Study on the relationship between the expression of IGF-1 in umbilical cord blood and abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy.

PubMed

Liu, K; Wu, H-Y; Xu, Y-H

2017-02-01

To explore the relationship between the expression of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in neonatal umbilical cord blood and abnormal glucose metabolism during pregnancy. We have selected 63 cases of delivery randomly, term birth and maternal from January 2015 to January 2016 in our hospital, gestational diabetes mellitus for Group A, abnormal gestational glucose tolerance for Group B and normal for Group C with 21 cases in each group. The venous blood samples were collected from all the pregnant females 2 weeks before delivery, and the levels of HbA1c in serum were detected by Elisa method. During the delivery, the umbilical cord blood was collected and the levels of IGF-1 were measured by double site immune enzyme analysis. The neonatal weight was recorded and the correlation analysis was made in respect of the measurement results. The level of HbA1c in Group A was significantly higher than that in Group C (p < 0.05); IGF-1 level and neonatal weight of Group B were significantly higher than that of Group C (p < 0.05), IGF-1 has a significant correlation with neonatal weight in Group C, and HbA1c and IGF-1 were positively correlated (p < 0.05); IGF-1 was positively correlated with neonatal weight in Group A and Group B (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between the IGF-1 level of neonatal umbilical cord blood and the neonatal weight (p < 0.05). Also, the level of HbA1c was positively correlated with the level of IGF-1 in neonatal umbilical cord blood at the end of pregnancy (p < 0.05). The expression level of IGF-1 in the final stage of pregnant females can be detected to predict the expression level of IGF-1 in newborn infants and then the growth status of the fetus can be obtained.

FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND KNEE LAXITY IN NORMAL INDIVIDUALS AND IN INDIVIDUALS SUBMITTED TO ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION

PubMed Central

de Vasconcelos, Rodrigo Antunes; Bevilaqua-Grossi, Débora; Shimano, Antonio Carlos; Jansen Paccola, Cleber Antonio; Salvini, Tânia Fátima; Prado, Christiane Lanatovits; Mello Junior, Wilson A.

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between deficits in the isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensors and flexors with hop tests, postoperative knee laxity and functional scores in normal and ACL- reconstructed subjects with patellar tendon and hamstring tendon autografts. Methods: Sixty male subjects were enrolled and subdivided into three groups: Twenty subjects without knee injuries (GC group) and two groups of 20 subjects submitted to ACL reconstruction with patellar tendon (GTP group) and hamstrings autograft (GTF group). Results: The results showed significant correlation between knee extensors peak torque and performance in the hop tests for GTF and GC groups. There are no significantly correlations between post op knee laxity and Lysholm score compared with the hop tests and peak torque deficits. Concerning the differences between groups, the GTP group showed greater peak torque deficits in knee extensors, worst Lysholm scores and higher percentage of individuals with lower limb symmetry index (ISM) < 90% in both hop tests when compared to the other two groups. Conclusion: It is not recommendable to use only one measurement instrument for the functional evaluation of ACL-reconstructed patients, because significant correlation between peak torque, subject's functional score, knee laxity and hop tests were not observed in all groups. PMID:26998464

Airway wall thickness of allergic asthma caused by weed pollen or house dust mite assessed by computed tomography.

PubMed

Liu, Liping; Li, Guangrun; Sun, Yuemei; Li, Jian; Tang, Ningbo; Dong, Liang

2015-03-01

Little was known about Airway wall thickness of asthma patients with different allergen allergy. So we explored the possible difference of Airway wall thickness of asthma patients mono-sensitized to weed pollen or HDM using high-resolution computed tomography. 85 severe asthma patients were divided into weed pollen group and HDM group according to relevant allergen. 20 healthy donors served as controls. Airway wall area, percentage wall area and luminal area at the trunk of the apical bronchus of the right upper lobe were quantified using HRCT and compared. The values of pulmonary function were assessed as well. There were differences between HDM group and weed pollen group in WA/BSA,WA% and FEF25-75% pred, and no significant difference in FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC and LA/BSA. In weed pollen group, WA/BSA was observed to correlate with the duration of rhinitis, whereas in HDM group, WA/BSA and LA/BSA was observed to correlate with the duration of asthma. In weed pollen group, FEV1/FVC showed a weak but significant negative correlation with WA%, but in HDM group FEV1/FVC showed a significant positive correlation with WA% and a statistical negative correlation with LA/BSA. FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% pred were higher and WA/BSA and LA/BSA were lower in healthy control group than asthma group. FEV1%pred and WA% was no significant difference between asthma patients and healthy subjects. There are differences between HDM mono-sensitized subjects and weed pollen mono-sensitized subjects, not only in airway wall thickness, but also small airway obstruction. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cardio-ankle vascular index relates to left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with heart failure. A retrospective study.

PubMed

Zhang, Chengmin; Ohira, Masahiro; Iizuka, Takuo; Mikamo, Hiroshi; Nakagami, Takahiro; Suzuki, Masayo; Hirano, Keiichi; Takahashi, Mao; Shimizu, Kazuhiro; Sugiyama, Yuko; Yamaguchi, Takashi; Kawana, Hidetoshi; Endo, Kei; Saiki, Atsuhito; Oyama, Tomokazu; Kurosu, Takumi; Tomaru, Takanobu; Wang, Hongyu; Noike, Hirofumi; Shirai, Kohji

2013-01-01

The cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) has been proposed as a new noninvasive marker of arterial stiffness independent of blood pressure. Arterial stiffness is closely related to afterload, and elevated afterload aggravates heart failure. We hypothesized that CAVI is a potential marker of afterload in patients with heart failure. Thirty patients who were admitted because of acute heart failure were identified retrospectively from a review of clinical records. Plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, CAVI, cardiothoracic ratio (CTR), and echocardiographic parameters obtained during acute and chronic phases of heart failure were analyzed. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased significantly and CTR, BNP and CAVI decreased significantly after treatment of heart failure. A significant negative correlation was observed between the change in CAVI and change in LVEF in all subjects (r = -0.3272, P < 0.05). To examine the relationship between CAVI and LVEF, we divided the patients into two subgroups (∆CAVI < -0.5; CAVI decrease group, ∆CAVI ≥ -0.5; CAVI non-decrease group). CAVI was significantly improved after heart failure treatment only in the CAVI decrease group. LVEF decreased significantly in both groups, but the P value was smaller in the CAVI decrease group than in the CAVI non-decrease group. The change in LVEF correlated significantly with the change in CAVI in the CAVI decrease group (r = -0.4201, P < 0.05), whereas no significant correlation was found in the CAVI non-decrease group. CAVI correlates inversely with LVEF after heart failure treatment. Our results suggest that CAVI might partially reflect the afterload in patients with heart failure.

Correlation between blink reflex abnormalities and magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Degirmenci, Eylem; Erdogan, Cagdas; Bir, Levent Sinan

2013-09-01

This study investigates the correlation between brain magnetic resonance imaging findings and blink reflex abnormalities in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Twenty-six patients and 17 healthy subjects were included in this study. Blink reflex test (BRT) results were obtained using right and left stimulations; thus, 52 BRT results were recorded for the patient group, and 34 BRT results were recorded for the control group. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings were classified based on the existence of brainstem lesions (hyperintense lesion on T2 weighted (W) and fast fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI or contrast-enhancing lesion on T1W MRI). Correlation analysis was performed for the BRT and MRI findings. The percentage of individuals with abnormal BRT results (including R1 latency, ipsilateral R2 latency, and contralateral R2 latency) was significantly higher in the patient group as compared to the control group (p values: 0.015, 0.001, and 0.002, respectively). Correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between contralateral R2 latency abnormalities and brainstem lesions (p value: 0.011). Our results showed significant correlation correlations between contralateral R2 latency abnormalities and brainstem lesions and these results may be explained the effects of multiple demyelinating lesions of the brain stem of patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

From proactive personality to organizational citizenship behavior: mediating role of harmony.

PubMed

Gan, Yiqun; Cheung, Fanny M

2010-06-01

The objective of the present study was to examine the moderating role of interpersonal harmony in the relation of proactive personality with organizational citizenship behavior. 158 employees in Chinese state-owned companies completed the Proactive Personality Scale (Bateman & Crant, 1993), Harmony scale, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior Questionnaire. Proactive personality had insignificant correlation with job dedication. The correlation between interpersonal facilitation and proactive personality was significant but quite low. Results of the hierarchical regression analyses indicated that when demographic variables were controlled, Harmony had significant moderating effects on the relations of proactive behavior and job dedication/interpersonal facilitation. In the high Harmony group, the correlation between proactive personality and organizational citizenship behavior was significant; whereas in the low Harmony group, this correlation was not significant.

Structure-Function Correlations using Scanning Laser Polarimetry in Primary Angle-Closure Glaucoma and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

PubMed Central

Lee, Pei-Jung; Liu, Catherine Jui-Ling.; Wojciechowski, Robert; Bailey-Wilson, Joan E.; Cheng, Ching-Yu

2010-01-01

Purpose To assess the correlations between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured with scanning laser polarimetry (SLP) and visual field (VF) sensitivity in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Design Prospective, comparative, observational cases series Methods Fifty patients with POAG and 56 with PACG were examined using SLP with variable corneal compensation (GDx VCC) and Humphrey VF analyzer between August 2005 and July 2006 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Correlations between RNFL thickness and VF sensitivity, expressed as mean sensitivity (MS) in both decibel (dB) and 1/Lambert (L) scales, were estimated by Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) and multivariate median regression models (pseudo R2). The correlations were determined globally and for six RNFL sectors and their corresponding VF regions. Results The correlation between RNFL thickness and MS (in dB) was weaker in the PACG group (rs = 0.38, P = 0.004, pseudo R2 = 0.17) than in the POAG group (rs = 0.51, P <0.001, pseudo R2 = 0.31), but the difference in the magnitude of correlation was not significant (P = 0.42).With Bonferroni correction, the structure-function correlation was significant in the superotemporal (rs = 0.62), superonasal (rs = 0.56), inferonasal (rs = 0.53), and inferotemporal (rs = 0.50) sectors in the POAG group (all P <0.001), while it was significant only in the superotemporal (rs = 0.53) and inferotemporal (rs = 0.48) sectors in the PACG group (both P <0.001). The results were similar when MS was expressed as 1/L scale. Conclusions Both POAG and PACG eyes had moderate structure-function correlations using SLP. Compared to eyes with POAG, fewer RNFL sectors have significant structure-function correlations in eyes with PACG. PMID:20202618

[Correlation of adverse childhood experiences with psychiatric disorders and aggressiveness in adulthood].

PubMed

Samardzić, Ljiljana; Nikolić, Gordana; Grbesa, Grozdanko; Simonović, Maja; Milenković, Tatjana

2010-08-01

Consequences of individual adverse childhood experiences for adult mental health have been precisely studied during past decades. The focus of past research was mainly on childhood maltreatment and neglect. The aim of this paper was to determine association between multiple adverse childhood experiences and psychiatric disorders, as well as their correlation to the degree and type of aggressiveness in adult psychiatric patients. One hundred and thirteen psychiatric outpatients were divided into three diagnostic groups: psychotics, non-psychotics and alcoholics and compared with fourty healthy individuals. Adverse childhood experiences data were gathered retrospectively, using the Adverse childhood experiences questionnaire and explanatory interview. Aggressiveness was assessed using Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire. The Student's t test, ANOVA and correlational analysis were used for evaluation of statistical significance of differences among the groups. A value p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Our results showed that the mean number of adverse childhood experiences in each group of psychiatric patients, as well as in the whole group of patients, was statistically significantly higher than in the group of healthy individuals (p < 0.001); there was a statistically significant difference in score of physical aggressiveness between the patients exposed to adverse childhood experiences and those who were not exposed to them (p < 0.05); scores of physical aggressiveness were in positive correlation with the number of adverse childhood experiences (p < 0.05). The highest mean score of adverse childhood experiences was evidenced in the group of patients with psychotic disorders. Multiple adverse childhood experiences are significantly associated with psychotic disorders, nonpsychotic disorders and alcohol dependence in adulthood and their presence is important morbidity risk factor for psychiatric disorders. They are in positive correlation with physical aggressiveness of the patients from these diagnostic groups.

Molecular/clinical correlations in females with fragile X

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

Sobesky, W.E.; Riddle, J.; Hagerman, R.J.

1996-08-09

Females who are affected by fragile X syndrome (FXS) can have significant physical, neuropsychological and emotional involvement. This study was designed to explore the relationships between these three domains and to learn how the degree of involvement in each of these phenotypic areas relates to molecular parameters including CGG repeat length and activation ratio (the proportion of normal FMR1 alleles on the active X chromosome). Three groups of females were studied: 35 women who grew up in a fragile X family but do not carry an FMR1 mutation, 92 women with a premutation, and 29 women with a full mutation.more » Correlations between neurocognitive, physical and emotional traits were calculated for each of the three groups. Within the full mutation group significant correlations were seen between schizotypal traits and full scale IQ. The Lie scale was significantly correlated with the physical findings index. The activation ratio correlated significantly with the measure of executive function (r = .50, P = .01). There was a trend toward correlations of activation ratio with the physical index score, outer ear prominence and IQ. CGG repeat number significantly correlated only with the physical index (r = .44, P = .0 1). Thus, activation ratio may be the more pertinent molecular parameter in full mutation women in determining the degree of cognitive and physical phenotypic involvement. 29 refs., 2 tabs.« less

Wound Healing Potential of Intermittent Negative Pressure under Limited Access Dressing in Burn Patients: Biochemical and Histopathological Study

PubMed Central

Muguregowda, Honnegowda Thittamaranahalli; Kumar, Pramod; Govindarama, Padmanabha Udupa Echalasara

2018-01-01

BACKGROUND Malondialdehyde (MDA) is an oxidant that causes damage to membranes, DNA, proteins, and lipids at the cellular level. Antioxidants minimize the effects of oxidants and thus help in formation of healthy granulation tissues with higher level of hydroxyproline and total protein. This study compared the effect of limited access dressing (LAD) with conventional closed dressing biochemically and histopathologically. METHODS Seventy-two 12-65 years old burn patients with mean wound size of 14 cm2 were divided to two groups of LAD (n=37), and conventional dressing groups (n=35). Various biochemical parameters were measured in granulation tissue. Histopathological analysis of the granulation tissue was studied too. RESULTS LAD group showed significant increase in hydroxyproline, total protein, GSH, and GPx and decrease in MDA levels compared to conventional dressing group. A significant negative correlation between GSH and MDA was noted in LAD group, but in conventional dressing group there was no significant correlation. A significant negative correlation between GPx and MDA was noticed in LAD group, but in conventional dressing group was not significant. There was a histologically fewer inflammatory cells, increased and well organized extracellular matrix deposit, more angiogenesis in LAD group after 10 days while the difference was significant between the groups. CONCLUSION Our study showed a significant reduction in oxidative stress biomarker of MDA, increase in hydroxyproline, total protein, antioxidants and amount of ECM deposition, number of blood vessels and a decrease in the amount of inflammatory cells and necrotic tissues in LAD group indicating the better healing effect of burn wounds. PMID:29651393

Breast MRI background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) correlates with the risk of breast cancer.

PubMed

Telegrafo, Michele; Rella, Leonarda; Stabile Ianora, Amato Antonio; Angelelli, Giuseppe; Moschetta, Marco

2016-02-01

To investigate whether background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) and breast cancer would correlate searching for any significant difference of BPE pattern distribution in case of benign or malignant lesions. 386 patients, including 180 pre-menopausal (group 1) and 206 post-menopausal (group 2), underwent MR examination. Two radiologists evaluated MR images classifying normal BPE as minimal, mild, moderate or marked. The two groups of patients were subdivided into 3 categories based on MRI findings (negative, benign and malignant lesions). The distribution of BPE patterns within the two groups and within the three MR categories was calculated. The χ2 test was used to evaluate BPE type distribution in the three patient categories and any statistically significant correlation of BPE with lesion type was calculated. The Student t test was applied to search for any statistically significant difference between BPE type rates in group 1 and 2. The χ2 test demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the distribution of BPE types in negative patients and benign lesions as compared with malignant ones (p<0.05). A significantly higher prevalence of moderate and marked BPE was found among malignant lesions (group 1: 32% and 42%, respectively; group 2: 31% and 46%, respectively) while a predominance of minimal and mild BPE among negative patients (group 1: 60% and 36%, respectively; group 2: 68% and 32%, respectively) and benign lesions (group 1: 54% and 38%, respectively; group 2: 75% and 17%, respectively) was found. The Student t test did not show a statistically significant difference between BPE type rates in group 1 and 2 (p>0.05). Normal BPE could correlate with the risk of breast cancer being such BPE patterns as moderate and marked associated with patients with malignant lesions in both pre and post-menopausal women. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Homocysteine, endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in patients with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy.

PubMed

Zeng, Yachang; Li, Mujun; Chen, Yue; Wang, Sumei

2015-01-01

To investigate the change of level of serum homocysteine (Hcy), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) and clinical significance in patients with HDCP. Two hundred and thirty nine patients with HDCP (137 patients with mild preeclampsia, 102 patients with severe preeclampsia) who were hospitalized between June 2012 and June 2015 and 200 normal pregnancy women in outpatient department were enrolled in our study were divided into HDCP group and control group. Serum Hcy concentration was measured by enzymatic cycling assay. ET-1 concentration was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. And no concentration was measured by nitrate reductase assay. Serum Hcy and ET-1 in HDCP group were significantly higher as compared to control group (P<0.05). Level of serum NO in HDCP group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). Level of serum Hcy and ET-1 in mild and severe preeclampsia group were significantly higher as compared to control group, respectively (P<0.05). Level of serum NO in mild and severe preeclampsia group were significantly lower than in the control group' respectively (P<0.05). Level of serum Hcy and ET-1 in severe preeclampsia group were significantly higher as compared to mild preclampsia group (P<0.05). Level of serum NO in severe preeclampsia group were significantly lower than in mild preeclampsia group (P<0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that level of serum Hcy and ET-1 was positively correlated with severity of diseases (r=0.689, 0.718, P<0.05). Level of serum NO was negatively correlated with severity of diseases (r=-0.702, P<0.05). Serum Hcy, ET-1 and NO were associated with pathogenesis of HDCP. Comprehensively measurement of them could effectively evaluate the incidence and progress of HDCP.

Differences in and correlations between cognitive abilities and brain volumes in healthy control, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer disease groups.

PubMed

Chung, Soon-Cheol; Choi, Mi-Hyun; Kim, Hyung-Sik; Lee, Jung-Chul; Park, Sung-Jun; Jeong, Ul-Ho; Baek, Ji-Hye; Gim, Seon-Young; Choi, Young Chil; Lee, Beob-Yi; Lim, Dae-Woon; Kim, Boseong

2016-05-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate differences in and correlations between cognitive abilities and brain volumes in healthy control (HC), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer's disease (AD) groups. The Korean Version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-K), which is used to diagnose AD, was used to measure the cognitive abilities of the study subjects, and the volumes of typical brain components related to AD diagnosis-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), gray matter (GM), and white matter (WM)-were acquired. Of the CERAD-K subtests, the Boston Naming Test distinguished significantly among the HC, MCI, and AD groups. GM and WM volumes differed significantly among the three groups. There was a significant positive correlation between Boston Naming Test scores and GM and WM volumes. In conclusion, the Boston Naming Test and GM and WM brain volumes differentiated the three tested groups accurately, and there were strong correlations between Boston Naming Test scores and GM and WM volumes. These results will help to establish a test method that differentiates the three groups accurately and is economically feasible. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Double-blind, placebo-controlled immunotherapy with mixed grass-pollen allergoids. II. Comparison between parameters assessing the efficacy of immunotherapy.

PubMed

Bousquet, J; Maasch, H; Martinot, B; Hejjaoui, A; Wahl, R; Michel, F B

1988-09-01

Specific immunotherapy is effective in alleviating symptoms in grass pollen-induced rhinitis, but there are no clear data demonstrating a correlation between symptom-medication scores and objective parameters. Twenty-five patients taking part in a double-blind, placebo-controlled immunotherapy with mixed grass pollen-formalinized allergoids were studied. All patients had the same investigations. Symptom-medication scores were significantly (p less than 0.005, Mann-Whitney U test) reduced in the treated group by comparison to the placebo-treated patients. Nasal challenges performed with threefold increasing numbers of orchard grass-pollen grains demonstrated that patients treated with allergoid tolerated a significantly (p less than 0.005, Wilcoxon W test) greater number of grains after treatment, whereas there was no mean difference in the placebo-treated patients. There was a significant (p less than 0.005, Spearman rank-correlation) correlation between nasal challenges and symptom scores during the season. The skin prick test end point was significantly (p less than 0.001, Wilcoxon W test) reduced after treatment in the allergoid-treated group and remained unchanged in the placebo-treated group. There was a significant (p less than 0.001) correlation between the skin prick test end point and symptom scores during the season. Serum grass-pollen IgG titrated by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay with Staphylococcus A protein was significantly (p less than 0.01, Wilcoxon W test) increased after treatment with allergoid, but there was no significant correlation between IgG titer and symptom scores during the season. Serum grass-pollen IgE increased (p less than 0.04, Wilcoxon W test) in the treated group but there was no correlation with symptom scores.

Psychological aspects of political tolerance among adolescents.

PubMed

Sotelo, M J; Sangrador, J L

1997-12-01

This study concerns 273 Spanish adolescents, aged between 14 and 17, 125 boys and 148 girls. The measured variables were political tolerance, liking for several groups, political experience, cognitive moral reasoning, support for democratic norms, support for violent groups, identification with a group of friends, identification with a religious group, and identification with a soccer team. The objectives of this work were (a) to establish groups of adolescents based on the relationship between their willingness to extend rights to several groups and their liking of these groups, (b) to know the personality characteristics of tolerant and intolerant adolescents, and (c) to set up correlations between age and total tolerance, total liking, and the variables correlated with tolerance. The main findings are that older and younger adolescents belong to different groups, with respect to tolerance, and something similar can be said about boys and girls. Intolerant adolescents perceive themselves as anxious, insecure, solitary, and obstinate. Significant positive correlations between age and political experience, rated support for democratic norms and ratings for identification with a group of friends were found. On the contrary, there were significant negative correlations between age and rated support for violent groups, identification with a religious group, and identification with a soccer team.

Relationships between blood pressure and health and fitness-related variables in obese women.

PubMed

Shin, Jeong Yeop; Ha, Chang Ho

2016-10-01

[Purpose] The present study aimed to separately compare systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure with health and fitness-related variables among Asian obese and normal weight middle-aged women. [Subjects and Methods] The study included 1,201 women aged 30-59 years. The participants were classified into obese and normal weight groups. The blood pressure and health and fitness-related variables of all participants were assessed. [Results] Significant interaction effects were observed for most blood pressure and health and fitness-related variables between the groups. However, significant interaction effects were not observed for standard weight, basal metabolic rate, and heart rate. Blood pressure showed significant positive correlations with weight, body fat, fat weight, core fat, body mass index, and basal metabolic rate in both groups. Systolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with muscular endurance, power, and agility in the obese group and with VO2max and flexibility in the normal weight group. Diastolic blood pressure was significantly correlated with muscular endurance and power in the obese group and with VO2max in the normal weight group. [Conclusion] The relationships between systolic blood pressure and heart rate, muscle endurance, power, and agility are stronger than the relationships between diastolic blood pressure and these variables.

Group cohesion and social support of the nurses in a special unit and a general unit in Korea.

PubMed

Ko, Yu Kyung

2011-07-01

To identify the degree of group cohesion and social support of nurses in special and general units in hospitals in Korea, and to compare group cohesion and social support between the two groups. The level of commitment nurses have to their organizations has been shown to correlate with work group cohesion and social support. The participants were 1751 nurses who were working in Korean hospitals. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and were analysed using SAS. The statistical methods included: descriptive statistics, t-test, anova and Pearson's correlation coefficients. Group cohesion of nurses on special wards was significantly higher than for nurses on general wards. No significant difference was found between types of units in terms of social support. The degree of group cohesion was significantly different in terms of the respondents' clinical experience, position, religion, job satisfaction, number of supportive superiors and number of supportive peers. A statistically significant correlation was found between group cohesion scores and degree of social support. Hospital management can accomplish their goals more effectively through knowledge of the level of group cohesion, superior support and peer support for nursing staff in accordance with unit specialty. © 2011 The Author. Journal compilation © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Oculomotor impairment during chronic partial sleep deprivation.

PubMed

Russo, M; Thomas, M; Thorne, D; Sing, H; Redmond, D; Rowland, L; Johnson, D; Hall, S; Krichmar, J; Balkin, T

2003-04-01

The effects of chronic partial sleep (sleep deprivation) and extended sleep (sleep augmentation) followed by recovery sleep on oculomotor function were evaluated in normal subjects to explore the usefulness of oculomotor assessment for alertness monitoring in fitness-for-duty testing. Sixty-six commercial drivers (24-62 years, 50m/16f) participated in a 15 day study composed of 3 training days with 8h time in bed per night, 7 experimental days with subjects randomly assigned to either 3, 5, 7, or 9h time in bed, and 3 recovery nights with 8h time in bed. Data from 57 subjects were used. Saccadic velocity (SV), initial pupil diameter (IPD), latency to pupil constriction (CL), and amplitude of pupil constriction (CA) were assessed and correlated with the sleep latency test (SLT), the Stanford sleepiness scale (SSS), and simulated driving performance. Regression analyses showed that SV slowed significantly in the 3 and 5h groups, IPD decreased significantly in the 9h group, and CL increased significantly in the 3h group. SLT and SSS significantly correlated with SV, IPD, CL, and driving accidents for the 3h group, and with CL for the 5h group. Analyses also showed a significant negative correlation between decreasing SV and increasing driving accidents in the 3h group and a significant negative correlation between IPD and driving accidents for the 7h group. The results demonstrate a sensitivity primarily of SV to sleepiness, and a correlation of SV and IPD to impaired simulated driving performance, providing evidence for the potential utility of oculomotor indicators in the detection of excessive sleepiness and deterioration of complex motor performance with chronic partial sleep restriction. This paper shows a relationship between sleep deprivation and oculomotor measures, and suggests a potential utility for oculometrics in assessing operational performance readiness under sleep restricted conditions.

Modification of cervical length after cervical pessary insertion: correlation weeks of gestation.

PubMed

Mendoza, Manel; Goya, Maria; Gascón, Andrea; Pratcorona, Laia; Merced, Carme; Rodó, Carlota; Valle, Leonor; Romero, Azahar; Juan, Miquel; Rodríguez, Alberto; Muñoz, Begoña; Santacruz, Bele N; Carreras, Elena; Cabero, Luis

2017-07-01

To observe the modifications in cervical length (CL) in patients with and without cervical pessary (Arabin® ASQ 65/25/32) and correlate these modifications with gestational age at delivery. Prospective study of asymptomatic singleton pregnancies (PECEP-Trial) between weeks 20 + 0 and 23 + 6 with maternal short cervix (<25 mm) randomised into two groups: expectant management and cervical pessary. This study included 380 pregnant women: 190 with pessary and 190 without pessary. Mean CL in both groups at the time of randomisation showed no statistically-significant differences (pessary group: 19.0 mm and management group: 19.0 mm; p = 0.9). Mean CL measured after randomisation was 15.4 mm in patients of the expectant management group and 21.5 mm in the pessary group. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). When means at randomisation and at the second measurement were compared, CL had decreased by 3.6 mm in the expectant management group and increased by 2.6 mm in the pessary group; this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Coefficients of correlation showed that among patients of both groups with the same CL at 20 weeks of gestation, those with a pessary gave birth later. Insertion of an Arabin cervical pessary increased CL in asymptomatic patients with a short cervix, which correlated with shorter gestational age at delivery. The cervical pessary halted the progressive decrease in CL, which correlated with longer gestational age at delivery.

Iris structure and minor physical anomalies in schizophrenia.

PubMed

Trixler, Dániel; Tényi, Tamás

2017-10-01

This study compared five human iris characteristics and minor physical anomalies (MPAs) between patients with schizophrenia (n = 32) and controls (n = 31). Correlations between iris characteristics and MPAs were expected, due to their same ectodermic origin. Iris macro photos were taken and quantified in five categories mentioned before. MPAs were also examined in both groups. Our results show significant differences in the frequency of pigment dots of the iris and total number of MPAs between groups. Other significant differences were found in the extension of concentric furrows, as they were more common in healthy subjects, while Wolfflin nodules occurred significantly more often in patients with schizophrenia. Expected difference in Fuch's crypts could not be observed between groups. Light eye color was positively correlated to pigment dots and Wolfflin nodules, and negatively correlated with concentric furrows. Dark eye color showed positive correlation with concentric furrows, and negative correlation with pigment dots and concentric furrows. A gender effect could also been observed: male individuals showed moderate positive correlations between pigment dots and total MPAs frequency, while this couldn't be observed in the female group. Our findings suggest possible connections between iris characteristics and MPAs, where males are more prone to deviations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Correlation between the mRNA expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and apparent diffusion coefficient on diffusion-weighted imaging in rats' liver fibrosis].

PubMed

Zhan, Yuefu; Liang, Xianwen; Han, Xiangjun; Chen, Jianqiang; Zhang, Shufang; Tan, Shun; Li, Qun; Wang, Xiong; Liu, Fan

2017-02-28

To explore the correlation between the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and mRNA expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in different stages of liver fibrosis in rats.
 Methods: A model of liver fibrosis in rats was established by intraperitoneal injection of high-fat diet combined with porcine serum. After drug administration for 4 weeks, 48 rats served as a model group and 12 rats served as a control group, then they underwent diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) scanning. The value of ADC was calculated at b value=800 s/mm2. The rats were sacrificed and carried out pathologic examination after DWI scanning immediately. The mRNA expression of TIMP-1 was detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The rats of hepatic fibrosis were also divided into a S0 group (n=4), a S1 group (n=11), a S2 group (n=12), a S3 group (n=10), and a S4 group (n=9) according to their pathological stage. The value of ADC and the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA among the different stage groups of liver fibrosis were compared, and the correlation between ADC and the TIMP-1 mRNA were analyzed.
 Results: The ADC value and the TIMP-1 mRNA expression were significantly different between the control group and the liver fibrosis group (F=46.54 and 53.87, P<0.05). There were significant differences in the value of ADC between every two groups (all P<0.05), except the control group vs the S1 group, the S1 group vs the S2 group, and the S2 group vs the S3 group (all P>0.05). For the comparison of TIMP-1 mRNA, there was no significant difference between the S1 group and the S2 group, the S3 group and the S4 group (both P>0.05). There were significant differences among the rest of the groups (all P<0.05). Rank correlation analysis showed that there was a negative correlation between the ADC value and the TIMP-1 mRNA expression (r=-0.76, P<0.01).
 Conclusion: When the value of ADC decreases in the progress of rats' liver fibrosis, the mRNA expression of TIMP-1 increases gradually, and there is a negative correlation between them.

Phenotype of postural instability/gait difficulty in Parkinson disease: relevance to cognitive impairment and mechanism relating pathological proteins and neurotransmitters

PubMed Central

Zuo, Li-Jun; Piao, Ying-Shan; Li, Li-Xia; Yu, Shu-Yang; Guo, Peng; Hu, Yang; Lian, Teng-Hong; Wang, Rui-Dan; Yu, Qiu-Jin; Jin, Zhao; Wang, Ya-Jie; Wang, Xiao-Min; Chan, Piu; Chen, Sheng-Di; Wang, Yong-Jun; Zhang, Wei

2017-01-01

Parkinson disease (PD) is identified as tremor-dominant (TD) and postural instability and gait difficulty (PIGD) phenotypes. The relationships between motor phenotypes and cognitive impairment and the underlying mechanisms relating pathological proteins and neurotransmitters in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are unknown. We evaluated the motor symptoms and cognitive function by scales, and detected the levels of pathological proteins and neurotransmitters in CSF. TD group and PIGD group had significantly higher levels of total tau, tau phosphorylated at the position of threonine 181(P-tau181t), threonine 231, serine 396, serine 199 and lower β amyloid (Aβ)1–42 level in CSF than those in control group; PIGD group had significantly higher P-tau181t level and lower Aβ1–42 level than those in TD group. In PD group, PIGD severity was negatively correlated with MoCA score and Aβ1–42 level in CSF, and positively correlated with Hoehn-Yahr stage and P-tau181t level in CSF. In PIGD group, PIGD severity was negatively correlated with homovanillic acid (HVA) level in CSF, and HVA level was positively correlated with Aβ1–42 level in CSF. PIGD was significantly correlated with cognitive impairment, which underlying mechanism might be involved in Aβ1–42 aggregation in brain and relevant neurochemical disturbance featured by the depletion of HVA in CSF. PMID:28332604

Natriuretic Peptide and High-Sensitive Troponin T Concentrations Correlate with Effectiveness of Short-Term CPAP in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Coronary Artery Disease.

PubMed

Strehmel, Ralf; Valo, Misa; Teupe, Claudius

2016-01-01

The risk of cardiovascular complications is increased in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most effective way to treat clinically significant OSA. We hypothesized that the concentrations of the cardiac risk markers N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and high-sensitive troponin T (hs-TropT) correlate with the effectiveness of CPAP therapy in patients with OSA and coexisting coronary artery disease (CAD). Twenty-one patients with severe OSA and coexisting CAD (group 1) and 20 control patients with severe OSA alone (group 2) were treated with CPAP and monitored by laboratory-based polysomnography. NT-proBNP and hs-TropT levels were measured before and after CPAP. Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and oxygen desaturation were similar in both groups. In group 1, hs-TropT levels correlated with AHI and oxygen desaturation upon CPAP. Elevated NT-proBNP levels in group 1 were significantly reduced by CPAP. NT-proBNP levels correlated with AHI and showed negative correlation with ST-segment depression. No such correlations were found in group 2. CPAP has the potential to normalize elevated NT-proBNP serum levels in patients with severe OSA and coexisting CAD. Levels of NT-proBNP and hs-TropT correlated with AHI and oxygen desaturation.

[Examination of diagnosis procedure combination survey data that influence function evaluation coefficient II].

PubMed

Nakajima, Hisato; Yano, Kouya; Nagasawa, Kaoko; Kobayashi, Eiji; Yokota, Kuninobu

2015-01-01

On the basis of Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC) survey data, the factors that increase the value of function evaluation coefficient II were considered. A total of 1,505 hospitals were divided into groups I, II, and III, and the following items were considered. 1. Significant differences in function evaluation coefficient II and DPC survey data. 2. Examination of using the Mahalanobis-Taguchi (MT) method. 3. Correlation between function evaluation coefficient II and each DPC survey data item. 1. Function evaluation coefficient II was highest in group II. Group I hospitals showed the highest bed capacity, and numbers of hospitalization days, operations, chemotherapies, radiotherapies and general anesthesia procedures. 2. Using the MT method, we found that the number of ambulance conveyances was effective factor in group I hospitals, the number of general anesthesia procedures was effective factor in group II hospitals, and the bed capacity was effective factor in group III hospitals. 3. In group I hospitals, function evaluation coefficient II significantly correlated to the numbers of ambulance conveyances and chemotherapies. In group II hospitals, function evaluation coefficient II significantly correlated to bed capacity, the numbers of ambulance conveyances, hospitalization days, operations, general anesthesia procedures, and mean hospitalization days. In group III hospitals, function evaluation coefficient II significantly correlated to all items. The factors that improve the value of function evaluation coefficient II were the increases in the numbers of ambulance conveyances, chemotherapies and radiotherapies in group I hospitals, increases in the numbers of hospitalization days, operations, ambulance conveyances and general anesthesia procedures in group II hospitals, and increases in the numbers of hospitalization days, operations and ambulance conveyances. These results indicate that the profit of a hospital will increase, which will lead to medical services of good quality.

[A study on vowel duration and word length of adductor spasmodic dysphonia].

PubMed

Chen, Zhipeng; Ge, Pingjiang

2016-03-01

To understand the vowel duration and statement reading of the adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) patients compared with their normal controls, and provide ideas for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Twenty-nine ADSD patients were included in the research, with 31 normal controls. All subjects filled in form voice handicap index (VHI) by themselves. Maximum phonetic time (MPT) and maximum loudness phonetic time(MLPT) were tested on /a/ sound for all patients. Also, all the patients were required to read aloud a standard mandarin assay named , duration were measured with Praat5. 0 software after sounds were collected. A one-way t-test was performed to compare spasmodic group with control group on VHI, MPT, MLPT and duration for reading standard sentences. Pearson/Spearman correlation was tested. Result: The VHI of the 29 ADSD patients is 89±12, and their normal controls 15±16, indicating that the VHI in ADSD group is significantly higher than in the control group(P<0. 01). The MPT of the ADSD group is(16. 9±9. 8 s), and the control group is (25. 3±10.0)s, indicating that MPT in the ADSD group is significantly shorter than the control group(P<0. 01). The MLPT of the ADSD group is (15.7±7. 6)s, and the control group is (26. 5±11. 4)s, indicating that MLPT in the ADSD group is significantly shorter than the control group (P<0. 01). The duration of standard sentence reading of the ADSD group is (55.0±14. 2)s, and the control group is (37. 8±4. 8)s, indicating that the duration of standard sentence reading in the ADSD group is significantly longer than the control group (P<0. 01). Correlation analysis showed that MPT and MLPT are related within the ADSD group(r=0. 697,P< 0.01), other indexes being tested have no significant correlations. The voice disorder condition of the ADSD patients is significantly worse than normal people. Their pronunciations on continuous vowels are not lasting compared with normal people. In the meantime, their ability to read sentences is worse than normal people, needing longer time to complete the reading task. There is a significant correlation between MLPT and MPT, which can be used as an alternative to MPT.

Quantitative computed tomography and aerosol morphometry in COPD and alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency.

PubMed

Shaker, S B; Maltbaek, N; Brand, P; Haeussermann, S; Dirksen, A

2005-01-01

Relative area of emphysema below -910 Hounsfield units (RA-910) and 15th percentile density (PD15) are quantitative computed tomography (CT) parameters used in the diagnosis of emphysema. New concepts for noninvasive diagnosis of emphysema are aerosol-derived airway morphometry, which measures effective airspace dimensions (EAD) and aerosol bolus dispersion (ABD). Quantitative CT, ABD and EAD were compared in 20 smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 22 patients with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (AAD) with a similar degree of airway obstruction and reduced diffusion capacity. In both groups, there was a significant correlation between RA-910 and PD15 and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). A significant correlation was also found between EAD, RA-910 and PD15 in the study population as a whole. Upon separation into two groups, the significance disappeared for the smokers with COPD and strengthened for those with AAD, where EAD correlated significantly with RA-910 and PD15. ABD was similar in the two groups and did not correlate with PFT and quantitative CT in either group. In conclusion, based on quantitative computed tomography and aerosol-derived airway morphometry, emphysema was significantly more severe in patients with alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency compared with patients with usual emphysema, despite similar measures of pulmonary function tests.

Correlational study on atmospheric concentrations of fine particulate matter and children cough variant asthma.

PubMed

Zhang, Y-X; Liu, Y; Xue, Y; Yang, L-Y; Song, G-D; Zhao, L

2016-06-01

We explored the relationship between atmospheric concentrations of fine particulate matter and children cough variant asthma. 48 children all diagnosed with cough variant asthma were placed in the cough asthma group while 50 children suffering from typical asthma were place in typical asthma group. We also had 50 cases of chronic pneumonia (the pneumonia group) and 50 cases of healthy children (the control group). We calculated the average PM 2.5 and temperature values during spring, summer, autumn and winter and monitored serum lymphocyte ratio, CD4+/CD8+T, immunoglobulin IgE, ventilatory index and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Our results showed that PM 2.5 values in spring and winter were remarkably higher compared to other seasons. Correlated analysis demonstrated that the onset of cough asthma group was happening in spring. The onset of typical asthma group happened mostly in winter, followed by spring. We established a positive correlation between the onset of asthma of cough asthma group and PM 2.5 value (r = 0.623, p = 0.017), and there was also a positive correlation between the onset of asthma of typical asthma group and PM 2.5 value (r = 0.714, p = 0.015). Our results showed that lymphocyte ratio and IgE level in the cough asthma group and the typical asthma group were significantly higher. CD4+/CD8+T was significantly lower in the cough asthma group and the typical asthma group. The hs-CRP level in cough asthma, typical asthma and pneumonia groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. The FEV1/predicted value, FEV1/FVC and MMEF/predicted value in the cough asthma group and the typical asthma group were significantly lower than those in other groups, however when comparing between two groups respectively, the difference was not statistically significant. Our findings showed that PM2.5 was related to the onset of children cough variant asthma. PM2.5 reduced immune regulation and ventilatory function.

Correlation between anatomy of the scapula and the incidence of rotator cuff tear and glenohumeral osteoarthritis via radiological study.

PubMed

Miswan, Mohd Fairudz Bin Mohd; Saman, Mohd Shahril Bin Ahmad; Hui, Teo Seow; Al-Fayyadh, Mohamed Zubair Mohamed; Ali, Mohamed Razif Bin Mohamed; Min, Ng Wuey

2017-01-01

We conducted a study to elucidate the correlation between the anatomy of the shoulder joint with the development of rotator cuff tear (RCT) and glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA) by using acromioglenoid angle (AGA). The AGA is a new measured angle formed between the line from midglenoid to lateral end of the acromion with the line parallel to the glenoid surface. The AGA was measured in a group of 85 shoulders with RCT, 49 with GHOA and 103 non-RCT/GHOA control shoulders. The AGA was compared with other radiological parameters, such as, the critical shoulder angle (CSA), the acromion index (AI) and the acromiohumeral interval (AHI). Correlational and regression analysis were performed using SPSS 20. The mean AGA was 50.9° (45.2-56.5°) in the control group, 53.3° (47.6-59.1°) in RCT group and 45.5° (37.7-53.2°) in OA group. Among patients with AGA > 51.5°, 61% were in the RCT group and among patients with AGA < 44.5°, 56% were in OA group. Pearson correlation analysis had shown significant correlation between AGA and CSA ( r = 0.925, p < 0.001). It was also significant of AHI in RCT group with mean 6.6 mm (4.7-8.5 mm) and significant AI in OA group with mean 0.68 (0.57-0.78) with p value < 0.001 respectively. The AGA method of measurement is an excellent predictive parameter for diagnosing RCT and GHOA.

Is labral hypotrophy correlated with increased acetabular depth?

PubMed Central

Toft, Felix; Anliker, Elmar; Beck, Martin

2015-01-01

Labral hypertrophy is a distinct feature in hip dysplasia. Occasionally, very small, hypotrophic labra are observed. However, there is no literature concerning this pathology. We investigated if the size of the labrum correlated with any radiologic parameters reflecting the amount of acetabular coverage. It was hypothezised that there is a negative correlation between labrum size and acetabular coverage. Labra were categorized into three groups depending on the relation between length of the articular sided surface and height of bony attachment. Labra with a height:length ratio of 2 were classified as hypotrophic, with a height:length ratio of 1 as normal and with a ratio of 0.5 as hypertrophic. Labral cross-sectional areas (CSA) were measured on radial magnetic resonance imaging-arthrography slices using the measuring tool of the PACS system of 20 hips with hypotrophic labra (group 1), 20 hips with normal labral appearance (group 2) and 10 hips with hypertrophic labra (group 3). These values were then analyzed against following parameters: neck-shaft-angle (NSA), lateral center-edge angle (LCE), acetabular index (AI), femoral extrusion index (FEI) and acetabular retroversion index (ARI). Analyses of variance were used to determine differences in mean values between the three groups. Mean labral CSA differed significantly between all groups (group 1: 12.1 ± 2.9 mm2; group 2: 25.2 ± 6.2 mm2; group 3: 41.1 ± 12.3 mm2; P < 0.001). NSA, LCE, AI and FEI all showed a significant difference between group 3 and 1 or 2. The ARI showed no difference between groups. Stepwise linear regression analyses showed a significant correlation between LCE angle and labral CSA with a corrected R2-value of 0.301. Labral CSA correlates with the LCE. No statistically significant difference between groups 1 and 2 concerning the LCE, AI or FEI could be identified. Nevertheless, group 1 had the highest mean coverage of all groups, hips with hypertrophic labra the lowest. PMID:27011836

[The correlations between varying tinnitus severity and anxiety and depression in non-acute tinnitus patients].

PubMed

Chen, Danping; Wang, Xiaoqian; Huang, Hongming; Fu, Min; Ge, Runmei; Wu, Peina; Cui, Yong

2015-11-01

To investigate the correlation betwen varying degrees of non-acute tinnitus and anxiety and depression. Seventy-seven outpatients with non-acute tinnitus as their in chief complaint were submitted to Tinnitus Handicap Inventory(THI), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale(SAS), and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). THI and its three subscales were found to have significant correlations with SAS and SDS. The group (THI ≥ 38) had more anxiety and depression than the mild (THI < 38). Significant correlations were also observed between THI, SAS and SDS in the group with THI ≥ 38, in contrast with the group of THI < 38. Patients with THI ≥ 38 suffered from severe anxiety and depression than the mild. Doctors should pay more attention to these patients, especially their psychological disorders.

Estimation and correlation of salivary thiocyanate levels in periodontally healthy subjects, smokers, nonsmokers, and gutka-chewers with chronic periodontitis.

PubMed

Hegde, Shashikanth; Chatterjee, Elashri; Rajesh, K S; Kumar, M S Arun

2016-01-01

This study was conducted to estimate and correlate salivary thiocyanate (SCN) levels in periodontally healthy subjects, smokers, nonsmokers, and gutka-chewers with chronic periodontitis. The study population consisted of 40 systemically healthy subjects in the age group of 18-55 years that was further divided into four groups: Control, smokers, nonsmokers, and gutka-chewers with chronic periodontitis. Gingival index (GI) (Loe and Silness-1963), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss was assessed. Estimation of SCN was performed by ultraviolet spectrophotometer at 447 nm wavelength. Statistical analysis was performed using the one-way ANOVAs Welch test and Pearson's correlation test using SPSS version 17 software. Results showed statistically significant increase in SCN levels in smokers as compared to gutka-chewers with chronic periodontitis, control, and nonsmokers with chronic periodontitis subjects. Significantly higher PD and loss of attachment were seen in smokers group compared with other groups. A negative correlation observed between the GI and thiocyanate levels. The present study revealed a significant increase in SCN levels in smokers with periodontitis as compared to nonsmokers.

Natural history of major complications in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis evaluated by per-rectal portal scintigraphy

PubMed Central

Kawamura, Etsushi; Habu, Daiki; Hayashi, Takehiro; Oe, Ai; Kotani, Jin; Ishizu, Hirotaka; Torii, Kenji; Kawabe, Joji; Fukushima, Wakaba; Tanaka, Takashi; Nishiguchi, Shuhei; Shiomi, Susumu

2005-01-01

AIM: To examine the correlation between the porto-systemic hypertension evaluated by portal shunt index (PSI) and life-threatening complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), liver failure (Child-Pugh stage progression), and esophagogastric varices. METHODS: Two hundred and twelve consecutive subjects with HCV-related cirrhosis (LC-C) underwent per-rectal portal scintigraphy. They were allocated into three groups according to their PSI: group I, PSI ≤ 10%; group II, 10%

Gut microbiota composition in male rat models under different nutritional status and physical activity and its association with serum leptin and ghrelin levels.

PubMed

Queipo-Ortuño, María Isabel; Seoane, Luisa María; Murri, Mora; Pardo, María; Gomez-Zumaquero, Juan Miguel; Cardona, Fernando; Casanueva, Felipe; Tinahones, Francisco J

2013-01-01

Several evidences indicate that gut microbiota is involved in the control of host energy metabolism. To evaluate the differences in the composition of gut microbiota in rat models under different nutritional status and physical activity and to identify their associations with serum leptin and ghrelin levels. In a case control study, forty male rats were randomly assigned to one of these four experimental groups: ABA group with food restriction and free access to exercise; control ABA group with food restriction and no access to exercise; exercise group with free access to exercise and feed ad libitum and ad libitum group without access to exercise and feed ad libitum. The fecal bacteria composition was investigated by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and real-time qPCR. In restricted eaters, we have found a significant increase in the number of Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Prevotella and M. smithii and a significant decrease in the quantities of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, B. coccoides-E. rectale group, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium with respect to unrestricted eaters. Moreover, a significant increase in the number of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and B. coccoides-E. rectale group was observed in exercise group with respect to the rest of groups. We also found a significant positive correlation between the quantity of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and serum leptin levels, and a significant and negative correlation among the number of Clostridium, Bacteroides and Prevotella and serum leptin levels in all experimental groups. Furthermore, serum ghrelin levels were negatively correlated with the quantity of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and B. coccoides-Eubacterium rectale group and positively correlated with the number of Bacteroides and Prevotella. Nutritional status and physical activity alter gut microbiota composition affecting the diversity and similarity. This study highlights the associations between gut microbiota and appetite-regulating hormones that may be important in terms of satiety and host metabolism.

Gut Microbiota Composition in Male Rat Models under Different Nutritional Status and Physical Activity and Its Association with Serum Leptin and Ghrelin Levels

PubMed Central

Queipo-Ortuño, María Isabel; Seoane, Luisa María; Murri, Mora; Pardo, María; Gomez-Zumaquero, Juan Miguel; Cardona, Fernando; Casanueva, Felipe; Tinahones, Francisco J.

2013-01-01

Background Several evidences indicate that gut microbiota is involved in the control of host energy metabolism. Objective To evaluate the differences in the composition of gut microbiota in rat models under different nutritional status and physical activity and to identify their associations with serum leptin and ghrelin levels. Methods In a case control study, forty male rats were randomly assigned to one of these four experimental groups: ABA group with food restriction and free access to exercise; control ABA group with food restriction and no access to exercise; exercise group with free access to exercise and feed ad libitum and ad libitum group without access to exercise and feed ad libitum. The fecal bacteria composition was investigated by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and real-time qPCR. Results In restricted eaters, we have found a significant increase in the number of Proteobacteria, Bacteroides, Clostridium, Enterococcus, Prevotella and M. smithii and a significant decrease in the quantities of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, B. coccoides-E. rectale group, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium with respect to unrestricted eaters. Moreover, a significant increase in the number of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and B. coccoides–E. rectale group was observed in exercise group with respect to the rest of groups. We also found a significant positive correlation between the quantity of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and serum leptin levels, and a significant and negative correlation among the number of Clostridium, Bacteroides and Prevotella and serum leptin levels in all experimental groups. Furthermore, serum ghrelin levels were negatively correlated with the quantity of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and B. coccoides–Eubacterium rectale group and positively correlated with the number of Bacteroides and Prevotella. Conclusions Nutritional status and physical activity alter gut microbiota composition affecting the diversity and similarity. This study highlights the associations between gut microbiota and appetite-regulating hormones that may be important in terms of satiety and host metabolism. PMID:23724144

Structure-function correlations using scanning laser polarimetry in primary angle-closure glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma.

PubMed

Lee, Pei-Jung; Liu, Catherine Jui-Ling; Wojciechowski, Robert; Bailey-Wilson, Joan E; Cheng, Ching-Yu

2010-05-01

To assess the correlations between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measured with scanning laser polarimetry and visual field (VF) sensitivity in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG). Prospective, comparative, observational cases series. Fifty patients with POAG and 56 patients with PACG were examined using scanning laser polarimetry with variable corneal compensation (GDx VCC; Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc.) and Humphrey VF analyzer (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) between August 2005 and July 2006 at Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Correlations between RNFL thickness and VF sensitivity, expressed as mean sensitivity in both decibel and 1/Lambert scales, were estimated by the Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r(s)) and multivariate median regression models (pseudo R(2)). The correlations were determined globally and for 6 RNFL sectors and their corresponding VF regions. The correlation between RNFL thickness and mean sensitivity (in decibels) was weaker in the PACG group (r(s) = 0.38; P = .004; pseudo R(2) = 0.17) than in the POAG group (r(s) = 0.51; P < .001; pseudo R(2) = .31), but the difference in the magnitude of correlation was not significant (P = .42). With Bonferroni correction, the structure-function correlation was significant in the superotemporal (r(s) = 0.62), superonasal (r(s) = 0.56), inferonasal (r(s) = 0.53), and inferotemporal (r(s) = 0.50) sectors in the POAG group (all P < .001), whereas it was significant only in the superotemporal (r(s) = 0.53) and inferotemporal (r(s) = 0.48) sectors in the PACG group (both P < .001). The results were similar when mean sensitivity was expressed as 1/Lambert scale. Both POAG and PACG eyes had moderate structure-function correlations using scanning laser polarimetry. Compared with eyes with POAG, fewer RNFL sectors have significant structure-function correlations in eyes with PACG. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Possible correlation between gut microbiota and immunity among healthy middle-aged and elderly people in southwest China.

PubMed

Shen, Xi; Miao, Junjie; Wan, Qun; Wang, Shuyue; Li, Ming; Pu, Fangfang; Wang, Guoqing; Qian, Wei; Yu, Qian; Marotta, Francesco; He, Fang

2018-01-01

The present study was conducted to investigate the possible association between gut microbes and immunity among healthy middle-aged and elderly individuals in southwest China. A total of 148 healthy adults aged ≥ 50 years were divided into two age groups: middle-aged group (50-59 years; n = 67, 54.13 ± 3.32) and elderly group (≥ 60 years; n = 81, 64.70 ± 3.93). Blood samples were collected to measure serum immune and biochemical indices. Gut microbiota compositions of the groups were characterized on the basis of faecal DNA using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Among the detected gut microbes, the presence of Alistipes was negatively correlated with age in both groups. In the middle-aged group, age was negatively correlated with the presence of Desulfovibrio and Faecalibacterium . In the elderly group, Coprococcus was present at significantly higher levels; age was negatively correlated with the presence of Lachnobacterium , Oxalobacter and the Chao index, whereas positively correlated with the presence of Sutterella. In the middle-aged group, the presence of Bacteroidetes was positively correlated with serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and the percent of CD8 + T cells and negatively correlated with the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio; the presence of Firmicutes was negatively correlated with IgM levels; Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio was positively correlated with IgG and IgM levels and Simpson index was negatively correlated with the percent of CD8 + T cells and positively correlated with CD4 + /CD8 + ratio. In the elderly group, the presence of Verrucomicrobia (identified as genus Akkermansia ) was positively correlated with IgA levels and the percent of CD8 + T cells and negatively correlated with the percent of CD4 + T cells and CD4 + /CD8 + ratio; the Chao index and observed species were positively correlated with IgA levels. These results indicated that ageing could significantly correlate with the composition of gut microbiota in terms of quantity and quality. Changes in gut microbiota caused by ageing, characterized by decreased Bacteroidetes levels, might be associated with immunosenescence among healthy middle-aged and elderly people in southwest China.

The characteristics of patients with uncertain/mild cognitive impairment on the Alzheimer disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale.

PubMed

Pyo, Geunyeong; Elble, Rodger J; Ala, Thomas; Markwell, Stephen J

2006-01-01

The performances of the uncertain/mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients on the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) subscale were compared with those of normal controls, Alzheimer disease patients with CDR 0.5, and Alzheimer disease patients with CDR 1.0. The Uncertain/MCI group was significantly different from normal controls and Alzheimer disease CDR 0.5 or 1.0 groups on the ADAS-Cog except on a few non-memory subtests. Age was significantly correlated with total error score in the normal group, but there was no significant correlation between age and ADAS-Cog scores in the patient groups. Education was not significantly correlated with the ADAS-Cog scores in any group. Regardless of age and educational level, there were clear differences between the normal group and the Uncertain/MCI group, especially on the total error scores. We found that the total error score of the ADAS-Cog was the most reliable variable in detecting patients with mild cognitive impairment. The present study demonstrated that the ADAS-Cog is a promising tool for detecting and studying patients with mild cognitive impairment. The results also indicated that demographic variables such as age and education do not play a significant role in the diagnosis of mild cognitive impaired patients based on the ADAS-Cog scores.

[Correlation of retinol binding protein 4 with 
metabolic indexes of glucose and 
lipid, bile cholesterol saturation index].

PubMed

Wang, Wen; Li, Nianfeng

2015-06-01

To measure retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels in serum and bile and to analyze their relationship with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia or cholesterol saturation index (CSI).
 A total of 60 patients with gallstone were divided into a diabetes group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). The concentrations of RBP4 in serum and bile were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Enzyme colorimetric method was used to measure the concentration of biliary cholesterol, bile acid and phospholipid. Biliary CSI was calculated by Carey table. Partial correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the correlation between the RBP4 levels in serum or bile and the above indexes.
 The RBP4 concentrations in serum and bile in the diabetes group were significantly elevated compared with those in the control group (both P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the serum total bile acid (TBA), serum triglyceride (TG), serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), bile TBA, bile total cholesterol (TC) , bile phospholipids and bile CSI between the 2 groups (all P>0.05); but the serum TC, low density lipoprotein (LDL), fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in the diabetes group were significantly increased compared to those in the control group (all P<0.05). The partial correlation analysis, which was adjusted by age, showed that the bile RBP4 was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), FINS, FBG, TC, LDL and HOMA-IR (r=0.283, 0.405, 0.685, 0.667, 0.553, 0.424 and 0.735, respectively), and the serum RBP4 was also positively correlated with the WC, FINS, FBG, TC, LDL and HOMA-IR (r=0.317, 0.734, 0.609, 0.528, 0.386 and 0.751, respectively). Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis suggested that the HOMA-IR, BMI and WC were independently correlated with the level of bile RBP4 (multiple regression equation: Ybile RBP4=2.372XHOMA-IR+0.420XBMI+0.178XWC-26.813), and the serum RBP4 level was correlated with the HOMA-IR and WC independently (multiple regression equation: Yserum RBP4=2.832XHOMA-IR +0.235XWC-20.128). Multiple regression equations showed that HOMA-IR was the strongest correlation factor with RBP4.
 RBP4 concentrations in serum and bile in the diabetes group are significantly higher than those in the control group. HOMA-IR, BMI and WC are independently correlated with the level of bile RBP4. HOMA-IR and WC are independently correlated with the serum RBP4 level. HOMA-IR is the strongest correlation factor with RBP4. RBP4 might play an important role in the course of gallstone formation in Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Changes of serum cytokines-related Th1/Th2/Th17 concentration in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

PubMed

Zhang, Jing; Fu, Qin; Ren, Zhaozhou; Wang, Yanjun; Wang, Chenchen; Shen, Tao; Wang, Guangbin; Wu, Lina

2015-03-01

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is now hypothetically considered to be an autoimmune and inflammatory process in which many pro-inflammatory and T cell-derived cytokines play important roles in the loss of bone mass. For instance, interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secreted by Th1 and IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10 secreted by Th2 have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a characteristic cytokine secreted by Th17 cells of the CD4 + subgroup. Although IL-17 has been shown to enhance bone resorption in ovariectomized mouse model, bone cells and genetic research, human-related studies of IL-17 are few. According to WHO classification of osteoporosis by the T scores of BMD, the subjects were divided into the postmenopausal osteoporosis group (T scores≤-2.5), the postmenopausal osteopenia group (-2.5 < T scores<-1), and the postmenopausal normal BMD group (T scores≥-1); 30 subjects in each group. Cytometric bead array (CBA) technique was employed for serum determination of the primary indexes including IL-17A, IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10 concentrations in the 90 volunteers. In the meantime, serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and alkaline phosphatase concentrations were also determined in the patients. One-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) was employed in data analysis to determine whether the testing results of various parameters had significant differences. The bivariate correlation was tested with the Pearson correlation coefficient. When p < 0.05, the difference was considered to have statistical significance. Serum IL-17A concentration was significantly higher in the postmenopausal osteoporosis group than in the postmenopausal osteopenia group and the postmenopausal normal BMD group, but the difference between the postmenopausal osteopenia group and the postmenopausal normal BMD group had no statistical significance. IL-17A was negatively correlated with BMD. To our knowledge, we discovered for the first time that serum concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 were significantly lower in the postmenopausal osteoporosis group than in the postmenopausal normal BMD group; IFN-γ and IL-4 were positively correlated with BMD. In addition, we also determined that BMI was negatively correlated with BMD; IL-17A was positively correlated with serum calcium. However, no significant differences in IL-6, TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-10 were observed among the three groups; these three factors were not correlated with BMD. Our experiments have confirmed the roles of IL-17 in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis and in the promotion of bone resorption. Targeted therapy of IL-17, IFN-γ, and IL-4 may be beneficial in the treatment of patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Our experiments have also confirmed the roles of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis and in the inhibition of bone resorption.

Childhood Trauma Associated with Enhanced High Frequency Band Powers and Induced Subjective Inattention of Adults

PubMed Central

Lee, Seung-Hwan; Park, Yeonsoo; Jin, Min Jin; Lee, Yeon Jeong; Hahn, Sang Woo

2017-01-01

Childhood trauma can lead to various psychological and cognitive symptoms. It has been demonstrated that high frequency electroencephalogram (EEG) powers could be closely correlated with inattention. In this study, we explored the relationship between high frequency EEG powers, inattention, symptoms of adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and childhood traumatic experiences. A total of 157 healthy Korean adult volunteers were included and divided into two groups using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) score. The subjective inattention scores, ADHD scale, and anxiety and depression symptom were evaluated. EEG was recorded and quantitative band powers were analyzed. The results were as follows: (1) the high CTQ group showed significantly increased delta, beta1, beta2, beta3 and gamma, and significantly decreased low alpha power compared to the low CTQ group; (2) the high CTQ group had higher inattention score compared to the low CTQ group; (3) the high CTQ group had higher adult ADHD scores; (4) CTQ scores showed significant positive correlations with inattention scores, and adult ADHD scores; (5) unexpectedly, the inattention scores showed significant positive correlations with beta powers and a negative correlation with low alpha power; and (6) the moderated mediation model was confirmed: the depression fully mediated the path from state anxiety to inattention, and the CTQ significantly moderated the pathway between anxiety and depression. Our results show the possibility that childhood adversity may cause subjective inattention and adult ADHD symptoms. Depressive symptoms fully mediated the path from anxiety to inattention, especially in those who report severe childhood traumatic experiences. PMID:28860979

Urine methanol concentration and alcohol hangover severity.

PubMed

Mackus, M; Van de Loo, A J A E; Korte-Bouws, G A H; Van Neer, R H P; Wang, X; Nguyen, T T; Brookhuis, K A; Garssen, J; Verster, J C

2017-03-01

Congeners are substances, other than ethanol, that are produced during fermentation. Previous research found that the consumption of congener-rich drinks contributes to the severity of alcohol hangover. Methanol is such a congener that has been related to alcohol hangover. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between urine methanol concentration and alcohol hangover severity. N = 36 healthy social drinkers (22 females, 14 males), aged 18-30 years old, participated in a naturalistic study, comprising a hangover day and a control day (no alcohol consumed the previous day). N = 18 of them had regular hangovers (the hangover group), while the other N = 18 claimed to be hangover-immune (hangover-immune group). Overall hangover severity was assessed, and that of 23 individual hangover symptoms. Urine methanol concentrations on the hangover and control days were compared, and correlated to hangover (symptom) severity. Urine methanol concentration was significantly higher on hangover days compared to control days (p = 0.0001). No significant differences in urine methanol concentration were found between the hangover group and hangover-immune group. However, urine methanol concentration did not significantly correlate with overall hangover severity (r = -0.011, p = 0.948), nor with any of the individual hangover symptoms. These findings were observed also when analyzing the data separately for the hangover-immune group. In the hangover group, a significant correlation with urine methanol concentration was found only with vomiting (r = 0.489, p = 0.037). No significant correlation was observed between urine methanol concentration and hangover severity, nor with individual core hangover symptoms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Correlation Between C-reactive Protein and Non-enzymatic Antioxidants (Albumin, Ferritin, Uric Acid and Bilirubin) in Hemodialysis Patients.

PubMed

Beciragic, Amela; Resic, Halima; Prohic, Nejra; Karamehic, Jasenko; Smajlovic, Ajdin; Masnic, Fahrudin; Ajanovic, Selma; Coric, Aida

2015-04-01

Increased levels of C-Reactive Protein are found in 30-60% on hemodialysis patients and it is closely associated with the progression of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Non enzymatic antioxidants are antioxidants which primarily retain potentially dangerous ions of iron and copper in their inactive form and thereby prevent its participation in the production of free radicals. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship of CRP and non enzymatic antioxidants (albumin, ferritin, uric acid and bilirubin) i.e. examine the importance of CRP as a serum biomarker in assessing the condition of inflammation and its relationship to antioxidant protection in patients on hemodialysis. The study was cross-sectional, clinical, comparative and descriptive. The study involved 100 patients (non diabetic) on chronic hemodialysis. The control group consisted of 50 subjects without subjective and objective indicators of chronic renal disease. In all patients, the concentration of CRP as well as concentrations of non enzymatic antioxidants were determined. In the group of hemodialysis patients 60% were men and 40% women. The average age of hemodialysis patients was 54.13 ± 11.8 years and the average age of the control group 41.72 ± 9.8 years. The average duration of hemodialysis treatment was 91.42 ± 76.2 months. In the group of hemodialysis patients statistically significant, negative linear correlation was determined between the concentration of CRP in and albumin concentration (rho = -0.251, p = 0.012) as well as negative, statistics insignificant, linear correlation between serum CRP and the concentration of uric acid (r = -0.077, p = 0.448). Furthermore, the positive, linear correlation was determined between serum CRP and ferritin (r = 0.159, p = 0.114) and positive linear correlation between CRP and total serum bilirubin (r = 0.121, p = 0.230). In the control group was determined a statistically significant, positive, linear correlation between serum CRP and uric acid concentration (rho = 0.438, p = 0.001) and statistically significant, positive, linear correlation between serum CRP and total serum bilirubin (rho = 0.510, p = 0.0001) A statistically significant, negative linear correlation was determined between CRP and albumin concentration (rho= -0.393, p = 0.005) as well as statistically significant, negative linear correlation between serum CRP and ferritin control group (rho = -0.391, p = 0.005). Elevated CRP level is a strong and independent predictor of low levels of serum albumin, which indicates that the hypoalbuminemia in hemodialysis patients could be more due to inflammation than malnutrition. There was no statistically significant correlation between CRP and other non enzymatic antioxidants (uric acid, ferritin, bilirubin), which shows that indicators of antioxidant defense in hemodialysis patients must be individually measured to determine their actual stocks and activity.

Hair mercury association with selenium, serum lipid spectrum, and gamma-glutamyl transferase activity in adults.

PubMed

Tinkov, Alexey A; Skalnaya, Margarita G; Demidov, Vasily A; Serebryansky, Eugeny P; Nikonorov, Alexandr A; Skalny, Anatoly V

2014-12-01

The primary objective of the research is to estimate the dependence between hair mercury content, hair selenium, mercury-to-selenium ratio, serum lipid spectrum, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity in 63 adults (40 men and 23 women). Serum triglyceride (TG) concentration in the high-mercury group significantly exceeded the values obtained for low- and medium-mercury groups by 72 and 42 %, respectively. Serum GGT activity in the examinees from high-Hg group significantly exceeded the values of the first and the second groups by 75 and 28 %, respectively. Statistical analysis of the male sample revealed similar dependences. Surprisingly, no significant changes in the parameters analyzed were detected in the female sample. In all analyzed samples, hair mercury was not associated with hair selenium concentrations. Significant correlation between hair mercury content and serum TG concentration (r = 0.531) and GGT activity (r = 0.524) in the general sample of the examinees was detected. The respective correlations were observed in the male sample. Hair mercury-to-selenium ratios significantly correlated with body weight (r = 0.310), body mass index (r = 0.250), serum TG (r = 0.389), atherogenic index (r = 0.257), and GGT activity (r = 0.393). The same correlations were observed in the male sample. Hg/Se ratio in women did not correlate with the analyzed parameters. Generally, the results of the current study show the following: (1) hair mercury is associated with serum TG concentration and GGT activity in men, (2) hair selenium content is not related to hair mercury concentration, and (3) mercury-to-selenium ratio correlates with lipid spectrum parameters and GGT activity.

Comparison of Tear Osmolarity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With and Without Secondary Sjogren Syndrome.

PubMed

Ng, Alex L K; Choy, Bonnie N K; Chan, Tommy C Y; Wong, Ian Y H; Lai, Jimmy S M; Mok, Mo Yin

2017-07-01

To compare tear osmolarity (TO) and other dry eye parameters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with or without secondary Sjogren syndrome (sSS). Consecutive patients with RA were divided into a sSS group and no-sSS group using conventional diagnostic criteria by rheumatologists using symptomatology, Schirmer test score, and anti-Ro or anti-La autoantibody status. The TO, Ocular Surface Disease Index, dry eye disease (DED) parameters [such as tear breakup time (TBUT) and corneal staining score] and the systemic inflammatory markers [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] were compared. Correlation analyses between TO and the DED parameters and inflammatory markers were also performed. A total of 42 cases with mean age 54.8 ± 12.3 were included, with 12 patients (29%) having sSS and 30 (71%) without sSS. TO was increased in both groups (329 ± 20 and 319 ± 25 mOsm/L, respectively), but no statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups (P = 0.126). RA with sSS had significantly shorter TBUT, higher corneal staining score, and ESR CRP levels (P < 0.05). TO did not correlate with the Schirmer test score, but had significant positive correlations with age, corneal staining score, ESR, and CRP levels, and a significant negative correlation with TBUT. TO was increased in RA patients with or without sSS. There was no significant correlation between TO and the Schirmer test score, and the physician could not use TO to diagnose sSS. However, TO correlated well with both DED parameters (TBUT and corneal staining score) and systemic inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP).

