respectively, discontinued the study drugs because of hypotension or bradycardia. Conclusions: The metoprolol succinate dose of 190 mg is superior to the 95 mg dose in terms of HR control, in Chinese patients with stable angina, low-dose β-blocker use and unsatisfactory HR control. Both doses were well tolerated.

Psychotherapy With Somatosensory Stimulation for Endometriosis-Associated Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PubMed

Meissner, Karin; Schweizer-Arau, Annemarie; Limmer, Anna; Preibisch, Christine; Popovici, Roxana M; Lange, Isabel; de Oriol, Barbara; Beissner, Florian

2016-11-01

To evaluate whether psychotherapy with somatosensory stimulation is effective for the treatment of pain and quality of life in patients with endometriosis-related pain. Patients with a history of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain were randomized to either psychotherapy with somatosensory stimulation (ie, different techniques of acupuncture point stimulation) or wait-list control for 3 months, after which all patients were treated. The primary outcome was brain connectivity assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging. Prespecified secondary outcomes included pain on 11-point numeric rating scales (maximal and average global pain, pelvic pain, dyschezia, and dyspareunia) and physical and mental quality of life. A sample size of 30 per group was planned to compare outcomes in the treatment group and the wait-list control group. From March 2010 through March 2012, 67 women (mean age 35.6 years) were randomly allocated to intervention (n=35) or wait-list control (n=32). In comparison with wait-list controls, treated patients showed improvements after 3 months in maximal global pain (mean group difference -2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] -3.4 to -0.8; P=.002), average global pain (-2.5, 95% CI -3.5 to -1.4; P<.001), pelvic pain (-1.4, 95% CI -2.7 to -0.1; P=.036), dyschezia (-3.5, 95% CI -5.8 to -1.3; P=.003), physical quality of life (3.8, 95% CI 0.5-7.1, P=.026), and mental quality of life (5.9, 95% CI 0.6-11.3; P=.031); dyspareunia improved nonsignificantly (-1.8, 95% CI -4.4 to 0.7; P=.150). Improvements in the intervention group remained stable at 6 and 24 months, and control patients showed comparable symptom relief after delayed intervention. Psychotherapy with somatosensory stimulation reduced global pain, pelvic pain, and dyschezia and improved quality of life in patients with endometriosis. After 6 and 24 months, when all patients were treated, both groups showed stable improvements. ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01321840.

Evaluation of Swallowing Functions in Patients with Sjögren's Syndrome.

PubMed

Eyigör, Sibel; Sezgin, Baha; Karabulut, Gonca; Öztürk, Kerem; Göde, Sercan; Kirazlı, Tayfun

2017-04-01

Patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) manifest symptoms such as dry eyes, dry mouth, and dysphagia. This study aims to evaluate the swallowing functions of the patients with SS. 69 patients with SS (65 females, 4 males) and 40 healthy individuals (33 females, 7 males) were included as study and control groups, respectively. Mean ages were 52.86 and 48.25 years for study and control groups, respectively. Swallowing functions were evaluated by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). All the patients underwent FEES and were given 3, 5, and 10 ml water, yogurt, and fish-shaped crackers twice, respectively. The presence of bolus control, residue, penetration, and aspiration were evaluated. Additionally, certain types of foods triggering the dysphagia, any difficulties in bolus control, need to clean the throat, sensation of having a lump in the throat, sensation of choking, and xerostomia were included in the questionnaire. The MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered to patients. Considering the presence of residue with yogurt and fish cracker, there was a significant difference between groups (P < 0.05). Penetration was present in two patients in the study group; however, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Regarding the MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory, the average scores were 48.18 ± 13.21 and 87.6 ± 10.67 for study and control groups, respectively, and a statistically significant difference was detected (P < 0.05). Regarding the Beck Depression Inventory, the average scores were 11.83 ± 9.37 and 8.03 ± 6.84 for study and control groups, respectively (P < 0.05). SS affected the swallowing functions significantly. The presence of residue with yogurt and cracker was the most obvious finding, whereas penetration/aspiration was not clinically significant. Swallowing dysfunction reduced the quality of life in patients with SS.

Effect of Metoprolol Succinate in Patients with Stable Angina and Elevated Heart Rate Receiving Low-Dose β-Blocker Therapy

PubMed Central

Jiang, Jie; Cong, Hongliang; Zhang, Yan; Li, Zhanquan; Tao, Guizhou; Li, Xiaodong; Qing, Liang; Tan, Ning; Zhao, Zhichen; Dong, Yugang; Ji, Zheng; Chen, Yundai; Ge, Junbo; He, Ben; Sun, Yingxian; Cao, Kejiang; Huo, Yong

2017-01-01

Aims: β-blockers are underused in Chinese patients with coronary heart disease. The prescribed dose is often low. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of metoprolol succinate doses of 95 mg and 190 mg on heart rate (HR) control, as well as drug tolerance, in Chinese patients with stable angina, low-dose β-blocker use and unsatisfactory HR control. Methods: This was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group trial in 15 clinical sites. Patients with stable angina, taking low-dose β-blockers (equivalent to metoprolol succinate 23.75-47.5 mg/day), and having a resting HR of ≥ 65 bpm were enrolled and randomized to either the metoprolol 95-mg group or the 190-mg group. The change in 24-h average HR from baseline recorded by Holter monitoring and the percentages of patients with resting HR controlled to ≤ 60 bpm were compared between the two groups. Results: Two hundred thirty-one patients entered the intent-to-treat population for the main analysis. The change in 24-h average HR from baseline was -0.62 ± 0.66 bpm in the 95 mg group and -2.99 ± 0.62 bpm in the 190 mg group (p = 0.0077) after 8 weeks of treatment. The percentages of patients with resting HR controlled to ≤ 60 bpm were 24.1% (95% CI: 16.35%, 31.93%) and 40.0% (95% CI: 31.05%, 48.95%), respectively (p = 0.0019). Only 4 and 2 of the patients, respectively, discontinued the study drugs because of hypotension or bradycardia. Conclusions: The metoprolol succinate dose of 190 mg is superior to the 95 mg dose in terms of HR control, in Chinese patients with stable angina, low-dose β-blocker use and unsatisfactory HR control. Both doses were well tolerated. PMID:28539824

Controllable Biotinylated Poly(Ethylene-co-Glycidyl Methacrylate) (PE-co-GMA) Nanofibers to Bind Streptavidin-Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) for Potential Biosensor Applications

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Poly(ethylene-co-glycidyl methacrylate) (PE-co-GMA) nanofibers with abundant active epoxy groups on surfaces were fabricated through a novel manufacturing process. The prepared PE-co-GMA nanofibers with different average diameters ranging from 100 to 400 nm were aminated by reacting the epoxy groups...

Association between Psychopathic Disorder and Serum Antibody to Herpes Simplex Virus (Type 1)

PubMed Central

Cleobury, J. F.; Skinner, G. R. B.; Thouless, M. E.; Wildy, P.

1971-01-01

The sera of a small of patients has been examined for herpes simplex virus antibody. Three clinically-defined groups of patients were compared: (a) aggressive psychopaths, (b) psychiatric controls, and (c) general hospital patients. The first group had an unusually high average kinetic neutralization constant against type 1 herpes simplex virus. PMID:5543996

Association between psychopathic disorder and serum antibody to herpes simplex virus (type 1).

PubMed

Cleobury, J F; Skinner, G R; Thouless, M E; Wildy, P

1971-02-20

The sera of a small of patients has been examined for herpes simplex virus antibody. Three clinically-defined groups of patients were compared: (a) aggressive psychopaths, (b) psychiatric controls, and (c) general hospital patients. The first group had an unusually high average kinetic neutralization constant against type 1 herpes simplex virus.

A Preliminary Investigation of Toughlove: Assertiveness and Support in a Parents' Self-Help Group.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klug, Wayne

This study examined Toughlove, the controversial self-help organization for parents and out-of-control adolescents. Six small group Toughlove meetings containing an average of 8 members for each were observed, and questionnaires were completed by 75 Toughlove parents from 8 states. Variables examined include the roles of empathy, assertiveness…

Developmental origins of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a case control study comparing birth weight in women with PCOS and control group.

PubMed

Sadrzadeh, Sheda; Painter, Rebecca C; Lambalk, Cornelis B

2016-10-01

Evidence from various epidemiological studies and experimental animal studies has linked adverse intrauterine circumstances with health problems in adult life. This field of investigation is known as Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD). Studies investigating the relation between developing polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adulthood and birth weight have yielded inconsistent results: PCOS is described more often in women with low birth weight and high birth weight, while other studies have failed to establish any relation. In this retrospective case-control study, we evaluated whether women diagnosed with PCOS had lower birth weight compared to women with a regular menstrual cycle (controls). Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the data and correct for known confounders. About 65 women with PCOS and 96 controls were recruited for this purpose. The average birth weight of PCOS women (3357 g) did not differ from the average birth weight of controls (3409 g). Mean age at menarche differed significantly between groups, 13.7  years and 12.8  years (p = 0.006), respectively, for PCOS women and controls. In conclusion, we could not confirm the effect of adverse intrauterine conditions, reflected in birth weight, on developing PCOS.

Antagonism between apoptotic (Bax/Bcl-2) and anti-apoptotic (IAP) signals in human osteoblastic cells under vector-averaged gravity condition.

PubMed

Nakamura, Hiroshi; Kumei, Yasuhiro; Morita, Sadao; Shimokawa, Hitoyata; Ohya, Keiichi; Shinomiya, Kenichi

2003-12-01

A functional disorder associated with weightlessness is well documented in osteoblasts. The apototic features of this disorder are poorly understood. Harmful stress induces apoptosis in cells via mitochondria and/or Fas. The Bax triggers cytochrome c release from mitochondria, which can be blocked by the Bcl-2. Released cytochrome c then activates the initiator caspase, caspase-9, which can be blocked by the anti-apototic (IAP) family of molecules. The effector caspase, caspase-3, finally exerts DNA fragmentation. We conducted this study to examine the apoptotic effects of vector-averaged gravity on normal human osteoblastic cells. Cell culture flasks were incubated on the clinostat, which generated vector-averaged gravity condition (simulated microgravity) for 12, 24, 48, and 96 hours. Upon termination of clinostat cultures, the cell number and cell viability were assessed. DNA fragmentation was analyzed on the agarose-gel electrophoresis. The mRNA levels for Bax, Bcl-2, XIAP, and caspase-3 genes were analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Twenty-four hours after starting clinostat rotation, the ratios of Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA levels (indicator of apoptosis) were significantly increased to 136% of the 1G static controls. However, the XIAP mRNA levels (anti-apoptotic molecule) were increased concomitantly to 138% of the 1G static controls. Thus, cell proliferation or cell viability was not affected by vector-averaged gravity. DNA fragmentation was not observed in clinostat group as well as in control group. Finally, the caspase-3 mRNA levels were not affected by vector-averaged gravity. Simulated microgravity might modulate some apoptotic signals upstream the mitochondrial pathway.

Intelligence and cortical thickness in children with complex partial seizures.

PubMed

Tosun, Duygu; Caplan, Rochelle; Siddarth, Prabha; Seidenberg, Michael; Gurbani, Suresh; Toga, Arthur W; Hermann, Bruce

2011-07-15

Prior studies on healthy children have demonstrated regional variations and a complex and dynamic relationship between intelligence and cerebral tissue. Yet, there is little information regarding the neuroanatomical correlates of general intelligence in children with epilepsy compared to healthy controls. In vivo imaging techniques, combined with methods for advanced image processing and analysis, offer the potential to examine quantitative mapping of brain development and its abnormalities in childhood epilepsy. A surface-based, computational high resolution 3-D magnetic resonance image analytic technique was used to compare the relationship of cortical thickness with age and intelligence quotient (IQ) in 65 children and adolescents with complex partial seizures (CPS) and 58 healthy controls, aged 6-18 years. Children were grouped according to health status (epilepsy; controls) and IQ level (average and above; below average) and compared on age-related patterns of cortical thickness. Our cross-sectional findings suggest that disruption in normal age-related cortical thickness expression is associated with intelligence in pediatric CPS patients both with average and below average IQ scores. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The safety of flavocoxid, a medical food, in the dietary management of knee osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Morgan, Sarah L; Baggott, Joseph E; Moreland, Larry; Desmond, Renee; Kendrach, Angela C

2009-10-01

This study was designed to determine the safety of a medical food, flavocoxid, a proprietary blend of free-B ring flavonoids and flavans from the root of Scutellaria baicalensis (Chinese skullcap) and the bark of Acacia catechu in the dietary management of knee osteoarthritis. The 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in an academic medical center enrolled 59 patients with moderate osteoarthritis of at least one knee who were recruited who were classified as having "below average" to "a moderately above average cardiovascular risk" with a Framingham-based scoring tool. Subjects were randomized to flavocoxid 250 mg twice a day versus identical placebo. Safety measures, including recording of adverse events, incidence of serious adverse events, and results of routine laboratory values, were compared between the two groups. There were no major differences in the baseline demographic characteristics of the placebo and flavocoxid groups. With one exception no significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to adverse events by body system, blood pressure, or laboratory values. There was a significantly higher incidence of upper respiratory adverse events in the placebo group (35.4% vs. 5.8%, P = .0003). There were no intra- or inter-group differences in any of the laboratory parameters from study baseline to completion. Thus, flavocoxid is safe when used in a population with "below average" to "moderately above average cardiovascular risk" compared to placebo.

[Clinical effect of different sequences of debridement-antibiotic therapy in treatment of severe chronic periodontitis].

PubMed

Li, Yi; Xu, Li; Lu, Rui-fang; An, Yue-bang; Wang, Xian-e; Song, Wen-li; Meng, Huan-xi

2015-02-18

To evaluate the feasibility of full-mouth debridement (subgingival scaling and root planning, SRP) by 2 times within 1 week and compare the clinical effects of different sequences of debridement-antibiotic usage in patients with severe chronic periodontitis (CP). A double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial was conducted in 30 severe CP patients (14 males and 16 females, 40.5 ± 8.4 years old on average from 35 to 60) receiving 3 different sequences of debridement-antibiotictherapy: Group A, antibiotic usage (metronidazole, MTZ, 0.2 g, tid, 7 d; amoxicillin, AMX 0.5 g, tid, 7 d) was started together with SRP (completed by 2 times in 7 d); Group B, antibiotic usage (MTZ 0.2 g, tid, 7 d; AMX 0.5 g, tid, 7 d) was started 1 d after SRP(completed by 2 times in 7 d); Group C, SRP alone[probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI) and tooth mobility] was examined. The average full-mouth probing depth, the average full-mouth proximal probing depth (pPD), the percentage of sites with PD>5 mm (PD>5 mm%), the percentage of sites with proximal PD>5 mm (pPD>5 mm%), the average bleeding index (BI) and the percentage of sites with bleeding on probing (BOP%) were calculated. Clinical examinations were performed at baseline and 2 months post therapy. (1) Compared with baseline conditions, all the subjects showed clinical improvements in all the parameters evaluated 2 months post therapy, P<0.05. (2) Significant difference were observed in the average PD changes between Group A [(2.15 ± 0.42) mm], Group B [(1.76 ± 0.29) mm] and Group C [(1.57 ± 0.33) mm], P<0.05. No significant difference was observed in the average PD changes between Group B and Group C, P=0.354. Significant differences were observed in the average pPD changes between Group A [(2.45 ± 0.43)mm] and Group C[(1.90 ± 0.48) mm], P<0.05. No significant difference was observed in BI and BOP% changes between Group A,Group B and Group C. For patients with severe chronic periodontitis, it is safe and feasible to receive full-mouth SRP by 2 times within 1 week. The short-term (2 months) advantages in PD changes are observed in patients receiving SRP and antibiotic usage at the same time comparing with patients using antibiotics after SRP or SRP alone.

The effect of psychological intervention on recovery from surgery and heart attacks: an analysis of the literature.

PubMed Central

Mumford, E; Schlesinger, H J; Glass, G V

1982-01-01

A quantitative review of 34 controlled studies demonstrates that, on the average, surgical or coronary patients who are provided information or emotional support to help them master the medical crisis do better than patients who receive only ordinary care. A review of 13 studies that used hospital days post-surgery or post-heart attack as outcome indicators showed that on the average psychological intervention reduced hospitalization approximately two days below the control group's average of 9.92 days. Most of the interventions were modest and, in most studies, were not matched in any way to the needs of particular patients or their coping styles. Beyond the intrinsic value of offering humane and considerate care, the evidence is that psychological care can be cost-effective. PMID:7055315

Sleeping in moderate hypoxia at home for prevention of acute mountain sickness (AMS): a placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind study.

PubMed

Dehnert, Christoph; Böhm, Astrid; Grigoriev, Igor; Menold, Elmar; Bärtsch, Peter

2014-09-01

Acclimatization at natural altitude effectively prevents acute mountain sickness (AMS). It is, however, unknown whether prevention of AMS is also possible by only sleeping in normobaric hypoxia. In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study 76 healthy unacclimatized male subjects, aged 18 to 50 years, slept for 14 consecutive nights at either a fractional inspired oxygen (Fio2) of 0.14 to 0.15 (average target altitude 3043 m; treatment group) or 0.209 (control group). Four days later, AMS scores and incidence of AMS were assessed during a 20-hour exposure in normobaric hypoxia at Fio2 = 0.12 (equivalent to 4500 m). Because of technical problems with the nitrogen generators, target altitude was not achieved in the tents and only 21 of 37 subjects slept at an average altitude considered sufficient for acclimatization (>2200 m; average, 2600 m). Therefore, in a subgroup analysis these subjects were compared with the 21 subjects of the control group with the lowest sleeping altitude. This analysis showed a significantly lower AMS-C score (0.38; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.54) vs 1.10; 95% CI, 0.57 to 1.62; P = .04) and lower Lake Louise Score (3.1; 95% CI, 2.2 to 4.1 vs 5.1; 95% CI, 3.6 to 6.6; P = .07) for the treatment subgroup. The incidence of AMS defined as an AMS-C score greater than 0.70 was also significantly lower (14% vs 52%; P < .01). Sleeping 14 consecutive nights in normobaric hypoxia (equivalent to 2600 m) reduced symptoms and incidence of AMS 4 days later on exposure to 4500 m. Copyright © 2014 Wilderness Medical Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Multiple Intelligences Profiles of Children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder in Comparison with Nonattention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

PubMed

Najafi, Mostafa; Akouchekian, Shahla; Ghaderi, Alireza; Mahaki, Behzad; Rezaei, Mariam

2017-01-01

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychological problem during childhood. This study aimed to evaluate multiple intelligences profiles of children with ADHD in comparison with non-ADHD. This cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was done on 50 children of 6-13 years old in two groups of with and without ADHD. Children with ADHD were referred to Clinics of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, in 2014. Samples were selected based on clinical interview (based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV and parent-teacher strengths and difficulties questionnaire), which was done by psychiatrist and psychologist. Raven intelligence quotient (IQ) test was used, and the findings were compared to the results of multiple intelligences test. Data analysis was done using a multivariate analysis of covariance using SPSS20 software. Comparing the profiles of multiple intelligence among two groups, there are more kinds of multiple intelligences in control group than ADHD group, a difference which has been more significant in logical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal intelligence ( P < 0.05). There was no significant difference with the other kinds of multiple intelligences in two groups ( P > 0.05). The IQ average score in the control group and ADHD group was 102.42 ± 16.26 and 96.72 ± 16.06, respectively, that reveals the negative effect of ADHD on IQ average value. There was an insignificance relationship between linguistic and naturalist intelligence ( P > 0.05). However, in other kinds of multiple intelligences, direct and significant relationships were observed ( P < 0.05). Since the levels of IQ (Raven test) and MI in control group were more significant than ADHD group, ADHD is likely to be associated with logical-mathematical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal profiles.

Effect of prophylactic non-invasive mechanical ventilation on functional capacity after heart valve replacement: a clinical trial

PubMed Central

de Araújo-Filho, Amaro Afrânio; de Cerqueira-Neto, Manoel Luiz; de Assis Pereira Cacau, Lucas; Oliveira, Géssica Uruga; Cerqueira, Telma Cristina Fontes; de Santana-Filho, Valter Joviniano

2017-01-01

OBJECTIVE: During cardiac surgery, several factors contribute to the development of postoperative pulmonary complications. Non-invasive ventilation is a promising therapeutic tool for improving the functionality of this type of patient. The aim of this study is to evaluate the functional capacity and length of stay of patients in a nosocomial intensive care unit who underwent prophylactic non-invasive ventilation after heart valve replacement. METHOD: The study was a controlled clinical trial, comprising 50 individuals of both sexes who were allocated by randomization into two groups with 25 patients in each group: the control group and experimental group. After surgery, the patients were transferred to the intensive care unit and then participated in standard physical therapy, which was provided to the experimental group after 3 applications of non-invasive ventilation within the first 26 hours after extubation. For non-invasive ventilation, the positive pressure was 10 cm H2O, with a duration of 1 hour. The evaluation was performed on the 7th postoperative day/discharge and included a 6-minute walk test. The intensive care unit and hospitalization times were monitored in both groups. Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBeC): RBR number 8bxdd3. RESULTS: Analysis of the 6-minute walk test showed that the control group walked an average distance of 264.34±76 meters and the experimental group walked an average distance of 334.07±71 meters (p=0.002). The intensive care unit and hospitalization times did not differ between the groups. CONCLUSION: Non-invasive ventilation as a therapeutic resource was effective toward improving functionality; however, non-invasive ventilation did not influence the intensive care unit or hospitalization times of the studied cardiac patients. PMID:29160424

Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Pre-School Children with Sickle Cell Disease and Diagnostic Accuracy of the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children

PubMed Central

Góis, Carlos Rodolfo Tavares de; D'Ávila, Jeferson Sampaio; Cipolotti, Rosana; Lira, Amanda da Silva; Silva, Ana Letícia Leite

2018-01-01

Introduction  Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is more common in children with sickle cell disease, and can lead to sleep-disordered breathing. Objectives  To determine the frequency of adenotonsillar hypertrophy in pre-school children with sickle cell disease and assess the diagnostic accuracy of the sleep-disordered breathing subscale in the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children. Method  Observational study with a group of 48 children with sickle cell disease and a control group of 35 children without the disease. The children underwent oropharingoscopy and video nasal endoscopy. The parents and/or guardians answered the questions of the subscale. Results  Adenotonsillar hypertrophy was observed in 25% of the children in the study group, and in 20% of the children in the control group, with no statistical difference between the groups. The subscale score ranged from 3 to 11 in both groups. There was a statistical significance in the study group. The average was 4.79 (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.50), with 4.19 (SD ± 1.72) among the children without adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and 6.5 (SD ± 3.40) among the children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. There was also a statistical significance in the control group. The average was 5.23 (SD ± 2.81), with 4.44 (SD ± 2.2) among the children without adenotonsillar hypertrophy, and 7.87 (SD ± 2.89) among the children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Conclusion  Adenotonsillar hypertrophy was not associated with sickle cell disease in pre-school children. The subscale of sleep-disordered breathing in the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children was a useful tool for the diagnostic suspicion of adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children in this age group. PMID:29371899

Color vision and neuroretinal function in diabetes.

PubMed

Wolff, B E; Bearse, M A; Schneck, M E; Dhamdhere, K; Harrison, W W; Barez, S; Adams, A J

2015-04-01

We investigate how type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) affect color vision (CV) and mfERG implicit time (IT), whether CV and IT are correlated, and whether CV and IT abnormality classifications agree. Adams desaturated D-15 color test, mfERG, and fundus photographs were examined in 37 controls, 22 T2DM patients without DR (NoRet group), and 25 T2DM patients with DR (Ret group). Color confusion score (CCS) was calculated. ITs were averaged within the central 7 hexagons (central IT; ≤4.5°) and outside this area (peripheral IT; ≥4.5°). DR was within (DRIN) or outside (DROUT) of the central 7 hexagons. Group differences, percentages of abnormalities, correlations, and agreement were determined. CCS was greater in the NoRet (P = 0.002) and Ret (P < 0.0001) groups than in control group. CCS was abnormal in 3, 41, and 48 % of eyes in the control, NoRet, and Ret groups, respectively. Ret group CV abnormalities were more frequent in DRIN than in DROUT subgroups (71 vs. 18 %, respectively; P < 0.0001). CCS and IT were correlated only in the Ret group, in both retinal zones (P ≤ 0.028). Only in the Ret group did CCS and peripheral IT abnormality classifications agree (72 %; P < 0.05). CV is affected in patients with T2DM, even without DR. Central DR increases the likelihood of a CV deficit compared with non-central DR. mfERG IT averaged across central or peripheral retinal locations is less frequently abnormal than CV in the absence of DR, and these two measures are correlated only when DR is present.

Color vision and neuroretinal function in diabetes

PubMed Central

Bearse, M. A.; Schneck, M. E.; Dhamdhere, K.; Harrison, W. W.; Barez, S.; Adams, A. J.

2015-01-01

Purpose We investigate how type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) affect color vision (CV) and mfERG implicit time (IT), whether CV and IT are correlated, and whether CV and IT abnormality classifications agree. Methods Adams desaturated D-15 color test, mfERG, and fundus photographs were examined in 37 controls, 22 T2DM patients without DR (NoRet group), and 25 T2DM patients with DR (Ret group). Color confusion score (CCS) was calculated. ITs were averaged within the central 7 hexagons (central IT; ≥4.5°) and outside this area (peripheral IT; ≤4.5°). DR was within (DRIN) or outside (DROUT) of the central 7 hexagons. Group differences, percentages of abnormalities, correlations, and agreement were determined. Results CCS was greater in the NoRet (P = 0.002) and Ret (P < 0.0001) groups than in control group. CCS was abnormal in 3, 41, and 48 % of eyes in the control, NoRet, and Ret groups, respectively. Ret group CV abnormalities were more frequent in DRIN than in DROUT subgroups (71 vs. 18 %, respectively; P < 0.0001). CCS and IT were correlated only in the Ret group, in both retinal zones (P ≥ 0.028). Only in the Ret group did CCS and peripheral IT abnormality classifications agree (72 %; P < 0.05). Conclusion CV is affected in patients with T2DM, even without DR. Central DR increases the likelihood of a CV deficit compared with non-central DR. mfERG IT averaged across central or peripheral retinal locations is less frequently abnormal than CV in the absence of DR, and these two measures are correlated only when DR is present. PMID:25516428

Effects of oral doses of fluoride on nestling European starlings

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fleming, W.J.; Grue, C.E.; Schuler, C.A.; Bunck, C.M.