Correlation between physical anomaly and behavioral abnormalities in Down syndrome

PubMed Central

Bhattacharyya, Ranjan; Sanyal, Debasish; Roy, Krishna; Bhattacharyya, Sumita

2010-01-01

Objective: The minor physical anomaly (MPA) is believed to reflect abnormal development of the CNS. The aim is to find incidence of MPA and its behavioral correlates in Down syndrome and to compare these findings with the other causes of intellectual disability and normal population. Materials and Methods: One-hundred and forty intellectually disabled people attending a tertiary care set-up and from various NGOs are included in the study. The age-matched group from normal population was also studied for comparison. MPA are assessed by using Modified Waldrop scale and behavioral abnormality by Diagnostic assessment scale for severely handicapped (DASH II scale). Results: The Down syndrome group had significantly more MPA than other two groups and most of the MPA is situated in the global head region. There is strong correlation (P < 0.001) between the various grouped items of Modified Waldrop scale. Depression subscale is correlated with anomalies in the hands (P < 0.001), feet and Waldrop total items (P < 0.005). Mania item of DASH II scale is related with anomalies around the eyes (P < 0.001). Self-injurious behavior and total Waldrop score is negatively correlated with global head. Conclusion: Down syndrome group has significantly more MPA and a pattern of correlation between MPA and behavioral abnormalities exists which necessitates a large-scale study. PMID:21559153

Relationship between intestinal flora and inflammatory factors in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

PubMed

Zhang, Jian; Wang, Chunying; Wang, Ji; Zhang, Fengchi

2018-01-01

This study was conducted to analyze the change in intestinal flora of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and its correlation to the levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-17. We selected 90 patients that were diagnosed with and treated for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis as the patient group and 80 healthy cases as the control group. We then compared the intestinal flora in the subject feces and the intestinal colonization resistance (B/E, Bifidobacterium to Enterobacter ) of both groups. Using RT-PCR, we also detected IL-10 and IL-17 mRNA levels in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of both groups. Furthermore, we used the ELISA method to determine serum IL-10 and IL-17 levels in order to explore the correlation between IL-10, IL-17 and B/E. The number of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were significantly lower in the patient group than the control group (P<0.05), while Enterobacter and Enterococcus pathogenic bacteria were significantly higher in the patient group than the control group (P<0.05). The B/E value was lower in the patient group than the control group (P<0.05). The relative expression of IL-10 and IL-17 mRNA in the patient group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). In the patient group, the serum IL-10 levels were 1.17±0.15 pg/ml, which is significantly higher than the control group serum IL-10 levels which were 0.32±0.04 pg/ml (P<0.05). The serum IL-17 levels in the patient groups were 0.96±0.11 pg/ml, which was significantly higher than the control group, which had an average of 0.28±0.01 pg/ml serum IL-17 levels (P<0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that the change of B/E value of intestinal flora in the patients group were negatively correlated with serum IL-10 (r=-0.546, P<0.05), and negatively correlated with serum IL-17 (r=-0.535, P<0.05). Therefore, compared to healthy people, the expression of IL-10 and IL-17 in the peripheral blood of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver is high. The changes in intestinal flora in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis are closely related to the changes of serum IL-10 and IL-17 levels, and they are involved in the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Correlations between skin hydration parameters and corneocyte-derived parameters to characterize skin conditions.

PubMed

Masaki, Hitoshi; Yamashita, Yuki; Kyotani, Daiki; Honda, Tatsuya; Takano, Kenichi; Tamura, Toshiyasu; Mizutani, Taeko; Okano, Yuri

2018-03-30

Skin hydration is generally assessed using the parameters of skin surface water content (SWC) and trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). To date, few studies have characterized skin conditions using correlations between skin hydration parameters and corneocyte parameters. The parameters SWC and TEWL allow the classification of skin conditions into four distinct Groups. The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics of skin conditions classified by SWC and TEWL for correlations with parameters from corneocytes. A human volunteer test was conducted that measured SWC and TEWL. As corneocyte-derived parameters, the size and thick abrasion ratios, the ratio of sulfhydryl groups and disulfide bonds (SH/SS) and CP levels were analyzed. Volunteers were classified by their median SWC and TEWL values into 4 Groups: Group I (high SWC/low TEWL), Group II (high SWC/high TEWL), Group III (low SWC/low TEWL), and Group IV (low SWC/high TEWL). Group IV showed a significantly smaller size of corneocytes. Groups III and IV had significantly higher thick abrasion ratios and CP levels. Group I had a significantly lower SH/SS value. The SWC/TEWL value showed a decline in order from Group I to Group IV. Groups classified by their SWC and TEWL values showed characteristic skin conditions. We propose that the SWC and TEWL ratio is a comprehensive parameter to assess skin conditions. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Homocysteine, endothelin-1 and nitric oxide in patients with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy

PubMed Central

Zeng, Yachang; Li, Mujun; Chen, Yue; Wang, Sumei

2015-01-01

Objective: To investigate the change of level of serum homocysteine (Hcy), endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) and clinical significance in patients with HDCP. Methods: Two hundred and thirty nine patients with HDCP (137 patients with mild preeclampsia, 102 patients with severe preeclampsia) who were hospitalized between June 2012 and June 2015 and 200 normal pregnancy women in outpatient department were enrolled in our study were divided into HDCP group and control group. Serum Hcy concentration was measured by enzymatic cycling assay. ET-1 concentration was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. And no concentration was measured by nitrate reductase assay. Results: Serum Hcy and ET-1 in HDCP group were significantly higher as compared to control group (P<0.05). Level of serum NO in HDCP group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). Level of serum Hcy and ET-1 in mild and severe preeclampsia group were significantly higher as compared to control group, respectively (P<0.05). Level of serum NO in mild and severe preeclampsia group were significantly lower than in the control group’ respectively (P<0.05). Level of serum Hcy and ET-1 in severe preeclampsia group were significantly higher as compared to mild preclampsia group (P<0.05). Level of serum NO in severe preeclampsia group were significantly lower than in mild preeclampsia group (P<0.05). Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that level of serum Hcy and ET-1 was positively correlated with severity of diseases (r=0.689, 0.718, P<0.05). Level of serum NO was negatively correlated with severity of diseases (r=-0.702, P<0.05). Conclusion: Serum Hcy, ET-1 and NO were associated with pathogenesis of HDCP. Comprehensively measurement of them could effectively evaluate the incidence and progress of HDCP. PMID:26823880

[Changes of serum TOS and TAS levels and their association with apolipoprotein(a) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and infertility].

PubMed

Tu, An-Su; Zhong, Ying; Mao, Xi-Guang

2016-03-01

To investigate changes of serum total oxidation status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) and their association with apolipoprotein (a) [Apo(a)] in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) combined with infertility. Ninety patients with PCOS and infertility were selected as the study group, including 45 patients treated with antioxidants combined with Diane-35(group A) and 45 with Diane-35 therapy only (group B), with 45 healthy volunteers with normal menstruation and normal dual phase basic body temperatures as the control group. Serum TOS of the participants was determined by dual xylenol orange method, and serum TAS was determined with ABTS method; plasma Apo(a) level was determined by dual wavelength immune transmission turbidity method. Before treatment, serum TOS, OSI, and Apo(a) levels were significantly higher and TAS level was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (P<0.05). Serum TOS, OSI, and Apo (a) were significantly lowered and TAS was significantly increased in group A after the therapy as compared with the levels before therapy and the levels in group B. The rate of natural recovery of menstruation was significantly higher and the incidence of cardiovascular disease was significantly lower in group A than in group B (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum TOS and OSI were positively correlated with plasma Apo(a) (r=0.524 and 0.531, P<0.05), and serum TAS was negatively correlated with plasma Apo(a) (r=-0.519, P<0.05). Antioxidant therapy can lower TOS, OSI and Apo(a) levels and increase TAS level to lessen oxidative stress, improve the prognosis, and reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease in patients with PCOS and infertility.

Circulating leptin level in rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Lee, Y H; Bae, S-C

2016-12-01

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the circulating serum leptin level and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to establish a correlation between serum leptin levels and RA activity. We searched the PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. A meta-analysis was performed, comparing the serum/plasma leptin levels in patients with RA and healthy controls. Correlation coefficients between serum leptin level and either disease activity score 28 (DAS28) or C‑reactive protein (CRP) in RA patients were also examined. Thirteen studies with a total of 648 RA patients and 426 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Circulating leptin level was significantly higher in the RA group than in the control group (SMD = 1.056, 95 % CI = 0.647-1.465, p = 4.2 × 10 -7 ). In addition, stratification by ethnicity showed a significantly elevated leptin level in the RA group in Caucasian, Turkish, and Arab populations (SMD = 0.813, 95 % CI = 0.137-1.490, p = 0.018, SMD = 0.981, 95 % CI = 0.307-1.655, p = 0.004, and SMD = 1.469, 95 % CI = 0.443-2.495, p = 0.005 respectively). A meta-analysis of correlation coefficients showed a small but significantly positive correlation between the circulating leptin level and either DAS28 (correlation coefficient = 0.275, 95 % CI = 0.076-0.452, p = 0.007) or CRP (correlation coefficient = 0.274, 95 % CI = 0.068-0.458, p = 0.010). Our meta-analysis demonstrated that the circulating leptin level is significantly higher in patients with RA and that a small but significantly positive correlation exists between leptin levels and RA activity.

Correlation between plasma endothelin-1 levels and severity of septic liver failure quantified by maximal liver function capacity (LiMAx test). A prospective study.

PubMed

Kaffarnik, Magnus F; Ahmadi, Navid; Lock, Johan F; Wuensch, Tilo; Pratschke, Johann; Stockmann, Martin; Malinowski, Maciej

2017-01-01

To investigate the relationship between the degree of liver dysfunction, quantified by maximal liver function capacity (LiMAx test) and endothelin-1, TNF-α and IL-6 in septic surgical patients. 28 septic patients (8 female, 20 male, age range 35-80y) were prospectively investigated on a surgical intensive care unit. Liver function, defined by LiMAx test, and measurements of plasma levels of endothelin-1, TNF-α and IL-6 were carried out within the first 24 hours after onset of septic symptoms, followed by day 2, 5 and 10. Patients were divided into 2 groups (group A: LiMAx ≥100 μg/kg/h, moderate liver dysfunction; group B: LiMAx <100 μg/kg/h, severe liver dysfunction) for analysis and investigated regarding the correlation between endothelin-1 and the severity of liver failure, quantified by LiMAx test. Group B showed significant higher results for endothelin-1 than patients in group A (P = 0.01, d5; 0.02, d10). For TNF-α, group B revealed higher results than group A, with a significant difference on day 10 (P = 0.005). IL-6 showed a non-significant trend to higher results in group B. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient revealed a significant correlation between LiMAx and endothelin-1 (-0.434; P <0.001), TNF-α (-0.515; P <0.001) and IL-6 (-0.590; P <0.001). Sepsis-related hepatic dysfunction is associated with elevated plasma levels of endothelin-1, TNF-α and IL-6. Low LiMAx results combined with increased endothelin-1 and TNF-α and a favourable correlation between LiMAx and cytokine values support the findings of a crucial role of Endothelin-1 and TNF-α in development of septic liver failure.

Correlation between plasma endothelin-1 levels and severity of septic liver failure quantified by maximal liver function capacity (LiMAx test). A prospective study

PubMed Central

Kaffarnik, Magnus F.; Ahmadi, Navid; Lock, Johan F.; Wuensch, Tilo; Pratschke, Johann; Stockmann, Martin; Malinowski, Maciej

2017-01-01

Aim To investigate the relationship between the degree of liver dysfunction, quantified by maximal liver function capacity (LiMAx test) and endothelin-1, TNF-α and IL-6 in septic surgical patients. Methods 28 septic patients (8 female, 20 male, age range 35–80y) were prospectively investigated on a surgical intensive care unit. Liver function, defined by LiMAx test, and measurements of plasma levels of endothelin-1, TNF-α and IL-6 were carried out within the first 24 hours after onset of septic symptoms, followed by day 2, 5 and 10. Patients were divided into 2 groups (group A: LiMAx ≥100 μg/kg/h, moderate liver dysfunction; group B: LiMAx <100 μg/kg/h, severe liver dysfunction) for analysis and investigated regarding the correlation between endothelin-1 and the severity of liver failure, quantified by LiMAx test. Results Group B showed significant higher results for endothelin-1 than patients in group A (P = 0.01, d5; 0.02, d10). For TNF-α, group B revealed higher results than group A, with a significant difference on day 10 (P = 0.005). IL-6 showed a non-significant trend to higher results in group B. The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient revealed a significant correlation between LiMAx and endothelin-1 (-0.434; P <0.001), TNF-α (-0.515; P <0.001) and IL-6 (-0.590; P <0.001). Conclusions Sepsis-related hepatic dysfunction is associated with elevated plasma levels of endothelin-1, TNF-α and IL-6. Low LiMAx results combined with increased endothelin-1 and TNF-α and a favourable correlation between LiMAx and cytokine values support the findings of a crucial role of Endothelin-1 and TNF-α in development of septic liver failure. PMID:28542386

The efficacy of World Wide Web-mediated microcomputer-based laboratory activities in the high school physics classroom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Slykhuis, David A.

This research project examined the efficacy of an online microcomputer-based laboratory based (MBL) physics unit. One hundred and fifty physics students from five high schools in North Carolina were divided into online and classroom groups. The classroom group completed the MBL unit in small groups with assistance from their teachers. The online groups completed the MBL unit in small groups using a website designed for this project for guidance. Pre- and post-unit content specific tests and surveys were given. Statistical analysis of the content tests showed significant development of conceptual understanding by the online group over the course of the unit. There was not a significant difference between the classroom and online group with relation to the amount of conceptual understanding developed. Correlations with post-test achievement showed that pre-test scores and math background were the most significant correlates with success. Computer related variables, such as computer comfort and online access, were only mildly correlated with the online group. Students' views about the nature of physics were not well developed prior to the unit and did not significantly change over the course of the unit. Examination of the students' physics conceptions after instruction revealed common alternative conceptions such as confusing position and velocity variables and incorrect interpretations of graphical features such as slope.

Relations between Eastern Four Pillars Theory and Western Measures of Personality Traits

PubMed Central

Jung, Seung Ah

2015-01-01

Purpose The present study investigated the validity of personality classification using four pillars theory, a tradition in China and northeastern Asia. Materials and Methods Four pillars analyses were performed for 148 adults on the basis of their birth year, month, day, and hour. Participants completed two personality tests, the Korean version of Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised-Short Version (TCI) and the Korean Inventory of Interpersonal Problems; scores were correlated with four pillars classification elements. Mean difference tests (e.g., t-test, ANOVA) were compared with groups classified by four pillars index. Results There were no significant correlations between personality scale scores and total yin/yang number (i.e., the 8 heavenly or earthly stems), and no significant between-groups results for classifications by yin/yang day stem and the five elements. There were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.29) correlations between the five elements and personality scale scores. For the six gods and personality scales, there were significant but weak (r=0.18-0.25) correlations. Features predicted by four pillars theory were most consistent when participants were grouped according to the yin/yang of the day stem and dominance of yin/yang numbers in the eight heavenly or earthly stems. Conclusion Although the major criteria of four pillars theory were not independently correlated with personality scale scores, correlations emerged when participants were grouped according to the composite yin/yang variable. Our results suggest the utility of four pillars theory (beyond fortune telling or astrology) for classifying personality traits and making behavioral predictions. PMID:25837175

Temperament traits and psychopathy in a group of patients with antisocial personality disorder.

PubMed

Basoglu, Cengiz; Oner, Ozgur; Ates, Alpay; Algul, Ayhan; Bez, Yasin; Ebrinc, Servet; Cetin, Mesut

2011-01-01

The Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) and Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) have been used extensively in research of personality disorders; however, no previous study has investigated the relation between psychopathy factors and temperament and character traits in patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Our aim was to fill this gap in the literature. The PCL-R Factor scores and the TCI temperament and character scores were evaluated in 68 men with ASPD and 65 healthy male controls. The ASPD cases had significantly higher PCL-R Factor 1, Factor 2, and Total scores, as well as significantly higher TCI Novelty Seeking and Harm Avoidance scores, whereas the control group had higher TCI Reward Dependence, Persistence, Self-Directedness, and Cooperativeness scores. Correlation analysis revealed that, in the whole study group, PCL-R Factor 1, Factor 2, and Total scores were positively correlated with Novelty Seeking and Harm Avoidance scores and negatively correlated with Reward Dependence, Persistence, Self-Directedness, and Cooperativeness scores. When each group was analyzed separately, the correlations were not significant. Regression analysis supported the main findings. Our results showed that both PCL-R Factor 1 score, which is claimed to reflect "core psychopathy," and PCL-R Factor 2 score, which reflects criminal behaviors, were positively correlated with Novelty Seeking and Harm Avoidance and were negatively correlated with Reward Dependence in the whole sample. The reduced variance of PCL-R in each group might lead to nonsignificant associations within groups. Without the subjects with severe psychopathy in the present study, it might not be possible to show the association. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[Study on correlation of glucagons, type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose regulation].

PubMed

Xu, Tao; Shi, Me; Qiu, Yun-Xia; Wang, Yan-Gang

2014-06-01

To analyze the changes of patients with type 2 diabetes in different stages in glucagon (GC) and free fatty acid (FFA) in fasting, OGT and L-Arg experiments, and discusses the role of pancreatic alphabeta cells in diabetes pathogenesis by studying the relations among indexes such as glucagon (GC), free fatty acid (FFA) and blood glucose (BG), insulin, insulin homeostasis model (HOMA) and glucose metabolism hormone secretion curve, in order to provide theoretical basis for the treatment of diabetes. Study objects were divided into the T2DM group (45 cases), the IGT group (28 cases) and the NGT group (30 cases) for an OGTT experiment and then an L-Arg experiment on the next day. Under the fasting state, their blood glucose (FBG), insulin (F), glucagon (FGC), free fatty acid (FFA) were detected to calculate HOMA-beta, insulin sensitivity index (ISI) and HOMA-IR of different groups. Meanwhile, efforts were made to calculate different time quantum detected in OGTT and L-Arg experiments and area under the curve AUC(BG), AUC(INS) and AUC(GC). Obvious overall differences were observed in FFA and FGC of the three groups. FGC of each group was negatively correlated with HOMA-beta and ISI. Among all of the 103 study objects, FGC was positively correlated with FBG and HOMA-IR and negatively correlated with HOMA-beta and ISI, with no correlation with FINS; FFA was positively correlated with FBG, HOMA-IR and negatively correlated with FINS, HOMA-beta, ISI. FGC and FFA were positively correlated in the T2DM group and the IGT group, but with no statistical correlation in the NGT group. The sequence of the three study objects was T2DM > IGR > NGT in AUC(GC) in the OGTT experiment and T2DM > IGR > NGT in in AUC(GC) in the L-Arg experiment, with the significant positive correlation between AUC(GC) and AUC(BG) and significant negative correlation with AUC(INS). Glucagon and free fatty acid of T2DM and IGT patients increased, which was positively correlated with blood glucose and HOMA-IR and negatively correlated with INS, HOMA-beta and ISI. The increase in glucagons of T2DM and IGT patients indicated inappropriate secretion of pancreatic alphabeta cells among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Is It Better to Enter a Volume CT Dose Index Value before or after Scan Range Adjustment for Radiation Dose Optimization of Pediatric Cardiothoracic CT with Tube Current Modulation?

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

Objective To determine whether the body size-adapted volume computed tomography (CT) dose index (CTDvol) in pediatric cardiothoracic CT with tube current modulation is better to be entered before or after scan range adjustment for radiation dose optimization. Materials and Methods In 83 patients, cardiothoracic CT with tube current modulation was performed with the body size-adapted CTDIvol entered after (group 1, n = 42) or before (group 2, n = 41) scan range adjustment. Patient-related, radiation dose, and image quality parameters were compared and correlated between the two groups. Results The CTDIvol after the CT scan in group 1 was significantly higher than that in group 2 (1.7 ± 0.1 mGy vs. 1.4 ± 0.3 mGy; p < 0.0001). Image noise (4.6 ± 0.5 Hounsfield units [HU] vs. 4.5 ± 0.7 HU) and image quality (1.5 ± 0.6 vs. 1.5 ± 0.6) showed no significant differences between the two (p > 0.05). In both groups, all patient-related parameters, except body density, showed positive correlations (r = 0.49–0.94; p < 0.01) with the CTDIvol before and after the CT scan. The CTDIvol after CT scan showed modest positive correlation (r = 0.49; p ≤ 0.001) with image noise in group 1 but no significant correlation (p > 0.05) in group 2. Conclusion In pediatric cardiothoracic CT with tube current modulation, the CTDIvol entered before scan range adjustment provides a significant dose reduction (18%) with comparable image quality compared with that entered after scan range adjustment.

Correlation between remnant inferior turbinate volume and symptom severity of empty nose syndrome.

PubMed

Hong, Hye Ran; Jang, Yong Ju

2016-06-01

Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is an iatrogenic disorder caused by turbinate reduction procedures, which results in considerable nasal dysfunction and severely impaired quality of life. However, there is a lack of data that explains the relationship between the degree of turbinate reduction and subjective symptoms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of remnant inferior turbinate volume on symptom severity. We retrospectively analyzed data from 34 patients who were diagnosed with ENS. All patients underwent computed tomography scanning and completed the SNOT-25 questionnaire. The control group consisted of 10 patients with pituitary adenoma who did not have any sinonasal symptoms or abnormalities. The inferior turbinate volumes were compared between groups, and the correlation between inferior turbinate volumes (ITVs) and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-25 (SNOT-25) was also evaluated. The ENS group presented with a significantly smaller inferior turbinate volume than the control group (P < 0.001). The overall SNOT-25 score demonstrated no statistically significant correlation with anterior, posterior, or total ITV (P > 0.05, respectively). Among the various items on SNOT-25, a high dryness score was significantly correlated with a smaller total inferior turbinate volume (P = 0.030). Facial pain was significantly correlated with smaller anterior ITV (P = 0.011). In addition, patients who had smaller posterior inferior turbinate volume demonstrated higher scores on specific SNOT-25 items. A smaller inferior turbinate volume is significantly associated with specific SNOT-25 items in ENS patients. 4. Laryngoscope, 126:1290-1295, 2016. © 2015 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

Using tablet technology and instructional videos to enhance preclinical dental laboratory learning.

PubMed

Gadbury-Amyot, Cynthia C; Purk, John H; Williams, Brian Joseph; Van Ness, Christopher J

2014-02-01

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine if tablet technology with accompanying instructional videos enhanced the teaching and learning outcomes in a preclinical dental laboratory setting. Two procedures deemed most challenging in Operative Dentistry II were chosen for the development of instructional videos. A random sample of thirty students was chosen to participate in the pilot. Comparison of faculty evaluations of the procedures between the experimental (tablet) and control (no tablet) groups resulted in no significant differences; however, there was a trend toward fewer failures in the experimental group. Examination of the ability to accurately self-assess was compared by exploring correlations between faculty and student evaluations. While correlations were stronger in the experimental group, the control group had significant correlations for all three procedures, while the experimental group had significant correlations on only two of the procedures. Students strongly perceived that the tablets and videos helped them perform better and more accurately self-assess their work products. Students did not support requiring that they purchase/obtain a specific brand of technology. As a result of this pilot study, further development of ideal and non-ideal videos are in progress, and the school will be implementing a "Bring Your Own Device" policy with incoming students.

Influence of Stepped Osteotomy on Primary Stability of Implants Inserted in Low-Density Bone Sites: An In Vitro Study.

PubMed

Degidi, Marco; Daprile, Giuseppe; Piattelli, Adriano

The aims of this study were to evaluate the ability of a stepped osteotomy to improve dental implant primary stability in low-density bone sites and to investigate possible correlations between primary stability parameters. The study was performed on fresh humid bovine bone classified as type III. The test group consisted of 30 Astra Tech EV implants inserted following the protocol provided by the manufacturer. The first control group consisted of 30 Astra Tech EV implants inserted in sites without the underpreparation of the apical portion. The second control group consisted of 30 Astra Tech TX implants inserted following the protocol provided by the manufacturer. Implant insertion was performed at the predetermined 30 rpm. The insertion torque data were recorded and exported as a curve; using a trapezoidal integration technique, the area underlying the curve was calculated: this area represents the variable torque work (VTW). Peak insertion torque (pIT) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) were also recorded. A Mann-Whitney test showed that the mean VTW was significantly higher in the test group compared with the first control and second control groups; furthermore, statistical analysis showed that pIT also was significantly higher in the test group compared with the first and second control groups. Analyzing RFA values, only the difference between the test group and second control group showed statistical significance. Pearson correlation analysis showed a very strong positive correlation between pIT and VTW values in all groups; furthermore, it showed a positive correlation between pIT and RFA values and between VTW and RFA values only in the test group. Within the limitations of an in vitro study, the results show that stepped osteotomy can be a viable method to improve implant primary stability in low-density bone sites, and that, when a traditional osteotomy method is performed, RFA presents no correlation with pIT and VTW.

[Study of association between Parvimonas micra and pulp dominant pathogens in the infected root canals with chronic periradicular periodontitis].

PubMed

Ji, Hai; Li, Hong; He, Yanyan; Hou, Benxiang

2014-08-01

To study the prevalence of Parvimonas micra (Pm) and the associations between Pm and pulp dominant pathogens in order to reflect the colonization of Pm in the infected root canals with chronic periradicular periodontitis. A total of 120 teeth diagnosed as chronic periradicular periodontitis from 104 patients were included into the study. The teeth were allocated into untreated (primary infectious) and root-canal- treated (secondary infectious) groups with 60 in either group. Samples were collected from the root canals using sterile files and paper points, and subsequent extraction of bacterial DNA was undertaken. The Pm 16S rDNA level was evaluated using 16S rDNA PCR. The prevalence of Pm in chronic periradicular periodontitis was determined accordingly. Then, the associations of Pm and Enterococcus faecalis (Ef), Porphyromonas endodontalis (Pe) as well as Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) were analysed. Pm was detected in 40% (24/60) of the samples from the primary infectious group, 5% (3/60) from the secondary infectious group. The prevalences of Pm from the two groups were different significantly (χ² = 21.06, P < 0.05). Significant correlations (untreated group OR = 5.98, root-canal-treated group OR = 33.50) between Pm and Pe were identified in both groups, while the correlations between Pm and Pg as well as Ef were not of significance, respectively. A significantly higher relevance ratio of Pm was estimated in the primary infectious group than the secondary infectious one. Pm and Pe were correlated significantly in the infected root canals, suggesting a symbiotic relation between these two bacteria.

Comparison of plasma adiponectin & certain inflammatory markers in angiographically proven coronary artery disease patients with & without diabetes – A study from India

PubMed Central

Kumpatla, Satyavani; Karuppiah, Kirubakaran; Immaneni, Sathyamurthy; Muthukumaran, Parthiban; Krishnan, Jayanthi; Narayanamoorthy, Srinivasan Kanthallu; Viswanathan, Vijay

2014-01-01

Background & objectives: The association between adiponectin and risk of cardiovascular disease is well known. The aim of the present study was to evaluate adiponectin and certain inflammatory markers and to determine the correlations between them in angiographically proven coronary artery disease (CAD) in subjects with and without diabetes. Methods: A total of 180 subjects who underwent coronary angiography for symptoms suggestive of CAD were categorised into groups based on their diabetes and/or CAD status: group1 (non-diabetic non-CAD); group2 (non-diabetic CAD); group3 (diabetic non-CAD) and group4 (diabetic CAD). Adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and soluble form of E-selectin (sE-selectin) were estimated using quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) by particle enhanced immunoturbidimetric method. Results: Adiponectin levels were significantly lower in subjects with either diabetes or CAD and were much lower in subjects who had both. hsCRP was elevated in CAD and diabetes but did not differ significantly between groups. sE-selectin and TNF-α levels were elevated in CAD. Adiponectin negatively correlated with age, glucose, sE-selectin, total and LDL cholesterol. hsCRP correlated with BMI, sE-selectin and urea. sE-selectin correlated with BMI, triglycerides and VLDL cholesterol, whereas TNF-α correlated with fasting plasma glucose. In the logistic regression analysis, adiponectin had a significant inverse association with CAD. sE-selectin and TNF-α also showed significant independent association with CAD. Interpretation & conclusions: Adiponectin and other inflammatory markers such as sE-selectin and TNF-α showed a significant association with CAD. Hence, early assessment of such markers can help to identify high risk patients, and to reduce the inflammatory component of diabetes and CAD. PMID:25109718

Elevated plasma migration inhibitory factor in hypertension–hyperlipidemia patients correlates with impaired endothelial function

PubMed Central

Zhou, Boda; Ren, Chuan; Zu, Lingyun; Zheng, Lemin; Guo, Lijun; Gao, Wei

2016-01-01

Abstract Migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has been shown to be critical in the pathology of early artherosclerosis; this article aim to investigate the plasma levels of MIF in hypertension plus hyperlipidemia patients. A total of 39 hypertension plus hyperlipidemia patients without any previous treatment were enrolled (HTN-HLP). Twenty-five healthy subjects were enrolled as the healthy control group (HEALTHY). Plasma MIF was measured by ELISA; laboratory and clinical characteristics were analyzed. HUVECs were treated with pooled plasma from HTN-HLP and HEALTHY groups, and the protein levels of adhesion molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were determined by ELISA. We found that plasma MIF was significantly elevated in the HTN-HLP group. Serum NO and eNOS levels were significantly lower; serum ET-1 (endothelin) levels were significantly higher in the HTN-HLP group. Furthermore, blood pressure, baPWV (brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity), and serum ET-1 level were significantly positively; serum NO and eNOS levels were negatively correlated with plasma MIF levels. Plasma from HTN-HLP significantly stimulated VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 protein expression on the surface of HUVECs. Plasma MIF was elevated in HTN-HLP patients and correlates with impaired endothelial function. PMID:27787379

[Correlation analysis of bone marrow edema degree and serum inflammatory factors change with knee joint pain symptoms in patients with bone contusion around the knee joint].

PubMed

Li, Songiun; An, Rongze; Wang, Zhaojie; Kuang, Lipeng; Tan, Weiyuan; Fang, Cunxun

2014-05-01

To explore the correlation between the degree of bone marrow edema (BME) and the content change of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and the knee pain symptoms in patients with bone contusion around the knee joint. Thirty patients (30 knees) of bone contusion around the knee joint were chosen as the trial group between October 2009 and April 2012. According to visual analogue scale (VAS), 30 patients were divided into mild group (10 cases), moderate group (10 cases), and severe group (10 cases); according to MRI morphological changes, the patients were divided into type I group (12 cases), type II group (11 cases), and type III group (7 cases). Ten patients (10 knees) with soft tissue injury of the knee were chosen as control group. No significant difference was found (P > 0.05) in gender, age, causes, side, and admission time after injury between 2 groups. The serum contents of MMP-3 and TNF-alpha were detected and statistically analysed between different degrees of pain groups and between different degrees of BME groups. Correlation was analysed between BME and inflammatory factor changes and VAS score. The MMP-3 and TNF-alpha contents in trial group [(29.580 +/- 6.870) (microg/L and (23.750 +/- 7.096) ng/L] were significantly higher than those in control group [(8.219 +/- 1.355) microg/L and (6.485 +/- 1.168) ng/L] (t = 9.686, P = 0.000; t = 7.596, P =0.000). The MMP-3 and TNF-alpha contents in patients with different degrees of pain and BME were significantly higher than those in patients of control group (P < 0.05), and significant difference was found between patients with different degrees of pain (P < 0.05), but no significant difference between patients with different degrees of BME (P > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TNF-alpha content was significantly correlated with VAS score (P = 0.000). Knee pain symptoms are not related to the degree of BME in patients with bone contusion around the knee joint. Inflammatory factor TNF-alpha content is the main influence factor of knee joint pain symptoms.

MiRNA-181d Expression Significantly Affects Treatment Responses to Carmustine Wafer Implantation.

PubMed

Sippl, Christoph; Ketter, Ralf; Bohr, Lisa; Kim, Yoo Jin; List, Markus; Oertel, Joachim; Urbschat, Steffi

2018-05-26

Standard therapeutic protocols for glioblastoma, the most aggressive type of brain cancer, include surgery followed by chemoradiotherapy. Additionally, carmustine-eluting wafers can be implanted locally into the resection cavity. To evaluate microRNA (miRNA)-181d as a prognostic marker of responses to carmustine wafer implantation. A total of 80 glioblastoma patients (40/group) were included in a matched pair analysis. One group (carmustine wafer group) received concomitant chemoradiotherapy with carmustine wafer implantation (Stupp protocol). The second group (control group) received only concomitant chemoradiotherapy. All tumor specimens were subjected to evaluations of miRNA-181d expression, results were correlated with further individual clinical data. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset of 149 patients was used as an independent cohort to validate the results. Patients in the carmustine wafer group with low miRNA-181d expression had significantly longer overall (hazard ratio [HR], 35.03, [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.50-350.23], P = .002) and progression-free survival (HR, 20.23, [95% CI: 2.19-186.86], P = .008) than patients of the same group with a high miRNA-181d expression. These correlations were not observed in the control group. The nonsignificance in the control group was confirmed in the independent TCGA dataset. The carmustine wafer group patients with low miRNA-181d expression also had a significantly longer progression-free (P = .049) and overall survival (OS) (P = .034), compared with control group patients. Gross total resection correlated significantly with longer OS (P = .023). MiRNA-181d expression significantly affects treatment responses to carmustine wafer implantation.

A comparative study of oral candidal species carriage in patients with type1 and type2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Shenoy, Mangesh P; Puranik, Rudrayya S; Vanaki, Shrinivas S; Puranik, Surekha R; Shetty, Pushparaja; Shenoy, Radhika

2014-09-01

Diabetes mellitus can have profound effects upon the oral tissues especially in patients with poor glycemic control being prone to severe and/or recurrent infections particularly candidiasis. The main aim was to study the association between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus and candidal carriage. The study design comprised of previously diagnosed 30 patients each with type 1 diabetes mellitus (Group A) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (Group B) and 30 age-, sex- and dental status-matched healthy non-diabetic individuals as controls (Group C). The saliva samples were collected and inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and chromogenic agar culture medium. Candidal colony forming units per ml (CFU/ml) values were determined. Data were analyzed by χ(2) test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman's rank correlation and Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient. Data analysis showed statistically significant higher positive candidal growth in Group A and Group B when compared to Group C. The CFU/ml values were significantly higher in Groups A and B as compared with Group C. Significant positive correlation of CFU/ml with fasting blood sugar level and HbA1c% in both Groups A and B was seen. Oral signs and symptoms observed in diabetics were dry mouth, burning sensation, fissuring and atrophic changes of tongue and erythematous areas, which positively correlated with candidal load. The glycemic control status of the diabetic patients may directly influence candidal colonization. The quantitative and biochemical characterization allows better insight into the study of association of diabetes mellitus and candida.

Structural integrity of the contralesional hemisphere predicts cognitive impairment in ischemic stroke at three months.

PubMed

Dacosta-Aguayo, Rosalia; Graña, Manuel; Fernández-Andújar, Marina; López-Cancio, Elena; Cáceres, Cynthia; Bargalló, Núria; Barrios, Maite; Clemente, Immaculada; Monserrat, Pere Toran; Sas, Maite Alzamora; Dávalos, Antoni; Auer, Tibor; Mataró, Maria

2014-01-01

After stroke, white matter integrity can be affected both locally and distally to the primary lesion location. It has been shown that tract disruption in mirror's regions of the contralateral hemisphere is associated with degree of functional impairment. Fourteen patients suffering right hemispheric focal stroke (S) and eighteen healthy controls (HC) underwent Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and neuropsychological assessment. The stroke patient group was divided into poor (SP; n = 8) and good (SG; n = 6) cognitive recovery groups according to their cognitive improvement from the acute phase (72 hours after stroke) to the subacute phase (3 months post-stroke). Whole-brain DWI data analysis was performed by computing Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) followed by Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). Assessment of effects was obtained computing the correlation of the projections on TBSS skeleton of Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Radial Diffusivity (RD) with cognitive test results. Significant decrease of FA was found only in right brain anatomical areas for the S group when compared to the HC group. Analyzed separately, stroke patients with poor cognitive recovery showed additional significant FA decrease in several left hemisphere regions; whereas SG patients showed significant decrease only in the left genu of corpus callosum when compared to the HC. For the SG group, whole brain analysis revealed significant correlation between the performance in the Semantic Fluency test and the FA in the right hemisphere as well as between the performance in the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT) and the Trail Making Test-part A and the FA in the left hemisphere. For the SP group, correlation analysis revealed significant correlation between the performance in the GPT and the FA in the right hemisphere.

Structural Integrity of the Contralesional Hemisphere Predicts Cognitive Impairment in Ischemic Stroke at Three Months

PubMed Central

Dacosta-Aguayo, Rosalia; Graña, Manuel; Fernández-Andújar, Marina; López-Cancio, Elena; Cáceres, Cynthia; Bargalló, Núria; Barrios, Maite; Clemente, Immaculada; Monserrat, Pere Toran; Sas, Maite Alzamora; Dávalos, Antoni

2014-01-01

After stroke, white matter integrity can be affected both locally and distally to the primary lesion location. It has been shown that tract disruption in mirror’s regions of the contralateral hemisphere is associated with degree of functional impairment. Fourteen patients suffering right hemispheric focal stroke (S) and eighteen healthy controls (HC) underwent Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) and neuropsychological assessment. The stroke patient group was divided into poor (SP; n = 8) and good (SG; n = 6) cognitive recovery groups according to their cognitive improvement from the acute phase (72 hours after stroke) to the subacute phase (3 months post-stroke). Whole-brain DWI data analysis was performed by computing Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) followed by Tract Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). Assessment of effects was obtained computing the correlation of the projections on TBSS skeleton of Fractional Anisotropy (FA) and Radial Diffusivity (RD) with cognitive test results. Significant decrease of FA was found only in right brain anatomical areas for the S group when compared to the HC group. Analyzed separately, stroke patients with poor cognitive recovery showed additional significant FA decrease in several left hemisphere regions; whereas SG patients showed significant decrease only in the left genu of corpus callosum when compared to the HC. For the SG group, whole brain analysis revealed significant correlation between the performance in the Semantic Fluency test and the FA in the right hemisphere as well as between the performance in the Grooved Pegboard Test (GPT) and theTrail Making Test-part A and the FA in the left hemisphere. For the SP group, correlation analysis revealed significant correlation between the performance in the GPT and the FA in the right hemisphere. PMID:24475078

Activity groups for persons with dementia: Personal predictors of participation, engagement and mood.

PubMed

Cohen-Mansfield, Jiska

2017-11-01

This study examined the relationship between personal characteristics and attendance, engagement, sleep, and mood outcomes of persons with dementia participating in group activities. The purpose of this study is to examine which persons with dementia benefit most from group interventions. Sixty-nine persons with dementia were observed by research and therapeutic recreation staff during 10 types of group activities (reading aloud with discussion, choral-singing, baking, creative storytelling, brain games, active games, exercise, reminiscence poetry, holiday newsletter, and holiday discussions) on multiple outcomes (attendance duration, sleep, engagement, active participation, attitude, and positive mood). Correlations between these outcomes and personal characteristics (demographics, functional and medical characteristics, personal preferences for group activities) were conducted. Variables with significant correlations were then entered into regression analyses. Many of the personal characteristics were significantly correlated with the outcomes. Cognitive function was the most consistent predictor of all outcomes. Personal characteristics, particularly cognitive function, can predict the responses of persons with dementia during group activities. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Correlates of Bulimia Nervosa: Early Family Mealtime Experiences.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Debra A. F.; And Others

1993-01-01

Examined relationship of early mealtime experiences to later bulimia in 128 female college students. Found significant group differences among bulimics, nonbulimics, and repeat dieters on early meal experience questionnaire, with bulimic group reporting most negative and unusual experiences. Found significant differences among groups on depression…

Effects of pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy.

PubMed

de Oliveira, Claudia; Lopes, Marco Antonio Borges; Carla Longo e Pereira, Luciana; Zugaib, Marcelo

2007-08-01

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in 46 nulliparous pregnant women. The women were divided into 2 groups: an exercise group and a control group. Functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscle was performed by digital vaginal palpation using the strength scale described by Ortiz and by a perineometer (with and without biofeedback). The functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles showed a significant increase in pelvic floor muscle strength during pregnancy in both groups (P < .001). However, the magnitude of the change was greater in the exercise group than in the control group (47.4% vs. 17.3%, P < .001). The study also showed a significant positive correlation (Spearman's test, r = 0.643; P < .001) between perineometry and digital assessment in the strength of pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscle training resulted in a significant increase in pelvic floor muscle pressure and strength during pregnancy. A significant positive correlation between functional evaluation of the pelvic floor muscle and perineometry was observed during pregnancy.

The relationship of deviant sexual arousal and psychopathy in incest offenders, extrafamilial child molesters, and rapists.

PubMed

Firestone, P; Bradford, J M; Greenberg, D M; Serran, G A

2000-01-01

The relationship between deviant sexual arousal, as measured by auditory phallometric stimuli, and psychopathy, as measured by the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised, was examined in 156 incest offenders, 260 extrafamilial child molesters, and 123 rapists. Subjects in each group had never been convicted of another type of sexual offense. Replicating previous research, rapists were more psychopathic than incest offenders and child molesters. Deviant sexual arousal to auditory stimuli was evident only on the Pedophile Index for child molesters. When the relationship between psychopathy and deviant sexual arousal was evaluated in the three groups combined, several significant correlations emerged. However, a finer analysis of these correlations revealed that child molesters evidenced a significant correlation between psychopathy and the Rape Index and psychopathy and the Pedophile Index. There were no such significant findings in the incest offender or rapist groups. Implications of the results are discussed.

Polymorphisms in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase and methionine synthase reductase genes and their correlation with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion susceptibility.

PubMed

Zhu, L

2015-07-28

We aimed to explore the correlation between unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion and polymorphisms in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) genes. A case control study was conducted in 118 patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (abortion group) and 174 healthy women (control group). The genetic material was extracted from the oral mucosal epithelial cells obtained from all subjects. The samples were subjected to fluorescence quantitative PCR to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) and MTRR (A66G) gene loci. The distribution frequency (18/118, 15.3%) of the MTHFR 677TT genotype was significantly higher in the abortion group (χ2 = 11.006, P = 0.004) than in the control group (2/174, 1.1%); on the other hand, the distribution frequency of the MTHFR A1298C genotype did not significantly differ between the abortion and control groups (χ(2) = 0.441, P = 0.507). The distribution frequency of the MTRR A66G genotype was also significantly higher in the abortion group (14/118, 11.9%; χ(2) = 10.503, P = 0.005) than in the control group (8/174, 4.6%). The MTHFR C677T and MTRR A66G polymorphisms are significantly correlated with the occurrence of spontaneous abortion.

Correlation analysis between 2D and quasi-3D gamma evaluations for both intensity-modulated radiation therapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy

PubMed Central

Kim, Jung-in; Choi, Chang Heon; Wu, Hong-Gyun; Kim, Jin Ho; Kim, Kyubo; Park, Jong Min

2017-01-01

The aim of this work was to investigate correlations between 2D and quasi-3D gamma passing rates. A total of 20 patients (10 prostate cases and 10 head and neck cases, H&N) were retrospectively selected. For each patient, both intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were generated. For each plan, 2D gamma evaluation with radiochromic films and quasi-3D gamma evaluation with fluence measurements were performed with both 2%/2 mm and 3%/3 mm criteria. Gamma passing rates were grouped together according to delivery techniques and treatment sites. Statistical analyses were performed to examine the correlation between 2D and quasi-3D gamma evaluations. Statistically significant difference was observed between delivery techniques only in the quasi-3D gamma passing rates with 2%/2 mm. Statistically significant differences were observed between treatment sites in the 2D gamma passing rates (differences of less than 8%). No statistically significant correlations were observed between 2D and quasi-3D gamma passing rates except the VMAT group and the group including both IMRT and VMAT with 3%/3 mm (r = 0.564 with p = 0.012 for theVMAT group and r = 0.372 with p = 0.020 for the group including both IMRT and VMAT), however, those were not strong. No strong correlations were observed between 2D and quasi-3D gamma evaluations. PMID:27690300

Functional brain networks associated with eating behaviors in obesity.

PubMed

Park, Bo-Yong; Seo, Jongbum; Park, Hyunjin

2016-03-31

Obesity causes critical health problems including diabetes and hypertension that affect billions of people worldwide. Obesity and eating behaviors are believed to be closely linked but their relationship through brain networks has not been fully explored. We identified functional brain networks associated with obesity and examined how the networks were related to eating behaviors. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were obtained for 82 participants. Data were from an equal number of people of healthy weight (HW) and non-healthy weight (non-HW). Connectivity matrices were computed with spatial maps derived using a group independent component analysis approach. Brain networks and associated connectivity parameters with significant group-wise differences were identified and correlated with scores on a three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ) describing restraint, disinhibition, and hunger eating behaviors. Frontoparietal and cerebellum networks showed group-wise differences between HW and non-HW groups. Frontoparietal network showed a high correlation with TFEQ disinhibition scores. Both frontoparietal and cerebellum networks showed a high correlation with body mass index (BMI) scores. Brain networks with significant group-wise differences between HW and non-HW groups were identified. Parts of the identified networks showed a high correlation with eating behavior scores.

White Matter Changes and Confrontation Naming in Retired Aging National Football League Athletes.

PubMed

Strain, Jeremy F; Didehbani, Nyaz; Spence, Jeffrey; Conover, Heather; Bartz, Elizabeth K; Mansinghani, Sethesh; Jeroudi, Myrtle K; Rao, Neena K; Fields, Lindy M; Kraut, Michael A; Cullum, C Munro; Hart, John; Womack, Kyle B

2017-01-15

Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), we assessed the relationship of white matter integrity and performance on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) in a group of retired professional football players and a control group. We examined correlations between fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) with BNT T-scores in an unbiased voxelwise analysis processed with tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS). We also analyzed the DTI data by grouping voxels together as white matter tracts and testing each tract's association with BNT T-scores. Significant voxelwise correlations between FA and BNT performance were only seen in the retired football players (p < 0.02). Two tracts had mean FA values that significantly correlated with BNT performance: forceps minor and forceps major. White matter integrity is important for distributed cognitive processes, and disruption correlates with diminished performance in athletes exposed to concussive and subconcussive brain injuries, but not in controls without such exposure.

Voice change in end-stage renal disease patients after hemodialysis: correlation of subjective hoarseness and objective acoustic parameters.

PubMed

Jung, Soo Yeon; Ryu, Jung-Hwa; Park, Hae Sang; Chung, Sung Min; Ryu, Dong-Ryeol; Kim, Han Su

2014-03-01

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are treated with hemodialysis (HD) frequently complain about hoarseness after completion of each HD session. The HD treatment affects laryngeal volume and muscle function. This study attempted to evaluate the vocal effect of HD by acoustic and aerodynamic analysis and to determine the difference between voice change group (VCG) and nonvoice change group (NVCG). A total of 55 patients (34 females and 21 males) diagnosed with ESRD and undergoing outpatient HD were enrolled. The subjects were divided into the VCG (n=13) and NVCG (n=42) by the change of the Korean Voice Handicap Index score. Patients underwent weighing and acoustic, aerodynamic analysis before and after the HD. Fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer, noise-to-harmonics ratio (NHR), pitch range, habitual pitch, voice energy, and maximal phonation time (MPT) were obtained. The pre- and post-HD data were compared using paired t test. The results were compared after dividing the total group into the VCG and NVCG categories. Correlation between the change of the weight and change of the voice analysis result was certified by Pearson correlation coefficient. The F0 and habitual pitch increased in all subjects. The NHR and MPT parameters significantly decreased (P<0.05). In the NVCG group, all the results were same as the total group. In the VCG group, the NHR result differed from the total group. All acoustic parameters showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. There was no correlation between the weight change (%) and the change of acoustic parameter results. The NVCG group of patient displayed improvement in NHR, whereas the VCG group showed no change. Weight change did not significantly correlate with the voice analysis results. Copyright © 2014 The Voice Foundation. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

Expression of MUC1 and MUC4 in gallbladder adenocarcinoma.

PubMed

Kim, Su-Mi; Oh, Sun-Ju; Hur, Bang

2012-10-01

Recent reports have indicated that overexpression of mucin (MUC) 1 and/or MUC4 correlates with the occurrence and progression of extra-hepatobiliary malignancy. In this study, we investigated the expression of MUC1 and MUC4 and their prognostic significance in gallbladder adenocarcinoma. We examined 54 surgical gallbladder adenocarcinoma samples by immunohistochemistry for MUC1 and MUC4 expression. Staining was evaluated as a sum score of extent and intensity, dividing the samples into low and high expression groups. The low expression group for both MUC1 and MUC4 was 10 samples (18.5%), and the high expression group was 44 samples (81.5%). High MUC1 expression was significantly correlated with more differentiated tumors (p=0.033), whereas high expression of MUC4 correlated with negative nodal status (p=0.012). Other pathological features were not correlated with MUC expression. Multivariate cox regression analysis showed that neither MUC1 nor MUC4 expression correlated with survival. Although there were some correlations found, a prognostic role for either MUC1 or MUC4 expression in gallbladder carcinoma was not identified in this study. Further investigation is required.

[Determination and significance of serum MPO and amylin in adult patients with OSAHS after short-range noninvasive positive pressure ventilation].

PubMed

Chen, X H; Chen, P J; Long, Y; Huang, Q P

2017-06-05

Objective: The aim of this study to investigate the determination and significance of serum MPO and amylin in adult patients with OSAHS after short-range noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. Method: Eighty-seven OSAHS patients were divided into severe group (30 cases), moderate group (30 cases) and mild group (27 cases) according to the AHI range. Twenty-seven outpatient health persons were selected as the control group. Serum amylin and myeloperoxidase were measured by ELISA; Amyloid and myeloperoxidase were reassessed in 30 patients with severe OSAHS after 6 months of combined therapy, and the relationship between amylin, myeloperoxidase and PSG was analyzed. Result: ①With the severity of OSAHS patients increased, the serum amylin and myeloperoxidase levels gradually increased ( F =22.486, 19.755; P <0.01); There was no significant difference in MPO and amylin concentration between the mild group and the control group ( P >0.05), and the other groups were significantly different from each other ( P <0.01). ②There was no correlation among serum amylin and myeloperoxidase level and BMI and age in OSAHS patients ( P >0.05); and a negative correlation with SaO₂, and AHI was positively correlated ( P <0.01). ③After 3 months of CPAP treatment, LSaO₂ increased which the AHI and peripheral blood MPO, amylin levels lower than before in 30 patients ( P <0.05); The amylin and myeloperoxidase concentrations of blood after 6 months of treatment were significantly lower than those of 3 months after treatment ( P <0.05), which still increased compared with the control group. Conclusion: The determination of serum amylin and MPO in patients with OSAHS has a certain reference value in predicting the condition and curative effect of diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. CPAP treatment can significantly reduce the degree of hypoxiapatients and cardiovascular damage in OSAHS patients, which was significantly correlated with the treatment time. Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

Correlation of sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression in Croatian war veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.

PubMed

Jevtović, Sasa; Gregurek, Rudolf; Kalenić, Barbara; Brajković, Lovorka; Bras, Marijana; Loncar, Mladen; Germain, Anne

2011-01-01

The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between global sleep quality and its specific components and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptom severity questionnaire. We also researched whether sleep quality and sleep disturbances differed among groups of PTSD based on symptom severity categories. This study was conducted on the sample of 120 Croatian war veterans with PTSD. The following self-report instruments were used: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Addendum for PTSD, the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD, the Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. There were statistically significant differences between the three PTSD severity groups on general nervousness (PSQI-A variable), where patients with extremely severe PTSD have more symptoms of general nervousness than groups with severe or moderate PTSD. Differences were found between PTSD severity groups in episodes of terror and acting-out dreams, where patients with extremely severe PTSD have more symptoms of episodes of terror and acting-out dreams than groups with severe or moderate PTSD. Sleep quality was significantly correlated with state anxiety, trait anxiety, and depression, indicating that with decrease of anxiety and depression, sleep quality improves. Sleep latency was positively correlated with both state and trait anxiety. There wasn't any significant correlation between sleep latency and depression. Study suggests that sleep disturbances are equally severe across groups of veterans based on PTSD severity and that the severity of sleep disturbances is significantly related to severity of anxiety and depression symptoms.

Comparison and correlation of pelvic parameters between low-grade and high-grade spondylolisthesis.

PubMed

Min, Woo-Kie; Lee, Chang-Hwa

2014-05-01

This study was retrospectively conducted on 51 patients with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis. This study was conducted to compare a total of 11 pelvic parameters, such as the level of displacement by Meyerding method, lumbar lordosis, sacral inclination, lumbosacral angle, slip angle, S2 inclination, pelvic incidence (PI), L5 inclination, L5 slope, pelvic tilt (PT), and sacral slope (SS) between low-grade and high-grade spondylolisthesis, and to investigate a correlation of the level of displacement by Meyerding method with other pelvic parameters. Pelvic parameters were measured using preoperational erect lateral spinal simple radiographs. The patients were divided into 39 patients with low-grade spondylolisthesis and 12 patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis before analysis. In all patients of both groups, 11 radiographic measurements including the level of displacement by Meyerding method, lumbar lordosis, sacral inclination, lumbosacral angle, slip angle, S2 inclination, PI, L5 inclination, L5 slope, PT, and SS were performed. T test and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted to compare and analyze each measurement. As for the comparison between the 2 groups, a statistically great significance in the level of displacement by Meyerding method, lumbosacral angle, slip angle, L5 incidence, PI, and L5 slope (P≤0.001) was shown. Meanwhile, a statistical significance in the sacral inclination and PT (P<0.05) was also shown. However, no statistical significance in the S2 incidence and SS was shown. A correlation of the level of displacement by Meyerding method with each parameter was analyzed in the both the groups. A high correlation was observed in the lumbar lordosis, lumbosacral angle, slip angle, L5 incidence, and L5 slope (Pearson correlation coefficient, P=0.01), as well as the sacral inclination, PI, and PT (Pearson correlation coefficient, P=0.05). Meanwhile, no correlation was shown in the S2 incidence and SS. A significant difference in the lumbosacral angle, slip angle, L5 incidence, PI, L5 slope, sacral inclination, and PT was shown between the patients with high-grade spondylolisthesis and patients with low-grade spondylolisthesis. Among the aforementioned measurements, the PI showed a significant difference between the 2 groups and also had a significant correlation with the dislocation level in all the patients.

Characteristics of quantitative perfusion parameters on dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI in mammographically occult breast cancer

PubMed Central

Ryu, Jung Kyu; Rhee, Sun Jung; Song, Jeong Yoon; Cho, Soo Hyun

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the characteristics of quantitative perfusion parameters obtained from dynamic contrast‐enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with mammographically occult (MO) breast cancers and those with mammographically visible (MV) breast cancers. Quantitative parameters (AUC, Ktrans,kep,ve,vp, and wi) from 13 MO breast cancers and 16 MV breast cancers were mapped after the DCE‐MRI data were acquired. Various prognostic factors, including axillary nodal status, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Ki‐67, p53, E‐cadherin, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) were obtained in each group. Fisher's exact test was used to compare any differences of the various prognostic factors between the two groups. The Mann‐Whitney U test was applied to compare the quantitative parameters between these two groups. Finally, Spearman's correlation was used to investigate the relationships between perfusion indices and four factors — age, tumor size, Ki‐67, and p53 — for each group. Although age, tumor size, and the prognostic factors were not statistically different between the two groups, the mean values of the quantitative parameters, except wi in the MV group, were higher than those in the MO group without statistical significance (p=0.219). The kep value was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.048), but the other parameters were not. In the MO group, vp with size, ve with p53, and Ktrans and vp with Ki‐67 had significant correlations (p<0.05). However, in the MV group, only kep showed significant correlation with age. The kep value was only the perfusion parameter of statistical significance between MO and MV breast cancers. PACS number(s): 87.19.U‐, 87.61.‐c PMID:27685105

Exercise Capacity Assessment by the Modified Shuttle Walk Test and its Correlation with Biochemical Parameters in Obese Children and Adolescents.

PubMed

de Assumpção, Priscila Kurz; Heinzmann-Filho, João Paulo; Isaia, Heloisa Ataíde; Holzschuh, Flávia; Dalcul, Tiéle; Donadio, Márcio Vinícius Fagundes

2018-03-23

To evaluate exercise capacity of obese children and adolescents compared with normal-weight individuals and to investigate possible correlations with blood biochemical parameters. In this study, children and adolescents between 6 and 18 y were included and divided into control (eutrophic) and obese groups according to body mass index (BMI). Data were collected regarding demographic, anthropometric, waist circumference and exercise capacity through the Modified Shuttle Walk Test (MSWT). In the obese group, biochemical parameters in the blood (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides and glucose) were evaluated, and a physical activity questionnaire was applied. Seventy seven participants were included; 27 in the control group and 50 obese. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding sample characteristics, except for body weight, BMI and waist circumference. Most obese children presented results of biochemical tests within the desirable limit, though none were considered active. There was a significant exercise capacity reduction (p < 0.001) in the obese group compared to control subjects. Positive correlations were identified for the MSWT with age and height, and a negative correlation with BMI. However, there were no correlations with the biochemical parameters analyzed. Obese children and adolescents have reduced exercise capacity when compared to normal individuals. The MSWT performance seems to have a negative association with BMI, but is not correlated with blood biochemical parameters.

Impact of incretin on early-phase insulin secretion and glucose excursion.

PubMed

Shen, Jie; Chen, Zhi; Chen, Chaofeng; Zhu, Xiao; Han, Yajuan

2013-10-01

This study investigated the impact of incretin on early-phase insulin secretion and glucose excursion. The normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) groups included 16, 8, and 19 subjects, respectively. Subjects underwent continuous glucose monitoring for 3 days, followed by an oral glucose tolerance test. Plasma glucose, insulin, glucagon, total glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon-like peptide-l (GLP-1) levels were measured at 30-min increments for 2 h after glucose intake. Differences with P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The area under the curve (AUC) of total GIP (120-min GIP-AUC) of the T2DM group was significantly lower than those of the NGT and IGT groups. The 120-min GLP-1-AUC of the NGT group was significantly larger than those of the T2DM and IGT groups. The early-phase insulin secretion index (ΔI30/ΔG30) of the T2DM group was significantly lower than those of the NGT and IGT groups. Mean amplitudes of glycemic excursions (MAGEs) went in the order of NGT < IGT < T2DM (P < 0.01, IGT vs. NGT; P < 0.001, T2DM vs. IGT). The 120-min GIP-AUC was negatively correlated with MAGE (r = -0.464), but uncorrelated with ΔI30/ΔG30. The 120-min GLP-1-AUC was positively correlated with ΔI30/ΔG30 (r = 0.580), but negatively correlated with MAGE (r = -0.606). Incretin may ameliorate glucose excursions, and GLP-1 may exert them by promoting early-phase insulin secretion. No correlation was observed between GIP secretion and early-phase insulin secretion.

The Tie2 receptor antagonist angiopoietin-2 in systemic lupus erythematosus: its correlation with various disease activity parameters.

PubMed

Salama, Maysa K; Taha, Fatma M; Safwat, Miriam; Darweesh, Hanan E A; Basel, Mohamed El

2012-01-01

Systemic lupus erythematosus is one of the autoimmune diseases characterized by multisystem involvement associated with autoantibody and immune complex vasculitis along with endothelial cell damage. to study the possible role of Angiopoietin- 2 (Ang-2) as a recently highlighted inflammatory and angiogenic mediator in the pathogenesis of SLE and its correlation with the state of another inflammatory marker, P-Selectin, as well as with various markers of the disease activity. The present study included 3 main groups: active SLE patients (group I), inactive SLE patients (group II) and healthy normal control subjects (group III). Groups I and II were subjected to disease activity assessment using the SLEDAI scoring system and measurement of plasma Ang-2 and P-Selectin by ELISA in addition to various laboratory investigations to assess disease activity as: Complete blood count, ESR, serum creatinine, C3, C4 and 24-h urinary proteins. The mean level of Plasma Ang-2 and P-selectin showed a high significant increase in active group compared to inactive SLE patients and control subjects (p < 0.001).There was a significant positive correlation between Ang-2, P-Selectin, and each of SLEDAI score and 24-h urinary proteins in all SLE patients as well as in the active group, and Ang-2 was a significant independent marker for proteinuria. A significant negative correlation was found between Ang-2, P-Selectin and each of C3, C4. Ang-2 and P-Selectin showed a high sensitivity and specificity in the patients with SLE. Our study suggests that Ang-2 may be a more useful marker than P-Selectin, C3 and C4 in the assessment of disease activity.

Evaluation of Macular Ganglion Cell Complex and Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Primary Craniopharyngioma by Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography.

PubMed

Yang, Liu; Qu, Yuanzhen; Lu, Wen; Liu, Fengjun

2016-07-03

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to compare the differences in macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) in child and adult patients with primary craniopharyngioma by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and to evaluate their significance in the diagnosis of primary craniopharyngioma. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ninety-six participants were divided into 3 groups: 32 in the child craniopharyngioma group (CCG) and 32 in the adult craniopharyngioma group (ACG) who were treated in Beijing Tiantan Hospital between November 2013 and October 2014, and 32 in the normal group (NG). All subjects were scanned by FD-OCT to map GCC and pRNFL thicknesses. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between GCC and pRNFL thickness, and pRNFL thickness and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters, including horizontal cup-disc ratio (HCDR), vertical cup-disc ratio (VCDR), optic disc area (ODA), and cup area (CA), respectively. RESULTS The correlation between GCC and pRNFL thickness in the CCG was slightly stronger compared with the ACG. A significant difference in GCC thickness was observed among the CCG, ACG, and NG. Although the pRNFL thickness in both the CCG and ACG was significantly higher than that in NG, no significant difference in pRNFL thickness was detected between the 2 craniopharyngioma groups. The average, superior, and inferior pRNFL thicknesses were negatively correlated with VCDR in the CCG (in double eyes) and ACG (only in left eyes). CONCLUSIONS GCC was more sensitive than pRNFL in detecting optic nerve damage in the eyes of craniopharyngioma patients. A thinner pRNFL was especially correlated with VCDR in child craniopharyngioma patients.

Evaluation of Macular Ganglion Cell Complex and Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer in Primary Craniopharyngioma by Fourier-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

PubMed Central

Yang, Liu; Qu, Yuanzhen; Lu, Wen; Liu, Fengjun

2016-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to compare the differences in macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) in child and adult patients with primary craniopharyngioma by Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and to evaluate their significance in the diagnosis of primary craniopharyngioma. Material/Methods Ninety-six participants were divided into 3 groups: 32 in the child craniopharyngioma group (CCG) and 32 in the adult craniopharyngioma group (ACG) who were treated in Beijing Tiantan Hospital between November 2013 and October 2014, and 32 in the normal group (NG). All subjects were scanned by FD-OCT to map GCC and pRNFL thicknesses. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between GCC and pRNFL thickness, and pRNFL thickness and optic nerve head (ONH) parameters, including horizontal cup-disc ratio (HCDR), vertical cup-disc ratio (VCDR), optic disc area (ODA), and cup area (CA), respectively. Results The correlation between GCC and pRNFL thickness in the CCG was slightly stronger compared with the ACG. A significant difference in GCC thickness was observed among the CCG, ACG, and NG. Although the pRNFL thickness in both the CCG and ACG was significantly higher than that in NG, no significant difference in pRNFL thickness was detected between the 2 craniopharyngioma groups. The average, superior, and inferior pRNFL thicknesses were negatively correlated with VCDR in the CCG (in double eyes) and ACG (only in left eyes). Conclusions GCC was more sensitive than pRNFL in detecting optic nerve damage in the eyes of craniopharyngioma patients. A thinner pRNFL was especially correlated with VCDR in child craniopharyngioma patients. PMID:27372909

Relation of leptin, ghrelin and inflammatory cytokines with body mass index in pulmonary tuberculosis patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Zheng, Ying; Ma, Aiguo; Wang, Qiuzhen; Han, Xiuxia; Cai, Jing; Schouten, Evert G; Kok, Frans J; Li, Yunchun

2013-01-01

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients often suffer from anorexia and poor nutrition, causing weight loss. The peptide hormones leptin and its counterpart ghrelin, acting in the regulation of food intake and fat utilization, play an important role in nutritional balance. This study aimed to investigate the association of blood concentrations of leptin, ghrelin and inflammatory cytokines with body mass index (BMI) in TB patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). BMI, biochemical parameters and plasma levels of leptin, ghrelin and inflammatory cytokines were measured before the start of treatment in 27 incident TB patients with T2DM, 21 TB patients and 23 healthy subjects enrolled in this study. The levels of leptin were significantly higher in TB patients (35.2 ± 19.1 ng/ml) than TB+T2DM (12.6 ± 6.1 ng/ml) and control (16.1 ± 11.1 ng/ml) groups. The level of ghrelin was significantly lower in TB (119.9 ± 46.1 pg/ml) and non-significantly lower in TB+T2DM (127.7 ± 38.6 pg/ml) groups than control (191.6 ± 86.5 pg/ml) group. The levels of TNF-α were higher, while IFN-γ and IL-6 levels were lower in patients than in the control group. Leptin showed a negative correlation with BMI in TB (r=-0.622, p<0.05) and TB+T2DM (r= -0.654, p<0.05) groups, but a positive correlation with BMI in the control group (r=0.521, p<0.05). Contrary ghrelin showed a positive correlation with BMI in TB (r=0.695, p<0.05) and TB+T2DM (r= 0.199, p>0.05) groups, but negative correlation with BMI in the control (r=-0.693, p<0.05) group. Inflammatory cytokines were poorly correlated with BMI in this study. Only IFN-γ showed a significant negative correlation with BMI in the control group (r=-0.545, p<0.05). This study may suggest that possible abnormalities in ghrelin and leptin regulation (high levels of leptin and low levels of ghrelin) may be associated with low BMI and may account for the poor nutrition associated with TB and TB+T2DM.

[Population change of farmland rodent and the influences of climate and cultivation factors in Fengxian District of Shanghai, China].

PubMed

Fei, Lei; Wang, Zu-guo; Yao, Yao; Xu, Xiang-ming; Gu, Pin-qiang

2015-02-01

We analyzed the changes of rodent population from 1988 to 2013 in Fengxian District, Shanghai, and discussed the relevance of rodent population dynamics and climate, and ecological factors. Results showed that the average rat density was 1.3% from 1988 to 2013, and the dominant species was Apodemus agrarius. There was little change of density between years. The average composition ratio was 97.5%. The peak of rodent density appeared from February to May, highest in March. Average density and peak decreased obviously year after year. Numbers of adult rodents of 1st group were positively correlated, while that of adult rodents of 2nd group and elderly group negatively correlated with years. Rat age presented a shortened trend annually. Rodent density and temperature factors were negatively correlated except in January. Extreme warmth in February had a lagged, positive effect on the rat density. Precipitation factors had no significant correlation with the density of rodents. Relative humidity was positively correlated with the density, mostly. Planting structure adjustment and reduction of planting acreage were significantly correlated with the reduction of rodent density. Increased deratization rate was also correlated with the reduction.

Serum zinc levels of cord blood: relation to birth weight and gestational period.

PubMed

Gómez, Tahiry; Bequer, Leticia; Mollineda, Angel; González, Olga; Diaz, Mireisy; Fernández, Douglas

2015-04-01

Zn-deficiency has been associated with numerous alterations during pregnancy including low birth weight; however, the research relating neonatal zinc status and birth weight has not produced reliable results. To compare the serum Zn-levels of cord blood in healthy newborns and low birth weight newborns, and to assess a possible relationship between zinc concentration and neonatal birth weight and gestational age. 123 newborns divided in "study group" (n=50) with <2500g birth weight neonates and "control group" (n=73) with ≥2500g birth weight neonates were enrolled. Study group was subdivided according to gestational age in preterm (<37 weeks) and full-term (≥37 weeks). Serum cord blood samples were collected and the Zn-levels were analyzed using flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry method and the result was expressed in μmol/L. The Zn-levels were compared between the groups (Mann-Whitney-U test) and the Zn-levels were correlated with the birth weight and gestational age (Spearman's rank correlations). Statistically significant low positive correlation between Zn-levels and birth weight (ρ=0.283; p=0.005) was found. No statistically significant difference between Zn-levels of study and control groups [17.00±0.43 vs. 18.16±0.32 (p=0.053)] was found. Statistically significant low positive correlation between Zn-levels and gestational age (ρ=0.351; p=0.001) was found. No statistically significant difference between Zn-levels of preterm as compare to full-term newborns [16.33±0.42 vs. 18.43±0.93 (p=0.079)] was found. Zn-level of preterm subgroup was significantly lower compared to control group (p=0.001). Despite low birth weight preterm neonates had significantly lower serum zinc levels of cord blood than healthy term neonates, the correlation between cord blood zinc levels and birth weight and gestational age was lower. The results are not enough to relate the change in cord blood zinc concentration to the birth weight values or gestational period. In relation to complicated pregnancies, further studies regarding zinc levels in blood in our population are required. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Spatial correlation-based side information refinement for distributed video coding

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taieb, Mohamed Haj; Chouinard, Jean-Yves; Wang, Demin

2013-12-01

Distributed video coding (DVC) architecture designs, based on distributed source coding principles, have benefitted from significant progresses lately, notably in terms of achievable rate-distortion performances. However, a significant performance gap still remains when compared to prediction-based video coding schemes such as H.264/AVC. This is mainly due to the non-ideal exploitation of the video sequence temporal correlation properties during the generation of side information (SI). In fact, the decoder side motion estimation provides only an approximation of the true motion. In this paper, a progressive DVC architecture is proposed, which exploits the spatial correlation of the video frames to improve the motion-compensated temporal interpolation (MCTI). Specifically, Wyner-Ziv (WZ) frames are divided into several spatially correlated groups that are then sent progressively to the receiver. SI refinement (SIR) is performed as long as these groups are being decoded, thus providing more accurate SI for the next groups. It is shown that the proposed progressive SIR method leads to significant improvements over the Discover DVC codec as well as other SIR schemes recently introduced in the literature.