1987-01-01

Nestling European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), raised and fed by free-living adults, were given daily oral doses of either distilled water, 193 mg sodium as Na2CO3 per kg of body weight (sodium control group), or 6, 10, 13, 17,23, 30, 40, 80, 160 mg of the fluoride ion as NaF in distilled water per kg of body weight (mg/kg). Dosing began when nestlings were 24-48 hr old and continued for 16 days. The 24-hr LD50 of fluoride for day-old starlings was 50 mg/kg. The 16-day LD50 was 17 mg/kg. The sodium control group did not differ from the water control group with respect to any of the measured variables. Growth rates were significantly reduced in the 13 and 17 mg of fluoride/kg groups; weights of birds given higher dose levels were omitted from growth comparisons because of high, fluoride-induced mortality. Although pre-fledging weights for the 10, 13, and 17 mg of fluoride/kg groups averaged 3.6 to 8.6% less than controls at 17 days, this difference was not significant. Feather and bone growth of the fluoride and control groups were not different, except for keel length measured at 17 days of age which averaged less in the fluoride groups. Liver and spleen weights were not affected by fluoride treatments. No histological damage related to fluoride treatments was found in liver, spleen, or kidney. The logarithm of bone fluoride and magnesium concentration increased with the logarithm of increasing fluoride treatment levels and were significantly correlated with each other. Fluoride treatments had no effect on percent calcium or phosphorus in bone or plasma alkaline phosphatase activity. Oral doses of fluoride appear to be more toxic than equivalent dietary levels. Most birds probably acquire fluoride through their diet. Therefore, the results of the study may overestimate the potential effects of fluorides on songbirds living in fluoride-contaminated environments.

A five-week exercise program can reduce falls and improve obstacle avoidance in the elderly.

PubMed

Weerdesteyn, Vivian; Rijken, Hennie; Geurts, Alexander C H; Smits-Engelsman, Bouwien C M; Mulder, Theo; Duysens, Jacques

2006-01-01

Falls in the elderly are a major health problem. Although exercise programs have been shown to reduce the risk of falls, the optimal exercise components, as well as the working mechanisms that underlie the effectiveness of these programs, have not yet been established. To test whether the Nijmegen Falls Prevention Program was effective in reducing falls and improving standing balance, balance confidence, and obstacle avoidance performance in community-dwelling elderly people. A total of 113 elderly with a history of falls participated in this study (exercise group, n = 79; control group, n = 28; dropouts before randomization, n = 6). Exercise sessions were held twice weekly for 5 weeks. Pre- and post-intervention fall monitoring and quantitative motor control assessments were performed. The outcome measures were the number of falls, standing balance and obstacle avoidance performance, and balance confidence scores. The number of falls in the exercise group decreased by 46% (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.54, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36-0.79) compared to the number of falls during the baseline period and by 46% (IRR 0.54, 95% CI 0.34-0.86) compared to the control group. Obstacle avoidance success rates improved significantly more in the exercise group (on average 12%) compared to the control group (on average 6%). Quiet stance and weight-shifting measures did not show significant effects of exercise. The exercise group also had a 6% increase of balance confidence scores. The Nijmegen Falls Prevention Program was effective in reducing the incidence of falls in otherwise healthy elderly. There was no evidence of improved control of posture as a mechanism underlying this result. In contrast, an obstacle avoidance task indicated that subjects improved their performance. Laboratory obstacle avoidance tests may therefore be better instruments to evaluate future fall prevention studies than posturographic balance assessments. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Longitudinal analysis of time, engagement, and achievement in at-risk versus non-risk students.

PubMed

Greenwood, C R

1991-05-01

This longitudinal study investigated the effects of time spent in academic instruction and time engaged on elementary students' academic achievement gains. Three groups were compared over grades as follows: (a) an at-risk experimental group of low-socioeconomic status (SES) students for whom teachers implemented classwide peer tutoring (CWPT) beginning with the second semester of first grade continuing through Grade 3; (b) an equivalent at-risk control group; and (c) a non-risk comparison group of students of average- to high-SES. In both the control and comparison groups, teachers employed conventional instructional practices over Grades 1 through 3. Results indicated significant group differences in the time spent in academic instruction, engagement, and gains on the subtests of the Metropolitan Achievement Test that favored the experimental and comparison groups over the control group. Implications include the effectiveness of CWPT for at-risk students and the continuing vulnerability of at-risk students whose daily instructional programs provide less instructional time and foster lower levels of active academic engagement.

Effects of clay on fat necrosis and carcass characteristics in Japanese Black steers.

PubMed

Oka, Akio; Iwamoto, Eiji; Tatsuda, Ken

2015-10-01

Twenty 10-month-old Japanese Black steers were used to evaluate the effects of clay on fat necrosis and carcass characteristics. Ten steers (Clay group) were fed the clay (50 g/day) during 10-30 months of age. The other 10 steers (Control group) were not fed it. There was no significant difference in body weight or average daily gain between the two groups (P > 0.05). The occurrence of fat necrotic mass in the Clay group (30%) was lower (P < 0.05) than that in the Control group (90%) at slaughter. The size of necrotic masses in the Clay group was smaller (P < 0.05) than that in the Control group. There was no significant difference in the marbling score, beef color, Longissimus muscle area or subcutaneous fat thickness between the two groups. These results suggest that the clay prevented the occurrence of fat necrosis and did not affect the carcass characteristics in Japanese Black steers. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Interventions to increase physician efficiency and comfort with an electronic health record system.

PubMed

Jalota, L; Aryal, M R; Mahmood, M; Wasser, T; Donato, A

2015-01-01

To determine comfort when using the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and increase in documentation efficiency after an educational intervention for physicians to improve their transition to a new EHR. This study was a single-center randomized, parallel, non-blinded controlled trial of real-time, focused educational interventions by physician peers in addition to usual training in the intervention arm compared with usual training in the control arm. Participants were 44 internal medicine physicians and residents stratified to groups using a survey of comfort with electronic media during rollout of a system-wide EHR and order entry system. Outcomes were median time to complete a progress note, notes completed after shift, and comfort with EHR at 20 and 40 shifts. In the intervention group, 73 education sessions averaging 14.4 (SD: 7.7) minutes were completed with intervention group participants, who received an average of 3.47 (SD: 2.1) interventions. Intervention group participants decreased their time to complete a progress note more quickly than controls over 30 shifts (p < 0.001) and recorded significantly fewer progress notes after scheduled duty hours (77 versus 292, p < 0.001). Comfort with EHRs increased significantly in both groups from baseline but did not differ significantly by group. Intervention group participants felt that the intervention was more helpful than their standard training (3.47 versus 1.95 on 4-point scale). Physicians teaching physicians during clinical work improved physician efficiency but not comfort with EHRs. More study is needed to determine best methods to assist those most challenged with new EHR rollouts.

Effect of a nutritional reconditioning program for thin dairy cattle on body weight, carcass quality, and fecal pathogen shedding.

PubMed

Maier, Gabriele U; Hoar, Bruce R; Stull, Carolyn L; Kass, Philip H; Villanueva, Veronica; Maas, John

2011-12-15

To assess changes in body weight, carcass quality, and fecal pathogen shedding in cull dairy cows fed a high-energy ration for 28 or 56 days prior to slaughter. Randomized clinical trial. 31 adult Holstein dairy cows. Cows were randomly assigned to a control (immediate slaughter) group or a 28-day or 56-day feeding group. Cows in the feeding groups received a high-energy feed and were weighed every 7 days. Carcasses were evaluated by USDA employees. Fecal and blood samples were collected at the start and end of the feeding periods. Body condition score and adjusted preliminary yield grade were significantly increased in both feeding groups, compared with values for the control group; body weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, and ribeye area were significantly increased after 56 days, but not after 28 days, compared with values for the control group. Average daily gain and marbling score were significantly lower after feeding for 28 days versus after 56 days. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 shedding in feces decreased from 14% to 5.6%, but this difference was not significant. Cows seropositive for antibodies against bovine leukemia virus that had signs of lymphoma and lame cows had a low average daily gain. Net loss was $71.32/cow and $112.80/cow for the 28-day and 56-day feeding groups, respectively. Feeding market dairy cows improved body condition and carcass quality. Cows seropositive for antibodies against bovine leukemia virus that have signs of lymphoma and lame cows might be poor candidates for reconditioning.

Tumors and other diseases following childhood x-ray treatment for ringworm of the scalp (Tinea capitis).

PubMed

Shore, Roy E; Moseson, Miriam; Harley, Naomi; Pasternack, Bernard S

2003-10-01

The objective of the study is to characterize the risk of tumors from radiation exposure to the head and neck. A cohort of 2,224 children given x-ray treatment and 1,380 given only topical medications for ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis) during 1940-1959 have been followed up for a median of 39 y to determine tumor incidence. Follow-ups were by mail/telephone questionnaire, with 84-88% of the original cohort followed and with medical verification of diseases of interest. Sixteen intracranial tumors [7 brain cancers, 4 meningiomas, and 5 acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas)] occurred in the x-irradiated group following an average brain dose of about 1.4 Gy, compared to 1 acoustic neuroma in the control group. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for brain cancer was 3.0 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3, 5.9]. Even though the dose to the thyroid gland was only about 60 mGy, 2 thyroid cancers were found in the irradiated group vs. none among controls, and 11 vs. 1 thyroid adenomas were found in the respective groups. Following an average dose of about 4 Gy to cranial marrow, 8 cases of leukemia (SIR = 3.2, CI: 1.5, 6.1) were observed in the irradiated group and 1 in the control group. There was also a suggestive excess of blood dyscrasias. There was no difference between the groups in the frequency of other cancers of the head and neck (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) or in total mortality.

Multi-arm group sequential designs with a simultaneous stopping rule.

PubMed

Urach, S; Posch, M

2016-12-30

Multi-arm group sequential clinical trials are efficient designs to compare multiple treatments to a control. They allow one to test for treatment effects already in interim analyses and can have a lower average sample number than fixed sample designs. Their operating characteristics depend on the stopping rule: We consider simultaneous stopping, where the whole trial is stopped as soon as for any of the arms the null hypothesis of no treatment effect can be rejected, and separate stopping, where only recruitment to arms for which a significant treatment effect could be demonstrated is stopped, but the other arms are continued. For both stopping rules, the family-wise error rate can be controlled by the closed testing procedure applied to group sequential tests of intersection and elementary hypotheses. The group sequential boundaries for the separate stopping rule also control the family-wise error rate if the simultaneous stopping rule is applied. However, we show that for the simultaneous stopping rule, one can apply improved, less conservative stopping boundaries for local tests of elementary hypotheses. We derive corresponding improved Pocock and O'Brien type boundaries as well as optimized boundaries to maximize the power or average sample number and investigate the operating characteristics and small sample properties of the resulting designs. To control the power to reject at least one null hypothesis, the simultaneous stopping rule requires a lower average sample number than the separate stopping rule. This comes at the cost of a lower power to reject all null hypotheses. Some of this loss in power can be regained by applying the improved stopping boundaries for the simultaneous stopping rule. The procedures are illustrated with clinical trials in systemic sclerosis and narcolepsy. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. © 2016 The Authors. Statistics in Medicine Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effect of glaucoma on eye movement patterns and laboratory-based hazard detection ability

PubMed Central

Black, Alex A.; Wood, Joanne M.

2017-01-01

Purpose The mechanisms underlying the elevated crash rates of older drivers with glaucoma are poorly understood. A key driving skill is timely detection of hazards; however, the hazard detection ability of drivers with glaucoma has been largely unexplored. This study assessed the eye movement patterns and visual predictors of performance on a laboratory-based hazard detection task in older drivers with glaucoma. Methods Participants included 30 older drivers with glaucoma (71±7 years; average better-eye mean deviation (MD) = −3.1±3.2 dB; average worse-eye MD = −11.9±6.2 dB) and 25 age-matched controls (72±7 years). Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual fields, useful field of view (UFoV; processing speeds), and motion sensitivity were assessed. Participants completed a computerised Hazard Perception Test (HPT) while their eye movements were recorded using a desk-mounted Tobii TX300 eye-tracking system. The HPT comprises a series of real-world traffic videos recorded from the driver’s perspective; participants responded to road hazards appearing in the videos, and hazard response times were determined. Results Participants with glaucoma exhibited an average of 0.42 seconds delay in hazard response time (p = 0.001), smaller saccades (p = 0.010), and delayed first fixation on hazards (p<0.001) compared to controls. Importantly, larger saccades were associated with faster hazard responses in the glaucoma group (p = 0.004), but not in the control group (p = 0.19). Across both groups, significant visual predictors of hazard response times included motion sensitivity, UFoV, and worse-eye MD (p<0.05). Conclusions Older drivers with glaucoma had delayed hazard response times compared to controls, with associated changes in eye movement patterns. The association between larger saccades and faster hazard response time in the glaucoma group may represent a compensatory behaviour to facilitate improved performance. PMID:28570621

Comprehension of confidence intervals - development and piloting of patient information materials for people with multiple sclerosis: qualitative study and pilot randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Rahn, Anne C; Backhus, Imke; Fuest, Franz; Riemann-Lorenz, Karin; Köpke, Sascha; van de Roemer, Adrianus; Mühlhauser, Ingrid; Heesen, Christoph

2016-09-20

Presentation of confidence intervals alongside information about treatment effects can support informed treatment choices in people with multiple sclerosis. We aimed to develop and pilot-test different written patient information materials explaining confidence intervals in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Further, a questionnaire on comprehension of confidence intervals was developed and piloted. We developed different patient information versions aiming to explain confidence intervals. We used an illustrative example to test three different approaches: (1) short version, (2) "average weight" version and (3) "worm prophylaxis" version. Interviews were conducted using think-aloud and teach-back approaches to test feasibility and analysed using qualitative content analysis. To assess comprehension of confidence intervals, a six-item multiple choice questionnaire was developed and tested in a pilot randomised controlled trial using the online survey software UNIPARK. Here, the average weight version (intervention group) was tested against a standard patient information version on confidence intervals (control group). People with multiple sclerosis were invited to take part using existing mailing-lists of people with multiple sclerosis in Germany and were randomised using the UNIPARK algorithm. Participants were blinded towards group allocation. Primary endpoint was comprehension of confidence intervals, assessed with the six-item multiple choice questionnaire with six points representing perfect knowledge. Feasibility of the patient information versions was tested with 16 people with multiple sclerosis. For the pilot randomised controlled trial, 64 people with multiple sclerosis were randomised (intervention group: n = 36; control group: n = 28). More questions were answered correctly in the intervention group compared to the control group (mean 4.8 vs 3.8, mean difference 1.1 (95 % CI 0.42-1.69), p = 0.002). The questionnaire's internal consistency was moderate (Cronbach's alpha = 0.56). The pilot-phase shows promising results concerning acceptability and feasibility. Pilot randomised controlled trial results indicate that the patient information is well understood and that knowledge gain on confidence intervals can be assessed with a set of six questions. German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00008561 . Registered 8th of June 2015.

Comparison of ε-Aminocaproic Acid and Tranexamic Acid in Reducing Postoperative Transfusions in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

PubMed

Churchill, Jessica L; Puca, Kathleen E; Meyer, Elizabeth S; Carleton, Matthew C; Truchan, Susan L; Anderson, Michael J

2016-12-01

Use of antifibrinolytic agents in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is well supported; however, most studies used tranexamic acid (TXA), whereas few used ε-aminocaproic acid (EACA), a similar antifibrinolytic. This study compares the efficacy and cost per surgery of intraoperative infusion of EACA and TXA in reducing postoperative blood transfusion rates in THA. Retrospective chart review of 1799 primary unilateral THA cases from April 2012 through December 2014 at 5 hospitals within our health care network. In our cohort, 711 received EACA, 445 received TXA, and 643 (control group) received no antifibrinolytic. Both antifibrinolytic groups had significantly fewer patients receiving red blood cell (RBC) transfusions when compared with control group (EACA 6.8% [P < .0001], TXA 9.7% [P < .0001] vs control group 24.7%). Average number of RBC units per patient were similar for EACA and TXA (0.11 units/patient and 0.15 units/patient, respectively), and both were significantly lower than the control group (0.48 units/patient, P < .0001). No significant difference was noted in mean RBC units per patient and percentage of patients transfused between EACA and TXA groups (P = .144, P = .074). Logistic regression showed no difference between EACA and TXA when adjusting for age, gender, higher severity of illness levels, admission hemoglobin, performing surgeon, and hospital. Medication acquisition cost for EACA averaged $2.70 per surgery compared with TXA at $39.58 per surgery. Intraoperative antifibrinolytic use significantly decreases need for postoperative blood transfusions. At our institution, EACA is comparable to TXA in THA for reducing transfusion rates while at a lower cost per surgery. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children in Chile Treated for Cleft Lip and Palate: A Case-Control Approach.

PubMed

Aravena, Pedro C; Gonzalez, Tania; Oyarzún, Tamara; Coronado, César

2017-03-01

  To compare the oral health-related quality of life of patients treated for cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) versus unaffected children between 8 and 15 years of age using a Spanish-language version of the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP-Sp) administered to a Chilean population.   A cross-sectional study with a matched case-control design was used.   Participants were 48 children (mean age 11.3 years) with a history of CL/P from three cities in Chile and one group of 96 children (mean age 11.2 years) unaffected by CL/P. The COHIP-Sp was applied to both groups. Quality of life was compared according to the overall score and the average score of items and domains on the COHIP-Sp scale between the two groups (Mann-Whitney U test; P < .05).   The COHIP-Sp score was 94.1 ± 19.3 in children with CL/P and 97.1 ± 15.6 for the control group (P = .31). A significantly lower score was observed in the group with CL/P in the domains "functional well-being" (P = .001) and "school environment" (P = .001); the only average in favor of the quality of life in children with CL/P was in "self-image" (P = .0002).   The oral health-related quality of life of children with a history of CL/P was similar to that of the control group. Nevertheless, a lower quality of life was observed concerning items associated with speech and being understood by other people. Further study into the risk factors associated with surgery and rehabilitative treatment is recommended.

Endurance exercise training in orthostatic intolerance: a randomized, controlled trial.

PubMed

Winker, Robert; Barth, Alfred; Bidmon, Daniela; Ponocny, Ivo; Weber, Michael; Mayr, Otmar; Robertson, David; Diedrich, André; Maier, Richard; Pilger, Alex; Haber, Paul; Rüdiger, Hugo W

2005-03-01

Orthostatic intolerance is a syndrome characterized by chronic orthostatic symptoms of light-headedness, fatigue, nausea, orthostatic tachycardia, and aggravated norepinephrine levels while standing. The aim of this study was to assess the protective effect of exercise endurance training on orthostatic symptoms and to examine its usefulness in the treatment of orthostatic intolerance. 2768 military recruits were screened for orthostatic intolerance by questionnaire. Tilt-table testing identified 36 cases of orthostatic intolerance out of the 2768 soldiers. Subsequently, 31 of these subjects with orthostatic intolerance entered a randomized, controlled trial. The patients were allocated randomly to either a "training" (3 months jogging) or a "control" group. The influence of exercise training on orthostatic intolerance was assessed by determination of questionnaire scores and tilt-table testing before and after intervention. After training, only 6 individuals of 16 still had orthostatic intolerance compared with 10 of 11 in the control group. The Fisher exact test showed a highly significant difference in diagnosis between the 2 groups (P=0.008) at the end of the study. Analysis of the questionnaire-score showed significant interaction between time and group (P=0.001). The trained subjects showed an improvement in the average symptom score from 1.79+/-0.4 to 1.04+/-0.4, whereas the control subjects showed no significant change in average symptom score (2.09+/-0.6 and 2.14+/-0.5, respectively). Our data demonstrate that endurance exercise training leads to an improvement of symptoms in the majority of patients with orthostatic intolerance. Therefore, we suggest that endurance training should be considered in the treatment of orthostatic intolerance patients.

The impact of including children with intellectual disability in general education classrooms on the academic achievement of their low-, average-, and high-achieving peers.

PubMed

Sermier Dessemontet, Rachel; Bless, Gérard

2013-03-01

This study aimed at assessing the impact of including children with intellectual disability (ID) in general education classrooms with support on the academic achievement of their low-, average-, and high-achieving peers without disability. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with an experimental group of 202 pupils from classrooms with an included child with mild or moderate ID, and a control group of 202 pupils from classrooms with no included children with special educational needs (matched pairs sample). The progress of these 2 groups in their academic achievement was compared over a period of 1 school year. No significant difference was found in the progress of the low-, average-, or high-achieving pupils from classrooms with or without inclusion. The results suggest that including children with ID in primary general education classrooms with support does not have a negative impact on the progress of pupils without disability.

Respiratory health effects of long-term exposure to different chromium species in stainless steel production.

PubMed

Huvinen, M; Uitti, J; Oksa, P; Palmroos, P; Laippala, P

2002-06-01

The aim of this study was to determine whether occupational exposure to chromite, trivalent chromium (Cr(3+)) or hexavalent chromium (Cr(6+)) causes respiratory diseases, an excess of respiratory symptoms, a decrease in pulmonary function or signs of pneumoconiosis among workers in stainless steel production. Altogether, 203 exposed workers and 81 referents with an average employment of 23 years were investigated for indicators of respiratory health on two occasions, in 1993 and in 1998. Data collection with a self-administered questionnaire, flow volume spirometry, measurement of diffusing capacity, chest radiography and laboratory tests were carried out by a mobile research unit. Exposure to different chromium species and other metals was monitored regularly and studied separately. No adverse respiratory health effects were observed in the group exposed to Cr(6+), either in comparison with the control group in the first cross-sectional study or during the additional 5 year follow-up. Among the Cr (3+) exposed people, the production of phlegm, shortness of breath and breathlessness on exertion were significantly more frequent than in the control group, but the frequency of the symptoms did not increase during the follow-up; no differences were observed in the lung function tests and the radiographic findings did not progress. In the chromite group, the prevalence of breathlessness on exertion was higher than in the control group. However, in the follow-up, the occurrence of symptoms did not differ from 1993 to 1998. In the first study, most parameters of lung function were lower among the smokers in the chromite group than among the smoking controls, but in 1998 the difference was less marked. An average exposure time of 23 years in modern ferrochromium and stainless steel production and low exposure to dusts and fumes containing Cr(6+), Cr(3+), nickel and molybdenum do not lead to respiratory changes detectable by lung function tests or radiography. The workers exposed to Cr(3+) had more respiratory symptoms than those in the control group. The workers in the chromite mine had lower lung function test results than the control group due to earlier exposure to higher dust concentrations.

The Impact of a Home-Based Computerized Cognitive Training Intervention on Fall Risk Measure Performance in Community Dwelling Older Adults, a Pilot Study.

PubMed

Blackwood, J; Shubert, T; Fogarty, K; Chase, C

2016-02-01

Cognitive intervention studies have reported improvements in various domains of cognition as well as a transfer effect of improved function post training. Despite the availability of web based cognitive training programs, most intervention studies have been performed under the supervision of researchers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to first, examine the feasibility of a six week home based computerized cognitive training (CCT) program in a group of community dwelling older adults and, second, to determine if a CCT program which focused on set shifting, attention, and visual spatial ability impacted fall risk measure performance. This pilot study used a pretest/posttest experimental design with randomization by testing site to an intervention or control group. Community dwelling older adults (mean age = 74.6 years) participated in either the control (N=25) or the intervention group (N=19). Intervention group subjects participated in 6 weeks of home based CCT 3x/week for an average of 23 minutes/session, using an online CCT program. Comparisons of mean scores on three measures of physical function (usual gait speed, five times sit to stand, timed up and go) were completed at baseline and week 7. Following the completion of an average of 18 sessions of CCT at home with good adherence (86%) and retention (92%) rates, a statistically significant difference in gait speed was found between groups with an average improvement of 0.14 m/s in the intervention group. A home based CCT program is a feasible approach to targeting cognitive impairments known to influence fall risk and changes in gait in older adults.

Parental and interpersonal relationships of transsexual and masculine and feminine homosexual men.

PubMed

Sípová, I; Brzek, A

1983-01-01

A group of transsexual and homosexual men was examined using the Leary Test as a psycho-sociogram, and findings were compared to those from a group of heterosexual men. It was found that the fathers of homosexuals and transsexuals were more hostile and less dominant than the fathers of the control group and hence less desirable identification models. The average mothers of transsexuals were close to the ideal person in our culture, e.g., dominant, strong and kindly, and thus an imposing identification model. Heterosexual men and transsexuals, in their behavior towards their wives, on the average identified with the models set by their fathers. Effeminate homosexuals in relations towards their male partners on the average identified with their mothers. Non-effeminate homosexuals modeled their behavior somewhere between both parents. Heterosexual men tended to choose wives modelled on their mothers and modelled their behavior towards their wives on their fathers' behavior. Non-effeminate homosexuals tended to choose their male partners according to the model set by their mothers and behaved toward them in a more dominant manner than any of the other groups studied (effeminate homosexuals, non-effeminate homosexuals and transsexuals). Effeminate homosexuals on average chose the most dominant male partners and modelled their behavior toward them on that of their mothers. The wives of transsexuals were rated as the most hostile. The self-esteem of all the groups studied suffered from lack of dominance. On the average, non-effeminate homosexuals were found to be closest to the heterosexual norms, transsexuals the furthest.

Detection of Drug Effects on Brain Activity using EEG-P300 with Similar Stimuli

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turnip, Arjon; Dwi Esti, K.; Faizal Amri, M.; Simbolon, Artha I.; Agung Suhendra, M.; IsKandar, Shelly; Wirakusumah, Firman F.

2017-07-01

Drug addiction poses a serious problem to our species. The worry that our significant family might be involved in drug use and are concerned to know how to detect drug use. Examinations of thirty taped EEG recordings were performed. The subjects consist of three group: addictive, methadone treatment (rehabilitation), and control (normal) which 10 subjects for each group. Statistical analysis was performed for the relative frequency of wave bands. The higher average amplitude is obtained from the addiction subjects. In the comparison with the signals source, channels P3 provide slightly higher average amplitude than other channels for all of subjects.

Understanding words, understanding numbers: an exploration of the mathematical profiles of poor comprehenders.

PubMed

Pimperton, Hannah; Nation, Kate

2010-06-01

Poor comprehenders are children who show significant deficits in their reading comprehension performance, despite average, or above-average word reading ability. To date, there have been no in-depth studies of the mathematical performance profiles of such children. This study aimed to explore the mathematical profiles of poor comprehenders. Given that language impairment is associated with difficulties with mathematics, and that poor comprehenders tend to have oral language weaknesses, we hypothesized that poor comprehenders would show relative weaknesses in aspects of mathematical performance. From a sample of 109 children aged 7-8 years, we selected 14 poor comprehenders and 14 controls with age-appropriate reading comprehension ability. The groups were matched on non-verbal ability, multiple measures of reading accuracy, and chronological age. We compared the performance of the group of poor comprehenders with that of the matched controls on two standardized measures of mathematical ability, one measuring procedural arithmetic prowess and the other tapping higher-level mathematical reasoning. Although there were no group differences in performance on the arithmetic measure, the poor comprehenders showed significantly lower scores than the controls on the mathematical reasoning task. The poor comprehenders exhibited impaired verbal ability relative to controls, with these differences in verbal ability associated with the group differences found on the test of mathematical reasoning. Poor comprehenders' deficits are not limited to the domain of literacy; their underlying profile of impairments also seems to selectively impact on certain components of mathematical ability.

Molecular markers for identifying a new selected variety of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Yang; Zhang, Xiaojun; Liu, Jingwen; Li, Fuhua; Huang, Hao; Li, Yijun; Liu, Xiaolin; Xiang, Jianhai

2015-01-01

Selective breeding of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei during the last decade has produced new varieties exhibiting high growth rates and disease resistance. However, the identification of new varieties of shrimps from their phenotypic characters is difficult. This study introduces a new approach for identifying varieties of shrimps using molecular markers of microsatellites and mitochondrial control region sequences. The method was employed to identify a new selected variety, Kehai No. 1 (KH-1), from three representative stocks (control group): Zhengda; Tongwei; and a stock collected from Fujian Province, which is now cultured in mainland China. By pooled genotyping of KH-1 and the control group, five microsatellites showing differences between KH-1 and the control group were screened out. Individual genotyping data confirmed the results from pooled genotyping. The genotyping data for the five microsatellites were applied to the assignment analysis of the KH-1 group and the control group using the partial Bayesian assignment method in GENECLASS2. By sequencing the mitochondrial control regions of individuals from the KH-1 and control group, four haplotypes were observed in the KH-1 group, whereas 14 haplotypes were obtained in the control group. By combining the microsatellite assignment analysis with mitochondrial control region analysis, the average accuracy of identification of individuals in the KH-1 group and control group reached 89%. The five selected microsatellite loci and mitochondrial control region sequences were highly polymorphic and could be used to distinguish new selected varieties of L. vannamei from other populations cultured in China.

Efficacy of external warming in attenuation of hypothermia in surgical patients.

PubMed

Zeba, Snjezana; Surbatović, Maja; Marjanović, Milan; Jevdjić, Jasna; Hajduković, Zoran; Karkalić, Radovan; Jovanović, Dalibor; Radaković, Sonja

2016-06-01

Hypothermia in surgical patients can be the consequence of long duration of surgical intervention, general anaesthesia and low temperature in operating room. Postoperative hypothermia contributes to a number of postoperative complications such as arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia, hypertension, bleeding, wound infection, coagulopathy, and prolonged effect of muscle relaxants. External heating procedures are used to prevent this condition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of external warming system in alleviation of cold stress and hypothermia in patients who underwent major surgical procedures. The study was conducted in the Military Medical Academy in Belgrade. A total of 30 patients of both genders underwent abdominal surgical procedures, randomly divided into two equal groups: the one was externally warmed using warm air mattress (W), while in the control group (C) surgical procedure was performed in regular conditions, without additional warming. Oesophageal temperature (Te) was used as indicator of changes in core temperature, during surgery and awakening postoperative period, and temperature of control sites on the right hand (Th) and the right foot (Tf) reflected the changes in skin temperatures during surgery. Te and skin temperatures were monitored during the intraoperative period, with continuous measurement of Te during the following 90 minutes of the postoperative period. Heart rates and blood pressures were monitored continuously during the intraoperative and awakening period. In the W group, the average Te, Tf and Th did not change significantly during the intraoperative as well as the postoperative period. In the controls, the average Te significantly decreased during the intraoperative period (from 35.61 ± 0.35 °C at 0 minute to 33.86 ± 0.51°C at 120th minute). Compared to the W group, Te in the C group was significantly lower in all the observed periods. Average values of Tf and Th significantly decreased in the C group (from 30.83 ± 1.85 at 20th minute to 29.0 ± 1.39°C at 120th minute, and from 32.75 ± 0.96 to 31.05 ± 1.09°C, respectively). The obtained results confirm that the external warming using warm air mattress was able to attenuate hypothermia, i.e. substantial decrease in core temperature, compared with the similar exposure to cold stress in the control group.

Food supplement 20070721-GX may increase CD34+ stem cells and telomerase activity.

PubMed

Lin, Po-Cheng; Chiou, Tzyy-Wen; Liu, Po-Yen; Chen, Shee-Ping; Wang, Hsin-I; Huang, Pi-Chun; Lin, Shinn-Zong; Harn, Horng-Jyh

2012-01-01

Few rejuvenation and antiaging markers are used to evaluate food supplements. We measured three markers in peripheral blood to evaluate the antiaging effects of a food supplement containing placental extract. Samples were evaluated for CD34(+) cells, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), and telomerase activity, which are all markers related to aging. To control the quality of this food supplement, five active components were monitored. In total, we examined 44 individuals who took the food supplement from 1.2 months to 23 months; the average number of CD34(+) cells was almost 6-fold higher in the experimental group compared with the control group. Food supplement intake did not change serum IGF1 levels significantly. Finally, the average telomerase activity was 30% higher in the subjects taking this food supplement. In summary, our results suggest that the placental extract in the food supplement might contribute to rejuvenation and antiaging.

Assessing the Performance of the "Counterfactual as Self-Estimated by Program Participants": Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mueller, Christoph Emanuel; Gaus, Hansjoerg

2015-01-01

In this article, we test an alternative approach to creating a counterfactual basis for estimating individual and average treatment effects. Instead of using control/comparison groups or before-measures, the so-called Counterfactual as Self-Estimated by Program Participants (CSEPP) relies on program participants' self-estimations of their own…

Are Ureaplasma spp. a cause of nongonococcal urethritis? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PubMed

Zhang, Nan; Wang, Rong; Li, Xue; Liu, Xu; Tang, Zhaobing; Liu, Yunde

2014-01-01

Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is the most common male reproductive tract syndrome. Ureaplasmas spp. including U. urealyticum and U. parvum, have been increasingly reported to be implicated in NGU. However, there are still many contradictions about their pathogenic role in NGU. The goals of this study were to evaluate the association of Ureaplasmas spp. with NGU, and to compare the prevalence of Ureaplasmas spp. infection in China relative to the world average. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following standard guidelines for meta-analysis. The quality of included studies was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa scale. A total of seven studies involving 1,507 NGU patients and 1,223 controls were eligible for meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in the Ureaplasma spp. positive rate between the NGU and control groups. However, the U. urealyticum positive rate was significantly higher in NGU patients compared to controls; the U. parvum positive rate was significantly higher in controls compared to NGU patients. Furthermore, within the NGU patient group, the positive rate of U. urealyticum was significantly higher than that of U. parvum, whereas within the control group, the opposite trend was observed. Compared to the world average, a significantly higher positive rate of Ureaplasma spp. was observed in both the NGU and control groups in China. Our analysis supports that U. urealyticum, but not U. parvum, is an etiological agent in NGU. More detailed studies of these two species in China and the world could contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis, and facilitate the development of better strategies for treatment and prevention of NGU.

Are Ureaplasma spp. a Cause of Nongonococcal Urethritis? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PubMed Central

Zhang, Nan; Wang, Rong; Li, Xue; Liu, Xu; Tang, Zhaobing; Liu, Yunde

2014-01-01

Background Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is the most common male reproductive tract syndrome. Ureaplasmas spp. including U. urealyticum and U. parvum, have been increasingly reported to be implicated in NGU. However, there are still many contradictions about their pathogenic role in NGU. Aims The goals of this study were to evaluate the association of Ureaplasmas spp. with NGU, and to compare the prevalence of Ureaplasmas spp. infection in China relative to the world average. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following standard guidelines for meta-analysis. The quality of included studies was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results A total of seven studies involving 1,507 NGU patients and 1,223 controls were eligible for meta-analysis. There was no significant difference in the Ureaplasma spp. positive rate between the NGU and control groups. However, the U. urealyticum positive rate was significantly higher in NGU patients compared to controls; the U. parvum positive rate was significantly higher in controls compared to NGU patients. Furthermore, within the NGU patient group, the positive rate of U. urealyticum was significantly higher than that of U. parvum, whereas within the control group, the opposite trend was observed. Compared to the world average, a significantly higher positive rate of Ureaplasma spp. was observed in both the NGU and control groups in China. Conclusions Our analysis supports that U. urealyticum, but not U. parvum, is an etiological agent in NGU. More detailed studies of these two species in China and the world could contribute to a better understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis, and facilitate the development of better strategies for treatment and prevention of NGU. PMID:25463970

User Experience, Actual Use, and Effectiveness of an Information Communication Technology-Supported Home Exercise Program for Pre-Frail Older Adults.

PubMed

Dekker-van Weering, Marit; Jansen-Kosterink, Stephanie; Frazer, Sanne; Vollenbroek-Hutten, Miriam

2017-01-01

The main objective of this study was to investigate the use and user experience of an Information Communication Technology-supported home exercise program when offered for independent use to pre-frail older adults. Our secondary aim was to explore whether the program improved quality of life and health status compared to a control group. A cohort multiple randomized controlled trail is being performed. Physically pre-frail older adults (65-75 years) living independently at home were included and randomly assigned to a control group or an intervention group. The intervention group received a home exercise program (strength, balance, and flexibility exercises) for a minimal duration of 12 weeks. The control group received usual care. Primary outcomes were: use of the intervention (frequency and duration), adherence to a 3-day exercise protocol and user experience [System Usability Scale (SUS); rating 1-10]. Secondary outcomes were quality of life measured with the SF12 (Physical Component Scale and Mental Component Scale) and health status (EQ-5D), assessed before the study starts and after 12 weeks of exercising. Thirty-seven independently living older adults participated in the study. Sixteen participants were allocated to the intervention group and 21 to the control group. The average score on the SUS was 84.2 (±13.3), almost reaching an excellent score. Participants rated the intervention with an 8.5. Eighty percent of the participants finished the 12 week exercise protocol. The adherence to the 3-day exercise protocol was 68%. Participants in the intervention group trained on average 2.2 times (±1.3) each week. The mean duration of login for each exercise session was 24 min. The Mental Component Scale of the SF12 was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. A trend was seen in the change over time in the health status between groups. This study provides evidence that a home-based exercise program is easy to use and has potential in improving quality of life and health status of pre-frail older adults who live at home. However, further refinement of the program is required to improve adherence and maximize the benefits and potential of exercising in the home environment. Unique Identifier: NTR5304. URL: http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=5304.

Intervention for children with word-finding difficulties: a parallel group randomised control trial.

PubMed

Best, Wendy; Hughes, Lucy Mari; Masterson, Jackie; Thomas, Michael; Fedor, Anna; Roncoli, Silvia; Fern-Pollak, Liory; Shepherd, Donna-Lynn; Howard, David; Shobbrook, Kate; Kapikian, Anna

2017-07-31

The study investigated the outcome of a word-web intervention for children diagnosed with word-finding difficulties (WFDs). Twenty children age 6-8 years with WFDs confirmed by a discrepancy between comprehension and production on the Test of Word Finding-2, were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 11) and waiting control (n = 9) groups. The intervention group had six sessions of intervention which used word-webs and targeted children's meta-cognitive awareness and word-retrieval. On the treated experimental set (n = 25 items) the intervention group gained on average four times as many items as the waiting control group (d = 2.30). There were also gains on personally chosen items for the intervention group. There was little change on untreated items for either group. The study is the first randomised control trial to demonstrate an effect of word-finding therapy with children with language difficulties in mainstream school. The improvement in word-finding for treated items was obtained following a clinically realistic intervention in terms of approach, intensity and duration.

Ultrasound Mediated Microbubbles Destruction Augmented Sonolysis: An In Vitro and In Vivo Study.

PubMed

Cui, Hai; Zhu, Qiong; Gao, Yunhua; Xia, Hongmei; Tan, Kaibin; He, Ying; Liu, Zheng; Xu, Yali

2017-01-01

This study was aimed at exploring ultrasound mediated microbubbles destruction (UMMD) assisted sonolysis in both the in vitro and in vivo clots. Therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) and lipid microbubbles (MBs) were used in whole blood clots and divided into the control, TUS group, and TUS + MB group. Thrombolytic rates and microscopy were performed. Color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and angiography were performed to evaluate the recanalization rates and flow scores in femoral arterial thrombus (FAT) in rabbits. FAT were dyed with H&E. The average thrombolytic ratios of TUS + MB group were significantly higher than those of TUS group and the control group (both P < 0.05). Clots had different pathological changes. Recanalization rates and flow scores in TUS + MB group were significantly higher than the control and TUS group. Flow scores and recanalization ratios were grade 0 in 0% of the control group, grade I in 25% of TUS group, and grade II or higher in 87.5% of TUS + MB group after 30 min sonolysis. Both the in vitro and in vivo sonolysis can be significantly augmented by the introduction of MBs without thrombolytic agents, which might be induced by the enhanced cavitation via UMMD.

Clinical Evaluation of a Novel Technology for Oral Patient-Controlled Analgesia, the PCoA® Acute Device, for Hospitalized Patients with Postoperative Pain, in Pilot Feasibility Study.

PubMed

Wirz, Stefan; Conrad, Stefan; Shtrichman, Ronit; Schimo, Kai; Hoffmann, Eva

2017-01-01

Acute postoperative pain delays recovery and increases morbidity and mortality. Traditional administration of postoperative analgesics by nurses is often inefficient. The present study evaluated the safety, efficacy, and usability of a novel, patient-controlled analgesic dispenser, the PCoA Acute. A controlled pilot study was conducted at three medical centers. Patients scheduled for elective surgery were enrolled into two groups, both taking oral analgesics: a control group ( n = 43), opioids dispensed by nurses, and a test group ( n = 27), opioids dispensed via the PCoA Acute. Pill intake data were recorded. Pain ratings at rest and during movement were surveyed. No severe adverse events were recorded. Average pill intake time was reduced from 8 : 58 minutes in the control group to 1 : 17 minutes in the test group ( P value < 0.05). The test group took 67% more pills than the control group, indicating enhanced compliance. Pain scores were significantly lower for patients in the test group ( P value < 0.05). Over 90% of PCoA Acute users were satisfied with its use. The study confirmed that PCoA Acute is safe and effective. It is well accepted by patients and medical staff. Its use can optimize pain medication administration.

The economic consequences of irritable bowel syndrome: a US employer perspective.

PubMed

Leong, Stephanie A; Barghout, Victoria; Birnbaum, Howard G; Thibeault, Crystal E; Ben-Hamadi, Rym; Frech, Feride; Ofman, Joshua J

2003-04-28

The objective of this study was to measure the direct costs of treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the indirect costs in the workplace. This was accomplished through retrospective analysis of administrative claims data from a national Fortune 100 manufacturer, which includes all medical, pharmaceutical, and disability claims for the company's employees, spouses/dependents, and retirees. Patients with IBS were identified as individuals, aged 18 to 64 years, who received a primary code for IBS or a secondary code for IBS and a primary code for constipation or abdominal pain between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 1998. Of these patients with IBS, 93.7% were matched based on age, sex, employment status, and ZIP code to a control population of beneficiaries. Direct and indirect costs for patients with IBS were compared with those of matched controls. The average total cost (direct plus indirect) per patient with IBS was 4527 dollars in 1998 compared with 3276 dollars for a control beneficiary (P<.001). The average physician visit costs were 524 dollars and 345 dollars for patients with IBS and controls, respectively (P<.001). The average outpatient care costs to the employer were 1258 dollars and 742 dollars for patients with IBS and controls, respectively (P<.001). Medically related work absenteeism cost the employer 901 dollars on average per employee treated for IBS compared with 528 dollars on average per employee without IBS (P<.001). Irritable bowel syndrome is a significant financial burden on the employer that arises from an increase in direct and indirect costs compared with the control group.

Effects of the anabolic steroid, boldenone undecylenate, on certain reproductive parameters in bulls.

PubMed

Wolfe, D F; Carson, R L; Mysinger, P W; Duran, B S; Rahe, H S

1991-05-01

A total of 17 bulls was used to study the effects of boldenone undecylenate on growth and semen characteristics in beef bulls. In trial 1 nine mature mixed-breed beef bulls with satisfactory semen quality were divided into two groups. Group I (n = 5) received boldenone undecylenate (1.1 mg/kg) at 21 d intervals for a total of seven treatments (147 d). Group II (n = 4) served as untreated controls. Semen was collected from each group by electroejaculation on each treatment day and evaluated according to the standards of the Society for Theriogenology. Although neither the percentage of spermatozoa with primary or secondary morphological abnormalities was different, the ejaculates of Group I bulls contained a higher percentage of abnormal spermatozoa than those in Group II. In trial 2, eight mixed-breed bull calves, average weight 140.4 kg, were maintained under drylot conditions in a single paddock. The bulls were divided into two equal groups. Group I (n = 4) received boldenone undecylenate as in Trial 1. Group II (n = 4) served as untreated controls. The bulls were weighed and the scrotal circumference (SC) was measured every 21 d until it reached 30 cm, at which time semen was collected and evaluated as in Trial 1. Group I bulls had a higher percentage of spermatozoa with primary morphological abnormalities than bulls in Group II. Group I bulls had a higher average daily gain (ADG) than Group II bulls and required 21 d longer for the SC to reach 30 cm. Semen quality for all bulls was satisfactory at each sampling day.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for postoperative pain control after total knee arthroplasty

PubMed Central

Li, Jifeng; Song, Yuze

2017-01-01

Abstract Background: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficiency and safety of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for pain control after total knee arthroplasty. Methods: A systematic search was performed in Medline (1966 to June 2017), PubMed (1966 to June 2017), Embase (1980 to June 2017), ScienceDirect (1985 to June 2017), and the Cochrane Library. Only randomized controlled trial (RCT) was included. The fixed/random effect model was used according to the heterogeneity tested by I2 statistic. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 11.0 software. Results: Five RCTs including 472 patients met the inclusion criteria. The present meta-analysis indicated that there were significant differences between groups in terms of visual analogue scale score at 12 hours (average: 3.58 vs 4.34, SMD = −0.260, 95% CI: −0.442 to −0.078, P = .005), 24 hours (average: 3.18 vs 3.52, SMD = −0.244, 95% CI: −0.426 to −0.063, P = .008), and 48 hours (average: 2.70 vs 2.96, SMD = −0.214, 95% CI: −0.395 to −0.033, P = .021) after total knee arthroplasty. Significant differences were found regarding opioid consumption at 12 hours (average: 14.44 vs 18.54, SMD = −0.503, 95% CI: −0.687 to −0.319, P = .000), 24 hours (average: 16.10 vs 18.40, SMD = −0.262, 95% CI: −0.443 to −0.080, P = .005), and 48 hours (average: 12.92 vs 15.12, SMD = −0.183, 95% CI: −0.364 to −0.002, P = .048). Conclusion: TENS could significantly reduce pain and opioid consumption after total knee arthroplasty. In addition, there were fewer adverse effects in the TENS groups. Higher quality RCTs are required for further research. PMID:28906393

[Assessment of chronic glucose metabolism disorders coexisting with respiratory failure in non-critical ill patients hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infections].

PubMed

Sobocińska, Magdalena Barbara; Loba, Jerzy

2015-01-01

Lungs are the target organ in chronic hyperglycemia, but its large reserves causes a subclinical course of these changes. Given the results of other researchers indicating reduced active surface of gas exchange and pulmonary capillary damage, it can be assumed that diabetes and other hyperglycemic states diminish these reserves and impair effectiveness of respiratory gas exchange during pneumonia. So it is plausible to observe coexistence of glucose metabolism disorders and respiratory failure in patients hospitalized with lower respiratory tract infection. An observational study was conducted on 130 patients hospitalized with bacteriologically confirmed pneumonia. 63 patients suffering from chronic glucose metabolism disorders (A) and 67 randomly selected patients in control group (B) were observed on laboratory and clinical findings. There was no significant difference in prevalence of acute respiratory failure, although in the study group a slightly greater number of patients diagnosed with acute respiratory failure was observed. There was a significantly greater number of patients with previously confirmed chronic respiratory failure using long-term oxygen theraphy in A group (p = 0.029). The B patients with average blood glucose level > 108 mg/dl had significantly lower partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)(gIc ≤ 108: 58.6 +/- 9.8; glc > 108: 51.7 +/- 11.1; p = 0.042). There was a statistically significant negative correlation of the average blood glucose level and PaO2 in the control group (p = 0.0152) and a significant inverse association between the average blood glucose level and the partial pressure of oxygen in patients without COPD belonging to the control group (p = 0.049). Respiratory failure is frequent in patients hospitalized with pneumonia. In patients without chronic glucose metabolism disorders with blood glucose level rising the oxygen tension decreases The association is stronger in patients without COPD.

Protective effect of Crataegus oxyacantha against reperfusion arrhythmias after global no-flow ischemia in the rat heart.

PubMed

al Makdessi, S; Sweidan, H; Dietz, K; Jacob, R

1999-04-01

The protective effect against reperfusion arrhythmias of a 3-month oral pretreatment with a dried extract of Crataegus oxyacantha (LI 132)(standardized to 2.2% flavonoids) was studied with the Langendorff heart of the rat after global no-flow ischemia. The heart was perfused with a modified Krebs-Henseleit solution in which the K+ content was reduced to 3.4 mmol/l in order to lower the fibrillation threshold. According to pilot experiments which considered various durations of global no-flow ischemia ranging from 10 to 20 minutes, two durations were chosen for the present study: 20 minutes (group 20) in which ventricular fibrillation (VF) was the predominant form of arrhythmias, and 18 minutes (group 18) in which the prevalence of VF was markedly lower despite the small difference in the duration of ischemia. Crataegus pretreatment significantly (p = 0.02) reduced the average prevalence of malignant arrhythmias (VF + Flutter) as observed during the 20-min-period of reperfusion as follows: group 20: from 89% (control, n = 9) to 51% (LI 132, n = 7), group 18: from 48% (control, n = 8) to 8% (LI 132, n = 8). In group 20, ventricular tachycardia (VT) could be observed only in the treated group, because of the predominance of VF in the control group. LI 132 pretreatment reduced the average prevalence of VT in group 18 in spite of the identical percentage of occurrence (6 out of 8 rats, with and without treatment) due to a shorter duration of the VT episodes. Thus, under the conditions of our experiments, effective prevention against reperfusion arrhythmias by Crataegus pretreatment was evident.

ASB clinical biomechanics award winner 2006 prospective study of the biomechanical factors associated with iliotibial band syndrome.

PubMed

Noehren, Brian; Davis, Irene; Hamill, Joseph

2007-11-01

Iliotibial band syndrome is the leading cause of lateral knee pain in runners. Despite its high prevalence, little is known about the biomechanics that lead to this syndrome. The purpose of this study was to prospectively compare lower extremity kinematics and kinetics between a group of female runners who develop iliotibial band syndrome compared to healthy controls. It was hypothesized that runners who develop iliotibial band syndrome will exhibit greater peak hip adduction, knee internal rotation, rearfoot eversion and no difference in knee flexion at heel strike. Additionally, the iliotibial band syndrome group were expected to have greater hip abduction, knee external rotation, and rearfoot inversion moments. A group of healthy female recreational runners underwent an instrumented gait analysis and were then followed for two years. Eighteen runners developed iliotibial band syndrome. Their initial running mechanics were compared to a group of age and mileage matched controls with no history of knee or hip pain. Comparisons of peak hip, knee, rearfoot angles and moments were made during the stance phase of running. Variables of interest were averaged over the five running trials, and then averaged across groups. The iliotibial band syndrome group exhibited significantly greater hip adduction and knee internal rotation. However, rearfoot eversion and knee flexion were similar between groups. There were no differences in moments between groups. The development of iliotibial band syndrome appears to be related to increased peak hip adduction and knee internal rotation. These combined motions may increase iliotibial band strain causing it to compress against the lateral femoral condyle. These data suggest that treatment interventions should focus on controlling these secondary plane movements through strengthening, stretching and neuromuscular re-education.

Characterizing cognitive heterogeneity on the schizophrenia-bipolar disorder spectrum.

PubMed

Van Rheenen, T E; Lewandowski, K E; Tan, E J; Ospina, L H; Ongur, D; Neill, E; Gurvich, C; Pantelis, C; Malhotra, A K; Rossell, S L; Burdick, K E

2017-07-01

Current group-average analysis suggests quantitative but not qualitative cognitive differences between schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). There is increasing recognition that cognitive within-group heterogeneity exists in both disorders, but it remains unclear as to whether between-group comparisons of performance in cognitive subgroups emerging from within each of these nosological categories uphold group-average findings. We addressed this by identifying cognitive subgroups in large samples of SZ and BD patients independently, and comparing their cognitive profiles. The utility of a cross-diagnostic clustering approach to understanding cognitive heterogeneity in these patients was also explored. Hierarchical clustering analyses were conducted using cognitive data from 1541 participants (SZ n = 564, BD n = 402, healthy control n = 575). Three qualitatively and quantitatively similar clusters emerged within each clinical group: a severely impaired cluster, a mild-moderately impaired cluster and a relatively intact cognitive cluster. A cross-diagnostic clustering solution also resulted in three subgroups and was superior in reducing cognitive heterogeneity compared with disorder clustering independently. Quantitative SZ-BD cognitive differences commonly seen using group averages did not hold when cognitive heterogeneity was factored into our sample. Members of each corresponding subgroup, irrespective of diagnosis, might be manifesting the outcome of differences in shared cognitive risk factors.