[CORRELATION OF ANTI-MULLERIAN HORMONE WITH HORMONAL AND OVARIAN MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN PATIENTS WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME WITH AND WITHOUT INSULIN RESISTANCE].

PubMed

Asanidze, E; Khristesashvili, J; Pkhaladze, L; Barbakadze, L

2018-02-01

PCOS has a leading place in women's infertility. Based on the data of recent researches, Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) has been considered as one of the diagnostic criteria for PCOS. The aim of study was to determine the correlation of Anti-Mullerian hormone with hormonal and ovarian morphological characteristics in patients with PCOS, with and without insulin resistance. 110 women with diagnosis of PCOS were involved in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: PCOS patients with insulin resistance (60 women) and PCOS patients without insulin resistance (50 women). All patients underwent hormonal investigation (AMH, FSH, LH, T, FT, HOMA- IR, FAI and SHBG). The volume of ovaries and the number of antral follicles (AFC) were determined by ultrasound imaging. Сorrelation between AMH and the ovarian hormonal and morphological characteristics has been shown. In particular, a significant positive correlation between AMH and the volume of the ovaries in both groups was demonstrated. In the group of patients with PCOS and insulin resistance a positive correlation between AMH and the volum of ovary, AFC was shown, as well as a negative correlation between AMH and SHBG. In the same group a tendency of the positive correlation between AMH and TT, HOMA-IR and IRI was seen. In the group of patients with PCOS without insulin resistence a positive correlation between AMH and the volum of ovary was observed, as well as the tendency of positive correlation between AMH and AFC, TT, HOMA-IR, IRI. Additionally, a negative correlation between AMH and SHBG was seen in the later patient group. Increased levels of AMH in all PCOS patients in our study, in comparison with the accepted norm, indicates on possibility of using this data in the diagnosis of PCOS. AMH levels in PCOS patients with and without insulin resistance do not differ significantly. The correlation between AMH and the morphological characteristics of ovaries has been established.

[The effect of an exercise program to strengthen pelvic floor muscles in multiparous women].

PubMed

Assis, Thaís Rocha; Sá, Ana Claudia Antonio Maranhão; Amaral, Waldemar Naves do; Batista, Elicéia Marcia; Formiga, Cibelle Kayenne Martins Roberto; Conde, Délio Marques

2013-01-01

To investigate the effect of an individualized and supervised exercise program for the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in the postpartum period of multiparous women, and to verify the correlation between two methods used to assess PFM strength. An open clinical trial was performed with puerperal, multiparous women aged 18 to 35 years. The sample consisted of 23 puerperal women divided into two groups: Intervention Group (IG, n=11) and Control Group (CG, n=12). The puerperal women in IG participated in an eight-week PFM exercise program, twice a week. The puerperal women in CG did not receive any recommendations regarding exercise. PFM strength was assessed using digital vaginal palpation and a perineometer. The statistical analysis was performed using the following tests: Fisher's exact, χ(2), Student's t, Kolmogorov-Smirnov for two samples, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. Significance was defined as p<0.05. The participants' mean age was 24 ± 4.5 years in IG and 25.3 ± 4 years in CG (p=0.4). After the exercise program, a significant difference was found between the groups in both modalities of muscle strength assessment (p<0.001). The two muscle strength assessment methods showed a significant correlation in both assessments (1(st) assessment: r=0.889, p<0.001; 2(nd) assessment: r=0.925, p<0.001). The exercise program promoted a significant improvement in PFM strength. Good correlation was observed between digital vaginal palpation and a perineometer, which indicates that vaginal palpation can be used in clinical practice, since it is an inexpensive method that demonstrated significant correlation with an objective method, i.e. the use of a perioneometer.

Is there a difference in range of motion, neck pain, and outcomes in patients with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament versus those with cervical spondylosis, treated with plated laminoplasty?

PubMed

Fujimori, Takahito; Le, Hai; Ziewacz, John E; Chou, Dean; Mummaneni, Praveen V

2013-07-01

There are little data on the effects of plated, or plate-only, open-door laminoplasty on cervical range of motion (ROM), neck pain, and clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare ROM after a plated laminoplasty in patients with ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) versus those with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) and to correlate ROM with postoperative neck pain and neurological outcomes. The authors retrospectively compared patients with a diagnosis of cervical stenosis due to either OPLL or CSM who had been treated with plated laminoplasty in the period from 2007 to 2012 at the University of California, San Francisco. Clinical outcomes were measured using the modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) scale and neck visual analog scale (VAS). Radiographic outcomes included assessment of changes in the C2-7 Cobb angle at flexion and extension, ROM at C2-7, and ROM of proximal and distal segments adjacent to the plated lamina. Sixty patients (40 men and 20 women) with an average age of 63.1 ± 10.9 years were included in the study. Forty-one patients had degenerative CSM and 19 patients had OPLL. The mean follow-up period was 20.9 ± 13.1 months. The mean mJOA score significantly improved in both the CSM and the OPLL groups (12.8 to 14.5, p < 0.01; and 13.2 to 14.2, respectively; p = 0.04). In the CSM group, the mean VAS neck score significantly improved from 4.2 to 2.6 after surgery (p = 0.01), but this improvement did not reach the minimum clinically important difference (MCID). Neither was there significant improvement in the VAS neck score in the OPLL group (3.6 to 3.1, p = 0.17). In the CSM group, ROM at C2-7 significantly decreased from 32.7° before surgery to 24.4° after surgery (p < 0.01). In the OPLL group, ROM at C2-7 significantly decreased from 34.4° to 20.8° (p < 0.01). In the CSM group, the change in the VAS neck score significantly correlated with the change in the flexion angle (r = - 0.31) and the extension angle (r = - 0.37); however, it did not correlate with the change in ROM at C2-7 (r = - 0.1). In the OPLL group, the change in the VAS neck score did not correlate with the change in the flexion angle (r = 0.03), the extension angle (r = - 0.17), or the ROM at C2-7 (r = - 0.28). The OPLL group had a significantly greater loss of ROM after surgery than did the CSM group (p = 0.04). There was no significant correlation between the change in ROM and the mJOA score in either group. Plated laminoplasty in patients with either OPLL or CSM decreases cervical ROM, especially in the extension angle. Among patients who have undergone laminoplasty, those with OPLL lose more ROM than do those with CSM. No correlation was observed between neck pain and ROM in either group. Neither group had a change in neck pain that reached the MCID following laminoplasty. Both groups improved in neurological function and outcomes.

A retrospective study: Multivariate logistic regression analysis of the outcomes after pressure sores reconstruction with fasciocutaneous, myocutaneous, and perforator flaps.

PubMed

Chiu, Yu-Jen; Liao, Wen-Chieh; Wang, Tien-Hsiang; Shih, Yu-Chung; Ma, Hsu; Lin, Chih-Hsun; Wu, Szu-Hsien; Perng, Cherng-Kang

2017-08-01

Despite significant advances in medical care and surgical techniques, pressure sore reconstruction is still prone to elevated rates of complication and recurrence. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate not only complication and recurrence rates following pressure sore reconstruction but also preoperative risk stratification. This study included 181 ulcers underwent flap operations between January 2002 and December 2013 were included in the study. We performed a multivariable logistic regression model, which offers a regression-based method accounting for the within-patient correlation of the success or failure of each flap. The overall complication and recurrence rates for all flaps were 46.4% and 16.0%, respectively, with a mean follow-up period of 55.4 ± 38.0 months. No statistically significant differences of complication and recurrence rates were observed among three different reconstruction methods. In subsequent analysis, albumin ≤3.0 g/dl and paraplegia were significantly associated with higher postoperative complication. The anatomic factor, ischial wound location, significantly trended toward the development of ulcer recurrence. In the fasciocutaneous group, paraplegia had significant correlation to higher complication and recurrence rates. In the musculocutaneous flap group, variables had no significant correlation to complication and recurrence rates. In the free-style perforator group, ischial wound location and malnourished status correlated with significantly higher complication rates; ischial wound location also correlated with significantly higher recurrence rate. Ultimately, our review of a noteworthy cohort with lengthy follow-up helped identify and confirm certain risk factors that can facilitate a more informed and thoughtful pre- and postoperative decision-making process for patients with pressure ulcers. Copyright © 2017 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of Refractive Errors and Ocular Biometric Outcomes after Intravitreal Bevacizumab for Retinopathy of Prematurity.

PubMed

Gunay, Murat; Sekeroglu, Mehmet Ali; Bardak, Handan; Celik, Gokhan; Esenulku, Cenap Mahmut; Hekimoglu, Emre; Bardak, Yavuz

2016-06-01

To assess ocular biometric outcomes following intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) monotherapy for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and compare these results with those of laser photocoagulated infants and with the ones with spontaneously regressed ROP. Premature infants including those who underwent IVB monotherapy (Group 1) or laser photocoagulation (Group 2) for ROP and infants with spontaneously regressed ROP (Group 3) were recruited for the study. Refractive errors and ocular biometric parameters (Axial length [AL], anterior chamber depth [ACD], and lens thickness [LT]) were measured at adjusted 1 year of age in all subjects. There was no significant difference of spherical equivalent (SE) value between the groups (P = 0.781). The incidence of high myopia was 7.4% in Group 1 and 12.7% in Group 2 (P = 0.081). No infants exhibited high myopia in Group 3. LT was greater in Group 2 when compared to Group 1 and Group 3 (P = 0.011). Lower SE was significantly correlated to longer AL in Group 1 (r = -0.656, P = 0.015). There was a significant positive correlation between SE and ACD values in Group 2 (r = 0.391, P = 0.005). The study showed no significant difference of SE between the groups. High myopia was only present among the treated infants either with IVB or laser. Infants who received laser treatment significantly had thicker lenses.

The relationship between uric acid and potassium in normal subjects.

PubMed Central

Kennedy, A C; Boddy, K; King, P C; Brennan, J; Anderson, J A; Buchanan, W W

1978-01-01

The serum uric acid concentration in normal healthy subjects has been studied in relation to sex, height, weight, lean body mass measured from total body potassium and predicted from the Hume-Weyers formula (1971), total body potassium, plasma potassium and urea, and packed cell volume. The strongest correlation was found with sex, but height, weight, total body potassium, lean body mass (measured and predicted) also correlated significantly with serum uric acid concentration. However, when the sex variable was removed, the other factors lost their significant correlation. Finally, total red blood cell and plasma volumes were predicted (Hume and Goldberg, 1964) and from these an estimate of total plasma uric acid, total plasma potassium, and total red blood cell potassium obtained. Measured total body potassium was found to correlate well with total plasma potassium and total red blood cell potassium independent of sex. Total plasma uric acid correlated well with measured total body potassium when both sexes were considered and when separated into male and female groups the males retained a significant correlation as did the female group. PMID:686865

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

Assessment of corneal biomechanical properties and intraocular pressure in myopic spanish healthy population.

PubMed

Del Buey, María A; Lavilla, Laura; Ascaso, Francisco J; Lanchares, Elena; Huerva, Valentín; Cristóbal, José A

2014-01-01

Purpose. To examine biomechanical parameters of the cornea in myopic eyes and their relationship with the degree of myopia in a western healthy population. Methods. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), Goldmann correlated intraocular pressure (IOP), and corneal compensated IOP (IOPcc) were measured using the ocular response analyzer (ORA) in 312 eyes of 177 Spanish subjects aged between 20 and 56 years. Refraction was expressed as spherical equivalent (SE), which ranged from 0 to -16.50 diopters (D) (mean: -3.88 ± 2.90 D). Subjects were divided into four groups according to their refractive status: group 1 or control group: emmetropia (-0.50 ≤ SE < 0.50); group 2: low myopia (-0.75 ≤ SE < 3.00 D); group 3: moderate myopia (-3.00 ≤ SE ≤ -6.00 D); and group 3: high myopia (SE greater than -6.00 D). We analyzed the relationship between corneal biomechanics measured with ORA and SE. Results. CH in the emmetropia, low myopia, moderate myopia, and high myopia groups was 11.13 ± 0.98, 11.49 ± 1.25, 10.52 ± 1.54, and 10.35 ± 1.33 mmHg, respectively. CH in the highly myopic group was significantly lower than that in the emmetropic group (P = 0.07) and low myopic group (P = 0.035); however, there were no differences with the moderate myopic group (P = 0.872). There were no statistically significant differences regarding IOP among the four groups (P > 0.05); nevertheless, IOPcc was significantly higher in the moderately myopic (15.47 ± 2.47 mmHg) and highly myopic (16.14 ± 2.59 mmHg) groups than in the emmetropia (15.15 ± 2.06 mmHg) and low myopia groups (14.53 ± 2.37 mmHg). No correlation between age and the measured parameters was found. CH and IOPcc were weakly but significantly correlated with SE (r = 0.171, P = 0.002 and r = -0.131, P = 0.021, resp.). Conclusions. Present study showed only a very weak, but significant, correlation between CH and refractive error, with CH being lower in both moderately and highly myopic eyes than that in the emmetropic and low myopic eyes. These changes in biomechanical properties of the cornea may have an impact on IOP measurement, increasing the risk of glaucoma.

The correlation between body mass index, limb circumferences and blood pressure cuff fit in bariatric surgical patients.

PubMed

Schumann, R; Alyamani, O; Viswanath, A; Bonney, I

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between body mass index (BMI) and upper and lower arm as well as lower leg circumferences and the frequency of correct blood pressure (BP) cuff fit. We explored recommendations for the most likely BP cuff size and location for the three BMI categories. Following IRB approval we retrospectively analyzed a research database of bariatric surgical patients with a BMI of ≥40 kg/m(2). Data included patients' characteristics, upper and lower arm as well as lower leg circumferences. Patients were divided into three groups based on BMI (kg/m(2), Group I: <45, Group II: 45-55, and Group III: >55). Appropriate cuff fit using a standard or large adult BP cuff (CRITIKON(®), GE Healthcare, Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA) on the upper and lower arm, and lower leg was determined. We analyzed the percent proportion of proper cuff fit for cuff sizes and locations between groups using appropriate nonparametric testing. Limb circumference correlated significantly with BMI (P = 0.01), and the upper arm correlated most closely (r = 0.76). A standard adult BP cuff on the lower arm fit properly in >90% and >80% and in Groups I and II, respectively. A large cuff on the lower arm was appropriate in 87% of Group III. In two participants, a large cuff fit properly on the lower leg. Limb circumference significantly correlated with BMI. Recommendations for proper cuff fit in different BMI categories can be made.

Cephalometric and anthropometric data of obstructive apnea in different age groups.

PubMed

Borges, Paulo de Tarso Moura; Silva, Benedito Borges da; Moita Neto, José Machado; Borges, Núbia Evangelista de Sá; Li, Li M

2015-01-01

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome usually present with changes in upper airway morphology and/or body fat distribution, which may occur throughout life and increase the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with age. To correlate cephalometric and anthropometric measures with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome severity in different age groups. A retrospective study of cephalometric and anthropometric measures of 102 patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was analyzed. Patients were divided into three age groups (≥20 and <40 years, ≥40 and <60 years, and ≥60 years). Pearson's correlation was performed for these measures with the apnea-hypopnea index in the full sample, and subsequently by age group. The cephalometric measures MP-H (distance between the mandibular plane and the hyoid bone) and PNS-P (distance between the posterior nasal spine and the tip of the soft palate) and the neck and waist circumferences showed a statistically significant correlation with apnea-hypopnea index in both the full sample and in the ≥40 and <60 years age group. These variables did not show any significant correlation with the other two age groups (<40 and ≥60 years). Cephalometric measurements MP-H and PNS-P and cervical and waist circumferences correlated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome severity in patients in the ≥40 and <60 age group. Copyright © 2014 Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.

Relationship between serum TNF activity and insulin resistance in dairy cows affected with naturally occurring fatty liver.

PubMed

Ohtsuka, H; Koiwa, M; Hatsugaya, A; Kudo, K; Hoshi, F; Itoh, N; Yokota, H; Okada, H; Kawamura, S

2001-09-01

To clarity the relationship between tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and insulin resistance in dairy cows affected with fatty liver, naturally occurring cases were investigated. The affected cows were classified into following three groups according to histopathologic findings of the liver: mild fat droplet deposition (group 1; n=11), severe fat droplet deposition (group 2; n=10), and cloudy swelling (group 3; n=8). Serum TNF activities in Group 2 (8.67 +/- 2.16 U/ml) and Group 3 (11.65 +/- 1.92 U/ml) were significantly higher than that in Group 1 (3.57 +/- 0.81 U/ml) (p<0.05). The insulin-tolerance tests showed that the insulin-stimulated glucose disposal rates (GDR) in Group 2 (27.6 +/- 7.8%) and Group 3 (15.8 +/- 9.1%) were significantly lower than that in Group 1 (41.7 +/- 9.8%). There was a significant negative correlation between serum TNF activity and GDR in affected cows (r=-0.56, p<0.01). These results indicate that serum TNF activity is correlated with insulin resistance in cows with fatty liver.

[Study on vaginal production of human defensins and the correlated pathogenetic factors of vulvovaginal candidiasis].

PubMed

Wang, Wen; DI, Wen; Liao, Qin-ping; Liu, Zhao-hui; Zhang, Ning; Zhang, Hui-ying; Zhang, Dai; Geng, Li; Fan, Shang-rong; Hu, Li-na

2008-07-01

To investigate the correlated pathogenetic factors and vaginal local immunity in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). A case control study was conducted to compare VVC group (60 cases) with normal group (60 cases). All of the women filled up the specific questionnaires. Routine examination, pH test and bacterial culture were done on the vaginal discharge. Cytokines of the vaginal lavage were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. (1) Outcomes of the questionnaires: there was no significant difference between the two groups in educational background, knowledge of gynecologic infection, history of gynecologic infection, hygienic habit, sex life, or use of medicine (P > 0.05). The incidence of chronic cervicitis in normal group (43%, 26/60) was higher than in VVC group (22%, 13/60; P < 0.05). (2) There was no difference in vaginal pH between the two groups (P > 0.05). (3) Detection rate of candida albicans by vaginal discharge routine examination was 72% (43/60). (4) The concentrations of interleukin (IL) 2, and IL-4 in vaginal lavage did not show significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05), but the concentrations of human defensin 5, human beta-defensin (HBD) 1, and HBD2 in VVC group [(0.94 +/- 0.44) mg/L, (3.1 +/- 0.4) microg/L, (10 +/- 6) microg/L] were higher than normal group (P < 0.05). VVC is a common vulvovaginitis. There is no significant correlation between the incidence of VVC and educational background, knowledge of gynecologic infection, history of gynecologic infection, hygienic habit, sex life, or use of medicine in the child-bearing period. Human defensin may be closely correlated with the pathogenesis of VVC.

A comparative study of oral candidal species carriage in patients with type1 and type2 diabetes mellitus

PubMed Central

Shenoy, Mangesh P; Puranik, Rudrayya S; Vanaki, Shrinivas S; Puranik, Surekha R; Shetty, Pushparaja; Shenoy, Radhika

2014-01-01

Context: Diabetes mellitus can have profound effects upon the oral tissues especially in patients with poor glycemic control being prone to severe and/or recurrent infections particularly candidiasis. The main aim was to study the association between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes mellitus and candidal carriage. Materials and Methods: The study design comprised of previously diagnosed 30 patients each with type 1 diabetes mellitus (Group A) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (Group B) and 30 age-, sex- and dental status-matched healthy non-diabetic individuals as controls (Group C). The saliva samples were collected and inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and chromogenic agar culture medium. Candidal colony forming units per ml (CFU/ml) values were determined. Statistical Analysis: Data were analyzed by χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Spearman's rank correlation and Karl Pearson's correlation coefficient. Results: Data analysis showed statistically significant higher positive candidal growth in Group A and Group B when compared to Group C. The CFU/ml values were significantly higher in Groups A and B as compared with Group C. Significant positive correlation of CFU/ml with fasting blood sugar level and HbA1c% in both Groups A and B was seen. Oral signs and symptoms observed in diabetics were dry mouth, burning sensation, fissuring and atrophic changes of tongue and erythematous areas, which positively correlated with candidal load. Conclusion: The glycemic control status of the diabetic patients may directly influence candidal colonization. The quantitative and biochemical characterization allows better insight into the study of association of diabetes mellitus and candida. PMID:25364182

Investigation on the music perception skills of Italian children with cochlear implants.

PubMed

Scorpecci, Alessandro; Zagari, Felicia; Mari, Giorgia; Giannantonio, Sara; D'Alatri, Lucia; Di Nardo, Walter; Paludetti, Gaetano

2012-10-01

To compare the music perception skills of a group of Italian-speaking children with cochlear implants to those of a group of normal hearing children; to analyze possible correlations between implanted children's musical skills and their demographics, clinical characteristics, phonological perception, and speech recognition and production abilities. 18 implanted children aged 5-12 years and a reference group of 23 normal-hearing subjects with typical language development were enrolled. Both groups received a melody identification test and a song (i.e. original version) identification test. The implanted children also received a test battery aimed at assessing speech recognition, speech production and phoneme discrimination. The implanted children scored significantly worse than the normal hearing subjects in both musical tests. In the cochlear implant group, phoneme discrimination abilities were significantly correlated with both melody and song identification skills, and length of device use was significantly correlated with song identification skills. Experience with device use and phonological perception had a moderate-to-strong correlation to implanted children's music perception abilities. In the light of these findings, it is reasonable to assume that a rehabilitation program specifically aimed at improving phonological perception could help pediatric cochlear implant recipients better understand the basic elements of music; moreover, a training aimed at improving the comprehension of the spectral elements of music could enhance implanted children's phonological skills. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stronger cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress is correlated with larger decrease in temporal sensitivity

PubMed Central

Yao, Zhuxi; Jiang, Caihong; Zhang, Kan; Wu, Jianhui

2016-01-01

As a fundamental dimension of cognition and behavior, time perception has been found to be sensitive to stress. However, how one’s time perception changes with responses to stress is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between stress-induced cortisol response and time perception. A group of 40 healthy young male adults performed a temporal bisection task before and after the Trier Social Stress Test for a stress condition. A control group of 27 male participants completed the same time perception task without stress induction. In the temporal bisection task, participants were first presented with short (400 ms) and long (1,600 ms) visual signals serving as anchor durations and then required to judge whether the intermediate probe durations were more similar to the short or the long anchor. The bisection point and Weber ratio were calculated and indicated the subjective duration and the temporal sensitivity, respectively. Data showed that participants in the stress group had significantly increased salivary cortisol levels, heart rates, and negative affects compared with those in the control group. The results did not show significant group differences for the subjective duration or the temporal sensitivity. However, the results showed a significant positive correlation between stress-induced cortisol responses and decreases in temporal sensitivity indexed by increases in the Weber ratio. This correlation was not observed for the control group. Changes in subjective duration indexed by temporal bisection points were not correlated with cortisol reactivity in both the groups. In conclusion, the present study found that although no significant change was observed in time perception after an acute stressor on the group-level comparison (i.e., stress vs. nonstress group), individuals with stronger cortisol responses to stress showed a larger decrease in temporal sensitivity. This finding may provide insight into the understanding of the relationship between stress and temporal sensitivity. PMID:27257544

Physical characteristics, blood hormone concentrations, and plasma lipid concentrations in obese horses with insulin resistance.

PubMed

Frank, Nicholas; Elliott, Sarah B; Brandt, Laura E; Keisler, Duane H

2006-05-01

To compare obese horses with insulin resistance (IR) with nonobese horses and determine whether blood resting glucose, insulin, leptin, and lipid concentrations differed between groups and were correlated with combined glucose-insulin test (CGIT) results. 7 obese adult horses with IR (OB-IR group) and 5 nonobese mares. Physical measurements were taken, and blood samples were collected after horses had acclimated to the hospital for 3 days. Response to insulin was assessed by use of the CGIT, and maintenance of plasma glucose concentrations greater than the preinjection value for > or = 45 minutes was used to define IR. Area under the curve values for glucose (AUC(g)) and insulin (AUC(i)) concentrations were calculated. Morgan, Paso Fino, Quarter Horse, and Tennessee Walking Horse breeds were represented in the OB-IR group. Mean neck circumference and BCS differed significantly between groups and were positively correlated with AUC values. Resting insulin and leptin concentrations were 6 and 14 times as high, respectively, in the OB-IR group, compared with the nonobese group, and were significantly correlated with AUC(g) and AUC(i). Plasma nonesterified fatty acid, very low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were significantly higher (86%, 104%, and 29%, respectively) in OB-IR horses, and HDL-C concentrations were positively correlated with AUC values. Measurements of neck circumference and resting insulin and leptin concentrations can be used to screen obese horses for IR. Dyslipidemia is associated with IR in obese horses.

Expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and gram-negative bacteria in symptomatic and asymptomatic periapical lesions.

PubMed

Ahmed, Geraldine M; El-Baz, Alaa A; Hashem, Ahmed Abdel Rahman; Shalaan, Abeer K

2013-04-01

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 is significantly elevated in patients with symptomatic apical periodontitis and to correlate this with the detected amount of gram-negative bacteria. Twenty-six patients with periapical lesions involving at least 2 teeth were included in this study. The patients were divided into 2 groups: the symptomatic (SYM) group included 13 patients expressing pain with periapical lesions, and the asymptomatic (ASYM) group included 13 patients expressing no pain. Root canal treatment was performed followed by endodontic surgery and periapical lesion collection. Periapical lesions were serially cut into 4-μ sections. Some sections were processed for histologic examination using hematoxylin-eosin stain. Other sections were processed for immunohistochemical examination. For MMP-9, the area fraction of the positive cells was measured, and the percentage of the MMP-9-immunopositive area to the total area of the microscopic field was calculated. For gram-negative stain cells, the number of cells showing the pink-red color was counted per microscopic field. The Student's t test was used to compare the SYM and ASYM groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to determine a significant correlation between the number of cells and the MMP-9 level. The significance level was set at P ≤ .05. The SYM group showed a statistically significantly higher mean number of gram-negative cells (P = .001) and MMP-9 area percent (P < .001) than the ASYM group. There was a statistically significant positive (r = .927) correlation between the number of gram-negative cells and the MMP-9 area percent (P< .001). There is good evidence to suspect a significant role of gram-negative bacteria and MMP-9 in symptomatic periapical lesions. Copyright © 2013 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[CD69 expression on T cell surface in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].

PubMed

Chen, Y H; Wang, P F; Wang, H J; Hu, X; Li, Z Y; Xiong, H Q

2017-02-20

Objective: To investigate the detection and significance of T cell CD69 expression in peripheral blood of patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Method: According to AHI, 81 OSAHS patients diagnosed by PSG were divided into 3 groups: light, medium and heavy, with 27 cases in each group; 27 patients without OSAHS as control group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression rate of CD69 in T cells, to analyze the correlation between the expression rate of CD69 on T cells and the gender, age, BMI, and PSG index. Result: ①The CD69 expression rate of T cells in peripheral blood of OSAHS patients with snoring degree increases gradually ( P < 0.05); Comparison between the two shows that there was no significant difference in CD69 expression rate on T cells between the control group and the mild group ( t = 1.649, P > 0.05); there were significant differences between the other groups ( P < 0.05). ②The CD69 expression rate of T cells in peripheral blood of OSAHS patients has no correlation with BMI, age and gender ( P > 0.05), were positively correlated with AHI, negatively correlated with LSaO₂ ( P < 0.01). ③The CD69 expression rate of T cells and AHI in 27 cases of severe OSAHS patients with a comprehensive treatment has significantly reduced, LSaO₂ increased significantly ( P < 0.01). Conclusion: Increased expression of CD69 in peripheral blood T cells may be one of the mechanisms of OSAHS complicated with cardiovascular disease. Detection of CD69 expression rate in T cells for reflecting the degree of disease in patients with OSAHS, assessment of risk of cardiovascular damage, have certain clinical significance. Copyright© by the Editorial Department of Journal of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

Oxidative stress and neurological disorders in relation to blood lead levels in children.

PubMed

Ahamed, M; Fareed, Mohd; Kumar, A; Siddiqui, W A; Siddiqui, M K J

2008-01-01

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. Free radical generation appears to be the mode of lead toxicity. We evaluated the effects of blood lead levels on oxidative stress parameters in children suffering from neurological disorders. Thirty children (aged 3-12 years) with neurological disorders (cerebral palsy [n = 12], seizures [n = 11], and encephalopathy [n = 7]) were recruited in the study group. Sixty healthy children (aged 3-12 years) from similar socio-economic environments and not suffering from any chronic disease were taken as the controls. Blood lead levels and oxidant/antioxidant status were determined. Mean blood lead level was significantly higher while delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (delta-ALAD) activity, a biomarker for lead exposure, was significantly lower in the study group as compared to the control group (P < 0.05 for each). Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, an end-product of lipid peroxidation, were significantly higher while the antioxidant glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly lower in the study group as compared to the control group (P < 0.05 for each). Activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly higher in the study group than those of the control group (P < 0.05 for each). There were significant negative correlations of blood lead levels with delta-ALAD (r = -0.35; P < 0.05) and GSH (r = -0.31; P < 0.05), and positive correlations with MDA (r = 0.37; P < 0.05), SOD (r = 0.53; P < 0.05), and CAT (r = 0.31; P < 0.05). In turn, delta-ALAD had significant negative correlations with MDA (r = -0.29; P < 0.05), SOD (r = -0.28; P < 0.05) and CAT (r = -0.34; P < 0.05), but positive correlation with GSH (r = 0.32; P < 0.05). Although a causal pathway can not be determined from the present study, our findings indicate lead-induced oxidative stress in blood of children with neurological disorders. Lead-induced oxidative stress as an underlying mechanism for neurological diseases in children warranted further investigation.

[Correlation between vertebral bone marrow fat and abdomen fat: a prospective study].

PubMed

Zhang, Xiao-Dong; Zhao, Yin-Xia; Zhao, Wen-Ji; Zhang, Ling-Yan; Yan, Jie-Wen; Hao, Shuai; Lu, Xiong-Guang; Zhao, Jing; Li, Shao-Lin

2016-02-01

To investigate the correlation between the lumbar bone marrow fat and abdominal fat. A total of 68 individuals (32 men and 36 women, aged 21-74 years with a median of 49.5 years) were included in this study. All the subjects underwent spectroscopic examination of the third lumber vertebra with the single voxel method on a 1.5T MR scanner to measure the fat fraction (FF%). Quantitative CT was also performed for measurement of the abdomen subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT). The measurements were compared between subjects aged ≥50 years and those below 50 years, respectively,in male or female subjects. In male subjects, BMI, FF%, VAT or SAT showed no significant differences between the two age groups (P>0.05), and FF% was not correlated with BMI, VAT or SAT (r=0.109, 0.034, 0.066, respectively; P>0.05). In the female subjects, BMI, FF%, VAT and SAT differed significantly between the two age groups (P<0.05), and in ≥50 years group, FF% showed a positive correlation with VAT (r=0.499, P<0.05) but was not correlated with SAT (r=0.221, P>0.05); in<50 years group, FF% was not correlated with VAT or SAT (r=0.076, -0.067, respectively; P>0.05). FF% is positively correlated with VAT in female subjects aged beyond 50 years, but is not correlated with VAT or SAT in male subjects or in younger female subjects.

Suicidal Ideation Versus Hopelessness/Helplessness in Healthy Individuals and in Patients with Benign Breast Disease and Breast Cancer: A Prospective Case-control Study in Finland.

PubMed

Eskelinen, Matti; Korhonen, Riika; Selander, Tuomas; Ollonen, Paula

2015-06-01

The relation between suicidal ideation versus hopelessness/helplessness in healthy study subjects (HSS) and in patients with benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer (BC) has not been compared to date in a prospective study. We, therefore, investigated suicidal ideation versus hopelessness/helplessness in 115 patients. In the Kuopio Breast Cancer Study, 115 women with breast symptoms were evaluated for hopelessness and helplessness versus suicidal/pessimistic thoughts before any diagnostic procedures were carried-out. In the self-rating score (SRS), hopelessness and the helplessness versus pessimistic thoughts were significantly correlated in the HSS, BBD and BC groups. In the SRS, the weighted kappa-values for hopelessness versus pessimistic thoughts in the BBD group were also statistically significant. There was also a significant positive correlation in the examiner-rating score (ERS) in the hopelessness versus pessimistic thoughts in the HSS, BBD and BC groups, as well as in the ERS, in the helplessness versus pessimistic thoughts in the HSS and BBD groups. In SRS, the hopelessness and the helplessness versus suicidal thoughts were significantly correlated in the HSS, BBD and BC groups. There was also a significant positive correlation in the ERS in the hopelessness versus suicidal thoughts in the HSS, BBD and BC groups, as well as in the ERS, in the helplessness versus suicidal thoughts in the BBD group. A new finding with clinical relevance in the present work is the agreement between hopelessness/helplessness versus suicidal/pessimistic thoughts in the self-rating and examiner-rating. In the breast cancer diagnostic Unit, the identification of suicidal ideation is essential in suicide prevention and it is important to assess and treat depression even though a subject reports little suicidal ideation. Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

Correlation analysis between expression of PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 and X-ray features in mammography in breast cancer.

PubMed

Qiu, Xiaoming; Mei, Jixin; Yin, Jianjun; Wang, Hong; Wang, Jinqi; Xie, Ming

2017-09-01

This study investigated expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), proliferation-associated nuclear antigen (Ki-67) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in tissues of breast invasive ductal carcinoma, and analyzed the correlations between these indexes and X-ray features in mammography. A total of 90 patients who were admitted to Huangshi Central Hospital and diagnosed as breast invasive ductal carcinoma from January 2014 to January 2016 were selected. The expression of PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 in cancer tissues and cancer-adjacent normal tissues of patients were detected by immunohistochemical staining, and X-ray features in mammography of patients were observed. By using Spearman correlation analysis, the correlations between expression of PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 and X-ray features in mammography in breast cancer were investigated. As a result, the positive expression rates of PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 in cancer tissues of the patient groups were respectively 42.2, 45.6 and 51.1%, which were significantly higher than those in cancer-adjacent normal tissues of the control group (p<0.05). PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 expression in cancer tissues of the patient group was associated with clinical staging and lymphatic metastasis (p<0.05), but had no correlation with age and tumor size (p>0.05). PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 expression in cancer tissues of the patient group had no correlation with the existence of lumps and localized density-increased shadows (p>0.05), but were associated with manifestations of architectural distortion, calcification as well as skin and nipple depression (p<0.05). Spearman correlation analysis revealed that there was a significantly positive correlation between the expression of PCNA and COX-2 in cancer tissues of the patient group (r=0.676, p<0.05); there was a significantly positive correlation between the expression of Ki-67 and COX-2 (r=0.724, p<0.05); PCNA expression had no obvious correlation with the expression of Ki-67 (p>0.05). In conclusion, PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 expression is of great significance in the occurrence, invasion and metastasis of breast invasive ductal carcinoma. There is a strong correlation between PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 expression levels and X-ray features in mammography in breast invasive ductal carcinoma. The application of X-ray features in mammography can evaluate the expression levels of PCNA, Ki-67 and COX-2 in tissues of breast invasive ductal carcinoma, thereby prospectively predicting biological behavior of these cancer cells and patient prognosis.

Caries prevalence in chronic alcoholics and the relationship to salivary flow rate and pH.

PubMed

Dukić, Walter; Dobrijević, Tanja Trivanović; Katunarić, Marina; Lesić, Stjepanka

2013-03-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the dental status of alcoholics; to evaluate the relationship of unstimulated and stimulated saliva pH on their decayed/missing/filled teeth (DMFT); and to evaluate the relationship of unstimulated and stimulated salivary flow rate on their DMFT. A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients treated for alcohol dependency (n = 70; mean age 41.7 years) and a control group of non-alcoholics (n = 70; mean age 39.1 years). Examinations for dental caries were conducted using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and questionnaires. The correlation between nominal variables was determined using chi2 test (alpha = 0.05). The correlation between interval variables was determined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. The mean DMFT was similar in alcoholics (14.40) and the control group (13.44) (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant correlation between alcoholism and unstimulated salivary flow rate (p < 0.05), but no relationship on DMFT was recorded. No statistically significant differences were found between alcoholics and controls in terms of stimulated salivary flow rate (p > 0.05) or stimulated salivary flow on DMFT (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant correlation between alcoholism and the pH value of stimulated saliva (p < 0.01). There was no correlation between the amount of alcohol consumed and the number of carious lesions (p > 0.05). No major differences were found with respect to overall DMFT in alcoholics compared to the control group. Alcoholism and stimulated salivary flow rate showed no correlation. Unstimulated salivary flow rate as well as the pH values of both unstimulated and stimulated saliva, were lower in the alcoholic group.

Emotional personality/proximity versus emotional authenticity in patient-physician communication in healthy study participants, and in patients with benign breast disease, and breast cancer: a prospective case-control study in Finland.

PubMed

Eskelinen, Matti; Korhonen, Riika; Selander, Tuomas; Ollonen, Paula

2015-03-01

The associations between emotional personality, proximity and authenticity in patient-physician communication during breast cancer (BC) consultations are rarely considered together in a prospective study. We, therefore, investigated emotional personality/proximity versus authenticity in patient-physician communication in healthy study subjects (HSS) and in patients with benign breast disease (BBD) and breast cancer (BC). In the Kuopio Breast Cancer Study, 115 women with breast symptoms were evaluated regarding emotional personality, proximity and authenticity in their a patient-physician communication before any diagnostic procedures were carried-out. The emotional personality and the emotional proximity in patient-physician communication was highly significantly positively correlated in the BBD group. The kappa-values for emotional personality versus emotional proximity in the HSS, BBD and BC groups were statistically significant. There was also a highly significant positive correlation between emotional personality and emotional authenticity in the HSS, BBD and BC groups and the kappa values in the HSS, BBD and BC groups were statistically significant. There was a highly significant positive correlation between emotional proximity and emotional authenticity in the BBD group, and the weighted kappa-values in the BBD group were statistically significant. The results of the present study support a powerful link between emotional personality/proximity and emotional authenticity, and provides new information in patient-physician communication in the HSS, BBD and BC groups. This finding is of clinical importance, since during breast disease consultation, barriers to patient-physician communication may be associated with difficulties in early BC diagnosis in the breast cancer diagnostic unit. Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

Terrestrial predator alarm vocalizations are a valid monitor of stress in captive brown capuchins (Cebus apella)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Boinski, S.; Gross, T.S.; Davis, J.K.

1999-01-01

The vocal behavior of captive animals is increasingly exploited as an index of well-being. Here we show that the terrestrial predator alarm (TPA) vocalization, a robust and acoustically distinctive anti-predation vocal response present in many mammal and bird species, offers useful information on the relative well-being and stress levels of captive animals. In a 16-week experiment evaluating the effects of varying levels of physical environmental enrichment (control < toys < foraging box < foraging box and toys) in the cages of eight singly housed adult male brown capuchins, we quantified the 1) emission rate of TPAs, 2) proportions of normal and abnormal behavior sample intervals, and 3) fecal and plasma cortisol levels. Variation in TPA emission across the experimental conditions was significant. We found significant reductions in the mean TPA production rate by the group in the enriched (toys, foraging box, and foraging box and toys) compared to the control condition; pre-and post-experimental conditions, however, did not differ from the control condition. Mean TPA production by the group was also significantly positively correlated to mean group levels of fecal cortisol and proportion of abnormal behavior sample intervals, and significantly negatively correlated to the average proportion of normal behavior sample intervals in the group. Based on group means, plasma cortisol levels were positively, but not significantly, related to increasing TPA rate. At the level of the responses of an individual subject, however, the covariation between the vocal and non-vocal behavioral measures and the cortisol assays seldom attained significance. Nevertheless, the direction of the relationships among these parameters within individual subjects typically mirrored those correlations based on group means. At both the group mean and individual levels, our results are consistent with the.

Amniotic fluid cortisol and alpha-fetoprotein in normal and aneuploid pregnancies.

PubMed

Drugan, A; Subramanian, M G; Johnson, M P; Evans, M I

1988-01-01

Cortisol and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were measured in amniotic fluid (AF) samples at 15-20 weeks of gestation from 125 normal pregnancies and 29 pregnancies affected by aneuploidy. The normal pregnancy group was further subdivided into 'low' AF-AFP (less than 0.6 MOM, n = 60) and 'normal' AF-AFP (0.6 less than AFP less than 1.4 MOM, n = 65). A significant, inverse, linear correlation was found between cortisol and AF-AFP for both normal AFP and low AFP groups (r = -0.26, and r = -0.4, respectively, p less than 0.05). Gestational age was significantly correlated with both cortisol and AFP levels in the normal pregnancy groups. No difference was found when cortisol levels were compared between the low and normal AFP groups. The correlation between cortisol and AFP in aneuploid pregnancies was not significant (p = 0.37). The strong association between cortisol or AFP and gestational age in normal pregnancy (p less than 0.00001) was lost in trisomic gestation. We conclude that higher cortisol levels do not seem to be the cause of low AFP in normal or aneuploid pregnancies.

Comparison of corneal biomechanics in Sjögren's syndrome and non-Sjögren's syndrome dry eyes by Scheimpflug based device.

PubMed

Long, Qin; Wang, Jing-Yi; Xu, Dong; Li, Ying

2017-01-01

To compare the corneal biomechanics of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and non-SS dry eyes with Corneal Visualization Scheimpflug Technology (CorVis ST). Corneal biomechanics and tear film parameters, namely the Schirmer I test value, tear film break-up time (TBUT) and corneal staining score (CSS) were detected in 34 eyes of 34 dry eye patients with SS (SSDE group) and 34 dry eye subjects without SS (NSSDE group) using CorVis ST. The differences of the above parameters between the two groups were examined, and the relationship between corneal biomechanics and tear film parameters were observed. The differences in age, sex, intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) were not significant between the two groups ( P >0.05). The tear film parameters had significant differences between the SSDE group and NSSDE group (all P <0.05). Patients in the SSDE group had significantly lower A1-time and HC-time, but higher DA ( P =0.01, 0.02, and 0.02, respectively) compared with the NSSDE group. In the SSDE group, DA was negatively correlated with TBUT ( rho =-0.38, P =0.03); HC-time was negatively correlated with CSS ( rho =-0.43, P =0.02). In the NSSDE group, HC-time was again negatively correlated with CSS ( rho =-0.39, P =0.02). There are differences in corneal biomechanical properties between SSDE and NSSDE. The cornea of SSDE tends to show less "stiffness", as seen by a significantly shorter A1-time and HC-time, but larger DA, compared with the cornea of NSSDE. Biomechanical parameters can be influenced by different tear film parameters in both groups.

Validity of Peer Evaluation for Team-Based Learning in a Dental School in Japan.

PubMed

Nishigawa, Keisuke; Hayama, Rika; Omoto, Katsuhiro; Okura, Kazuo; Tajima, Toyoko; Suzuki, Yoshitaka; Hosoki, Maki; Ueda, Mayu; Inoue, Miho; Rodis, Omar Marianito Maningo; Matsuka, Yoshizo

2017-12-01

The aim of this study was to determine the validity of peer evaluation for team-based learning (TBL) classes in dental education in comparison with the term-end examination records and TBL class scores. Examination and TBL class records of 256 third- and fourth-year dental students in six fixed prosthodontics courses from 2013 to 2015 in one dental school in Japan were investigated. Results of the term-end examination during those courses, individual readiness assurance test (IRAT), group readiness assurance test (GRAT), group assignment projects (GAP), and peer evaluation of group members in TBL classes were collected. Significant positive correlations were found between all combinations of peer evaluation, IRAT, and term-end examination. Individual scores also showed a positive correlation with group score (total of GRAT and GAP). From the investigation of the correlations in the six courses, significant positive correlations between peer evaluation and individual score were found in four of the six courses. In this study, peer evaluation seemed to be a valid index for learning performance in TBL classes. To verify the effectiveness of peer evaluation, all students have to realize the significance of scoring the team member's performance. Clear criteria and detailed instruction for appropriate evaluation are also required.

Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Levels in Term Newborns with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy.

PubMed

Umran, Raid M R; Al-Tahir, Mahir; Jagdish, Desai; Chouthai, Nitin

2016-06-01

Objective This study aims to evaluate the correlation of changes in serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels with the clinical staging of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in term newborns. Study Design A prospective study of 29 newborns with HIE (stage I = 15, stage II + III = 14) and 28 healthy term newborns as the control group was performed in the neonatal intensive care unit. IGF-1 levels were obtained within 6 hours after birth from HIE and control groups and again on day 3 from HIE group. HIE was classified using the Sarnat staging I to III. Results IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in the HIE group than in the control group (p = 0.024). It was lower in the HIE stage II to III group compared with HIE stage I group at birth (p < 0.0001) and on day 3 (p = 0.009). The mean IGF-1 levels were significantly higher on day 3 than on day 1 among stage II to III HIE (p = 0.006) and it was inversely correlated with staging (R =  - 0.475, p = 0.009). There was a significant correlation between IGF-1 levels and Apgar score at 5 (R = 0.39, p = 0.042) and 10 minutes (R = 0.38, p = 0.035). Conclusions IGF-1 was lower in HIE and inversely correlated with clinical staging. It was increased with clinical improvement in the subsequent days. Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Student-centered tutoring as a model for patient-centeredness and empathy.

PubMed

Meirovich, Adaya; Ber, Rosalie; Moore, Michael; Rotschild, Avi

2016-01-01

Curriculum planners and medical teachers attempt to enhance medical students' empathy and patient-centeredness. Despite educational efforts, there is stability in medical students' empathy and patient-centered medicine during the preclinical stage and a decline in both of them throughout the clinical years. Student-tutor relationship plays a key role in students' learning. This study tests the effect of learner-centered tutoring on students' empathy, patient-centeredness, and behavior. The cohort of 55 students was divided into groups of seven or eight. The experimental group's tutors underwent LC mentoring. Empathy was assessed with the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy for Students; PC attitude was assessed with the Patient-Provider Orientation Scale (PPOS). Behavior was assessed by simulations of doctor-patient encounters with 32 students at the end of the third year. Each student participated in three such simulations, during which we analyzed ten aspects of physician-patient communication via Roter interaction analysis system (RIAS)-coded audiotapes. A significant group difference was found for three RIAS categories: building a relationship and patient-centeredness, where the mean percentage of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and gathering data, where the mean percentage of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. A significant correlation was found in the experimental group between empathy and positive talk and between PPOS and three of the RIAS categories: gathering data, psychosocial talk, and patient-centeredness. A significant negative correlation was found in the experimental group between PPOS and two of the RIAS categories: negative talk and doctor-centeredness. Two significant negative correlations were found in the control group: between empathy and patient-centeredness and PPOS and negative talk. The LC approach supports two of the RIAS categories, corresponding to clinical empathy and PC care and the link between certain behaviors and the PPOS.

Direct and indirect markers of cartilage metabolism in synovial fluid obtained from dogs with hip dysplasia and correlation with clinical and radiographic variables.

PubMed

Fujita, Yukihiro; Hara, Yasushi; Nezu, Yoshinori; Yamaguchi, Shinya; Schulz, Kurt S; Tagawa, Masahiro

2005-12-01

To compare activities of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 and contents of sulfated glycosaminoglycan (S-GAG) in joint fluid obtained from dogs with hip dysplasia (HD) and clinically normal dogs, evaluate correlations among these markers in joint fluid obtained from dogs with HD, and evaluate correlations between each marker and clinical and radiographic variables. Animals-26 dogs with HD (clinical group) and 43 clinically normal Beagles (control group). Joint fluid was aseptically collected from the hip joints of all dogs. For each dog in the clinical group, age, duration of lameness, radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) score, and Norberg angle in each affected joint were recorded. Activities of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and MMP-3 and S-GAG contents were measured. Values were compared between groups by use of Mann-Whitney U tests, and the Spearman rank correlation test was used to evaluate correlations among markers and between each marker and clinical or radiographic variables. Values of all markers were significantly higher for the clinical group, compared with values for the control group. There was a moderate positive correlation between lameness duration and IL-6 activity and a strong negative correlation between the Norberg angle and IL-1beta activity. Analysis of our results indicated that there was a significant increase in markers of OA in dogs with HD. Activities of IL-1beta and IL-6 in joint fluid of dogs with HD may be influenced by the severity of laxity in the hip joint and lameness duration, respectively.

Amygdalar volumetric correlates of social anxiety in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Park, Min-Hyeon; Garrett, Amy; Boucher, Spencer; Howe, Meghan; Sanders, Erica; Kim, Eunjoo; Singh, Manpreet; Chang, Kiki

2015-11-30

The prevalence of social anxiety disorder is high in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder (BD) and anxiety may be a significant risk factor in these youth for developing BD. We compared social anxiety symptoms between BD offspring with mood symptoms (high-risk group for developing BD I or II: HR) and healthy controls (HC). We also explored the correlations between the amygdalar volumes and social anxiety symptoms in the HR group with high social anxiety scores (HRHSA) due to the potential involvement of the amygdala in the pathophysiology of both BD and social anxiety. Youth participating in the study included 29h and 17HC of comparable age and gender. To assess social anxiety symptoms, we used the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) social anxiety subscale. The HR group's MASC social anxiety score was significantly higher than that of the HC group. Among the 29h, 17 subjects (58.6%) showed high social anxiety and they were classified as the HRHSA group. No significant difference was observed in amygdalar volume between the HRHSA and HC groups. However, there were significant negative correlations between amydalar volumes and MASC social anxiety score in the HRHSA group. These findings have implications for the link between amygdalar structure and both anxiety and mood control. This link may serve to implicate high social anxiety as a risk marker for future BD development. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Biological effects of RNAi targeted inhibiting Tiam1 gene expression on cholangiocarcinoma cells.

PubMed

Cheng, Wei; Liu, Yaling; Zuo, Zhi; Yin, Xinmin; Jiang, Bo; Chen, Daojin; Peng, Chuang; Yang, Jianhui

2015-01-01

To investigate the characteristics of Tiam1 gene expression in human cholangiocarcinoma tissues and benign bile duct tissues, and to analyze the correlations between Tiam1 gene expression and the degree of tumor differentiation, invasive and metastatic abilities. To explore the effect of targeted inhibiting Tiam1 gene expression on proliferation and migration activity of human cholangiocarcinoma cells. Expression of Tiam1 in 83 cases of cholangiocarcinoma tissues and 25 cases of benign bile tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry. The clinical data of patients with cholangiocarcinoma were collected. The correlations between Tiam1 gene expression and the clinicopathologic features in patients with cholangiocarcinoma were analyzed. The human cholangiocarcinoma RBE cells were divided into 3 groups. Cells in experimental group and control group were respectively transfected with Tiam1 shRNA lentiviral vectors and negative shRNA lentiviral control vectors. Cells in blank group received no treatment. Real-time PCR endogenesis was used to verify Tiam1 gene expression. Cell cycle experiments and MTT assay were used to measure cell proliferation activity. Transwell test was used to detect cell migration activity. The negative rate Tiam1 protein expression in cholangiocarcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in benign bile tissues (P<0.001). Tiam1 protein expression in cholangiocarcinoma tissues had correlations with cholangiocarcinoma differentiation degree, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), and had no significant correlations with gender, age and distant metastasis (P>0.05). Real-time PCR detection indicated that Tiam1 expression of experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05), demonstrating that Tiam1 shRNA was effective on Tiam1 gene silencing in RBE cells. Cell cycle experiment showed that the percentage of S phase in cell cycle in experimental group was lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05), demonstrating that after the down-regulation of Tiam1 gene expression, the speed of cell proliferation was inhibited. MTT assay results showed that the total growth speed in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05), indicating that the proliferation activity of cholangiocarcinoma cells was inhibited after targeted inhibition of Tiam1 gene expression. Transwell detection results showed that the metastasis rate in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05), demonstrating that targeted inhibition of Tiam1 gene expression could significantly inhibit migration ability of RBE cells. Tiam1 expression significantly increased in cholangiocarcinoma tissues, and increased along with the degree of malignancy of cholangiocarcinoma. Targeted silencing Tiam1 expression could inhibit proliferation and migration activity of cholangiocarcinoma cells.

Biological effects of RNAi targeted inhibiting Tiam1 gene expression on cholangiocarcinoma cells

PubMed Central

Cheng, Wei; Liu, Yaling; Zuo, Zhi; Yin, Xinmin; Jiang, Bo; Chen, Daojin; Peng, Chuang; Yang, Jianhui

2015-01-01

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of Tiam1 gene expression in human cholangiocarcinoma tissues and benign bile duct tissues, and to analyze the correlations between Tiam1 gene expression and the degree of tumor differentiation, invasive and metastatic abilities. To explore the effect of targeted inhibiting Tiam1 gene expression on proliferation and migration activity of human cholangiocarcinoma cells. Methods: Expression of Tiam1 in 83 cases of cholangiocarcinoma tissues and 25 cases of benign bile tissues was detected using immunohistochemistry. The clinical data of patients with cholangiocarcinoma were collected. The correlations between Tiam1 gene expression and the clinicopathologic features in patients with cholangiocarcinoma were analyzed. The human cholangiocarcinoma RBE cells were divided into 3 groups. Cells in experimental group and control group were respectively transfected with Tiam1 shRNA lentiviral vectors and negative shRNA lentiviral control vectors. Cells in blank group received no treatment. Real-time PCR endogenesis was used to verify Tiam1 gene expression. Cell cycle experiments and MTT assay were used to measure cell proliferation activity. Transwell test was used to detect cell migration activity. Results: The negative rate Tiam1 protein expression in cholangiocarcinoma tissues was significantly higher than that in benign bile tissues (P<0.001). Tiam1 protein expression in cholangiocarcinoma tissues had correlations with cholangiocarcinoma differentiation degree, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), and had no significant correlations with gender, age and distant metastasis (P>0.05). Real-time PCR detection indicated that Tiam1 expression of experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05), demonstrating that Tiam1 shRNA was effective on Tiam1 gene silencing in RBE cells. Cell cycle experiment showed that the percentage of S phase in cell cycle in experimental group was lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05), demonstrating that after the down-regulation of Tiam1 gene expression, the speed of cell proliferation was inhibited. MTT assay results showed that the total growth speed in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05), indicating that the proliferation activity of cholangiocarcinoma cells was inhibited after targeted inhibition of Tiam1 gene expression. Transwell detection results showed that the metastasis rate in experimental group was significantly lower than that in control group and blank group (P<0.05), demonstrating that targeted inhibition of Tiam1 gene expression could significantly inhibit migration ability of RBE cells. Conclusion: Tiam1 expression significantly increased in cholangiocarcinoma tissues, and increased along with the degree of malignancy of cholangiocarcinoma. Targeted silencing Tiam1 expression could inhibit proliferation and migration activity of cholangiocarcinoma cells. PMID:26884821

[Correlation analysis of the pre-pregnant body mass index, the gestational weight gain and umbilical cord blood C peptide].

PubMed

Chen, X L; Han, Y; Zhao, X M; Liu, Y; Lü, J J

2017-01-03

Objective: To explore the correlation among the pre-pregnant body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain (GWG) and umbilical cord blood C peptide, and to investigate the influence of maternal weight management on the incidence of baby long-term metabolic syndrome. Methods: During May to Aug.2015, 485 pregnant women in Zhejiang Taizhou first people's hospital and Taizhou Huangyan maternal &child care service centre were selected in random and divided into four groups according to pre-pregnant BMI: low body mass, normal body mass, over body mass and obese group, and also divided into two groups for getting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or not. According to the gestational weight gain (GWG), all the cases were divided into two groups: above the Institute Of Medicine (IMO) 2009 recommendations or not. According to the outcome, the GDM group which had received weight control treatment, was divided into successful treat group or not. At last, we tested the umbilical cord blood C peptide and birth weight of each newborn and compared the difference in all subgroups. The correlation between the umbilical cord blood C peptide and birth weight were analysed. Results: (1) In the pre-pregnant BMI groups, there were significant differences of incidence of GDM ( P <0.05). But, there were no significant differences of incidence of GWG in four groups ( P >0.05). (2) Newborn birth weight and the umbilical cord blood C peptide were positively correlated ( r =0.673, P <0.05). (3) Umbilical cord blood C peptide showed the correlation in all subgroups for different pre-pregnant BMI, GDM or not, overweight or not ( P <0.05), but only the GDM or not group had relation to newborn birth weight in all subgroups. (4) All groups showed correlations with neonatal umbilical cord blood C peptide, the GDM mostly (β=0.58), pre-pregnant BMI secondly (β: 0.36, 0.38) , and GWG weakly (β=0.17). (5) By stratification analysis, in GDM group, low body mass was negatively correlated with umbilical cord blood C peptide ( P <0.05, β=-1.41); in non-GDM group, over body mass group and obsess group were positively correlated with umbilical cord blood C peptide ( P <0.05, β=0.37, 0.46). Conclusion: There was direct correlation between the pre-pregnant body mass index, the gestational weight gain and umbilical cord blood C peptide. Suitable maternal weight control especially pre-pregnant body mass index control will lower the baby long-term metabolic syndrome incidence.

Correlation between serum lead and thyroid diseases: papillary thyroid carcinoma, nodular goiter, and thyroid adenoma.

PubMed

Li, Hui; Li, Xiang; Liu, Jie; Jin, Langping; Yang, Fan; Wang, Junbo; Wang, Ouchen; Gao, Ying

2017-10-01

Studies have showed that lead was associated with human health. However, the effects of lead on thyroid functions are inconsistent, and studies based on Chinese population are fragmentary. To evaluate the correlation between lead and thyroid functions of Chinese with different thyroid diseases, we conducted a hospital-based study. Ninety-six papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 10 nodular goiter (NG), and 7 thyroid adenoma (TA) patients were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China. Serum triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxin (FT4), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) were evaluated with chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Serum lead was assessed with ICP-MASS. Partial correlation was used to explore the correlations of serum lead and thyroid diseases. Compared to PTC, the level of lead was significantly higher in TA, and lower in NG (p < 0.05). This difference remained significant in females when stratified by sex. Serum lead was negatively correlated with TSH (r s  =  - 0.27, p < 0.05) in PTC group. T3 was positively related to lead at quartile4 (r s  = 0.61, p < 0.05) in PTC group. No significant correlations were observed between lead and FT3 or FT4 in any group. The results suggested that lead might have different etiological roles in these three thyroid diseases.

Intelligence or years of education: which is better correlated with memory function in normal elderly Japanese subjects?

PubMed

Murayama, Norio; Iseki, Eizo; Tagaya, Hirokuni; Ota, Kazumi; Kasanuki, Koji; Fujishiro, Hiroshige; Arai, Heii; Sato, Kiyoshi

2013-03-01

We compared differences in intelligence and memory function between normal elderly Japanese subjects with more years of education and those with fewer years of education. We also investigated clinical and neuropsychological factors that are strongly correlated with memory function. There were 118 normal elderly subjects who underwent the Mini-Mental State Examination, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, 3rd edition (WAIS-III), and Wechsler Memory Scale Revised. Subjects with at least 13 years of education were categorized as the H group, and those with 12 years of education or less were categorized as the L group. Age and Mini-Mental State Examination scores were not significantly different between the two groups. On the WAIS-III, there were significant differences between the two groups in Verbal IQ and Full Scale IQ. On the Wechsler Memory Scale Revised, there were significant differences between the two groups in Visual Memory, General Memory, and Delayed Recall. Correlation coefficients between memory function and the other factors demonstrated significant but weak correlations between years of education and General Memory (R = 0.22) and between years of education and Delayed Recall (R = 0.20). Strong correlations were found between Verbal IQ and Verbal Memory (R = 0.45), between Verbal IQ and General Memory (R = 0.49), between Full Scale IQ and General Memory (R = 0.50) and between Full Scale IQ and Delayed Recall (R = 0.48). In normal elderly Japanese subjects, years of education weakly correlated with memory function while Verbal IQ, Full Scale IQ and Verbal Comprehension on WAIS-III had stronger correlations with memory function. Verbal IQ and Verbal Comprehension on WAIS-III were found to be insusceptible to the cognitive decline characteristic of Alzheimer's disease or amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Therefore, verbal intelligence, as measured by Verbal IQ and Verbal Comprehension, may be the most useful factor for inferring premorbid memory function in Alzheimer's disease or amnestic mild cognitive impairment patients. © 2013 The Authors. Psychogeriatrics © 2013 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society.

The correlation between plasma osmolarity and tear osmolarity.

PubMed

Kobayashi, Maika; Igarashi, Tsutomu; Takahashi, Hisatomo; Fujimoto, Chiaki; Suzuki, Hisaharu; Takahashi, Hiroshi

2018-04-01

To the correlation between plasma osmolarity (Posm) and tear osmolarity (Tosm) in patients (54 patients, 88 eyes) who underwent cataract surgery was evaluated. Before cataract surgery, routine pre-operative biochemical tests were performed, and Posm was determined from blood samples. Also, Tosm was measured using the TearLab system, and objective signs including tear break-up time (BUT), fluorescein staining, lissamine green staining, and Schirmer's test were evaluated. Dry eye (DE) was diagnosed according to the Japanese criteria for DE. Of the 88 eyes, 4 were diagnosed as definite DE, 70 as probable DE, and 14 as normal. Since the number of definite DE was small, the eyes were divided into two groups: normal group (n = 14) and DE group (n = 74), which included definite DE (n = 4) and probable DE (n = 70). There was no correlation between Posm and Tosm, though Posm (293.32 mOsm/L) was significantly higher than Tosm (288.48 mOsm/L; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in Tosm between the normal group (288.29 mOsm/L) and the DE group (288.51 mOsm/L). No patients had a Tosm higher than 310 mOsm/L even in the DE group. Correlations between Posm/Tosm and each DE sign value were not found. Of 54 patients, 18 were diabetic. Posm was significantly higher in diabetic (295.78 mOsm/L) than in non-diabetic (292.36 mOsm/L; p = 0.014) patients, while there was no significant difference in Tosm between diabetic and non-diabetic patients. The results suggest that Tosm is independent of Posm, and Tosm elevation in DE occurs by some local mechanisms.

Correlation of serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 and Klotho protein levels with bone mineral density in maintenance hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

Zheng, Shubei; Chen, Yan; Zheng, Yu; Zhou, Zhihong; Li, Zhanyuan

2018-04-17

The correlation of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and Klotho protein levels with bone mineral density (BMD) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients was analyzed. Between January 2015 and November 2015, 125 MHD patients in our hospital were enrolled. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to examine the BMD in the femoral neck and lumbar spine of MHD patients. The patients were divided into three groups: a normal bone mass group, an osteopenia group, and an osteoporosis group. An ELISA was performed to measure serum FGF-23, Klotho protein, and 1,25(OH) 2 VitD 3 levels. Other parameters, including calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), and parathyroid hormone, were also measured. Of the 125 MHD patients, 82.40% of patients had femoral neck osteopenia, and 56.00% of patients had lumbar spinal osteopenia. The serum FGF-23 level was highest in the osteoporosis group. However, there was no significant difference in serum FGF-23 levels among the three groups, depending on femoral neck and lumbar spinal BMD (P > 0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis also pointed to a lack of correlation between serum FGF-23 levels and BMD. Among the three groups, there were significant differences in serum Klotho protein levels and femoral neck BMD (P < 0.05). Serum Klotho protein levels in the osteoporosis group were clearly lower than those in the normal bone mass group and osteopenia group (P < 0.05). Similarly, serum Klotho protein levels were significantly lower in those with lumbar spinal osteopenia as compared with those in the normal group. There was a positive correlation between serum Klotho protein levels and BMD and T values for the femoral neck and lumbar spine. The results of a multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the serum Klotho protein level was one of the main factors affecting BMD in MHD patients. The serum level of FGF-23 was not correlated with a change in BMD of MHD patients, whereas the serum Klotho protein level was associated with the degree of BMD. A high Klotho protein level may decrease the severity of chronic kidney disease and mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) in MHD patients with low BMD.

Markers of oxidative/nitrative damage of plasma proteins correlated with EDSS and BDI scores in patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Morel, Agnieszka; Bijak, Michał; Niwald, Marta; Miller, Elżbieta; Saluk, Joanna

2017-11-01

The objective of the present study was to evaluate oxidative/nitrative stress in the plasma of 50 patients suffering from the secondary progressive course of multiple sclerosis (MS), and to verify its correlation with physical and mental disability as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Oxidative and nitrative damage to proteins was determined by the level of carbonyl groups and 3-nitrotyrosine using ELISA test. Based on the reaction with Ellman's reagent, we estimated the concentration of oxidized thiol groups. Additionally, we measured the level of lipid peroxidation. In plasma drawn from MS patients, we observed a significantly higher level of 3-NT (92%; P < 0.0003), carbonyl groups (29%; P < 0.0001) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (73%; P < 0.0001), as well as a lower concentration of thiol groups (33%; P < 0.0001), in comparison to healthy subjects. We noted positive correlations between the level of carbonyl groups or 3-NT and both diagnostic parameters, EDSS and BDI. Negative correlations were observed between concentration of -SH groups and EDSS and BDI. Our results indicate that impaired red-ox balance can significantly promote neurodegeneration in secondary progressive MS.

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.

Estimation of the 24-h urinary protein excretion based on the estimated urinary creatinine output.

PubMed

Ubukata, Masamitsu; Takei, Takashi; Nitta, Kosaku

2016-06-01

The urinary protein/creatinine ratio [Up/Ucr (g/gCr)] has been used in the clinical management of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, a discrepancy is often noted between the Up/Ucr and 24-h urinary protein excretion [24hUp (g/day)] in patients with extremes of muscle mass. We examined devised a method for precise estimation of the 24-h urinary protein excretion (E-24hUp) based on estimation of 24-h urinary creatinine output (E-24hCr). Three parameters, spot Up/Ucr, 24hUP and E-24hUp (=Up/Ucr × E-24hCr), were determined in 116 adult patients with CKD. The correlations among the groups were analyzed. There was a significant correlation between the Up/Ucr and 24hUp (p < 0.001). We divided the patients into three groups according to the 24hUp; the low urinary protein group (<1.0 g/day), the intermediate urinary protein group (1.0-3.5 g/day), and the high urinary protein group (>3.5 g/day). There was a significant correlation between the Up/Ucr and 24hUp in the low (p = 0.04) and high urinary protein (p = 0.01) groups, whereas the correlation coefficient was lower in the intermediate urinary protein (p = 0.07) group. Thus, we found a significant correlation between 24hUp and E-24hUp in the study population overall (p < 0.001), in the low (p = 0.01), in the intermediate (p < 0.001), and in the high urinary protein group (p < 0.001). We conclude that a poor correlation exists between the Up/Ucr and 24hUp in patients with intermediate urinary protein excretion levels. The recommended parameter for monitoring proteinuria in such patients may be the E-24hUp, which is calculated using the E-24hCr.

[Comparison of single-indicator thermodilution versus gravimetric measurement in determination of extra-vascular lung water in dogs with acute respiratory distress syndrome].

PubMed

Shen, Ju-fang; Qiu, Hai-bo; Yang, Yi; Liu, Song-qiao; Chen, Yong-ming; Li, Jia-qiong; Wu, Bin; Ding, Hui-min

2006-06-01

To compare the measurement of extra-vascular lung water (EVLW) by a single-indicator dilution technique and measurement obtained by gravimetry in different types of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Thirty-three dogs were randomly assigned to three groups: control group, oleic acid group and hydrochloric acid group. ARDS was reproduced by either intravenous injection of oleic acid or intratracheal instillation of hydrochloric acid. EVLW was measured before ARDS, at the onset of ARDS and 10 hours after ARDS by a single indicator dilution technique. Ten hours after ARDS, dogs were sacrificed and then EVLW was quantitated by a gravimetric measurement (golden standard). Hemodynamics and pulmonary gas exchange were determined. There was a close positive correlation (r=0.8820, P<0.05) between single indicator dilution and gravimetric measurements. However, the measurement with the single indicator dilution was consistently higher than the gravimetric measurement. In the control group, there was a positive correlation (r=0.9870, P<0.05) between the values of EVLW as measured by single indicator dilution and by gravimetric measurements. In the oleic acid group, there was also a significant correlation (r=0.9360, P<0.05) between the values of EVLW as measured by single indicator dilution and by gravimetric measurements. In the hydrochloric acid group, correlation (r=0.7950, P<0.05) was also found between EVLW as measured by the two methods. However, the correlation found was lower in the hydrochloric acid group than those in other two groups. Hydrochloric acid instillation resulted in a significant increase in shunting and the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in artery (PaCO(2)) compared with oleic acid group at 10 hours after ARDS. The results of measuring EVLW using single indicator dilution measurement are closely related with those of gravimetric measurement in ARDS, however, the correlations varies with the methods of reproduction of ARDS.

[Expressions of EMMPRIN and its ligand CyPA in gingival crevicular fluid of chronic periodontitis patients].