Isokinetic strength and endurance during 30-day 6 degrees head-down bed rest with isotonic and isokinetic exercise training

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenleaf, J. E.; Bernauer, E. M.; Ertl, A. C.; Bulbulian, R.; Bond, M.

1994-01-01

The purpose of our study was to determine if an intensive, intermittent, isokinetic, lower extremity exercise training program would attenuate or eliminate the decrease of muscular strength and endurance during prolonged bed rest (BR). The 19 male subjects (36 +/- 1 yr, 178 +/- 2 cm, 76.5 +/- 1.7 kg) were allocated into a no exercise (NOE) training group (N = 5), an isotonic (lower extremity cycle ergometer) exercise (ITE) training group (N = 7), and an isokinetic (isokinetic knee flexion-extension) exercise (IKE) training group (N = 7). Peak knee (flexion and extension) and shoulder (abduction-adduction) functions were measured weekly in all groups with one 5-repetition set. After BR, average knee extension total work decreased by 16% with NOE, increased by 27% with IKE, and was unchanged with ITE. Average knee flexion total work and peak torque (strength) responses were unchanged in all groups. Force production increased by 20% with IKE and was unchanged with NOE and ITE. Shoulder total work was unchanged in all groups, while gross average peak torque increased by 27% with ITE and by 22% with IKE, and was unchanged with NOE. Thus, while ITE training can maintain some isokinetic functions during BR, maximal intermittent IKE training can increase other functions above pre-BR control levels.

Isokinetic Strength and Endurance During 30-day 6 deg Head-Down Bed Rest with Isotonic and Isokinetic Exercise Training

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenleaf, J. E.; Bernauer, E. M.; Ertl, A. C.; Bond, M.; Bulbulian, R.

1994-01-01

The purpose of our study was to determine if an intensive, intermittent, isokinetic, lower extremity exercise training program would attenuate or eliminate the decrease of muscular strength and endurance during prolonged bed rest (BR). The 19 male subjects (36 +/- 1 yr, 178 +/- 2 cm, 76.5 +/- 1.7 kg) were allocated into a no exercise (NOE) training group (N = 5), an isotonic (lower extremity cycle orgometer) exercise (ITE) training group (N = 7), and an isokinetic (isokinetic knee flexion-extension) exercise (IKE) training group (N = 7). Peak knee (flexion and extension) and shoulder (abduction-adduction) functions were measured weekly in all groups with one 5-repetition set. After BR, average knee extension total work decreased by 16% with NOE, increased by 27% with IKE, and was unchanged with ITE. Average knee flexion total work and peak torque (strength) responses were unchanged in all groups. Force production increased by 20% with IKE and was unchanged with NOE and ITE. Shoulder total work was unchanged in all groups, while gross average peak torque increased by 27% with ITE and by 22% with IKE, and was unchanged with NOE. Thus, while ITE training can maintain some isokinetic functions during BR, maximal intermittent IKE training can increase other functions above pre-BR control levels.

Randomised controlled trial evaluation of Tweet2Quit: a social network quit-smoking intervention.

PubMed

Pechmann, Cornelia; Delucchi, Kevin; Lakon, Cynthia M; Prochaska, Judith J

2017-03-01

We evaluated a novel Twitter-delivered intervention for smoking cessation, Tweet2Quit, which sends daily, automated communications to small, private, self-help groups to encourage high-quality, online, peer-to-peer discussions. A 2-group randomised controlled trial assessed the net benefit of adding a Tweet2Quit support group to a usual care control condition of nicotine patches and a cessation website. Participants were 160 smokers (4 cohorts of 40/cohort), aged 18-59 years, who intended to quit smoking, used Facebook daily, texted weekly, and had mobile phones with unlimited texting. All participants received 56 days of nicotine patches, emails with links to the smokefree.gov cessation website, and instructions to set a quit date within 7 days. Additionally, Tweet2Quit participants were enrolled in 20-person, 100-day Twitter groups, and received daily discussion topics via Twitter, and daily engagement feedback via text. The primary outcome was sustained abstinence at 7, 30 and 60 days post-quit date. Participants (mean age 35.7 years, 26.3% male, 31.2% college degree, 88.7% Caucasian) averaged 18.0 (SD=8.2) cigarettes per day and 16.8 (SD=9.8) years of smoking. Participants randomised to Tweet2Quit averaged 58.8 tweets/participant and the average tweeting duration was 47.4 days/participant. Tweet2Quit doubled sustained abstinence out to 60 days follow-up (40.0%, 26/65) versus control (20.0%, 14/70), OR=2.67, CI 1.19 to 5.99, p=0.017. Tweeting via phone predicted tweet volume, and tweet volume predicted sustained abstinence (p<0.001). The daily autocommunications caused tweeting spikes accounting for 24.0% of tweets. Tweet2Quit was engaging and doubled sustained abstinence. Its low cost and scalability makes it viable as a global cessation treatment. NCT01602536. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Embitterment in War Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

PubMed Central

Sabic, Dzevad; Sabic, Adela; Batic-Mujanovic, Olivera

2018-01-01

Aim The aim of this study was to analyze frequency of embitterment in war veterans with Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients and Methods It was analyzed 174 subjects (from Health Center Zivinice/ Mental Health Center) through a survey conducted in the period from March 2015 to June 2016, of witch 87 war veterans with PTSD and control subjects 87 war veterans without PTSD. The primary outcome measure was the Post-Traumatic Embitterment Disorder Self-Rating Scale (PTED Scale) who contains 19 items designed to assess features of embitterment reactions to negative life events. Secondary efficacy measures included the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale - V (CAPS), the PTSD CheckList (PCL), the Combat Exposure Scale (CES), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-Bref). All subjects were male. The average age of patients in the group war veterans with PTSD was 52·78 ± 5·99. In the control group average age was 51·42 ± 5·98. Statistical data were analyzed in SPSS statistical program. Results Comparing the results, t tests revealed significant difference between group veterans with PTSD and control group (t=–21·216, p<0·0001). War veterans group with PTSD (X= 51·41 SD= 8·91), war veterans without PTSD (X=14·39, SD=13·61). Conclusion Embitterment is frequent in war veterans with PTSD. PMID:29736102

Preventing overuse shoulder injuries among throwing athletes: a cluster-randomised controlled trial in 660 elite handball players.

PubMed

Andersson, Stig Haugsboe; Bahr, Roald; Clarsen, Benjamin; Myklebust, Grethe

2017-07-01

Shoulder problems are highly prevalent among elite handball players. Reduced glenohumeral rotation, external rotation weakness and scapula dyskinesis have been identified as risk factors. Evaluate the effect of an exercise programme designed to reduce the prevalence of shoulder problems in elite handball. 45 elite handball teams (22 female teams, 23 male teams, 660 players) were cluster randomised (22 teams, 331 players in the intervention group, 23 teams, 329 players in the control group) and followed for 1 competitive season (7 months). The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center (OSTRC) Shoulder Injury Prevention Programme, an exercise programme to increase glenohumeral internal rotation, external rotation strength and scapular muscle strength, as well as improve kinetic chain and thoracic mobility, was delivered by coaches and captains 3 times per week as a part of the handball warm-up. The main outcome measures, prevalence of shoulder problems and substantial shoulder problems, were measured monthly. The average prevalence of shoulder problems during the season was 17% (95% CI 16% to 19%) in the intervention group and 23% (95% CI 21% to 26%) in the control group (mean difference 6%). The average prevalence of substantial shoulder problems was 5% (95% CI 4% to 6%) in the intervention group and 8% (95% CI 7% to 9%) in the control group (mean difference 3%). Using generalised estimating equation models, a 28% lower risk of shoulder problems (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.98, p=0.038) and 22% lower risk of substantial shoulder problems (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.16, p=0.23) were observed in the intervention group compared with the control group. The OSTRC Shoulder Injury Prevention Programme reduced the prevalence of shoulder problems in elite handball and should be included as a part of the warm-up. ISRCTN96217107. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Laser-welded titanium frameworks supported by implants in the partially edentulous mandible: a 10-year comparative follow-up study.

PubMed

Ortorp, Anders; Jemt, Torsten

2008-09-01

Comparative long-term knowledge of different framework materials in the partially edentulous implant patient is not available. To report and compare 10-year data on free-standing implant-supported partial prostheses with laser-welded titanium (test) and conventional gold alloy (control) frameworks. Altogether, 52 partially edentulous patients were consecutively provided with laser-welded prostheses (n = 60) in the partially edentulous lower jaw (test group). A control group of 52 randomly selected patients with gold alloy castings (n = 60) was used for comparison. Clinical and radiographic 10-year data were retrospectively collected and evaluated for both groups. The overall 10-year implant cumulative survival rate (CSR) was 93.0% (loaded implants, 96.4%), with a 10-year implant CSR of 91.5 and 94.7% for test and control implants, respectively (p > .05). Out of a total of 22 lost implants, 17 implants (77.3%) were shorter than 10 mm. The overall 10-year prosthesis CSR was 93.7%, with a corresponding 10-year CSR of 88.4 and 100% for test and control groups, respectively (p < .05). Average 10-year bone loss was 0.46 mm (SD 0.47) and 0.69 mm (SD 0.53) for the test and control groups (p < .001), respectively. Only 1% of the implants had >3 mm accumulated bone loss after 10 years. Altogether, 10 of the prostheses in both groups had implant component mechanical problems (8.3%). None of the frameworks or implants fractured, but more fractures of porcelain veneers were observed in the test group (p < .05). The protocol of implant treatment in the partially edentulous jaw functioned well during 10 years, although prosthodontic maintenance was required. However, laser-welded titanium frameworks presented more problems as compared with gold alloy frameworks. More loaded implants were lost (p < .05), and higher incidence of porcelain chipping was noted in the test group (p < .05). However, bone loss was on an average lower for the test group during the 10 years of follow-up (p < .001).

Focused Feedback With Video Tape As An Aid In Counseling Underachieving College Freshmen. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Valine, Warren J.

This study examines the relative effectiveness of 3 group counseling techniques and a control group in counseling with underachieving college freshmen. The effectiveness of each method was determined through comparison of grade point averages (GPA) as well as by pre- and post-test scores on selected self concept variables of the Tennessee Self…

The balanced survivor average causal effect.

PubMed

Greene, Tom; Joffe, Marshall; Hu, Bo; Li, Liang; Boucher, Ken

2013-05-07

Statistical analysis of longitudinal outcomes is often complicated by the absence of observable values in patients who die prior to their scheduled measurement. In such cases, the longitudinal data are said to be "truncated by death" to emphasize that the longitudinal measurements are not simply missing, but are undefined after death. Recently, the truncation by death problem has been investigated using the framework of principal stratification to define the target estimand as the survivor average causal effect (SACE), which in the context of a two-group randomized clinical trial is the mean difference in the longitudinal outcome between the treatment and control groups for the principal stratum of always-survivors. The SACE is not identified without untestable assumptions. These assumptions have often been formulated in terms of a monotonicity constraint requiring that the treatment does not reduce survival in any patient, in conjunction with assumed values for mean differences in the longitudinal outcome between certain principal strata. In this paper, we introduce an alternative estimand, the balanced-SACE, which is defined as the average causal effect on the longitudinal outcome in a particular subset of the always-survivors that is balanced with respect to the potential survival times under the treatment and control. We propose a simple estimator of the balanced-SACE that compares the longitudinal outcomes between equivalent fractions of the longest surviving patients between the treatment and control groups and does not require a monotonicity assumption. We provide expressions for the large sample bias of the estimator, along with sensitivity analyses and strategies to minimize this bias. We consider statistical inference under a bootstrap resampling procedure.

Behavioral Adjustment of Toddler and Preschool-Aged Children with Single-Suture Craniosynostosis*

PubMed Central

Kapp-Simon, Kathleen A; Collett, Brent R; Barr-Schinzel, Michael A; Cradock, Mary M; Buono, Lauren A; Pietila, Kristen E; Speltz, Matthew L

2012-01-01

Background The purpose of this study was to confirm initial reports of elevated behavior problems in children with single-suture craniosynostosis (SSC), using multiple informants, longitudinal analyses and a control group. We hypothesized higher levels of maladjustment for children with SSC than comparison children, particularly at the older age and in selected areas of previously observed vulnerability: attention and social adjustment. Method A Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was completed when children were ~19 months by 436 mothers (219 with SSC) and 371 fathers (177 with SSC); and at ~37 months by 361 mothers (175 with SSC) and 303 fathers (142 with SSC). A minimum of one caregiver/teacher report was available for 169 of these children (74 with SSC) using the Caregiver-Teacher Report Form (CTRF). Results Average CBCL/CTRF externalizing, internalizing and total scores for all informants were consistently higher (worse) for children with SSC than control group children, but most differences were small and statistically non-significant. No differences associated with suture site were found. At the oldest age point, both mothers and fathers (but not teachers) generated higher average scores for patients than for controls on scales measuring attention and social problems, with small to medium effects sizes (0.20 to 0.32). Conclusion On average toddlers/preschoolers with SSC show behavioral development that is largely indistinguishable from same-aged peers of similar socioeconomic background. The predictive significance of small group differences in attention and social adjustment will be assessed in a follow-up of this cohort at age 7. PMID:22929249

Use of tylvalosin in the control of porcine enzootic pneumonia

PubMed Central

Pallarés, F. J.; Lasa, C.; Roozen, M.; Ramis, G.

2015-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of tylvalosin (Aivlosin Water Soluble Granules, ECO Animal Health) in drinking water for control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M hyo) on a farm with chronic enzootic pneumonia (EP) problems and high prevalence of mycoplasma-like lesions at slaughter. Design On a 4000-sow farm in the southeast of Spain, 1500 animals of same age were randomly divided into two groups: 900 pigs in the treated group (TG) and 600 pigs in the non-treated control group (CG). TG was medicated for seven days with tylvalosin in drinking water (2.5 mg tylvalosin/kg bodyweight (BW)) at weaning (from 21st to 28th day of life) and a second treatment when moved to finisher barn (from 63rd to 70th day of life). Results In the TG, there was a significant reduction in the severity (P<0.001) and number of animals with lung lesions (P<0.001) compared with CG. TG had an increased average daily gain and decreased average number of days in finishing. TG had a lower average carcase weight, but improved homogeneity. M hyo was not detected by q-PCR in samples, taken from lungs with characteristic EP lesions in the TG (0/9), in contrast to the CG (8/9 positive). Conclusions A strategic medication with Aivlosin at 2.5 mg tylvalosin/kg BW in drinking water for seven days at weaning and when moved to finisher barn significantly reduces mycoplasma-like lung lesions and improves productivity parameters. PMID:26392896

Walk on the bright side: physical activity and affect in major depressive disorder.

PubMed

Mata, Jutta; Thompson, Renee J; Jaeggi, Susanne M; Buschkuehl, Martin; Jonides, John; Gotlib, Ian H

2012-05-01

Although prescribed exercise has been found to improve affect and reduce levels of depression, we do not know how self-initiated everyday physical activity influences levels of positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) in depressed persons. Fifty-three individuals diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and 53 never-depressed controls participated in a seven-day experience sampling study. Participants were prompted randomly eight times per day and answered questions about their physical activity and affective state. Over the week, the two groups of participants did not differ in average level of physical activity. As expected, participants with MDD reported lower average PA and higher average NA than did never-depressed controls. Both participants with MDD and controls reported higher levels of PA at prompts after physical activity than at prompts after inactive periods; moreover, for both groups of participants, PA increased from a prompt after an inactive period to a subsequent prompt at which activity was reported. Depressed participants in particular showed a dose-response effect of physical activity on affect: longer duration and/or higher intensity of physical activity increased their PA significantly more than did short duration and/or lower intensity physical activity. Physical activity did not influence NA in either group. In contrast to previous treatment studies that examined the effects of prescribed structured exercise, this investigation showed that self-initiated physical activity influences PA. These findings also underscore the importance of distinguishing between PA and NA to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of physical activity on affect in MDD.

Moving from idea to action: promoting physical activity by empowering adolescents.

PubMed

Lindqvist, Anna-Karin; Mikaelsson, Katarina; Westerberg, Mats; Gard, Gunvor; Kostenius, Catrine

2014-11-01

Physical activity provides fundamental health benefits for children and youth. The aim of the study was to explore the possibility of conducting an empowerment-inspired intervention and examine the impact of the intervention in promoting moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) among adolescents. A nonrandomized trial with a concurrent control group was carried out. Physical activity data were collected before and after the intervention with daily questions by short message service. Self-efficacy, social support, and attitude were also measured before and after the intervention since they were possible mediators. The intervention was created by the students, the researchers, and the teachers using an empowerment-based approach. Students in the intervention group (n = 21) increased their MVPA on average by 4.9 (SD = 28.9) minutes per day, and students in the control group (n = 25) reduced their MVPA on average by 25.4 (SD = 23.0) minutes per day (p = .000). The intervention might have contributed to a promotion of physical activity among students in the intervention group. The most valuable contribution this study provides is the knowledge that it is possible to develop and conduct an empowerment-inspired intervention to promote adolescent physical activity. © 2014 Society for Public Health Education.

Fingerprints: A simple method for Screening Hemophilic Patients.

PubMed

Jamalian, M; Mesri, M; Vishteh, H R K; Solhi, H; Salehpour, R

2014-08-01

The present study aims to compare hemophilic patients' fingerprint types with the normal people to help diagnose the disease, particularly new occurrences of the disease. This case-control study was conducted in 2012. Sixty two patients with hemophilia type A and 62 normal healthy people were selected. The type of fingerprint was determined by a forensic specialist who was kept unaware of the participants' group. Using advanced Henry method, the main types of fingerprints were classified as arch, loop, whorl, as well as other types. In the control group, loop type (65%) and in the case group the whorl type (34%) were the most frequent fingerprint type (p < 0.001) and there was a significant difference of fingerprint in each finger between two groups. In addition, the average number of whorl type in the patients with mild disease was significantly higher and the average number of arch and other types of fingerprints was significantly lower than patients with moderate or severe disease. The findings of the present study indicated that not only are the fingerprints of normal and hemophilic people different, but also a difference was observed between hemophilic patients with the mild factor level and patients with moderate or severe one.

Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy on health-related quality of life: An evaluation of therapies provided by trainee therapists.

PubMed

Henriksson, Sophie; Anclair, Malin; Hiltunen, Arto J

2016-06-01

The present study was carried out to examine the treatment effect of cognitive behavioral therapy provided by trainee therapists at a university clinic, focusing on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) optimism and symptoms. The study was conducted through a repeated measures design and included a treatment group (n = 21), which received cognitive behavioral therapy for an average of 10.7 therapy sessions and a control group (n = 14), that was put on a wait list for 8.6 weeks on average. After treatment, the treatment group improved significantly concerning general health (p = 0.028) and optimism (p = 0.027). In addition, clients improved in several areas within mental health and displayed some reduction in anxiety symptoms. Concurrently, the results also indicated some improvement within the control group, which may have been caused by the initial therapeutic contact, expectancy effects or spontaneous remission. The study concluded that cognitive behavioral therapy provided by trainee therapists may have a positive effect on areas within HRQOL and optimism. © 2016 Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The effect of static cyclotorsion compensation on refractive and visual outcomes using the Schwind Amaris laser platform for the correction of high astigmatism.

PubMed

Aslanides, Ioannis M; Toliou, Georgia; Padroni, Sara; Arba Mosquera, Samuel; Kolli, Sai

2011-06-01

To compare the refractive and visual outcomes using the Schwind Amaris excimer laser in patients with high astigmatism (>1D) with and without the static cyclotorsion compensation (SCC) algorithm available with this new laser platform. 70 consecutive eyes with ≥1D astigmatism were randomized to treatment with compensation of static cyclotorsion (SCC group- 35 eyes) or not (control group- 35 eyes). A previously validated optimized aspheric ablation algorithm profile was used in every case. All patients underwent LASIK with a microkeratome cut flap. The SCC and control group did not differ preoperatively, in terms of refractive error, magnitude of astigmatism or in terms of cardinal or oblique astigmatism. Following treatment, average deviation from target was SEq +0.16D, SD±0.52 D, range -0.98 D to +1.71 D in the SCC group compared to +0.46 D, SD±0.61 D, range -0.25 D to +2.35 D in the control group, which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Following treatment, average astigmatism was 0.24 D (SD±0.28 D, range -1.01 D to 0.00 D) in the SCC group compared to 0.46 D (SD±0.42 D, range -1.80 D to 0.00 D) in the control group, which was highly statistically significant (p<0.005). There was no statistical difference in the postoperative uncorrected vision when the aspheric algorithm was used although there was a trend to increased number of lines gained in the SCC group. This study shows that static cyclotorsion is accurately compensated for by the Schwind Amaris laser platform. The compensation of static cyclotorsion in patients with moderate astigmatism produces a significant improvement in refractive and astigmatic outcomes than when not compensated. Copyright © 2011 British Contact Lens Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of riboflavin/UVA cross-linking on anti-degeneration and promoting angiogenic capability of decellularized liver matrix.

PubMed

Xiang, Junxi; Liu, Peng; Zheng, Xinglong; Dong, Dinghui; Fan, Shujuan; Dong, Jian; Zhang, Xufeng; Liu, Xuemin; Wang, Bo; Lv, Yi

2017-10-01

Weak mechanical property and unstable degradation rate limited the application of decellularized liver matrix in tissue engineering. The aim of this study was to explore a new method for improving the mechanical properties, anti-degeneration and angiogenic capability of decellularized liver matrix. This was achieved by a novel approach using riboflavin/ultraviolet A treatment to induce collagen cross-linking of decellularized matrix. Histological staining and scanning electron microscope showed that the diameter of cross-linked fibers significantly increased compared with the control group. The average peak load and Young's modulus of decellularized matrix were obviously improved after cross-linking. Then we implanted the modified matrix into the rat hepatic injury model to test the anti-degeneration and angiogenic capability of riboflavin/UVA cross-linked decellularized liver scaffolds in vivo. The results indicated that cross-linked scaffolds degrade more slowly than those in the control group. In the experiment group, average microvessel density in the implanted matrix was higher than that in the control group since the first week after implantation. In conclusion, we initiated the method to improve the biomechanical properties of decellularized liver scaffolds by riboflavin/UVA cross-linking, and more importantly, its improvement on anti-degeneration and angiogenesis was identified. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2662-2669, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Diet or exercise, or both, for preventing excessive weight gain in pregnancy.

PubMed

Muktabhant, Benja; Lawrie, Theresa A; Lumbiganon, Pisake; Laopaiboon, Malinee

2015-06-15

This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2012, Issue 4. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy is associated with poor maternal and neonatal outcomes including gestational diabetes, hypertension, caesarean section, macrosomia, and stillbirth. Diet or exercise interventions, or both, may reduce excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and associated poor outcomes; however, evidence from the original review was inconclusive. To evaluate the effectiveness of diet or exercise, or both, interventions for preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy and associated pregnancy complications. We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (5 November 2014), contacted investigators of the previously identified ongoing studies and scanned reference lists of retrieved studies. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of diet or exercise, or both, interventions for preventing excessive weight gain in pregnancy. Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and risk of bias, extracted data and checked them for accuracy. We organised RCTs according to the type of interventions and pooled data using the random-effects model in the Review Manager software. We also performed subgroup analyses according to the initial risk of adverse effects related to poor weight control. We performed sensitivity analysis to assess the robustness of the findings. We included 65 RCTs, out of which 49 RCTs involving 11,444 women contributed data to quantitative meta-analysis. Twenty studies were at moderate-to-high risk of bias. Study interventions involved mainly diet only, exercise only, and combined diet and exercise interventions, usually compared with standard care. Study methods varied widely; therefore, we estimated the average effect across studies and performed sensitivity analysis, where appropriate, by excluding outliers and studies at high risk of bias.Diet or exercise, or both, interventions reduced the risk of excessive GWG on average by 20% overall (average risk ratio (RR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.73 to 0.87; participants = 7096; studies = 24; I² = 52%). This estimate was robust to sensitivity analysis, which reduced heterogeneity, therefore we graded this evidence as high-quality. Interventions involving low glycaemic load diets, supervised or unsupervised exercise only, or diet and exercise combined all led to similar reductions in the number of women gaining excessive weight in pregnancy.Women receiving diet or exercise, or both interventions were more likely to experience low GWG than those in control groups (average RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.27; participants = 4422; studies = 11; I² = 3%; moderate-quality evidence). We found no difference between intervention and control groups with regard to pre-eclampsia (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.77 to 1.16; participants = 5330; studies = 15; I² = 0%; high-quality evidence); however, maternal hypertension (not a pre-specified outcome) was reduced in the intervention group compared with the control group overall (average RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.96; participants = 5162; studies = 11; I² = 43%; low-quality evidence).There was no clear difference between groups with regard to caesarean delivery overall (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.03; participants = 7534; studies = 28; I² = 9%; high-quality evidence); although the effect estimate suggested a small difference (5%) in favour of the interventions. In addition, for combined diet and exercise counselling interventions there was a 13% (-1% to 25%) reduction in this outcome (borderline statistical significance).We found no difference between groups with regard to preterm birth overall (average RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.22; participants = 5923; studies = 16; I² = 16%; moderate-quality evidence); however limited evidence suggested that these effect estimates may differ according to the types of interventions, with a trend towards an increased risk for exercise-only interventions.We found no clear difference between intervention and control groups with regard to infant macrosomia (average RR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.02; participants = 8598; studies = 27; I² = 0%; high-quality evidence), although the effect estimate suggested a small difference (7% reduction) in favour of the intervention group. The largest effect size occurred in the supervised exercise-only intervention group (RR 0.81, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.02; participants = 2445; studies = 7; I² = 0%), which approached statistical significance (P = 0.07). Furthermore, in subgroup analysis by risk, high-risk women (overweight or obese women, or women with or at risk of gestational diabetes) receiving combined diet and exercise counselling interventions experienced a 15% reduced risk of infant macrosomia (average RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.00; participants = 3252; studies = nine; I² = 0; P = 0.05; moderate-quality evidence)There were no differences in the risk of poor neonatal outcomes including shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycaemia, hyperbilirubinaemia, or birth trauma (all moderate-quality evidence) between intervention and control groups; however, infants of high-risk women had a reduced risk of respiratory distress syndrome if their mothers were in the intervention group (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.85; participants = 2256; studies = two; I² = 0%; moderate-quality evidence). High-quality evidence indicates that diet or exercise, or both, during pregnancy can reduce the risk of excessive GWG. Other benefits may include a lower risk of caesarean delivery, macrosomia, and neonatal respiratory morbidity, particularly for high-risk women receiving combined diet and exercise interventions. Maternal hypertension may also be reduced. Exercise appears to be an important part of controlling weight gain in pregnancy and more research is needed to establish safe guidelines. Most included studies were carried out in developed countries and it is not clear whether these results are widely applicable to lower income settings.