PubMed

He, Yan-ping; Xie, Ming; Jiao, Ting

2016-02-01

To detect the expressions of EMMPRIN and its ligand CyPA in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and explore their possible relation to the status of periodontal inflammation. GCF of CP patients (group CP) and periodontitis-free patients with intact dentition (the control group) were collected and assayed for EMMPRIN and CyPA expressions by ELISA. The clinical periodontal status of these patients were examined. Statistical analysis was performed by use of SPSS 17.0 software package. Spearman's correlation analysis was utilized to determine the relationships between the expressions of EMMPRIN and CyPA in GCF and the clinical parameters. In addition, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparing the difference between group CP and the control group. In group CP, GCF volume was positively correlated with EMMPRIN total amount, CyPA total amount and some clinical periodontal indexes (GI,SBI,AL). EMMPRIN total amount was positively correlated with GCF volume, CyPA total amount and some of clinical periodontal indexes (GI,SBI,AL), but it was negatively correlated with smoking status (P<0.05). Moreover, CyPA total amount was positively correlated with GCF volume, EMMPRIN total amount and some of clinical periodontal indexes (GI,SBI,AL). In the control group,there were significant positive correlations among GCF volume, EMMPRIN total amount and CyPA total amount. The difference of GCF, EMMPRIN and CyPA between the 2 groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). EMMPRIN and its ligand CyPA in GCF of periodontitis-free patients with intact dentition and CP patients were all detected. As the progress of periodontal inflammation, GCF secretion increases, as well as the expressions of EMMPRIN and CyPA in GCF.

Changes in mineral composition of eggshells from black ducks and mallards fed DDE in the diet

USGS Publications Warehouse

Longcore, J.R.; Samson, F.B.; Kreitzer, J.F.; Spann, J.W.

1971-01-01

Diets containing 10 and 30 ppm (dry weight) DDE were fed to black ducks, and diets containing 1, 5, and 10 ppm (dry weight) DDE were fed to mallards. Among the results were the following changes in black duck eggshell composition: (a) significant increase in the percentage of Mg, (b) significant decreases in Ba and Sr, (c) increases (which approached significance) in average percentage of eggshell Na and Cu, (d) a decrease in shell Ca which approached significance, (e) patterns of mineral correlations which in some instances were distinct to dosage groups, and (f) inverse correlations in the control group between eggshell thickness Mg and Na. Changes in mallard eggshells were: (a) significant increase in percentage of magnesium at 5 and 10 ppm DDE, (b) significant decrease in Al at 5 and 10 ppm DDE, (c) a significant decrease in Ca from eggshells from the 10 ppm DDE group, and (d) an increase in average percentage of Na in eggshells from DDE dosed ducks which approached significance.

Apparent diffusion coefficient on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in bladder cancer: relations with recurrence/progression risk

PubMed Central

Kikuchi, Ken; Shigihara, Takeshi; Hashimoto, Yuko; Miyajima, Masayuki; Haga, Nobuhiro; Kojima, Yoshiyuki; Shishido, Fumio

2017-01-01

Abstract AIMS: To evaluate the relationship between the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value for bladder cancer and the recurrence/progression risk of post-transurethral resection (TUR). METHODS: Forty-one patients with initial and non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer underwent MRI from 2009 to 2012. Two radiologists measured ADC values. A pathologist calculated the recurrence/progression scores, and risk was classified based on the scores. Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the correlations of ADC value with each score and with each risk group, and the optimal cut-off value was established based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Furthermore, the relationship between actual recurrence / progression of cases and ADC values was examined by Unpaird U test. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between ADC value and the recurrence score as well as the progression score (P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively). There were also significant correlations between ADC value and the recurrence risk group as well as progression risk group (P=0.042, P<0.01, respectively). The ADC cut-off value on ROC analysis was 1.365 (sensitivity 100%; specificity 97.4%) for the low and intermediate recurrence risk groups, 1.024 (sensitivity 47.4%; specificity 100%) for the intermediate and high recurrence risk groups, 1.252 (sensitivity 83.3%; specificity 81.3%) for the low and intermediate progression risk groups, and 0.955 (sensitivity 87.5%; specificity 63.2%) between the intermediate and high progression risk groups. The difference between the ADC values of the recurrence and nonrecurrence group in Unpaired t test was significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: ADC on MRI in bladder cancer could potentially be useful, non-invasive measurement for estimating the risks of recurrence and progression. PMID:28680010

Vision-related quality of life and psychological status in Chinese women with Sjogren's syndrome dry eye: a case-control study.

PubMed

Zhang, Yuqiu; Lin, Tong; Jiang, Alice; Zhao, Naiqing; Gong, Lan

2016-12-12

Sjogren's syndrome dry eye (SSDE) mainly affects middle-aged women and can negatively affect women's psychological and social functioning. However, little is known about the correlation between vision-related quality of life (VR-QoL) and psychological status for women with SSDE. We therefore examined VR-QoL and psychological status in two groups of Chinese women: an SSDE group and a non-SSDE group. We also explored the associations between VR-QoL scores, sociodemographic measures, ophthalmologic parameters, and psychological status in women with SSDE. The case-control study recruited 30 female outpatients with SSDE and 30 without SSDE from the Eye and Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Hospital of Fudan University. Demographic and ophthalmologic data were collected from all participants. Ophthalmologic examinations included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), tear break-up time (TBUT) and Schirmer test. Data collected using the National Eye Institute's Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) survey instruments were analyzed to identify potential differences in VR-QoL between the SSDE group and the non-SSDE group. We also used the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Self-Rating Depression Scales (SAS and SDS) to determine psychological status in both groups. The SSDE group scored significantly lower than the non-SSDE group on the NEI-VFQ subscales of general health, general vision, and long-distance vision activities (all p < 0.05). The SSDE group achieved a significantly higher ocular symptoms score compared with the control group (p = 0.0256). The SAS and SDS scores of the SSDE group were significantly higher than the non-SSDE group (p = 0.0072 and 0.0162, respectively). The prevalence of anxiety and depression in the SSDE group was significantly higher than the non-SSDE group (p = 0.0240 and 0.0200, respectively). Nine of twelve NEI-VFQ subscales were negatively correlated with SAS/SDS scores (all p values were <0.05). The exceptions were social function, color vision and peripheral vision. The composite OSDI score and its three subscale scores for the women in the SSDE group were all positively correlated with overall SAS/SDS scores (all p values were <0.05). Both VR-QoL and psychological status were significantly worse in SSDE group than in the non-SSDE group. The VR-QoL of women with SSDE had a negative correlation with their anxiety and depression levels.

Pain frequency, severity and QT dispersion in adult patients with sickle cell anemia: correlation with inflammatory markers

PubMed Central

Garadah, Taysir S; Jaradat, Ahmed A; AlAlawi, Mohammed E; Hassan, Adla B; Sequeira, Reginald P

2016-01-01

Background Inflammatory markers are increased during vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) in adult patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA), but this is not clear in clinical steady state. Aim The present study aims to establish the frequency and intensity of bone pain episodes in adult patients with SCA in clinical steady state and to determine the correlation between different inflammatory markers, other variables including QT dispersion (QTd) and pain frequency and intensity in SCA. Patients and methods Patients were classified into two groups: group 1, those with more than three hospital admissions in the last 6 months, and group 2, those with no hospital admission. Pearson correlation between variables such as body mass index (BMI), level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin (Hb), reticulocyte count, white blood cell count (WBC), ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), parathormone (PTH), vitamin D3 (25-OH cholecalciferol) and bone pain frequency with severity was evaluated. Results Forty-six patients were enrolled in this study with a mean age of 18.47±5.78 years, with 23 patients in each group. Vitamin D3 and Hb were lower (17.04±5.77 vs 37.59±4.83 ng/L, P<0.01 and 7.96±0.3 vs 8.44±0.27 g/dL, P<0.01, respectively); the inflammatory markers showed significantly higher level of TNF-α, IL-1 and CRP (56.52±5.43 pg/ml, 44.17±4.54 pg/ml and 3.20±0.72 mg/L, respectively, P<0.05); WBC, LDH and reticulocyte count were also significantly higher and the QTd was higher (45.0±2.22 vs 41.55±0.8 ms, P<0.05) in group 1 when compared with group 2. Pearson correlation coefficient showed significant positive correlation between serum level of TNF-α and bone pain frequency (r=0.414, P<0.005) and serum level of IL-1 (r=0.39, P<0.008). Conclusion There is a strong positive correlation between TNF-α, IL-1 and WBC and bone pain frequency in steady state in adult patients with SCA. CRP and low hemoglobin had weak positive correlation. QTd was significantly longer in patients who had hospitalizations with VOC. PMID:27843377

Circulating prolactin level in systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with disease activity: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Song, G G; Lee, Y H

2017-10-01

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between circulating prolactin level and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to establish a correlation between plasma/serum prolactin levels and SLE activity. Methods We performed a meta-analysis comparing the plasma/serum prolactin levels in patients with SLE to controls, and examined correlation coefficients between circulating prolactin level and SLE disease activity. Results Twenty-five studies with a total of 1056 SLE patients and 426 controls were included. Prolactin levels were significantly higher overall in the SLE group than in the control group (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.987, 95% CI = 0.512-1.463, p = 4.7 × 10 -5 ). Stratification by ethnicity showed significantly elevated prolactin levels in the SLE group in Asian, Latin American, and mixed populations (SMD = 0.813, 95% CI = 0.137-1.490, p = 0.018; SMD = 0.981, 95% CI = 0.307-1.655, p = 0.004; SMD = 1.469, 95% CI = 0.443-2.495, p = 0.005, respectively), but not in the European population. Subgroup analysis by sample size showed significantly higher prolactin levels in the SLE group by small ( n < 30) and large sample numbers ( n > 30). Meta-analysis of correlation coefficients showed a significantly positive correlation between circulating prolactin level and SLE activity (correlation coefficient = 0.379, 95% CI = 0.026-0.487, p = 4.0 × 10 -9 ). Circulating prolactin levels were positively associated with SLE activity in European, Asian, and mixed populations (SMD = 0.532, 95% CI = 0.443-0.609  p < 1.0 × 10 -8 ; SMD = 0.427, 95% CI = 0.240-0.583, p = 2.4 × 10 -5 ; SMD = 0.433, 95% CI = 0.212-0.591, p = 2.7 × 10 -5 , respectively). Conclusions Our meta-analysis demonstrated that circulating prolactin levels are higher in patients with SLE, and that a significantly positive correlation exists between prolactin levels and SLE activity.

Correlation between sperm DNA fragmentation index and CMA3 positive spermatozoa in globozoospermic patients.

PubMed

Hosseinifar, H; Yazdanikhah, S; Modarresi, T; Totonchi, M; Sadighi Gilani, M A; Sabbaghian, M

2015-05-01

The absence of the acrosome causes the situation which is called globozoospermia. There are a few studies, mostly as case reports, about correlation between levels of sperm DNA damage in patients with total round-headed spermatozoa. We investigated this correlation as well as CMA3 positive spermatozoa in 20 globozoospermic men (with more than 90% round-headed spermatozoa) attending to Royan Institute. Semen samples divided into three parts to semen analysis, to measure DNA fragmentation index (DFI) using sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) and to detect CMA3(+) sperm cells by chromomycin A3 staining and fluorescent microscopy. Our results showed that there were significant differences in sperm concentration, total sperm motility, and normal morphology between patients and controls group (p < 0.001). Moreover, the average of DFI and CMA3 positive spermatozoa in patients group significantly increases compared with control group (p < 0.001). A significant correlation between DFI and CMA3(+) in total population was also detected in patients group (r = 0.45, p = 0.046). To our knowledge, this is the largest study about correlation between DNA damage levels and CMA3 positive spermatozoa with round head sperm cells in total globozoospermic men. It seems that the increase in DNA damage may be because of defective sperm DNA compaction, as we detected CMA3 positive sperm cells in these patients. © 2015 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.

OCD is associated with an altered association between sensorimotor gating and cortical and subcortical 5-HT1b receptor binding

PubMed Central

Pittenger, Christopher; Adams, Thomas. G.; Gallezot, Jean-Dominique; Crowley, Michael J.; Nabulsi, Nabeel; Ropchan, James; Gao, Hong; Kichuk, Stephen A.; Simpson, Ryan; Billingslea, Eileen; Hannestad, Jonas; Bloch, Michael; Mayes, Linda; Bhagwagar, Zubin; Carson, Richard E.

2016-01-01

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by impaired sensorimotor gating, as measured using prepulse inhibition (PPI). This effect may be related to abnormalities in the serotonin (5-HT) system. 5-HT1B agonists can impair PPI, produce OCD-like behaviors in animals, and exacerbate OCD symptoms in humans. We measured 5-HT1B receptor availability using 11C-P943 positron emission tomography (PET) in unmedicated, non-depressed OCD patients (n = 12) and matched healthy controls (HC; n = 12). Usable PPI data were obtained from 20 of these subjects (10 from each group). There were no significant main effects of OCD diagnosis on 5-HT1B receptor availability (11C-P943 BPND); however, the relationship between PPI and 11C-P943 BPND differed dramatically and significantly between groups. 5-HT1B receptor availability in the basal ganglia and thalamus correlated positively with PPI in controls; these correlations were lost or even reversed in the OCD group. In cortical regions there were no significant correlations with PPI in controls, but widespread positive correlations in OCD patients. Positive correlations between 5-HT1B receptor availability and PPI were consistent across diagnostic groups only in two structures, the orbitofrontal cortex and the amygdala. Differential associations of 5-HT1B receptor availability with PPI in patients suggest functionally important alterations in the serotonergic regulation of cortical/subcortical balance in OCD. PMID:26919057

Plasma BDNF levels are correlated with aggressiveness in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer disease.

PubMed

Nagata, Tomoyuki; Kobayashi, Nobuyuki; Shinagawa, Shunichiro; Yamada, Hisashi; Kondo, Kazuhiro; Nakayama, Kazuhiko

2014-04-01

In the present study, we examined whether neuropsychiatric symptoms were correlated with plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels as a state marker or were associated with the BDNF polymorphism Val66Met in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (A-MCI) or Alzheimer disease (AD). One hundred and seventy-six outpatients with AD (n = 129) or A-MCI (n = 47) were selected and their plasma BDNF concentrations measured. Next, we investigated the correlation between the plasma BDNF level and the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer Disease (Behave-AD) subscale scores, which reflect neuropsychiatric symptoms. We also compared the plasma BDNF level and the Behave-AD subscale scores among the BDNF Val66Met genotypic groups. Among the seven Behave-AD subscale scores, aggressiveness was positively correlated with the plasma BDNF level (ρ = 0.237, P < 0.005), but did not differ significantly among the three BDNF Val66Met genotypic groups. The Behave-AD total and other subscale scores did not differ significantly among the BDNF Val66Met genotypic groups and were not associated with the plasma BDNF level. Moreover, the plasma BDNF level did not differ significantly among the three BDNF Val66Met genotypic groups or between patients with A-MCI and those with AD. The plasma BDNF level was robustly correlated with aggressiveness, implying that the plasma BDNF level might be useful as a behavioral state marker in patients with AD or A-MCI.

Aerobic Fitness and Body Mass Index in Individuals with Schizophrenia: Implications for Neurocognition and Daily Functioning

PubMed Central

Kimhy, David; Vakhrusheva, Julia; Bartels, Matthew N.; Armstrong, Hilary F.; Ballon, Jacob S.; Khan, Samira; Chang, Rachel W.; Hansen, Marie C.; Ayanruoh, Lindsey; Smith, Edward E.; Sloan, Richard P.

2014-01-01

Previous reports indicate that among healthy individuals low Aerobic Fitness (AF) and high Body-Mass Index (BMI) predict poor neurocognition and daily-functioning. It is unknown whether these associations extend to disorders characterized by poor neurocognition, such as schizophrenia. Therefore, we compared AF and BMI in individuals with schizophrenia and non-clinical controls, and then within the schizophrenia group we examined the links between AF, BMI, neurocognition and daily-functioning. Thirty-two individuals with schizophrenia and 64 gender- and age-matched controls completed assessments of AF (indexed by VO2max) and BMI. The former also completed measures of neurocognition, daily-functioning and physical activity. The schizophrenia group displayed significantly lower AF and higher BMI. In the schizophrenia group, AF was significantly correlated with overall neurocognition (r=0.57), along with executive functioning, working memory, social cognition, and processing speed. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that AF accounted for 22% of the neurocognition variance. Furthermore, AF was significantly correlated with overall daily-functioning (r=0.46). In contrast, BMI displayed significant inverse correlations with neurocognition, but no associations to daily-functioning. AF was significantly correlated physical activity. The authors discuss the potential use of AF-enhancing interventions to improve neurocognitive and daily-functioning in schizophrenia, along with putative neurobiological mechanisms underlying these links, including Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor. PMID:25219618

Student-centered tutoring as a model for patient-centeredness and empathy

PubMed Central

Meirovich, Adaya; Ber, Rosalie; Moore, Michael; Rotschild, Avi

2016-01-01

Background Curriculum planners and medical teachers attempt to enhance medical students’ empathy and patient-centeredness. Despite educational efforts, there is stability in medical students’ empathy and patient-centered medicine during the preclinical stage and a decline in both of them throughout the clinical years. Student–tutor relationship plays a key role in students’ learning. This study tests the effect of learner-centered tutoring on students’ empathy, patient-centeredness, and behavior. Participants and methods The cohort of 55 students was divided into groups of seven or eight. The experimental group’s tutors underwent LC mentoring. Empathy was assessed with the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy for Students; PC attitude was assessed with the Patient–Provider Orientation Scale (PPOS). Behavior was assessed by simulations of doctor–patient encounters with 32 students at the end of the third year. Each student participated in three such simulations, during which we analyzed ten aspects of physician–patient communication via Roter interaction analysis system (RIAS)-coded audiotapes. Results A significant group difference was found for three RIAS categories: building a relationship and patient-centeredness, where the mean percentage of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group, and gathering data, where the mean percentage of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. A significant correlation was found in the experimental group between empathy and positive talk and between PPOS and three of the RIAS categories: gathering data, psychosocial talk, and patient-centeredness. A significant negative correlation was found in the experimental group between PPOS and two of the RIAS categories: negative talk and doctor–centeredness. Two significant negative correlations were found in the control group: between empathy and patient-centeredness and PPOS and negative talk. Conclusion The LC approach supports two of the RIAS categories, corresponding to clinical empathy and PC care and the link between certain behaviors and the PPOS. PMID:27555803

Identifying the structure of group correlation in the Korean financial market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahn, Sanghyun; Choi, Jaewon; Lim, Gyuchang; Cha, Kil Young; Kim, Sooyong; Kim, Kyungsik

2011-06-01

We investigate the structure of the cross-correlation in the Korean stock market. We analyze daily cross-correlations between price fluctuations of 586 different Korean stock entities for the 6-year time period from 2003 to 2008. The main purpose is to investigate the structure of group correlation and its stability by undressing the market-wide effect using the Markowitz multi-factor model and the network-based approach. We find the explicit list of significant firms in the few largest eigenvectors from the undressed correlation matrix. We also observe that each contributor is involved in the same business sectors. The structure of group correlation can not remain constant during each 1-year time period with different starting points, whereas only two largest eigenvectors are stable for 6 years 8-9 eigenvectors remain stable for half-year. The structure of group correlation in the Korean financial market is disturbed during a sufficiently short time period even though the group correlation exists as an ensemble for the 6-year time period in the evolution of the system. We verify the structure of group correlation by applying a network-based approach. In addition, we examine relations between market capitalization and businesses. The Korean stock market shows a different behavior compared to mature markets, implying that the KOSPI is a target for short-positioned investors.

Erectile dysfunction in older male stroke patients: correlation between side of hemiplegia and erectile function.

PubMed

Sikiru, Lamina; Shmaila, Hanif; Yusuf, Gagarawa Saidu

2009-06-01

This study was conducted to determine the effects of hemiplegia on erectile function in stroke patients. One hundred and five stroke patients grouped into left (61.78 +/- 7.79 years) and 55 right hemiplegic (62.11 +/- 9.32 years) and 40 age-matched controls (64.00 +/- 8.53 years). The International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire was used for data collection. One way analysis of variance and Spearman correlation tests were used in data analysis. Erectile function was significantly decreased in the both right (IIEF-5, 7.55 +/- 4.07) and left hemiplegic groups (IIEF-5, 10.40 +/- 5.70) compared with the control group (IIEF-5, 20.50 +/- 4.2 7) p < 0.05. Side of hemiplegia significantly correlated with erectile dysfunction at p < 0.01. Conclusively, stroke mostly affects erectile function of right hemiplegia.

Correlation of ADC value with pathologic indexes in colorectal tumor homografts in Balb/c mouse.

PubMed

Li, Xiaojun; Jiang, Hongnan; Niu, Jinliang; Zheng, Ying

2014-08-01

Noninvasive diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) is a well-studied MR imaging technique for quantifying water diffusion especially in tumor area. The correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value and apoptosis or proliferation is not clear by now. This study aimed to investigate whether DWI-ADC value could be used as an imaging marker related with pathologic indexes of tumors. A total of 30 Balb/c mice with HT29 colorectal carcinoma were subjected to DWI and histologic analysis. The percentage of ADC changes and the apoptotic and proliferating indexes were calculated at predefined time points. Kolmogorov-Smirnov distances were considered to determine whether the percentage of ADC changes, and the apoptotic and proliferating indexes were normally distributed. An independent-samples t-test was used to analyze the difference between apoptotic and proliferating indexes in the two groups. THERE WAS A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN PROLIFERATING INDEX BETWEEN THE RADIOTHERAPY AND CONTROL GROUPS (MEAN PROLIFERATING INDEX: 49.27% vs. 83.09%), and there was a statistically significant difference in apoptotic index between the two groups (mean apoptotic index: 37.7% vs. 2.71%). A significant positive correlation was found between the percentage of ADC changes of the viable tissue and apoptotic index. Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.655 (P=0.015). A significant negative correlation was found between the percentage of ADC changes of the viable tissue and ki-67 proliferation index. Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.734 (P<0.001). Our results suggest that ADC value may be used in measurement of cell apoptotic and proliferating indexes in colorectal carcinoma.

An assessment of relationship between self-esteem, orthodontic concern, and Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) scores among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria.

PubMed

Onyeaso, C O

2003-04-01

To ascertain the correlation between self-esteem, orthodontic concern and orthodontic status using DAI scores in a group of Nigerian potential orthodontic patients. A cross-sectional analytical study. Secondary schools reflecting a good socio-economic spread of adolescents in the town. Randomly selected 520 junior and senior students 276 (53.1%) males and 244 (46.9%) females with mean age of 15.02 +/- 3.26 (SD) years participated in the study. Each student was asked to fill in the questionnaire on orthodontic concern and Global Negative Self-Evaluation scale (GSE) with subsequent assessment of the occlusion according to the DAI by one orthodontist. After obtaining consent, thirty students were re-examined to test intra-examiner reliability which was good (r = 0.98, P < 0.001). The correlations between self-esteem, orthodontic concern and DAI scores were tested using Spearman rank order correlation coefficient. Significant positive correlations were observed between self-esteem and orthodontic concern according to DAI treatment category needs (r = 0.274, p<0.01; r = 0.396, p<0.01; r = 0.347, p<0.05) except for the severe malocclusion group which was positive but not statistically significant (r = 0.136, p> 0.05). Significant correlation was equally noted between DAI scores and orthodontic concern (r = 0.191, p<0.01). Significant positive correlation existed between self-esteem in a group of Nigerian adolescents and their orthodontic concern as well as between their DAI scores and orthodontic concern. DAI should be a relevant and useful occlusal index for the Nigerian orthodontic population.

Spontaneous Improvement of Compensatory Knee Flexion After Surgical Correction of Mismatch Between Pelvic Incidence and Lumbar Lordosis.

PubMed

Cheng, Xiaofei; Zhang, Feng; Wu, Jigong; Zhu, Zhenan; Dai, Kerong; Zhao, Jie

2016-08-15

A retrospective study. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between pelvic incidence (PI) and lumbar lordosis (LL) mismatch and knee flexion during standing in patients with lumbar degenerative diseases and to examine the effects of surgical correction of the PI-LL mismatch on knee flexion. Only several studies focused on knee flexion as a compensatory mechanism of the PI-LL mismatch. Little information is currently available on the effects of lumbar correction on knee flexion in patients with the PI-LL mismatch. A group of patients with lumbar degenerative diseases were divided into PI-LL match group (PI-LL ≤ 10°) and PI-LL mismatch group (PI-LL > 10°). A series of radiographic parameters and knee flexion angle (KFA) were compared between the two groups. The PI-LL mismatch group was further subdivided into operative and nonoperative group. The changes in KFA with PI-LL were examined. The PI-LL mismatch group exhibited significantly greater sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic tilt (PT) and KFA, and smaller LL, thoracic kyphosis (TK), and sacral slope than the PI-LL match group. PI-LL, LL, PI, SVA, and PT were significantly correlated with KFA in the PI-LL mismatch group. From baseline to 6-month follow-up, all variables were significantly different in the operative group with the exception of PI, although there was no significant difference in any variable in the nonoperative group. The magnitude of surgical correction in the PI-LL mismatch was significantly correlated with the degree of spontaneous changes in KFA, PT, and TK. The PI-LL mismatch would contribute to compensatory knee flexion during standing in patients with lumbar degenerative disease. Surgical correction of the PI-LL mismatch could lead to a spontaneous improvement of compensatory knee flexion. The degree of improvement in knee flexion depends in part on the amount of correction in the PI-LL mismatch. 3.

The Effects of Betaine on the Nuclear Fractal Dimension, Chromatin Texture, and Proliferative Activity in Hepatocytes in Mouse Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

PubMed

Vesković, Milena; Labudović-Borović, Milica; Zaletel, Ivan; Rakočević, Jelena; Mladenović, Dušan; Jorgačević, Bojan; Vučević, Danijela; Radosavljević, Tatjana

2018-04-01

The effects of betaine on hepatocytes chromatin architecture changes were examined by using fractal and gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) analysis in methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into groups: (1) Control: standard diet; (2) BET: standard diet and betaine supplementation through drinking water (solution 1.5%); (3) MCD group: MCD diet for 6 weeks; (4) MCD+BET: fed with MCD diet + betaine for 6 weeks. Liver tissue was collected for histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and determination of fractal dimension and GLCM parameters. MCD diet induced diffuse micro- and macrovesicular steatosis accompanied with increased Ki67-positive hepatocyte nuclei. Steatosis and Ki67 immunopositivity were less prominent in the MCD+BET group compared with the MCD group. Angular second moment (ASM) and inverse difference moment (IDM) (textural homogeneity markers) were significantly increased in the MCD+BET group versus the MCD group (p<0.001), even though no difference between the MCD and the control group was evident. Heterogeneity parameters, contrast, and correlation were significantly increased in the MCD group versus the control (p<0.001). On the other hand, betaine treatment significantly reduced correlation, contrast, and entropy compared with the MCD group (p<0.001). Betaine attenuated MCD diet-induced NAFLD by reducing fat accumulation and inhibiting hepatocyte proliferation. Betaine supplementation increased nuclear homogeneity and chromatin complexity with reduction of entropy, contrast, and correlation.

Prognostic Value of AIMS65 Score in Cirrhotic Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding.

PubMed

Gaduputi, Vinaya; Abdulsamad, Molham; Tariq, Hassan; Rafeeq, Ahmed; Abbas, Naeem; Kumbum, Kavitha; Chilimuri, Sridhar

2014-01-01

Introduction. Unlike Rockall scoring system, AIMS65 is based only on clinical and laboratory features. In this study we investigated the correlation between the AIMS65 score and Endoscopic Rockall score, in cirrhotic and noncirrhotic patients. Methods. This is a retrospective study of patients admitted with overt UGIB and undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). AIMS65 and Rockall scores were calculated at the time of admission. We investigated the correlation between both scores along with stigmata of bleed seen on endoscopy. Results. A total of 1255 patients were studied. 152 patients were cirrhotic while 1103 patients were noncirrhotic. There was significant correlation between AIMS65 and Total Rockall scores in patients of both groups. There was significant correlation between AIMS65 score and Endoscopic Rockall score in noncirrhotics but not cirrhotics. AIMS65 scores in both cirrhotic and noncirrhotic groups were significantly higher in patients who died from UGIB than in patients who did not. Conclusion. We observed statistically significant correlation between AIMS65 score and length of hospitalization and mortality in noncirrhotic patients. We found that AIMS65 score paralleled the endoscopic grading of lesion causing UGIB in noncirrhotics. AIMS65 score correlated only with mortality but not the length of hospitalization or endoscopic stigmata of bleed in cirrhotics.

Contribution of fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia to hemoglobin A1c in insulin-treated Japanese diabetic patients.

PubMed

Shimizu, Hiroyuki; Uehara, Yutaka; Okada, Shuichi; Mori, Masatomo

2008-08-01

The contribution of fasting and postprandial glucose to hemoglobin A(1c) (HbA(1c)) levels was evaluated in insulin-treated patients. In 57 insulin-treated, diabetic out-patients, fasting glucose (before breakfast (B-FG), lunch (L-FG) and dinner (D-FG)) and postprandial glucose (B-PPG, L-PPG and D-PPG) levels were determined by the patients themselves at home using glucose self-monitoring apparatus over the course of one week. The correlation between HbA(1c) levels and self monitored blood glucose levels were calculated. In the conventionally treated group, there was a significant correlation between HbA(1c) and fasting glucose (FG) levels only before lunch, but at 2 hr after (PPG) all meals. In the intensively treated group, a significant correlation between HbA(1c) levels and FG levels was found before lunch and at 2 hr after breakfast and dinner. In all subjects, only FG levels before lunch correlated significantly with HbA(1c) levels, although PPG levels were significantly correlated with HbA(1c) at all points. The correlation was highest with PPG after breakfast and dinner. The sum of all FG, PPG and FG + PPG levels was significantly correlated with HbA(1c) levels. Postprandial hyperglycemia after breakfast and dinner should be regarded as most important for improving HbA(1c) levels in insulin treated diabetic patients.

Significance of hepatitis B virus surface antigen, hepatitis C virus expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and pericarcinomatous tissues

PubMed Central

Xuan, Shi-Ying; Xin, Yong-Ning; Chen, Hua; Shi, Guang-Jun; Guan, Hua-Shi; Li, Yang

2007-01-01

AIM: To investigate the correlation between hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis C virus (HCV) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the HAI score of the noncancerous region of the liver and the serum Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level. METHODS: The patterns of HBsAg and HCV in 100 cases of HCC and their surrounding liver tissues were studied on paraffin-embedded sections with immuno-histochemistry, the histological status was determined by one pathologist and one surgeon simultaneously using the hepatitis activity index (HAI) score, and AFP was detected by radioimmunity. The study included 100 consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for HCC. Based on HBsAg and HCV expression, the patients were classified into 4 groups: patients positive for HBsAg (HBsAg group), patients positive for HCV (HCV group), patients negative for both HCV and HBsAg (NBNC group) and patients positive for both HBsAg and HCV (BC group). RESULTS: The BC group had significantly higher HAI scores than the other three groups. (BC > HCV > HBsAg > NBNC). HBV and HCV virus infection was positively correlated with HAI (rs = 0.39, P = 0.0001). The positive rate of AFP (85.7%) and the value of AFP (541.2 ng/mL) in the group with HBV and HCV co-infection were the highest among the four groups. The positive rate (53.3%) of AFP and the value of AFP ( 53.3 ng/mL) in the group with none-infection of HBV and HCV were the lowest. HBV and HCV virus infection was positively correlated with AFP(rs = 0.38, P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The AFP increase in patients with liver cancer was positively correlated with the infection of HBV and HCV. The serum AFP elevation by the infection of HBV and HCV is one of mechanisms which lead to hepatocarcinogenesis, and the antivirus intervening treatment of hepatitis is significant for the prognosis of liver cancer. From our Spearman’s rank correlation analysis, we can conclude that the severity of virally induced inflammation is correlated with HBsAg and HCV expression in HCC tissues and noncancerous tissues. Prior co-infection of HBV in HCV patients may be an adverse risk factor for intrahepatic inflammation. PMID:17465484

Overnight fluid shifts in subjects with and without obstructive sleep apnea

PubMed Central

Ding, Ning; Lin, Wei; Zhang, Xi-Long; Ding, Wen-Xiao; Gu, Bing; Ni, Bu-Qing; Zhang, Wei; Zhang, Shi-Jiang

2014-01-01

Objective To investigate the characteristics of baseline body fluid content and overnight fluid shifts between non-obstructive sleep apnea (non-OSA) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) subjects. Methods A case-controlled study was performed between February 2013 and January 2014, with 36 (18 OSA and 18 non-OSA) outpatients enrolled in this study. Polysomnographic parameters and results of body fluid were compared between the two groups. Results There were no differences in age, weight, and body mass index (BMI) between groups. Compared with the non-OSA group, OSA group had significantly higher neck circumference (NC) and fluid volume shift in the legs. OSA patients had higher left and right leg fluid indices than non-OSA subjects. There were significant correlations between apnoea-hypopnoea index and baseline fluid indices in both legs as well as the reduction in overnight change in both legs fluid volume. The increase in NC was also significantly correlated with the reduction in overnight change in both legs fluid volume, but not with the change in head and neck fluid volume. There were significant correlations between change in NC and increased fluid shifts in head and neck volume. Conclusions OSA patients had a higher baseline fluid content in both legs as compared with non-OSA subjects, which may be the basic factor with regards to fluid shifts in OSA patients. The increase in head and neck fluid shift volume did not directly correlate with the severity of OSA. PMID:25589967

Characteristics of group networks in the KOSPI and the KOSDAQ

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Kyungsik; Ko, Jeung-Su; Yi, Myunggi

2012-02-01

We investigate the main feature of group networks in the KOSPI and KOSDAQ of Korean financial markets and analyze daily cross-correlations between price fluctuations for the 5-year time period from 2006 to 2010. We discuss the stabilities by undressing the market-wide effect using the Markowitz multi-factor model and the network-based approach. In particular we ascertain the explicit list of significant firms in the few largest eigenvectors from the undressed correlation matrix. Finally, we show the structure of group correlation by applying a network-based approach. In addition, the relation between market capitalizations and businesses is examined.

Cortical Thickness Changes Correlate with Cognition Changes after Cognitive Training: Evidence from a Chinese Community Study

PubMed Central

Jiang, Lijuan; Cao, Xinyi; Li, Ting; Tang, Yingying; Li, Wei; Wang, Jijun; Chan, Raymond C.; Li, Chunbo

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in cortical thickness correlated with cognitive function changes in healthy older adults after receiving cognitive training interventions. Moreover, it also aimed to examine the differential impacts of a multi-domain and a single-domain cognitive training interventions. Longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning was performed on participants 65–75 years of age using the Siemens 3.0 T Trio Tim with the Magnetization Prepared Rapid Gradient Echo (MPRAGE) sequence. The cortical thickness was determined using FreeSurfer Software. Cognitive functioning was evaluated using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). There were significant group × time interaction effects on the left supramarginal, the left frontal pole cortical regions; and a marginal significant group × time interaction effects on visuospatial/constructional and delayed memory scores. In a multi-domain cognitive training group, a number of cortical region changes were significantly positively correlated with changes in attention, delayed memory, and the total score, but significantly negatively correlated with changes in immediate memory and language scores. In the single-domain cognitive training group, some cortical region changes were significantly positively associated with changes in immediate memory, delayed memory, and the total score, while they were significantly negatively associated with changes in visuospatial/constructional, language, and attention scores. Overall, multi-domain cognitive training offered more advantages in visuospatial/constructional, attention, and delayed memory abilities, while single-domain cognitive training benefited immediate memory ability more effectively. These findings suggest that healthy older adults benefit more from the multi-domain cognitive training than single-domain cognitive training. Cognitive training has impacted on cortical thickness changes in healthy elderly. PMID:27252649

Correlation between serum inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-8, IL-10 and Henoch-Schonlein purpura with renal function impairment.

PubMed

Yuan, Liangdong; Wang, Quanyi; Zhang, Shiqi; Zhang, Ling

2018-04-01

The changes of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the serum of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) patients were analyzed to explore the correlation between the above inflammatory factors and progression of the disease. The present study used the double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method to detect the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-8, IL-10 and urine protein in 112 cases of patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP), including 54 cases of HSP combined with renal function impairment (group HSPN), and 58 cases not combined with renal function impairment (NHSPN), as well as 50 healthy patients who were selected as the control group. The concentration of TNF-α, IL-8, and IL-10 in the serum of HSP patients were higher than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of IL-10, and IL-8 between the HSPN group and the NHSPN group (P>0.05), but the level of TNF-α in the serum of HSPN group was significantly higher than that of NHSPN group (P<0.05). TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 levels of the acute nephritis, chronic nephritis and nephrotic syndrome groups were all higher than the simple proteinuria group. In addition, the levels of the three factors of the acute nephritis group were all higher than those of the chronic nephritis and nephrotic syndrome groups (P<0.05). IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α were positively correlated with the urinary protein levels. The results indicated that the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-10 are correlated with HSPN, and serum TNF-α concentration can be used as an indicator of the severity of HSPN.

Elevated serum cytokines correlated with altered behavior, serum cortisol rhythm, and dampened 24-hour rest-activity patterns in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

PubMed

Rich, Tyvin; Innominato, Pasquale F; Boerner, Julie; Mormont, M Christine; Iacobelli, Stefano; Baron, Benoit; Jasmin, Claude; Lévi, Francis

2005-03-01

Incapacitating symptom burden in cancer patients contributes to poor quality of life (QOL) and can influence treatment outcomes because of poor tolerance to therapy. In this study, the role of circulating cytokines in the production symptoms in cancer patients is evaluated. Eighty patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with either normal (group I, n = 40) or dampened (group II, n = 40) 24-hour rest/activity patterns measured by actigraphy were identified. Actigraphy patterns were correlated with QOL indices, serum cortisol obtained at 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and with serum levels of transforming growth factor-alpha, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) obtained at 8:00 a.m. and analyzed in duplicate by ELISA. Cytokine levels and survival were also correlated. Group II patients had significantly higher pre treatment levels of all three cytokines, displayed significantly poorer emotional and social functioning, had higher fatigue, more appetite loss, and poorer performance status compared with group I patients. Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) and IL-6 were significantly increased in the patients with WHO performance status >1 and in those with appetite loss. Fatigue was significantly associated with elevated TGF-alpha only. IL-6 was increased in those patients with extensive liver involvement and multiple organ replacement, and it was significantly correlated with dampened cortisol rhythm. In a multivariate analysis, IL-6 was correlated with poor treatment outcome. Significant correlations were found between serum levels of TGF-alpha and IL-6, circadian patterns in wrist activity and serum cortisol and tumor-related symptoms in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. These data support the hypothesis that some cancer patient's symptoms of fatigue, poor QOL, and treatment outcome are related to tumor or host generated cytokines and could reflect cytokine effects on the circadian timing system. This interplay between cytokine signaling pathways, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the autonomic nervous system, and efferent pathways of the suprachiasmatic nucleus that control circadian physiology, opens the way to new rational interventions for symptom management in cancer patients.

Cortical Bone Morphological and Trabecular Bone Microarchitectural Changes in the Mandible and Femoral Neck of Ovariectomized Rats

PubMed Central

Hsu, Pei-Yu; Tsai, Ming-Tzu; Wang, Shun-Ping; Chen, Ying-Ju; Wu, Jay; Hsu, Jui-Ting

2016-01-01

Objective This study used microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) to evaluate the effects of ovariectomy on the trabecular bone microarchitecture and cortical bone morphology in the femoral neck and mandible of female rats. Materials and Methods Twelve female Wister rats were divided into two groups: the control and ovariectomized groups. The rats in the ovariectomized group received ovariectomy at 8 weeks of age; all the rats were sacrificed at 20 weeks of age, and their mandibles and femurs were removed and scanned using micro-CT. Four microstructural trabecular bone parameters were measured for the region below the first mandibular molar and the femoral neck region: bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (TbTh), trabecular separation (TbSp), and trabecular number (TbN). In addition, four cortical bone parameters were measured for the femoral neck region: total cross-sectional area (TtAr), cortical area (CtAr), cortical bone area fraction (CtAr/TtAr), and cortical thickness (CtTh). The CtTh at the masseteric ridge was used to assess the cortical bone morphology in the mandible. The trabecular bone microarchitecture and cortical bone morphology in the femoral necks and mandibles of the control group were compared with those of the ovariectomized group. Furthermore, Spearman’s correlation (rs) was conducted to analyze the correlation between the osteoporosis conditions of the mandible and femoral neck. Results Regarding the trabecular bone microarchitectural parameters, the BV/TV of the trabecular bone microarchitecture in the femoral necks of the control group (61.199±11.288%, median ± interquartile range) was significantly greater than that of the ovariectomized group (40.329±5.153%). Similarly, the BV/TV of the trabecular bone microarchitecture in the mandibles of the control group (51.704±6.253%) was significantly greater than that of the ovariectomized group (38.486±9.111%). Furthermore, the TbSp of the femoral necks in the ovariectomized group (0.185±0.066 mm) was significantly greater than that in the control group (0.130±0.026mm). Similarly, the TbSp of the mandibles in the ovariectomized group (0.322±0.047mm) was significantly greater than that in the control group (0.285±0.041mm). However, the TbTh and TbN trends for the mandibles and femoral necks were inconsistent between the control and ovariectomized groups. Regarding the cortical bone morphology parameters, the TtAr of the femoral necks in the ovariectomized group was significantly smaller than that in the control group. There was no significant difference in the TtAr, CtAr, or CtTh of the femoral necks between the control and ovariectomized groups, and no significant difference in the CtTh of the mandibles between the control and ovariectomized groups. Moreover, the BV/TV and TbSp of the mandibles were highly correlated with those of the femurs (rs = 0.874 and rs = 0.755 for BV/TV and TbSp, respectively). Nevertheless, the TbTh, TbN, and CtTh of the mandibles were not correlated with those of the femoral necks. Conclusion After the rats were ovariectomized, osteoporosis of the trabecular bone microarchitecture occurred in their femurs and mandibles; however, ovariectomy did not influence the cortical bone morphology. In addition, the parametric values of the trabecular bone microarchitecture in the femoral necks were highly correlated with those of the trabecular bone microarchitecture in the mandibles. PMID:27127909

Agility and change of direction in soccer: differences according to the player ages.

PubMed

Fiorilli, Giovanni; Mitrotasios, Michalis; Iuliano, Enzo; Pistone, Eugenio M; Aquino, Giovanna; Calcagno, Giuseppe; DI Cagno, Alessandra

2017-12-01

The goal of this study was to compare the changes of direction speed (CODS) and reactive agility (RA) in soccer players of different ages, in order to optimize the best training of these skills. One hundred eighty-seven players, divided into bi-annual age-groups, U12, U14, U16 and U18, performed two tests: Y-Agility Test, carried out in planned and reactive mode (Y-PLAN and Y-REAC) and Illinois for Change of Direction Test (ICODT). Difference between Y-REAC minus Y-PLAN represents the index of reactivity (REAC-INDEX). MANOVA showed significant differences among groups (F3,182=14.591; P<0.01; η2p=0.244). Y-PLAN showed significant differences only between U12 and the other groups (P<0.01). ICODT results were significantly different between the groups U12 and U14 and the other groups (P<0.01). Significant Pearson's correlations between Y-TEST and ICODT, for the three categories of young players (0.398 P<0.05; 0.615 P<0.01; 0.608 P<0.01 respectively), were found, whereas no significant correlation was found in U18 group. The best performance of Y-PLAN and ICODT, through age, depends on physical skill level, whereas the best RA results depend on technique and experience that help the players to use anticipatory skill. The high correlations between CODS and RA performances, differently than adult athletes, suggest that an effective work program for young players may include RA and CODS training at the same time.

Reference values for the genitalia of male dromedary before and after puberty using caliper and ultrasonography in subtropics.

PubMed

Derar, Derar Refaat; Hussein, Hasan Ali; Ali, Ahmad

2012-01-15

The aim of the present study was to characterize the dynamic changes of the testes and the pelvic genitalia in vivo in male dromedary. Eighty-one clinically healthy male dromedaries aged 1.5 to 12 years were assigned for the present study. Testicular length, breadth, and depth as well as epididymal head and tail were measured using caliper and ultrasonography. The pelvic genitalia, including bulbourethral gland, prostate, and pelvic urethra were examined using ultrasonography. The results revealed that the three dimensions of the testes and epididymal tail and head showed significant increase with age (P < 0.01). Concerning the epididymal measurements, differences between the pre- and peri-pubertal groups were not significant. Left testes tended to be larger than the right (not statistically significant) although only the breadth of the left testes in the prepubertal group was significantly larger (P < 0.05). The volume of both testes correlated positively with the age (r(2) = 0.91 for left and 1.00 for the right, P < 0.01). There were no significant correlations between the values measured using caliper and those by ultrasonography between groups, but the correlation was highly significant (P < 0.01) for the total number of the examined animals. There were significant and steady increases of the size of bulbourethral gland in all examined groups (P < 0.01). Pars disseminata of the prostate gland and pelvic urethra were significantly higher in sexually mature compared with prepubertal groups (P < 0.01). It was concluded that ultrasonography is a useful tool in studying the developmental changes of the testes and accessory glands of the male dromedary. The obtained data could provide a reference values for predicting camel puberty and future fertility. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The experience of stuttering among Ultra-Orthodox and Secular/Traditional Jews.

PubMed

Freud, Debora; Ezrati-Vinacour, Ruth; Katz-Bernstein, Nitza; Fostick, Leah

2017-12-01

This groundbreaking research compares the experience of stuttering among adult male People Who Stutter (PWS) from the ultra-Orthodox (UO) Jewish community in Israel to those from Secular/Traditional (ST) backgrounds. Participants were 32 UO and 31 ST PWS, aged 18-67 years. Self-report questionnaires utilized: Perceived Stuttering Severity (PSS); Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering (OASES-A); Students' Life Satisfaction Scale (SLSS); Situation Avoidance Behavior Checklist (SABC). Demographic, religious, and stuttering information was collected. Groups were compared on scales, and correlations between scales and the PSS. Subjective stuttering severity ratings were significantly higher among the UO. A significant group effect was found for the OASES-A quality of life subscale, but not other subscales. Significant positive correlations were found between: 1) PSS and OASES-A Total Impact; 2) PSS and 3 OASES subscales; and 3) PSS and SABC (indicating increased avoidance with increased stuttering severity rating). A significant negative correlation was found between the PSS and SLSS, indicating lower life satisfaction with higher rates of stuttering severity among the ST. Interestingly, when tested by group, significant correlations between the PSS and all other study measures were observed only among the ST. UO participants showed higher subjective stuttering severity ratings, yet less impact on quality of life, and no correlation between subjective stuttering and other measures of stuttering experience. These novel findings may result from the combined protective effect of religiosity and socio-cultural characteristics on UO PWS' well-being, despite heightened concern about social consequences of stuttering within UO society. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hierarchy Low CD4+/CD8+ T-Cell Counts and IFN-γ Responses in HIV-1+ Individuals Correlate with Active TB and/or M.tb Co-Infection.

PubMed

Shao, Lingyun; Zhang, Xinyun; Gao, Yan; Xu, Yunya; Zhang, Shu; Yu, Shenglei; Weng, Xinhua; Shen, Hongbo; Chen, Zheng W; Jiang, Weimin; Zhang, Wenhong

2016-01-01

Detailed studies of correlation between HIV-M.tb co-infection and hierarchy declines of CD8+/CD4+ T-cell counts and IFN-γ responses have not been done. We conducted case-control studies to address this issue. 164 HIV-1-infected individuals comprised of HIV-1+ATB, HIV-1+LTB and HIV-1+TB- groups were evaluated. Immune phenotyping and complete blood count (CBC) were employed to measure CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell counts; T.SPOT.TB and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) were utilized to detect ESAT6, CFP10 or PPD-specific IFN-γ responses. There were significant differences in median CD4+ T-cell counts between HIV-1+ATB (164/μL), HIV-1+LTB (447/μL) and HIV-1+TB- (329/μL) groups. Hierarchy low CD4+ T-cell counts (<200/μL, 200-500/μL, >500/μL) were correlated significantly with active TB but not M.tb co-infection. Interestingly, hierarchy low CD8+ T-cell counts were not only associated significantly with active TB but also with M.tb co-infection (P<0.001). Immunologically, HIV-1+ATB group showed significantly lower numbers of ESAT-6-/CFP-10-specific IFN-γ+ T cells than HIV-1+LTB group. Consistently, PPD-specific IFN-γ+CD4+/CD8+ T effector cells in HIV-1+ATB group were significantly lower than those in HIV-1+LTB group (P<0.001). Hierarchy low CD8+ T-cell counts and effector function in HIV-1-infected individuals are correlated with both M.tb co-infection and active TB. Hierarchy low CD4+ T-cell counts and Th1 effector function in HIV-1+ individuals are associated with increased frequencies of active TB, but not M.tb co-infection.

Correlation of ABO and Rh blood groups with transfusion administration and fever onset after hip surgery in children.

PubMed

Brdar, Radivoj; Petronic, Ivana; Nikolic, Dejan; Golubovic, Zoran; Bukva, Bojan; Radlovic, Vladimir; Abramovic, Dusan; Ducic, Sinisa; Colovic, Hristina

2012-01-01

Aim of our study was to evaluate distribution of ABO and Rh blood type groups in children after hip surgery regarding transfusion administration and fever presence. Four types of ABO blood groups (A; B; AB; O) and 2 types of Rh blood groups (Rh+; Rh-) were evaluated in group with administered transfusion (tr+) and without given transfusion (tr-); and in group with fever (fev+) and without fever (fev-), in 146 children after hip surgery. Tr+ and fev+ groups were divided into 3 groups (0-24h; 25-48h; 49-72h): for tr+ group (Group 1, Group 2, Group 3), and for fev+ group (Group A, Group B, Group C). AB blood group significantly decreased in Group 1 (χ2= 6.44; p<0.05) and A blood group in Group 3 in tr+ group (χ2= 7.68; p<0.01). O blood group significantly increased in Group 3 in tr+ group (χ2= 9.96; p<0.01). AB blood group significantly decreased in Groups B (χ2= 12.2; p<0.01) and C (χ2= 4.2; p<0.05) in fev+ versus fevgroup. B blood group significantly increased in Group C (χ2= 34.4; p<0.01) in fev+group. Administration of transfusion and fever onset in pediatric patients undergoing surgical correction of the hip is not influenced by the ABO and Rh blood groups system in humans. There is correlation between distribution of ABO blood groups with the time of transfusion administration and fever onset in children after hip surgery.

Life History Correlates of Ministerial Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Umeda, John K.; Frey, David H.

1974-01-01

Life history or biodata correlates of ministerial success were investigated for a group of 92 Seventh-Day Adventist ministers. Two significant bivariate correlations indicated that successful ministers chose their career later than less successful ones and that earning college expenses was predictive of success. (Author/HMV)

[The expression and significance of CD(276) and CD(133) in colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions].

PubMed

Lu, G F; Huang, L N; Ren, J L; Hu, G M; Zheng, Z H; Wu, J X; Zhu, Y P; Tang, F A

2018-06-01

In order to study the significance of CD(276) and CD(133) in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), the expression of CD(276) and CD(133) was detected by immunohistochemistry in CRC and precancerous lesions. The results showed that the intensity of CD(276) and CD(133) in CRC samples was higher than that in adenoma group and non-adenoma group. CD(276) and CD(133) single and double positive expression were significantly correlated with CRC lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and survival. CD(276) and CD(133) are significantly correlated to the development and progression of CRC and associated with poor prognosis.

Perioperative supplementation with bifidobacteria improves postoperative nutritional recovery, inflammatory response, and fecal microbiota in patients undergoing colorectal surgery: a prospective, randomized clinical trial

PubMed Central

MIZUTA, Minoru; ENDO, Izuru; YAMAMOTO, Sumiharu; INOKAWA, Hidetoshi; KUBO, Masatoshi; UDAKA, Tetsunobu; SOGABE, Osanori; MAEDA, Hiroya; SHIRAKAWA, Kazutoyo; OKAZAKI, Eriko; ODAMAKI, Toshitaka; ABE, Fumiaki; XIAO, Jin-zhong

2015-01-01

The use of probiotics has been widely documented to benefit human health, but their clinical value in surgical patients remains unclear. The present study investigated the effect of perioperative oral administration of probiotic bifidobacteria to patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Sixty patients undergoing colorectal resection were randomized to two groups prior to resection. One group (n=31) received a probiotic supplement, Bifidobacterium longum BB536, preoperatively for 7–14 days and postoperatively for 14 days, while the other group (n=29) received no intervention as a control. The occurrences of postoperative infectious complications were recorded. Blood and fecal samples were collected before and after surgery. No significant difference was found in the incidence of postoperative infectious complications and duration of hospital stay between the two groups. In comparison to the control group, the probiotic group tended to have higher postoperative levels of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, lymphocytes, total protein, and albumin and lower levels of high sensitive C-reactive proteins. Postoperatively, the proportions of fecal bacteria changed significantly; Actinobacteria increased in the probiotic group, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria increased in the control group, and Firmicutes decreased in both groups. Significant correlations were found between the proportions of fecal bacteria and blood parameters; Actinobacteria correlated negatively with blood inflammatory parameters, while Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria correlated positively with blood inflammatory parameters. In the subgroup of patients who received preoperative chemoradiotherapy treatment, the duration of hospital stay was significantly shortened upon probiotic intervention. These results suggest that perioperative oral administration of bifidobacteria may contribute to a balanced intestinal microbiota and attenuated postoperative inflammatory responses, which may subsequently promote a healthy recovery after colorectal resection. PMID:27200261

Diet and liver apoptosis in rats: a particular metabolic pathway.

PubMed

Monteiro, Maria Emilia Lopes; Xavier, Analucia Rampazzo; Azeredo, Vilma Blondet

2017-03-30

Various studies have indicated an association between modifi cation in dietary macronutrient composition and liver apoptosis. To explain how changes in metabolic pathways associated with a high-protein, high-fat, and low-carbohydrate diet causes liver apoptosis. Two groups of rats were compared. An experimental diet group (n = 8) using a high-protein (59.46%), high-fat (31.77%), and low-carbohydrate (8.77%) diet versus a control one (n = 9) with American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-93-M diet. Animals were sacrificed after eight weeks, the adipose tissue weighed, the liver removed for flow cytometry analysis, and blood collected to measure glucose, insulin, glucagon, IL-6, TNF, triglycerides, malondialdehyde, and β-hydroxybutyrate. Statistical analysis was carried out using the unpaired and parametric Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation coeffi ents. Significance was set at p < 0.05. Animals from the experimental group presented less adipose tissue than dose of the control group. Percentage of nonviable hepatocytes in the experimental group was 2.18 times larger than the control group (p = 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in capillary glucose, insulin, glucagon, IL-6, or TNF-α between two groups. Plasmatic β-hydroxybutyrate and malondialdehyde of the experimental group expressed higher levels and triglycerides lower levels compared with the control group. The results show a positive and significant correlation between the percentage of nonviable hepatocytes and malondialdehyde levels (p = 0.0217) and a statistically significant negative correlation with triglycerides levels (p = 0.006). Results suggest that plasmatic malondialdehyde and triglyceride levels are probably good predictors of liver damage associated with an experimental low-carbohydrate diet in rats.

Analysis of tear cytokines and clinical correlations in Sjögren syndrome dry eye patients and non-Sjögren syndrome dry eye patients.

PubMed

Lee, Sang Yeop; Han, Soo Jung; Nam, Sang Min; Yoon, Sang Chul; Ahn, Ji Min; Kim, Tae-Im; Kim, Eung Kweon; Seo, Kyoung Yul

2013-08-01

To compare concentrations of tear cytokines in 3 groups composed of Sjögren syndrome (SS) dry eye, non-Sjögren syndrome (non-SS) dry eye, and normal subjects. Correlations between ocular surface parameters and tear cytokines were also investigated. Prospective cross-sectional study. SS dry eye patients (n = 24; 40 eyes) were diagnosed with primary SS according to the criteria set by the American-European Consensus Group. Non-SS dry eye patients (n = 25; 40 eyes) and normal subjects (n = 21; 35 eyes) were also enrolled. Tear concentrations of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-6, IL-10, IL-4, IL-2, interferon γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured by a multiplex immunobead assay. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), tear film breakup time (TBUT), Schirmer I test, and fluorescein staining scores were obtained from dry eye patients. All cytokine levels except for IL-2 were highest in the SS group, followed by non-SS dry eye group and control subjects. Concentrations of IL-17, TNF-α, and IL-6 were significantly different among the 3 groups (IL-17: SS > control P < .001, non-SS > control P = .042, SS > non-SS P < .001; TNF-α: SS > control P = .006, non-SS > control P = .034, SS > non-SS P = .029; IL-6: SS > control P = .002, non-SS > control P = .032, SS > non-SS P = .002). IL-17 was significantly correlated with TBUT (R = -0.22, P = .012) and Schirmer I test (R = -0.36, P = .027) scores in the SS group. IL-6 was significantly correlated only with TBUT (R = -0.38, P = .02) in the non-SS group. Differences in tear cytokine levels and correlation patterns between SS dry eye and non-SS dry eye patients suggest the involvement of different inflammatory processes as causes of dry eye syndrome. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interaction between Marine-Derived n-3 Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Uric Acid on Glucose Metabolism and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case-Control Study.

PubMed

Li, Kelei; Wu, Kejian; Zhao, Yimin; Huang, Tao; Lou, Dajun; Yu, Xiaomei; Li, Duo

2015-08-26

The present case-control study explored the interaction between marine-derived n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC PUFAs) and uric acid (UA) on glucose metabolism and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Two hundred and eleven healthy subjects in control group and 268 T2DM subjects in case group were included. Plasma phospholipid (PL) fatty acids and biochemical parameters were detected by standard methods. Plasma PL C22:6n-3 was significantly lower in case group than in control group, and was negatively correlated with fasting glucose (r = -0.177, p < 0.001). Higher plasma PL C22:6n-3 was associated with lower risk of T2DM, and the OR was 0.32 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.12 to 0.80; p = 0.016) for per unit increase of C22:6n-3. UA was significantly lower in case group than in control group. UA was positively correlated with fasting glucose in healthy subjects, but this correlation became negative in T2DM subjects. A significant interaction was observed between C22:6n-3 and UA on fasting glucose (p for interaction = 0.005): the lowering effect of C22:6n-3 was only significant in subjects with a lower level of UA. In conclusion, C22:6n-3 interacts with UA to modulate glucose metabolism.

The effect of social demographic factors, snack consumption and vending machine use on oral health of children living in London.

PubMed

Maliderou, M; Reeves, S; Noble, C

2006-10-07

To investigate the effect of socio-economic status, sugar, snack consumption and vending machine use on the prevalence and severity of caries (DMF) in children. An observational study was carried out in a dental practice in inner city London. Sixty children were asked to complete a questionnaire and a three day food and drink diary. After a dental examination the number of decayed (D), missing (M) or filled (F) teeth provided a DMF score. Anova and Pearsons correlations were used to analyse the data statistically. Children from social groups I and II consumed significantly less (P < 0.05) sugar, confectionery, crisps and used a vending machine less often than children from other social groups. Children from Social groups I, II and III had significantly lower DMF scores. The average DMF from social group I children was 0.5 +/- 0.6, whilst group IV children had the greatest incidence and a DMF of 4.6 +/- 0.8. Significant correlations were identified between DMF and sugar, confectionery and crisp consumption and vending machine use, and a negative correlation between DMF and vegetable consumption. Socio-economic status and access to vending machines were found to have a significant effect on sugar intakes, foods choices, and dental health. The removal of vending machines from schools or at least installing 'healthy' vending machines is recommended. Health promotion programmes that account for social groups and snacking habits that are cost effective are required.

Levels of amyloid-beta-42 and CSF pressure are directly related in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

PubMed

Schirinzi, Tommaso; Di Lazzaro, Giulia; Sancesario, Giulia Maria; Colona, Vito Luigi; Scaricamazza, Eugenia; Mercuri, Nicola Biagio; Martorana, Alessandro; Sancesario, Giuseppe

2017-12-01

Experimental data suggest that the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamic is involved in the clearance of beta-amyloid, a key event in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). At this regard no evidence still exists in vivo. In this study we explored the relationships between CSF pressure and AD pathology, as measured with CSF core biomarkers. We enrolled 16 patients with probable AD and 21 controls, collecting demographics, clinical data, CSF opening pressure and CSF levels of beta-amyloid-42 fragment (Aβ42), total-tau (t-tau), phosphorylated-tau-181 (p-tau), albumin and albumin ratio. Differences between the groups were calculated with non-parametric tests, while correlations among all parameters were separately calculated with Spearman's test in each group. The groups significantly differed in biomarkers' concentration with lower Aβ42, and higher t-tau and p-tau in AD patients. Moreover, CSF pressure was significantly lower in AD group (11.0 ± 2.8 vs. 13.3 ± 3.0 mmHg, p < 0.05) and directly correlated with Aβ42 levels (R = 0.512; p < 0.05), but not with other biomarkers or parameters. No significant correlations emerged for biomarkers in control group. AD patients exhibit low CSF pressure whose values are directly and selectively related to CSF Aβ42 levels. This interesting correlation may confirm in vivo the association between CSF dynamic and beta-amyloid metabolism occurring in AD.

26S proteasome and insulin-like growth factor-1 in serum of dogs suffering from malignant tumors.

PubMed

Gerke, Ingrid; Kaup, Franz-Josef; Neumann, Stephan

2018-04-01

Studies in humans have shown that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and the insulin-like growth factor axis are involved in carcinogenesis, thus, components of these systems might be useful as prognostic markers and constitute potential therapeutic targets. In veterinary medicine, only a few studies exist on this topic. Here, serum concentrations of 26S proteasome (26SP) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were measured by canine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 43 dogs suffering from malignant tumors and 21 clinically normal dogs (control group). Relationships with tumor size, survival time, body condition score (BCS), and tumor entity were assessed. The median 26SP concentration in the tumor group was non-significantly higher than in the control group. However, dogs with mammary carcinomas displayed significantly increased 26SP levels compared to the control group and dogs with tumor size less than 5 cm showed significantly increased 26SP concentrations compared to dogs with larger tumors and control dogs. 26SP concentrations were not correlated to survival time or BCS. No significant difference in IGF-1 levels was found between the tumor group and the control group; however, IGF-1 concentrations displayed a larger range of values in the tumor group. Dogs with tumors greater than 5 cm showed significantly higher IGF-1 levels than dogs with smaller tumors. The IGF-1 concentrations were positively correlated to survival time, but no correlation with BCS was found. Consequently, serum 26SP concentrations seem to be increased in some dogs suffering from malignant tumors, especially in dogs with mammary carcinoma and smaller tumors. Increased serum IGF-1 concentrations could be an indication of large tumors and a poor prognosis.

Comparison of Pattern Electroretinography and Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

PubMed Central

Tiryaki Demir, Semra; Oba, Mehmet Ersin; Erdoğan, Ezgi Tuna; Odabaşı, Mahmut; Dirim, Ayşe Burcu; Demir, Mehmet; Can, Efe; Kara, Orhan; Yekta Şendül, Selam

2015-01-01

Objectives: To investigate the correlation of visual field (VF), pattern electroretinography (PERG) and Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) results in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) and early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). Materials and Methods: The study included 72 eyes of 37 patients with early POAG, 76 eyes of 38 patients with OHT, and 60 eyes of 30 controls. All subjects underwent full ophthalmologic examination, VF assessment with 24-2 Humphrey standard automated perimetry (Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA)-Standard), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness measurement with FD-OCT, and PERG P50 and N95 wave latency and amplitude measurements with electroretinography (Nihon Kohden). Results: With the exception of the nasal quadrant, all GCC parameters and RNFL results were significantly lower in the POAG group compared to the OHT and control groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the OHT and control group. PERG amplitudes were lower in the POAG and OHT groups than in the control group. Reduction in N95 amplitude was greater than that of P50 amplitude. No difference was detected in PERG latencies among groups. GCC was significantly correlated with VF and RNFL in the POAG group. Conclusion: Significant thinning of the GCC and RNFL occurs in addition to VF pathologies in patients with early POAG, and these examinations should be concomitantly evaluated. During diagnostic assessment of patients with early POAG, GCC and RNFL analysis by FD-OCT are highly effective. GCC is as reliable as RNLF in the early diagnosis of glaucoma and there is a highly significant correlation between them. Dysfunction of ganglion cells in patients with OHT may be detected earlier using PERG amplitude analysis. PMID:27800239

The Association between ABO and Rh Blood Groups and Risk of Endometriosis in Iranian Women.

PubMed

Malekzadeh, Farideh; Moini, Ashraf; Amirchaghmaghi, Elham; Daliri, Leila; Akhoond, Mohammad Reza; Talebi, Mehrak; Hosseini, Rihaneh

2018-06-01

Endometriosis is a common gynaecological disease that affects quality of life for women. Several studies have revealed that both environmental and genetic factors contribute to the development of endometriosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups in Iranian women with endometriosis who presented to two referral infertility centers in Tehran, Iran. In this case-control study, women who referred to Royan Institute and Arash Women's Hospital for diagnostic laparoscopy between 2013 and 2014 were assessed. Based on the laparoscopy findings, we categorized the women into two groups: endometriosis and control (women without endometriosis and normal pelvis). Chi-square and logistic regression tests were used for data analysis. In this study, we assessed 433 women, of which 213 patients were assigned to the endometriosis group while the remaining 220 subjects comprised the control group. The most frequent ABO blood group was O (40.6%). The least frequent blood group was AB (4.8%). In terms of Rh blood group, Rh+ (90.1%) was more frequent than Rh- (9.9%). There was no significant correlation between ABO (P=0.091) and Rh (P=0.55) blood groups and risk of endometriosis. Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups with regards to the stage of endometriosis and distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups (P>0.05). Although the O blood group was less dominant in Iranian women with endometriosis, we observed no significant correlation between the risk of endometriosis and the ABO and Rh blood groups. Endometriosis severity was not correlated to any of these blood groups. Copyright© by Royan Institute. All rights reserved.

Curative effects of GM1 in the treatment of severe ischemic brain injury and its effects on serum TNF-α and NDS.

PubMed

Liu, Fang; Sun, Xiaoling; Zhang, Yunxia; Zhao, Guoliang; Liu, Yancang; Zhang, Yiwu

2018-06-01

The curative effects of monosialotetrahexosyl ganglioside (GM1) in the treatment of severe ischemic brain injury and its effects on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and neuropathy disability score (NDS). Sixty patients with severe ischemic brain injury admitted to The First People's Hospital of Jining (Jining, China) from June 2014 to March 2016 were selected. They were randomly divided into the control group (n=30) and the experimental group (n=30). The patients in the control group were treated with routine therapy while those in the experimental group were treated with GM1. The level of TNF-α in the serum was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The NDS was used to grade the two groups; Pearson's correlation coefficient was applied to analyze the correlation between the content of TNF-α and NDS; the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was detected using xanthine oxidase assay, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was detected by thiobarbituric acid method. The clinical recovery time of two groups of patients was recorded. At 14 days after GM1 treatment, the serum TNF-α content and the NDS in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The content of TNF-α in the patients was positively correlated with the NDS. After treatment, the serum MDA content of patients in the experimental group was lower, while the SOD content was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). After GM1 treatment, hemodynamic parameters of patients in the experimental group were significantly improved compared with those in the control group. The total effective rate of GM1 treatment in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). GM1 has a good clinical significance in the treatment of patients with severe ischemic brain injury and is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Collective efficacy, group potency, and group performance: meta-analyses of their relationships, and test of a mediation model.

PubMed

Stajkovic, Alexander D; Lee, Dongseop; Nyberg, Anthony J

2009-05-01

The authors examined relationships among collective efficacy, group potency, and group performance. Meta-analytic results (based on 6,128 groups, 31,019 individuals, 118 correlations adjusted for dependence, and 96 studies) reveal that collective efficacy was significantly related to group performance (.35). In the proposed nested 2-level model, collective efficacy assessment (aggregation and group discussion) was tested as the 1st-level moderator. It showed significantly different average correlations with group performance (.32 vs. .45), but the group discussion assessment was homogeneous, whereas the aggregation assessment was heterogeneous. Consequently, there was no 2nd-level moderation for the group discussion, and heterogeneity in the aggregation group was accounted for by the 2nd-level moderator, task interdependence (high, moderate, and low levels were significant; the higher the level, the stronger the relationship). The 2nd and 3rd meta-analyses indicated that group potency was related to group performance (.29) and to collective efficacy (.65). When tested in a structural equation modeling analysis based on meta-analytic findings, collective efficacy fully mediated the relationship between group potency and group performance. The authors suggest future research and convert their findings to a probability of success index to help facilitate practice. (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.

Critical thinking, self-esteem, and state anxiety of nursing students.

PubMed

Suliman, Wafika A; Halabi, Jehad

2007-02-01

This study aimed at exploring the existing predominant critical thinking disposition(s) of baccalaureate nursing students and the relationship among their critical thinking (CT), self-esteem (SE), and state anxiety (SA). Cross-sectional correlational design was utilized to achieve the said aim. A voluntary convenient sample consisted of first year (n=105) and fourth year (n=60) nursing students. The California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory were used for data collection after their translation to Arabic language and test for validity and reliability. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data. Results showed that both groups overall CT was marginal indicating no serious deficiency, their SE was average, and their SA was relatively high; they reported analyticity, open-mindedness, systematicity, inquisitiveness, and truth seeking as predominant critical thinking dispositions with no significant difference between them. However, the two groups were weak with significant difference on CT self-confidence (t=-2.053, df=136.904, p=.042) with beginning students reporting poorer level of CT self-confidence. Significant correlation results showed that critical thinking is positively correlated with SE, negatively correlated with SA, and SE is negatively correlated with SA; however, all correlations were actually quite low.

Plasma Inflammatory Cytokine IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α Levels Correlate with Pulmonary Function in Patients with Asthma-Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Overlap Syndrome.

PubMed

Huang, Ai-Xia; Lu, Li-Wen; Liu, Wen-Juan; Huang, Mao

2016-08-09

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to investigate the plasma inflammatory cytokine levels and their correlations with pulmonary function in patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS). MATERIAL AND METHODS Between January 2013 and December 2014, a total of 96 patients with asthma, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), or ACOS were enrolled, and 35 healthy people were included as a control group. Fasting plasma interleukin (IL)-4, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Correlations between the plasma inflammatory cytokine levels and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/predicted value ratio (FEV1%pred), and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) were analyzed. RESULTS IL-4 and IL-8 levels showed statistically significant differences among the 3 groups of patients (both P<0.001); IL-4 level was significantly lower, while IL-8 level was significantly higher in the AECOPD group and ACOS group than those in the asthma group (all P<0.05). IL-10 level and TNF-α level were significantly different among the 3 patient groups (both P<0.001). IL-10 level was significantly different between each of the 2 groups (all P<0.001). TNF-α level in the asthma group was higher than in the AECOPD group and ACOS group (both P<0.001). IL-4 and IL-10 were positively and IL-8 and TNF-α were negatively related with FEV1, FEV1%pred, and FEV1/FVC. CONCLUSIONS Plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α are related with severity of airway diseases and could be potential markers for the evaluation of asthma, COPD, and ACOS.

A comparative evaluation of Oratest with the microbiological method of assessing caries activity in children

PubMed Central

Sundaram, Meenakshi; Nayak, Ullal Anand; Ramalingam, Krishnakumar; Reddy, Venugopal; Rao, Arun Prasad; Mathian, Mahesh

2013-01-01

Aims: The aim of this study is to find out whether Oratest can be used as a diagnostic tool in assessing the caries activity by evaluating its relationship to the existing caries status and the salivary streptococcus mutans level. Materials and Methods: The study sample consists of 90 students divided into two groups. Group I (test group) and Group II (control group) consisting of 30 children for control group and 60 children for test group. The sampling of unstimulated saliva for the estimation of streptococcus mutans was done as per the method suggested by Kohler and Bratthall. The plates were then incubated. Rough surface colonies were identified as streptococcus mutans on a pre-determined area of the tip (approximately 1.5 cm2) were counted for each side of spatula pressed against mitis salivarius bacitracin agar using digital colony counter. The results were expressed in colony forming units (CFU). Oratest was carried out in the same patients after the collection of salivary sample for the microbiological method to evaluate the relationship between the two tests. Statistical Analysis Used: The tests used were ANOVA, Pearson Chi-square test, Pearson′s correlation analysis, Mann-Whitney U test and Student′s independent t-test. Results: In the control group and test group, when the streptococcus mutans count (CFU) and Oratest time (minutes) were correlated using Pearson′s correlation analysis, the streptococcus mutans counts was found to be in a statistically significant negative linear relationship with the Oratest time. When the caries status of the children, participated in the test group were correlated with mutans count (CFU) and Oratest time, caries status were found to be in a statistically significant positive linear relationship with streptococcus mutans count and in a significant negative linear relationship with Oratest time. Conclusions: The test proved to be a simple, inexpensive and rapid technique for assessing caries activity since a significant relationship exists clinically with caries status and microbiologically with the streptococcus mutans count of the individual. PMID:23946577

The Osteopontin Level in Liver, Adipose Tissue and Serum Is Correlated with Fibrosis in Patients with Alcoholic Liver Disease

PubMed Central

Voican, Cosmin S.; Anty, Rodolphe; Saint-Paul, Marie-Christine; Rosenthal-Allieri, Maria-Alessandra; Agostini, Hélène; Njike, Micheline; Barri-Ova, Nadége; Naveau, Sylvie; Le Marchand-Brustel, Yannick; Veillon, Pascal; Calès, Paul; Perlemuter, Gabriel; Tran, Albert; Gual, Philippe

2012-01-01

Background Osteopontin (OPN) plays an important role in the progression of chronic liver diseases. We aimed to quantify the liver, adipose tissue and serum levels of OPN in heavy alcohol drinkers and to compare them with the histological severity of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Methodology/Principal Findings OPN was evaluated in the serum of a retrospective and prospective group of 109 and 95 heavy alcohol drinkers, respectively, in the liver of 34 patients from the retrospective group, and in the liver and adipose tissue from an additional group of 38 heavy alcohol drinkers. Serum levels of OPN increased slightly with hepatic inflammation and progressively with the severity of hepatic fibrosis. Hepatic OPN expression correlated with hepatic inflammation, fibrosis, TGFβ expression, neutrophils accumulation and with the serum OPN level. Interestingly, adipose tissue OPN expression also correlated with hepatic fibrosis even after 7 days of alcohol abstinence. The elevated serum OPN level was an independent risk factor in estimating significant (F≥2) fibrosis in a model combining alkaline phosphatase, albumin, hemoglobin, OPN and FibroMeter® levels. OPN had an area under the receiving operator curve that estimated significant fibrosis of 0.89 and 0.88 in the retrospective and prospective groups, respectively. OPN, Hyaluronate (AUROC: 0.88), total Cytokeratin 18 (AUROC: 0.83) and FibroMeter® (AUROC: 0.90) estimated significance to the same extent in the retrospective group. Finally, the serum OPN levels also correlated with hepatic fibrosis and estimated significant (F≥2) fibrosis in 86 patients with chronic hepatitis C, which suggested that its elevated level could be a general response to chronic liver injury. Conclusion/Significance OPN increased in the liver, adipose tissue and serum with liver fibrosis in alcoholic patients. Further, OPN is a new relevant biomarker for significant liver fibrosis. OPN could thus be an important actor in the pathogenesis of this chronic liver disease. PMID:22530059

Relationships between plasma and erythrocyte Zn and maturation in adolescent males

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

Arquitt, A.B.; Hermann, J.R.; Stoecker, B.J.

Sixty-three male volunteers between the ages of 10.6 and 14.3 yr were assessed for maturation and zinc status. The adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), used as a maturation indicator, was significantly correlated with height, weight, hemoglobin, and mid-arm muscle area (MAMA) as previously reported. Erythrocyte Zn (RBC-Zn) and plasma Zn were significantly correlated. When grouped by plasma Zn tertiles, significant differences were found for RBC-Zn and cholesterol between the highest and lowest groups. When subjects were grouped by RBC-Zn concentration, the lowest 10% of subjects had higher concentrations of DHEAS, lower plasma Zn , and were taller, heavier and hadmore » larger MAMA than the other group. In these subjects plasma and RBC-Zn concentrations were within normal limits. In this study RBC-Zn and plasma Zn were related to indicators of maturation.« less

The relation between tilt table and acceleration-tolerance and their dependence on stature and physical fitness

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klein, K. E.; Backhausen, F.; Bruner, H.; Eichhorn, J.; Jovy, D.; Schotte, J.; Vogt, L.; Wegman, H. M.

1980-01-01

A group of 12 highly trained athletes and a group of 12untrained students were subjected to passive changes of position on a tilt table and positive accelerations in a centrifuge. During a 20 min tilt, including two additional respiratory maneuvers, the number of faints and average cardiovascular responses did not differ significantly between the groups. During linear increase of acceleration, the average blackout level was almost identical in both groups. Statistically significant coefficients of product-moment correlation for various relations were obtained. The coefficient of multiple determination computed for the dependence of acceleration tolerance on heart-eye distance and systolic blood pressure at rest allows the explanation of almost 50% of the variation of acceleration tolerance. The maximum oxygen uptake showed the expected significant correlation to the heart rate at rest, but not the acceleration tolerance, or to the cardiovascular responses to tilting.

Correlating optical bench performance with clinical defocus curves in varifocal and trifocal intraocular lenses.

PubMed

Plaza-Puche, Ana B; Alió, Jorge L; MacRae, Scott; Zheleznyak, Len; Sala, Esperanza; Yoon, Geunyoung

2015-05-01

To investigate the correlations existing between a trifocal intraocular lens (IOL) and a varifocal IOL using the "ex vivo" optical bench through-focus image quality analysis and the clinical visual performance in real patients by study of the defocus curves. This prospective, consecutive, nonrandomized, comparative study included a total of 64 eyes of 42 patients. Three groups of eyes were differentiated according to the IOL implanted: 22 eyes implanted with the varifocal Lentis Mplus LS-313 IOL (Oculentis GmbH, Berlin, Germany); 22 eyes implanted with the trifocal FineVision IOL (Physiol, Liege, Belgium), and 20 eyes implanted with the monofocal Acrysof SA60AT IOL (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX). Visual outcomes and defocus curve were evaluated postoperatively. Optical bench through-focus performance was quantified by computing an image quality metric and the cross-correlation coefficient between an unaberrated reference image and captured retinal images from a model eye with a 3.0-mm artificial pupil. Statistically significant differences among defocus curves of different IOLs were detected for the levels of defocus from -4.00 to -1.00 diopters (D) (P < .01). Significant correlations were found between the optical bench image quality metric results and logMAR visual acuity scale in all groups (Lentis Mplus group: r = -0.97, P < .01; FineVision group: r = -0.82, P < .01; Acrys of group: r = -0.99, P < .01). Linear predicting models were obtained. Significant correlations were found between logMAR visual acuity and image quality metric for the multifocal and monofocal IOLs analyzed. This finding enables surgeons to predict visual outcomes from the optical bench analysis. Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.

Correlation of Insurance, Race, and Ethnicity with Pathologic Risk in a Controlled Retinoblastoma Cohort: A Children's Oncology Group Study.

PubMed

Green, Adam L; Chintagumpala, Murali; Krailo, Mark; Langholz, Bryan; Albert, Daniel; Eagle, Ralph; Cockburn, Myles; Chevez-Barrios, Patricia; Rodriguez-Galindo, Carlos

2016-08-01

To determine whether insurance status, race, and ethnicity correlate with increased retinoblastoma invasiveness as a marker of both risk and time to diagnosis. Retrospective case-control study. All 203 patients from the United States enrolled in the Children's Oncology Group (COG) trial ARET0332, a study of patients with unilateral retinoblastoma requiring enucleation. All surgical specimens underwent pathologic review to determine the presence of well-defined histopathologic features correlating with a higher risk of disease progression. Insurance status, race, and ethnicity were compiled from the study record for each patient. On institutional pathologic review, nonprivate insurance, nonwhite race, and Hispanic ethnicity all correlated significantly with a greater rate of high-risk pathologic findings. Hispanic ethnicity remained a significant predictor on multivariate analysis. On central pathologic review, these correlations remained but did not reach statistical significance. The differences in results from institutional versus central pathologic reviews appeared to be due to a higher likelihood of patients in minority groups of being misclassified as high risk by institutional pathologists. In this controlled study population of patients with retinoblastoma who had central pathologic review, our findings suggest a higher rate of more advanced disease associated with nonprivate insurance, nonwhite race, and Hispanic ethnicity; these findings may be due to delays in diagnosis for these groups. Future work should use direct methods to study the impact of other variables, including English-language proficiency and socioeconomic status. Further effort also should focus on where in the diagnostic process potential delays exist, so that interventions can be designed to overcome barriers to care for these groups. In addition, potential systematic differences in pathologic reads based on demographic variables deserve further study. Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Correlation between Post-LASIK Starburst Symptom and Ocular Wavefront Aberrations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yong-Ji; Mu, Guo-Guang; Wang, Zhao-Qi; Wang-Yan

2006-06-01

Monochromatic aberrations in post laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eyes are measured. The data are categorized into reference group and starburst group according to the visual symptoms. Statistic analysis has been made to find the correlation between the ocular wavefront aberrations and the starburst symptom. The rms aberrations of the 3rd and 4th orders for the starburst group are significantly larger than those for the reference group. The starburst symptom shows a strong correlation with vertical coma, total coma, spherical aberrations. For 3-mm pupil size and 5.8-mm pupil size, the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the starburst group are lower than those of the reference group, but their visual acuities are close. MTF and PSF analyses are made for two groups, and the results are consistent with the statistical analysis, which means the difference between the two groups is mainly due to the third- and fourth-order Zernike aberrations.

Correlation among auto-refractor, wavefront aberration, and subjective manual refraction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Qi; Ren, Qiushi

2005-01-01

Three optometry methods which include auto-refractor, wavefront aberrometer and subjective manual refraction were studied and compared in measuring low order aberrations of 60 people"s 117 normal eyes. Paired t-test and linear regression were used to study these three methods" relationship when measuring myopia with astigmatism. In order to make the analysis more clear, we divided the 117 normal eyes into different groups according to their subjective manual refraction and redid the statistical analysis. Correlations among three methods show significant in sphere, cylinder and axis in all groups, with sphere"s correlation coefficients largest(R>0.98, P<0.01) and cylinder"s smallest (0.900.01). Auto-refractor had significant change from the other two methods when measuring cylinder (P<0.01). The results after grouping differed a little from the analysis among total people. Although three methods showed significant change from each other in certain parameters, the amplitude of these differences were not large, which indicated that the coherence of auto-refractor, wavefront aberrometer and subjective refraction is good. However, we suggested that wavefront aberration measurement could be a good starting point of optometry, subjective refraction is still necessary for refinement.

Right ventricular diastolic performance in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease: correlation of echocardiographic parameters with invasive reference standards by high-fidelity micromanometer catheter.

PubMed

Okumura, Kenichi; Slorach, Cameron; Mroczek, Dariusz; Dragulescu, Andreea; Mertens, Luc; Redington, Andrew N; Friedberg, Mark K

2014-05-01

Right ventricular diastolic dysfunction influences outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but echocardiographic parameters have not been investigated in relation to invasive reference standards in pediatric PAH. We investigated echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular diastolic function in children with PAH in relation to simultaneously measured invasive reference measures. We prospectively recruited children undergoing a clinically indicated cardiac catheterization for evaluation of PAH and pulmonary vasoreactivity testing. Echocardiography was performed simultaneously with invasive reference measurements by high-fidelity micromanometer catheter. For analysis, patients were divided into shunt and nonshunt groups. Sixteen children were studied. In the group as a whole, significant correlations were found among τ and tricuspid deceleration time, E', E/E', TimeE-E', A wave velocity, and global early and late diastolic strain rate. dp/dt minimum correlated significantly with late diastolic tricuspid annular velocity (A'), tissue Doppler imaging-derived systolic:diastolic duration ratio, and global late diastolic strain rate. End-diastolic pressure correlated significantly with tissue Doppler imaging-derived systolic:diastolic duration ratio. On multivariate analysis, tricuspid deceleration time, TimeE-E', and global early diastolic strain rate were independent predictors of τ, whereas tissue Doppler imaging-derived systolic:diastolic duration ratio was an independent predictor of dp/dt minimum. In general, correlations between echocardiographic and invasive parameters were better in the shunt group than in the nonshunt group. Echocardiography correlates with invasive reference measures of right ventricular diastolic function in children with PAH, although it does not differentiate between early versus late diastolic abnormalities. Newer echocardiographic techniques may have added value to assess right ventricular diastolic dysfunction in this population. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical and biological correlates of resilience in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: A cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Mizuno, Yuya; Hofer, Alex; Suzuki, Takefumi; Frajo-Apor, Beatrice; Wartelsteiner, Fabienne; Kemmler, Georg; Saruta, Juri; Tsukinoki, Keiichi; Mimura, Masaru; Fleischhacker, W Wolfgang; Uchida, Hiroyuki

2016-08-01

The concept of resilience is relevant in understanding the heterogeneous outcomes noted in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, clinical and biological correlates of resilience in these populations have rarely been investigated. We aimed to identify key correlates of subjective resilience in such patients using comprehensive assessments and to explore associations between resilience levels and peripheral biomarkers. 180 subjects with DSM-IV schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and healthy controls (60 per group) were included. Demographic and clinical variables were assessed by means of interview and various psychometric scales. Furthermore, blood and saliva samples were obtained for the assessment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, adrenocorticotropic hormone, cortisol, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, and alpha-amylase levels. Cross-sectional associations with resilience, as assessed by the 25-item Resilience Scale were sought. Resilience Scale total scores were significantly higher in healthy individuals (130.1, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 124.8-135.4) compared to subjects with schizophrenia (109.9, 95% CI: 104.6-115.2, p<0.001) and bipolar disorder (119.0, 95% CI: 113.8-124.3, p=0.012), while the difference between patient groups was non-significant (p=0.055). Self-esteem, spirituality, quality of life, and hopelessness were correlated with resilience in all three groups. In addition, internalized stigma and depression were relevant factors in the schizophrenia and bipolar disorder group, respectively. Correlations between resilience levels and peripheral biomarkers did not reach significance. Although causal relationships must be confirmed in prospective studies, our results have implications in developing psychological interventions to enhance resilience in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The biological correlates of resilience in these populations warrant further investigations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Crown traits of coniferous trees and their relation to shade tolerance can differ with leaf type: a biophysical demonstration using computed tomography scanning data.

PubMed

Dutilleul, Pierre; Han, Liwen; Valladares, Fernando; Messier, Christian

2015-01-01

Plant light interception and shade tolerance are intrinsically related in that they involve structural, morphological and physiological adaptations to manage light capture for photosynthetic utilization, in order to sustain survival, development and reproduction. At the scale of small-size trees, crown traits related to structural geometry of branching pattern and space occupancy through phyllotaxis can be accurately evaluated in 3D, using computed tomography (CT) scanning data. We demonstrate this by scrutinizing the crowns of 15 potted miniature conifers of different species or varieties, classified in two groups based on leaf type (10 needlelike, 5 scalelike); we also test whether mean values of crown traits measured from CT scanning data and correlations with a shade tolerance index (STI) differ between groups. Seven crown traits, including fractal dimensions (FD1: smaller scales, FD2: larger scales) and leaf areas, were evaluated for all 15 miniature conifers; an average silhouette-to-total-area ratio was also calculated for each of the 10 needlelike-leaf conifers. Between-group differences in mean values are significant (P < 0.05) for STI, FD1, FD2, and the average leaf area displayed (ĀD). Between-group differences in sign and strength of correlations are observed. For example, the correlation between STI and FD1 is negative and significant (P < 0.10) for the needlelike-leaf group, but is positive and significant (P < 0.05) for the miniature conifers with scalelike leaves, which had lower STI and higher FD1 on average in our study; the positive correlation between STI and ĀD is significant (P < 0.05) for the scalelike-leaf group, and very moderate for the needlelike-leaf one. A contrasting physical attachment of the leaves to branches may explain part of the between-group differences. Our findings open new avenues for the understanding of fundamental plant growth processes; the information gained could be included in a multi-scale approach to tree crown modeling.

[Analysis of normal pelvis morphometry of modern Chinese southern Han female and its correlation with age].

PubMed

Liu, Ping; Yu, Yan-Hong; Chen, Chun-Lin; Tang, Yi-Xin; Wang, Li; Mao, Dong-Rui; Xu, Yi-Kai; Chen, Lan

2013-07-01

To analyze the normal pelvis morphometry of Chinese southern Han female and its correlation with age. From August 2009 to September 2011, 289 Han nationality females who received pelvis CT scan at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University were eligible for the study. Their mean age was 43.5 years, with normal body development and no pelvic abnormality. The patients were divided into 3 age groups: 25 to 40 (n = 109), 41 to 50 (n = 115), and >50 years (n = 65). After constructing a three-dimensional digital model of the pelvis, the following parameters were measured, including transverse inlet diameter, posterior sagittal diameter of pelvic inlet, sagittal inlet, diagonal conjugate, biischial diameter, posterior sagittal diameter of midpelvis, sagittal midpelvic diameter, intertuberous distance, posterior sagittal diameter of outlet, angle of pubic arch, sagittal outlet, penal height, sacrum length and sacrum curvature. The relationship between all parameters and age was analyzed. (1) The posterior sagittal diameters of pelvic inlet of the 25 to 40 age group, 41 to 50 age group, >50 years age group were (53 ± 8), (51 ± 7), (48 ± 6) mm. The sagittal inlet of the three groups were (122 ± 8), (120 ± 9), (114 ± 8) mm. And the diagonal conjugate of the three groups were (135 ± 10), (132 ± 9), (127 ± 9) mm. All had significant differences among the three groups (P < 0.01) . (2) The posterior sagittal diameter of midpelvis of the three groups were (43 ± 6), (44 ± 6), (43 ± 7) mm, and the sagittal midpelvic diameter of the three groups were (119 ± 8), (120 ± 8), (119 ± 7) mm, with no significant difference among the three groups (P > 0.05). (3) The intertuberous distance of the three groups were (122 ± 11), (121 ± 10), (117 ± 11) mm, and the posterior sagittal diameter of outlet of the three groups were (56 ± 9), (58 ± 8), (57 ± 9) mm. There was no significant difference among the three groups (P > 0.05) .(4) Penal height of three groups were (31 ± 3), (33 ± 3), (34 ± 3) mm, there was with significant differences (P < 0.01) .(5) Pearson correlation analysis showed that penal height was positively correlated with age (r = 0.331, P < 0.05), while sagittal inlet, posterior sagittal diameter of inlet, diagonal conjugate, intertuberous distance, angle of pubic arch, sacrum length and sacrum curvature were negatively correlated with age (r = -0.120 to -0.343, P < 0.05). The shape of the pelvic inlet of Chinese southern Han female changed from sagittal elliptic into transverse elliptic form, and the posterior part of pelvic inlet became larger.Sacral concavity was increased and the pelvis became deeper. Mid pelvis and the pelvic outlet was almost unchanged, and showed no correlation with age.

Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea is Related to Aldosterone Status in Subjects with Resistant Hypertension

PubMed Central

Gonzaga, Carolina C.; Gaddam, Krishna K.; Ahmed, Mustafa I.; Pimenta, Eduardo; Thomas, S. Justin; Harding, Susan M.; Oparil, Suzanne; Cofield, Stacey S.; Calhoun, David A.

2010-01-01

Background: We previously described a significant correlation between plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with resistant hypertension. This investigation examines the relationship between aldosterone status and OSA in patients with resistant hypertensive—with and without hyperaldosteronism. Methods and Results: One hundred and nine consecutive patients with resistant hypertension were prospectively evaluated with plasma renin activity (PRA), PAC, 24-hour urinary aldosterone excretion (UAldo), and polysomnography. Hyperaldosteronism (PRA < 1 ng·mL-1·h-1 and UAldo ≥ 12 μg/24-h) prevalence was 28% and OSA prevalence was 77%. In patients with hyperaldosteronism, OSA prevalence was 84%, compared with 74% in hypertensive patients with normal aldosterone levels. There were no significant differences in body mass index or neck circumference between aldosterone groups. PAC and UAldo were both significantly correlated with apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in the high-aldosterone group (ρ = 0.568, p = 0.0009; ρ = 0.533, p = 0.002, respectively). UAldo correlated weakly with apnea-hypopnea index in the normal-aldosterone group, but there was no significant correlation between PAC and AHI in the normal-aldosterone group (ρ = 0.224, p = 0.049; ρ = 0.015, p = 0.898, respectively). Conclusions: Our analysis of patients with resistant hypertension confirms a markedly high prevalence of OSA in this group. Furthermore, severity of OSA was greater in those patients with hyperaldosteronism and related to the degree of aldosterone excess. The correlation between OSA severity and aldosterone supports the hypothesis that aldosterone excess contributes to greater severity of OSA. Citation: Gonzaga CC; Gaddam KK; Ahmed MI; Pimenta E; Thomas SJ; Harding SM; Oparil S; Cofield SS; Calhoun DA. Severity of obstructive sleep apnea is related to aldosterone status in subjects with resistant hypertension. J Clin Sleep Med 2010;6(4):363-368. PMID:20726285

Geometric Evaluation of the Effect of Prosthetic Rehabilitation on Facial Asymmetry in Patients with Unilateral Maxillectomy.

PubMed

Aswehlee, Amel M; Hattori, Mariko; Elbashti, Mahmoud E; Sumita, Yuka I; Taniguchi, Hisashi

This study aimed (1) to geometrically evaluate areas of facial asymmetry in patients with two different types of maxillectomy defect compared to a control group, (2) to geometrically evaluate the effect of an obturator prosthesis on facial asymmetry, and (3) to investigate the correlation between three-dimensional (3D) deviation values and number of missing teeth. Facial data from 13 normal control participants and 26 participants with two types of maxillectomy defect (groups 1 and 2) were acquired with a noncontact 3D digitizer. Facial asymmetry was evaluated by superimposing a facial scan onto its mirror scan using 3D evaluation software. Facial scans with and without obturator prostheses were also superimposed to evaluate the obturator effect. The correlation between 3D deviation values and number of missing teeth was also evaluated. Statistical analyses were performed. Facial asymmetry was significantly different between the control group and each maxillectomy defect group (group 1: P < .0001 and P = .020 without and with obturator, respectively; group 2: P < .0001 for both conditions). There were no significant differences in asymmetry between groups 1 and 2 either without or with obturator (P = .457 and P = .980, respectively). There was a significant difference in the obturator effect between groups 1 and 2 (P = .038). 3D deviation values were positively correlated with number of missing teeth in group 1 (r = 0.594, P = .032), but not in group 2. A noncontact 3D digitizer and 3D deviation assessment were effective for analyzing facial data of maxillectomy patients. Obturators were effective for improving facial deformities in these patients.

Multielement chemical and statistical analyses from a uranium hydrogeochemical and stream-sediment survey in and near the Elkhorn Mountains, Jefferson County, Montana; Part II, Stream sediments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Suits, V.J.; Wenrich, K.J.

1982-01-01

Fifty-two stream-sediment samples, collected from an area south of Helena, Jefferson County, Montana, were sieved into two size fractions (50 ppm for the fine fraction) were encountered in samples from the Warm Springs Creek drainage area, along Prickly Pear Creek near Welmer and Golconda Creeks and along Muskrat Creek. All groups showed a significant correlation at the 99 percent confidence level (r between 0.73 and 0.77) between U and Th. Uranium was found to correlate significantly only with Th (as mentioned above) and with -Ni in the fine fraction of the volcanics group. U correlates significantly with -Al2O3, Ba, organic C, -K2O, -Sr and Y in both size fractions for the Boulder batholith. Correlations between U and each of several elements differ for the fine and coarse fractions of the Boulder batholith group, suggesting that the U distribution in these stream sediments is in large part controlled by grain size. Correlations were found between U and CaO, Cr, Fe203, -Na2O, Sc, -SiO2, TiO2, Yb and Zr in the coarse fraction but not in the fine fraction. U correlates weakly (to the 90% confidence level, crc<.37) with -Co and -Cu in the fine but not the coarse fraction. These results are compared to a previous study in the northern Absaroka mountains. Correlation coefficients between all other elements determined from these samples are also shown in Tables 12 to 15.

Correlations between the Hand Test Pathology score and Personality Assessment Inventory scales for pain clinic patients.

PubMed

George, J M; Wagner, E E

1995-06-01

Pearson correlations between the Hand Test Pathology (PATH) score and Personality Assessment Inventory scales produced a cluster of relationships characteristic of an antisocial orientation. Likewise, PATH significantly differentiated between a "P" (Pathology) group flagged by a high Negative Impression score on the inventory, and an "N" (Normal) group of 100 pain patients. It was suggested that the interpretive simplicity of Hand Test scores renders the scores amenable to further correlational studies involving the inventory.

The relationships of irisin with bone mineral density and body composition in PCOS patients.

PubMed

Gao, Shanshan; Cheng, Yan; Zhao, Lingling; Chen, Yuxin; Liu, Yu

2016-05-01

Our study aims to assay the irisin level and investigate the relationships of irisin level with body mass index (BMI), body composition and bone metabolism in the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and control women. Fifty two PCOS and 39 control women were recruited. Serum sex hormone, fasting insulin and C-peptide were tested. Fasting serum irisin and adiponectin were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Body composition and bone mineral density were assayed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Polycystic ovary syndrome women showed different body compositions compared with controls. Serum irisin level of PCOS did not show significant difference compared with controls although it was decreased. The level of adiponectin in PCOS patients was significantly reduced. BMI had no correlation with irisin level. It indicated a positive correlation between serum irisin levels and bone mineral density in the control group and a negative correlation in the PCOS group after BMI and age adjusted. Furthermore, total lean mass has a significant effect on irisin concentration in the PCOS group. There are no correlations between adiponection and body compositions and bone mineral density in both groups. The abnormal body composition in PCOS may contribute to the circulation irisin. The crosstalk of irisin in different organs was found and may be related to disease development in PCOS. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Autonomic dysfunction and osteoporosis after electrical burn.

PubMed

Roshanzamir, Sharareh; Dabbaghmanesh, Mohammad Hossein; Dabbaghmanesh, Alireza; Nejati, Solmaz

2016-05-01

Several studies have shown the importance of the sympathetic nervous system in bone metabolism. There is an evidence of sympathetic skin response (SSR) impairment in electrical burn patients up to 2 years after their injuries. The acute phase of burn is accompanied by increased bone resorption. Whether the prolonged dysfunction of sympathetic nervous system may result in bone metabolism derangement even after the acute phase of electrical burn is the inspiring question for this study. And we tried to find correlation between SSR abnormality and areal bone mineral density (BMD) in electrical burn patients 6 months or more after the incidents. 42 electrical burn patients (≥6 months prior to study) who did not have a known joint or bone disease, history of neuropathy (central or peripheral), diabetes mellitus or consumption of any drug affecting the autonomic nervous system or evidence of neuropathy in nerve conduction study were recruited. We also gathered a control group of 50 healthy subjects (without electrical burn or the exclusion criteria). They went under dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and SSR study. Data were analyzed statistically with SPSS 16.0 making use of independent t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. P<0.05 was considered significant statistically. Areal BMD was significantly lower in electrical burn patients than control group (P<0.001). SSR latency was significantly prolonged and its amplitude was significantly reduced in burn patients compared to control group (P<0.001). In burn patients there was an inverse correlation of areal BMD of lumbar vertebrae, left femur neck and total femur with SSR latency and a direct correlation of areal BMD with SSR amplitude. In control group there was just direct correlation of areal BMD of lumbar vertebrae and left femur neck with SSR amplitude. Electrical burn patients are at risk of reduced areal BMD long after their injuries. Sympathetic derangement and impaired SSR are correlated with reduction in areal BMD in these patients. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

The effects of training and social orientation on attitudes towards psychiatric treatments.

PubMed

Clarke, L

1989-06-01

The literature relating to psychiatric nurses' attitudes towards treatment is reviewed and a study reported which (a) compared the attitudes towards treatment of 51 trainee psychiatric nurses at different points in their training (in their first year, in their second year, and in their third year) using the Attitudes to Treatment Questionnaire (ATQ) revised by Caine et al., and (b) investigated the relationship between conservatism/radicalism as measured by the Wilson-Patterson Attitude Inventory (WPAI) and attitudes towards treatment. The results indicated that the groups differed significantly in their attitudes towards treatment, the first year group being significantly less liberal, having a more physical attitude towards treatment, than the second and third year groups. Overall there was no significant correlation between conservatism and attitudes to treatment found. However, there was a highly significant correlation between these two variables for the third year group of students. For this group, higher conservatism scores were associated with less liberal attitudes to treatment. The implications of these findings are discussed and suggestions made for further research.

The Correlation of Gene Expression of Inflammasome Indicators and Impaired Fertility in Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury: A Time Course Study.

PubMed

Nikmehr, Banafsheh; Bazrafkan, Mahshid; Hassanzadeh, Gholamreza; Shahverdi, Abdolhossein; Sadighi Gilani, Mohammad Ali; Kiani, Sahar; Mokhtari, Tahmineh; Abolhassani, Farid

2017-11-04

Expression assessment of the inflammasome genes in the acute and the chronic phases of Spinal cord injury (SCI) on adult rat testis and examination of associations between inflammasome complex expression and sperm parameters. In this study, 25 adult male rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. SCI surgery was performed at T10-T11 level of rats' spinal cord in four groups (SCI1, SCI3, SCI7, and SCI56). They were sacrificed after 1day, 3days, 7days and 56 days post SCI, respectively. One group remained intact as control (Co).CASA analysis of sperm parameters and qRT-PCR (ASC and Caspase-1) were made in all cases. Our data showed a severe reduction in sperm count and motility, especially on day 3 and 7. ASC gene expression had a non-significant increase on day 1 and 56 after surgery compared to control group. Caspase-1 expression increased significantly on day 3 post injury versus the control group (P = .009). Moreover, Caspase-1 overexpression, had significant correlations with sperm count (r = -0.555, P = .01) and sperm progressive motility (r = -0.524, P = .02). Inflammasome complex expression increase following SCI induction. This overexpression correlates to low sperm parameters in SCI rats.

Alertness Modulates Conflict Adaptation and Feature Integration in an Opposite Way

PubMed Central

Chen, Jia; Huang, Xiting; Chen, Antao

2013-01-01

Previous studies show that the congruency sequence effect can result from both the conflict adaptation effect (CAE) and feature integration effect which can be observed as the repetition priming effect (RPE) and feature overlap effect (FOE) depending on different experimental conditions. Evidence from neuroimaging studies suggests that a close correlation exists between the neural mechanisms of alertness-related modulations and the congruency sequence effect. However, little is known about whether and how alertness mediates the congruency sequence effect. In Experiment 1, the Attentional Networks Test (ANT) and a modified flanker task were used to evaluate whether the alertness of the attentional functions had a correlation with the CAE and RPE. In Experimental 2, the ANT and another modified flanker task were used to investigate whether alertness of the attentional functions correlate with the CAE and FOE. In Experiment 1, through the correlative analysis, we found a significant positive correlation between alertness and the CAE, and a negative correlation between the alertness and the RPE. Moreover, a significant negative correlation existed between CAE and RPE. In Experiment 2, we found a marginally significant negative correlation between the CAE and the RPE, but the correlation between alertness and FOE, CAE and FOE was not significant. These results suggest that alertness can modulate conflict adaptation and feature integration in an opposite way. Participants at the high alerting level group may tend to use the top-down cognitive processing strategy, whereas participants at the low alerting level group tend to use the bottom-up processing strategy. PMID:24250824

Corneal Nerve Morphology and Tear Film Substance P in Diabetes.

PubMed

Markoulli, Maria; You, Jingjing; Kim, Juno; Duong, Carmen L; Tolentino, Jonathan B; Karras, Joshua; Lum, Edward

2017-07-01

This work aims to characterize the relationship between tear film neuropeptide substance P and the structural integrity of the sub-basal nerve plexus in diabetes. Seventeen healthy control participants and nine participants with diabetes were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Total protein content and substance P concentrations were determined in the flush tears of participants. Corneal nerve morphology was assessed by capturing the corneal sub-basal nerve plexus using the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph II with the Rostock Corneal Module (Heidelberg Engineering GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) in the central cornea. Corneal nerve fiber density (CNFD) was measured using ACCMetrics (M.A. Dabbah, Imaging Science and Biomedical Engineering, Manchester, UK) on eight captured images. Comparisons between groups were made using independent samples t-tests. Correlations between parameters were analyzed using Pearson's correlations. Substance P concentrations were significantly higher in the tears of the control group compared to participants with diabetes (4150 ± 4752 and 1473 ± 1671 pg/mL, respectively, P = .047). There was no significant difference in total protein content between the groups (3.4 ± 1.8 and 2.6 ± 1.7 mg/mL in the control and diabetes groups, respectively, P = .262). CNFD was significantly lower in the participants with diabetes compared to the control group (16.1 ± 5.7 and 21.5 ± 7.0 mm/mm, respectively, P = .041). There was a moderate correlation between substance P and CNFD (r = 0.48, P = .01). Substance P is expressed at a significantly lower level in the tears of people with diabetes compared with healthy controls. The positive correlation between substance P and corneal nerve density indicates that substance P may be a potential biomarker for corneal nerve health.

Mapping anatomical correlations across cerebral cortex (MACACC) using cortical thickness from MRI.

PubMed

Lerch, Jason P; Worsley, Keith; Shaw, W Philip; Greenstein, Deanna K; Lenroot, Rhoshel K; Giedd, Jay; Evans, Alan C

2006-07-01

We introduce MACACC-Mapping Anatomical Correlations Across Cerebral Cortex-to study correlated changes within and across different cortical networks. The principal topic of investigation is whether the thickness of one area of the cortex changes in a statistically correlated fashion with changes in thickness of other cortical regions. We further extend these methods by introducing techniques to test whether different population groupings exhibit significantly varying MACACC patterns. The methods are described in detail and applied to a normal childhood development population (n = 292), and show that association cortices have the highest correlation strengths. Taking Brodmann Area (BA) 44 as a seed region revealed MACACC patterns strikingly similar to tractography maps obtained from diffusion tensor imaging. Furthermore, the MACACC map of BA 44 changed with age, older subjects featuring tighter correlations with BA 44 in the anterior portions of the superior temporal gyri. Lastly, IQ-dependent MACACC differences were investigated, revealing steeper correlations between BA 44 and multiple frontal and parietal regions for the higher IQ group, most significantly (t = 4.0) in the anterior cingulate.

No correlation is found for vegetables between antioxidant capacity and potential benefits in improving antioxidant function in aged rats

PubMed Central

Ji, Linlin; Gao, Weina; Wei, Jingyu; Wu, Jianquan; Yang, Jijun; Meng, Bin; Guo, Changjiang

2014-01-01

Vegetables vary greatly in antioxidant capacity in vitro. This study was to investigate the actions of three vegetables different remarkably in antioxidant capacity in vitro on antioxidant function in aged rats. Sixty female aged Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the control, lotus root, rape and cucumber (high, moderate and low in antioxidant capacity, respectively) treated groups. After 6 weeks of feeding, there were no significant differences in plasma FRAP value and contents of vitamin C, vitamin E, uric acid and total phenolics among different groups, whereas the content of reduced glutathione was significantly higher in the rape and cucumber groups. Plasma superoxide dismutase activity also was significantly increased in the rape and cucumber groups. Plasma contents of malondialdehyde, carbonyls and hemolysis were decreased significantly in 3 vegetable-treated groups. Meanwhile, urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine excretion was lower significantly in the rape group and the ratio of comet tail length to total length of blood mononuclear cells was decreased significantly in 3 vegetables treated groups. These results suggest that 3 vegetables tested are effective in improving antioxidant function to some extent in aged rats and no correlation is found between antioxidant capacity in vitro and improvements of antioxidant function. The benefits observed in this study may come from additive or synergistic combinations of antioxidants contained in vegetables. PMID:24895483

Four-week effects of allopurinol and febuxostat treatments on blood pressure and serum creatinine level in gouty men.

PubMed

Kim, Hyun Ah; Seo, Young-Il; Song, Yeong W

2014-08-01

The aim of this study was to observe the effects of uric acid lowering therapy (UALT), febuxostat and allopurinol, on blood pressure (BP) and serum creatinine level. Post-hoc data were derived from a phase-III, randomised, double-blind, 4-week trial of male gouty patients that compared the safety and efficacy of febuxostat and allopurinol in adults with gout. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of five groups, 35-37 in each group (febuxostat: 40, 80, 120 mg/d; allopurinol: 300 mg/d; control group: placebo). Blood pressure and serum creatinine level were measured at baseline and at weeks 2 and 4. Diastolic BP and creatinine level had decreased significantly in the UALT groups compared to the control group at week 4. Diastolic BP had decreased significantly in the allopurinol group and serum creatinine level had decreased significantly in the febuxostat groups at week 4. After adjusting for confounding variables, serum uric acid changes were found to be significantly correlated with changes in serum creatinine level but were not associated with changes in systolic or diastolic BP. UALT in gouty subjects significantly decreased diastolic BP and serum creatinine level. Changes in uric acid were significantly correlated with those in serum creatinine level, suggesting the feasibility of renal function improvement through UALT in gouty men.

Assessment of intraocular pressure measured by Reichert Ocular Response Analyzer, Goldmann Applanation Tonometry, and Dynamic Contour Tonometry in healthy individuals

PubMed Central

Ouyang, Ping-Bo; Li, Cong-Yi; Zhu, Xiao-Hua; Duan, Xuan-Chu

2012-01-01

AIM To investigate the accuracy of intraocular pressure (IOP) as measured by a Reichert Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA), as well as the relationship between central corneal thickness (CCT) and IOP as measured by ORA, Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), and dynamic contour tonometry (DCT). METHODS A total of 158 healthy individuals (296 eyes) were chosen randomly for measurement of IOP. After CCT was measured using A-ultrasound (A-US), IOP was measured by ORA, GAT, and DCT devices in a randomized order. The IOP values acquired using each of the three tonometries were compared, and the relationship between CCT and IOP values were analyzed separately. Two IOP values, Goldmann-correlated IOP value (IOPg) and corneal-compensated intraocular pressure (IOPcc), were got using ORA. Three groups were defined according to CCT: 1) thin cornea (CCT<520µm); 2) normal-thickness cornea (CCT: 520–580µm); and 3) thick cornea (CCT>580µm) groups. RESULTS In normal subjects, IOP measurements were 14.95±2.99mmHg with ORA (IOPg), 15.21±2.77mmHg with ORA (IOPcc), 15.22±2.77mmHg with GAT, and 15.49±2.56mmHg with DCT. Mean differences were 0.01±2.29mmHg between IOPcc and GAT (P>0.05) and 0.28±2.20mmHg between IOPcc and DCT (P>0.05). There was a greater correlation between IOPcc and DCT (r=0.946, P=0.000) than that between IOPcc and GAT (r=0.845, P=0.000). DCT had a significant correlation with GAT (r=0.854, P=0.000). GAT was moderately correlated with CCT (r=0.296, P<0.001), while IOPcc showed a weak but significant correlation with CCT (r=−0.155, P=0.007). There was a strong negative correlation between CCT and the difference between IOPcc and GAT(r=-0.803, P=0.000), with every 10µm increase in CCT resulting in an increase in this difference of 0.35mmHg. The thick cornea group (CCT>580µm) showed the least significant correlation between IOPcc and GAT (r=0.859, P=0.000); while the thin cornea group (CCT<520µm) had the most significant correlation between IOPcc and GAT (r=0.926, P=0.000). The correlated differences between IOPcc and DCT were not significant in any of the three groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Measurement of IOP by ORA has high repeatability and is largely consistent with GAT measurements. Moreover, the ORA measurements are affected only to a small extent by CCT, and are likely to be much closer to the real IOP value than GAT. PMID:22553765

Follicular fluid total antioxidant capacity levels in PCOS.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Nafiye; Inal, Hasan Ali; Gorkem, Umit; Sargin Oruc, Ayla; Yilmaz, Saynur; Turkkani, Ayten

2016-07-01

In this study, our aim was to assess total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels in follicular fluid (FF) and their relationship to clinical pregnancy rates in PCOS patients undergoing assisted reproduction (ART). Twenty-two women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) (Group 1) and 41 women without PCOS (Group 2) were included in this study. Clinical and laboratory parameters and FF TAC levels were investigated. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups with regard to age and baseline parameters. Although we could not demonstrate a significant difference in FF TAC levels between the two groups (p=0.469), there was a significant positive correlation between FF TAC and clinical pregnancy rates, BMI, and the duration of infertility for the entire group (r=0.254, p=0.048; r=0.312, p=0.013; r=0.259, p=0.040; respectively). Owing to the correlation between FF TAC and the clinical pregnancy rates, further studies evaluating the impact of FF TAC levels on ART outcomes in patients with PCOS and other etiologies of infertility are needed.

Risk Factors for Hypogonadism in Male Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

PubMed Central

Zheng, Rendong; Cao, Lin; Cao, Wen; Chu, Xiaoqiu; Hu, Yongxin; Zhang, Huifeng; Xu, Juan; Sun, Hongping; Bao, Weiping; Liu, Kemian; Liu, Chao

2016-01-01

Background. Male hypogonadism is an endocrine disease characterized by low levels of serum testosterone and is closely related to the development of diabetes. The purpose of the present study was to observe the risk factors for hypogonadism in male patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods. A total of 213 patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled and divided into a low total testosterone (TT) group (=75) and a normal TT group (=138). The patients' blood glucose, blood lipids, serum insulin, and sex hormones were measured. The correlations between the patients' metabolic index and sex hormone levels were analyzed. Results. Compared with the normal TT group, body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin (FINS), and HOMA insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) levels were significantly higher, but the luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were significantly lower in the low TT group (p < 0.05). Correlation analyses found that TT was negatively correlated with BMI, waist circumference (WC), FINS, and HOMA-IR. TT was positively correlated with LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Conclusions. Several risk factors of diabetes associated closely with hypogonadism. BMI, metabolic syndrome (MS), HOMA-IR, and LH are independent risk factors for hypogonadism in male patients with type 2 diabetes. PMID:27006953

Correlations among ocular surface temperature difference value, the tear meniscus height, Schirmer's test and fluorescein tear film break up time.

PubMed

Su, Tai Yuan; Ho, Wei Ting; Lu, Chien Yi; Chang, Shu Wen; Chiang, Huihua Kenny

2015-04-01

To report the use of a thermographer for measuring ocular surface temperature, and to evaluate the correlation among the obtained temperature difference values (TDVs) and dry eye parameters (tear meniscus height (TMH); Schirmer's test results; fluorescent tear breakup time (FTBUT)). Forty-three participants (age 40.2±14.7 years; range 21-67 years) from Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taiwan were recruited for the study. The surface temperature was measured at the centre of the ocular surface for 4 s after blinking. TDV was defined as the change in corneal surface temperature relative to that of the preceding eye opening, where TDV01, TDV02, TDV03, and TDV04 represent the values obtained 1, 2, 3, and 4 s after blinking, respectively. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) was employed to measure the lower TMH. Schirmer's test with topical anaesthetic was conducted to measure the basal tear secretion. The FTBUT was recorded using a digital camera. TDV measurement exhibited high reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.91). TDV03 exhibited the highest significance and strongest positive correlation with the TMH (r=0.52, p=0.0003) and Schirmer's test value (r=0.39, p=0.008), whereas the TDV03-FTBUT correlation was non-significant. Age correlated negatively and significantly with the TDV (r= -0.35, p=0.021), TMH (r= -0.33, p=0.031), and Schirmer's test value (r= -0.31, p=0.044). TDV03 remained significantly correlated with the TMH and Schirmer's test value after adjustment for age. The thermographer was effective in capturing temperature changes in the ocular surface. The temperature difference 3 s after blinking appears to be correlated with lower TMH and Schirmer test values. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.

Comparison of Lip Print Patterns in Two Indian Subpopulations and Its Correlation in ABO Blood Groups.

PubMed

Sr, Ashwinirani; Suragimath, Girish; Sande, Abhijeet R; Kulkarni, Prasad; Nimbal, Anand; Shankar, T; Gowd, T Snigdha; Shetty, Prajwal K

2014-10-01

The study of lip-print pattern (cheiloscopy) is a scientific method for personal identification and plays a major role in forensic and criminal investigations. To compare the lip print patterns in Kerala and Maharashtra population and correlate between ABO blood groups. Two hundred subjects, 100 from Maharashtra and 100 from Kerala were considered for the study. Lip prints were recorded, analyzed according to Tsuchihashi classification. The lip print patterns were compared in the two populations, correlated in ABO blood groups. The data obtained was statistically analyzed with SPSS software using chi-square test. In our study, predominant lip print pattern observed in Kerala population was type IV (53%) and Maharashtra population was type II (42%). The difference between the two population was statistically significant (p<0.001). Subjects with A+ and O- blood groups had type II lip print predominance. Subjects with B+, AB+ and O+ blood groups had type IV predominance. The lip print patterns do not show any correlation in ABO blood groups. Lip prints are unique to each individual and are different even in two persons. Lip print patterns were different in the two sub populations studied, and they showed no correlation in ABO blood groups.

[Correlation between axial length and corneal curvature and spherical aberration].

PubMed

Wang, X J; Bao, Y Z

2017-04-11

Objective: To discuss the correlation between axial length and corneal curvature and corneal spherical aberration in a group of cataract patients with axial length greater than 24 mm. Methods: Retrospective case series. This study comprised 117 (234 eyes) age-related cataract patients. There were 51 men (43.59%) and 66 women (56.41%) with mean age of (69.0±8.7) years (range from 52.0 to 85.0 years). The average axial length was 27.6±1.8 (range from 24.2 to 31.9 mm). We devided them into four groups according to the axial length. A-scan was used to measure the axial length and Pentacam was used to get the corneal curvature and corneal spherical aberration of both anterior and posterior surface. kolmogorov-smirnov test was used to check the normal distribution. ANOVA test was used to compare eachcorneal parameter among different groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to obtain the correlation of corneal parameters in groups. Results: There were correlations between the axial length and the anterior and posterior corneal curvature ( r=- 0.213, r= 0.174, respectively, P< 0.05). No correlation was found between the axial length and anterior or posterior corneal spherical aberration ( r=- 0.114, 0.055, respectively, P> 0.05). Mean values of corneal anterior surface curvature were (45.26±1.60) D (group 1), (44.17±1.45) D (group 2), (44.40±1.99)D (group 3), and (44.53±1.69) D (group 4) respectively. Mean values of corneal posterior surface curvature were(-6.57±0.26)D (group 1), ( - 6.40±0.24)D (group 2), ( - 6.41±0.38)D (group 3), and (-6.43±0.26)D (group 4) respectively. There were significant difference of corneal anterior and posterior surface curvature among 4 groups ( P= 0.004, P= 0.001). There was significant difference of corneal curvature of anterior surface in group 1 compared to group 2 and group 3( P< 0.01, P= 0.01). There was significant difference of curvature of posterior surface in group 1 compared to group 2 and group 3, respectively ( P< 0.01). Mean values of anterior surface corneal spherical aberration were (2.09±0.53) μm (group 1), (1.90±0.44) μm (group 2), (2.00±0.74) μm (group 3), and (1.78±0.52) μm (group 4) respectively. Mean values of posterior surface corneal spherical aberration were (2.69±1.15) μm (group 1), (2.46±1.16) μm (group 2), (2.92±2.51) μm (group 3), and (2.69±1.13) μm (group 4) respectively. No correlation was found in anterior and posterior surface corneal spherical aberration( P> 0.05) among different groups. Conclusions: The eye with a longer axial length have a flatter cornea. Cornea fails to compensate for axial length elongation when the axial length is longer than 28mm. The corneal spherical aberration varies among individuals, which suggests us to do the customized measurement before cataract surgery to make a decision on choosing the aspherical intraocular lens. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 255-259) .

Serum trace metal levels in Alzheimer's disease and normal control groups.

PubMed

Park, Jun-Hyun; Lee, Dong-Woo; Park, Kyung Su; Joung, Hyojee

2014-02-01

To determine whether serum trace metals are related to abnormal cognition in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We studied serum lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and arsenic(As) in 89 patients with AD and in 118 cognitively normal individuals. We analyzed the results of the blood tests and the food intake. Serum Pb levels correlated with word list recall (P = .039) and word list recognition (P = .037). Without age adjustment, serum Cd levels (P = .044) were significantly higher in the AD group. After stratified age adjustment, the levels of selected trace metals did not differ significantly between AD and normal individuals. Food intakes regarding selected trace metals were not significantly different between the 2 groups. In this study, serum Pb, Cd, Hg, and As levels were not directly related to abnormal cognition in AD. Serum Pb levels were significantly negatively correlated with verbal memory scores.

Relationship between dysfunctional attitudes and childhood traumas in women with depression.

PubMed

Akbaba Turkoglu, Sevil; Essizoglu, Altan; Kosger, Ferdi; Aksaray, Gokay

2015-12-01

Psychological traumas in childhood could lead to dysfunctional attitudes causing negative cognitive structuring and mistakes in data processing. In this study, we aimed to research the relation of childhood traumas with dysfunctional attitudes in female patients with depressive disorder. Seventy female patients diagnosed with depressive disorder and 50 healthy volunteers participated in the study, and the participants were administered a socio-demographic form, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). Comparing the two groups by median values of CTQ, total CTQ, sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect and emotional neglect, median values of the patient group were significantly higher compared to the control group, and comparison by median values of DAS revealed that median values of the patient group was significantly lower compared to the control group. In the correlation analysis carried out for finding the relation between CTQ and DAS, there was a significant negative correlation between DAS score and emotional abuse score. In the patient group, all kinds of abuses and neglects except for sexual abuse were at a higher rate in those with a history of depression in the family. In our study, a negative correlation was determined between DAS and only emotional abuse leading us to the finding that one of the factors mediating childhood traumas to cause depression could lead to dysfunctional attitudes. © The Author(s) 2015.

Mesial Temporal Lobe and Memory Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploration of Volumetric Findings

PubMed Central

Trontel, Haley G.; Duffield, Tyler C.; 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.

2015-01-01

Studies have shown that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to perform significantly below typical developing individuals on standardized measures of memory, even when not significantly different on measures of IQ. The current study sought to examine within ASD whether anatomical correlates of memory performance differed between those with average-to-above-average IQ (AIQ Group) compared to those with low average to borderline ability (LIQ group) as well as in relations to typically-developing comparisons (TDC). Using automated volumetric analyses, we examined regional volume of classic memory areas including the hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, entorhinal cortex, and amygdala in an all-male sample AIQ (n = 38) and LIQ (n = 18) individuals with ASD along with 30 typically-developing comparisons (TDC). Memory performance was assessed using the Test of Memory and Learning (TOMAL) compared among the groups and then correlated with regional brain volumes. Analyses revealed group differences on almost all facets of memory and learning as assessed by the various subtests of the TOMAL. The three groups did not differ on any ROI memory-related brain volumes. However, significant size-memory function interactions were observed. Negative correlations were found between the volume of the amygdala and composite, verbal, and delayed memory indices for the LIQ ASD group indicating larger volume related to poorer performance. Implications for general memory functioning and dysfunctional neural connectivity in ASD are discussed. PMID:25749302

Effect of a single injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on testicular blood flow measured by color doppler ultrasonography in male Shiba goats

PubMed Central

SAMIR, Haney; SASAKI, Kazuaki; AHMED, Eman; KAREN, Aly; NAGAOKA, Kentaro; EL SAYED, Mohamed; TAYA, Kazuyoshi; WATANABE, Gen

2015-01-01

Although color Doppler ultrasonography has been used to evaluate testicular blood flow in many species, very little has been done in goat. Eight male Shiba goats were exposed to a single intramuscular injection of either gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH group; 1 µg/kg BW) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG group; 25 IU/kg BW). Plasma testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) and inhibin (INH) were measured just before (0 hr) and at different intervals post injection by radioimmunoassay. Testis volume (TV) and Doppler indices, such as resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of the supratesticular artery, were measured by B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography, respectively. The results indicated an increase in testicular blood flow in both groups, as RI and PI decreased significantly (P<0.05), but this increase was significant higher and earlier in hCG group (1 hr) than in the GnRH group (2 hr). A high correlation was found for RI and PI with both T (RI, r= −0.862; PI, r= −0.707) and INH in the GnRH group (RI, r=0.661; PI, r=0.701). However, a significant (P<0.05) correlation was found between E2 and both RI (r= −0.610) and PI (r= −0.763) in hCG group. In addition, TV significantly increased and was highly correlated with RI in both groups (GnRH, r= −0.718; hCG, r= −0.779). In conclusion, hCG and GnRH may improve testicular blood flow and TV in Shiba goats. PMID:25715956

Reliability and validity of the Norwegian WHOQOL-OLD module.

PubMed

Halvorsrud, Liv; Kalfoss, Mary; Diseth, Age

2008-06-01

The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the Norwegian WHOQOL-OLD six-facet, 24-item module designed for assessing generic quality of life cross-culturally among the elderly. Using quota-stratified sampling defined on the basis of sex, age and geographical representation, 401 respondents were drawn from Statistics Norway and completed postal surveys. An additional 89 elderly completed personal interviews. Correlation and multivariate analyses partly confirmed the relevance of individual items and facets in both groups. All items correlated significantly higher with their original facets, although almost half of these items correlated with other facets in both groups. Multiple regression analysis of the module and two overall questions (dependent variables) showed that three facets made significant contributions to overall health, with Social Participation (B = 0.09) contributing most strongly in the postal-group. In the interview-group, only Social Participation (B = 0.20) was found to make a significant contribution, and this was in relation to overall health satisfaction. When the WHOQOL-BREF total score was considered as the dependent variable, different facets contributed significantly in both groups. Exploratory factor analysis of the WHOQOL-OLD in the combined group of both postal and interview samples, resulted in a five-factor solution (eigenvalues >1) explaining 65% of the cumulative variance in five of the six originally operationalized facets. The most conceptually clear facets were Death and Dying and Sensory Abilities. Further, confirmatory factor analyses in the combined group demonstrated a model with good fit, but with high covariance between the factors. Acceptable internal consistency was shown except for the Past, Present and Future Activities in both groups. Since construct validity was only partially confirmed, exploration of the scale's conceptual validity needs further testing in Norwegian and international samples.

The diagnostic use of choroidal thickness analysis and its correlation with visual field indices in glaucoma using spectral domain optical coherence tomography.

PubMed

Lin, Zhongjing; Huang, Shouyue; Huang, Ping; Guo, Lei; Shen, Xi; Zhong, Yisheng

2017-01-01

To evaluate the quantitative characteristics of choroidal thickness in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and in normal eyes using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). To evaluate the diagnostic ability of choroidal thickness in glaucoma and to determine the correlation between choroidal thickness and visual field parameters in glaucoma. A total of 116 subjects including 40 POAG, 30 NTG and 46 healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Choroidal thickness measurements were acquired in the macular and peripapillary regions using SD-OCT. All subjects underwent white-on-white (W/W) and blue-on-yellow (B/Y) visual field tests using Humphrey Field Analyzer. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under curve (AUC) were generated to assess the discriminating power of choroidal thickness for glaucoma. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the structure function correlation for glaucoma patients. No significant differences were observed for macular choroidal thickness among the different groups (all P > 0.05). Regarding the peripapillary choroidal thickness (PPCT), significant differences were observed among the three groups (all P < 0.05). Post hoc tests for multiple comparisons revealed a significant difference in the NTG-normal comparison group (all P < 0.01). The inferior and temporal PPCT in POAG patients were significantly thinner than those in normal subjects (P = 0.007, P = 0.002, respectively). Different parameters of PPCT showed significantly low diagnostic values to detect POAG from normal subjects (AUC: 0.555 to 0.652) and to discriminate NTG from POAG (AUC: 0.462 to 0.702), but moderate diagnostic power to detect NTG from normal subjects (AUC: 0.708 to 0.771). Regarding the diagnosis of early glaucoma, different parameters of PPCT showed relatively low diagnostic power (AUC: 0.606 to 0.698). In all the glaucoma subjects, PPCT was not significantly correlated with W/W mean deviation (MD) (all P > 0.05), but showed significant correlations with B/Y MD (all P < 0.05). In the early glaucomatous eyes, PPCT showed significant correlations with W/W MD and B/Y MD (all P < 0.05). In our study, peripapillary choroidal thickness measured on OCT showed a low to moderate but statistically significant diagnostic power and a significant correlation with blue-on-yellow visual field indices in glaucoma. This may indicate a potential adjunct for peripapillary choroidal thickness in glaucoma diagnosis.

Clinical and metabolic abnormalities associated with occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

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

Chase, K.H.; Wong, O.; Thomas, D.

1982-02-01

A cross-sectional study of 120 male workers was conducted to determine the prevalence of increased polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) absorption as well as the presence of potentially related clinical and metabolic abnormalities. Three exposure categories (''exposed'', ''nominally exposed'', ''nonexposed'') were defined. Complete work histories, clinical histories, physical examinations and laboratory tests, including plasma PCB determinations were obtained. In addition, fat PCB levels were determined in randomly selected subjects in each exposed group. Evidence of dermatotoxicity was observed and elevated PCB levels were noted more frequently in the exposed group (p < .00001), correlating well with age and duration of employment. Thesemore » correlations were stronger for fat (p < .001) than for plasma (p < .01) PCB levels. In the exposed group, significant correlations were found between plasma PCB and serum triglyceride (p < .00001) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels (p < .01). These correlations remained significant after controlling for either age or length of employment. No significant correlations were found between PCB levels and levels of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or levels studied on liver function tests other than SGOT. Further analyses relating frequency of reported direct contact with PCB levels suggested a dermal route of exposure. An analysis by union affiliation demonstrated that those in crafts involving greater direct exposure had correspondingly higher elevations of PCB levels.« less

Clinical and metabolic abnormalities associated with occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

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

Chase, K.H.; Wong, O.; Thomas, D.

1982-02-01

A cross-sectional study of 120 male workers was conducted to determine the prevalence of increased polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) absorption as well as the presence of potentially related clinical and metabolic abnormalities. Three exposure categories (''exposed'', ''nominally exposed'', ''nonexposed'') were defined. Complete work histories, clinical histories, physical examinations and laboratory tests, including plasma PCB determinations were obtained. In addition, fat PCB levels were determined in randomly selected subjects in each exposed group. Evidence of dermatotoxicity was observed and elevated PCB levels were noted more frequently in the exposed group (p less than .0001), correlating well with age and duration of employment.more » These correlations were stronger for fat (p less than .001) than for plasma (p less than .01) PCB levels. In the exposed group, significant correlations were found between plasma PCB and serum triglyceride (p less than .0001) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) levels (p less than .01). These correlations remained significant after controlling for either age or length of employment. No significant correlations were found between PCB levels and levels of cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or levels studied on liver function tests other than SGOT. Further analyses relating frequency of reported direct contact with PCB levels suggested a dermal route of exposure. An analysis by union affiliation demonstrated that those in crafts involving greater direct exposure had correspondingly higher elevations of PCB levels.« less

Comparative evaluation of serum C-reactive protein levels in chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients and association with periodontal disease severity.

PubMed

Goyal, Lata; Bey, Afshan; Gupta, N D; Sharma, Vivek Kumar

2014-10-01

C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant and has been proved to be a significant predictor of future cardiovascular events. Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between periodontitis and elevated CRP levels. However, most of the studies have focused on chronic periodontitis and very few studies are done in patients with aggressive periodontitis. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the relative levels of serum CRP in aggressive and chronic periodontitis patients. A total of 75 systemically healthy subjects were divided into three groups: Group I, nonperiodontitis subjects; group II, chronic generalized periodontitis patients and group III, generalized aggressive periodontitis patients. All participants were subjected to quantitative CRP analysis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mean CRP levels were significantly greater in both group II and III as compared to group I and group III having greater level than group II. Furthermore, CRP levels positively correlated with the amount of periodontal destruction as measured by probing depth and clinical attachment loss. The present study indicates a positive correlation between CRP and periodontal disease severity with particular concern in younger individuals that could be a possible underlying pathway in the association between periodontal disease and the observed higher risk for cardiovascular disease in periodontitis patients.

Local and systemic oxidative stress and glucocorticoid receptor levels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

PubMed Central

Zeng, Mian; Li, Yue; Jiang, Yujie; Lu, Guifang; Huang, Xiaomei; Guan, Kaipan

2013-01-01

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). OBJECTIVES: To study local and systemic oxidative stress status in COPD patients, and to clarify the relationship between local and systemic oxidative stress. METHODS: Lipid peroxide malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and GSH peroxidase (GSH-PX) levels in induced sputum and plasma, as well as glucocorticoid receptor (GR) levels in peripheral blood leukocytes were examined in 43 acute exacerbation of COPD patients (group A), 35 patients with stable COPD (group B) and 28 healthy controls (14 smokers [group C]; 14 nonsmokers [group D]). RESULTS: MDA levels in induced sputum and plasma decreased progressively in groups A to D, with significant differences between any two groups (P<0.001). GSH, SOD and GSH-PX levels in both induced sputum and plasma increased progressively in groups A to D, with significant differences between any two groups (P<0.001). GR levels in peripheral blood leukocytes decreased progressively in groups D to A (all comparisons P<0.001). Pearson analysis revealed strong correlations between MDA, GSH, SOD and GSH-PX levels in plasma and induced sputum. The activity of SOD in plasma and sputum were both positively correlated with GR levels (partial correlation coefficients 0.522 and 0.574, respectively [P<0.001]). CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress levels were elevated in COPD patients. There was a correlation between local and systemic oxidative status in COPD, and between decreased SOD activity and decreased GR levels in COPD patients. PMID:23457673

Dyslexia and voxel-based morphometry: correlations between five behavioural measures of dyslexia and gray and white matter volumes.

PubMed

Tamboer, Peter; Scholte, H Steven; Vorst, Harrie C M

2015-10-01

In voxel-based morphometry studies of dyslexia, the relation between causal theories of dyslexia and gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volume alterations is still under debate. Some alterations are consistently reported, but others failed to reach significance. We investigated GM alterations in a large sample of Dutch students (37 dyslexics and 57 non-dyslexics) with two analyses: group differences in local GM and total GM and WM volume and correlations between GM and WM volumes and five behavioural measures. We found no significant group differences after corrections for multiple comparisons although total WM volume was lower in the group of dyslexics when age was partialled out. We presented an overview of uncorrected clusters of voxels (p < 0.05, cluster size k > 200) with reduced or increased GM volume. We found four significant correlations between factors of dyslexia representing various behavioural measures and the clusters found in the first analysis. In the whole sample, a factor related to performances in spelling correlated negatively with GM volume in the left posterior cerebellum. Within the group of dyslexics, a factor related to performances in Dutch-English rhyme words correlated positively with GM volume in the left and right caudate nucleus and negatively with increased total WM volume. Most of our findings were in accordance with previous reports. A relatively new finding was the involvement of the caudate nucleus. We confirmed the multiple cognitive nature of dyslexia and suggested that experience greatly influences anatomical alterations depending on various subtypes of dyslexia, especially in a student sample.

Impact of comprehensive psychological training on mental health of recruits in Xinjiang.

PubMed

Lv, Shi-ying; Zhang, Lan

2015-04-01

To examine the effect of comprehensive psychological training on the mental health of recruits and to provide basis for promoting mental health among recruits in Xinjiang. From September to December, 2013, a convenience sampling was used to select 613 recruits from Xinjiang. These recruits were assigned to the training group (n=306) and the control group (n=307). The Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire,the Questionnaire of Armymen's Emotion Regulation Types and the Chinese Military Personnel Social Support Scale were used to evaluate the levels of mental health at the baseline and at the end of comprehensive psychological training. After comprehensive psychological training, the negative coping style score of the training group were significantly lower than the control group (P=0.000), and there were difference in cognitive focus (P=0.000) and behavior restrain (P=0.005); also, there was significant difference in social support scale (P<0.05). The coping style showed positive correlation with emotion regulation and all factors (P<0.05). Social support and all factors was positively correlated with positive coping style (P<0.05) and negatively correlated with negative coping style (P<0.05). Social support and all factors showed positive correlation with affective appeal and self comfort (P<0.05) and negative correlation with congnitive focus and behavior restrain (P<0.05). As shown by stepwise regression analysis,the positive and negative coping styles had statistically significant impacts on cognitive focus, affective appeal, behavior restrain, and self comfort (all P<0.05). Comprehensive psychological training is useful in improving the mental health of recruits.

Drooling, saliva production, and swallowing in cerebral palsy.

PubMed

Senner, Jill E; Logemann, Jerilyn; Zecker, Steven; Gaebler-Spira, Deborah

2004-12-01

Fourteen participants (six females, eight males) ranging in age from 7 years 11 months to 18 years 2 months (mean 11y 7mo) with a confirmed diagnosis of spastic cerebral palsy (CP) were included in the study. Participants included those who drooled (CP+, n=14); age- and sex-matched children with spastic CP who were dry to mild and never to infrequent droolers (CP-, n=14) as well as typically developing peers (CTRL, n=14) served as controls. Frequency of swallowing was measured by using simultaneous cervical ausculation and videotaping of the head and neck. Saliva production was measured with the Saxon test, a simple gauze-chewing procedure. In addition, Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI), Test of Nonverbal Intelligence-3 (TONI-3), dysarthria severity scale, and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) scores were obtained for each participant. Both groups of participants with CP tended to swallow less frequently than typically developing participants and tended to produce less saliva than typically developing controls; however, these differences were not statistically significant. No correlation was found between amount of saliva produced and amount drooled (r=0.245). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) conducted on the PEDI functional skills mean scores indicated significant differences between the three groups (F(2,39)=23.522,p<0.0001). Likewise, an ANOVA conducted on the TONI-3 scores revealed statistically significant differences between the three groups (F(2,39)=31.761, p<0.0001). A Spearman's rho correlation indicated that GMFCS scores were not significantly correlated with drooling severity (Spearman's rho correlation=0.3951,p=0.037). Drooling severity was found to be positively correlated with dysarthria severity (Spearman's rho correlation=0.82,p<0.0001). These findings suggest that drooling in patients with CP is related to swallowing difficulties rather than hypersalivation.

Correlation between benzene and testosterone in workers exposed to urban pollution.