Costs for a health coaching intervention for chronic care management.

PubMed

Wagner, Todd H; Willard-Grace, Rachel; Chen, Ellen; Bodenheimer, Thomas; Thom, David H

2016-04-01

Health coaches can help patients gain knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage their chronic conditions. Coaches may be particularly valuable in resource-poor settings, but they are not typically reimbursed by insurance, raising questions about their budgetary impact. The Health Coaching in Primary Care (HCPC) study was a randomized controlled trial that showed health coaches were effective at helping low-income patients improve control of their type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and/or hyperlipidemia at 12 months compared with usual care. We estimated the cost of employing 3 health coaches and mapped these costs to participants. We tested whether the added costs of the coaches were offset by any savings in healthcare utilization within 1 year. Healthcare utilization data were obtained from 5 sources. Multivariate models assessed differences in costs at 1 year controlling for baseline characteristics. Coaches worked an average of 9 hours with each participant over the length of the study. On average, the health coach intervention cost $483 per participant per year. The average healthcare costs for the coaching group was $3207 compared with $3276 for the control group (P = .90). There was no evidence that the coaching intervention saved money at 1 year. Health coaches have been shown to improve clinical outcomes related to chronic disease management. We found that employing health coaches adds an additional cost of $483 per patient per year. The data do not suggest that health coaches pay for themselves by reducing healthcare utilization in the first year.

White Matter Integrity in High-Altitude Pilots Exposed to Hypobaria

PubMed Central

McGuire, Stephen A.; Boone, Goldie R.E.; Sherman, Paul M.; Tate, David F.; Wood, Joe D.; Patel, Beenish; Eskandar, George; Wijtenburg, S. Andrea; Rowland, Laura M.; Clarke, Geoffrey D.; Grogan, Patrick M.; Sladky, John H.; Kochunov, Peter V.

2017-01-01

Introduction Nonhypoxic hypobaric (low atmospheric pressure) occupational exposure, such as experienced by U.S. Air Force U-2 pilots and safety personnel operating inside altitude chambers, is associated with increased subcortical white matter hyperintensity (WMH) burden. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this discrete WMH change remain unknown. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate that occupational exposure to nonhypoxic hypobaria is associated with altered white matter integrity as quantified by fractional anisotropy (FA) measured using diffusion tensor imaging and relate these findings to WMH burden and neurocognitive ability. Methods There were 102 U-2 pilots and 114 age- and gender-controlled, health-matched controls who underwent magnetic resonance imaging. All pilots performed neurocognitive assessment. Whole-brain and tract-wise average FA values were compared between pilots and controls, followed by comparison within pilots separated into high and low WMH burden groups. Neurocognitive measurements were used to help interpret group difference in FA values. Results Pilots had significantly lower average FA values than controls (0.489/0.500, respectively). Regionally, pilots had higher FA values in the fronto-occipital tract where FA values positively correlated with visual-spatial performance scores (0.603/0.586, respectively). There was a trend for high burden pilots to have lower FA values than low burden pilots. Discussion Nonhypoxic hypobaric exposure is associated with significantly lower average FA in young, healthy U-2 pilots. This suggests that recurrent hypobaric exposure causes diffuse axonal injury in addition to focal white matter changes. PMID:28323582

High-School Chemistry Students' Performance and Gender Differences in a Computerized Molecular Modeling Learning Environment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnea, Nitza; Dori, Yehudit J.

1999-12-01

Computerized molecular modeling (CMM) contributes to the development of visualization skills via vivid animation of three dimensional representations. Its power to illustrate and explore phenomena in chemistry teaching stems from the convenience and simplicity of building molecules of any size and color in a number of presentation styles. A new CMM-based learning environment for teaching and learning chemistry in Israeli high schools has been designed and implemented. Three tenth grade experimental classes used this discovery CMM approach, while two other classes, who studied the same topic in the customary approach, served as a control group. We investigated the effects of using molecular modeling on students' spatial ability, understanding of new concepts related to geometric and symbolic representations and students' perception of the model concept. Each variable was examined for gender differences. Students of the experimental group performed better than control group students in all three performance aspects. Experimental group students scored higher than the control group students in the achievement test on structure and bonding. Students' spatial ability improved in both groups, but students from the experimental group scored higher. For the average students in the two groups the improvement in all three spatial ability sub-tests —paper folding, card rotation, and cube comparison—was significantly higher for the experimental group. Experimental group students gained better insight into the model concept than the control group and could explain more phenomena with the aid of a variety of models. Hence, CMM helps in particular to improve the examined cognitive aspects of the average student population. In most of the achievement and spatial ability tests no significant differences between the genders were found, but in some aspects of model perception and verbal argumentation differences still exist. Experimental group females improved their model perception more than the control group females in understanding ways to create models and in the role of models as mental structures and prediction tools. Teachers' and students' feedback on the CMM learning environment was found to be positive, as it helped them understand concepts in molecular geometry and bonding. The results of this study suggest that teaching/learning of topics in chemistry that are related to three dimensional structures can be improved by using a discovery approach in a computerized learning environment.

Impaired work performance among women with symptomatic uterine fibroids.

PubMed

Lerner, Debra; Mirza, Fadi G; Mirza, Fadi; Chang, Hong; Renzulli, Karen; Perch, Katherine; Chelmow, David

2008-10-01

To assess the work impact of symptomatic uterine fibroids (UFs). A cohort study compared 58 employed women with symptomatic UFs to 56 healthy controls. Data sources included a self-administered mail questionnaire and medical charts. At-work performance limitations and productivity loss were measured with the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate case-control group differences were tested. Based on adjusted mean scores, the UF group had significantly more at-work limitations and productivity loss than controls, while absence rates were similar. The UF group's performance was impaired 18% of the time on average versus 8% for controls (P-values, 0.005-0.040). At-work limitations were explained by depression symptoms, Non-White race/ethnicity, and poorer health-related quality of life. Fibroids and related symptoms impose a burden on the working lives' of women, their employers, and the economy.

Evaluation of retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer and macular changes in patients with migraine.

PubMed

Tunç, Abdulkadir; Güngen, Belma Doğan; Evliyaoğlu, Ferhat; Aras, Yeşim Güzey; Tekeşin, Aysel Kaya

2017-03-01

The aim of this study was to investigate retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL) thickness, macular changes (central subfield thickness (CST), cube average thickness (CAT), cube volume (CV) in patients with migraine using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and to assess if there was any correlation with white matter lesions (WML). In this prospective case-control study, RNFL, GCL thickness and macular changes of 19 migraine patients with aura (MA), 41 migraine without aura (MO) and 60 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects were measured using OCT device. OCT measurements were taken at the same time of the day to minimize the effects of diurnal variation. The average, inferior and superior quadrant RNFL thickness were significantly thinner in patients with migraine (p = 0.017, p = 0.010, p = 0.048). There was also a significant difference between patients with and without aura in the mean and superior quadrant RNFL thickness (p = 0.02, p = 0.043).While there was a significant thinning in CST and CAT in patients with migraine (p = 0.020), there were no significant difference in GCL measurements (p = 0.184). When the groups were compared to the control group, there were significant differences between MA and the control group regarding average, superior and inferior quadrant RNLF thickness (p < 0.001, p = 0.025, p < 0.001). On the other hand, there were significant differences between MO and the control group regarding average and inferior faces (p = 0.037, p = 0.04). When OCT measurements were evaluated according to the frequency of attacks, CST and GCL thickness were significantly thinner in patients who had more than four attacks a month (p = 0.024, p = 0.014). In patients with WML, only CV measurements were significantly thinner than migraine patients without WML (p = 0.014). The decreased RNFL, CST, CAT and CV of the migraine patients might be related to the vascular pathology of the disease. Because WML was not correlated with the same measurements except CV, we think that further studies are needed to evaluate the etiopathologic relationship between OCT measurements and WML in migraine patients.

Are WISC IQ scores in children with mathematical learning disabilities underestimated? The influence of a specialized intervention on test performance.

PubMed

Lambert, Katharina; Spinath, Birgit

2018-01-01

Intelligence measures play a pivotal role in the diagnosis of mathematical learning disabilities (MLD). Probably as a result of math-related material in IQ tests, children with MLD often display reduced IQ scores. However, it remains unclear whether the effects of math remediation extend to IQ scores. The present study investigated the impact of a special remediation program compared to a control group receiving private tutoring (PT) on the WISC IQ scores of children with MLD. We included N=45 MLD children (7-12 years) in a study with a pre- and post-test control group design. Children received remediation for two years on average. The analyses revealed significantly greater improvements in the experimental group on the Full-Scale IQ, and the Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Reasoning, and Working Memory indices, but not Processing Speed, compared to the PT group. Children in the experimental group showed an average WISC IQ gain of more than ten points. Results indicate that the WISC IQ scores of MLD children might be underestimated and that an effective math intervention can improve WISC IQ test performance. Taking limitations into account, we discuss the use of IQ measures more generally for defining MLD in research and practice. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Combined Effects of Lignosus rhinocerotis Supplementation and Resistance Training on Isokinetic Muscular Strength and Power, Anaerobic and Aerobic Fitness Level, and Immune Parameters in Young Males.

PubMed

Chen, Chee Keong; Hamdan, Nor Faeiza; Ooi, Foong Kiew; Wan Abd Hamid, Wan Zuraida

2016-01-01

This study investigated the effects of Lignosus rhinocerotis (LRS) supplementation and resistance training (RT) on isokinetic muscular strength and power, anaerobic and aerobic fitness, and immune parameters in young males. Participants were randomly assigned to four groups: Control (C), LRS, RT, and combined RT-LRS (RT-LRS). Participants in the LRS and RT-LRS groups consumed 500 mg of LRS daily for 8 weeks. RT was conducted 3 times/week for 8 weeks for participants in the RT and RT-LRS groups. The following parameters were measured before and after the intervention period: Anthropometric data, isokinetic muscular strength and power, and anaerobic and aerobic fitness. Blood samples were also collected to determine immune parameters. Isokinetic muscular strength and power were increased ( P < 0.05) in participants of both RT and RT-LRS groups. RT-LRS group had shown increases ( P < 0.05) in shoulder extension peak torque, shoulder flexion and extension average power, knee flexion peak torque, and knee flexion and extension average power. There were also increases ( P < 0.05) in anaerobic power and capacity and aerobic fitness in this group. Similarly, RT group had increases ( P < 0.05) in shoulder flexion average power, knee flexion and extension peak torque, and knee flexion and extension average power. In addition, increases ( P < 0.05) in anaerobic power and capacity, aerobic fitness, T lymphocytes (CD3 and CD4), and B lymphocytes (CD19) counts were observed in the RT group. RT elicited increased isokinetic muscular strength and power, anaerobic and aerobic fitness, and immune parameters among young males. However, supplementation with LRS during RT did not provide additive benefits.

Combined Effects of Lignosus rhinocerotis Supplementation and Resistance Training on Isokinetic Muscular Strength and Power, Anaerobic and Aerobic Fitness Level, and Immune Parameters in Young Males

PubMed Central

Chen, Chee Keong; Hamdan, Nor Faeiza; Ooi, Foong Kiew; Wan Abd Hamid, Wan Zuraida

2016-01-01

Background: This study investigated the effects of Lignosus rhinocerotis (LRS) supplementation and resistance training (RT) on isokinetic muscular strength and power, anaerobic and aerobic fitness, and immune parameters in young males. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to four groups: Control (C), LRS, RT, and combined RT-LRS (RT-LRS). Participants in the LRS and RT-LRS groups consumed 500 mg of LRS daily for 8 weeks. RT was conducted 3 times/week for 8 weeks for participants in the RT and RT-LRS groups. The following parameters were measured before and after the intervention period: Anthropometric data, isokinetic muscular strength and power, and anaerobic and aerobic fitness. Blood samples were also collected to determine immune parameters. Results: Isokinetic muscular strength and power were increased (P < 0.05) in participants of both RT and RT-LRS groups. RT-LRS group had shown increases (P < 0.05) in shoulder extension peak torque, shoulder flexion and extension average power, knee flexion peak torque, and knee flexion and extension average power. There were also increases (P < 0.05) in anaerobic power and capacity and aerobic fitness in this group. Similarly, RT group had increases (P < 0.05) in shoulder flexion average power, knee flexion and extension peak torque, and knee flexion and extension average power. In addition, increases (P < 0.05) in anaerobic power and capacity, aerobic fitness, T lymphocytes (CD3 and CD4), and B lymphocytes (CD19) counts were observed in the RT group. Conclusions: RT elicited increased isokinetic muscular strength and power, anaerobic and aerobic fitness, and immune parameters among young males. However, supplementation with LRS during RT did not provide additive benefits. PMID:27833721

Combined application of dexamethasone and hyperbaric oxygen therapy yields better efficacy for patients with delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning.

PubMed

Xiang, Wenping; Xue, Hui; Wang, Baojun; Li, Yuechun; Zhang, Jun; Jiang, Changchun; Liang, Furu; Pang, Jiangxia; Yu, Lehua

2017-01-01

Delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (DEACMP) commonly occurs after recovering from acute CO poisoning. This study was performed to assess the efficacy of the combined application of dexamethasone and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in patients with DEACMP. A total of 120 patients with DEACMP were recruited and randomly assigned into the experimental group (receiving dexamethasone 5 mg/day or 10 mg/day plus HBO therapy) and control group (HBO therapy as monotherapy). Meanwhile, the conventional treatments were provided for all the patients. We used the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scale to assess the cognitive function, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) to assess the neurological function and the remission rate (RR) to assess the clinical efficacy. Myelin basic protein (MBP) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was also measured. After 4 weeks of treatment, compared to the control group, the experimental group had a significantly higher remission rate ( P =0.032), a significantly higher average MMSE score ( P =0.037) and a significantly lower average NIHSS score ( P =0.002). Meanwhile, there was a trend toward better improvement with dexamethasone 10 mg/day, and the level of MBP in the CSF of patients was significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group ( P <0.0001). The addition of dexamethasone did not significantly increase the incidence of adverse events. These results indicate that the combined application of dexamethasone and HBO therapy could yield better efficacy for patients with DEACMP and should be viewed as a potential new therapy.

The Relation of Religious Attitudes and Behaviours with Depression in Boarding Quran Course Students.

PubMed

Ozturk, Onur; Celik, Alper M; Uyar, Eylem Isik

2016-12-01

Boarding Quran courses are religious institutions where course attendees spend large part of the year. Depression is an ever-increasing health problem. So, it is worth to study on the effects of religion concept and religious belief and behaviours' that religion concept brings, on depression. The main purpose of this study, is to analyse the effect of religious attitudes and behaviours on depression in Quran course / hafiz students. The study is a cross sectional, case-control survey research. Boarding Quran courses and high schools were visited in Samsun city. A total of 956 participants enrolled between June 2015 and December 2015 were included into study from Samsun city of Turkey. Volunteers, 13 years and over ones without any psychiatric disorders were included in the study. Religious attitude-behaviour inventory and Beck's depression inventory were used in the study. Median point of case group attitude scale was 49, control group's was 57 and difference among both has a statistical meaning (p<0.001). Beck's depression score average of case group is 12.93±9.33, its control group's average is 13.74±11.14 and difference between them is not important. Median score of both groups are 11. When scores of attitude and depression scales compared with each other in terms of demographic parameters, there is a difference among group, gender, age and education parameters (p<0.001). It was seen that religious attitudes and behaviours can be protective for boarding Quran course students but it cannot be enough by itself.

The effect of neuro-linguistic programming on occupational stress in critical care nurses

PubMed Central

HemmatiMaslakpak, Masumeh; Farhadi, Masumeh; Fereidoni, Javid

2016-01-01

Background: The use of coping strategies in reducing the adverse effects of stress can be helpful. Nero-linguistic programming (NLP) is one of the modern methods of psychotherapy. This study aimed to determine the effect of NLP on occupational stress in nurses working in critical care units of Urmia. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out quasi-experimentally (before–after) with control and experimental groups. Of all the nurses working in the critical care units of Urmia Imam Khomeini and Motahari educational/therapeutic centers, 60 people participated in this survey. Eighteen sessions of intervention were done, each for 180 min. The experimental group received NLP program (such as goal setting, time management, assertiveness skills, representational system, and neurological levels, as well as some practical and useful NLP techniques). Expanding Nursing Stress Scale (ENSS) was used as the data gathering tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney test, and independent t-test were used to analyze the data. Results: The baseline score average of job stress was 120.88 and 121.36 for the intervention and control groups, respectively (P = 0.65). After intervention, the score average of job stress decreased to 64.53 in the experimental group while that of control group remained relatively unchanged (120.96). Mann–Whitney test results showed that stress scores between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: The results showed that the use of NLP can increase coping with stressful situations, and it can reduce the adverse effects of occupational stress. PMID:26985221

A comparative study of seminiferous tubular epithelium from rats flown on Cosmos 1887 and SL3

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sapp, Walter J.; Williams, Carol S.; Kato, K.; Philpott, Delbert E.; Stevenson, J.; Serova, L. V.

1989-01-01

Space flight, with its unique environmental constraints such as immobilization, decreased and increased pressures, and radiation, is known to affect testicular morphology and spermatogenesis. Among the several biological experiments and animals on board COSMOS 1887 Biosputnik flight were 10 rats, from which were collected testicular tissue. Average weights of flight tests were 6.4 pct. below that of the vivarium control when normalized for weight loss/100 grams body weight. Counts of surviving spermatogonia per tubule cross section indicated an average of 39 spermatogonia for flight animals, 40 for synchronous controls and 44 for the vivarium controls. Serum testosterone was significantly decreased when compared to basal controls but the decrease was not significant when compared in vivarium and synchronous control groups. The significant decrease in spermatogonia and the decrease in serum testosterone are similar to that in animals flown on Space Lab 3 (Challenger Shuttle).

On residents' satisfaction with community health services after health care system reform in Shanghai, China, 2011.

PubMed

Li, Zhijian; Hou, Jiale; Lu, Lin; Tang, Shenglan; Ma, Jin

2012-01-01

Health care system reform is a major issue in many countries and therefore how to evaluate the effects of changes is incredibly important. This study measured residents' satisfaction with community health care service in Shanghai, China, and aimed to evaluate the effect of recent health care system reform. Face-to-face interviews were performed with a stratified random sample of 2212 residents of the Shanghai residents using structured questionnaires. In addition, 972 valid responses were retrieved from internet contact. Controlling for sex, age, income and education, the study used logistic regression modeling to analyze factors associated with satisfaction and to explain the factors that affect the residents' satisfaction. Comparing current attitudes with those held at the initial implementation of the reform in this investigation, four dimensions of health care were analyzed: 1) the health insurance system; 2) essential drugs; 3) basic clinical services; and 4) public health services. Satisfaction across all dimensions improved since the reform was initiated, but differences of satisfaction level were found among most dimensions and groups. Residents currently expressed greater satisfaction with clinical service (average score=3.79, with 5 being most satisfied) and the public health/preventive services (average score=3.62); but less satisfied with the provision of essential drugs (average score=3.20) and health insurance schemes (average score=3.23). The disadvantaged groups (the elderly, the retired, those with only an elementary education, those with lower incomes) had overall poorer satisfaction levels on these four aspects of health care (P<0.01). 25.39% of the respondents thought that their financial burden had increased and 38.49% thought that drugs had become more expensive. The respondents showed more satisfaction with the clinical services (average score=3.79) and public health services/interventions (average score=3.79); and less satisfaction with the health insurance system (average score=3.23) and the essential drug system (average score=3.20). Disadvantaged groups showed lower satisfaction levels overall relative to non-disadvantaged groups.

Effect of Drug Sample Removal on Prescribing in a Family Practice Clinic

PubMed Central

Hartung, Daniel M.; Evans, David; Haxby, Dean G.; Kraemer, Dale F.; Andeen, Gabriel; Fagnan, Lyle J.

2010-01-01

PURPOSE Little is known about the impact of recent restrictions on pharmaceutical industry detailing and sampling on prescribing behavior, particularly within smaller, independent practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a policy prohibiting prescription drug samples and pharmaceutical industry interaction on prescribing patterns in a rural family practice clinic in central Oregon. METHODS Segmented linear regression models were used to evaluate trends in prescribing using locally obtained pharmacy claims. Oregon Medicaid pharmacy claims were used to control for secular prescribing changes. Total and class-specific monthly trends in branded, promoted, and average prescription drug costs were analyzed 18 months before and after policy implementation. RESULTS Aggregate trends of brand name drug use did not change significantly after policy implementation. In aggregate, use of promoted agents decreased by 1.43% while nonpromoted branded agents increased by 3.04%. Branded drugs prescribed for respiratory disease declined significantly by 11.34% compared with a control group of prescribers. Relative to the control group, prescriptions of promoted cholesterol-lowering drugs and antidepressants were reduced by approximately 9.98% and 11.34%, respectively. The trend in average cost per prescription for lipid-lowering drugs was significantly reduced by $0.70 per prescription per month. Overall, average prescription drug costs increased by $5.18 immediately after policy implementation. CONCLUSIONS Restriction of pharmaceutical industry representatives and samples from a rural family practice clinic produced modest reductions in branded drug use that varied by class. Although aggregate average costs increased, prescriptions for branded and promoted lipid-lowering agents and antidepressants were reduced. PMID:20843881

Characteristics of peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer in preterm children.

PubMed

Wang, Jingyun; Spencer, Rand; Leffler, Joel N; Birch, Eileen E

2012-05-01

To examine quantitatively characteristics of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in preterm children using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). Prospective cross-sectional study. A 3-mm high-resolution FD-OCT peripapillary RNFL circular scan centered on the optic disc was obtained from right eyes of 25 preterm children (10.6 ± 3.7 years old, 8 preterm and 17 with regressed retinopathy of prematurity with normal-appearing posterior poles) and 54 full-term controls (9.8 ± 3.2 years old). Images were analyzed using Spectralis FD-OCT software to obtain average thickness measurements for 6 sectors (temporal superior, temporal, temporal inferior, nasal inferior, nasal, nasal superior), and the global average. The RNFL global average for preterm children was 8% thinner than for full-term controls. In the preterm group, peripapillary RNFL thickness on the temporal side of the disc was 6% thicker than in full-term controls, while all other peripapillary RNFL sectors were 9% to 13% thinner. In the preterm group, temporal sector peripapillary RNFL thickness was correlated with gestational age (r = -0.47, P < .001), with foveal center total thickness (r = 0.48, P = .008, 1-tailed), and with visual acuity (r = 0.42; P = .026, 1-tailed). The significantly thinner RNFL global average for preterm children suggests that prematurity is associated with subclinical optic nerve hypoplasia. Significant correlations between temporal sector RNFL thickness and both the foveal thickness and visual acuity suggest that the peripapillary RNFL is related to abnormalities in macular development as a result of preterm birth. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of drug sample removal on prescribing in a family practice clinic.

PubMed

Hartung, Daniel M; Evans, David; Haxby, Dean G; Kraemer, Dale F; Andeen, Gabriel; Fagnan, Lyle J

2010-01-01

Little is known about the impact of recent restrictions on pharmaceutical industry detailing and sampling on prescribing behavior, particularly within smaller, independent practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a policy prohibiting prescription drug samples and pharmaceutical industry interaction on prescribing patterns in a rural family practice clinic in central Oregon. Segmented linear regression models were used to evaluate trends in prescribing using locally obtained pharmacy claims. Oregon Medicaid pharmacy claims were used to control for secular prescribing changes. Total and class-specific monthly trends in branded, promoted, and average prescription drug costs were analyzed 18 months before and after policy implementation. Aggregate trends of brand name drug use did not change significantly after policy implementation. In aggregate, use of promoted agents decreased by 1.43% while nonpromoted branded agents increased by 3.04%. Branded drugs prescribed for respiratory disease declined significantly by 11.34% compared with a control group of prescribers. Relative to the control group, prescriptions of promoted cholesterol-lowering drugs and antidepressants were reduced by approximately 9.98% and 11.34%, respectively. The trend in average cost per prescription for lipid-lowering drugs was significantly reduced by $0.70 per prescription per month. Overall, average prescription drug costs increased by $5.18 immediately after policy implementation. Restriction of pharmaceutical industry representatives and samples from a rural family practice clinic produced modest reductions in branded drug use that varied by class. Although aggregate average costs increased, prescriptions for branded and promoted lipid-lowering agents and antidepressants were reduced.

Lower Sodium Intake and Risk of Headaches: Results From the Trial of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in the Elderly

PubMed Central

Chen, Liwei; Zhang, Zhenzhen; Chen, Wen; Whelton, Paul K.; Appel, Lawrence J.

2016-01-01

Objectives To determine the effect of sodium (Na) reduction on occurrence of headaches. Methods In the Trial of Nonpharmacologic Interventions in the Elderly, 975 men and woman (aged 60–80 years) with hypertension were randomized to a Na-reduction intervention or control group and were followed for up to 36 months. The study was conducted between 1992 and 1995 at 4 clinical centers (Johns Hopkins University, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and the University of Tennessee). Results Mean difference in Na excretion between the Na-reduction intervention and control group was significant at each follow-up visit (P < .001) with an average difference of 38.8 millimoles per 24 hours. The occurrence of headaches was significantly lower in the Na-reduction intervention group (10.5%) compared with control (14.3%) with a hazard ratio of 0.59 (95% confidence interval = 0.40, 0.88; P = .009). The risk of headaches was significantly associated with average level of Na excretion during follow-up, independent of most recent blood pressure. The relationship appeared to be nonlinear with a spline relationship and a knot at 150 millimoles per 24 hours. Conclusions Reduced sodium intake, currently recommended for blood pressure control, may also reduce the occurrence of headaches in older persons with hypertension. PMID:27077348

Aquacel(®) Ag dressing versus Acticoat™ dressing in partial thickness burns: a prospective, randomized, controlled study in 100 patients. Part 1: burn wound healing.

PubMed

Verbelen, Jozef; Hoeksema, Henk; Heyneman, Alexander; Pirayesh, Ali; Monstrey, Stan

2014-05-01

Studies comparing contemporary silver dressings in burns are scarce. In a prospective, randomized, controlled study, counting 50 patients/research group, we compared two frequently used silver dressings, Acticoat™ and Aquacel(®) Ag, in the management of partial thickness burns with a predicted healing time between 7 and 21 days as assessed by laser Doppler imaging between 48 and 72h after burn. Variables investigated were related to baseline research group characteristics, wound healing, bacteriology, economics, nurse, and patient experience. Both research groups were comparably composed taking into account gender, age and burn characteristics. Similar results were obtained as to healing time and bacterial control with both silver dressings. A statistically significant difference in favor of the Aquacel(®) Ag dressing was found for average ease of use (p<0.001), average ease of application (p=0.001), patient pain (p<0.001), patient comfort with the dressing (p=0.017), silver staining (p<0.001), and cost effectiveness (p<0.001). Both silver dressings resulted in comparable healing times and bacterial control but the Aquacel(®) Ag dressing significantly increased comfort for patients as well as nurses and was significantly more cost-effective than the Acticoat™ dressing for the given indication. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

Fat soluble vitamin levels in children with newly diagnosed celiac disease, a case control study.

PubMed

Tokgöz, Yavuz; Terlemez, Semiha; Karul, Aslıhan

2018-04-09

In children diagnosed with celiac disease, fat soluble vitamin levels were aimed to be evaluated and it was intended to determine whether fat soluble vitamin levels were needed to be assessed routinely in these patients during diagnosis. Between May 2015-May 2016, diagnosis symptoms of celiac patients (CD) in newly diagnosed pediatric group were questioned, fat soluble vitamin levels simultaneous with intestinal biopsies were evaluated. Vitamin levels were compared with those of healthy control group. A total of 52 patients involving 27 female (51.9%), 25 male (48.1%); and a total of 50 healthy control group including 25 female (50%), 25 male (50%) were evaluated. The average age of patients was 9 ± 4.3 years, and their average weight was determined as 16.2 ± 6.3 kg. Growth retardation was the most frequent symptom in our patients (61.5%). Abdominal pain (51.9%) and diarrhea (11.5%) are among the other most commonly seen symptoms. In the histological examination of patients, Marsh 3B n = 23 (45.1%) was mostly established. Vitamin A and vitamin D levels of patients were determined significantly lower compared to those of control group. Vitamin A and vitamin D deficiencies were identified significantly higher compared to those of healthy control group. Vitamin D insufficiency was observed in 48 patients (92.3%) and vitamin D deficiency was determined in 32 (61.5%) out of 48. Vitamin A deficiency was established in 17 (32.7%) patients. Vitamin E and vitamin K1 deficiency were determined in no patients. In the healthy control group, vitamin D deficiency was seen in 2 (4%) patients, vitamin D insufficiency was determined in 9 (18%) patients. Other vitamin levels were identified at normal levels in the healthy group. In newly diagnosed children with CD, a significant lowness was established in vitamin D and A. The evaluation of vitamin A and D levels will be helpful in the course of diagnosis in these patients.

Racial/Ethnic Variations in the Consequences of Religious Participation for Academic Achievement at Elite Colleges and Universities

PubMed Central

Owens, Jayanti

2014-01-01

Research has not investigated how much of the previously documented positive association between high school religious service attendance and college grades is mediated by campus religious group participation. Nor do we know whether campus religious group involvement is an important mediator for black and Hispanic students who experience grade-lowering stereotype threat at historically white institutions. Path analyses conducted on a racially diverse sample of students at 28 elite institutions indicate that religious group involvement in college mediates the positive relationship between high school service attendance and college grades for Hispanic and to some extent black students. For Asian and white students, high school service attendance is positively associated with grades net of religious group involvement on campus. Asians frequently attending high school services on average earn a grade-point average of 0.12 points above Asians who never attended, net of controls. PMID:24855331

Cheyletus eruditus (taurrus): an effective candidate for the biological control of the snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis).

PubMed

Schilliger, Lionel H; Morel, Damien; Bonwitt, Jesse H; Marquis, Olivier

2013-09-01

The most commonly encountered ectoparasite in captive snakes is the hematophagous snake mite (Ophionyssus natricis). Infected snakes often exhibit lethargy, dysecdysis, pruritus, crusting dermatitis (sometimes progressing to abscesses), and behavioral changes (increased bathing time, rubbing against objects). Anemia and septicemia are occasional complications. Eliminating snake mites from a collection is frustrating. Insecticidal and acaricidal compounds used in mammals can be used against O. natricis infestation in reptiles, but they all are potentially neurotoxic to reptiles. The use of a biological agent to control the snake mite was first developed by using the predatory mites Hypoaspis miles and Hypoaspis aculeifer. However, no data are available regarding the potential of these mites to control O. natricis. Furthermore, the survival and predatory behavior of H. aculeifer and H. miles decreases above 28 degrees C, which is the lower value of the optimal temperature zone range required for rearing snakes. The aim of this study is to identify the ability of the predatory mite Cheyletus eruditus to control O. natricis. In the first experiment, 125 O. natricis mites where placed in separate plastic tubes together with the same number of C. eruditus mites. After 48 hr, the survival rate of snake mites was 6% compared with 92% in the control group (n = 125, P < 0,001). In the second experiment, 11 infested (average of 13 O. natricis per snake) ball pythons, with an average of 13 O. natricis per individual, were placed in separate cages with 1,000 C. eruditus mites + vermiculite After 15 days, only an average of two mites per snake remained, compared with 48 per snake in the control group (t-test, P < 0,01).

Improving the cytoplasmic maturation of bovine oocytes matured in vitro with intracellular and/or extracellular antioxidants is not associated with increased rates of embryo development.

PubMed

Rocha-Frigoni, Nathália A S; Leão, Beatriz C S; Dall'Acqua, Priscila Chediek; Mingoti, Gisele Z

2016-11-01

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a normal process that occurs in the cellular mitochondrial respiratory chain. However, an increase in ROS levels during in vitro production of bovine embryos induces oxidative stress, leading to failed embryonic development. Therefore, we investigated whether supplementation of IVM medium with intracellular (cysteine and cysteamine; C + C) and/or extracellular (catalase; CAT) antioxidants improves the culture system, affects the mitochondrial membrane potential, affects the intracellular levels of ROS and glutathione (GSH) in the bovine oocytes at the end of maturation, and thereby affects the subsequent embryonic development. At the end of IVM, the metaphase II rates were unaffected by the treatments (76.7 ± 1.7% to 80.6 ± 5.2%; P > 0.05). The intracellular ROS levels, expressed in arbitrary fluorescence units, found in the oocytes treated with intracellular antioxidants (C + C and C + C + CAT groups; 1.06, averaged) were as low as those observed in immature oocytes (0 hour: 1.00 ± 0.12). Among mature oocytes, higher (P < 0.05) ROS levels were found in the control group (1.91 ± 0.10) when compared to the ROS levels found in oocytes treated with antioxidants. Intracellular GSH levels in all groups were lower (0.17 ± 0.09 to 0.51 ± 0.05; P < 0.05) than those in immature oocytes (1.00 ± 0.08), although GSH levels in the C + C group (0.51 ± 0.05) were greater (P < 0.05) than in the control, CAT, and C + C + CAT groups (0.23; averaged). The mitochondrial membrane potential in all groups was improved (1.6; averaged; P < 0.05) compared to the membrane potential observed in the immature oocytes (1.00 ± 0.05), with the exception of the C + C group (0.94 ± 0.03). There was no effect (P > 0.05) of antioxidant supplementation on embryonic development to the blastocyst stage (36.1%; averaged); however, there was an increased tendency (P = 0.0689) to obtain a higher blastocyst rate for the C + C + CAT group (47.5 ± 5.6%) compared to the control group (29.9 ± 4.8%). In conclusion, despite improvements in specific parameters of cytoplasmic maturation, the addition of intracellular and/or extracellular antioxidants during IVM did not affect embryo development. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Beneficial effects of an investigational wristband containing Synsepalum dulcificum (miracle fruit) seed oil on the performance of hand and finger motor skills in healthy subjects: A randomized controlled preliminary study.

PubMed

Gorin, Steven; Wakeford, Charles; Zhang, Guodong; Sukamtoh, Elvira; Matteliano, Charles Joseph; Finch, Alfred Earl

2018-02-01

Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) seed oil (MFSO) contains phytochemicals and nutrients reported to affect musculoskeletal performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a compression wristband containing MFSO on its ability to measurably improve the hand and finger motor skills of participants. Healthy right-handed participants (n = 38) were randomized in this double-blind, placebo-controlled study of MFSO and vehicle wristbands. Subjects wore the wristband on their left hand 4-6 weeks and then only on their right hand 2-4 weeks; the contralateral untreated hand served as an additional control. Twelve hand/finger motor skills were measured using quantitative bio-instrumentation tests, and subject self-assessment questionnaires were conducted. With each hand, in 9/12 tests, the MFSO group showed a clinically meaningful average improvement compared with an average worsening in the vehicle group. Statistical superiority to the control treatment group was exhibited in 9/12 tests for each hand (p < .01). After discontinuing the MFSO wristband on the left hand, test values regressed toward baseline levels. Subjects favored the MFSO wristband over the control, rating it as effective in improving their motor skills. Use of the MFSO wristband may improve an individual's manual dexterity skills and ability to maintain this performance. Copyright © 2017 The Authors Phytotherapy Research Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Longitudinal Pulmonary Function in Newly Hired, Non-World Trade Center-Exposed Fire Department City of New York Firefighters

PubMed Central

Ye, Fen; Hall, Charles B.; Webber, Mayris P.; Cohen, Hillel W.; Dinkels, Michael; Cosenza, Kaitlyn; Weiden, Michael D.; Nolan, Anna; Christodoulou, Vasilios; Kelly, Kerry J.; Prezant, David J.

2013-01-01

Background: Few longitudinal studies characterize firefighters’ pulmonary function. We sought to determine whether firefighters have excessive FEV1 decline rates compared with control subjects. Methods: We examined serial measurements of FEV1 from about 6 months prehire to about 5 years posthire in newly hired male, never smoking, non-Hispanic black and white firefighters, hired between 2003 and 2006, without prior respiratory disease or World Trade Center exposure. Similarly defined Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers served as control subjects. Results: Through June 30, 2011, 940 firefighters (82%) and 97 EMS workers (72%) who met study criteria had four or more acceptable posthire spirometries. Prehire FEV1% averaged higher for firefighters than EMS workers (99% vs 95%), reflecting more stringent job entry criteria. FEV1 (adjusted for baseline age and height) declined by an average of 45 mL/y both for firefighters and EMS workers, with Fire − EMS decline rate differences averaging 0.2 mL/y (CI, −9.2 to 9.6). Four percent of each group had FEV1 less than the lower limit of normal before hire, increasing to 7% for firefighters and 17.5% for EMS workers, but similar percentages of both groups had adjusted FEV1 decline rates ≥ 10%. Mixed effects modeling showed a significant influence of weight gain but not baseline weight: FEV1 declined by about 8 mL/kg gained for both groups. Adjusting for weight change, FEV1 decline averaged 38 mL/y for firefighters and 34 mL/y for EMS workers. Conclusions: During the first 5 years of duty, firefighters do not show greater longitudinal FEV1 decline than EMS control subjects, and fewer of them develop abnormal lung function. Weight gain is associated with a small loss of lung function, of questionable clinical relevance in this fit and active population. PMID:23188136

Efficacy of Multimodal Pain Control Protocol in the Setting of Total Hip Arthroplasty

PubMed Central

Lee, Kyung-Jae; Bae, Ki-Cheor; Cho, Chul-Hyun; Kwon, Doo-Hyun

2009-01-01

Background This study evaluated the benefits and safety of a multimodal pain control protocol, which included a periarticular injection of local anesthetics, in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty. Methods Between March 2006 and March 2007, 60 patients undergoing unilateral total hip arthroplasty were randomized to undergo either a multimodal pain control protocol or a conventional pain control protocol. The following parameters were compared: the preoperative and postoperative visual analogue scales (VAS), hospital stay, operative time, postoperative rehabilitation, additional painkiller consumption, and complication rates. Results There was no difference between the groups in terms of diagnosis, age, gender, and BMI. Although both groups had similar VAS scores in the preoperative period and on the fifth postoperative day, there was a significant difference between the groups over the four-day period after surgery. There were no differences in the hospital stay, operative time, additional painkiller consumption, or complication rate between the groups. The average time for comfortable crutch ambulation was 2.8 days in the multimodal pain control protocol group and 5.3 days in the control group. Conclusions The multimodal pain control protocol can significantly reduce the level of postoperative pain and improve patients' satisfaction, with no apparent risks, after total hip arthroplasty. PMID:19885051

Epworth Sleepiness Scale may be an indicator for blood pressure profile and prevalence of coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

PubMed

Feng, Jing; He, Quan-ying; Zhang, Xi-long; Chen, Bao-yuan

2012-03-01

This study seeks to determine whether scores of a short questionnaire assessing subjective daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]) are associated with blood pressure (BP) level, BP profile, and prevalence of related coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG). Twenty university hospital sleep centers in China mainland were organized by the Chinese Medical Association to participate in this study. Between January 2004 and April 2006, 2,297 consecutive patients (aged 18-85 years; 1,981 males and 316 females) referred to these centers were recruited. BP assessments were evaluated at four time points (daytime, evening, nighttime, and morning) under standardized conditions. Anthropometric measurements, medical history of hypertension, CAD, and CVD were collected. ESS score was calculated for each participant and at the night of BP assessment, nocturnal PSG was performed and subjects were classified into four groups based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) from PSG as follows: control group (control, n = 213) with AHI < 5; mild sleep apnea (mild, n = 420) with AHI ≥ 5 and <15; moderate sleep apnea (moderate, n = 460) with AHI ≥ 15 and <30; and severe sleep apnea (severe, n = 1,204) with AHI ≥ 30. SPSS 11.5 software package was used for the relationships between ESS and BP profile and prevalence of CAD and CVD. ESS is correlated positively with average daytime, nighttime, evening, and morning BP before and even after controlling for confounding effects of age, sex, BMI, AHI, and nadir nocturnal oxygen saturation (before--r = 0.182, 0.326, 0.245, and 0.329, respectively, all P values < 0.001; after--r = 0.069, 0.212, 0.137, and 0.208, respectively, all P values < 0.001). In the severe group, nighttime, evening, morning average BPs (ABPs), the ratio of nighttime/daytime average BP (ratio of nighttime average BP to daytime average BP), and prevalence of hypertension, drug-resistant hypertension (R-HTN), isolated nighttime hypertension (IN-HTN), CAD, and CVD in excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS, ESS ≥ 11) subjects are higher than those in non-EDS (ESS 0-10; t/χ(2) = -8.388, -6.207, -8.607, -5.901, 12.742, 38.980, 16.343, 59.113, and 67.113, respectively; all P values < 0.05). For EDS subjects in the moderate group but not in the control and mild group, nighttime ABP and the ratio of nighttime/daytime average BP are higher (t = -2.086 and -3.815, respectively, all P values < 0.05). Linear fitting with ESS and the ratio of nighttime/daytime average BP shows a positive correlation (r(2) = 0.049, P < 0.001). In severe OSA patients with comparable AHI, EDS may identify a subset of individuals with OSA at higher risk of hypertension, R-HTN, IN-HTN, CAD, and CVD. Overall, nighttime ABP seems to be more sensitive to be influenced by EDS than other ABP parameters. Future studies should investigate the potential dose-effect relationship between EDS and hypertension and the possibility that diagnosis and treatment of EDS could aid in BP reduction and ultimately in decreased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications (TMUIRB20010002 at www.clinicaltrials.gov ).

Corticotomy-assisted retraction: an outcome assessment.

PubMed

Sakthi, S Vijayashri; Vikraman, B; Shobana, V R; Iyer, S Kavitha; Krishnaswamy, N R

2014-01-01

To assess the efficiency and treatment outcome of patients treated with corticotomy-assisted en-masse orthodontic retraction as compared with the en-masse retraction without corticotomy. Forty adult patients with bimaxillary protrusion requiring correction of bidental proclination constituted the sample. The study group consisted of 22 patients (male 11, female 11) willing to undergo surgery to reduce the duration of their orthodontic treatment and 18 patients (male 9, female 9) desirous of undergoing conventional orthodontic treatment without surgical intervention constituted the control group. Comparison of rate of retraction and anchor loss between the study and the control group was assessed. Average rate of space closure of 1.8 mm/month in the maxilla and 1.57 mm/month in the mandible was observed in the study group compared to 1.02 mm/month in the maxilla and 0.87 mm/month in the mandible in the control group. The rate of retraction accelerated during the first 2 months of retraction. Molar anchor loss of approximately 0.6 mm occurred in the study group, and 1.8 mm occurred in the control group during the 4 months. The rate of retraction with study group was twice as faster when compared to the control group, accelerating during the first 2 months of retraction. There was better anchorage control with the undecorticated molar segment during the retraction period but was found to increase as time advanced.

Effect of an Internet-Based System for Doctor-Patient Communication on Health Care Spending

PubMed Central

Baker, Laurence; Rideout, Jeffrey; Gertler, Paul; Raube, Kristiana

2005-01-01

We studied the effect of a structured electronic communication service on health care spending, comparing doctor office and laboratory spending for a group of patients before and after the service became available to them relative to changes in a control group. In the treatment group, doctor office spending and laboratory spending fell in the period after the service became available, relative to the control group (p < 0.05). A rough estimate is that average doctor office spending per treatment group member per month fell $1.71 after availability of the service, and laboratory spending fell roughly $0.12. Spending associated with use of the electronic service was $0.29 per member per month. We conclude that use of structured electronic visits can reduce health care spending. PMID:15905484

Food Variety as a Predictor of Nutritional Status among Children with Autism

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zimmer, Michelle H.; Hart, Laura C.; Manning-Courtney, Patricia; Murray, Donna S.; Bing, Nicole M.; Summer, Suzanne

2012-01-01

The frequency of selective eating and nutritional deficiency was studied among 22 children with autism and an age matched typically developing control group. Children with autism ate fewer foods on average than typically developing children. (33.5 vs. 54.5 foods, P less than 0.001) As compared to typical controls, children with autism had a higher…

Staff training and outreach support for Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and its implementation in practice: a cluster randomised trial.

PubMed

Streater, Amy; Spector, Aimee; Hoare, Zoe; Aguirre, Elisa; Russell, Ian; Orrell, Martin

2017-12-01

There is evidence that Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy are effective in mild to moderate dementia. There is, however, little evidence available for its implementation in practice and the impact of outreach support on the sustainability of the programme. Two hundred and forty-one staff members were randomised from 63 dementia care settings between outreach support including an online forum, email, and telephone support, compared to usual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy control group. The primary outcome was average number of attendees to the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy and maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy programmes. There was no difference in average number of attendees between the intervention and usual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy control groups for the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (p = 0.82) or the maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy programme (p = 0.97). Outreach support does not affect the average number of people with dementia attending the Cognitive Stimulation Therapy or maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy programme. Irrespective of outreach support, the programmes remain widely implemented and yield perceived benefits for people with dementia. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of vinorelbine and titanocene dichloride on human tumour xenografts in nude mice.

PubMed

Friedrich, M; Villena-Heinsen, C; Farnhammer, C; Schmidt, W

1998-01-01

In this study, the new antineoplastic agents titanocene dichloride and vinorelbine are compared to cisplatin and paclitaxel using a human ovarian cancer xenograft model. Biopsy material from one native human ovarian carcinoma was expanded and transplanted into 48 nude mice. The animals were divided into six treatment groups: cisplatin 3x4 mg/kg, paclitaxel 5x26 mg/kg, vinorelbine 1x20 mg/kg, titanocene dichloride 3x30 mg/kg, titanocene dichloride 3x40 mg/kg and a control group treated with 0.9% saline. Treatment groups were evaluated in terms of average daily increase in tumour volume and average daily body weight increase of the nude mice based on slopes of least square regressions performed on individual animals. The slope factors alpha and beta of the body weight (alpha) and tumour volume changes (beta) within each group were calculated. A statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in body weight of the experimental animals was shown in groups treated with paclitaxel (alpha = -0.6878) and titanocene dichloride 3x40 mg/kg (alpha = -0.7194) compared to the control group which was treated with 0.9% saline (alpha = -0.2643). Significant body weight changes were not observed in the comparison of the remaining treated groups (cisplatin: alpha = -0.4552, vinorelbine: alpha = -0.5606, titanocene dichloride 3x30 mg/kg: alpha = -0.6173 to the control group. A significant reduction (p<0.05) of the increase tumour volume (vinorelbine: beta = 5.260, paclitaxel: beta = 0.478, titanocene dichloride 3x30 mg/kg: beta = 10.283, titanocene dichloride 3x40 mg/kg: beta = 5.768) was shown in treated groups except for cisplatin (beta = 18.722) compared to the tumour bearing control group (beta = 30.136). A statistically significant reduction of the increase in tumour volume occurred under paclitaxel medication compared to the group treated with cisplatin. We found titanocene dichloride to be effective as vinorelbine and more effective than cisplatin. Vinorelbine seems to be a very effective antineoplastic agent with a significantly higher cytostatic effect than cisplatin. Both titanocene dichloride and vinorelbine provide new therapeutic options in women with ovarian carcinoma not responding to standard chemotherapies.

Alteration of sperm quality and hormone levels by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on airborne particulate particles.

PubMed

Jeng, Hueiwang Anna; Yu, Liang

2008-06-01

The objective of this study was to assess whether polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) affect male reproductive functions in vivo. Male reproductive parameters included testis weight, sperm counts and motility, circulating follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone. The average body weight, testis weight, and epididymis weight in the exposed group were not significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.01). The daily numbers of sperm in the PAH-exposed groups were significantly lower than those in the control group. The motility of sperm in the PAH-exposed groups was significantly less than those in the control group. Plasma LH concentrations increased at the end of the exposure period and continued to increase after post-cessation of exposure to PAHs. Testosterone decreased at the end of the exposure period and increased after post-cessation of exposure. However, the follicle-stimulation hormone level remained relatively stable during the study period. The present study showed that PAHs can compromise sperm functions and alter endocrine hormone levels.

The effects of oral liquid and intravenous glutamine on bowel adaptation in a rabbit short bowel syndrome model.

PubMed

Tekın, Ahmet; Yemış, Mustafa; Küçükkartallar, Tevfik; Vatansever, Celalettin; Çakir, Murat; Yilmaz, Hüseyin; Toy, Hatice; Özer, Şükru

2010-09-01

The aim of this study was to examine whether liquid glutamine given to rabbits after resection is as effective as intravenous (i.v.) glutamine and to study the positive effects of glutamine on mucosal atrophy that occurs after bowel resection. Thirty rabbits with an average weight of 2500 g were used. On the third day, 30 rabbits were divided into three groups as follows: Group I (controls): bowel resection + oral total parenteral nutrition, Group II (oral liquid L-glutamine): Bowel resection + oral total parenteral nutrition + oral liquid L-glutamine, and Group III (i.v. L-glutamine): bowel resection + oral total parenteral nutrition + i.v. L-glutamine. On the postoperative 7th day, all subjects were sacrificed to examine intestinal adaptation indicators. There was an increase in average villus height and crypt depth in Group III compared to the other groups (p=0.0001). In Group II, the villus height and crypt depth increased more than in Group I, but the difference was less significant (p=0.038). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of average goblet cell proliferation. In our experimental study, it was observed that the orally given L-glutamine liquid in the rabbit intestinal adaptation model prevented mucosal atrophy after 50% bowel resection and even increased mucosa mass. However, i.v. glutamine led to similar and even better results. Neither route of glutamine administration was determined to have an effect on goblet cell proliferation.

The relationship between personality traits and AIDS in patients with human immunodeficiency virus.

PubMed

Salehi, Bahman; Zarinfar, Nader; Noori, Hasan

2016-06-01

This study carried out to survey the relationship between personality traits and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus. This case-control study was conducted on 79 AIDS patients of Triangle Clinic in Arak (case group) and 80 healthy people of Valiasr Hospital in Arak (control group). Demographic information checklist and Cloninger' Temperament and Character inventory (TCI) were two instruments applied in the study. SPSS software V.19 and tests independent t-tests, Chi squared and Spearman correlation coefficient were used for data analysis with significant level of <0.05. The average of innovativeness variables (M:74.12), harm avoidance (M: 65.17), reward dependence (M:50.030), and self-directedness (M:35.02) in case group in comparison with control group was significantly higher, and there was a significant difference between two groups variables (P-0.000). The novelty seeking had the highest average in the AIDS patients with a history of addiction (M:74.00), and there was statistically significant difference between perseverance variable (P-0.021) and cooperativeness variable (P-0.041) in the two groups of AIDS patients. There was a significant relationship between novelty seeking and age at the onset of AIDS (P-0.038), harm avoidance and age at the onset of addiction (P-0.046), persistence and age at the onset of AIDS (P-0.035) and the time infected with HIV (P-0.033). It is found that two groups are different due to the personalities, so it is essential to consider the personality traits in order to prevent AIDS and also successfully treat patients suffering from AIDS. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Diagnostic significance of "bay sign" of medial meniscus under arthroscope in medial collateral ligament rupture of knee].