PubMed

Rosati, M V; Sancini, A; Tomei, F; Sacco, C; Traversini, V; De Vita, A; De Cesare, D P; Giammichele, G; De Marco, F; Pagliara, F; Massoni, F; Ricci, L; Tomei, G; Ricci, S

2017-01-01

Many studies have examined the effects of benzene on testosterone. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible correlation between the blood levels of benzene and the levels of testosterone. The study involved a group of 148 subjects. For every worker have been made out a blood sample for the evaluation of benzene and testosterone levels and an urine analysis for the evaluation of the levels of trans, trans-muconic acid and S-phenylmercapturic acid. We estimated the Pearson correlation coefficient between the variables in the sample and the urinary metabolites, age, length of service, gender, BMI. For the analysis of the major confounding factors it was performed a multiple linear regression. The Pearson correlation coefficiet showed: 1. a significant inverse correlation between the S-phenyl mercapturic acid and free testosterone; 2. a significant direct correlation between trans-trans muconic acid and BMI. After dividing the sample according to the median of blood benzene (161.0 ng / L), Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant inverse correlation between the S-phenyl mercapturic acid and free testosterone in the group with values below this median. Our results, to be considered preliminary, suggest that occupational exposure to low levels of benzene, present in urban pollution, affect the blood levels of testosterone. These results need to be confirmed in future studies, with the eventual possibility of including more specific fertility tests.

[Effects of high cholic acid on fetal brains of pregnant rats].

PubMed

Tan, Li; Ding, Yi-ling

2007-12-01

To investigate the effects of morphous on fetal brains in pregnant rat of high cholic acid. Randomly deviding 30 SD pregnant rats to three groups A, B and C, every group is 10. From 13th to 20th days of pregnancy, injecting 5.5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) cholic acid to pregnant rats of group A, 1.4 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) cholic acid to group B and the partes aequales normal saline to group C by intraperitoneal injection one time every day. In the 21st day of pregancy, to cut the belly open and take the fetus out and record the total fetus, live fetus and the weight. Determine the serum concentration of total bile acid (TBA) in pregnant rats and fetal rats. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect the serum level of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in fetal rats. Fix and embed the brain after decapitation, then to observe the pathological change of the fetal cerebrum under light microscope and electron microscope. (1) The serum concentration of TBA of pregnant rats and fetal rats in group A is (22.3 +/- 8.1) micromol/L and (28.8 +/- 8.1) micromol/L, in group B is (9.8 +/- 3.6) micromol/L and (9.3 +/- 3.5) micromol/L, in group C is (3.6 +/- 1.8) micromol/L and (4.0 +/- 1.2) micromol/L. There is significant defference in every two groups, P < 0.01. The serum concentration of TBA between pregnant rats and fetal rats were positively correlated with each other, (r = 0.875, P < 0.01). (2) The mortinatality of fetus in group A, B and C are 30.1%, 16.9% and 7.1%, there is significant defference in every two groups, P < 0.05. (3) The serum lever of NSE of fetus in group A was significantly higher than that of group B and C, [(31.9 +/- 13.1) ng/L vs. (13.9 +/- 5.9) ng/L and (9.3 +/- 3.9) ng/L, both are P < 0.05]. But there is no significant difference between group B and C, P > 0.05. The serum level of TBA and NSE in fetus were positively correlated with each other, (r = 0.758, P < 0.01). (4) By the light microscope we found that the neuronal degeneration and necrosis. The level of organization disorder, the density of nerve cells decrease and the cell nucleus pyknosis and anachromasis. The neuronal degeneration area in group A and B are significantly higher than group C[(1.4 +/- 0.6) and (1.5 +/- 0.7) vs. (0.7 +/- 0.3), both are P < 0.05]. But there is no significant difference between group A and B, P > 0.05. The is no apparente correlation between the neuronal degeneration area and the serum level of NSE in fetus, r = 0.282, P > 0.05. The neuronal necrosis area in group A are significantly higher than group B and C [(1.8 +/- 0.7) vs. (0.9 +/- 0.4) and (0.6 +/- 0.3), both are P < 0.05]. But there is no significant defference between group B and C, P > 0.05. The neuronal necrosis area and the level of NSE in fetus were positively correlated with each other, r = 0.798, P < 0.01. (5) Under the electron microscope we found that the neuronal nuclear membrance ambiguity, karyopycnosis, nucleolus disappeared, nuclear chromatin rarefaction. The number of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria decrease, the residual mitochondria swelling, cristae quassation. The number density of mitochondria of nerve cells in group A is significantly lower than that of group B and C [(21.9 +/- 9.0) microm(-3) vs. (45.5 +/- 13.1) microm(-3) and (36.1 +/- 12.1) mcirom(-3), both are P < 0.01]. But there is no significant difference between group B and C, P > 0. 05. The volume of mitochondria of nerve cells in group A and B are significantly higher than that of group C [7.0 +/-1.8) x 10(-4) microm3 and (5.7 +/- 1.6) x 10(-4) microM3 vs. (3.2 +/- 1.2) x 10(-4) microm(3), both are P < 0.01]. But there is no significant difference between group A and B (P > 0.05). There is apparente pathological change of fetal rats brain in cholic acid groups, the neuronal degeneration and the mitochondria swelling was mainly found in low cholic acid group, the neuronal necrosis and the mitochondria decrease was mainly found in high cholic acid group. The serum concentration of TBA and NSE in fetal rats were positively correlated with each other.

Anorexia nervosa versus bulimia nervosa: differences based on retrospective correlates in a case-control study.

PubMed

Machado, Bárbara C; Gonçalves, Sónia F; Martins, Carla; Brandão, Isabel; Roma-Torres, António; Hoek, Hans W; Machado, Paulo P

2016-06-01

This study is the result of two Portuguese case-control studies that examined the replication of retrospective correlates and preceding life events in anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) development. This study aims to identify retrospective correlates that distinguish AN and BN METHOD: A case-control design was used to compare a group of women who met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition criteria for AN (N = 98) and BN (N = 79) with healthy controls (N = 86) and with other psychiatric disorders (N = 68). Each control group was matched with AN patients regarding age and parental social categories. Risk factors were assessed by interviewing each person with the Oxford Risk Factor Interview. Compared to AN, women with BN reported significantly higher rates of paternal high expectations, excessive family importance placed on fitness/keeping in shape, and negative consequences due to adolescent overweight and adolescent objective overweight. Overweight during adolescence emerged as the most relevant retrospective correlate in the distinction between BN and AN participants. Family expectations and the importance placed on keeping in shape were also significant retrospective correlates in the BN group.

Are Patients with Spontaneous CSF Otorrhea and Superior Canal Dehiscence Congenitally Predisposed to Their Disorders?

PubMed

Stevens, Shawn M; Hock, Kiefer; Samy, Ravi N; Pensak, Myles L

2018-04-01

Objectives (1) Compare lateral skull base (LSB) height/thickness in patients with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea (CSF), superior canal dehiscence (SCD), acoustic neuromas (AN), and otosclerosis (OTO). (2) Perform correlations between age, body mass index (BMI), sex, and LSB height/thickness. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods Patients with CSF, SCD, AN, and OTO diagnosed from 2006 to 2016 were included if they had high-definition temporal bone computed tomography (CT) and absence of trauma, radiation, chronic ear disease, and/or congenital anomaly. CT-based measurements included LSB height/thickness and pneumatization rates overlaying the external auditory canal (EAC), tegmen tympani (TgT), perigeniculate region (PG), and internal auditory canal (IAC). LSB height/thickness, age, sex, and BMI were statistically correlated. In total, 256 patients and 493 ears (109 CSF, 115 SCD, 269 AN/OTO) were measured. Results Patients with CSF had significantly higher BMIs than the other groups ( P < .001). Patients with CSF and SCD had similar radiographic LSB phenotypes at most measured locations. Both groups exhibited a significantly lower LSB height compared to the AN and OTO groups (mean, 3.9-4.2 mm vs 4.9-5.6 mm; P < .001). Patients with CSF and SCD also demonstrated significantly lower pneumatization rates, as low as 17% to 23% overlaying the PG and IAC ( P < .001). There were no statistically significant correlations found between age, sex, BMI, and LSB height/thickness at any measurement location in any group. Conclusions Patients with CSF and SCD exhibit similar radiographic LSB phenotypes. Age, sex, and BMI do not significantly correlate with LSB height/thickness. These data support the theory that CSF and SCD arise via similar congenital pathoetiologic mechanisms.

Gingivitis, Psychological Factors and Quality of Life in Children.

PubMed

da Silva, Priscila de Lima; Barbosa, Taís de Souza; Amato, Juliana Neide; Montes, Ana Bheatriz Marangoni; Gavião, Maria Beatriz Duarte

2015-01-01

To evaluate the associations between gingivitis, emotional status and quality of life in children. Sixty-four Brazilian students (11 to 12 years old) were examined for clinical and self-reported gingivitis. The participants were divided into two groups: those with gingivitis (n = 21) and controls (n = 43). Quality of life, anxiety and depression were measured using self-administered questionnaires. Saliva was collected 30 min after waking and at bedtime to measure the diurnal decline in salivary cortisol. The results were analysed using bivariate and multivariate analyses. There were significantly more female participants in the control group. Approximately 90% of the children with gingivitis had good oral hygiene and 10.5% had satisfactory oral hygiene. There was a significant positive correlation between anxiety and depression in both clinical groups. Anxiety was negatively correlated with quality of life in the control group. Depression was negatively correlated with quality of life and cortisol concentrations in the group with gingivitis, and with quality of life in the control group. Children with gingivitis were more likely to be older and males. Older children are more likely to experience gingival bleeding. The presence of gingivitis in children may be associated with worse psychological well-being, possibly compromising the quality of life.

[Effects of Reactive Jump Training in Handball Players Regarding Jump Height and Power Development in the Triceps Surae Muscle].

PubMed

Rensing, N; Westermann, A; Möller, D; von Piekartz, H

2015-12-01

Studies have shown changes in the technical and physical demands in modern handball. The game has increased considerably in speed, power and dynamics. Jump training has, therefore, become ever more important in the training of the athletes. These developments contribute to the fact that handball is now one of the most injury-prone types of sport, with the lower extremities being most frequently affected. Reactive jump training is not only used in training by now, but also increasingly in injury prevention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of reactive jump training with handball players. 21 regional league handball players were randomly divided into an intervention group (n = 12) and a control group (n = 9). The intervention group completed a six-week reactive jump training programme while the control group went through a non-specific training programme. Jump height (squat and counter movement jump), isokinetic and isometric maximum power as well as muscle activity served as measuring parameters. A comparison of the intervention and control groups revealed that the reactive jump training led to significant improvements in jump height. The isometric and isokinetic maximum power measurements and the electromyographic activities of the triceps surae muscle demonstrated an improvement in the values within the intervention group. However, this improvement was not significant compared with the control group. Likewise both jumps correlated with the muscle activity of the soleus muscle as shown by electromyography. A moderate correlation was noticed between the isokinetic maximum power measurement and the electromyographic activity of the soleus and gastrocnemius medialis muscles. Furthermore, the correlations of the isometric and isokinetic maximum power meas-urements resulted in a strong correlation coefficient. This study revealed a significant increase in jump height after reactive jump training. There was no significant difference in power development between the two groups. However, we were able to demonstrate correlations which would make it seem reasonable and interesting to investigate the question more closely. An interesting field of research could be the question of the effectiveness of reactive jump training in the areas of rehabilitation and injury prevention. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

Positive correlation between motion analysis data on the LapMentor virtual reality laparoscopic surgical simulator and the results from videotape assessment of real laparoscopic surgeries.

PubMed

Matsuda, Tadashi; McDougall, Elspeth M; Ono, Yoshinari; Hattori, Ryohei; Baba, Shiro; Iwamura, Masatsugu; Terachi, Toshiro; Naito, Seiji; Clayman, Ralph V

2012-11-01

We studied the construct validity of the LapMentor, a virtual reality laparoscopic surgical simulator, and the correlation between the data collected on the LapMentor and the results of video assessment of real laparoscopic surgeries. Ninety-two urologists were tested on basic skill tasks No. 3 (SK3) to No. 8 (SK8) on the LapMentor. They were divided into three groups: Group A (n=25) had no experience with laparoscopic surgeries as a chief surgeon; group B (n=33) had <35 experiences; and group C (n=34) had ≥35 experiences. Group scores on the accuracy, efficacy, and time of the tasks were compared. Forty physicians with ≥20 experiences supplied unedited videotapes showing a laparoscopic nephrectomy or an adrenalectomy in its entirety, and the videos were assessed in a blinded fashion by expert referees. Correlations between the videotape score (VS) and the performances on the LapMentor were analyzed. Group C showed significantly better outcomes than group A in the accuracy (SK5) (P=0.013), efficacy (SK8) (P=0.014), or speed (SKs 3 and 8) (P=0.009 and P=0.002, respectively) of the performances of LapMentor. Group B showed significantly better outcomes than group A in the speed and efficacy of the performances in SK8 (P=0.011 and P=0.029, respectively). Analyses of motion analysis data of LapMentor demonstrated that smooth and ideal movement of instruments is more important than speed of the movement of instruments to achieve accurate performances in each task. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the average score of the accuracy in SK4, 5, and 8 had significant positive correlation with VS (P=0.01). This study demonstrated the construct and predictive validity of the LapMentor basic skill tasks, supporting their possible usefulness for the preclinical evaluation of laparoscopic skills.

Macular retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness in patients on hydroxychloroquine therapy.

PubMed

Lee, Min Gyu; Kim, Sang Jin; Ham, Don-Il; Kang, Se Woong; Kee, Changwon; Lee, Jaejoon; Cha, Hoon-Suk; Koh, Eun-Mi

2014-11-25

We evaluated macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in patients with chronic exposure to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). This study included 130 subjects, who were divided into three groups: Group 1A, 55 patients with HCQ use ≥5 years; Group 1B, 46 patients with HCQ use <5 years; and Group 2, 29 normal controls. In all patients with exposure to HCQ, fundus examination, automated threshold perimetry, fundus autofluorescence photography, SD-OCT, and GC-IPL thickness measurement using the Cirrus HD-OCT ganglion cell analysis algorithm were performed. Average and minimum macular GC-IPL thickness were compared between subjects groups, and correlations between GC-IPL thickness and duration or total dose of HCQ use were analyzed. Among the 101 patients of Group 1, six patients who showed clinically evident HCQ retinopathy also showed markedly thin macular GC-IPL. In addition, weak but significant negative correlations were observed between the average and minimum GC-IPL thickness of Group 1 patients and cumulative dose of HCQ, even when analyzing without the six patients with HCQ retinopathy. However, when analyzing after exclusion of patients with high cumulative doses (>1000 g), significant correlations were not observed. This study revealed that macular GC-IPL thickness did not show definite correlations with HCQ use. However, some patients, especially with HCQ retinopathy or high cumulative doses, showed thin GC-IPL. Copyright 2015 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

Correlation between Na/K ratio and electron densities in blood samples of breast cancer patients.

PubMed

Topdağı, Ömer; Toker, Ozan; Bakırdere, Sezgin; Bursalıoğlu, Ertuğrul Osman; Öz, Ersoy; Eyecioğlu, Önder; Demir, Mustafa; İçelli, Orhan

2018-05-31

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the electron densities and Na/K ratio which has important role in breast cancer disease. Determinations of sodium and potassium concentrations in blood samples performed with inductive coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. Electron density values of blood samples were determined via ZXCOM. Statistical analyses were performed for electron densities and Na/K ratio including Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality tests, Spearman's rank correlation test and Mann-Whitney U test. It was found that the electron densities significantly differ between control and breast cancer groups. In addition, statistically significant positive correlation was found between the electron density and Na/K ratios in breast cancer group.

[Correlation index amylase-creatinine clearance to endogenous creatinine clearance in severe preeclampsia].

PubMed

Vázquez Rodríguez, Juan Gustavo; Cruz Cruz, Polita del Rocío; Márquez Hubert, Elizabeth

2009-07-01

Tubular lesion may cause acute renal insufficiency in pregnant patients with severe preeclampsia. To describe the correlation between the amylase/creatinine clearance ratio and endogenous creatinine depuration in pregnant patients with severe preeclampsia. Transversal study (pilot study) twenty eight women with pregnancies of 20 to 40 weeks complicated by severe preeclampsia were studied. Subjects had serum and urine creatinine and amylase determinations to calculate the amylase/creatinine clearance ratio (%). According to the results, two groups were formed: group A (> 3%) and group B (< or = 3%). The correlation between amylase/creatinine clearance ratio and endogenous creatinine depuration was evaluated. measures of central tendency and dispersion, Student's t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and linear regression were used. Group A included 23 cases (82%) and group B included 5 cases (18%). Amylase/creatinine clearance ratio (%) for group A was 5.22 +/- 1.6 and for group B was 2.41 +/- 0.41 (p = 0.001). The endogenous creatinine depuration (mL /min. /1.73 m2 SC) for group A was 105.6 +/- 9.71 and for group B was 132.10 +/- 7.95 (p = 0.54). The r between amylase/creatinine clearance ratio and endogenous creatinine depuration for group A was -0.43 and for group B was -0.25. A moderately significant negative correlation exists between amylase/creatinine clearance ratio and endogenous creatinine depuration.

[Correlation between EGLN1 gene, protein express in lung tissue of rats and pulmonary artery pressure at different altitude].

PubMed

Li, S H; Li, S; Sun, L; Bai, Z Z; Yang, Q Y; Ga, Q; Jin, G E

2016-08-23

To investigate the correlation between pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and the expression level of Egl nine homologue 1 (EGLN1) gene or its protein in lung tissue of rats at different altitudes. Totally 121 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into low altitude group (n=11), moderate altitude group and high altitude group, the rats in moderate altitude and high altitude group were further divided into 1(st) day, 3(rd) days, 7(th) days, 15(th) day and 30(th) day group according to the exposure time to hypoxic environment, each group 11 rats. The low altitude group, the PAP of rats were determined by physiological signal acquisition system, and tissue samples were collected in liquid nitrogen container for storage at an altitude of 498 m area. Moderate altitude group rats were placed in altitude of 2 260 meters of natural environment, 5 high altitude groups rats were placed in the hypobaric hypoxic chamber, simulating altitude of 4 500 meters. The PAP of rats in moderate altitude group and high altitude group were also determined by physiological signal acquisition system, and tissue samples were collected when rats were exposed to hypoxia at 1(st), 3(rd), 7(th), 15(th) and 30(th) day; Western blot was used to determine expression levels of EGLN1 protein, and person correlation analysis was used to analyze whether the protein was related to the formation of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PH) under hypoxia. Real-time quantitive PCR method determined expression levels of EGLN1 mRNA in lung tissues, and the relative expression method was used to analyze PCR data, and finally assess whether the EGLN1 gene was the initial cause of the formation of PH during hypoxia. The mean PAP of rats was (20.0±3.2) mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) in low altitude group; in moderate altitude group, mean PAP began to increase slightly when rats were exposed to hypoxia on the 15(th) day and reached at (22.7±4.1) mmHg on hypoxic 30(th) day, but compared with the low altitude group, there was no statistical difference (P> 0.05); the mean PAP of rats in high altitude group began to rise on the 7(th) day (28.7±7.7) mmHg, which was higher than that in low altitude group (P<0.05), and significantly increased to (42.3±9.1) mmHg (P<0.001) on hypoxic 30(th) day; it was significantly proportional with exposure to hypoxic time, and compared to low altitude group and moderate altitude group, there was significant difference (P<0.05). EGLN1 protein expression in the lung tissue of rats had no significant difference between the low altitude group and moderate altitude group, and its expression level in the high altitude group were significantly decreased, furthermore, the expression level decreased with the increase of hypoxia exposure time (P<0.05); PAP and EGLN1 protein expression levels showed a negative correlation (r=-0.662). The transcription level of mRNA EGLN1 in high altitude group was significantly increased under hypobaric hypoxia, it was 72 times more than that of the moderate altitude group, and nearly 300 times than that of the low altitude group, respectively (both P<0.001=. EGLN1 gene expression in lung tissue of rat is affected by hypoxia, the expression level increases with the increase of the altitude; but the protein expression level, in contrast with gene expression level, is decreased with the increase of altitude and is significantly negatively correlated with mean PAP.

Positive correlation between postoperative tumor recurrence and changes in circulating tumor cell counts in pulmonary venous blood (pvCTC) during surgical manipulation in non-small cell lung cancer.

PubMed

Hashimoto, Masaki; Tanaka, Fumihiro; Yoneda, Kazue; Takuwa, Teruhisa; Matsumoto, Seiji; Okumura, Yoshitomo; Kondo, Nobuyuki; Tsujimura, Tohru; Nakano, Takashi; Hasegawa, Seiki

2018-01-01

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), circulating tumor cells (CTC) are shed and circulate to the peripheral blood through the pulmonary vein. Previously, CTC count in pulmonary venous blood (pvCTC) was shown to significantly increase after surgical manipulation. Therefore, we assessed the correlation between the changes in the pvCTC count (ΔpvCTC) and clinical outcomes. Consecutive patients with peripheral-type, NSCLC, who underwent lobectomy or bi-lobectomy through open thoracotomy, were enrolled prospectively. Before and after lobectomy, 2.5 mL of blood was drawn from the associated lobar pulmonary vein (PV), and was served for the quantitative evaluation of CTC using the CellSearch ® system. The cut-off point of ΔpvCTC was determined according to clinical outcomes and ΔpvCTC using receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve. Then the correlation between ΔpvCTC and clinical outcomes was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analyses and log-rank test. In addition, the correlation between ΔpvCTC and perioperative variables was assessed. A total of 30 patients were enrolled, tumor recurrence occurred in 11 patients over a median follow-up of 64.4 months. Of these, 7 patients had distant metastasis and 4 had local recurrence. The median ΔpvCTC was 49 cells/2.5 mL, and pvCTC-count was increased during surgical manipulation in 24 patients (80%). We divided patients into two groups based on ΔpvCTC with the cut-off value as 119 cells/2.5 mL according to ROC curve. Significant shorter time to distant metastasis (TDM) (P=0.0123) was observed in high ΔpvCTC group (ΔpvCTC ≥119 cells/2.5 mL) than low ΔpvCTC group (ΔpvCTC <119 cells/ 2.5mL). Neither disease-free survival (DFS) nor overall survival (OS) was significantly correlated with ΔpvCTC. Increasing pvCTC count during surgical manipulation was significantly correlated with postoperative distant metastasis in completely resected NSCLC patients. Significant shorter TDM was observed in patient with high ΔpvCTC group.

ERPs While Judging Meaningfulness of Sentences with and without Homonym or Morpheme Spelling Foils: Comparing 4th to 9th Graders with and without Spelling Disabilities

PubMed Central

Richards, Todd; Pettet, Mark; Askren, Katie; Grabowski, Tom; Yagle, Kevin; Wallis, Peter; Northey, Mary; Abbott, Robert; Berninger, Virginia

2016-01-01

Thirteen students with and twelve students without spelling disabilities judged whether sentences (1/3 all correct spellings, 1/3 with homonym foil, 1/3 with morpheme foil) were meaningful while event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured with EGI Geodesic EEG System 300 (128-channel hydro-cell nets). For N400, Rapid Automatic Switching (RAS) correlated with comprehending sentences with homonym foils in control group but with morpheme foils in SLD group. For P600, dictated spelling correlated with comprehending sentences with morpheme foils in the control group but solving anagrams with homonym foils in the SLD group. Educational significance and neuropsychological significance of these contrasting results are discussed. PMID:28657362

Periodontal parameters and BANA test in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

PubMed Central

TORRES, Sérgio Aparecido; ROSA, Odila Pereira da Silva; HAYACIBARA, Mitsue Fujimaki; GUIMARÃES, Maria do Carmo Machado; HAYACIBARA, Roberto M.; BRETZ, Walter Antônio

2010-01-01

Objectives The aim of this study was to analyze the periodontal parameters of patients with chronic renal failure. Material and Methods The periodontal status of 16 Brazilian patients aged 29 to 53 (41.7±7.2) years with chronic renal failure (CRF) and another matched group of 14 healthy controls with periodontitis was assessed clinically and microbiologically. Probing pocket depth (PPD), gingival recession (GR), dental plaque index (PLI), gingival index (GI), and dental calculus index (CI) were the clinical parameters recorded for the entire dentition (at least 19 teeth), while the anaerobic periodontopathogen colonization in four sites with the highest PPD was evaluated using the BANA test (“PerioScan”; Oral B). Results The results for the CRF group and control group, respectively were: PPD: 1.77±0.32 and 2.65±0.53; GR: 0.58±0.56 and 0.51±0.36; PLI: 1.64±0.56 and 1.24±0.67; GI: 0.64±0.42 and 0.93±0.50; CI: 1.17±0.54 and 0.87±0.52. Comparison between groups using the "t" test revealed a significantly increased PPD (p<0.001) in the control group. Comparison of the other clincial parameters by the Mann-Whitney test showed differences only for PLI, which was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the CRF group. Spearman's test applied to each group showed a positive correlation among all clinical parameters, except for GR (p<0.05). None of the groups showed any correlation between GR and GI, while a significant negative correlation between GR and PPD was observed for the CRF group. The percentage of BANA-positive sites was 35.9% for the CRF group and 35.7% for the control group. The BANA test correlated positively with PPD only in the control group and with GR only in the CRF group. Conclusions In spite of a higher PLI and dense anaerobic microbial population even in shallow PPD, patients with CRF exhibited better periodontal conditions than periodontitis patients, which is an evidence of altered response to local irritants. PMID:20857011

Urine ethanol concentration and alcohol hangover severity.

PubMed

Van de Loo, Aurora; Mackus, Marlou; Korte-Bouws, Gerdien; Brookhuis, Karel; Garssen, Johan; Verster, Joris

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between urine ethanol concentration and alcohol hangover severity. N = 36 healthy social drinkers participated in a naturalistic study, comprising a hangover day and a control day. N = 18 of them have regular hangovers (the hangover group), while the other N = 18 claim to be hangover immune (hangover-immune group). On each test day at 9.30 am, urine samples were collected. Participants rated their overall hangover severity on a scale from 0 (absent) to 10 (extreme), as well as 18 individual hangover symptoms. Urine ethanol concentration was significantly higher on the hangover day when compared to the control day (p = 0.006). On the hangover day, urine ethanol concentration was significantly lower in the hangover-immune group when compared to the hangover group (p = 0.027). In the hangover-immune group, none of the correlations of urine ethanol concentration with individual hangover symptoms was significant. In contrast, in the hangover group, significant correlations were found with a variety of hangover symptoms, including nausea, concentration problems, sleepiness, weakness, apathy, sweating, stomach pain, thirst, heart racing, anxiety, and sleep problems. Urine ethanol levels are significantly associated with the presence and severity of several hangover symptoms.

Association between serum vitamin D and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older adults and role of supplementation therapy with vitamin D.

PubMed

Verrusio, Walter; Andreozzi, Paola; Renzi, Alessia; Musumeci, Marco; Gueli, Nicolò; Cacciafesta, Mauro

2017-01-01

To evaluate i) the correlation between vitamin D (vit. D) serum concentrations and metabolic syndrome (MetS); ii) the efficacy of 6 months supplementation therapy with vit. D. 200 patients were enrolled. Blood analyses and anthropometric measurements were carried out. Patients with hypovitaminosis D received an oral supplement therapy. 81% of the sample shows vit. D levels < 30 ng/mL. Rate of MetS was significantly higher in vit. D deficiency group than in vit D insufficiency (p = 0.009) and sufficiency (p = 0.002) groups. Vit. D shows a significant negative correlation with both waist circumference (WC) (ρ - 0.202 p = 0.004) and glycaemia values (FBG) (ρ -0.185 p = 0.009). After the supplementation therapy in a group of 60 subjects a significant increase in vit. D levels (p = 0.001) and a significant reduction in WC values (p = 0.001) were observed. MetS, WC and FBG appeared to be associated vit. D status and it is well-known that central obesity, with the inflammatory alterations thereto correlated that determine insulin resistance, can be considered the "primum movens" for the development of MetS.

Cholinergic Dysfunction in Fragile X Syndrome and Potential Intervention

PubMed Central

Kesler, Shelli R; Lightbody, Amy A; Reiss, Allan L

2009-01-01

Males with fragile X syndrome are at risk for significant cognitive and behavioral deficits, particularly those involving executive prefrontal systems. Disruption of the cholinergic system secondary to fragile X mental retardation protein deficiency may contribute to the cognitive-behavioral impairments associated with fragile X. We measured choline in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of 9 males with fragile X syndrome and 9 age-matched typically developing controls using 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Right choline/creatine was significantly reduced in the fragile X group compared to controls. In controls, both left and right choline was significantly positively correlated with intelligence and age was significantly negatively correlated with left choline. There were no correlations in the fragile X group. Subjects with fragile X syndrome participating in a pilot open-label trial of donepezil, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, demonstrated significantly improved cognitive-behavioral function. Studies utilizing biochemical neuroimaging techniques such as these have the potential to significantly impact the design of treatment strategies for fragile X syndrome and other genetic disorders by helping identify neurochemical targets for intervention as well as serving as metrics for treatment efficacy. PMID:19215057

Relationships Between Meibomian Gland Loss and Age, Sex, and Dry Eye.

PubMed

Pult, Heiko

2018-02-12

This study evaluated relationships between meibomian gland loss (MGL) and age, sex, and dry eye. Dry eye and MGL of the lower eyelid was evaluated from 112 randomly selected subjects (66 women; mean age 62.8; SD ±15.7; and age range: 19-89 years) from Horst Riede GmbH, Weinheim, Germany. In addition, subjects were grouped into dry eye and non-dry eye by the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score, lid-parallel conjunctival folds and non-invasive break-up time. Symptoms were evaluated by the OSDI. Meibography of the lower eyelid was performed using a Cobra camera (bon Optic, Lübeck, Germany), and images were analyzed by its digital grading tool. Data were analyzed by backward, multiple regression analyses and Pearson correlation. Analyzing all subjects, multiple regression analyses detected that age and dry eye status (dry eye diagnosis or OSDI) but not sex were significantly related to MGL. In both, non-dry eye (n=66) and dry eye subjects (n=46), dry eye status (OSDI) but not age or sex was significantly related to MGL. Ocular Surface Disease Index scores were significantly correlated with MGL, but this correlation was stronger among all subjects (Pearson correlation; r=0.536, P<0.001) and dry eye group subjects (r=0.520, P<0.001) than in non-dry eye group subjects (r=0.275, P=0.014). Dry eye group subjects showed significantly increased MGL of the lower eyelid. Age and dry eye status were related to MGL of the lower eyelid, but sex was not; dry eye status was the dominant factor.

Cognitive Inflexibility and Frontal-Cortical Activation in Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

PubMed Central

Britton, Jennifer C.; Rauch, Scott L.; Rosso, Isabelle M.; Killgore, William D.S.; Price, Lauren M.; Ragan, Jennifer; Chosak, Anne; Hezel, Dianne M.; Pine, Daniel S.; Leibenluft, Ellen; Pauls, David L.; Jenike, Michael A.; Stewart, S. Evelyn

2014-01-01

Objective Deficits in cognitive flexibility and response inhibition have been linked to perturbations in cortico-striatal-thalamic circuitry in adult obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Although similar cognitive deficits have been identified in pediatric OCD, few neuroimaging studies have been conducted to examine its neural correlates in the developing brain. In this study, we tested hypotheses regarding group differences in the behavioral and neural correlates of cognitive flexibility in a pediatric OCD and a healthy comparison (HC) sample. Method In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, a pediatric sample of 10- to 17-year-old subjects, 15 with OCD and 20 HC, completed a set-shifting task. The task, requiring an extradimensional shift to identify a target, examines cognitive flexibility. Within each block, the dimension (color or shape) that identified the target either alternated (i.e., mixed) or remained unchanged (i.e., repeated). Results Compared with the HC group, the OCD group tended to be slower to respond to trials within mixed blocks. Compared with the HC group, the OCD group exhibited less left inferior frontal gyrus/BA47 activation in the set-shifting contrast (i.e., HC > OCD, mixed versus repeated); only the HC group exhibited significant activation in this region. The correlation between set shifting-induced right caudate activation and shift cost (i.e., reaction time differential in response to mixed versus repeated trials) was significantly different between HC and OCD groups, in that we found a positive correlation in HC and a negative correlation in OCD. Conclusions In pediatric OCD, less fronto-striatal activation may explain previously identified deficits in shifting cognitive sets. PMID:20732630

Assessment of insulin sensitivity/resistance and their relations with leptin concentrations and anthropometric measures in a pregnant population with and without gestational diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Yilmaz, Ozgur; Kucuk, Mert; Ilgin, Aydin; Dagdelen, Muride

2010-01-01

Fifty-six pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 42 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) pregnant women between 26 and 36 gestational weeks were included in the study prospectively. The body fat percentage (BFP) was calculated using the Siri formula from skinfold thickness (SFT) measurements. Both groups were comparable for gestational age, height, weight, and body mass index (P>.05). Insulin resistance assessed by homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) method was significantly higher in GDM patients compared to their NGT weight-matched control group. In contrast, the insulin sensitivity calculated from quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI-IS) equation was significantly lower in GDM group. Calculated lean body mass was found to be similar in between both groups. Body fat percentage derived from SFT parameters was significantly higher in women with GDM. Women with GDM had significantly higher levels of serum insulin and leptin concentrations when compared with the NGT group. All SFT measurements were higher in GDM group when compared to those in NGT women. We did not find any correlation between leptin levels and insulin resistance; we found negative correlation between leptin levels and insulin sensitivity. Thus, we observed that leptin may contribute development of GDM by decreasing insulin sensitivity but not increasing insulin resistance. Also, we observed that the BFP estimated by the Siri formula from SFT measurements correlated significantly with HOMA-IR and QUICKI-IS and leptin concentrations in pregnant women. We suggest that by simply evaluating SFT, we may hold a view about BFP and leptin concentrations and insulin sensitivity in pregnant women.

The effect of non-weight bearing group-exercising on females with non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized single blind controlled pilot study.

PubMed

Masharawi, Youssef; Nadaf, Nedal

2013-01-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of active non-weight-bearing (NWB) group exercising on women with non specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). Forty females with NSCLBP were assigned in a randomized control longitudinal single blinded pilot study. 20 of them were assigned to a NWB bi-weekly group exercise class and 20 females were included in the control group. The exercises involved the entire lumbo-pelvic spine aimed at improving lumbar mobility/flexibility and stability. Pain intensity (VAS), back specific disability (Rolland Morris questionnaire-RMQ), and lumbar flexion and extension ranges of motion measurements were taken prior to intervention (t(0)), immediately following 4 weeks of intervention (t(1)) and 8 weeks later (t(fu)). Reliability trials were conducted on 10 females. Non-parametric tests were used for statistical significance (p < 0.05). The following significant changes in outcome measures were indicated at t(1) compared with t(0) and control group (p < 0.001): an increase in lumbar flexion and extension (mean difference = 9.26◦ (+54%) for flexion and 5.95◦ for extension(+98%)); reduction in VAS score (mean difference = 2.32 (+58%)) and RMQ score (mean difference = 4.9 (−34%)). All changes remained significant at t(fu). At t(0), lumbar flexion was correlated with extension (r = 0.547) and VAS (r = −0.581),whereas the RMQ score correlated with VAS score (r = 0.599) and negatively with lumbar extension (r = −0.665). At t(1),lumbar flexion correlated with extension (r = 0.664) and negatively with RMQ score (r = −0.54). At t(fu), changes in VAS score were negatively correlated with changes in lumbar flexion (r = −0.522), while changes in lumbar flexion correlated with extension (r = 0.58). A functional program of NWB group exercising improves functional, painful status, lumbar flexion and extension ranges of motion in women suffering from NSCLBP.

Tooth size discrepancies in Class II division 1 and Class III malocclusion requiring surgical-orthodontic or orthodontic treatment.

PubMed

McSwiney, Timothy P; Millett, Declan T; McIntyre, Grant T; Barry, Mark K; Cronin, Michael S

2014-06-01

To compare mean anterior (AR) and mean overall (OR) tooth size ratios, prevalence of clinically significant tooth size discrepancies (TSDs) and correlation between AR and OR in subjects with Class II division 1 and Class III malocclusion treated by surgical-orthodontic or orthodontic means. Retrospective, cross-sectional. State-funded and private clinics. From pre-treatment cohorts of 770 surgical and 610 non-surgical subjects, Class II division 1 and Class III malocclusion groups were identified with 60 surgical and 60 non-surgical subjects, comprising 30 males and 30 females, in each. AR and OR were calculated by landmarking digital models. Differences in AR and OR and their relationship were analysed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a correlation coefficient, respectively. The proportions of the surgical and non-surgical groups with a TSD were assessed using logistic regression. Intra-examiner reproducibility involved re-landmarking 30 randomly selected image sets and differences in ARs and ORs were compared using a paired t-test. Random error was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Analyses were performed using SAS (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA) at the 5% level of significance. There were no statistically significant differences associated with the measurement of either the mean AR (P = 0·913) or the mean OR (P = 0·874). ICC values were very high (AR = 0·95; OR = 0·90). Differences existed between both Class II and Class III surgical (AR: P<0·001; OR: P<0·001) and non-surgical groups (AR: P = 0·012; OR: P = 0·003). The AR and OR relationship was strong (correlation coefficient = 0·72). The highest percentage of clinically significant TSDs was seen in the AR of both Class II and Class III surgical groups (23·3%). In the cohort examined: AR and OR differed significantly for malocclusion groups. The prevalence of clinically significant TSDs did not differ significantly between surgical and non-surgical groups although the highest percentage of clinically significant TSDs was recorded for AR in Class II and Class III surgical cases. AR and OR were closely related. © 2014 British Orthodontic Society.

Characteristics of global organic matrix in normal and pimpled chicken eggshells.

PubMed

Liu, Z; Song, L; Zhang, F; He, W; Linhardt, R J

2017-10-01

The organic matrix from normal and pimpled calcified chicken eggshells were dissociated into acid-insoluble, water-insoluble, and facultative-soluble (both acid- and water-soluble) components, to understand the influence of shell matrix on eggshell qualities. A linear correlation was shown among these 3 matrix components in normal eggshells but was not observed in pimpled eggshells. In pimpled eggshells, the percentage contents of all 4 groups of matrix (the total matrix, acid-insoluble matrix, water-insoluble matrix, and facultative-soluble matrix) were significantly higher than that in normal eggshells. The amounts of both total matrix and acid-insoluble matrix in individual pimpled calcified shells were high, even though their weight was much lower than a normal eggshell. In both normal and pimpled eggshells, the calcified eggshell weight and shell thickness significantly and positively correlated with the amounts of all 4 groups of matrix in an individual calcified shell. In normal eggshells, the calcified shell thickness and shell breaking strength showed no significant correlations with the percentage contents of all 4 groups of matrix. In normal eggshells, only the shell membrane weight significantly correlated with the constituent ratios of both acid-insoluble matrix and facultative-soluble matrix in the whole matrix. In pimpled eggshells, 3 variables (calcified shell weight, shell thickness, and breaking strength) were significantly correlated with the constituent proportions of both acid-insoluble matrix and facultative-matrix. This study suggests that mechanical properties of normal eggshells may not linearly depend on the organic matrix content in the calcified eggshells and that pimpled eggshells might result by the disequilibrium enrichment of some proteins with negative effects. © 2017 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Aging-related changes in the default mode network and its anti-correlated networks: a resting-state fMRI study.

PubMed

Wu, Jing-Tao; Wu, Hui-Zhen; Yan, Chao-Gan; Chen, Wen-Xin; Zhang, Hong-Ying; He, Yong; Yang, Hai-Shan

2011-10-17

Intrinsic brain activity in a resting state incorporates components of the task negative network called default mode network (DMN) and task-positive networks called attentional networks. In the present study, the reciprocal neuronal networks in the elder group were compared with the young group to investigate the differences of the intrinsic brain activity using a method of temporal correlation analysis based on seed regions of posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). We found significant decreased positive correlations and negative correlations with the seeds of PCC and vmPFC in the old group. The decreased coactivations in the DMN network components and their negative networks in the old group may reflect age-related alterations in various brain functions such as attention, motor control and inhibition modulation in cognitive processing. These alterations in the resting state anti-correlative networks could provide neuronal substrates for the aging brain. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

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.

Chromium picolinate and biotin combination reduces atherogenic index of plasma in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial.

PubMed

Geohas, Jeff; Daly, Anne; Juturu, Vijaya; Finch, Manley; Komorowski, James R

2007-03-01

The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), defined as logarithm [log] of the ratio of plasma concentration of triglycerides to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, has recently been proposed as a predictive marker for plasma atherogenicity and is positively correlated with cardiovascular disease risk. The nutrient combination of chromium picolinate and biotin (CPB) has been previously shown to reduce insulin resistance and hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Thirty-six moderately obese subjects with T2DM and with impaired glycemic control were randomized to receive CPB or placebo in addition to their oral hyperglycemic agents for 4 weeks. Measurements of blood lipids (including ratio of triglycerides to HDL cholesterol), fructosamine, glucose, and insulin were taken at baseline and after 4 weeks. At the final visit, the active group had a significantly lower AIP compared to the placebo group (P < 0.05). A significant difference in triglyceride level (P < 0.02) and the ratio of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to HDL cholesterol (P < 0.05) was also observed between the groups at the final visit. In the active group, the changes in urinary chromium levels were inversely correlated with the change in AIP (P < 0.05). Urinary chromium levels were significantly increased in the CPB group. In the CPB group, glucose levels decreased at 1 hour and 2 hours and glucose area under the curve and fructosamine level were significantly decreased. Ratios of total to HDL cholesterol, LDL to HDL cholesterol, and non-HDL to HDL cholesterol were significantly decreased between the treatments at final visit. No significant adverse events were observed in the CPB or placebo groups. These results suggest that the combination of chromium picolinate and biotin may be a valuable nutritional adjuvant therapy to reduce AIP and correlated CVD risk factors in people with T2DM.

To Evaluate the Correlation Between Skeletal and Dental Parameters to the Amount of Crowding in Class II Div. 1 Malocclusions.

PubMed

Singh, Shivani; Shivaprakash, G

2017-09-01

Crowding of teeth is one of the most common problem that motivates the patient to seek orthodontic treatment. Determination of etiology of crowding could have a significant effect on treatment planning and prognosis of Class II malocclusion. Aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of skeletal and dental parameters to amount of dental crowding in patients with Class II Divison 1 (div.1) malocclusion. Pretreatment lateral cephalograms and dental casts of 60 patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion were collected for the study. The sample was divided into two groups according to severity of pretreatment mandibular crowding. Group I consisted of cases with crowding ≥3 mm and Group II with crowding <3 mm. Lateral cephalograms for each patient was manually traced and skeletal parameters (effective maxillary and mandibular length, mandibular plane angle, Y Axis, lower anterior face height) and dental parameters (axial inclination of lower incisor, inclination of lower incisor to mandibular plane, interincisal angle) were measured. Unpaired t-test was used for intergroup comparison and relationship between different measurements was investigated using Pearson correlation coefficient. Among the skeletal parameters measured, only effective mandibular length exhibited statistically significant difference between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups for any of the dental parameters. Significant inverse correlation was found between mandibular crowding and effective mandibular length. Subjects with Class II div.1 malocclusion and moderate to severe mandibular crowding have significantly smaller effective mandibular base length than subjects with the same malocclusion and slight mandibular crowding.

Assessing the effects of ketorolac and acetazolamide on macular thickness by optical coherence tomography following cataract surgery.

PubMed

Turan-Vural, Ece; Halili, Elvin; Serin, Didem

2014-06-01

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of topical ketorolac 0.5 % solution and oral acetazolamide 250 mg/day delivery during the first month after uneventful phacoemulsification surgery by measuring the macular thickness using optical coherence tomography. Our nonmasked randomized prospective study comprised 87 eyes of 80 patients. Complete follow-up was achieved on 84 eyes of 77 eligible patients. Postoperatively, the patients were divided into three groups. One group received ketorolac 0.5 %, the other group received acetazolamide 250 mg/day, and the control group was given no agent. Macular thickness and volume were measured at 1 week and 1 month after surgery by optical coherence tomography. Foveal thickness, parafoveal thickness, and perifoveal thickness were determined to be significantly elevated at postoperative 1 week and 1 month in the control group. Foveal, perifoveal, and parafoveal volumes were also significantly high at postoperative week 1 and month 1 in the control group. There was no significant difference between the ketorolac and acetazolamide groups. The correlation analysis between best-corrected visual acuity, and volume and thickness revealed a negative correlation in the acetazolamide group. Use of acetazolamide after cataract surgery is as effective as ketorolac on macular thickness and volume.

Validation of a food frequency questionnaire for Japanese pregnant women with and without nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy.

PubMed

Ogawa, Kohei; Jwa, Seung-Chik; Kobayashi, Minatsu; Morisaki, Naho; Sago, Haruhiko; Fujiwara, Takeo

2017-05-01

No previous study has shown the validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) in early pregnancy with consideration of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a FFQ in early pregnancy for Japanese pregnant women. We included 188 women before 15 weeks of gestation and compared estimated nutrient intake and food group intake based on a modified FFQ with that based on 3-day dietary records (DRs). Spearman's rank correlation coefficients, adjusting energy intake and attenuating within-person error, were calculated. Subgroup analysis for those with and without NVP was conducted. We also examined the degree of appropriate classification across categories between FFQ and DRs through division of consumption of nutrients and food groups into quintiles. Crude Spearman's correlation coefficients of nutrients ranged from 0.098 (sodium) to 0.401 (vitamin C), and all of the 36 nutrients were statistically significant. In 27 food groups, correlation coefficients ranged from -0.015 (alcohol) to 0.572 (yogurt), and 81% were statistically significant. In subgroup analysis, correlation coefficients in 89% of nutrients and 70% of food groups in women with NVP and 97% of nutrients and 74% of food groups in women without NVP were statistically significant. On average, 63.7% of nutrients and 60.4% of food groups were classified into same or adjacent quintiles according to the FFQ and DRs. The FFQ is a useful instrument, regardless of NVP, for assessing the diet of women in early pregnancy in Japan. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonographic findings of Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in patients with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease.

PubMed

Ellabban, Abdou S; Kamel, Shereen R; Abo Omar, Hanaa A S; El-Sherif, Ashraf M H; Abdel-Magied, Rasha A

2012-04-01

The aims of the study were to detect the frequency of involvement of the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia in patients with calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) by high-frequency gray-scale ultrasonography (US) and power Doppler sonography (PDS) and to correlate these findings with demographic and clinical data. Two groups of patients were enrolled: group I (38 patients with CPPD) and group II (22 patients with knee OA). US/PDS examination of the heels was performed to both groups. In the CPPD group, US/PDS examination of the Achilles tendon revealed: calcification in 57.9%, enthesophytosis in 57.9%, enthesopathy in 23.7%, vascular sign in 21%, bursitis in 13.2%, and cortical bone irregularity in 10.5%. US/PDS examination of plantar fascia in the CPPD group revealed: calcification in 15.8%, cortical bone irregularity in 78.9%, enthesophytosis in 60.5%, and planter fasciitis in 42.1%. In patients with CPPD, age was significantly correlated with enthesophytosis and deep retrocalcaneal bursitis (p = 0.01 and p = 0.04, respectively). Heel tenderness and posterior talalgia were significantly correlated with Achilles tendon enthesopathy, vascular sign, and deep retrocalcaneal bursitis (p = 0.0001 for each). Inferior talalgia was significantly correlated with plantar fasciitis (p = 0.0001). The sensitivity of ultrasonography for detection of calcifications in Achilles tendon and plantar fascia was 57.9% and 15.8%, respectively, and the specificity was 100% for both. To conclude, ultrasonographic Achilles tendon and plantar fascia calcifications are frequent findings in patients with CPPD. These calcifications have a high specificity and can be used as a useful indirect sign of CPPD.

Development of a cognitive function test using virtual reality technology: examination in healthy participants.

PubMed

Sakai, Hiromi; Nagano, Akinori; Seki, Keiko; Okahashi, Sayaka; Kojima, Maki; Luo, Zhiwei

2018-07-01

We developed a virtual reality test to assess the cognitive function of Japanese people in near-daily-life environment, namely, a virtual shopping test (VST). In this test, participants were asked to execute shopping tasks using touch panel operations in a "virtual shopping mall." We examined differences in VST performances among healthy participants of different ages and correlations between VST and screening tests, such as the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Everyday Memory Checklist (EMC). We included 285 healthy participants between 20 and 86 years of age in seven age groups. Therefore, each VST index tended to decrease with advancing age; differences among age groups were significant. Most VST indices had a significantly negative correlation with MMSE and significantly positive correlation with EMC. VST may be useful for assessing general cognitive decline; effects of age must be considered for proper interpretation of the VST scores.

Long-term effect of surface light scattering and glistenings of intraocular lenses on visual function.

PubMed

Hayashi, Ken; Hirata, Akira; Yoshida, Motoaki; Yoshimura, Koichi; Hayashi, Hideyuki

2012-08-01

To investigate the long-term effect of surface light scattering and glistenings of various intraocular lenses (IOLs) on visual function and optical aberrations after cataract surgery. Case-control study. Thirty-five eyes that underwent implantation of a hydrophobic acrylic, silicone, or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) IOL more than 10 years ago were recruited. The scattering light intensity of the surface and internal matrix of the optic was measured using Scheimpflug photography. Visual acuity (VA) was measured using VA charts, and contrast VA and that with glare (glare VA) were examined using a contrast sensitivity tester. Ocular higher-order aberrations (HOAs) were measured using a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer. Mean scattering light intensity of the surface and internal matrix of the optic was significantly higher in the acrylic group than in the silicone and PMMA groups (P < .0001). Mean uncorrected VA, photopic and mesopic contrast VA and glare VA, and HOAs did not differ significantly among groups, although mean corrected VA in the acrylic group was significantly better than that in the other groups (P = .0023). Scattering light intensity of the surface and internal matrix did not correlate with VA, contrast VA, or glare VA, and did not correlate with ocular and internal optic HOAs in the acrylic group. At more than 10 years postoperatively, visual function, including contrast sensitivity, and ocular HOAs were comparable among eyes that received acrylic, silicone, and PMMA IOLs. Surface scattering and glistenings with the acrylic IOLs were not significantly correlated with visual function and optical aberrations. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effect of gait training with shoe inserts on the improvement of pain and gait in sacroiliac joint patients.

PubMed

Cho, Byung-Yun; Yoon, Jung-Gyu

2015-08-01

[Purpose] The purpose of the current research was to identify how gait training with shoe inserts affects the pain and gait of sacroiliac joint dysfunction patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty subjects were randomly selected and assigned to be either the experimental group (gait training with shoe insert group) or control group. Each group consisted of 15 patients. Pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale, and foot pressure in a standing position and during gait was measured with a Gateview AFA-50 system (Alpus, Seoul, Republic of Korea). A paired sample t-test was used to compare the pain and gait of the sacroiliac joint before and after the intervention. Correlation between pain and walking after gait training with shoe inserts was examined by Pearson test. The level of significance was set at α=0.05. [Results] It was found that application of the intervention to the experimental group resulted in a significant decrease in sacroiliac joint pain. It was also found that there was a significant correlation between Visual Analogue Scale score and dynamic asymmetric index (r= 0.796) and that there was a negative correlation between Visual Analogue Scale score and forefoot/rear foot peak pressure ratio (r=-0.728). [Conclusion] The results of our analysis lead us to conclude that the intervention with shoe inserts had a significant influence on the pain and gait of sacroiliac joint patients.

The effect of gait training with shoe inserts on the improvement of pain and gait in sacroiliac joint patients

PubMed Central

Cho, Byung-Yun; Yoon, Jung-Gyu

2015-01-01

[Purpose] The purpose of the current research was to identify how gait training with shoe inserts affects the pain and gait of sacroiliac joint dysfunction patients. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty subjects were randomly selected and assigned to be either the experimental group (gait training with shoe insert group) or control group. Each group consisted of 15 patients. Pain was measured by Visual Analogue Scale, and foot pressure in a standing position and during gait was measured with a Gateview AFA-50 system (Alpus, Seoul, Republic of Korea). A paired sample t-test was used to compare the pain and gait of the sacroiliac joint before and after the intervention. Correlation between pain and walking after gait training with shoe inserts was examined by Pearson test. The level of significance was set at α=0.05. [Results] It was found that application of the intervention to the experimental group resulted in a significant decrease in sacroiliac joint pain. It was also found that there was a significant correlation between Visual Analogue Scale score and dynamic asymmetric index (r= 0.796) and that there was a negative correlation between Visual Analogue Scale score and forefoot/rear foot peak pressure ratio (r=-0.728). [Conclusion] The results of our analysis lead us to conclude that the intervention with shoe inserts had a significant influence on the pain and gait of sacroiliac joint patients. PMID:26357428

Decreased left hippocampal volumes in parents with or without posttraumatic stress disorder who lost their only child in China.

PubMed

Luo, Yifeng; Shan, Hairong; Liu, Yu; Wu, Liwei; Zhang, Xiaojie; Ma, Tieliang; Zhu, Wenjiao; Yang, Yue; Wang, Jichen; Cao, Zhihong

2016-06-01

Limbic structural changes have been found in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the results were controversial, and no study has examined the hippocampal and amygdala volume changes in parents with or without PTSD who had lost their only child and could no longer conceive in China. Hippocampal and amygdala volumes of 57 parents with PTSD (PTSD+), 11 trauma-exposed parents without PTSD (PTSD-) and 39 non-traumatized controls were examined using magnetic resonance imaging. Correlations of the volumes with the time since trauma, Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) scores, age, gender and intracranial volume (ICV) were investigated in the PTSD+ group. left hippocampal volumes were significantly smaller in the PTSD+ and PTSD- groups than in the controls, but there were no significant differences between the PTSD+ and PTSD- groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in the right hippocampus or bilateral amygdala volumes. Additionally, the hippocampal and amygdala volumes showed no correlation with the time since trauma, CAPS score and gender, whereas the left hippocampal volumes were correlated with ICV, and the bilateral amygdala volumes were correlated with ICV and age in the PTSD+ group. The PTSD- group included only 11 participants. left hippocampal volumes decreased in parents who lost their only child, with or without PTSD. Our results suggest a potentially unique role of the trauma of losing an only child, which is extremely painful and may induce a decrease in the left hippocampal volume independent of PTSD effects. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Prognostic value of extra-vascular lung water index and pulmonary vascular permeability index in patients with ARDS].

PubMed

Liu, Danqin; Zeng, Weixian; Zhou, Wangfeng; Dai, Yuanrong

2015-11-24

To investigate the correlation of the extra-vascular lung water index (EVLWI) and the pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) with disease severity and their prognostic value in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). A total of 44 patients with ARDS from October 2012 to June 2014 admitted in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were recruited in this study. According to the severity, patients were divided into three groups (Mild group, Moderate group and Severe group); the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation system II score (APACHE II), the lung injury score (LIS), the pulse contour curve continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) and other clinical indicators were respectively monitored in the period of 24, 48, 72 hrs after admission; then the correlation of EVLWI, PVPI and oxygenation index (OI) among groups were analyzed; According to the prognosis, patients were divided into the survival group and the death group, both given the univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis; EVLWI, PVPI, APACHE II score, LIS and lactic acid were admitted into the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and the prognosis was evaluated respectively. With the increase of disease severity, LIS and lactic acid gradually increased, the difference was significant among the three groups of Mild, Moderate and Severe (P<0.05). And the APACHE II score also increased gradually with the severity, but the difference was statistically significant only between the Mild group and the Severe group (P<0.01). And likewise, mild, moderate, severe ARDS patients had 1, 6, 9 cases of death, respectively. The 28-day mortality rate increased gradually after admission, with a significant difference between the Mild group and the Severe group (P<0.05). When all the 44 patients of three severities (during the 24 hrs period and during the 72 hrs period) were compared, the OI gradually decreased with the increase of severity of ARDS, while EVLWI and PVPI ascended, and differences between any two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between EVLWI and OI or between PVPI and OI (r=-0.666, -0.763, all P<0.01), and a significant positive correlation between EVLWI and PVPI, the APACHE II score or LIS (r=0.929, 0.895, 0.661, all P<0.01). Besides, OI was a predictive protection factor of ARDS, whereas lactic acid, EVLWI and PVPI were risk factors. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that EVLWI and lactic acid were risk factors for ARDS death (all P<0.05). ROC curve analysis results suggested EVLWI and lactic acid were risk factors, (odd ratio (OR)> 1, and 95%CI: 1.071-5.201, 5.201-99.852, all P<0.05). EVLWI, PVPI were positively correlated with the severity of ARDS illness; EVLWI can be used as an independent risk factor for forecasting ARDS death, jointing EVLWI with PVPI could improve the accuracy of ARDS death forecasting.

[Correlation between anthropometric parameters and arteriosclerosis biomarker in the middle-aged and the elderly].

PubMed

Liu, Yan; Qi, Li-tong; Ma, Wei; Yang, Ying; Meng, Lei; Zhang, Bao-wei; Huo, Yong

2014-06-18

To investigate the correlation between anthropometric indices and arteriosclerosis detection indicators in the middle-aged and the elderly. A cross-sectional descriptive study was made of 1 626 individuals (diabetics patients 23.37%, hypertensive subjects 39.48% and healthy individuals 37.15%), aged 45 to 90 years [mean age: (61.60 ± 10.22) years)] in Shijingshan District, Beijing. Their measurements: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist to height ratio (WHtR). Arterial stiffness was assessed according to brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), intima-media thickness (IMT), augmentation index (AI) and ankle-brachial index (ABI), which were measured by noninvasive detectors and equipment. The correlations between the various indicators were analyzed. The percentages of the hypertensive and diabetic groups of central obesity (male WC>85 cm, female WC>80 cm or WHtR>0.5) and of general obesity (BMI>28 kg/m²) were significantly higher than those of the healthy group (P<0.01). The difference between the two disease groups was not significant (P>0.05). There was a moderate positive correlation between the measures of abdominal obesity (WHtR and WC) and the general obesity indicators (BMI) (r=0.710 and 0.716). In the healthy group, WC and WHtR showed positive correlation with baPWV, IMT and ABI, and negative correlation with AI75. BMI showed positive correlation with IMT and negative correlation with AI75, and no correlation with baPWV and ABI. There was negative correlation between BMI and baPWV in the diabetic group. In the hypertension group, we found negative correlation between BMI and baPWV, maximum IMT, AI75, and also between WC and AI75. The simple regression straight line of baPWV versus the anthropometric parameters showed that the regression equations were y=0.949+1.379 x (baPWV vs. WHtR, R² = 0.046, P<0.001) and y=1.133+0.006x (baPWV vs. WC, R² = 0.027, P<0.001), respectively. baPWV and BMI did not have a linear relationship (P=0.62). WHtR and WC are superior to BMI indices in predicting arteriosclerosis. Anthropometric measurements for central obesity are good predictors of cardiovascular risk.

Route Learning Impairment in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

PubMed Central

Bell, Brian D.

2012-01-01

Memory impairment on neuropsychological tests is relatively common in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) patients. But memory rarely has been evaluated in more naturalistic settings. This study assessed TLE (n = 19) and control (n = 32) groups on a real-world route learning (RL) test. Compared to the controls, the TLE group committed significantly more total errors across the three RL test trials. RL errors correlated significantly with standardized auditory and visual memory and visual-perceptual test scores in the TLE group. In the TLE subset for whom hippocampal data were available (n = 14), RL errors also correlated significantly with left hippocampal volume. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate real-world memory impairment in TLE patients and its association with both mesial temporal lobe integrity and standardized memory test performance. The results support the ecological validity of clinical neuropsychological assessment. PMID:23041173

Correlation analysis between change in thoracic kyphosis and multilevel facetectomy and screw density in main thoracic adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery.

PubMed

Sudo, Hideki; Abe, Yuichiro; Kokabu, Terufumi; Ito, Manabu; Abumi, Kuniyoshi; Ito, Yoichi M; Iwasaki, Norimasa

2016-09-01

Controversy exists regarding the effects of multilevel facetectomy and screw density on deformity correction, especially thoracic kyphosis (TK) restoration in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of multilevel facetectomy and screw density on sagittal plane correction in patients with main thoracic (MT) AIS curve. A retrospective correlation and comparative analysis of prospectively collected, consecutive, non-randomized series of patients at a single institution was undertaken. Sixty-four consecutive patients with Lenke type 1 AIS treated with posterior correction and fusion surgery using simultaneous double-rod rotation technique were included. Patient demographics and preoperative and 2-year postoperative radiographic measurements were the outcome measures for this study. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis was conducted between change in TK (T5-T12) and the following factors: age at surgery, Risser sign, number of facetectomy level, screw density, preoperative main thoracic curve, flexibility in main thoracic curve, coronal correction rate, preoperative TK, and preoperative lumbar lordosis. Patients were classified into two groups: TK<15° group defined by preoperative TK below the mean degree of TK for the entire cohort (<15°) and the TK≥15° group, defined by preoperative TK above the mean degree of kyphosis (≥15°). Independent sample t tests were used to compare demographic data as well as radiographic outcomes between the two groups. There were no study-specific biases related to conflicts of interest. The average preoperative TK was 14.0°, which improved significantly to 23.1° (p<.0001) at the 2-year final follow-up. Greater change in TK was predicted by a low preoperative TK (p<.0001). The TK <15° group showed significant correlation between change in TK and number of facetectomy level (r=0.492, p=.002). Similarly, significant correlation was found between change in TK and screw density (r=0.333, p=.047). Conversely, in the TK ≥15° group, correlation was found neither between change in TK and number of facetectomy level (r=0.047, p=.812), nor with screw density (r=0.030, p=.880). Furthermore, in patients with preoperative TK<15°, change in TK was significantly correlated with screw density at the concave side (r=0.351, p=.036) but not at the convex side (r=0.144, p=.402). In patients with hypokyphotic thoracic spine, significant positive correlation was found between change in TK and multilevel facetectomy or screw density at the concave side. This indicates that in patients with AIS who have thoracic hypokyphosis as part of their deformity, the abovementioned factors must be considered in preoperative planning to correct hypokyphosis. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effect of rubber flooring on displaying stereotypies in gilts.

PubMed

Ostović, Mario; Menčik, Sven; Kabalin, Anamaria Ekert; Gračner, Gordana Gregurić; Vučemilo, Marija; Matković, Kristina; Vukičević, Tajana Trbojević; Grahovac, Jurica; Pavičić, Zeljko

2015-01-01

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of rubber mats in service unit on displaying stereotypies in gilts. Four 28-day production cycles in all seasons were observed. Each cycle included 28 gilts housed in gestation stalls with slatted concrete floor, which was covered with adjusted mats for 14 gilts (experimental group), while the remaining 14 gilts served as controls. Display of stereotypies and other behaviours observed, mat manipulation and postural behaviours were estimated by direct 1-hour observation of gilts at 2-minute intervals after morning feed supply on days 1, 8, 15 and 28 of each cycle. During the study period, displaying stereotypies was significantly less frequent (P < 0.05) in experimental group as compared with control group. The rate of particular forms of stereotypies, i.e. vacuum chewing, bar biting and teeth grinding, was also significantly lower (P < 0.05 all) in experimental group throughout the study period. A significant negative correlation (P <.05) was found between the service unit air temperature and frequency of displaying stereotypies in control group, which could be attributed to the significantly more common standing posture (P < 0.05) in control gilts in the conditions of lower air temperature. During the cold period, experimental gilts took a lying position significantly more frequently (P < 0.05). In the experimental group of gilts there was no significant correlation (P > 0.05 all) between the frequency of displaying stereotypies and the frequency of lying and other postures observed, as well as between the stereotypy display and the air temperature. There was no significant correlation (P > 0.05 all) between the frequency of mat manipulation and displaying stereotypies in total or its particular forms, suggesting that the less pronounced stereotypy display in experimental gilts may have been influenced by factors other than those observed in the present study.

The correlation between TNF-α-308 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to cervical cancer.

PubMed

Li, Liping; Liu, Jie; Liu, Chunjing; Lu, Xianghui

2018-05-01

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is closely related to the occurrence of human cancers. Cervical cancer seriously affects female health. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the correlation between the polymorphism of TNF-α-308 gene and susceptibility to cervical cancer. Whole blood was collected from 142 patients with cervical cancer and 150 healthy controls. PCR-RFLP was used to detect the polymorphism of TNF-α-308 and the correlation between polymorphism of TNF-α-308 and the susceptibility to cervical cancer was analyzed. The three genotypes of TNF-α-308 were GG, GA and AA, and the distributions of genotypes of TNF-α-308 were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both cervical cancer group and control group. There were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequency between cervical cancer group and healthy control group (P>0.05). A/A genotype increased the risk of cervical cancer by 1.46 times with 95% confidence interval of 0.32-6.67. Different genotypes were not associated with tumor type (P>0.05). Different genotypes are correlated with cervical cancer TNM stages, tumor differentiation and lymph node metastasis. Proportion of GA+AA genotype in TNM stage III+IV group, low differentiation group and lymph node metastasis group were 28.1, 29.0 and 29.8%, respectively, which were significantly higher than those in stage I+II group, moderate/high differentiation group and non-lymph node metastasis group (P<0.05). The results suggested that TNF-α-308 gene polymorphism is associated with the degree of malignancy of cervical cancer. Female patients with A allele have higher malignant degree of cervical cancer.

Crackle analysis for chest auscultation and comparison with high-resolution CT findings.

PubMed

Kawamura, Takeo; Matsumoto, Tsuneo; Tanaka, Nobuyuki; Kido, Shoji; Jiang, Zhongwei; Matsunaga, Naofumi

2003-01-01

The purpose of our study was to clarify the correlation between respiratory sounds and the high-resolution CT (HRCT) findings of lung diseases. Respiratory sounds were recorded using a stethoscope in 41 patients with crackles. All had undergone inspiratory and expiratory CT. Subjects included 18 patients with interstitial pneumonia and 23 without interstitial pneumonia. Two parameters, two-cycle duration (2CD) and initial deflection width (IDW) of the "crackle," were induced by time-expanded waveform analysis. Two radiologists independently assessed 11 HRCT findings. An evaluation was carried out to determine whether there was a significant difference in the two parameters between the presence and absence of each HRCT finding. The two parameters of crackles were significantly shorter in the interstitial pneumonia group than the non-interstitial pneumonia group. Ground-glass opacity, honeycombing, lung volume reduction, traction bronchiectasis, centrilobular nodules, emphysematous change, and attenuation and volume change between inspiratory and expiratory CT were correlated with one or two parameters in all patients, whereas the other three findings were not. Among the interstitial pneumonia group, traction bronchiectasis, emphysematous change, and attenuation and volume change between inspiratory and expiratory CT were significantly correlated with one or two parameters. Abnormal respiratory sounds were correlated with some HRCT findings.

[A survey of pubertal development in children born with assisted reproductive technology].

PubMed

Liu, Zi-Yuan; Wang, Xin-Li; Han, Tong-Yan; Cui, Yun-Pu; Wang, Xue-Mei; Tong, Xiao-Mei; Song, Yi; Wang, Hai-Jun; Li, Song

2017-06-01

To investigate the status of pubertal development in children born with assisted reproductive technology (ART). A retrospective analysis was performed on the pubertal development data of children born with ART in Peking University Third Hospital from 1994 to 2003 (ART group). The data in the cross-sectional study "Reports on the Physical Fitness and Health Research of Chinese School Students in 2010" were used as a control. The age at menarche and the age at spermarche were compared between the two groups. The status of pubertal development in the overweight and obese children in the ART group was evaluated to investigate the correlation between pubertal development and body mass index (BMI). A total of 200 children born with ART were enrolled in this study, and 72 of them (41 males and 31 females) completed the survey (response rate=36.0%). In the ART group, the mean age at spermarche and the mean age at menarche were 13.9 years (95%CI: 13.7-14.3 years) and 12.2 years (95%CI: 11.8-12.6 years), respectively. There were no significant differences in the age at spermarche and the age at menarche between the ART and control groups (P>0.05). In the ART group, there were no significant differences in the age at spermarche and the age at menarche between the overweight and obese children and the normal weight children (P>0.05). There were also no significant differences in overweight rate and obesity rate between the children in the ART group and the adolescents in Beijing (P>0.05). In the ART group, there was no significant correlation between the age at spermarche or menarche and BMI (P>0.05). No delayed or precocious puberty is observed in children born with ART. This is consistent with the normal control data. And there is no significant correlation between pubertal development and BMI in children born with ART.

[Comparison of seminal vitamin B12, folate, reactive oxygen species and various sperm parameters between fertile and infertile males].

PubMed

Chen, Q; Ng, V; Mei, J; Chia, S E

2001-03-01

Vitamin B12(VB12), folate and reactive oxygen species(ROS) in human semen from both fertile and infertile males, and their relationships with other parameters were observed. Semen samples from 44 infertile and 176 fentile control subjects were collected and measured based on the guidelines issued by WHO. The results showed that no significant differences on semen VB12 and folate were observed between fertile and infertile groups(P > 0.05). However, the levels of ROS in infertile group were significantly higher than those in fertile group(P < 0.01). The morphological defects and low motility of sperm in infertile group was significantly higher than those in fertile group(P < 0.01). A positive relation was observed between the levels of ROS production and the morphological defect of sperm(P < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the levels of VB12, folate and ROS(P < 0.01) in semen. It is interesting to note that the values of ROS also show a significantly positive correlation with sperm motility (P < 0.01). A significant differences of ROS levels between fertile and infertile group with negative white blood cells in sperm was also observed. It is concluded that the increase of ROS on the morphological defect of sperm is one of the most important factors related to poor sperm quality and human infertility.

Correlation between NFATC1 gene polymorphisms and congenital heart disease in children.