PubMed

Zhang, Wentao; Zhang, Xintao; Huang, Wei

2012-03-01

When knee medial collateral ligament (MCL) rupture, the upper surface of medial meniscus is exposed totally, like the gulf panoramic, which is called "panoramic views of the bay sign" or the "bay sign". To investigate the reliability and significance of the "bay sign" in diagnosis of knee MCL rupture under arthroscope. Between March 2007 and March 2011, 127 patients with knees injuries were divided into the observation group (n = 59) and control group (n = 68) based on the MRI results. In the observation group, 59 patients had MCL rupture by MRI, including 12 cases of MCL injury alone, 16 cases of MCL injury with lateral meniscus torn, 27 cases of MCL injury with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, 3 cases of MCL injury with ACL and posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury, and 1 case of MCL injury with patellar dislocation; there were 38 males and 21 females with an average age of 23.2 years (range, 16-39 years). In the control group, 68 patients had no MCL rupture by MRI, including 38 cases of ACL injury, 4 cases of ACL and PCL injury, and 26 cases of ACL and lateral meniscus injury; there were 45 males and 23 females with an average age of 31.8 years (range, 25-49 years). The "bay sign" was observed under arthroscope in 2 groups before and after operation. The positive "bay sign" was seen under arthroscope in the patients of the observation group before MCL repair; the "bay sign" disappeared after repair. No "bay sign" was seen in patients of the control group before and after ACL reconstruction. The "bay sign" is a reliable diagnostic evidence of MCL injury. It can be used as a basis to judge the success of MCL reconstruction during operation.

Transferring preterm infants from incubators to open cots at 1600 g: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

New, K; Flint, A; Bogossian, F; East, C; Davies, M W

2012-03-01

To determine the effects on weight gain and temperature control of transferring preterm infants from incubators to open cots at a weight of 1600 g versus a weight of 1800 g. Randomised controlled trial. One tertiary and two regional neonatal units in public hospitals in Queensland, Australia. 182 preterm infants born with a birth weight less than 1600 g, who were at least 48 h old; had not required ventilation or continuous positive airways pressure within the last 48 h; were medically stable with no oxygen requirement, or significant apnoea or bradycardia; did not require phototherapy; and were enterally fed with an intake (breast milk/formula) of at least 60 ml/kg/day. Transfer into an open cot at 1600 or 1800 g. The primary outcomes were temperature stability and average daily weight gain over the first 14 days following transfer to an open cot. 90 infants in the 1600 g group and 92 infants in the 1800 g group were included in the analysis. Over the first 72 h, more infants in the 1800 g group had temperatures <36.4°C than the 1600 g group (p=0.03). From post-transfer to discharge, the 1600 g group had more temperatures >37.1°C (p=0.02). Average daily weight gain in the 1600 g group was 17.07 (SD±4.5) g/kg/day and in the 1800 g group, 13.97 (SD±4.7) g/kg/day (p=<0.001). Medically stable, preterm infants can be transferred to open cots at a birth weight of 1600 g without any significant adverse effects on temperature stability or weight gain. ACTRN12606000518561 (http://www.anzctr.org.au).

[Short-term sentence memory in children with auditory processing disorders].

PubMed

Kiese-Himmel, C

2010-05-01

To compare sentence repetition performance of different groups of children with Auditory Processing Disorders (APD) and to examine the relationship between age or respectively nonverbal intelligence and sentence recall. Nonverbal intelligence was measured with the COLOURED MATRICES, in addition the children completed a standardized test of SENTENCE REPETITION (SR) which requires to repeat spoken sentences (subtest of the HEIDELBERGER SPRACHENTWICKLUNGSTEST). Three clinical groups (n=49 with monosymptomatic APD; n=29 with APD+developmental language impairment; n=14 with APD+developmental dyslexia); two control groups (n=13 typically developing peers without any clinical developmental disorder; n=10 children with slight reduced nonverbal intelligence). The analysis showed a significant group effect (p=0.0007). The best performance was achieved by the normal controls (T-score 52.9; SD 6.4; Min 42; Max 59) followed by children with monosymptomatic APD (43.2; SD 9.2), children with the co-morbid-conditions APD+developmental dyslexia (43.1; SD 10.3), and APD+developmental language impairment (39.4; SD 9.4). The clinical control group presented the lowest performance, on average (38.6; SD 9.6). Accordingly, language-impaired children and children with slight reductions in intelligence could poorly use their grammatical knowledge for SR. A statistically significant improvement in SR was verified with the increase of age with the exception of children belonging to the small group with lowered intelligence. This group comprised the oldest children. Nonverbal intelligence correlated positively with SR only in children with below average-range intelligence (0.62; p=0.054). The absence of APD, SLI as well as the presence of normal intelligence facilitated the use of phonological information for SR.

The effects of electromagnetic fields on the number of ovarian primordial follicles: An experimental study.

PubMed

Bakacak, Murat; Bostancı, Mehmet Sühha; Attar, Rukset; Yıldırım, Özge Kizilkale; Yıldırım, Gazi; Bakacak, Zeyneb; Sayar, Hamide; Han, Agahan

2015-06-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an electromagnetic field (EMF), generated close to the ovaries, on primordial follicles. A total of 16 rats were used in this study. The study group consisted of rats exposed to an EMF in the abdominal region for 15 min/d for 15 days. Both the study and control group were composed of eight rats. After the treatment period of 15 days, the ovaries of the rats were extracted, and sections of ovarian tissue were taken for histological evaluation. The independent samples t test was used to compare the two groups. In the study group, the means of the right and left ovarian follicle numbers were 34.00 ± 10.20 and 36.00 ± 10.53, respectively. The average total ovarian follicle number was 70.00 ± 19.03. In the control group, the means of the right and left ovarian follicle numbers were 78.50 ± 25.98 and 71.75 ± 29.66, respectively, and the average total ovarian follicle number was 150.25 ± 49.53. The comparisons of the means of the right and left ovarian follicle numbers and the means of the total ovarian follicle numbers between the study and control groups indicated that the study group had significantly fewer follicles (p < 0.001, p = 0.011, and p = 0.002, respectively). This study found a significant decrease in the number of ovarian follicles in rats exposed to an EMF. Further clinical studies are needed to reveal the effects of EMFs on ovarian reserve and infertility. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Taiwan.

Evaluation of white matter hyperintensities and retinal fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, inner-plexiform layer, and choroidal layer in migraine patients.

PubMed

Tak, Ali Zeynel Abidin; Sengul, Yıldızhan; Bilak, Şemsettin

2018-03-01

The aim of our study is to assess retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), the ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner-plexiform layer (IPL), and choroidal layer in migraine patients with white matter lesion (WML) or without WML, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). To our study, 77 migraine patients who are diagnosed with migraine in accordance to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-3 beta and 43 healthy control are included. In accordance to cranial MRI, migraine patients are divided into two groups as those who have white matter lesions (39 patients), and those who do not have a lesion (38 patients). OCT was performed for participants. The average age of participants was comparable. The RNFL average thickness parameter in the migraine group was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.01). However, no significant difference was detected among those migraine patients who have WML, and those who do not have. No significant difference is detected among all groups in terms of IPL, GCL, and choroidal layer measuring scales. The proofs showing that affected retinal nerve fiber layer are increased in migraine patients. However, it is not known whether this may affect other layers of retina, or whether there is a correlation between affected retinal structures and white matter lesions. In our study, we found thinner RNFL in migraine patients when we compared with controls but IPL, GCL, and choroid layer values were similar between each patient groups and controls. Also, all parameters were similar between patients with WML and without WML. Studies in this regard are required.

Serum cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate levels after balneotherapy and physical therapy in patients with fibromyalgia.

PubMed

Semiz, Esra A; Hizmetli, Sami; Semiz, Murat; Karadağ, Ahmet; Adalı, Merve; Tuncay, Mehmet S; Alim, Bulent; Hayta, Emrullah; Uslu, Ali U

2016-05-01

To investigated serum cortisol and serum dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate (DHEA-S) levels between fibromyalgia (FMS) patients and a control group, and the effect of balneotherapy (BT) on these hormones.   Seventy-two patients with FMS and 39 healthy volunteers were included in the study. This prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in the Medical Faculty, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Cumhuriyet University, Cumhuriyet, Turkey between June 2012 and June 2013. Patients were divided into 2 groups. There were 40 patients in the first group, consisting of BT and physical therapy (PT) administered patients. There were 32 FMS patients in the second group who were only administered PT. Thirty-nine healthy volunteers were enrolled as a control group.   Cortisol was observed to be lower in FMS patients compared with the controls  (10.10±4.08 µg/dL and 11.78±3.6 µg/dL; p=0.033). Serum DHEA-S level was observed to be lower in FMS patients compared with the controls (89.93±53.96 µg/dL and 143.15±107.92 µg/dL; p=0.015). Average serum cortisol levels of patients receiving BT were determined to be 9.95±3.20 µg/dL before treatment and 9.06±3.77µg/dL after treatment; while average serum DHEA-S levels were 77.60±48.05 µg/dL before treatment, and 76.84±48.71 µg/dL after treatment. No significant changes were determined in serum cortisol and DHEA-S levels when measured again after BT and PT.   Low levels of serum cortisol and DHEA-S were suggested to be associated with the physiopathology of FMS.

BARIATRIC SURGERY IN THE ELDERLY: RESULTS OF A MEAN FOLLOW-UP OF FIVE YEARS

PubMed Central

PAJECKI, Denis; SANTO, Marco Aurelio; JOAQUIM, Henrique Dametto Giroud; MORITA, Flavio; RICCIOPPO, Daniel; de CLEVA, Roberto; CECCONELLO, Ivan

2015-01-01

Background : Surgical treatment of obesity in the elderly, particularly over 65, remains controversial; it is explained by the increased surgical risk or the lack of data demonstrating its long-term benefit. Few studies have evaluated the clinical effects of bariatric surgery in this population. Aim : To evaluate the results of surgical treatment of obesity in patients over 60 years, followed for an average period of five years. Method : This was a retrospective study evaluating 46 patients, 60 years or older, who underwent surgical treatment of obesity, by conventional gastric bypass technique (laparotomy). The average age was 64 years (60-71), mean BMI of 49.6 kg/m2 (38-66), mean follow-up of 5.9 years; 91% of patients were hypertensive, 56% diabetics and 39% had dyslipidemia. Results : The incidence of complications (major and minor) in patients under 65 years was 26% and over 65 years 37% (p=0.002). There were no deaths in the group with less than 65 years and there were two deaths (12.5%) over 65 years. The average loss of overweight over 65 years or less was 72% vs 68% (p=0.56). There was total control of the diabetes mellitus in 77% and partial in 23%, with no difference between groups. There was improvement in arterial hypertension in 56% of patients, also no difference between groups. The average LDL levels did not differ between the pre and postoperative (106 mg/dl to 102 mg/dl), an increase of HDL (56 mg/dl to 68 mg/dL) and reduced triglyceride levels (136 mg/dl to 109 mg/dl). There was no statistical difference in the variation of the cholesterol fractions and triglycerides between the groups. Two patients in the group with less than 65 years died in late follow-up, of brain tumor and pneumonia, three and five years after bariatric surgery, respectively. Conclusions : Surgical morbidity and mortality were higher in patients over 65 years, and this group had the same benefits observed in patients lower 65 years for weight loss and comorbidities control. PMID:26537266

Evaluation of MMX1902 as an Oral Treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing...min for 60 minutes 2 times a week for 10 weeks. Four different SQ treatment groups (n = 9/group) were evaluated – wild-type controls and three groups...potential for MMX1902 treatment to stimulate and sustain regeneration even in the face of long- term, intensive exercise. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Duchenne

Neurosurgical robotic arm drilling navigation system.

PubMed

Lin, Chung-Chih; Lin, Hsin-Cheng; Lee, Wen-Yo; Lee, Shih-Tseng; Wu, Chieh-Tsai

2017-09-01

The aim of this work was to develop a neurosurgical robotic arm drilling navigation system that provides assistance throughout the complete bone drilling process. The system comprised neurosurgical robotic arm navigation combining robotic and surgical navigation, 3D medical imaging based surgical planning that could identify lesion location and plan the surgical path on 3D images, and automatic bone drilling control that would stop drilling when the bone was to be drilled-through. Three kinds of experiment were designed. The average positioning error deduced from 3D images of the robotic arm was 0.502 ± 0.069 mm. The correlation between automatically and manually planned paths was 0.975. The average distance error between automatically planned paths and risky zones was 0.279 ± 0.401 mm. The drilling auto-stopping algorithm had 0.00% unstopped cases (26.32% in control group 1) and 70.53% non-drilled-through cases (8.42% and 4.21% in control groups 1 and 2). The system may be useful for neurosurgical robotic arm drilling navigation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Examination of print and telephone channels for physical activity promotion: Rationale, design, and baseline data from Project STRIDE.

PubMed

Marcus, Bess H; Napolitano, Melissa A; King, Abby C; Lewis, Beth A; Whiteley, Jessica A; Albrecht, Anna E; Parisi, Alfred F; Bock, Beth C; Pinto, Bernardine M; Sciamanna, Christopher A; Jakicic, John M; Papandonatos, George D

2007-01-01

Project STRIDE is a 4-year randomized controlled trial comparing two computer-based expert system guided intervention delivery channels (phone vs. print) for physical activity adoption and short-term maintenance among previously sedentary adults. Sedentary adults (n=239) were randomized to one of the following (1) telephone-based, individualized motivationally-tailored feedback; (2) print-based, individualized motivationally-tailored feedback; (3) contact-control delayed treatment group (received intervention after 12 months as control). This paper: (1) outlines the study design, rationale, and participant sample; and (2) describes relationships between baseline variables to better understand their influence on the efficacy of the intervention. Participants averaged 19.8+/-25.0 min of physical activity/week that was at least of moderate intensity, with no group differences. The average estimated VO(2) at 85% of maximum heart rate was 25.6 ml/kg/min. Body fat was 34.1% for women and 23.2% for men and the BMI of the sample averaged 28.5 kg/m(2). Project STRIDE examines non face-to-face approaches for promoting physical activity behavior. It has unique features including a direct comparison of an expert system guided intervention delivered via phone or print. Future analyses will examine the cost-effectiveness of the interventions and this will likely yield important information for policy-makers.

Effect of substitution of groundnut with high glucosinolate mustard (Brassica juncea) meal on nutrient utilization, growth, vital organ weight and blood composition of lambs.

PubMed

Tripathi, M K.; Mishra, A S.; Misra, A K.; Mondal, D; Karim, S A.

2001-03-01

Twenty-four 14-day-old weaner Avivastra (Russian MerinoxNali) male lambs were maintained for 180 days on ad libidum Cenchrus (Cenchrus ciliaris) hay and concentrate mixture (CM) contained groundnut meal (control) and mustard meal (MM group) as major protein source. The two CMs were isonitrogenous (21% CP) and isocaloric (2.78McalMEkg(-1) DM), while, CM fed to MM group contained 24.6mg glucosinolatesg(-1) DM. Digestibility of nutrients was similar (P>0.05) in the two groups except for CP and hemicellulose, which was higher (P<0.05) in control. Urinary N loss was higher (P<0.01) in control than in MM group, whereas N retention (% of N intake and absorbed) was higher (P<0.01) in MM group compared to control. Dry matter (gkg(-1)BW) and glucosinolate intakes were higher in MM fed group, whereas DCP and ME intakes were similar (P>0.05) in the two groups. Average daily gain (ADG) was, however, 22% higher (P<0.01) in control than in MM group. Hemoglobin and albumin contents were lower (P<0.01) in MM group than in control. Serum thiocyanate content was 26.7µgg(-1) in MM fed group, while it was not detected in control group. Thyroid weight was higher (P<0.01) while liver and kidney weights were lower (P<0.01) in MM group. Meat from dissected carcass of control group contained more protein and less fat, whereas the reverse was noticed in MM group. It is concluded that feeding mustard meal as protein supplement reduced growth rate and induced iodine deficiency. Carcass of lambs fed mustard meal had more fat and less protein.

The effect of active learning on college students' achievement, motivation, and self-efficacy in a human physiology course for non-majors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilke, Roger Russell

2000-10-01

This study investigated the effects active learning strategies had on college students' achievement, motivation, and self-efficacy, in a human physiology course for non-majors. A continuum-based active learning instructional model was implemented over the course of a semester to assess the effects on the variables and specific student outcomes of learning mentioned above. In addition analyses were conducted to explore what learner characteristics contributed to the successful implementation of the model such as students' gender, classification, major, grade point average, ACT and SAT scores, motivation, and self-efficacy. A quasi-experimental, Solomon-4 Group design was undertaken on 171 students in a small west-Texas university. Treatment groups were taught using the model while controls were taught using traditional lecture methods. Students were administered a comprehensive physiology content exam, sections of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, and attitude surveys to assess the effects of the continuum-based active learning strategies. Factorial analyses indicated the treatment group acquired significantly more content knowledge and were significantly more self-efficacious than students in the control group. There were no significant differences in motivation. Factorial and modified regression analyses in the aptitude by treatment interaction exploration determined that males in the treatment group performed significantly better on the comprehensive physiology content exam versus males in the control group. While females performed better overall than males, there were no significant differences in achievement between females in the treatment group and those in the control. No significant interactions were found for the other learner characteristics. The results also indicated that students' general cognitive ability as measured by their grade point average, ACT, and SAT scores and their self-efficacy contributed significantly to their achievement. Attitude surveys indicated that students in both the treatment and control groups demonstrated a positive attitude toward active learning, believed it helped them to learn the material, and would choose an active learning course in the future if given the opportunity. This study demonstrated that continuum-based active learning strategies used in this context, improved students' content acquisition and self-efficacy and had wide applicability with a number of learner characteristics.

Psychological Needs, Academic Achievement and Marijuana Consumption

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simon, William E.

1974-01-01

Forty-four undergradute marihuana users were asked to complete the Edwards Personal Preference Schedule and to report their high school and college grade-point averages. Ss were compared to a control group of 44 Ss who never had used marihuana. (Author)

The effects of trunk stabilization exercise on bone density after menopause.

PubMed

Kang, Jeong-Il; Jeong, Dae-Keun; Choi, Hyun

2015-12-01

[Purpose] This study examined the effect of low intensity exercise on bone density by conducting trunk stabilization exercise on females after menopause for 24 weeks. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty three female subjects over 47 years old and under the age of 53 were selected and 16 for experimental group and 17 for control group were randomly selected. Experimental group had performed spinal and pelvic stabilization exercise 30 minutes a day, 5times a week, for 24 weeks. Except for the daily life, control group did not participate in any characteristic movement. Bone density of every member in experimental group was measured using average value of bone density of 1st-4th lumbar through quantitative computer tomography. [Results] There was a meaningful difference in only control group about measured value of bone density within each group, experimental and control group, but there was no meaningful difference in measured value of bone density between two groups, experimental group and control group. [Conclusion] Through this research, we could see the fact that although trunk stability exercise could not change bone density meaningfully, it could maintain bone density. In the future, it is randomly necessary to study things related this because results of researches can show different results according to exercise intensity, exercise period, age, weight, hormone status and mediation period. It is considered that it will help to prevent and treat patients with osteoporosis a lot.

Development and face validation of a Virtual Reality Epley Maneuver System (VREMS) for home Epley treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: A randomized, controlled trial.

PubMed

Tabanfar, Reza; Chan, Harley H L; Lin, Vincent; Le, Trung; Irish, Jonathan C

To develop and validate a smartphone based Virtual Reality Epley Maneuver System (VREMS) for home use. A smartphone application was designed to produce stereoscopic views of a Virtual Reality (VR) environment, which when viewed after placing a smartphone in a virtual reality headset, allowed the user to be guided step-by-step through the Epley maneuver in a VR environment. Twenty healthy participants were recruited and randomized to undergo either assisted Epleys or self-administered Epleys following reading instructions from an Instructional Handout (IH). All participants were filmed and two expert Otologists reviewed the videos, assigning each participant a score (out of 10) for performance on each step. Participants rated their perceived workload by completing a validated task-load questionnaire (NASA Task Load Index) and averages for both groups were calculated. Twenty participants were evaluated with average age 26.4±7.12years old in the VREMS group and 26.1±7.72 in the IH group. The VR assisted group achieved an average score of 7.78±0.99 compared to 6.65±1.72 in the IH group. This result was statistically significant with p=0.0001 and side dominance did not appear to play a factor. Analyzing each step of the Epley maneuver demonstrated that assisted Epleys were done more accurately with statically significant results in steps 2-4. Results of the NASA-TLX scores were variable with no significant findings. We have developed and demonstrated face validity for VREMS through our randomized controlled trial. The VREMS platform is promising technology, which may improve the accuracy and effectiveness of home Epley treatments. N/A. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effects of progressive relaxation exercises on anxiety and comfort of Turkish breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Seher Gurdil; Arslan, Sevban

2015-01-01

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the world and by far the most frequent cancer among women. This study was conducted to observe the effect of progressive relaxation exercises on anxiety and comfort level of breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. A control group pre-test/post-test quasi-experimental model was applied with experimental (30) and control (30) groups, who agreed to participate in this study. Data collection was with the "Personnel Information Form, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and General Comfort Scale". The average age of the patients that participated in the study was 49.1±7.96 years. Eighty-three point three percent (n=25) of the patients in the experiment group and 86.7 (n=26) percent of patients in control group were married. Patient state of anxiety post-test mean scores were 36.2±8.21 in the experimental group and 43.4±7.96 in the control group, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.05). The general comfort scale post-test mean scores were 149.5±13.9 in the experimental group and 137.7±15.0 in the control group, again statistically significant (p<0.05). Progressive relaxation exercises positively affect patient comfort and anxiety levels in Turkey.

Cost-utility analysis of a telehealth programme for patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease treated with long-term oxygen therapy.

PubMed

Jódar-Sánchez, Francisco; Ortega, Francisco; Parra, Carlos; Gómez-Suárez, Cristina; Bonachela, Patricia; Leal, Sandra; Pérez, Pablo; Jordán, Ana; Barrot, Emilia

2014-09-01

We conducted a cost-utility analysis of a telehealth programme for patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared with usual care. A randomized controlled trial was carried out over four months with 45 patients treated with long-term oxygen therapy, 24 in the telehealth group (TG) and 21 in the control group (CG). The analysis took into account whether the severity of comorbidity (defined as the presence of additional chronic diseases co-occurring with COPD) was associated with differences in costs and/or quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Results of cost-utility analysis were expressed in terms of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). The average total cost was €2300 for the TG and €1103 for the CG, and the average QALY gain was 0.0059 for the TG and 0.0006 for the CG (resulting an ICER of 223,726 €/QALY). For patients without comorbidity, the average total cost was €855 for the TG and €1354 for the CG, and the average QALY gain was 0.0288 for the TG and 0.0082 for the CG (resulting in the telehealth programme being the dominant strategy). For patients with comorbidity, the average total cost was €2782 for the TG and €949 for the CG, and the average QALY gain was -0.0017 for the TG and -0.0041 for the CG (resulting an ICER of 754,592 €/QALY). The telehealth programme may not have been cost-effective compared to usual care, although it could be considered cost-effective for patients without comorbidity. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav.

Analysis of anatomic variability in children with low mathematical skills

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Zhaoying; Fuchs, Lynn; Davis, Nikki; Cannistraci, Christopher J.; Anderson, Adam W.; Gore, John C.; Dawant, Benoit M.

2008-03-01

Mathematical difficulty affects approximately 5-9% of the population. Studies on individuals with dyscalculia, a neurologically based math disorder, provide important insight into the neural correlates of mathematical ability. For example, cognitive theories, neuropsychological studies, and functional neuroimaging studies in individuals with dyscalculia suggest that the bilateral parietal lobes and intraparietal sulcus are central to mathematical performance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate morphological differences in a group of third grade children with poor math skills. We compare population averages of children with low math skill (MD) to gender and age matched controls with average math ability. Anatomical data were gathered with high resolution MRI and four different population averaging methods were used to study the effect of the normalization technique on the results. Statistical results based on the deformation fields between the two groups show anatomical differences in the bilateral parietal lobes, right frontal lobe, and left occipital/parietal lobe.

Allethrin-Based Mosquito Control Device Causing Knockdown, Morbidity, and Mortality in Four Species of Field-Caught Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae).

PubMed

Bibbs, Christopher S; Fulcher, Ali; Xue, Rui-De

2015-07-01

A mosquito control device marketed for spatial repellency, the ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Appliance, was evaluated in semifield trials against multiple field-caught species of mosquito. Using paper and mesh cages, mosquito test groups of at least 30 mosquitoes were suspended in a 2,337 cubic foot outdoor space while two ThermaCELL repellent devices were active. After 30 min of treatment, cages were moved to the laboratory to observe knockdown, morbidity, and mortality for 24 h. Species tested included Aedes atlanticus Dyar and Knab (98% average mortality), Psorophora ferox Humboldt (97% average mortality), Psorophora columbiae Dyar and Knab (96% average mortality), and Aedes taeniorhynchus Wiedemann (84% average mortality). The repellent devices showed effectiveness with high knockdown and mortality across all species tested. Mosquito control devices like the ThermaCELL Mosquito Repellent Appliance may have further practical applications to help combat viral exposures by limiting host mosquitoes. Such devices may provide a functional alternative to DEET dependence in the current state of mosquito management. © The Authors 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Impact Exerted by Nutritional Risk Screening on Clinical Outcome of Patients with Esophageal Cancer.

PubMed

Wang, Rui; Cai, Hongfei; Li, Yang; Chen, Caiwen; Cui, Youbin

2018-01-01

Preoperative nutritional status of patients is closely associated with their recovery after the surgery. This study aims to ascertain the impact exerted by the nutritional risk screening on clinical outcome of patients with esophageal cancer. 160 patients with esophageal cancer aged over 60, having got therapy at the First Hospital of Jilin University from Jun 2016 to Feb 2017 were evaluated by adopting the NRS2002. 80 cases of patients got active therapy of nutritional support, and the other patients not supported nutritionally were selected as the control group. The comparison was drawn between two groups in serum albumin, serum immunoglobulin, postoperative complications, hospitalization, and hospitalization expenses. For all the patients, in 3 and 7 days after the surgery, the serum albumin in the nutritionally supported group outstripped that in group without nutritional support ( P < 0.05) regardless of the nutritional risk. For the patients in the risk of nutrition, the IgA in the nutritionally supported group outstripped that of group without nutritional support ( P < 0.05) in 3 and 7 days before the surgery, and the serum IgG outstripped that of the group without nutritional support in 1 and 3 days before the surgery ( P < 0.05). In terms of the patients in the risk of nutrition, the average hospitalization of nutritionally supported group was shorter ( P < 0.05), and the average hospitalization expenses were lower compared with those of the group without nutritional support. And for the patients in no risk, the hospitalization expenses of supported group surmounted those of group without nutritional support ( P < 0.05), whereas the average hospitalization took on no statistic difference ( P > 0.05). For the patients in the risk of nutrition, preoperative nutritional support can facilitate the nutritional status and immunization-relative result after surgery, which shall also decrease the average hospitalization and hospitalization cost.

Impact Exerted by Nutritional Risk Screening on Clinical Outcome of Patients with Esophageal Cancer

PubMed Central

Cai, Hongfei; Li, Yang; Chen, Caiwen

2018-01-01

Objective Preoperative nutritional status of patients is closely associated with their recovery after the surgery. This study aims to ascertain the impact exerted by the nutritional risk screening on clinical outcome of patients with esophageal cancer. Methods 160 patients with esophageal cancer aged over 60, having got therapy at the First Hospital of Jilin University from Jun 2016 to Feb 2017 were evaluated by adopting the NRS2002. 80 cases of patients got active therapy of nutritional support, and the other patients not supported nutritionally were selected as the control group. The comparison was drawn between two groups in serum albumin, serum immunoglobulin, postoperative complications, hospitalization, and hospitalization expenses. Results For all the patients, in 3 and 7 days after the surgery, the serum albumin in the nutritionally supported group outstripped that in group without nutritional support (P < 0.05) regardless of the nutritional risk. For the patients in the risk of nutrition, the IgA in the nutritionally supported group outstripped that of group without nutritional support (P < 0.05) in 3 and 7 days before the surgery, and the serum IgG outstripped that of the group without nutritional support in 1 and 3 days before the surgery (P < 0.05). In terms of the patients in the risk of nutrition, the average hospitalization of nutritionally supported group was shorter (P < 0.05), and the average hospitalization expenses were lower compared with those of the group without nutritional support. And for the patients in no risk, the hospitalization expenses of supported group surmounted those of group without nutritional support (P < 0.05), whereas the average hospitalization took on no statistic difference (P > 0.05). Conclusion For the patients in the risk of nutrition, preoperative nutritional support can facilitate the nutritional status and immunization-relative result after surgery, which shall also decrease the average hospitalization and hospitalization cost. PMID:29780831

Melatonin Promotes Superovulation in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon)

PubMed Central

Wang, Liang; Zhuo, Zhi-Yong; Shi, Wen-Qing; Tan, Dun-Xian; Gao, Chao; Tian, Xiu-Zhi; Zhang, Lu; Zhou, Guang-Bin; Zhu, Shi-En; Yun, Peng; Liu, Guo-Shi

2014-01-01

In this study, the effects of melatonin (MT) on superovulation and reproductive hormones (melatonin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and PRL) were investigated in female sika deer. Different doses (40 or 80 mg/animal) of melatonin were subcutaneously implanted into deer before the breeding season. Exogenous melatonin administration significantly elevated the serum FSH levels at the time of insemination compared with levels in control animals. During superovulation, the serum LH levels in donor sika deer reached their highest values (7.1 ± 2.04 ng/mL) at the point of insemination, compared with the baseline levels (4.98 ± 0.07 ng/mL) in control animals. This high level of LH was sustained until the day of embryo recovery. In contrast, the serum levels of PRL in the 80 mg of melatonin-treated group were significantly lower than those of control deer. The average number of corpora lutea in melatonin-treated deer was significantly higher than that of the control (p < 0.05). The average number of embryos in the deer treated with 40 mg of melatonin was higher than that of the control; however, this increase did not reach significant difference (p > 0.05), which may be related to the relatively small sample size. In addition, embryonic development in melatonin-treated groups was delayed. PMID:25007067

Melatonin promotes superovulation in sika deer (Cervus nippon).

PubMed

Wang, Liang; Zhuo, Zhi-Yong; Shi, Wen-Qing; Tan, Dun-Xian; Gao, Chao; Tian, Xiu-Zhi; Zhang, Lu; Zhou, Guang-Bin; Zhu, Shi-En; Yun, Peng; Liu, Guo-Shi

2014-07-08

In this study, the effects of melatonin (MT) on superovulation and reproductive hormones (melatonin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and PRL) were investigated in female sika deer. Different doses (40 or 80 mg/animal) of melatonin were subcutaneously implanted into deer before the breeding season. Exogenous melatonin administration significantly elevated the serum FSH levels at the time of insemination compared with levels in control animals. During superovulation, the serum LH levels in donor sika deer reached their highest values (7.1±2.04 ng/mL) at the point of insemination, compared with the baseline levels (4.98±0.07 ng/mL) in control animals. This high level of LH was sustained until the day of embryo recovery. In contrast, the serum levels of PRL in the 80 mg of melatonin-treated group were significantly lower than those of control deer. The average number of corpora lutea in melatonin-treated deer was significantly higher than that of the control (p<0.05). The average number of embryos in the deer treated with 40 mg of melatonin was higher than that of the control; however, this increase did not reach significant difference (p>0.05), which may be related to the relatively small sample size. In addition, embryonic development in melatonin-treated groups was delayed.

Patient-Centered Tablet Application for Improving Medication Adherence after a Drug-Eluting Stent.

PubMed

Shah, Vicki; Dileep, Anandu; Dickens, Carolyn; Groo, Vicki; Welland, Betty; Field, Jerry; Baumann, Matthew; Flores, Jose D; Shroff, Adhir; Zhao, Zhongsheng; Yao, Yingwei; Wilkie, Diana J; Boyd, Andrew D

2016-01-01

This study's objective was to evaluate a patient-centered educational electronic tablet application, "My Interventional Drug-Eluting Stent Educational App" (MyIDEA) to see if there was an increase in patient knowledge about dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) and medication possession ratio (MPR) compared to treatment as usual. In a pilot project, 24 elderly (≥50 years old) research participants were recruited after a drug-eluting stent. Eleven were randomized to the control arm and 13 to the interventional arm. All the participants completed psychological and knowledge questionnaires. Adherence was assessed through MPR, which was calculated at 3 months for all participants who were scheduled for second and third follow-up visits. Relative to control, the interventional group had a 10% average increase in MPR. As compared to the interventional group, more patients in the control group had poor adherence (<80% MPR). The psychological data revealed a single imbalance in anxiety between the control and interventional groups. On average, interventional participants spent 21 min using MyIDEA. Consumer health informatics has enabled us to engage patients with their health data using novel methods. Consumer health technology needs to focus more on patient knowledge and engagement to improve long-term health. MyIDEA takes a unique approach in targeting DAPT from the onset. MyIDEA leverages patient-centered information with clinical care and the electronic health record highlighting the patients' role as a team member in their own health care. The patients think critically about adverse events and how to solve issues before leaving the hospital.

Precision oncology in advanced cancer patients improves overall survival with lower weekly healthcare costs

PubMed Central

Haslem, Derrick S.; Chakravarty, Ingo; Fulde, Gail; Gilbert, Heather; Tudor, Brian P.; Lin, Karen; Ford, James M.; Nadauld, Lincoln D.

2018-01-01

The impact of precision oncology on guiding treatment decisions of late-stage cancer patients was previously studied in a retrospective analysis. However, the overall survival and costs were not previously evaluated. We report the overall survival and healthcare costs associated with precision oncology in these patients with advanced cancer. Building on a matched cohort study of 44 patients with metastatic cancer who received all of their care within a single institution, we evaluated the overall survival and healthcare costs for each patient. We analyzed the outcomes of 22 patients who received genomic testing and targeted therapy (precision oncology) between July 1, 2013 and January 31, 2015, and compared to 22 historically controlled patients (control) who received standard chemotherapy (N = 17) or best supportive care (N = 5). The median overall survival was 51.7 weeks for the targeted treatment group and 25.8 weeks for the control group (P = 0.008) when matching on age, gender, histological diagnosis and previous treatment lines. Average costs over the entire period were $2,720 per week for the targeted treatment group and $3,453 per week for the control group, (P = 0.036). A separate analysis of 1,814 patients with late-stage cancer diagnoses found that those who received a targeted cancer treatment (N = 93) had 6.9% lower costs in the last 3 months of life compared with those who did not. These findings suggest that precision oncology may improve overall survival for refractory cancer patients while lowering average per-week healthcare costs, resource utilization and end-of-life costs. PMID:29552312

Statistical analysis of nonmonotonic dose-response relationships: research design and analysis of nasal cell proliferation in rats exposed to formaldehyde.

PubMed

Gaylor, David W; Lutz, Werner K; Conolly, Rory B

2004-01-01

Statistical analyses of nonmonotonic dose-response curves are proposed, experimental designs to detect low-dose effects of J-shaped curves are suggested, and sample sizes are provided. For quantal data such as cancer incidence rates, much larger numbers of animals are required than for continuous data such as biomarker measurements. For example, 155 animals per dose group are required to have at least an 80% chance of detecting a decrease from a 20% incidence in controls to an incidence of 10% at a low dose. For a continuous measurement, only 14 animals per group are required to have at least an 80% chance of detecting a change of the mean by one standard deviation of the control group. Experimental designs based on three dose groups plus controls are discussed to detect nonmonotonicity or to estimate the zero equivalent dose (ZED), i.e., the dose that produces a response equal to the average response in the controls. Cell proliferation data in the nasal respiratory epithelium of rats exposed to formaldehyde by inhalation are used to illustrate the statistical procedures. Statistically significant departures from a monotonic dose response were obtained for time-weighted average labeling indices with an estimated ZED at a formaldehyde dose of 5.4 ppm, with a lower 95% confidence limit of 2.7 ppm. It is concluded that demonstration of a statistically significant bi-phasic dose-response curve, together with estimation of the resulting ZED, could serve as a point-of departure in establishing a reference dose for low-dose risk assessment.

Sports hernia in National Hockey League players: does surgery affect performance?

PubMed

Jakoi, Andre; O'Neill, Craig; Damsgaard, Christopher; Fehring, Keith; Tom, James

2013-01-01

Athletic pubalgia is a complex injury that results in loss of play in competitive athletes, especially hockey players. The number of reported sports hernias has been increasing, and the importance of their management is vital. There are no studies reporting whether athletes can return to play at preinjury levels. The focus of this study was to evaluate the productivity of professional hockey players before an established athletic pubalgia diagnosis contrasted with the productivity after sports hernia repair. Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Professional National Hockey League (NHL) players who were reported to have a sports hernia and who underwent surgery from 2001 to 2008 were identified. Statistics were gathered on the players' previous 2 full seasons and compared with the statistics 2 full seasons after surgery. Data concerning games played, goals, average time on ice, time of productivity, and assists were gathered. Players were divided into 3 groups: group A incorporated all players, group B were players with 6 or fewer seasons of play, and group C consisted of players with 7 or more seasons of play. A control group was chosen to compare player deterioration or improvement over a career; each player selected for the study had a corresponding control player with the same tenure in his career and position during the same years. Forty-three hockey players were identified to have had sports hernia repairs from 2001 to 2008; ultimately, 80% would return to play 2 or more full seasons. Group A had statistically significant decreases in games played, goals scored, and assists. Versus the control group, the decreases in games played and assists were supported. Statistical analysis showed significant decreases in games played, goals scored, assists, and average time on ice the following 2 seasons in group C, which was also seen in comparison with the control group. Group B (16 players) showed only statistical significance in games played versus the control group. Players who undergo sports hernia surgeries return to play and often perform similar to their presurgery level. Players with over 7 full seasons return but with significant decreases in their overall performance levels. Less veteran players were able to return to play without any statistical decrease in performance and are likely the best candidates for repair once incurring injury.

Use of spineless cactus (Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis) for dairy goats and growing kids: impacts on milk production, kid's growth, and meat quality.

PubMed

Mahouachi, M; Atti, N; Hajji, H

2012-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of spineless cactus incorporation in food of dairy goats and growing kids on milk production and composition and on kid's growth and meat characteristics. Two experiments were conducted on Tunisian local goats. In the first, 30 females were divided into two groups; goats of Control group were reared on grazing pasture receiving indoor 0.5 kg of hay and 0.4 kg of concentrate. Goats for the second group (Cac-FL) were kept in feedlot and fed cactus ad libitum more 0.5 kg of hay and 0.4 kg of concentrate. In the second experiment, 14 kids were divided into 2 groups receiving 600 g of hay. The Control group received ad libitum a concentrate containing 130 g crude protein (CP) per kg of dry matter. The second group received cactus ad-libitum plus the half concentrate quantity of control one with 260 g CP/kg DM (Cactus). The daily milk production averaged 485 ml for Control group and 407 ml for Cac-FL one. The milk fat content was significantly higher for Control than Cac-FL group. In the second experiment, animals in Control and Cactus groups had similar growth rate. Carcass fat was significantly lower in Cactus than in the Control group. Cactus in the diet was associated with more C18:2 and conjugated linoleic acid as well as a higher proportion of PUFA than Control ones.

Use of Spineless Cactus (Opuntia ficus indica f. inermis) for Dairy Goats and Growing Kids: Impacts on Milk Production, Kid's Growth, and Meat Quality

PubMed Central

Mahouachi, M.; Atti, N.; Hajji, H.

2012-01-01

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of spineless cactus incorporation in food of dairy goats and growing kids on milk production and composition and on kid's growth and meat characteristics. Two experiments were conducted on Tunisian local goats. In the first, 30 females were divided into two groups; goats of Control group were reared on grazing pasture receiving indoor 0.5 kg of hay and 0.4 kg of concentrate. Goats for the second group (Cac-FL) were kept in feedlot and fed cactus ad libitum more 0.5 kg of hay and 0.4 kg of concentrate. In the second experiment, 14 kids were divided into 2 groups receiving 600 g of hay. The Control group received ad libitum a concentrate containing 130 g crude protein (CP) per kg of dry matter. The second group received cactus ad-libitum plus the half concentrate quantity of control one with 260 g CP/kg DM (Cactus). The daily milk production averaged 485 ml for Control group and 407 ml for Cac-FL one. The milk fat content was significantly higher for Control than Cac-FL group. In the second experiment, animals in Control and Cactus groups had similar growth rate. Carcass fat was significantly lower in Cactus than in the Control group. Cactus in the diet was associated with more C18:2 and conjugated linoleic acid as well as a higher proportion of PUFA than Control ones. PMID:22536135

[Study on the relationship between renal apoptosis and expression of caspase protein in fluoride induced rat].

PubMed

Gao, Jiping; Song, Guohua; Liu, Maolin; Wang, Yu; Yang, Xia

2014-01-01

To study the relationship between death receptor pathway, mitochondrion pathway and fluoride-induced apoptosis of renal cell. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into four groups (control, low-fluoride, medium-fluoride,and high-fluoride) and administered 0, 50, 100, and 200 mg/L of sodium fluoride, respectively, via drinking water for 120 days. The incidence of dental fluorosis were observed, the body weights and urine fluoride levels were measured. Apoptosis was detected by the Flow Cytometry (FCM). The expressions of protein of Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9, Cyt C were detectedby immunohistoehemistry. The apoptosis rate in the fluoride exposed low does group,middle dose group and high dose group increased significantly as compared with control group. The average optical density value of Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-9 and Cyt C were higher in the fluoride exposed middle dose group and high dose group than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Death receptor pathway and mitochondrion pathway may participate in the process of fluoride-induced apoptosis of renal cell.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Icodextrin versus Glucose Containing Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid

PubMed Central

Lin, Aiwu; Li, Xiaomei; Yu, Xueqing; Liu, Wenhu; Sun, Yang; Chen, Nan; Mei, Changlin

2009-01-01

Background and objectives: While peritoneal dialysis with icodextrin is commonly used in patients with poor peritoneal membrane characteristics, the data on the usefulness of this solution in patients with lower transport characteristics are limited. The study was designed to compare icodextrin to glucose in Chinese prevalent peritoneal dialysis patients of different peritoneal transport characteristics (PET) categories. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: This was a randomized, double-blind, perspective control study. Stable prevalent continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients were randomized to either 7.5% icodextrin (ICO) or 2.5% glucose (GLU) solution for 4 wk. Peritoneal membrane function was measured to define PET category in baseline. Creatinine clearance (Ccr), urea nitrogen clearance (CBUN), ultrafiltration (UF) during the long night dwell, dialysate, and metabolic biomarkers were measured at baseline, 2, and 4 wk. UF, Ccr, and CBUN were compared among different PET categories. Results: A total of 201 CAPD patients were enrolled in the study. There were no baseline differences between the groups. Following 2 and 4 wk of therapy, Ccr, CBUN, and UF were all significantly higher in the ICO versus the GLU group. Additionally, switching to ICO resulted in a significant increase in UF in high, high-average, and low-average transporters as compared with baseline. The extent of increased UF was more obvious in higher transporters. Blood cholesterol level in the ICO group decreased significantly than that in the GLU group. Conclusion: Compared with glucose-based solution, 7.5% icodextrin significantly improved UF and small solute clearance, even in patients with low-average peritoneal transport. PMID:19808224

A stable pattern of EEG spectral coherence distinguishes children with autism from neuro-typical controls - a large case control study

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background The autism rate has recently increased to 1 in 100 children. Genetic studies demonstrate poorly understood complexity. Environmental factors apparently also play a role. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies demonstrate increased brain sizes and altered connectivity. Electroencephalogram (EEG) coherence studies confirm connectivity changes. However, genetic-, MRI- and/or EEG-based diagnostic tests are not yet available. The varied study results likely reflect methodological and population differences, small samples and, for EEG, lack of attention to group-specific artifact. Methods Of the 1,304 subjects who participated in this study, with ages ranging from 1 to 18 years old and assessed with comparable EEG studies, 463 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); 571 children were neuro-typical controls (C). After artifact management, principal components analysis (PCA) identified EEG spectral coherence factors with corresponding loading patterns. The 2- to 12-year-old subsample consisted of 430 ASD- and 554 C-group subjects (n = 984). Discriminant function analysis (DFA) determined the spectral coherence factors' discrimination success for the two groups. Loading patterns on the DFA-selected coherence factors described ASD-specific coherence differences when compared to controls. Results Total sample PCA of coherence data identified 40 factors which explained 50.8% of the total population variance. For the 2- to 12-year-olds, the 40 factors showed highly significant group differences (P < 0.0001). Ten randomly generated split half replications demonstrated high-average classification success (C, 88.5%; ASD, 86.0%). Still higher success was obtained in the more restricted age sub-samples using the jackknifing technique: 2- to 4-year-olds (C, 90.6%; ASD, 98.1%); 4- to 6-year-olds (C, 90.9%; ASD 99.1%); and 6- to 12-year-olds (C, 98.7%; ASD, 93.9%). Coherence loadings demonstrated reduced short-distance and reduced, as well as increased, long-distance coherences for the ASD-groups, when compared to the controls. Average spectral loading per factor was wide (10.1 Hz). Conclusions Classification success suggests a stable coherence loading pattern that differentiates ASD- from C-group subjects. This might constitute an EEG coherence-based phenotype of childhood autism. The predominantly reduced short-distance coherences may indicate poor local network function. The increased long-distance coherences may represent compensatory processes or reduced neural pruning. The wide average spectral range of factor loadings may suggest over-damped neural networks. PMID:22730909

Clinical Evaluation of a Novel Technology for Oral Patient-Controlled Analgesia, the PCoA® Acute Device, for Hospitalized Patients with Postoperative Pain, in Pilot Feasibility Study

PubMed Central

Wirz, Stefan; Conrad, Stefan; Schimo, Kai; Hoffmann, Eva

2017-01-01

Background Acute postoperative pain delays recovery and increases morbidity and mortality. Traditional administration of postoperative analgesics by nurses is often inefficient. The present study evaluated the safety, efficacy, and usability of a novel, patient-controlled analgesic dispenser, the PCoA Acute. Methods A controlled pilot study was conducted at three medical centers. Patients scheduled for elective surgery were enrolled into two groups, both taking oral analgesics: a control group (n = 43), opioids dispensed by nurses, and a test group (n = 27), opioids dispensed via the PCoA Acute. Pill intake data were recorded. Pain ratings at rest and during movement were surveyed. Results No severe adverse events were recorded. Average pill intake time was reduced from 8 : 58 minutes in the control group to 1 : 17 minutes in the test group (P value < 0.05). The test group took 67% more pills than the control group, indicating enhanced compliance. Pain scores were significantly lower for patients in the test group (P value < 0.05). Over 90% of PCoA Acute users were satisfied with its use. Conclusions The study confirmed that PCoA Acute is safe and effective. It is well accepted by patients and medical staff. Its use can optimize pain medication administration. PMID:29093632

Comparison of histopathological effects of perineural administration of bupivacaine and bupivacaine-dexmedetomidine in rat sciatic nerve.

PubMed

Memari, Elham; Hosseinian, Mohammad-Ali; Mirkheshti, Ali; Arhami-Dolatabadi, Ali; Mirabotalebi, Mojtaba; Khandaghy, Mohsen; Daneshbod, Yahya; Alizadeh, Leila; Shirian, Sadegh

2016-11-01

Injection of a variety of drugs such as local anesthetics (LAs) for peripheral nerve block has been shown to cause damage to peripheral nerves. Bupivacaine is a local anesthetic widely used in surgical procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neurotoxicity of LAs including Bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine (DEX)-Bupivacaine on sciatic nerve tissue at histopathological level. In addition, we investigated whether perineural administration of DEX can attenuate Bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity. Twenty adult Sprague Dawley rats received unilateral sciatic nerve blocks with either 0.2ml of 0.5% bupivacaine (n=8) or 0.5% bupivacaine plus 0.005% DEX (n=8) or normal saline (0.9%, as control group) (n=4) in the left hind extremity. Sciatic nerves were harvested at 14days post-injection and analyzed for nerve damage using ultrastructure and histopathologic analysis. Histopathology of sciatic nerve at day 14 post-injection showed a variable degree of neuronal injury associated with perineural inflammation in each treatment group and was classified as none or mild, intermediate or severe. Administration of both LAs resulted in a significant decrease in the total number of myelinated fibers per nerve (95% CI for group difference: Bupivacaine, P=0.001, DEX-Bupivacaine, P=0.036) compared to the saline control group. Animals that received these perineural local anesthetics (LAs) injections showed increased severity of injury compared to the control group. Animals in the DEX-Bupivacaine group had higher perineural inflammation and nerve damage than those of the saline control group and less than those of the Bupivacaine group at day 14 post-injection. Quantitatively, average total nerve fiber per nerve and average myelinated nerve fiber density in the injured region of the Bupivacaine-treated group was less than that of the DEX-Bupivacaine-treated group. LAs injection into the nerve causes peripheral nerve damage and remains an important clinical danger. Bupivacaine is associated with considerable histopathological changes, including edema of the perineurium and myelin degeneration with Wallerian degeneration, when injected perineurally. Perineural DEX added to a clinical concentration of bupivacaine attenuates the Bupivacaine-induced injuries. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Effectiveness of educational poster on knowledge of emergency management of dental trauma--part 2: cluster randomised controlled trial for secondary school students.

PubMed

Young, Cecilia; Wong, Kin Yau; Cheung, Lim K

2014-01-01

To investigate the effectiveness of educational poster on improving secondary school students' knowledge of emergency management of dental trauma. A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted. 16 schools with total 671 secondary students who can read Chinese or English were randomised into intervention (poster, 8 schools, 364 students) and control groups (8 schools, 305 students) at the school level. Baseline knowledge of dental trauma was obtained by a questionnaire. Poster containing information of dental trauma management was displayed in a classroom for 2 weeks in each school in the intervention group whereas in the control group there was no display of such posters. Students of both groups completed the same questionnaire after 2 weeks. Two-week display of posters improved the knowledge score by 1.25 (p-value = 0.0407) on average. Educational poster on dental trauma management significantly improved the level of knowledge of secondary school students in Hong Kong. HKClinicalTrial.com HKCTR-1343 ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01809457.

Chronic stress and sexual function in women

PubMed Central

Hamilton, Lisa Dawn; Meston, Cindy M.

2014-01-01

Introduction Chronic stress is known to have negative effects on reproduction, but little is known about how it affects the sexual response cycle. The present study examined the relationship between chronic stress and sexual arousal and the mechanisms that mediate this relationship. Aim To test the relationship between chronic stress and sexual arousal and identify mechanisms that may explain this relationship. We predicted that women experiencing high levels of chronic stress would show lower levels of genital arousal & DHEAS and higher levels of cortisol and cognitive distraction compared to women with average levels of stress. Methods Women who were categorized as high in chronic stress (high stress group, n = 15) or average in chronic stress (average stress group; n = 15) provided saliva samples and watched an erotic film while having their genital and psychological arousal measured. Main Outcome Measures Main outcome measures were vaginal pulse amplitude, psychological arousal, salivary cortisol, salivary DHEAS, and heart rate and compared them between women with high and average levels of chronic stress. Results Women in the high stress group had lower levels of genital, but not psychological arousal, had higher levels of cortisol, and reported more distraction during the erotic film than women in the average stress group. The main predictor of decreased genital sexual arousal was participants’ distraction scores. Conclusions High levels of chronic stress were related to lower levels of genital sexual arousal. Both psychological (distraction) and hormonal (increased cortisol) factors were related to the lower levels of sexual arousal seen in women high in chronic stress, but distraction was the only significant predictor when controlling for other variables. PMID:23841462

Evaluation of the effects of a diabetes educational program: a randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Torres, Heloísa de Carvalho; Pace, Ana Emília; Chaves, Fernanda Figueredo; Velasquez-Melendez, Gustavo; Reis, Ilka Afonso

2018-02-05

Evaluate the effectiveness of a diabetes mellitus educational program in primary health care. This cluster randomized trial was conducted in a sample of 470 people with type 2 diabetes mellitus from eight health units, randomly assigned to two groups: intervention (n = 231) and control (n = 239). The intervention group participated in the educational program composed of three strategies: group education, home visit, and telephone intervention. Simultaneously, the control group was monitored individually. Group monitoring took place over nine months in the year 2012. Clinical evaluations were performed at the initial time (T0), three (T3), six (T6) and nine (T9) months after the beginning of the intervention. After nine months of follow-up, 341 users remained in the study, 171 in the control group and 170 in the intervention group. The average age of users was 60.6 years. In both groups, statistically significant differences were observed in mean HbA1c levels over the follow-up time (p < 0.05). However, the mean HbA1c level at T3, T6 and T9 times were significantly lower among the people in the intervention group (p < 0.05). The educational program model developed was effective to improve the glycemic control of the intervention group participants.