PubMed

Li, C-L; Niu, L; Fu, M-Y; Tian, J; Wang, Q-W; An, X-J

2017-08-01

To analyze the links between NFATC1 gene polymorphism and congenital heart disease in children. In the present study, we selected 85 children patients with congenital heart disease who were hospitalized from February 2013 to February 2015 as research subjects (observation group), and 92 healthy subjects as control group. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used for analysis of NFATC1 gene in samples from each group. The distribution of NFATC1 genotype and allele between the observation group (children with congenital heart disease) and the control group showed no significant difference (p >0.05), but AA, GG genotypes, and allele frequency between pathological samples of children with congenital heart disease and the control group displayed significant difference (p <0.05) (X2 = 16.04, p <0.05; X2 = 16.29, p <0.05). Further analyses showed that AA, GG, AG genotype and allele frequency among children with congenital heart disease in observation group also showed a difference, i.e., homozygote (AA, GG) ratio in children with severe congenital heart disease is relatively high. There is a correlation between NFATC1 genes and the incidence of congenital heart disease in children, and a correlation between different genotypes and allele frequency and the incidence of the disease.

Objectively measured sedentary time among five ethnic groups in Amsterdam: The HELIUS study

PubMed Central

Nicolaou, Mary; Snijder, Marieke B.; Peters, Ron J. G.; Stronks, Karien; Langøien, Lars J.; van der Ploeg, Hidde P.; Brug, Johannes; Lakerveld, Jeroen

2017-01-01

Introduction Sedentary behaviour is increasingly recognised as a health risk. While differences in this behaviour might help explain ethnic differences in disease profiles, studies on sedentary behaviour in ethnic minorities are scarce. The aim of this study was to compare the levels and the socio-demographic and lifestyle-related correlates of objectively measured sedentary time among five ethnic groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Methods Data were collected as part of the HELIUS study. The sample consisted of adults from a Dutch, Moroccan, African Surinamese, South-Asian Surinamese and Turkish ethnic origin. Data were collected by questionnaire, physical examination, and a combined heart rate and accelerometry monitor (Actiheart). Sedentary time was defined as waking time spent on activities of <1.5 metabolic equivalents. Ethnic differences in the levels of sedentary time were tested using ANOVA and ANCOVA analyses, while ethnic differences in the correlates of sedentary time were tested with interactions between ethnicity and potential correlates using general linear models. Associations between these correlates and sedentary time were explored using linear regression analyses stratified by ethnicity (pre-determined). All analyses were adjusted for gender and age. Results 447 participants were included in the analyses, ranging from 73 to 109 participants per ethnic group. Adjusted levels of sedentary time ranged from 569 minutes/day (9.5 hours/day) for participants with a Moroccan and Turkish origin to 621 minutes/day (10.3 hours/day) in African Surinamese participants. There were no statistically significant differences in the levels or correlates of sedentary time between the ethnic groups. Meeting the physical activity recommendations (150 minutes/week) was consistently inversely associated with sedentary time across all ethnic groups, while age was positively associated with sedentary time in most groups. Conclusions No statistically significant differences in the levels of objectively measured sedentary time or its socio-demographic and lifestyle-related correlates were observed among five ethnic groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. PMID:28759597

[Pregnancy and labor associated with encephalopathy in neonates during the early neonatal period].

PubMed

Skrablin, S; Drazancić, A; Letica, N; Tadić, V

1992-01-01

Pregnancy complications, drugs and surgical interventions during pregnancy, fetal growth, medications and interventions during labor, labor complications as well as fetal heart activity during labor in a group of 114 term infants without malformations, but with signs of central nervous system (CNS) damage throughout early neonatal period are compared with paired group of term healthy infants born in the same presentation and mode of delivery. Among prelabor factors only maternal hypertension (found in 16.7% of encephalopathy children versus 0.8% in a control group) was significantly correlated with CNS damage. Fetal growth retardation and long term ritodrine administration were found more frequent in encephalopathy than in healthy group of infants, although statistical significance between the groups could not be demonstrated. A prolonged second stage of labor, high oxytocin dosage, too frequent uterine contractions and vacuum extractions were found significantly correlated with neonatal encephalopathy. CTG pattern during labor was normal in only 28.9% of children, with encepalopathy prepathologic in 46.4% and pathologic in 24.7%. The respective percentages for healthy newborns were: 82.5%, 16.25% and 1.2%. All differences between the groups were statistically significant. Mean duration of prepathologic CTG score in the group of infants with encephalopathy (78.8 minutes) as well as of pathologic score (51.7 minutes) was significantly longer than in healthy infants (23.7 minutes prepathologic and 7 minutes pathologic).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Anxiety and depression in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and their effect on quality of life.

PubMed

Yang, Xiao-Jun; Jiang, Hong-Mei; Hou, Xiao-Hua; Song, Jun

2015-04-14

To explore the role of psychological factors in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and their effect on quality of life (QoL) of GERD patients. A total of 279 consecutive patients with typical symptoms and 100 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. All of the participants were evaluated with the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (ZSAS), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS) and the SF-36 questionnaire. The scores for anxiety, depression and QoL of the two groups were analyzed. The correlation between psychological factors and QoL was also analyzed. Compared with healthy controls (34.70 ± 8.00), the scores of ZSAS in the non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) group (48.27 ± 10.34) and the reflux esophagitis (RE) group (45.38 ± 10.27) were significantly higher (P < 0.001). The mean ZSAS score of the NERD group was significantly higher than that of the RE group (P = 0.01). Compared with healthy controls (37.61 ± 8.44), the mean ZSDS scores were significantly higher in the NERD group (49.65 ± 11.09, P < 0.001) and the RE group (46.76 ± 11.83, P < 0.001). All dimensions of the SF-36 form were negatively correlated with the SAS and SDS scores in patients with NERD and RE (P < 0.05). According to the SF-36 form, vitality, mental health and social functioning were significantly correlated with symptoms of depression in patients with NERD and RE. General health was obviously affected by symptoms of depression in patients with NERD (P < 0.05). Anxiety and depression may play an important role in the occurrence of GERD and especially that of NERD. The QoL of patients with GERD is reduced by anxiety and depression.

Assessment of health-related quality of life in children with cancer: consistency and agreement between parent and child reports.

PubMed

Russell, Kathryn M W; Hudson, Melissa; Long, Alanna; Phipps, Sean

2006-05-15

In pediatric settings, measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL) are often obtained by proxy, especially from parents, but the correlation between parental report and patient report has not been clearly established. In the current study, the authors examined the agreement between child and parent reports of HRQL in children with cancer (both those receiving treatment and those off treatment) and healthy controls. Two groups of children with cancer who differed with regard to treatment status (n = 199) and a group of healthy control children (n = 108) were assessed using a standardized measure of HRQL. Both children and parents reported on the child's HRQL using parallel forms of the Children's Health Questionnaire. Significant parent-child correlations were found for all 10 HRQL scales, and these correlations were higher in the cancer groups compared with controls. Parents in the cancer groups tended to underestimate the HRQL of their children compared with the child report, although there were no significant parent-child mean differences in the group of patients who were off treatment and only 2 significant differences in the group of children receiving treatment. In contrast, parents in the control group tended to overestimate the HRQL of their children, and the parent-child differences were found to be larger, achieving statistical significance on 8 of 10 scales. Parents and children tend to report comparable child HRQL outcomes, and this is particularly true in oncology populations. In cases in which the child is either too young or too ill to provide a self-report, parent-reported HRQL can be viewed as a reliable substitute. Copyright 2006 American Cancer Society

Association between daily mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and air pollution in Taiwan.

PubMed

Liang, Wen-Miin; Wei, Hsing-Yu; Kuo, Hsien-Wen

2009-01-01

Many studies have investigated the effects of air pollutants on disease and mortality. However, the results remain inconsistent and inconclusive. We thought that the impact of different seasons or ages of people may explain these differences. Measurement of the five pollutants (particulate matter <10 microm in aerodynamic diameter (PM(10)), SO(2), NO(2), O(3), and CO) was monitored by automated measuring units at five different stations. Monitoring stations were provided by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from 1997 to 1999. The subjects in the study were classified in two groups: those 65 years of age and older, and those of all ages (including the subjects in the > or =65 group). Data on daily mortality caused by respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and all other causes including the two aforementioned was collected by the Taiwan Department of Health (DOH). A time-series regression model was used to analyze the relative risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases due to air pollution in the summer and winter seasons. Risk of death from all causes and mortality from cardiovascular diseases during winter was significantly positively correlated with levels of SO(2), CO, and NO(2) for both groups of subjects and additionally with PM(10) for the elderly (> or =65 years old) group. There were significant positive correlations with respiratory diseases and levels of O(3) for both groups. However, the only significant positive correlation was with O(3) (RR=1.283) for the elderly group during summer. No other parameters showed significance for either group. Our findings contribute to the evidence of an association between SO(2), CO, NO(2), and PM(10) and mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, especially among elderly people during the winter season.

Evaluation of Correlation of Blood Glucose and Salivary Glucose Level in Known Diabetic Patients.

PubMed

Gupta, Anjali; Singh, Siddharth Kumar; Padmavathi, B N; Rajan, S Y; Mamatha, G P; Kumar, Sandeep; Roy, Sayak; Sareen, Mohit

2015-05-01

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic heterogenous disease in which there is dysregulation of carbohydrates, protein and lipid metabolism; leading to elevated blood glucose levels. The present study was conducted to evaluate the correlation between blood glucose and salivary glucose levels in known diabetic patients and control group and also to evaluate salivary glucose level as a diagnostic tool in diabetic patients. A total number of 250 patients were studied, out of which 212 formed the study group and 38 formed the control group. Among 250 patients, correlation was evaluated between blood glucose and salivary glucose values which on analysis revealed Pearson correlation of 0.073. The p-value was 0.247, which was statistically non significant. Salivary glucose values cannot be considered as a diagnostic tool for diabetic individuals.

Expression and Clinical Significance of Serum Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

PubMed

Chang, Xiao-Yue; Yang, Yong; Jia, Xiao-Qing; Wang, Yuan; Peng, Li-Na; Ai, Xiao-Hong; Jiang, Cui-Ying; Guo, Jian-Hua; Wu, Ting-Ting

2016-03-01

The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between serum dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at its various disease states, analyze its applications in the prediction and diagnosis of COPD and test the possibility of DPPIV as the serologic marker for COPD screening. Samples from 74 patients (42 cases with acute exacerbation of COPD or acute exacerbation COPD (AECOPD) and 32 cases with stable COPD) and 29 control subjects were collected in this study. Those patients with AECOPD were classified as COPD remission group if their clinical symptoms relieved after nonintravenous or oral hormone therapy for 7 ± 3 days. DPPIV concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the difference in serum concentration of DPPIV was compared among different groups. The correlation between DPPIV concentration and age, sex or smoking history was analyzed, and the diagnostic value of DPPIV was evaluated by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Serum DPPIV concentration was significantly lower in all COPD groups as compared with that in healthy control group (P < 0.001). Serum DPPIV concentration in AECOPD group was increased after treatment (P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between DPPIV concentration and age, sex or smoking history (P > 0.05). ROC analysis indicated that serum DPPIV concentration in all groups showed a good diagnostic accuracy, especially in stable COPD and AECOPD groups. The area under the ROC curve values were 0.901 and 0.906, respectively, with a high specificity of 0.931 for both groups and a high sensitivity of 0.75 for stable COPD and 0.875 for AECOPD. Serum DPPIV concentration in patients with COPD is decreased significantly, and there is no correlation between serum DPPIV concentration and sex or age. Serum DPPIV not only is an independent predictive factor, but also of high value as a good serologic marker for the diagnosis of COPD. Copyright © 2016 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Endogenous analgesic effect of pregabalin: A double-blind and randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Sugimine, S; Saito, S; Araki, T; Yamamoto, K; Obata, H

2017-07-01

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is widely used to measure endogenous analgesia, and a recent study indicated that drugs that act on endogenous analgesia are more effective in individuals with lower CPM. Recent animal studies have indicated that pregabalin activates endogenous analgesia by stimulating the descending pain inhibitory system. The present study examined whether the analgesic effect of pregabalin is greater in individuals with lower original endogenous analgesia using CPM. Fifty-nine healthy subjects were randomly assigned to either a pregabalin group or a placebo group, and 50 of them completed the study. CPM was measured before and after pregabalin or placebo administration. The correlation of initial CPM to change in CPM was compared between the pregabalin and placebo groups. Initial CPM was significantly correlated with the change in CPM in the pregabalin group (r = -0.73, p < 0.0001) but not in the placebo group (p = 0.56) (difference in correlation coefficients between groups; p = 0.004). Furthermore, the initial CPM significantly affected the change in CPM in the pregabalin group but not in the placebo group (pregabalin group: adj R 2  = 0.51, p < 0.001, y = -0.54x + 2.98; placebo group: p = 0.56, significant difference in regression slopes; p = 0.015). These results indicate that pregabalin has a higher endogenous analgesic effect in individuals with lower original endogenous analgesia. The analgesic effect of pregabalin depends on the original endogenous analgesia status. Its effect on conditioned pain modulation (CPM) was stronger for subjects with lower original endogenous analgesia, suggesting that the mechanism of pregabalin involves the improvement of endogenous analgesia. © 2017 European Pain Federation - EFIC®.

The correlation between resting serum leptin and serum angiogenic indices at rest and after submaximal exercise.

PubMed

Nourshahi, Maryam; Hedayati, Mehdi; Ranjbar, Kamal

2012-01-10

The effect of leptin as stimulant angiogenic factor has been studied. But the association of leptin levels and exercise-induced angiogenesis has not been studied. Accordingly, the researchers investigated whether there were any differences in circulating serum VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 among high and low resting leptin individuals at rest or in response to submaximal exercise. For this purpose the researchers defined two groups with high and low resting leptin levels. Fifteen subjects with high resting leptin (23.57±9.14ng/ml and Vo(2) max=29.46±3.62ml/kg.min) and fifteen subjects with low resting leptin level (1.04±0.49ng/ml and Vo(2) max=37.99±4.63ml/kgmin) exercised for 1h (1h) at 70% of Vo(2) max. Antecubital vein blood was collected at rest, immediately and 2h post exercise. Serum VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 was measured by ELISA method. Results of the study showed that the resting serum levels of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 didn't have any correlation with basic levels of leptin. In low leptin group the levels of VEGF and MMP-2 in immediately post exercise decreased significantly, but in high leptin group, only VEGF decreased significantly. 2h post exercise; the VEGF level in the low resting leptin group was significantly lower than that of its basal level. Beside, MMP-2 in the high and low basic levels of leptin groups were significantly increased compared to that of immediately post exercise. But the amount of MMP-9 did not change significantly in response to exercise in two groups. There were not any differences in the changes of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in response to exercise between two groups. Furthermore, resting leptin had a significant correlation with V0(2) max. The obtained results showed that the serum VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 did not have any correlation with basic levels of leptin. In addition, it was concluded that levels of different resting leptin is ineffective on serum levels of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 at rest and in response to exercise in normal healthy subjects. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Responses of the Ocular Anterior Segment and Refraction to 0.5% Tropicamide in Chinese School-Aged Children of Myopia, Emmetropia, and Hyperopia.

PubMed

Yuan, Ying; Zhang, Zhengwei; Zhu, Jianfeng; He, Xiangui; Du, Ergang; Jiang, Kelimu; Zheng, Wenjing; Ke, Bilian

2015-01-01

Purpose. To investigate the changes of anterior segment after cycloplegia and estimate the association of such changes with the changes of refraction in Chinese school-aged children of myopia, emmetropia, and hyperopia. Methods. 309 children were recruited and eligible subjects were assigned to three groups: hyperopia, emmetropia, or myopia. Cycloplegia was achieved with five cycles of 0.5% tropicamide. The Pentacam system was used to measure the parameters of interest before and after cycloplegia. Results. In the myopic group, the lenses were thinner and the lens position was significantly more posterior than that of the emmetropic and hyperopic groups in the cycloplegic status. The correlations between refraction and lens thickness (age adjusted; r = 0.26, P < 0.01), and lens position (age adjusted; r = -0.31, P < 0.01) were found. After cycloplegia, ACD and ACV significantly increased, while ACA significantly decreased. Changes in refraction, ACD, ACV, and ACA were significantly different among the three groups (P < 0.05, all). Changes of refraction were correlated with changes of ACD (r = 0.41, P < 0.01). Conclusions. Myopia presented thinner lenses and smaller changes of anterior segment and refraction after cycloplegia when compared to emmetropia and hyperopia. Changes of anterior chamber depth were correlated with refraction changes. This may contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between anterior segment and myopia.

A study of monoamine oxidase activity in fetal membranes.

PubMed

Sekizawa, A; Ishikawa, H; Morimoto, T; Hirose, K; Suzuki, A; Saito, H; Yanaihara, T; Arai, Y; Oguchi, K

1996-05-01

To study the role of decidual monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A and -B activities before delivery, the relationship between MAO activity in fetal membranes and catecholamine (CA) concentration in amniotic fluid (AF) was determined. Fetal membranes and AF were obtained at the time of elective Cesarean section (CS group, n = 11) and Cesarean section due to fetal distress without labor pains (FD group, n = 5). MAO-A and -B activities were radiometrically measured using 14C-5-hydroxytriptamine for MAO-A substrate and 14C-benzylamine for MAO-B substrate. CA concentrations in AF were measured by high performance liquid chromatograph with an electro-chemical detector. Both MAO-A and -B activities in decidua obtained from CS were significantly lower than those obtained from FD. Both norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EP) concentrations were significantly lower in the CS group than the FD group. A significant positive correlation between decidual MAO-A activity and NE concentration in AF was observed. No significant correlation was observed between MAO-B activity and the concentration of NE in AF. There was no correlation between EP concentrations and MAO activities. These results suggest that CA concentration in AF may be related to the activity of MAO in fetal membranes, determined by certain physiological processes during pregnancy. It has been suggested that metabolism of monoamines in fetal membranes also plays an important role in reducing monoamine influx into maternal myometrium from the AF.

Fat-Free Mass Index for Evaluating the Nutritional Status and Disease Severity in COPD.

PubMed

Luo, Yuwen; Zhou, Luqian; Li, Yun; Guo, Songwen; Li, Xiuxia; Zheng, Jingjing; Zhu, Zhe; Chen, Yitai; Huang, Yuxia; Chen, Rui; Chen, Xin

2016-05-01

Despite the high prevalence of weight loss in subjects with COPD, the 2011 COPD management guidelines do not include an index measuring nutritional status. Fat-free mass index (FFMI) can accurately determine the nutritional status of subjects and may be closely correlated with COPD severity. We aimed to determine the nutritional status evaluated by FFMI according to the 2011 Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) levels in stable subjects with COPD and the association between nutritional status and respiratory symptoms, exercise capacity, and respiratory muscle function. We included 235 stable subjects with COPD in this cross-sectional study. All of the subjects were divided into the 2011 GOLD Groups A, B, C, and D. FFMI (measured by bioelectrical impedance), spirometry (FEV1, percent-of-predicted FEV1, and FEV1/FVC), respiratory muscle function (peak inspiratory and peak expiratory pressures), exercise capacity (6-min walk distance), and dyspnea severity (Modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale) were measured and compared between the GOLD groups. Malnutrition was identified in 48.5% of subjects and most prevalent in Group D (Group A: 41%, Group B: 41%, Group C: 31%, and Group D: 62%). FFMI was significantly lower in Group D (P < .001), with both sexes considered malnourished. Low FFMI significantly correlated with frequent exacerbation, older age, decreased pulmonary function, 6-min walk distance, peak inspiratory pressure, and worsened dyspnea. FFMI was significantly lower in the emphysema-dominant phenotype and mixed phenotype compared with the normal phenotype and airway-dominant phenotype. A stepwise multiple linear regression analysis identified peak inspiratory pressures and older age as independent predictors of FFMI. Malnutrition is highly prevalent in all COPD groups, particularly in Group D subjects, who warrant special attention for nutritional intervention and pulmonary rehabilitation. FFMI significantly correlated with exercise capacity, dyspnea, respiratory muscle function, and pulmonary function and may be a useful predictor of COPD severity. Copyright © 2016 by Daedalus Enterprises.

Rumble: Prevalence and Correlates of Group Fighting among Adolescents in the United States

PubMed Central

DeLisi, Matt; Vaughn, Michael G.; Salas-Wright, Christopher P.

2015-01-01

Objective. Group fighting is portrayed as a piece of Americana among delinquent youth, but the behavior produces significant multifaceted negative consequences. The current study examines the heterogeneity and correlates of group fighting using national-level data. Method. Employing data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health between 2002 and 2013 (n = 216,852), we examine links between group fighting and temperamental, parental, and academic factors as well as other externalizing behaviors (i.e., violence, crime, substance use). Results. The prevalence of group fighting in the United States is 14.8% with 11.33% reporting 1–2 group fights and 3.46% reporting 3+ group fights. A clear severity gradient in school functioning and academic performance, sensation seeking, parental disengagement, violence and delinquency, and substance use disorders is seen in the normative, episodic, and repeat offender groups. Conclusions. Youths who participate in 3+ group fights display the exceptionality and severity of other serious/chronic/habitual antisocial youth which suggests that group fighting should be considered a significant indicator of developing criminality. PMID:25945950

[Effects of blood glucose control on glucose variability and clinical outcomes in patients with severe acute pancreatitis in intensive care unit].

PubMed

Wu, Jing; Sun, Qiuhong; Yang, Hua

2015-05-19

To explore the effects of blood glucose control on glucose variability and clinical outcomes in patients with severe acute pancreatitis in intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 72 ICU patients with severe acute pancreatitis were recruited and divided randomly into observation and control groups (n = 36 each). Both groups were treated conventionally. And the observation group achieved stable blood glucose at 6.1-8.3 mmol/L with intensive glucose control. The length of ICU and hospital stays, ICU mortality rate, transit operative rate, concurrent infection rate, admission blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, mean insulin dose, mean blood glucose, blood glucose value standard deviation (GLUSD), glycemic liability index (GLUGLI) and mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (GLUMAGE) of two groups were compared. At the same time, the relationship between blood glucose variability, ICU mortality rate and its predictive value were analyzed by correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The lengths of ICU and hospital stays of observation group were all significantly less than those of the control group [(11.7 ± 9.9) vs (15.9 ± 8.02) days, (21.8 ± 10.8) vs (28.2 ± 12.7) days, P < 0.05]. In observation group, the rates of pulmonary infection (27.78%) and hematogenous infection (5.56%) were all significantly lower than those of control group (72.22%, 38.89%, P < 0.05). The values of mean blood glucose value and GLUSD of observation group were significantly lower than those of control group [(7.4 ± 1.1) vs (9.6 ± 1.2), (1.8 ± 1.0) vs (2.5 ± 1.3) mmol/L]. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). While the dose of insulin [(70.2 ± 47.6) vs (34.4 ± 38.6) U/d] was significantly higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). Bivariate correlation analysis showed that ICU mortality rate was positively correlated with GLUGLI (r = 0.368, P < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that, AUC of GLUGLI was 0.748 and 95% CI 0.551-0.965 (P < 0.05). Intensive glucose control in patients with severe acute pancreatitis helps reduce the blood sugar fluctuations, lower the risks of infectious complications and promote the patient rehabilitation. And GLUGLI is positively correlated with ICU mortality rate. It has good predictive values.

[Correlation between resting heart rate and blood glucose level in elderly patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus].

PubMed

Liang, Dong-Liang; Li, Xiao-Ying; Wang, Lin; Xu, Hao; Tuo, Xi-Ping; Jian, Zai-Jin; Wang, Xiao-Na; Yun, Ji-Li; Zhang, Xu; Wang, Si-Yue

2016-05-01

To explore the correlation between resting heart rate (RHR) and blood glucose level in elderly patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) complicated by diabetes mellitus. Between April and July, 2011, a total of 1336 outpatients over 60 years of age recruited from 165 hospitals were asked to complete a questionnaire and received blood glucose and RHR examination. According to baseline RHR, the patients were divided into 3 groups with HRH <70 min-1 (group I, 372 cases), between 70 and 79 min(-1) (group II, 533 cases), and ≥80 min(-1) (group III, 431cases) for analysis of the relationships of RHR with blood glucose control rate. HbA1c levels in the total, male and female patients differed significantly among the 3 groups (F=15.436, 15.436, and 24.270, respectively, P<0.05), and increased in the order from group I to group III. Blood glucose control rate in the total, male and female patients also differed significantly among the 3 groups (χ(2)=13.471, 6.752, and 6.522, respectively, P<0.05), and was significantly lower in group III than in group I (P<0.05). RHR was found to positively correlate with FPG, 2 hPG and HbA1c by Pearson correlation analysis (r=0.058, 0.085, and 0.058, respectively; P<0.05) and multiple linear regression analysis (β=0.075, 0.075, and 0.018, respectively; P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression equation showed that compared with patients with RHR <70 min-1, the total, male and female patients with RHR ≥80 min(-1) had OR values of blood glucose control failure of 1.99 (95% CI: 1.23-2.37, P<0.05), 1.81 (95% CI: 1.17-2.77, P<0.05), and 2.18 (95% CI: 1.12-3.74, P<0.05), respectively. RHR in elderly CHD patients with MD is positively correlated with their blood glucose level, and an increased RHR is associated with an increased risk of poor blood glucose control. Rigorous RHR control in such high-risk patients may prove beneficial for both blood glucose control and secondary prevention of CHD.

Evaluation of the correlation between insulin like factor 3, polycystic ovary syndrome, and ovarian maldescent.

PubMed

Seyam, Emaduldin; Hefzy, Enas

2018-06-01

The aim of this study was to investigate a proposed correlation between the incidentally discovered undescended ovaries and their confirmed diagnosis as a polycystic ovary disease (PCOD) for all cases included, and to evaluate the role of estimated insulin like factor 3 (INSL3) circulating level in the pathogenesis of both abnormal findings. The study group (A) comprised 35 women whose ovaries had been incidentally found to be undescended during the routine laparoscopy for infertility causes, and all had been diagnosed as PCOD. The control category included two subgroups; subgroup (B) included 35 women group, diagnosed as PCOD but with normally allocated ovaries in the true pelvis, and subgroup (C) included 35 healthy women with regular menses and no signs of hyperandrogenism. Correlations between the level of INSL3 and other PCOD relevant biochemical tests: [e.g. BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), LH, FSH, androstendione (A), total and free testosterone (T & Ft), DHEA-S, and SHBG] had been also investigated. INSL3 levels were significantly higher in PCOD groups (A) and (B) compared to the healthy fertile control subgroup (C) (80.5 ± 29.4, 65.11 ± 15.6, and 41.11 ± 10.2 pg/mL, respectively), and was highest in group (A). Moreover, we identified a strong correlation between INSL3 and androstenedione (r = 0.42, p = 0.0012), and free (r = 0.42, p = .0123) and total testosterone (r = 0.41, p = .004) in the PCOD (A) and (B) subgroup compared to the levels in subgroup (C). LH was significantly higher in all PCOD women in groups (A&B) (12. 3 ± 3.4, and 11.2 ± 1.4 mIU/L, respectively) compared to those in group (A) (5.7 ± 2.5 mIU/L), with a fair correlation with INSL3. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between INSL3 and FSH, DHEA-S, glucose, basal insulin concentration or HOMA-IR in all PCOD women. The strong positive correlation between INSL3, and high ovarian androgens levels in all PCOD women, which appeared clearly in undescended polycystic ovaries could support the proposed syndrome hypothesis between those abnormal findings.

Placental IGF-I, IGFBP-1, zinc, and iron, and maternal and infant anthropometry at birth.

PubMed

Akram, Shahzad K; Carlsson-Skwirut, Christine; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A; Söder, Olle

2011-11-01

To correlate placental protein levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1, with previously determined levels of IGF-I and IGF-II mRNA expression, and the micronutrients zinc and iron, and maternal and newborn anthropometry. Placental samples were collected from rural field sites in Pakistan. Samples were divided into small and large for gestational age groups (SGA and LGA, respectively). IGFBP-1 levels were assessed using Western immunoblotting. IGF-I protein levels were assessed using ELISA techniques. IGF mRNA expression, zinc, and iron, were quantified as previously described and were used for comparative purposes only. Thirty-three subjects were included (SGA, n = 12; LGA n = 21). Higher levels of IGFBP-1 were seen in the SGA group (p < 0.01). IGFBP-1 correlated positively with maternal and infant triceps skin-fold thickness in the LGA and SGA groups, respectively (p < 0.05). Significantly lower IGF-I protein levels were seen in the SGA group. IGF-I levels correlated significantly with maternal and newborn anthropometry. IGFBP-1 correlated significantly with IGF-II mRNA expression (p < 0.05). Placental protein levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-1 appear to be associated with maternal anthropometry. Maternal anthropometry may thus influence IGFBP-1 and IGF-I levels and may possibly be used for screening of pregnancies, with the potential for timely identification of these high-risk pregnancies. © 2011 The Author(s)/Acta Paediatrica © 2011 Foundation Acta Paediatrica.

Role of Frontotemporal Fiber Tract Integrity in Task-Switching Performance of Healthy Controls and Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

PubMed Central

Kucukboyaci, N. Erkut; Girard, H.M.; Hagler, D.J.; Kuperman, J.; Tecoma, E.S.; Iragui, V.J.; Halgren, E.; McDonald, C.R.

2012-01-01

The objective of this study is to investigate the relationships among frontotemporal fiber tract compromise and task-switching performance in healthy controls and patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) on 30 controls and 32 patients with TLE (15 left TLE). Fractional anisotropy (FA) was calculated for four fiber tracts [uncinate fasciculus (UncF), arcuate fasciculus (ArcF), dorsal cingulum (CING), and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF)]. Participants completed the Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B) and Verbal Fluency Category Switching (VFCS) test. Multivariate analyses of variances (MANOVAs) were performed to investigate group differences in fiber FA and set-shifting performances. Canonical correlations were used to examine the overall patterns of structural-cognitive relationships and were followed by within-group bivariate correlations. We found a significant canonical correlation between fiber FA and task-switching performance. In controls, TMT-B correlated with left IFOF, whereas VFCS correlated with FA of left ArcF and left UncF. These correlations were not significant in patients with TLE. We report significant correlations between frontotemporal fiber tract integrity and set-shifting performance in healthy controls that appear to be absent or attenuated in patients with TLE. These findings suggest a breakdown of typical structure-function relationships in TLE that may reflect aberrant developmental or degenerative processes. PMID:22014246

Nursing leadership style and psychosocial work environment.

PubMed

Malloy, Terry; Penprase, Barbara

2010-09-01

This study examines the relationship between leadership style and the psychosocial work environment of registered nurses. Research consistently supports the positive relationship between transformational leadership style and job satisfaction. There is less evidence, which identifies the relationship between leadership style and psychosocial work environment. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5× was used to identify the leadership style. The Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire was used to measure psychosocial work environment dimensions. Statistical analysis included Pearson's r correlation between leadership style and psychosocial work environment and anova to analyse group means. There is a significant correlation between leadership style and 22 out of the 37 dimensions of the psychosocial work environment. This correlation was significant ranging from r = 0.88, P < 0.01 to r = 0.18, P < 0.05. Nurses divided into groups based on transformational leadership scores of the immediate supervisor report significant differences in their psychosocial work environment. This study supports the significant correlation between leadership style and psychosocial work environment for registered nurses. The results of this study suggest that there would be an improvement in the nursing psychosocial work environment by implementation of transformational and contingent reward leadership behaviours. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Relationship and significance between anti-β2-glycoproteinI antibodies and platelet activation state in patients with ulcerative colitis

PubMed Central

Gao, Yan-Hang; Gao, Pu-Jun; Wang, Chun-Guang; Wang, Xiao-Cong; Piao, Yun-Feng

2008-01-01

AIM: To study the relationship between anti-β2-glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) antibodies and platelet activation state in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and its significance. METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 56 UC patients (34 males and 22 females, aged 43.5 years, range 21-66 years), including 36 at active stage and 20 at remission stage, and 25 sex-and age-matched controls. The level of aβ2GPI was measured by ELISA. The platelet activation markers, platelet activation complex-I (PAC-I) and P-selectin (CD62P) were detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The A value for IgG aβ2GPI in the active UC group was 0.61 ± 0.13, significantly higher than that in the remittent UC and control groups (0.50 ± 0.13 and 0.22 ± 0.14, P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The A value for IgM aβ2GPI in the active and remittent UC groups was 0.43 ± 0.13 and 0.38 ± 0.12, significantly higher than that in the control group (0.20 ± 0.12, P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The PAC-I positive rate for the active and remittent UC groups was 30.6% ± 7.6% and 19.6% ± 7.8% respectively, significantly higher than that for the control group (6.3% ± 1.7%, P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The CD62P positive rate for the active and remittent UC groups was 45.0% ± 8.8% and 31.9% ± 7.8% respectively, significantly higher than that for the control group (9.2% ± 2.7%, P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). In the active UC group, the more severe the state of illness was, the higher the A value for IgG aβ2GPI was, and the positive rate for PAC-I and CD62P was positively correlated with the state of illness (Faβ2GPI = 3.679, P < 0.05; FPAC-I (%) = 5.346, P < 0.01; and FCD62P (%) = 5. 418, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, in the same state of illness, the A value for IgG aβ2GPI was positively correlated to the positive rates for PAC-I and CD62P. CONCLUSION: aβ2GPI level, platelet activation state and their relationship of them are closely correlated with the pathogenesis and development of UC. PMID:18205270

Relationship and significance between anti-beta2-glycoprotein I antibodies and platelet activation state in patients with ulcerative colitis.

PubMed

Gao, Yan-Hang; Gao, Pu-Jun; Wang, Chun-Guang; Wang, Xiao-Cong; Piao, Yun-Feng

2008-02-07

To study the relationship between anti-beta2-glycoprotein I (abeta2GPI) antibodies and platelet activation state in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and its significance. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 56 UC patients (34 males and 22 females, aged 43.5 years, range 21-66 years), including 36 at active stage and 20 at remission stage, and 25 sex-and age-matched controls. The level of abeta2GPI was measured by ELISA. The platelet activation markers, platelet activation complex-I (PAC-I) and P-selectin (CD62P) were detected by flow cytometry. The A value for IgG abeta2GPI in the active UC group was 0.61 +/- 0.13, significantly higher than that in the remittent UC and control groups (0.50 +/- 0.13 and 0.22 +/- 0.14, P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The A value for IgM abeta2GPI in the active and remittent UC groups was 0.43 +/- 0.13 and 0.38 +/- 0.12, significantly higher than that in the control group (0.20 +/- 0.12, P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The PAC-I positive rate for the active and remittent UC groups was 30.6% +/- 7.6% and 19.6% +/- 7.8% respectively, significantly higher than that for the control group (6.3% +/- 1.7%, P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). The CD62P positive rate for the active and remittent UC groups was 45.0% +/- 8.8% and 31.9% +/- 7.8% respectively, significantly higher than that for the control group (9.2% +/- 2.7%, P < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). In the active UC group, the more severe the state of illness was, the higher the A value for IgG abeta2GPI was, and the positive rate for PAC-I and CD62P was positively correlated with the state of illness (Fabeta2GPI = 3.679, P < 0.05; FPAC-I (%) = 5.346, P < 0.01; and FCD62P (%) = 5. 418, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, in the same state of illness, the A value for IgG abeta2GPI was positively correlated to the positive rates for PAC-I and CD62P. abeta2GPI level, platelet activation state and their relationship of them are closely correlated with the pathogenesis and development of UC.

Group dynamics and catecholamines during long-duration confinement in an isolated environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kraft, Norbert O.; Lyons, Terence J.; Binder, Heidi

2003-01-01

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to investigate possible relationships between catecholamine excretion and long-duration confinement in an isolated environment. METHODS: Stays of long duration were made by Group I (n = 4, all Russian, weeks 1-34), Group II (n = 4, mixed nationality, weeks 3-18), and Group III (n = 4, mixed nationality, weeks 22-38); other groups joined the residents for 1-wk intervals at weeks #13, #19, and #33. Data were collected from Groups I and III. RESULTS: In both Group I and Group III, the daily epinephrine excretion was significantly elevated during and after confinement compared with the pre-isolation baseline (p < 0.05), but remained mostly within normal limits during the experiment. During isolation, epinephrine excretion was significantly higher, compared with other weeks in isolation, during weeks #19 and #27 for Group I, and during week #30 for Group III. In both Group I and Group II, norepinephrine excretion increased significantly during and after isolation (p < 0.05) and was above the normal range. The daily norepinephrine excretion was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in Group I during weeks #12, #13, and #27, and during week #30 for Group III. DISCUSSION: Epinephrine excretion generally remained in the normal range. However, occasional elevations occurred due to psychological stress, which apparently correlate with changes in group dynamics. Norepinephrine excretion was above the normal range and was correlated with social events. These results suggest that to ensure optimum crew performance, entire crews along with their visiting crews should be selected collectively, rather than individually.

Assessment of the correlation between insertion torque and resonance frequency analysis of implants placed in bone tissue of different densities.

PubMed

Filho, Luiz Carlos Magno; Cirano, Fabiano Ribeiro; Hayashi, Fernando; Feng, Hsu Shao; Conte, Alexandre; Dib, Luciano Lauria; Casati, Marcio Zaffalon

2014-06-01

The primary stability of dental implants is fundamental for osseointegration. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the correlation between insertion torque (IT) and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) of implants placed in mandibles and maxillas of different bone densities. Eighty dental implants were placed in maxillas and mandibles, and IT and the implant stability quotient (ISQ) were measured at the time of implant insertion. Bone density was assessed subjectively by the Lekholm and Zarb index. The type I and II densities were grouped together (group A)as were the type III and IV densities (group B). The IT in group A was higher (Student t test, P = .0013) than in group B (46.27 ± 18.51 Ncm, 33.62 ± 14.74 Ncm, respectively). The implants placed in group A showed higher ISQ (Student t test, P = .0004) than those placed in group B (70.09 ± 7.50, 63.66 ± 8.00, respectively). A significant correlation between IT and the ISQ value was observed for group A (Pearson correlation test; r = 0.35; P = .0213) and for group B (r = 0.37; P = .0224). Within the limitations of this study, it was possible to conclude that there is a correlation between IT and RFA of implants placed in mandibles and maxillas of different bone densities.

The role of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70) in male infertility: is it a line of defense against sperm DNA fragmentation?

PubMed

Erata, Gül Ozdemirler; Koçak Toker, Necla; Durlanik, Ozgür; Kadioğlu, Ateş; Aktan, Gülşen; Aykaç Toker, Gülçin

2008-08-01

To clarify the role of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70) and its relation with DNA damage in male infertility. Prospective study. Andrology laboratory of Istanbul Medical Faculty. Semen samples from 37 infertile men and 13 fertile men (as controls). The percentage of DNA fragmentation was assayed with the use of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL). Sperm Hsp 70 expression was determined by using Western blot analysis. Both the percentages of sperm DNA fragmentation and Hsp 70 expression were correlated with semen analysis parameters. TUNEL-positive spermatozoa in the infertile group (18.7% for asthenospermics and 13.0% for oligoasthenospermics) were higher than the fertile group (4.9%). Significant inverse correlations were detected between percentage of TUNEL-positive cells and both concentration (r = -0.487) and motility (r = -0.377) of spermatozoa. No expression of Hsp 70 was observed in azospermic group, whereas Hsp 70 levels were found increased significantly in infertile group (U = 62 for asthenospermics and U = 38 for oligoasthenospermics) compared to fertile group as analyzed by using Mann-Whitney U Wilcoxon rank sum test. Furthermore, significant positive correlation was found between percentage of TUNEL-positive cells and Hsp 70 expression (r = 0.357). Hsp 70 expression may have been increased as a protective mechanism against apoptosis in spermatozoa of infertile men.

Comparison of Lip Print Patterns in Two Indian Subpopulations and Its Correlation in ABO Blood Groups

PubMed Central

Suragimath, Girish; Sande, Abhijeet R; Kulkarni, Prasad; Nimbal, Anand; Shankar, T.; Gowd, T. Snigdha; Shetty, Prajwal K

2014-01-01

Background: The study of lip-print pattern (cheiloscopy) is a scientific method for personal identification and plays a major role in forensic and criminal investigations. Objective: To compare the lip print patterns in Kerala and Maharashtra population and correlate between ABO blood groups. Materials and Methods: Two hundred subjects, 100 from Maharashtra and 100 from Kerala were considered for the study. Lip prints were recorded, analyzed according to Tsuchihashi classification. The lip print patterns were compared in the two populations, correlated in ABO blood groups. The data obtained was statistically analyzed with SPSS software using chi-square test. Results: In our study, predominant lip print pattern observed in Kerala population was type IV (53%) and Maharashtra population was type II (42%). The difference between the two population was statistically significant (p<0.001). Subjects with A+ and O- blood groups had type II lip print predominance. Subjects with B+, AB+ and O+ blood groups had type IV predominance. The lip print patterns do not show any correlation in ABO blood groups. Conclusion: Lip prints are unique to each individual and are different even in two persons. Lip print patterns were different in the two sub populations studied, and they showed no correlation in ABO blood groups. PMID:25478445

Correlation between magnetic resonance T2 image signal intensity ratio and cell apoptosis in a rabbit spinal cord cervical myelopathy model.

PubMed

Ma, Lei; Zhang, Di; Chen, Wei; Shen, Yong; Zhang, Yingze; Ding, Wenyuan; Zhang, Wei; Wang, Linfeng; Yang, Dalong

2014-01-01

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is a common cause of disability in elderly patients. Previous studies have shown that spinal cord cell apoptosis due to spinal cord compression plays an important role in the pathology of myelopathy. Although changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 signal intensity ratio (SIR) are considered to be an indicator of CSM, little information is published supporting the correlation between changes in MRI signal and pathological changes. This study aims to testify the correlation between MRI T2 SIR changes and cell apoptosis using a CSM animal model. Forty-eight rabbits were randomly assigned to four groups: one control group and three experimental chronic compression groups, with each group containing 12 animals. Chronic compression of the cervical spinal cord was implemented in the experimental groups by implanting a screw in the C3 vertebra. The control group underwent sham surgery. Experimental groups were observed for 3, 6, or 9 months after surgery. MRI T2-weighted SIR Tarlov motor scores and cortical somatosensory-evoked potentials (CSEPs) were periodically monitored. At each time point, rabbits from one group were sacrificed to determine the level of apoptosis by histology (n = 6) and Western blotting (n = 6). Tarlov motor scores in the compression groups were lower at all time points than the control group scores, with the lowest score at 9 months (P < 0.001). Electrophysiological testing showed a significantly prolonged latency in CSEP in the compression groups compared with the control group. All rabbits in the compression groups showed higher MRI T2 SIR in the injury epicenter compared with controls, and higher SIR was also found at 9 months compared with 3 or 6 months. Histological analysis showed significant apoptosis in the spinal cord tissue in the compression groups, but not in the control group. There were significant differences in apoptosis degree over time (P < 0.001), with the 9-month group displaying the most severe spinal cord apoptosis. Spearman's rank correlation test showed that there was close relation between MRI SIR and degree of caspase-3 expression in Western blotting (r = 0.824. P < 0.001). Clear apoptosis of spinal cord tissue was observed during chronic focal spinal compression. Changes in MRI T2 SIR may be related to the severity of the apoptosis in cervical spinal cord.

Language and theory of mind in autism spectrum disorder: the relationship between complement syntax and false belief task performance.

PubMed

Lind, Sophie E; Bowler, Dermot M

2009-06-01

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) use their knowledge of complement syntax as a means of "hacking out" solutions to false belief tasks, despite lacking a representational theory of mind (ToM). Participants completed a "memory for complements" task, a measure of receptive vocabulary, and traditional location change and unexpected contents false belief tasks. Consistent with predictions, the correlation between complement syntax score and location change task performance was significantly stronger within the ASD group than within the comparison group. However, contrary to predictions, complement syntax score was not significantly correlated with unexpected contents task performance within either group. Possible explanations for this pattern of results are considered.

Faculty Status, Longevity, and Salaries among Librarians in LIBRAS.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lauer, Jonathan D.; And Others

A survey of librarians in LIBRAS, a consortium comprising 16 Chicago-area liberal arts college libraries, tested two hypotheses: (1) the salary level of the group with faculty status is significantly greater than that of the group without faculty status; and (2) there is a statistically significant correlation between the amount of professional…

Cheiloscopy and blood groups: Aid in forensic identification.

PubMed

Karim, Bushra; Gupta, Devanand

2014-10-01

Every person has certain features that make them radically distinct from others. One such feature is lip prints. Lip prints remain the same throughout life and are uninfluenced by injuries, diseases, or environmental changes. Different individuals have specific blood groups according to the various antigen-antibody reactions in their bloodstream. To determine the distribution of different patterns of lip prints among subjects having different ABO and Rh blood groups. To determine the correlation between respective characteristics of subjects. In this study, lip prints were obtained from 122 subjects (62 males and 60 females), and associated blood-group matching was performed to determine the predominant lip print type and to determine any correlation between lip print types and blood groups. Tsuchihashi's classification of type I (complete vertical grooves), type I' (incomplete vertical grooves), type II (forking grooves), type III (intersecting grooves), type IV (reticular grooves), and type V (indeterminate grooves) was used to compare with the ABO and Rh blood grouping systems. No correlation was found between lip prints and blood groups. No significant correlation exists between blood group and lip prints. Lip prints play a vital role in identification because they are unique.

Influence of denture surface roughness and host factors on dental calculi formation on dentures: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Matsumura, Keisuke; Sato, Yuji; Kitagawa, Noboru; Shichita, Toshiharu; Kawata, Daisuke; Ishikawa, Mariko

2018-05-04

Dental calculi formation on dentures can worsen the oral cavity environment by complicating oral hygiene. However, few studies have investigated the effect of how patients use and manage their dentures, denture surface roughness, and host factors such as oral cavity dryness and saliva properties on denture cleanliness and denture dental calculi formation. Accordingly, we conducted the present survey to evaluate these factors to clarify the strength of the influence of each factor. We enrolled 53 patients who had used dentures for at least 3 months and used a dental prosthesis that covered at least the six front teeth including the left and right mandibular canines. After staining the dentures, we divided the participants into a group that was positive for dental calculi (DCP group) and a group that was negative for dental calculi (DCN group). After removing all the stains, we evaluated the surface roughness of the dentures. A questionnaire was used to survey how the participants used and managed their dentures. Oral cavity dryness was evaluated, and resting saliva samples were collected to assess saliva properties. Correlations between the presence or absence of dental calculi and denture use and management were evaluated using a chi-square test. Correlations with denture surface roughness, oral cavity dryness, and saliva properties were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations between the presence or absence of dental calculi and all factors were analyzed using multivariate analysis (quantification II). Surface roughness was significantly greater in the DCP group (p < 0.01), and the DCP group members wore their dentures during sleep significantly more often and used a denture cleaner when storing their dentures significantly less often (both p < 0.01). No significant differences were observed for oral cavity dryness or saliva properties. The multivariate analysis showed significant correlations of dental calculi formation with denture surface roughness and items related to denture use and management, but not for oral cavity dryness or saliva properties. Our findings indicate that dental calculi formation is influenced by how dentures are used and managed and by denture surface roughness, but not by oral cavity dryness and saliva properties.

Monoamine levels in the nucleus accumbens correlate with male sexual behavior in middle-aged rats.

PubMed

Tsai, Houng-Wei; Shui, Hao-Ai; Liu, Hang-Shen; Tai, Mei-Yun; Tsai, Yuan-Feen

2006-02-01

The correlation between monoamine levels in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and male sexual behavior was studied in middle-aged rats. Male rats (18-19months) were assigned to three groups: (1) Group MIE consisted of rats showing mounts, intromissions, and ejaculations; (2) Group MI was composed of rats showing mounts and intromissions, but no ejaculation; and (3) Group NC were non-copulators showing no sexual behavior. Young adult rats (4-5months), displaying complete copulatory behavior, were used as the control group. Levels of dopamine (DA), serotonin, and norepinephrine and their metabolites in the NAcc were measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. No difference was seen in DA levels between MIE rats and young controls, whereas DA levels in NC rats were significantly lower than those in both MIE and MI rats. Serotonin levels in NC rats were significantly higher than those in MIE and MI rats. Conversely, norepinephrine levels in NC rats were lower than those in MIE rats. These results suggest that monoamine levels in the NAcc correlate with sexual performance in male rats and that changes in NAcc monoamine levels might affect male sexual behavior in middle-aged rats.

Bispectral index monitoring during infant cardiac surgery: relationship of BIS to the stress response and plasma fentanyl levels.

PubMed

Kussman, B D; Gruber, E M; Zurakowski, D; Hansen, D D; Sullivan, L J; Laussen, P C

2001-11-01

We evaluated the relationship of the bispectral index (BIS) to commonly used indices of depth of anaesthesia in 19 infants enrolled in a prospective study of the stress response to hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Group 1 (n=8) received high-dose fentanyl by bolus technique; group 2 (n=6) received high-dose fentanyl by continuous infusion; and group 3 (n=5) received a fentanyl-midazolam infusion. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and plasma epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, ACTH, glucose, lactate and fentanyl were analysed 15 min postinduction, 15 min poststernotomy, 15 min on CPB during cooling and during skin closure. Mean BIS (SD) values for all 19 patients were 45.3 (12.3), 40.4 (14.5), 24.4 (12.4) and 47.9 (13.9), at the successive time points. No significant differences were observed in changes in BIS over time between the groups. A significant correlation was found 15 min postinduction between BIS and BP (systolic r=0.51, mean r=0.56) in all groups, but not between BIS and HR. BIS did not correlate with BP or HR at any other time point. There was no significant correlation between BIS and hormonal, biochemical or plasma fentanyl levels for any group at any time point. We were unable to demonstrate a relationship between the BIS and haemodynamic, metabolic or hormonal indices of anaesthetic depth. Further evaluation of the BIS algorithm is required in neonates and infants.

FOVEAL AVASCULAR ZONE AREA AFTER INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE PEELING FOR EPIRETINAL MEMBRANE AND MACULAR HOLE COMPARED WITH THAT OF FELLOW EYES AND HEALTHY CONTROLS.

PubMed

Kumagai, Kazuyuki; Furukawa, Mariko; Suetsugu, Tetsuyuki; Ogino, Nobuchika

2017-08-01

To measure the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area after internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and to determine the factors significantly correlated with the FAZ area. This was a retrospective, observational, and cross-sectional study. The affected and normal fellow eyes of 102 patients with unilateral macular diseases and 169 healthy subjects were studied. The patients underwent successful vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling for an epiretinal membrane (n = 56) or a macular hole (n = 46). The superficial FAZ area and average foveal (within 1 mm) thickness were measured. The main outcome measures were the en face FAZ area measured in the optical coherence tomography angiographic images. The FAZ area in the epiretinal membrane group (0.148 ± 0.094 mm) and in the macular hole group (0.255 ± 0.111 mm) were significantly smaller than that in the healthy control group (0.358 ± 0.118 mm; all, P < 0.0001). Multiple regression analysis showed that a thicker fovea was significantly correlated with a smaller FAZ area in the epiretinal membrane group (r = -0.799, P < 0.0001), macular hole group (r = -0.473, P = 0.0042), and control group (r = -0.612, P < 0.0001). The FAZ area after internal limiting membrane peeling was smaller than that of the controls. A smaller FAZ area was correlated with a thicker fovea both in internal limiting membrane-peeled eyes and normal eyes.

Correlation analysis of the progesterone-induced sperm acrosome reaction rate and the fertilisation rate in vitro.

PubMed

Jiang, T; Qin, Y; Ye, T; Wang, Y; Pan, J; Zhu, Y; Duan, L; Li, K; Teng, X

2015-10-01

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether progesterone-induced acrosome reaction (AR) rate could be an indicator for fertilisation rate in vitro. Twenty-six couples with unexplained infertility and undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment were involved. On the oocytes retrieval day after routine IVF, residual sperm samples were collected to receive progesterone induction (progesterone group) or not (control group). AR rate was calculated and fertilisation rate was recorded. The correlation between progesterone-induced AR and fertilisation rate and between sperm normal morphology and 3PN (tripronuclear) were analysed using the Spearman correlation analysis. The AR rate of progesterone group was statistically higher than that of the control group (15.6 ± 5.88% versus 9.66 ± 5.771%, P < 0.05), but not significantly correlated with fertilisation rate (r = -0.053, P > 0.01) or rate of high-quality embryo development (r = -0.055, P > 0.01). Normal sperm morphology also showed no significant correlation with the amount of 3PN zygotes (r = 0.029, P > 0.01), rate of 3PN zygotes production (r = 0.20, P > 0.01), rate of 3PN embryo development (r = -0.406, P > 0.01), fertilisation rate (r = -0.148, P > 0.01) or progesterone-induced AR rate (r = 0.214, P > 0.01). Progesterone can induce AR in vitro significantly; however, the progesterone-induced AR may not be used to indicate fertilisation rate. © 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Assessment of liver volume with computed tomography and comparison of findings with ultrasonography.

PubMed

Bora, Aydın; Alptekin, Cem; Yavuz, Alpaslan; Batur, Abdussamet; Akdemir, Zülküf; Berköz, Mehmet

2014-12-01

In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis on the liver volume. As investigating hepatic steatosis, we utilized computed tomography (CT) to determine the degree of steatosis and we utilized hepatobiliary ultrasonography (USG) for densitometry and correlation. As hepatosteatosis group, 35 patients over 18 years of age and whose abdominal CT scans were requested by several clinics and performed routinely were included in this study, and as control group, 40 healthy subjects without hepatosteatosis (clinically and radiologically) and correlated with hepatosteatosis group in terms of age and gender were included in this study. CT densitometry and liver attenuation index (LAI) of all individuals who participated in our study were calculated, and contrast images of patients were transferred to CT-Volume Software (Siemens Syngo Multimodality Workplace; Version VE52A). In this study, interactive and automated volume measurement techniques were used together. The volumes were measured separately in patient and control group. In this study for each stage in USG, there was found a direct correlation in terms of LAI and volume, and this correlation was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Furthermore, statistical significance between size and USG stage draws attention (p < 0.05). A significance relationship between USG stage and age could not be determined. As a result, we have reached the conclusion that CT densitometry can be used as an assistive technique along with USG to determine the degree of steatosis in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and there is a positive linear correlation between the liver size and volume, and liver volume increases in the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Association between serum total testosterone and Body Mass Index in middle aged healthy men

PubMed Central

Shamim, Muhammad Omar; Ali Khan, Farooq Munfaet; Arshad, Rabia

2015-01-01

Objective: To determine correlation of serum total testosterone with body mass index (BMI) and waist hip ratio (WHR) in healthy adult males. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 200 nonsmoker healthy males (aged 30-50 years) university employees. They were selected by convenience sampling technique after a detailed medical history and clinical examination including BMI and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) calculation. Blood sampling was carried out to measure serum total testosterone (TT) using facilities of Chemiluminescence assay (CLIA) technique in Dow Chemical Laboratory. Independent sample T test was used for mean comparisons of BMI and WHR in between low and normal testosterone groups. (Subjects having < 9.7 nmol/L of total testosterone in blood were placed in low testosterone group and subjects having ≥ 9.7 nmol/L of total testosterone in blood were placed in normal testosterone group). Correlation of testosterone with BMI and WHR was analyzed by Pearson Correlation. Results: Mean (± SD) age of the subjects included in this study was 38.7 (± 6.563) years mean (± SD) total testosterone was 15.92 (±6.322)nmol/L. The mean (± SD) BMI, and WHR were 24.95 (±3.828) kg/m2 and 0.946 (±0.0474) respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed in the mean values of BMI and WHR for the two groups of testosterone. Significant inverse correlation of serum total testosterone with BMI(r = -0.311, p = 0.000) was recorded in this study. However testosterone was not significantly correlated with waist/hip ratio.(r = -0.126, p = 0.076) Conclusion: Middle age men working at DUHS who have low level of serum total testosterone are more obese than individuals with normal total testosterone level. PMID:26101490

Lead and trace element levels in milk and blood of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Hyderabad, India.

PubMed

Shailaja, M; Reddy, Yathapu Srinivasa; Kalakumar, B D P; Brinda, S A; Manohar, Gottimukkula; Kumar, B Dinesh

2014-06-01

The presence of lead (Pb) in milk and its interaction with trace elements is a serious health concern. Present study is aimed at determining Pb and trace element (Fe, Zn and Mg) levels in milk and blood/serum samples of lactating buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) living in a market-area (Group-A) and a dairy-experimental station (Group-B), Hyderabad, India. In addition, kidney and liver function tests were assessed. Fodder, milk and blood Pb levels were significantly (p < 0.01) higher in Group-B. Elevated Pb levels correlated positively with reduced Fe and Zn levels in both serum and milk. A significant (p < 0.01) positive correlation between blood Pb and milk Pb levels was observed. Kidney and liver function markers were significantly higher in Group-B buffaloes. The results suggest that contaminated fodder might be one of the responsible factors for elevated Pb levels. In addition, lower levels of Fe and Zn might have led to bioaccumulation of Pb in blood and milk.

White Matter Structural Differences in Young Children With Type 1 Diabetes: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

PubMed Central

Aye, Tandy; Barnea-Goraly, Naama; Ambler, Christian; Hoang, Sherry; Schleifer, Kristin; Park, Yaena; Drobny, Jessica; Wilson, Darrell M.; Reiss, Allan L.; Buckingham, Bruce A.

2012-01-01

OBJECTIVE To detect clinical correlates of cognitive abilities and white matter (WM) microstructural changes using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in young children with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Children, ages 3 to <10 years, with type 1 diabetes (n = 22) and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (n = 14) completed neurocognitive testing and DTI scans. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, children with type 1 diabetes had lower axial diffusivity (AD) values (P = 0.046) in the temporal and parietal lobe regions. There were no significant differences between groups in fractional anisotropy and radial diffusivity (RD). Within the diabetes group, there was a significant, positive correlation between time-weighted HbA1c and RD (P = 0.028). A higher, time-weighted HbA1c value was significantly correlated with lower overall intellectual functioning measured by the full-scale intelligence quotient (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Children with type 1 diabetes had significantly different WM structure (as measured by AD) when compared with controls. In addition, WM structural differences (as measured by RD) were significantly correlated with their HbA1c values. Additional studies are needed to determine if WM microstructural differences in young children with type 1 diabetes predict future neurocognitive outcome. PMID:22966090

hsCRP and ET-1 expressions in patients with no-reflow phenomenon after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

PubMed

Liu, Min; Liang, Tian; Zhang, Peiying; Zhang, Qing; Lu, Lei; Wang, Zhongliang

2017-01-01

To explore hsCRP and ET-1 expressions in patients with no-reflow phenomenon after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 136 patients with single coronary artery disease receiving PCI were divided into a reflow group and a no-reflow group to compare the level use of ET-1 alone with combined level of ET-1 and hs-CRP in PCI regarding sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy for postoperative no-reflow. The study was conducted between 2014-2016 at our hospital. Postoperative levels of ET-1 and hs-CRP in no-reflow group were significantly higher than those of reflow group (P<0.05). ET-1 level of reflow group peaked three hours after PCI and then declined. Serum level of hs-CRP decreased most obviously within three hours after PCI in reflow group and three hours - three days after PCI in no-reflow group. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameters of both groups after PCI were apparently lower than those before PCI, without significant inter-group difference (P>0.05). Left ventricular end-systolic diameters and left ventricular ejection fractions of both groups evidently increased after PCI, without significant inter-group differences either (P>0.05). Corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) and wall motion score index of reflow group after PCI were significantly lower than those of no-reflow group (P<0.05). ET-1 level was positively correlated with CTFC (P<0.05). Multivariate linear regression showed hs-CRP was negatively correlated with the serum level (P<0.05) (r=-0.34). hsCRP and ET-1 levels significantly increased in patients with no-reflow phenomenon.

[Grain Size Distribution Characteristics of Suspended Particulate Matter as Influenced by the Apparent Pollution in the Eutrophic Urban Landscape Water Body].

PubMed

Gong, Dan-yan; Pan, Yang; Huang, Yong; Bao, Wei; Li, Qian-qian

2016-03-15

Grain size distribution characteristics of suspended particulate matter (SPM) reflects the apparent polluted condition of the urban landscape water. In order to explore the internal relationship between the eutrophication of urban landscape water's apparent pollution and grain size distribution of SPM, and its influencing factors, this paper selected five representative sampling sites in Feng Jin River which is a typical eutrophication river in Suzhou City, measured the grain size distribution of SPM, sensation pollution index (SPI) and water quality index, and analyzed their correlation. The results showed that: The rich nutrient water possessed a similar characteristics in grain size distribution. The grain size distribution of SPM in water was multimodal, and the the peak position was roughly the same; the grain size distribution of SPM was composed by multiple components. It could be roughly divided into six parts with the particle size range of every group being < 1.5 µm, 1.5-8 µm, 8-35 µm, 35-186 µm, 186-516 µm, > 516 µm. The component III was superior (with an average volume fraction of 38.3%-43.2%), and its volume fraction had a significant positive relation with the SPI value and the Chl-a content. The increase of component III volume fraction was the reflection of particle size's result of increasing SPI value. The increase of component III volume fraction was mainly derived from the increasing algal content. The volume fraction of group IV + group VI + group V was significantly higher under the condition of exogenous enter. When there was no exogenous component, the volume fraction of group IV + group VI + group V had a significant negative correlation with SPI value; when there were exogenous components, the volume fraction of group IV + group VI + group V had a weak positive correlation with SPI value, but the correlation did not reach a significant level. Environmental factors (Fv/Fm and DO) and exogenous factors had an influence by functioning on the algal content which signified the polluted material, and then affected the volume fraction of particle size's components and the quality of apparent water. Hydrodynamic conditions mainly had a certain influence on the median particle size, and had no effect on the apparent polluted condition of water.

Is Disgust Proneness Associated With Anxiety and Related Disorders? A Qualitative Review and Meta-Analysis of Group Comparison and Correlational Studies.

PubMed

Olatunji, Bunmi O; Armstrong, Thomas; Elwood, Lisa

2017-07-01

Research suggests that disgust may be linked to the etiology of some anxiety-related disorders. The present investigation reviews this literature and employs separate meta-analyses of clinical group comparison and correlational studies to examine the association between disgust proneness and anxiety-related disorder symptoms. Meta-analysis of 43 group comparison studies revealed those high in anxiety disorder symptoms reported significantly more disgust proneness than those low in anxiety symptoms. Although this effect was not moderated by clinical versus analogue studies or type of disorder, larger group differences were observed for those high in anxiety symptoms associated with contagion concerns compared to those high in anxiety symptoms not associated with contagion concerns. Similarly, meta-analysis of correlational data across 83 samples revealed moderate associations between disgust proneness and anxiety-related disorder symptoms. Moderator analysis revealed that the association between disgust proneness and anxiety-related disorder symptoms was especially robust for anxiety symptoms associated with contagion concerns. After controlling for measures of negative affect, disgust proneness continued to be moderately correlated with anxiety-related disorder symptoms. However, negative affect was no longer significantly associated with symptoms of anxiety-related disorders when controlling for disgust proneness. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of a novel transdiagnostic model.

An Examination of Differences in Psychological Resilience between Social Anxiety Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Context of Early Childhood Trauma

PubMed Central

Marx, Melanie; Young, Susanne Y.; Harvey, Justin; Rosenstein, David; Seedat, Soraya

2017-01-01

Background: Much of the research on anxiety disorders has focused on associated risk factors with less attention paid to factors such as resilience that may mitigate risk or offer protection in the face of psychopathology. Objective: This study sought to compare resilience in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) relative to age-, gender- and education- matched individuals with no psychiatric disorder. We further assessed the correlation of resilience scores with childhood trauma severity and type. Method: The sample comprised of 93 participants, 40 with SAD with childhood trauma), 22 with PTSD with childhood trauma, and 31 with no psychiatric disorder (i.e., healthy matched controls). Participants were administered the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire—Short Form (CTQ-SF), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The mean age of participants was 34 years (SD = 11). 52 Participants were female (55.9%) and 54 Caucasian (58.1%). Analysis of variance was used to assess for significant group differences in resilience scores. Non-parametric correlation analyses were conducted for resilience and different types of childhood trauma. Results: There were significant differences in resilience between the SAD and PTSD groups with childhood trauma, and controls. Both disorder groups had significantly lower levels of resilience than healthy controls. No significant correlation was found between total resilience scores and childhood trauma scores in the childhood trauma (SAD and PTSD) groups. However, in the combined dataset (SAD, PTSD, healthy controls), significant negative correlations were found between resilience scores and emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and total childhood trauma scores. Conclusions: Patients who have PTSD and SAD with childhood trauma appear to be significantly less resilient than those with no disorder. Assessing and addressing resilience in these disorders, particularly when childhood trauma is present, may facilitate long-term recovery and warrants further investigation. PMID:29312023

An Examination of Differences in Psychological Resilience between Social Anxiety Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Context of Early Childhood Trauma.

PubMed

Marx, Melanie; Young, Susanne Y; Harvey, Justin; Rosenstein, David; Seedat, Soraya

2017-01-01

Background: Much of the research on anxiety disorders has focused on associated risk factors with less attention paid to factors such as resilience that may mitigate risk or offer protection in the face of psychopathology. Objective: This study sought to compare resilience in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) relative to age-, gender- and education- matched individuals with no psychiatric disorder. We further assessed the correlation of resilience scores with childhood trauma severity and type. Method: The sample comprised of 93 participants, 40 with SAD with childhood trauma), 22 with PTSD with childhood trauma, and 31 with no psychiatric disorder (i.e., healthy matched controls). Participants were administered the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The mean age of participants was 34 years ( SD = 11). 52 Participants were female (55.9%) and 54 Caucasian (58.1%). Analysis of variance was used to assess for significant group differences in resilience scores. Non-parametric correlation analyses were conducted for resilience and different types of childhood trauma. Results: There were significant differences in resilience between the SAD and PTSD groups with childhood trauma, and controls. Both disorder groups had significantly lower levels of resilience than healthy controls. No significant correlation was found between total resilience scores and childhood trauma scores in the childhood trauma (SAD and PTSD) groups. However, in the combined dataset (SAD, PTSD, healthy controls), significant negative correlations were found between resilience scores and emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and total childhood trauma scores. Conclusions: Patients who have PTSD and SAD with childhood trauma appear to be significantly less resilient than those with no disorder. Assessing and addressing resilience in these disorders, particularly when childhood trauma is present, may facilitate long-term recovery and warrants further investigation.

Correlation between the NPPB gene promoter c.-1298 G/T polymorphism site and pulse pressure in the Chinese Han population.

PubMed

Zeng, K; Wu, X D; Cai, H D; Gao, Y G; Li, G; Liu, Q C; Gao, F; Chen, J H; Lin, C Z

2014-04-29

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the natriuretic peptide precursor B (NPPB) gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) c.-1298 G/T and pulse pressure (PP) of the Chinese Han population and the association between genotype and clinical indicators of hypertension. Peripheral blood was collected from 180 unrelated patients with hypertension and 540 healthy volunteers (control group), and DNA was extracted to amplify the 5'-flanking region and 2 exons of the NPPB gene by polymerase chain reaction; the fragment was sequenced after purification. The clinical data of all subjects were recorded, the distribution of the NPPB gene c.-1298 G/T polymorphism was determined, and differences in clinical indicators between the two groups were evaluated. The mean arterial pressure PP, and creatinine levels were significantly higher in the hypertension group than in the control group (P<0.05), but no other clinical indicators differed between the groups. There were no significant differences in genotype frequency and distribution of the NPPB gene c.-1298 G/T polymorphism between the hypertension group and the control group (P>0.05); in the control group, the mean PP of individuals with the SNP c.-1298 GG genotype was greater than that of individuals with the GT+TT genotype (P<0.05). In conclusion, there was no significant correlation between the NPPB gene c.-1298 G/T polymorphism and the incidence of essential hypertension in the Han population; however, the PP of the SNP c.-1298 GG genotype was greater than that of the GT+TT genotype in the control group.

Fundus autofluorescence findings in central serous chorioretinopathy using two different confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopes: correlation with functional and structural status.

PubMed

Shin, Joo Youn; Choi, Hun Jin; Lee, Jonghyun; Choi, Moonjung; Chung, Byunghoon; Byeon, Suk Ho

2016-08-01

To compare autofluorescence (AF) findings using wide-field (Optomap) and conventional (HRA-AF) confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) systems in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), and to investigate the correlations between AF findings and functional and anatomical status. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) and AF images were compared in 73 eyes with serous retinal detachment (SRD) (group A) and 30 eyes without SRD (group B). We evaluated AF findings from the SRD region, atrophic area, and foveola. Correlations between AF findings and outer retinal abnormalities in OCT and visual acuity (VA) were analyzed. Optomap-AF was more effective than HRA-AF in identifying the margins of a detached area (P = 0.001) in group A, and for monitoring mild outer retinal damage (P = 0.041) in group B. The foveolar AF grades in both instruments were significantly correlated with VA and central foveal thickness (CFT) in both group A (Optomap, VA r s = 0.33, P = 0.012; CFT r s = -0.38, P = 0.002; HRA, VA r s = 0.62, P < 0.001; CFT r s = -0.70, P < 0.001) and group B (Optomap, VA r s = 0.71, P < 0.001, CFT r s = -0.78, P < 0.001; HRA, VA r s = 0.40, P = 0.026, CFT r s = -0.40, P = 0.030). Optomap-AF was found to be advantageous for monitoring subretinal status in eyes with SRD, and more accurately reflected mild outer retinal changes in eyes without SRD. Foveolar AF grades of both imaging modalities were significantly correlated with functional and anatomical status.

Automatic assessment of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in an ischemic rat hindlimb model: an exploratory study of transplanted multipotent progenitor cells.

PubMed

Hsu, Li-Yueh; Wragg, Andrew; Anderson, Stasia A; Balaban, Robert S; Boehm, Manfred; Arai, Andrew E

2008-02-01

This study presents computerized automatic image analysis for quantitatively evaluating dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in an ischemic rat hindlimb model. MRI at 7 T was performed on animals in a blinded placebo-controlled experiment comparing multipotent adult progenitor cell-derived progenitor cell (MDPC)-treated, phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-injected, and sham-operated rats. Ischemic and non-ischemic limb regions of interest were automatically segmented from time-series images for detecting changes in perfusion and late enhancement. In correlation analysis of the time-signal intensity histograms, the MDPC-treated limbs correlated well with their corresponding non-ischemic limbs. However, the correlation coefficient of the PBS control group was significantly lower than that of the MDPC-treated and sham-operated groups. In semi-quantitative parametric maps of contrast enhancement, there was no significant difference in hypo-enhanced area between the MDPC and PBS groups at early perfusion-dependent time frames. However, the late-enhancement area was significantly larger in the PBS than the MDPC group. The results of this exploratory study show that MDPC-treated rats could be objectively distinguished from PBS controls. The differences were primarily determined by late contrast enhancement of PBS-treated limbs. These computerized methods appear promising for assessing perfusion and late enhancement in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

Correlation of cerebrovascular disorder and anxiety: The Kecskemet study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sipos, Kornel; Bodo, Michael; Szalay, Piroska; Szucs, Attila

2010-04-01

In order to test the hypothesis that anxiety is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, specifically stroke, we simultaneously measured anxiety and cerebral vascular alternation, using a computer-based system, "Cerberus." Sixty nine psychiatric patients (including an alcoholic subgroup) were selected as subjects for measurements conducted in Kecskemet, Hungary. The five-item short form of anxiety test (STAI) was administered twice during the same session. Between each test, brain pulse waves were recorded by rheoencephalogram (REG). A REG peak time above 180 milliseconds was considered a cerebrovascular alteration (modified after Jenkner). Data were sorted into two groups: low anxiety (N=10) and high anxiety (N=10). Significant differences were found between cardiovascular risk factors (p< 0.001), REG peak time (p<0.043), and heart rate (p< 0.045). Six subjects showed cerebrovascular alteration in the high anxiety group, and two in the low anxiety group. For the two anxiety groups, there were no significant differences in body mass index, cardiovascular sympathetic-parasympathetic balance, age and symptoms of transient ischemic attack. The correlation of REG and age was significantly different only for the alcoholic subgroup (Szalay et al, 2007). These data support the hypothesis that a correlation exists between cerebrovascular disorder and anxiety in the studied population.

[Correlation between genetic polymorphisms of -855 G/C and -1140 G/A in GRIN1 gene and paranoid schizophrenia].

PubMed

Li, Zhong-Jie; Ding, Mei; Pang, Hao; Sun, Xue-Fei; Xing, Jia-Xin; Xuan, Jin-Feng; Wang, Bao-Jie

2013-04-01

To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of -855 G/C and -1140 G/A in promoter regions of GRIN1 gene and find their genetic correlation to paranoid schizophrenia as well as their applicable values in forensic medicine. The genetic polymorphisms of -855 G/C and -1140 G/A at the 5' end of GRIN1 gene were detected by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism and PAGE in 183 healthy unrelated individuals of northern Chinese Han population and 172 patients of paranoid schizophrenia, respectively. The chi2 test was used to identify Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of the genotype distribution. The differences of genotypes and allelic frequency distributions were compared between the two groups. Distributions of the genotypic frequencies satisfied Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both groups. The difference of genotypes was statistically significant between female patient group and female control group in -855 G/C distribution (P < 0.05). The differences of genotypes and allelic frequencies were statistically significant not only between the patient group and the control group but also between female patient group and female control group in -1140 G/A distribution (P < 0.05). The SNP of -1140 G/A in promoter regions of GRIN1 gene might positively correlate to paranoid schizophrenia. The genetic factor of schizophrenia is involved in gender tendency. And it could be useful in forensic identification of schizophrenia.

Comparative evaluation of serum C-reactive protein levels in chronic and aggressive periodontitis patients and association with periodontal disease severity

PubMed Central

Goyal, Lata; Bey, Afshan; Gupta, N. D.; Sharma, Vivek Kumar

2014-01-01

Objective: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute-phase reactant and has been proved to be a significant predictor of future cardiovascular events. Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between periodontitis and elevated CRP levels. However, most of the studies have focused on chronic periodontitis and very few studies are done in patients with aggressive periodontitis. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the relative levels of serum CRP in aggressive and chronic periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 75 systemically healthy subjects were divided into three groups: Group I, nonperiodontitis subjects; group II, chronic generalized periodontitis patients and group III, generalized aggressive periodontitis patients. All participants were subjected to quantitative CRP analysis using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Mean CRP levels were significantly greater in both group II and III as compared to group I and group III having greater level than group II. Furthermore, CRP levels positively correlated with the amount of periodontal destruction as measured by probing depth and clinical attachment loss. Conclusion: The present study indicates a positive correlation between CRP and periodontal disease severity with particular concern in younger individuals that could be a possible underlying pathway in the association between periodontal disease and the observed higher risk for cardiovascular disease in periodontitis patients. PMID:25395764

Evaluation of Anterior Segment Parameters in Obesity

PubMed Central

Uzun, Feyzahan; Karaca, Emine Esra; Kalaycı, Mustafa

2015-01-01

Purpose To investigate anterior segment parameters in obese patients in comparison to healthy individuals. Methods Thirty-four obese subjects and 34 age-sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this prospective cross-sectional study. Ophthalmological examinations including intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), anterior chamber angle (ACA), and axial length (AL) measurements were performed on each subject. Height and weight of all subjects were recorded and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Results IOP was significantly higher in the obese group (p = 0.003). The mean ACD in obese subjects was significantly lower than that in control subjects (p = 0.036). AL, ACV, ACA and CCT were not significantly different between the groups. There was a positive correlation between BMI and IOP (r = 0.404, p < 0.001). ACD and ACA were negatively correlated with BMI. Conclusions IOP was significantly higher and ACD was significantly lower in obese subjects. AL, ACV, ACA and CCT were not significantly different between the groups. The impact of obesity on anterior chamber parameters should be further investigated. PMID:26240505

Urinary oxalate to creatinine ratios in healthy Turkish schoolchildren.

PubMed

Dursun, Ismail; Çelik, İlknur; Poyrazoglu, Hakan M; Köse, Kader; Tanrıkulu, Esen; Sahin, Habibe; Yılmaz, Kenan; Öztürk, Ahmet; Yel, Sibel; Gündüz, Zübeyde; Düşünsel, Ruhan

2017-11-01

we aimed to establish reference values for urinary oxalate to creatinine ratios in healthy children aged 6-15 years and to investigate the relationship between their nutritional habits and oxalate excretion. Random urine specimens from 953 healthy children aged 6-15 years were obtained and analyzed for oxalate and creatinine. Additionally, a 24-h dietary recall form was prepared and given to them. The ingredient composition of the diet was calculated. The children were divided into three groups according to age: Group I (69 years, n = 353), Group II (10-12 years, n = 335), and Group III (13-15 years, n = 265). The 95th percentile of the oxalate to creatinine ratio for subjects aged 6-9, 10-12, and 13-15 years were 0.048, 0.042, and 0.042 mg/mg, respectively. The oxalate to creatinine ratio was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 and Group 3. Urinary oxalate excretion was positively correlated with increased protein intake and negatively correlated with age. A significant positive correlation was determined between urinary oxalate excretion and the proline, serine, protein, and glycine content of diet. Dietary proline intake showed a positive correlation with the urine oxalate to creatinine ratio and was found to be an independent predictor for urinary oxalate. These data lend support to the idea that every country should have its own normal reference values to determine the underlying metabolic risk factor for kidney stone disease since regional variation in the dietary intake of proteins and other nutrients can affect normal urinary excretion of oxalate.

Hypokalemia correlated with arterial stiffness but not microvascular endothelial function in patients with primary aldosteronism.

PubMed

Chang, Yi-Yao; Chen, Aaron; Chen, Ying-Hsien; Hung, Chi-Sheng; Wu, Vin-Cent; Wu, Xue-Ming; Lin, Yen-Hung; Ho, Yi-Lwun; Wu, Kwan-Dun

2015-06-01

Hypokalemia in primary aldosteronism (PA) patients correlates with higher levels of cardiovascular events and altered left ventricular geometry. However, the influence of aldosterone on microvascular endothelial function and the effect of hypokalemia on the vascular structure still remain unclear. We investigated the peripheral arterial functions, including the endothelial function of microvasculature and arterial stiffness in PA and essential hypertension (EH) patients, and the correlation between hypokalemia and peripheral arterial function among PA patients. Twenty patients diagnosed as EH and 37 patients with PA were enrolled in this study. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and the augmentation index (AI) were obtained by non-invasive peripheral arterial tonometry. Twenty EH patients and a total of 37 PA patients, including 21 patients with normokalemia and 16 patients with hypokalemia, were enrolled and divided into groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. PA patients had significantly higher AI (p=0.024) but not RHI than EH patients. RHI showed no difference between groups 1, 2 and 3. Group 3 had higher AI than either group 1 or group 2. In the whole study population, serum potassium level, after multivariate regression analysis testing, was the only factor associated with AI (ß= -0.102; p=0.002). In PA patients, serum potassium level was the only significant factor correlated with AI. (r= -0.458; p=0.004) CONCLUSIONS: PA patients had higher arterial stiffness but comparable microvascular endothelial function to EH patients. Hypokalemia correlated with arterial stiffness but not microvascular endothelial function in PA patients. © The Author(s) 2014.

Multivariate pattern analysis of fMRI data reveals deficits in distributed representations in schizophrenia

PubMed Central

Yoon, Jong H.; Tamir, Diana; Minzenberg, Michael J.; Ragland, J. Daniel; Ursu, Stefan; Carter, Cameron S.

2009-01-01

Background Multivariate pattern analysis is an alternative method of analyzing fMRI data, which is capable of decoding distributed neural representations. We applied this method to test the hypothesis of the impairment in distributed representations in schizophrenia. We also compared the results of this method with traditional GLM-based univariate analysis. Methods 19 schizophrenia and 15 control subjects viewed two runs of stimuli--exemplars of faces, scenes, objects, and scrambled images. To verify engagement with stimuli, subjects completed a 1-back matching task. A multi-voxel pattern classifier was trained to identify category-specific activity patterns on one run of fMRI data. Classification testing was conducted on the remaining run. Correlation of voxel-wise activity across runs evaluated variance over time in activity patterns. Results Patients performed the task less accurately. This group difference was reflected in the pattern analysis results with diminished classification accuracy in patients compared to controls, 59% and 72% respectively. In contrast, there was no group difference in GLM-based univariate measures. In both groups, classification accuracy was significantly correlated with behavioral measures. Both groups showed highly significant correlation between inter-run correlations and classification accuracy. Conclusions Distributed representations of visual objects are impaired in schizophrenia. This impairment is correlated with diminished task performance, suggesting that decreased integrity of cortical activity patterns is reflected in impaired behavior. Comparisons with univariate results suggest greater sensitivity of pattern analysis in detecting group differences in neural activity and reduced likelihood of non-specific factors driving these results. PMID:18822407

Music identification skills of children with specific language impairment.

PubMed

Mari, Giorgia; Scorpecci, Alessandro; Reali, Laura; D'Alatri, Lucia

2016-03-01

To date very few studies have investigated the musical skills of children with specific language impairment (SLI). There is growing evidence that SLI affects areas other than language, and it is therefore reasonable to hypothesize that children with this disorder may have difficulties in perceiving musical stimuli appropriately. To compare melody and song identification skills in a group of children with SLI and in a control group of children with typical language development (TD); and to study possible correlations between music identification skills and language abilities in the SLI group. This is a prospective case control study. Two groups of children were enrolled: one meeting DSM-IV-TR(®) diagnostic criteria for SLI and the other comprising an age-matched group of children with TD. All children received a melody and a song identification test, together with a test battery assessing receptive and productive language abilities. 30 children with SLI (mean age = 56 ± 9 months) and 23 with TD (mean age = 60 ± 10 months) were included. Melody and song identification scores among SLI children were significantly lower than those of TD children, and in both groups song identification scores were significantly higher than melody identification scores. Song identification skills bore a significant correlation to chronological age in both groups (TD: r = 0.529, p = 0.009; SLI: r = 0.506, p = 0.004). Whereas no other variables were found explaining the variability of melody or song identification scores in either group, the correlation between language comprehension and song identification in the SLI group approached significance (r = 0.166, p = 0.076). The poorer music perception skills of SLI children as compared with TD ones suggests that SLI may also affect music perception. Therefore, training programmes that simultaneously stimulate via language and music may prove useful in the rehabilitation of children affected by SLI. © 2015 Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

A Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Study in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using a 3-Tesla Clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System: The Anterior Cingulate Cortex and the Left Cerebellum.

PubMed

Ito, Hiromichi; Mori, Kenji; Harada, Masafumi; Hisaoka, Sonoka; Toda, Yoshihiro; Mori, Tatsuo; Goji, Aya; Abe, Yoko; Miyazaki, Masahito; Kagami, Shoji

2017-07-01

The pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not fully understood. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate metabolite concentration ratios in the anterior cingulate cortex and left cerebellum in ASD. In the ACC and left cerebellum studies, the ASD group and intelligence quotient- and age-matched control group consisted of 112 and 114 subjects and 65 and 45 subjects, respectively. In the ASD group, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)+/ creatine/phosphocreatine (Cr) was significantly decreased in the anterior cingulate cortex, and glutamate (Glu)/Cr was significantly increased and GABA+/Cr was significantly decreased in the left cerebellum compared to those in the control group. In addition, both groups showed negative correlations between Glu/Cr and GABA+/Cr in the left cerebellum, and positive correlations between GABA+/Cr in the anterior cingulate cortex and left cerebellum. ASD subjects have hypoGABAergic alterations in the anterior cingulate cortex and hyperglutamatergic/hypoGABAergic alterations in the left cerebellum.

[Study on the correlation between the severity of chronic rhinosinusitis and bronchial asthma and pulmonary function].

PubMed

Liu, Yonggang

2015-07-01

To explore the correlation between the severity of patients with rhinitis-nasosinusitis and the bronchial asthma and the pulmonary function. Sixty-four cases of patients with rhinitis-nasosinusitis and 53 cases of patients with chronic sinusitis from June 2012 to September 2013 were randomly selected, and the patients were divided into group of rhinitis-nasosinusitis with nasal polyps and group of chronic sinusitis according to disease species, and analyzed the correlation between the severity of the deseases and the changes of the pulmonary function respectively for the patients of two groups by using Spearman method. The incidence of asthma for patients with different levels of sinusitis and nasal polyps seemed no significant difference (P > 0.05); the incidence of allergic rhinitis also seemed no significant difference (P > 0.05); the incidence of asthma for patients with different lesion range of sinusitis and nasal polyps seemed no significant difference (P > 0.05); the incidence of allergic rhinitis also seemed no significant different (P < 0.05). The conditions of the patients with different levels of sinusitis and nasal polyps were directly related to the reduction of pulmonary function (r = 2.431, P < 0.05); The conditions of the patients with different lesion range of sinusitis were directly related to the reduction of pulmonary function (r = 2.641, P < 0.05). There was some correlation between the severity of patients with rhinitis-nasosinusitis and the bronchial asthma and the condition of pulmonary function of patients.

Effect of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction on left atrial appendage function and thrombotic potential in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

PubMed

Demirçelik, Muhammed Bora; Çetin, Mustafa; Çiçekcioğlu, Hülya; Uçar, Özgül; Duran, Mustafa

2014-05-01

We aimed to investigate effects of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction on left atrial appendage functions, spontaneous echo contrast and thrombus formation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. In 58 patients with chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrilation and preserved left ventricular systolic function, left atrial appendage functions, left atrial spontaneous echo contrast grading and left ventricular diastolic functions were evaluated using transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiogram. Patients divided in two groups: Group D (n=30): Patients with diastolic dysfunction, Group N (n=28): Patients without diastolic dysfunction. Categorical variables in two groups were evaluated with Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The significance of the lineer correlation between the degree of spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) and clinical measurements was evaluated with Spearman's correlation analysis. Peak pulmonary vein D velocity of the Group D was significantly higher than the Group N (p=0.006). However, left atrial appendage emptying velocity, left atrial appendage lateral wall velocity, peak pulmonary vein S, pulmonary vein S/D ratio were found to be significantly lower in Group D (p=0.028, p<0.001, p<0.001; p<0.001). Statistically significant negative correlation was found between SEC in left atrium and left atrial appendage emptying, filling, pulmonary vein S/D levels and lateral wall velocities respectively (r=-0.438, r=-0.328, r=-0.233, r=-0.447). Left atrial appendage emptying, filling, pulmonary vein S/D levels and lateral wall velocities were significantly lower in SEC 2-3-4 than SEC 1 (p=0.003, p=0.029, p<0.001, p=0.002). In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, left atrial appendage functions are decreased in patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction may constitute a potential risk for formation of thrombus and stroke.

Evaluation of Echocardiographic Epicardial Fat Thickness as a Sign of Cardiovascular Risk in Positive Exercise Test Patients.

PubMed

Katlandur, Hüseyin; Ulucan, Şeref; Özdil, Hüseyin; Keser, Ahmet; Kaya, Zeynettin; Özbek, Kerem; Ülgen, M Sıddık

2016-11-01

The association between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and positive exercise test results for the diagnosis of coronary artery diseases (CAD) has yet to be evaluated. This study assessed the predictive value of EFT for CAD on the angiographs of patients with positive exercise tests. A total of 91 subjects were chosen consecutively from stable angina pectoris patients who were referred for coronary angiography due to a positive exercise test result. The EFT measures were obtained by echocardiographic parasternal long-axis views on the free wall of the right ventricle at end-systole of three cardiac cycles. Gensini scores were calculated by a conventional coronary angiography technique using a calculation method previously defined. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a 0.65 cm (95% confidence interval: 0.628, 0.832, p < 0.001) area under the curve with 74.3% sensitivity and 62.3% specificity at the cut-off value of EFT for the prediction of critical coronary artery stenosis. Following ROC curve analysis, two groups were defined according to EFT cut-off value (groups 1 and 2). The severe coronary stenosis ratio was significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 (31.9 % vs. 11%, p < 0.001) and Gensini scores were significantly higher in group 2 (6.3 ± 13.3 vs. 16.5 ± 17.9; p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between Gensini scores and EFT in group 1 (r = 0.093, p = 0.549), but there was a strong significant correlation in group 2 (r = 0.730, p < 0.001). Linear multivariate regression analysis revealed that EFT (> 0.65 cm) was the only independent risk factor for critical coronary artery stenosis (β = 0.451, p < 0.001). EFT was significantly correlated with the severity and prevalence of coronary artery disease in positive exercise test patients.

Graft biomechanical properties after penetrating keratoplasty in keratoconus.

PubMed

Feizi, Sepehr; Einollahi, Bahram; Yazdani, Shahin; Hashemloo, Ali

2012-08-01

To measure corneal graft biomechanical properties after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) in a group of keratoconic eyes using the ocular response analyzer (ORA) and to evaluate the relationship between donor size, donor-recipient disparity and central graft thickness (CGT), and ORA parameters. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 eyes of 34 keratoconus patients who had undergone PKP. Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), and cornea-compensated intraocular pressure were measured at least 6 months after complete suture removal. Two groups of donor-recipient disparity (0.25 vs. 0.50 mm) were compared using the independent t test. Multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate the correlation of donor trephine size and CGT with ORA parameters. Factors influencing intraocular pressure measured with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (IOP GAT) after PKP were determined using multiple regression analysis. Mean patient age and follow-up period were 29.6 ± 6.2 years and 82.4 ± 59.6 months, respectively. Mean CGT, CH, and CRF were 564.7 ± 36.9 μm, 10.1 ± 2.1 mm Hg, and 10.0 ± 2.3 mm Hg, respectively. CH and CRF had a significant positive correlation with donor trephine size and CGT. Significantly greater values of CH and CRF were observed in the 0.5-mm disparity group compared with the 0.25-mm disparity group. Among the studied parameters, only CH, CRF, and cornea-compensated intraocular pressure had a significant positive correlation with IOP GAT. Graft biomechanics seem to be closer to normal values with larger grafts and greater donor-recipient disparity. These metrics had a significant correlation with IOP GAT after PKP.

Correlation between smoking habit and surgical outcomes on viral-associated hepatocellular carcinomas.

PubMed

Kai, Keita; Komukai, Sho; Koga, Hiroki; Yamaji, Koutaro; Ide, Takao; Kawaguchi, Atsushi; Aishima, Shinichi; Noshiro, Hirokazu

2018-01-07

To investigate the association between smoking habits and surgical outcomes in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (B-HCC) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related HCC (C-HCC) and clarify the clinicopathological features associated with smoking status in B-HCC and C-HCC patients. We retrospectively examined the cases of the 341 consecutive patients with viral-associated HCC (C-HCC, n = 273; B-HCC, n = 68) who underwent curative surgery for their primary lesion. We categorized smoking status at the time of surgery into never, ex- and current smoker. We analyzed the B-HCC and C-HCC groups' clinicopathological features and surgical outcomes, i.e ., disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and disease-specific survival (DSS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. We also performed subset analyses in both patient groups comparing the current smokers to the other patients. The multivariate analysis in the C-HCC group revealed that current-smoker status was significantly correlated with both OS ( P = 0.0039) and DSS ( P = 0.0416). In the B-HCC patients, no significant correlation was observed between current-smoker status and DFS, OS, or DSS in the univariate or multivariate analyses. The subset analyses comparing the current smokers to the other patients in both the C-HCC and B-HCC groups revealed that the current smokers developed HCC at significantly younger ages than the other patients irrespective of viral infection status. A smoking habit is significantly correlated with the overall and disease-specific survivals of patients with C-HCC. In contrast, the B-HCC patients showed a weak association between smoking status and surgical outcomes.

Schisandra chinensis fruit modulates the gut microbiota composition in association with metabolic markers in obese women: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study.

PubMed

Song, Mi-young; Wang, Jing-hua; Eom, Taewoong; Kim, Hojun

2015-08-01

Schisandra chinensis fruit (SCF) is known to have beneficial effects on metabolic diseases, including obesity, and to affect gut microbiota in in vivo studies. However, in human research, there have been a few studies in terms of its clinical roles in lipid metabolism and modulation of gut microbiota. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 28 obese women with SCF or placebo was conducted for 12 weeks. Anthropometry and blood and fecal sampling were performed before and after treatment. Analysis of the gut microbiota in feces was performed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Although the values did not differ significantly between the 2 groups, the SCF group tended to show a greater decrease in waist circumference, fat mass, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase than the placebo group. Clustering of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprints for total bacteria before and after treatment indicated more separate clustering in SCF group than placebo. In correlation analysis, Bacteroides and Bacteroidetes (both increased by SCF) showed significant negative correlation with fat mass, aspartate aminotransferase, and/or alanine aminotransferase, respectively. Ruminococcus (decreased by SCF) showed negative correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and fasting blood glucose. In conclusion, administration of SCF for 12 weeks resulted in modulation of the gut microbiota composition in Korean obese women, and significant correlations with some bacterial genera and metabolic parameters were noted. However, in general, SCF was not sufficient to induce significant changes in obesity-related parameters compared with placebo. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials and video head impulse test in patients with vertigo, dizziness and imbalance.

PubMed

Skorić, Magdalena Krbot; Adamec, Ivan; Pavičić, Tin; Pavlović, Ivan; Ruška, Berislav; Crnošija, Luka; Habek, Mario

2017-05-01

The aim of this study was to compare vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) and video head impulse test (vHIT) results in patients presenting with vertigo and dizziness. We retrospectively analyzed data of all patients with the chief complaint of vertigo, dizziness, or imbalance that underwent VEMP and vHIT from January 2015 to January 2016. A total of 117 patients (73 females, mean age 53.92±16.76) fulfilled inclusion criteria: group 1 included patients with the final diagnosis of vestibular neuritis (VN) (N=31 (16 right and 15 left VN)), group 2 included patients with the final diagnosis of vertigo of central origin (N=23) and group 3 included patients with the final diagnosis of unspecified dizziness (N=63). There was significant correlation between oVEMP asymmetry and asymmetry of the lateral canals 60ms gains on vHIT (r=0.225, p=0.026). Significant correlation between oVEMP and vHIT asymmetry was present in VN patients (r=0.749, p<0.001), while no correlation was found in the groups 2 and 3. oVEMP and vHIT lateral canals asymmetries were significantly greater in patients with vestibular neuritis. Furthermore, positive correlations of oVEMP amplitudes with 60ms gain of the lateral semicircular canal and slope of the anterior semicircular canal on vHIT, and cVEMP with slope of the posterior semicircular canal on the vHIT were found. These changes were significantly more pronounced in patients with vestibular neuritis. In conclusion, VEMPs and vHIT data should be used complementarily; asymmetry on both tests strongly supports peripheral vestibular system involvement. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The use of computer-assisted image analysis in the evaluation of the effect of management systems on changes in the color, chemical composition and texture of m. longissimus dorsi in pigs.

PubMed

Zapotoczny, Piotr; Kozera, Wojciech; Karpiesiuk, Krzysztof; Pawłowski, Rodian

2014-08-01

The effect of management systems on selected physical properties and chemical composition of m. longissimus dorsi was studied in pigs. Muscle texture parameters were determined by computer-assisted image analysis, and the color of muscle samples was evaluated using a spectrophotometer. Highly significant correlations were observed between chemical composition and selected texture variables in the analyzed images. Chemical composition was not correlated with color or spectral distribution. Subject to the applied classification methods and groups of variables included in the classification model, the experimental groups were identified correctly in 35-95%. No significant differences in the chemical composition of m. longissimus dorsi were observed between experimental groups. Significant differences were noted in color lightness (L*) and redness (a*). Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The HOT (Healthy Outcome for Teens) project. Using a web-based medium to influence attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control and intention for obesity and type 2 diabetes prevention.

PubMed

Muzaffar, Henna; Chapman-Novakofski, Karen; Castelli, Darla M; Scherer, Jane A

2014-01-01

We hypothesized that Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs (behavioral belief, attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, knowledge and behavioral intention) regarding preventive behaviors for obesity and type 2 diabetes will change favorably after completing the web-based intervention, HOT (Healthy Outcome for Teens) project, grounded in the TPB; and that passive online learning (POL) group will improve more than the active online learning (AOL) group. The secondary hypothesis was to determine to what extent constructs of the TPB predict intentions. 216 adolescents were recruited, 127 randomly allocated to the treatment group (AOL) and 89 to the control group (POL). The subjects completed a TPB questionnaire pre and post intervention. Both POL and AOL groups showed significant improvements from pretest to posttest survey. However, the results indicated no significant difference between POL and AOL for all constructs except behavioral belief. Correlational analysis indicated that all TPB constructs were significantly correlated with intentions for pretest and posttest for both groups. Attitude and behavioral control showed strongest correlations. Regression analysis indicated that TPB constructs were predictive of intentions and the predictive power improved post intervention. Behavioral control consistently predicted intentions for all categories and was the strongest predictor for pretest scores. For posttest scores, knowledge and attitude were the strongest predictors for POL and AOL groups respectively. Thus, HOT project improved knowledge and the TPB constructs scores for targeted behaviors, healthy eating and physical activity, for prevention of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[Association between intelligence development and facial expression recognition ability in children with autism spectrum disorder].

PubMed

Pan, Ning; Wu, Gui-Hua; Zhang, Ling; Zhao, Ya-Fen; Guan, Han; Xu, Cai-Juan; Jing, Jin; Jin, Yu

2017-03-01

To investigate the features of intelligence development, facial expression recognition ability, and the association between them in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 27 ASD children aged 6-16 years (ASD group, full intelligence quotient >70) and age- and gender-matched normally developed children (control group) were enrolled. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition and Chinese Static Facial Expression Photos were used for intelligence evaluation and facial expression recognition test. Compared with the control group, the ASD group had significantly lower scores of full intelligence quotient, verbal comprehension index, perceptual reasoning index (PRI), processing speed index（PSI), and working memory index (WMI) (P<0.05). The ASD group also had a significantly lower overall accuracy rate of facial expression recognition and significantly lower accuracy rates of the recognition of happy, angry, sad, and frightened expressions than the control group (P<0.05). In the ASD group, the overall accuracy rate of facial expression recognition and the accuracy rates of the recognition of happy and frightened expressions were positively correlated with PRI (r=0.415, 0.455, and 0.393 respectively; P<0.05). The accuracy rate of the recognition of angry expression was positively correlated with WMI (r=0.397; P<0.05). ASD children have delayed intelligence development compared with normally developed children and impaired expression recognition ability. Perceptual reasoning and working memory abilities are positively correlated with expression recognition ability, which suggests that insufficient perceptual reasoning and working memory abilities may be important factors affecting facial expression recognition ability in ASD children.

Neural correlates of reward and loss sensitivity in psychopathy.

PubMed

Pujara, Maia; Motzkin, Julian C; Newman, Joseph P; Kiehl, Kent A; Koenigs, Michael

2014-06-01

Psychopathy is a personality disorder associated with callous and impulsive behavior and criminal recidivism. It has long been theorized that psychopaths have deficits in processing reward and punishment. Here, we use structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the neural correlates of reward and loss sensitivity in a group of criminal psychopaths. Forty-one adult male prison inmates (n = 18 psychopaths and n = 23 non-psychopaths) completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging task involving the gain or loss of money. Across the entire sample of participants, monetary gains elicited robust activation within the ventral striatum (VS). Although psychopaths and non-psychopaths did not significantly differ with respect to overall levels of VS response to reward vs loss, we observed significantly different correlations between VS responses and psychopathy severity within each group. Volumetric analyses of striatal subregions revealed a similar pattern of correlations, specifically for the right accumbens area within VS. In a separate sample of inmates (n = 93 psychopaths and n = 117 non-psychopaths) who completed a self-report measure of appetitive motivation, we again found that the correlation with psychopathy severity differed between groups. These convergent results offer novel insight into the neural substrates of reward and loss processing in psychopathy. © The Author (2013). Published by Oxford University Press. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

The correlation between highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels and erectile function among men with late-onset hypogonadism.

PubMed

Shigehara, Kazuyoshi; Konaka, Hiroyuki; Ijima, Masashi; Nohara, Takahiro; Narimoto, Kazutaka; Izumi, Koji; Kadono, Yoshifumi; Kitagawa, Yasuhide; Mizokami, Atsushi; Namiki, Mikio

2016-12-01

We investigated the correlation between highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and erectile function, and assessed the clinical role of hs-CRP levels in men with late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) syndrome. For 77 participants, we assessed Sexual Health Inventory for men (SHIM) score, Aging Male Symptoms (AMS) score and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). We also evaluated free testosterone (FT), hs-CRP, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, body mass index, waist size and blood pressure. We attempted to identify parameters correlated with SHIM score and to determine the factors affecting cardiovascular risk based on hs-CRP levels. A Spearman rank correlation test revealed that age, AMS score, IPSS and hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated with SHIM score. Age-adjusted analysis revealed that hs-CRP and IPSS were the independent factors affecting SHIM score (r= -0.304 and -0.322, respectively). Seventeen patients belonged to the moderate to high risk group for cardiovascular disease, whereas the remaining 60 belonged to the low risk group. Age, FT value and SHIM score showed significant differences between the two groups. A multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that SHIM score was an independent factor affecting cardiovascular risk (OR: 0.796; 95%CI: 0.637-0.995).

Factors Related to Group Cohesiveness.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roark, Albert E.; Sharah, Hussein S.

1989-01-01

Investigated the relationship of group cohesiveness to empathy, self-disclosure, acceptance, and trust, and compared three different groups (personal growth, driving under the influence, psychotherapy), with a total of 65 subjects, on measures of cohesiveness. Found all factors correlated significantly with cohesiveness and with one another.…

Vitamin D status in children with Hashimoto thyroiditis.

PubMed

Camurdan, Orhun M; Döğer, Esra; Bideci, Aysun; Celik, Nurullah; Cinaz, Peyami

2012-01-01

To investigate vitamin D status in children with Hashimoto thyroiditis. The study group consisted of 78 children recently diagnosed as Hashimoto thyroiditis and 74 subjects as the control group. Parameters of calcium metabolism, thyroid function tests, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured. Vitamin D deficiency rate was significantly higher in the Hashimoto group compared with the control subjects (73.1% vs. 17.6%, p < 0.0001). In the Hashimoto group, mean 25(OH)D levels were significantly lower compared with the control group (31.2 +/- 11.5 versus 57.9 +/- 19.7 nmol/L, p < 0.001) and was inversely correlated with the anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) levels (r = -0.30, p = 0.007). The higher vitamin D deficiency rates besides lower vitamin D levels in the Hashimoto group together with the inverse correlation between vitamin D and anti-TPO suggest that vitamin D deficiency may have a role in the autoimmune process in Hashimoto thyroiditis in children.

Plasma Selenium Levels in First Trimester Pregnant Women with Hyperthyroidism and the Relationship with Thyroid Hormone Status.

PubMed

Arikan, Tugba Atilan

2015-10-01

The thyroid gland has the highest selenium (Se) concentration per unit weight among all tissues. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the Se levels in the plasma of hyperthyroidic pregnant women and to investigate the association between maternal plasma Se concentrations and thyroid hormone levels. The study population consisted of 107 pregnant women, 70 healthy pregnant women (group 1) and 37 pregnant women with hyperthyroidism (group 2). The plasma free triiodothyronine (fT3) and free thyroxine (fT4) levels were significantly higher, and the plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and Se levels were significantly lower in group 2 than in group 1 (p < 0.05). A correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between Se and fT4 in group 1 and with TSH in group 2 (p < 0.05). Decreased maternal serum antioxidant trace element Se in hyperthyroidic pregnant women compared with normal pregnant women supported the hypothesis that hyperthyroidism was associated with decreased antioxidant response.

Intelligence development of pre-lingual deaf children with unilateral cochlear implantation.

PubMed

Chen, Mo; Wang, Zhaoyan; Zhang, Zhiwen; Li, Xun; Wu, Weijing; Xie, Dinghua; Xiao, Zi-An

2016-11-01

The present study aims to test whether deaf children with unilateral cochlear implantation (CI) have higher intelligence quotients (IQ). We also try to find out the predictive factors of intelligence development in deaf children with CI. Totally, 186 children were enrolled into this study. They were divided into 3 groups: CI group (N = 66), hearing loss group (N = 54) and normal hearing group (N = 66). All children took the Hiskey-Nebraska Test of Learning Aptitude to assess the IQ. After that, we used Deafness gene chip, Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) methods to evaluate the genotype, auditory and speech performance, respectively. At baseline, the average IQ of hearing loss group (HL), CI group, normal hearing (NH) group were 98.3 ± 9.23, 100.03 ± 12.13 and 109.89 ± 10.56, while NH group scored higher significantly than HL and CI groups (p < 0.05). After 12 months, the average IQ of HL group, CI group, NH group were99.54 ± 9.38,111.85 ± 15.38, and 112.08 ± 8.51, respectively. No significant difference between the IQ of the CI and NH groups was found (p > 0.05). The growth of SIR was positive correlated with the growth of IQ (r = 0.247, p = 0.046), while no significant correlation were found between IQ growth and other possible factors, i.e. gender, age of CI, use of hearing aid, genotype, implant device type, inner ear malformation and CAP growth (p > 0.05). Our study suggests that CI potentially improves the intelligence development in deaf children. Speech performance growth is significantly correlated with IQ growth of CI children. Deaf children accepted CI before 6 years can achieve a satisfying and undifferentiated short-term (12 months) development of intelligence. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dentoalveolar mandibular changes with self-ligating versus conventional bracket systems: A CBCT and dental cast study

PubMed Central

de Almeida, Marcio Rodrigues; Futagami, Cristina; Conti, Ana Cláudia de Castro Ferreira; Oltramari-Navarro, Paula Vanessa Pedron; Navarro, Ricardo de Lima

2015-01-01

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to compare dentoalveolar changes in mandibular arch, regarding transversal measures and buccal bone thickness, in patients undergoing the initial phase of orthodontic treatment with self-ligating or conventional bracket systems. METHODS: A sample of 25 patients requiring orthodontic treatment was assessed based on the bracket type. Group 1 comprised 13 patients bonded with 0.022-in self-ligating brackets (SLB). Group 2 included 12 patients bonded with 0.022-in conventional brackets (CLB). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and a 3D program (Dolphin) assessed changes in transversal width of buccal bone (TWBB) and buccal bone thickness (BBT) before (T1) and 7 months after treatment onset (T2). Measurements on dental casts were performed using a digital caliper. Differences between and within groups were analyzed by Student's t-test; Pearson correlation coefficient was also calculated. RESULTS: Significant mandibular expansion was observed for both groups; however, no significant differences were found between groups. There was significant decrease in mandibular buccal bone thickness and transversal width of buccal bone in both groups. There was no significant correlation between buccal bone thickness and dental arch expansion. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences between self-ligating brackets and conventional brackets systems regarding mandibular arch expansion and changes in buccal bone thickness or transversal width of buccal bone. PMID:26154456

Correlates and Racial/Ethnic Differences in Bareback Sex Among Men Who Have Sex with Men with Unknown or Negative HIV Serostatus.

PubMed

Vosvick, Mark; Fritz, Sarah; Henry, Doug; Prybutok, Victor; Sheu, Shane; Poe, Jonathon

2016-12-01

Men who have sex with men (MSM), particularly racial/ethnic minority MSM, are disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States and Texas. Bareback sex or condomless anal intercourse (CAI) can be a high HIV risk behavior. Despite this, a majority of MSM continues to engage in barebacking. Research suggests racial/ethnic differences in barebacking exist; however, these conclusions remain unclear due to insufficient sample sizes to compare racial/ethnic groups. Our cross-sectional correlational design explores barebacking correlates (substance use during sex, safe sex fatigue, and optimistic HIV treatment beliefs) within and between racial/ethnic groups among 366 MSM. Regression models are significant for Latino and African-American MSM alone and for all MSM combined, though not significant for European-American and Other Race/Ethnicity MSM alone. Our findings suggest motivations and behaviors underlying barebacking among MSM vary by racial/ethnic membership with clinical implications for informing culturally sensitive HIV interventions and prevention programs for target racial/ethnic groups.

Evaluation of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in calcific rheumatic mitral stenosis- A cross sectional study.

PubMed

Yusuf, Jamal; P, Jothinath; Mukhopadhyay, Saibal; Vignesh, Vickram; Tyagi, Sanjay

Rheumatic mitral stenosis (RMS) is an autoimmune, progressive destructive valve disease occurring as a sequele of streptococcal infection. Epidemiological studies support an association of vitamin D deficiency with initial susceptibility and severity of autoimmune diseases. The aim of the present study was to assess serum level of 25 hydroxyvitamin D in subjects of RMS and assess if any correlation exists with serum levels of vitamin D and severity of disease along with calcification assessed semi-quantitatively by echocardiography by applying Wilkins score. Fifty five patients of RMS without any calcification of the valves (Group A) assessed by echocardiography along with fifty five patients of RMS with mild to moderately calcified valves (Group B, Wilkins calcium score 1 or 2) and 55 patients with severely calcified valves (Group C, Wilkins calcium score 3 or 4) were enrolled for the study. All subjects underwent clinical, echocardiographic, and biochemical evaluation. The total Wilkins score, Wilkins calcium score along with serum level of 25 hydroxyvitamin D was evaluated in all the patients. The median serum level of 25 hydroxyvitamin D was significantly lower in Group B (20.4ng/ml, p<0.001) and group C (11.4ng/ml, p<0.001) compared to Group A patients (27.9ng/ml). Similarly serum level of 25 hydroxyvitamin D in Group C patients were significantly less than Group B patients (p<0.001). A significant inverse correlation was identified between serum level of 25 hydroxyvitamin D and total Wilkins score (r=-0.65, p<0.001) as well as Wilkins calcium score (r=-0.69, p<0.001). But no correlation was identified between 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels and other echocardiographic parameters of RMS. Our study showed a significantly lower level of 25 hydroxyvitamin D in subjects of RMS with severely damaged and calcified valves as compared to those with less severely damaged non-calcified valves and it correlated with both Wilkins score and Wilkins calcification score. Thus a link may exist between vitamin D deficiency (an immunomodulator) and severity of autoimmune injury on the valves. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Torsional Growth Modulation of Long Bones by Oblique Plating in a Rabbit Model.

PubMed

Lazarus, David E; Farnsworth, Christine L; Jeffords, Megan E; Marino, Nikolas; Hallare, Jericho; Edmonds, Eric W

2018-02-01

There is evidence that oblique tension band plating can affect torsional growth in long bones. This study sought to determine if the torsional growth could be modulated based on the angles of the tension band plating and whether or not oblique plating affected overall longitudinal growth. New Zealand White rabbits (10.5 wk old) had one screw placed on the metaphyseal side and one on the epiphyseal side of both medial and lateral sides of the right knee distal femoral physis. The sham group (n=5) included screw placement only. For the plate group (n=13), unlocked plates, angled from 0 to 76 degrees, connected the screws and spanned the physis. Radiographs were taken at biweekly intervals. After 6 weeks of growth, hindlimbs were harvested and microCT scans performed. Femoral length, distances between screw heads and angle between the plates were measured on radiographs. Femoral length differences were compared between groups. Femoral version was measured from 3D microCT. Plate angle changes were correlated to the difference in femoral version between limbs using Pearson correlation (significance was set to P<0.05 for all comparisons). Femur length difference between the contralateral and the operative side was significantly greater in the plate group compared with the sham group over time (P=0.049). Medial and lateral screw distances changed significantly more in the sham group than the plate group on both sides (P<0.001). A greater initial angle between plates resulted in a greater change in the angle between plates (P<0.001). Significant correlations were found between right-left side femoral version differences and initial plate angle (P=0.003) and plate angle change (P=0.014). The torsional effect of oblique plating seems to correlate with the amount of initial plate angle, with an additional, not negligible, longitudinal growth effect. Placing plates at given angles across open physes may result in predictable changes in bone torsion allowing for a safer and less invasive option when treating childhood torsional deformities, but the resulting shortening of the ipsilateral femur must be considered.

Crown traits of coniferous trees and their relation to shade tolerance can differ with leaf type: a biophysical demonstration using computed tomography scanning data

PubMed Central

Dutilleul, Pierre; Han, Liwen; Valladares, Fernando; Messier, Christian

2015-01-01

Plant light interception and shade tolerance are intrinsically related in that they involve structural, morphological and physiological adaptations to manage light capture for photosynthetic utilization, in order to sustain survival, development and reproduction. At the scale of small-size trees, crown traits related to structural geometry of branching pattern and space occupancy through phyllotaxis can be accurately evaluated in 3D, using computed tomography (CT) scanning data. We demonstrate this by scrutinizing the crowns of 15 potted miniature conifers of different species or varieties, classified in two groups based on leaf type (10 needlelike, 5 scalelike); we also test whether mean values of crown traits measured from CT scanning data and correlations with a shade tolerance index (STI) differ between groups. Seven crown traits, including fractal dimensions (FD1: smaller scales, FD2: larger scales) and leaf areas, were evaluated for all 15 miniature conifers; an average silhouette-to-total-area ratio was also calculated for each of the 10 needlelike-leaf conifers. Between-group differences in mean values are significant (P < 0.05) for STI, FD1, FD2, and the average leaf area displayed (ĀD). Between-group differences in sign and strength of correlations are observed. For example, the correlation between STI and FD1 is negative and significant (P < 0.10) for the needlelike-leaf group, but is positive and significant (P < 0.05) for the miniature conifers with scalelike leaves, which had lower STI and higher FD1 on average in our study; the positive correlation between STI and ĀD is significant (P < 0.05) for the scalelike-leaf group, and very moderate for the needlelike-leaf one. A contrasting physical attachment of the leaves to branches may explain part of the between-group differences. Our findings open new avenues for the understanding of fundamental plant growth processes; the information gained could be included in a multi-scale approach to tree crown modeling. PMID:25852721

[Significance of extravascular lung water index, pulmonary vascular permeability index, and in- trathoracic blood volume index in the differential diagnosis of burn-induced pulmonary edema].

PubMed

Lei, Li; Jiajun, Sheng; Guangyi, Wang; Kaiyang, Lyu; Jing, Qin; Gongcheng, Liu; Bing, Ma; Shichu, Xiao; Shihui, Zhu

2015-06-01

To appraise the significance of extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI), and intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI) in the differential diagnosis of the type of burn-induced pulmonary edema. The clinical data of 38 patients, with severe burn hospitalized in our burn ICU from December 2011 to September 2014 suffering from the complication of pulmonary edema within one week post burn and treated with mechanical ventilation accompanied by pulse contour cardiac output monitoring, were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into lung injury group ( L, n = 17) and hydrostatic group (H, n = 21) according to the diagnosis of pulmonary edema. EVLWI, PVPI, ITBVI, oxygenation index, and lung injury score ( LIS) were compared between two groups, and the correlations among the former four indexes and the correlations between each of the former three indexes and types of pulmonary edema were analyzed. Data were processed with t test, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson correlation test, and accuracy test [receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve]. There was no statistically significant difference in EVLWI between group L and group H, respectively (12.9 ± 3.1) and (12.1 ± 2.1) mL/kg, U = 159.5, P > 0.05. The PVPI and LIS of patients in group L were respectively 2.6 ± 0.5 and (2.1 ± 0.6) points, and they were significantly higher than those in group H [1.4 ± 0.3 and (1.0 ± 0.6) points, with U values respectively 4.5 and 36.5, P values below 0.01]. The ITBVI and oxygenation index of patients in group L were respectively (911 197) mL/m2 and (136 ± 69) mmHg (1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa), which were significantly lower than those in group H [(1,305 ± 168) mL/m2 and (212 ± 60) mmHg, with U values respectively 21.5 and 70.5, P values below 0.01]. In group L, there was obviously positive correlation between EVLWI and PVPI, or EVLWI and ITBVI (with r values respectively 0.553 and 0.807, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and there was obviously negative correlation between oxygenation index and EVLWI, or oxygenation index and PVPI (with r values respectively -0.674 and -0.817, P values below 0.01). In group H, there was obviously positive correlation between EVLWI and ITBVI (r = 0.751, P < 0.01) but no obvious correlation between EVLWI and PVPI, oxygenation index and EVLWI, or oxygenation index and PVPI (with r values respectively -0.275, 0.197, and 0:062, P values above 0.05). The total area under ROC curve of PVPI value for differentiating the type of pulmonary edema was 0.987 [with 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.962-1.013, P < 0.01], and 1.9 was the cutoff value with sensitivity of 94.1% and specificity of 95.2% . The total area under ROC curve of ITBVI value for differentiating the type of pulmonary edema was 0.940 (with 95% CI 0.860-1.020, P < 0.01), and 1,077. 5 mL/m2 was the cutoff value with sensitivity of 95.2% and specificity of 88.2%. EVLWI, PVPI, and ITBVI have an important significance in the differential diagnosis of the type of burn-induced pulmonary edema, and they may be helpful in the early diagnosis and management of burn-induced pulmonary edema.

Post-blink tear film dynamics in healthy and dry eyes during spontaneous blinking.

PubMed

Szczesna-Iskander, Dorota H

2018-01-01

The aim was to investigate the dynamics of post-blink tear film leveling in natural blinking conditions (NBC) for healthy subjects and those diagnosed with dry eye syndrome (DES) and to relate this phase to the tear film surface quality (TFSQ) before the following blink. The study included 19 healthy persons and 10 with dry eye, grouped according to symptoms and signs observed during examination. Lateral shearing interferometry was used to examine TFSQ. Post-blink tear film dynamics was modeled by an exponential function, characterized by the decay parameter b, and a constant, describing the level of the stabilized TFSQ. Pre-next-natural-blink TFSQ dynamics was modeled with a linear trend, described by a parameter A. The post-blink tear film dynamics reached its plateau at a significantly (P = 0.006) lower level in the normal tear film group than in the dry eye group. The median exponential decay parameter b was statistically significantly higher for the control group than for the DES group, P = 0.026. The parameter b calculated for each interblink interval was significantly correlated with the corresponding parameter A (Spearman's R = 0.35; P < 0.001). Correlation between the median b and tear film fluorescein break-up time for each subject was also found (R = 0.41, P = 0.029). Significantly faster leveling of post-natural-blink tear film was observed in the group with DES than in healthy eyes. This dynamic was correlated with the pre-next-natural-blink TFSQ and tear film stability. The results of this pilot study support previous works that advocate the importance of polar lipids in the mechanism of tear film lipid spreading. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Altered synchrony and loss of consciousness during frontal lobe seizures.

PubMed

Bonini, Francesca; Lambert, Isabelle; Wendling, Fabrice; McGonigal, Aileen; Bartolomei, Fabrice

2016-02-01

Loss of consciousness (LOC) in frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) has been rarely specifically studied until now. In this study we evaluated the LOC in a population of patients with FLE and studied the relationship between changes in synchrony and degree of LOC. 24 patients undergoing stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) during pre-surgical evaluation of FLE were studied. The LOC intensity was scored using the Consciousness Seizure Scale (CSS). For each studied seizure (n=52), interdependencies between signals recorded from 5 brain regions were estimated as a function of time by using non-linear regression analysis (h(2) coefficient). Seizures were divided into 3 groups according to the CSS scale: group A (no LOC) with a score ⩽2, group B (intermediate or partial LOC) with a score ranging from 3 to 5, and group C (maximal LOC) with a score ⩾6. The majority of seizures in FLE patients disclosed significant LOC, particularly for patients with prefrontal lobe seizures. Mean correlation values were significantly different between groups A and C (p<0.001), the maximal values of synchrony being observed in group C. Differences were significant for interaction affecting the external prefrontal cortex (p=0.004) (p=0.01) and the parietal cortex. In addition, a significant correlation was found between CSS scores and correlations values (h(2)) of the prefrontal and the parietal region but not with the premotor cortex. This study indicates that in FLE, prefrontal seizures frequently alter consciousness. As in other focal seizures, LOC appears to be related to changes in synchrony in prefrontal and parietal associative cortices. LOC in FLE is frequent and as in other focal epilepsies is related to an alteration of prefrontal-parietal network. Copyright © 2015 International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential expression analysis of genes involved in high-temperature induced sex differentiation in Nile tilapia.

PubMed

Li, Chun Ge; Wang, Hui; Chen, Hong Ju; Zhao, Yan; Fu, Pei Sheng; Ji, Xiang Shan

2014-01-01

Nowadays, high temperature effects on the molecular pathways during sex differentiation in teleosts need to be deciphered. In this study, a systematic differential expression analysis of genes involved in high temperature-induced sex differentiation was done in the Nile tilapia gonad and brain. Our results showed that high temperature caused significant down-regulation of CYP19A1A in the gonad of both sexes in induction group, and FOXL2 in the ovary of the induction group. The expressions of GTHα, LHβ and ERα were also significantly down-regulated in the brain of both sexes in the induction and recovery groups. On the contrary, the expression of CYP11B2 was significantly up-regulated in the ovary, but not in the testis in both groups. Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that there are significant correlations between the expressions of CYP19A1A, FOXL2, or DMRT1 in the gonads and the expression of some genes in the brain. Another result in this study showed that high temperature up-regulated the expression level of DNMT1 in the testis of the induction group, and DNMT1 and DNMT3A in the female brain of both groups. The expression and correlation analysis of HSPs showed that high temperature action on tilapia HSPs might indirectly induce the expression changes of sex differentiation genes in the gonads. These findings provide new insights on TSD and suggest that sex differentiation related genes, heat shock proteins, and DNA methylation genes are new candidates for studying TSD in fish species. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pain correlates with germline mutation in schwannomatosis.

PubMed

Jordan, Justin T; Smith, Miriam J; Walker, James A; Erdin, Serkan; Talkowski, Michael E; Merker, Vanessa L; Ramesh, Vijaya; Cai, Wenli; Harris, Gordon J; Bredella, Miriam A; Seijo, Marlon; Suuberg, Alessandra; Gusella, James F; Plotkin, Scott R

2018-02-01

Schwannomatosis has been linked to germline mutations in the SMARCB1 and LZTR1 genes, and is frequently associated with pain.In a cohort study, we assessed the mutation status of 37 patients with clinically diagnosed schwannomatosis and compared to clinical data, whole body MRI (WBMRI), visual analog pain scale, and Short Form 36 (SF-36) bodily pain subscale.We identified a germline mutation in LZTR1 in 5 patients (13.5%) and SMARCB1 in 15 patients (40.5%), but found no germline mutation in 17 patients (45.9%). Peripheral schwannomas were detected in 3 LZTR1-mutant (60%) and 10 SMARCB1-mutant subjects (66.7%). Among those with peripheral tumors, the median tumor number was 4 in the LZTR1 group (median total body tumor volume 30 cc) and 10 in the SMARCB1 group (median volume 85cc), (P=.2915 for tumor number and P = .2289 for volume). mutation was associated with an increased prevalence of spinal schwannomas (100% vs 41%, P = .0197). The median pain score was 3.9/10 in the LZTR1 group and 0.5/10 in the SMARCB1 group (P = .0414), and SF-36 pain-associated quality of life was significantly worse in the LZTR1 group (P = .0106). Pain scores correlated with total body tumor volume (rho = 0.32471, P = .0499), but not with number of tumors (rho = 0.23065, P = .1696).We found no significant difference in quantitative tumor burden between mutational groups, but spinal schwannomas were more common in LZTR1-mutant patients. Pain was significantly higher in LZTR1-mutant than in SMARCB1-mutant patients, though spinal tumor location did not significantly correlate with pain. This suggests a possible genetic association with schwannomatosis-associated pain.

Pain correlates with germline mutation in schwannomatosis

PubMed Central

Jordan, Justin T.; Smith, Miriam J.; Walker, James A.; Erdin, Serkan; Talkowski, Michael E.; Merker, Vanessa L.; Ramesh, Vijaya; Cai, Wenli; Harris, Gordon J.; Bredella, Miriam A.; Seijo, Marlon; Suuberg, Alessandra; Gusella, James F.; Plotkin, Scott R.

2018-01-01

Abstract Schwannomatosis has been linked to germline mutations in the SMARCB1 and LZTR1 genes, and is frequently associated with pain. In a cohort study, we assessed the mutation status of 37 patients with clinically diagnosed schwannomatosis and compared to clinical data, whole body MRI (WBMRI), visual analog pain scale, and Short Form 36 (SF-36) bodily pain subscale. We identified a germline mutation in LZTR1 in 5 patients (13.5%) and SMARCB1 in 15 patients (40.5%), but found no germline mutation in 17 patients (45.9%). Peripheral schwannomas were detected in 3 LZTR1-mutant (60%) and 10 SMARCB1-mutant subjects (66.7%). Among those with peripheral tumors, the median tumor number was 4 in the LZTR1 group (median total body tumor volume 30 cc) and 10 in the SMARCB1 group (median volume 85cc), (P=.2915 for tumor number and P = .2289 for volume). mutation was associated with an increased prevalence of spinal schwannomas (100% vs 41%, P = .0197). The median pain score was 3.9/10 in the LZTR1 group and 0.5/10 in the SMARCB1 group (P = .0414), and SF-36 pain-associated quality of life was significantly worse in the LZTR1 group (P = .0106). Pain scores correlated with total body tumor volume (rho = 0.32471, P = .0499), but not with number of tumors (rho = 0.23065, P = .1696). We found no significant difference in quantitative tumor burden between mutational groups, but spinal schwannomas were more common in LZTR1-mutant patients. Pain was significantly higher in LZTR1-mutant than in SMARCB1-mutant patients, though spinal tumor location did not significantly correlate with pain. This suggests a possible genetic association with schwannomatosis-associated pain. PMID:29384852

[Factors related to the QT prolongation in chronic renal failure].

PubMed

Kurosu, M; Ando, Y; Akimoto, T; Ono, S; Kusano, E; Asano, Y

1999-04-01

QT prolongation, a risk factor for arrhythmia and cardiac death, is observed in uremic patients. Though hypocalcemia, autonomic nerve dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy are assumed to cause the uremic QT prolongation, the exact mechanism remains unspecified. We therefore examined factors related to the QT interval in chronic renal failure (CRF). Corrected QT interval (QTc) was significantly prolonged in CRF just before the induction of dialysis therapy (group A) compared with nephrotic syndrome with the intact or mildly impaired renal function (group B). QTc was also prolonged in acute renal failure (group C). Cardio-thoracic ratio, serum albumin and Ca correlated with QTc in group A, but not in B or C. A single HD session in group A failed to shorten QTc, despite a significant increase in serum Ca++. Autonomic dysfunction did not appear to be a major determinant of QT prolongation, since QTc was not different between diabetics and non-diabetics in group A and in chronic HD patients (group D). In group D, QTc did not correlate with SV1 + RV5 on ECG or left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) on echocardiography. In another group of chronic HD patients (group E), there was no significant correlation between QTc and the parameters of left ventricular mass, plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). However, in the patients subjected to repeated echocardiography in group D, QTc and LVWT changed in parallel. In a retrospective analysis of QTc in group D, QTc was maximally prolonged at the time of starting HD therapy, and gradually improved in the following 1-5 years in both diabetics and non-diabetics. In contrast, chronic CAPD patients (group F) revealed no improvement of QTc. Thus, uremic QT prolongation cannot be explained simply by any of the previously assumed factors, but appears to be affected by multiple factors, which are partially correctable by chronic HD therapy.

Predictive value of IL-35 and IL-17 in diagnosis of childhood asthma.

PubMed

Mansour, Amira Ibrahim; Abd Almonaem, Eman Rateb; Behairy, Ola Galal; Gouda, Tahany Mahmoud

2017-09-01

This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between serum levels of IL-17 and IL-35 and the presence and severity of childhood asthma. The study was performed on 60 diagnosed asthmatic children, who were further classified into four groups according to the Global Initiative for Asthma Guidelines for Asthma Severity and Control (GINA) 2016, plus 30 age- and sex-matched apparently healthy children. All participants were subjected to full medical history, clinical examination, pulmonary function tests and laboratory evaluation in the form of complete blood count (CBC), serum total IgE, IL-17 and IL-35 by ELISA. Our results revealed that eosinophils count, IgE and IL-17 were significantly higher in the asthmatic group than the control group (p < .001), while IL-35 levels were significantly lower in asthmatics than control (p < .001). A strong negative correlation was found between serum IL-17 and serum IL-35; a positive correlation was found between serum IL-17 and both of serum total IgE and eosinophils counts in atopic asthmatic patients, and serum IL-35 showed significant negative correlations with both. ROC analysis of the data showed that the cut-off value of IL-35 level was <189.5 pg/mL and for IL-17 level, it was >13.1 pg/mL; this value could predict childhood asthma with sensitivity of 81.7% and 83.3%, and specificity of 76.7% and 70%, respectively. A combination of both cytokines yielded an increase in sensitivity to 95%. In conclusion, in the current study, IL-17 is upregulated while IL-35 is downregulated in childhood asthma with a significant negative correlation between both. These results suggest that both may play an important role in the pathogenesis of childhood asthma.

Hippuric Acid Levels in Paint Workers at Steel Furniture Manufacturers in Thailand

PubMed Central

Decharat, Somsiri

2014-01-01

Background The aims of this study were to determine hippuric acid levels in urine samples, airborne toluene levels, acute and chronic neurological symptoms, and to describe any correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene. Methods The hippuric acid concentration in the urine of 87 paint workers exposed to toluene at work (exposed group), and 87 nonexposed people (control group) was studied. Study participants were selected from similar factories in the same region. Urine samples were collected at the end of a shift and analyzed for hippuric acid by high performance liquid chromatography. Air samples for the estimation of toluene exposure were collected with diffusive personal samplers and the toluene quantified using gas–liquid chromatography. The two groups were also interviewed and observed about their work practices and health. Results The median of the 87 airborne toluene levels was 55 ppm (range, 12–198 ppm). The median urinary hippuric acid level was 800 mg/g creatinine (range, 90–2547 mg/g creatinine). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between airborne toluene exposure and urine hippuric acid levels (r = 0.548, p < 0.01). Workers with acute symptoms had significantly higher hippuric acid levels than those who did not (p < 0.05). It was concluded that there was a significant correlation between toluene exposure, hippuric acid levels, and health (p < 0.001). Conclusion There appears to be a significant correlation between workers exposure to toluene at work, their urine hippuric acid levels, and resulting symptoms of poor health. Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required at these workplaces. There was good correlation between urinary hippuric acid and airborne toluene levels. PMID:25516817

Exploring the role of auditory analysis in atypical compared to typical language development.

PubMed

Grube, Manon; Cooper, Freya E; Kumar, Sukhbinder; Kelly, Tom; Griffiths, Timothy D

2014-02-01

The relationship between auditory processing and language skills has been debated for decades. Previous findings have been inconsistent, both in typically developing and impaired subjects, including those with dyslexia or specific language impairment. Whether correlations between auditory and language skills are consistent between different populations has hardly been addressed at all. The present work presents an exploratory approach of testing for patterns of correlations in a range of measures of auditory processing. In a recent study, we reported findings from a large cohort of eleven-year olds on a range of auditory measures and the data supported a specific role for the processing of short sequences in pitch and time in typical language development. Here we tested whether a group of individuals with dyslexic traits (DT group; n = 28) from the same year group would show the same pattern of correlations between auditory and language skills as the typically developing group (TD group; n = 173). Regarding the raw scores, the DT group showed a significantly poorer performance on the language but not the auditory measures, including measures of pitch, time and rhythm, and timbre (modulation). In terms of correlations, there was a tendency to decrease in correlations between short-sequence processing and language skills, contrasted by a significant increase in correlation for basic, single-sound processing, in particular in the domain of modulation. The data support the notion that the fundamental relationship between auditory and language skills might differ in atypical compared to typical language development, with the implication that merging data or drawing inference between populations might be problematic. Further examination of the relationship between both basic sound feature analysis and music-like sound analysis and language skills in impaired populations might allow the development of appropriate training strategies. These might include types of musical training to augment language skills via their common bases in sound sequence analysis. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of sagittal parameters for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, hybrid surgery, and total disc replacement for three levels of cervical spondylosis.

PubMed

Hung, Che-Wei; Wu, Ming-Fang; Yu, Gwo-Fane; Ko, Chin-Chu; Kao, Cheng-Hsing

2018-05-01

To analyze sagittal balance of the cervical spine after three operative methods for three consecutive levels. A retrospective case selection and observational study was performed from December 2012 to December 2015: 20 patients underwent anterior cervical discectomy and fusion, 22 patients underwent hybrid surgery (HS), and 20 patients underwent total disc replacement (TDR). Perioperative parameters, clinical outcomes, and preoperative and postoperative sagittal parameters were recorded. Clinical outcomes improved. Fusion and hybrid groups were associated with more postoperative focal lordosis than the TDR group (no significant difference). The postoperative C2-7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) was greater in the TDR group (no significant difference). In the fusion group, the postoperative C2-7 SVA was highly correlated with the preoperative C2-7 SVA and postoperative C7 slope (C7SL). Postoperative C2-7 lordosis (C2-7L) was highly correlated with the preoperative C2-7 SVA and preoperative and postoperative C7SL. In the hybrid group, postoperative C2-7L was highly correlated with preoperative C2-7L, preoperative and postoperative focal lordosis, and C7SL. In the TDR group, the postoperative C2-7 SVA was highly correlated with the preoperative C2-7 SVA and postoperative C7 slope. The postoperative C2-7 SVA was also negatively correlated with postoperative C2-7L and focal lordosis. Postoperative C2-7L was highly correlated with postoperative focal lordosis. For three or more levels of cervical degenerative disease, good clinical outcomes can be achieved. TDR may not be a good choice for large preoperative C2-7 SVA. HS provides good cervical range of motion and restores cervical lordosis and C2-7 SVA. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Correlates of sedentary time in different age groups: results from a large cross sectional Dutch survey.

PubMed

Bernaards, Claire M; Hildebrandt, Vincent H; Hendriksen, Ingrid J M

2016-10-26

Evidence shows that prolonged sitting is associated with an increased risk of mortality, independent of physical activity (PA). The aim of the study was to identify correlates of sedentary time (ST) in different age groups and day types (i.e. school-/work day versus non-school-/non-work day). The study sample consisted of 1895 Dutch children (4-11 years), 1131 adolescents (12-17 years), 8003 adults (18-64 years) and 1569 elderly (65 years and older) who enrolled in the Dutch continuous national survey 'Injuries and Physical Activity in the Netherlands' between 2006 and 2011. Respondents estimated the number of sitting hours during a regular school-/workday and a regular non-school/non-work day. Multiple linear regression analyses on cross-sectional data were used to identify correlates of ST. Significant positive associations with ST were observed for: higher age (4-to-17-year-olds and elderly), male gender (adults), overweight (children), higher education (adults ≥ 30 years), urban environment (adults), chronic disease (adults ≥ 30 years), sedentary work (adults), not meeting the moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) guideline (children and adults ≥ 30 years) and not meeting the vigorous PA (VPA) guideline (4-to-17-year-olds). Correlates of ST that significantly differed between day types were working hours and meeting the VPA guideline. More working hours were associated with more ST on school-/work days. In children and adolescents, meeting the VPA guideline was associated with less ST on non-school/non-working days only. This study provides new insights in the correlates of ST in different age groups and thus possibilities for interventions in these groups. Correlates of ST appear to differ between age groups and to a lesser degree between day types. This implies that interventions to reduce ST should be age specific. Longitudinal studies are needed to draw conclusions on causality of the relationship between identified correlates and ST.

Diminished autonomic neurocardiac function in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

PubMed

Kim, Kyungwook; Lee, Seul; Kim, Jong-Hoon

2016-01-01

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic and highly prevalent disorder that is characterized by a number of autonomic nervous system symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the linear and nonlinear complexity measures of heart rate variability (HRV), measuring autonomic regulation, and to evaluate the relationship between HRV parameters and the severity of anxiety, in medication-free patients with GAD. Assessments of linear and nonlinear complexity measures of HRV were performed in 42 medication-free patients with GAD and 50 healthy control subjects. In addition, the severity of anxiety symptoms was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory. The values of the HRV measures of the groups were compared, and the correlations between the HRV measures and the severity of anxiety symptoms were assessed. The GAD group showed significantly lower standard deviation of RR intervals and the square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal sinus intervals values compared to the control group ( P <0.01). The approximate entropy value, which is a nonlinear complexity indicator, was also significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group ( P <0.01). In correlation analysis, there were no significant correlations between HRV parameters and the severity of anxiety symptoms. The present study indicates that GAD is significantly associated with reduced HRV, suggesting that autonomic neurocardiac integrity is substantially impaired in patients with GAD. Future prospective studies are required to investigate the effects of pharmacological or non-pharmacological treatment on neuroautonomic modulation in patients with GAD.

Effects of interval exercise training programme on the indices of adiposity and biomarker of inflammation in hypertension: a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Lamina, S; Okoye, C G; Hanif, S M

2014-06-01

Hypertension remains a significant risk factor in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 8 weeks interval training programme on blood pressure, aerobic capacity (VO max), indices of adiposity and marker of inflammation in black African men with essential hypertension. Two hundred and forty five (245) male subjects with stage 1 and 2 (systolic blood pressure [SBP] between 140-179 & diastolic blood pressure [DBP] between 90-109 mmHg) essential hypertension were age matched and grouped into experimental and control groups. The experimental (n=140; 58.90 ± 7.35 years) group involved in an 8 weeks interval training (60-79% HRmax) programme of between 45 and 60 minutes, while age-matched control hypertensive (n=105; 58.27±6.24 years) group remain sedentary during this period. All subjects in both groups were on antihypertensive drugs throughout the study period. Cardiovascular parameters (SBP, DBP) & VO max and percent body fat [%BF], waist to hip ratio [WHR] and C-reactive protein [CRP] were assessed. Independent t-test and Pearson correlation test were used in data analysis. Findings of the study revealed significant decreased effects of interval training programme on SBP, DBP, %BF, WHR and CRP and significant increased effect on VO max at p< 0.05. Also, changes in CRP as a result of exercise training significantly and positively correlated with changes in SBP, DBP, %BF, WHR, CRP and negatively correlated with VO max at p< 0.05.

Group size and nest success in red-cockaded woodpeckers in the West Gulf Coastal Plain: helpers make a difference

Treesearch

Richard N. Conner; Daniel Saenz; Richard R. Schaefer; James R. McCormick; D. Craig Rudolph; D. Brent Burt

2004-01-01

We studied the relationships between Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) group size and nest productivity. Red-cockaded Woodpecker group size was positively correlated with fledging success. Although the relationships between woodpecker group size and nest productivity measures were nor statistically significant, a pattern of...

Is mandibular asymmetry more frequent and severe with unilateral disc displacement?

PubMed

Xie, Qianyang; Yang, Chi; He, Dongmei; Cai, Xieyi; Ma, Zhigui

2015-01-01

To investigate the prevalence of mandibular asymmetry (MA) within the symptomatic unilateral anterior disc displacement (ADD) patients, and analyze the influence TMJ factors of the MA severity. Patients aged under 20 years old with symptomatic unilateral ADD and asymptomatic volunteers with normal disc-condyle relationship diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were included in this study. Posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs were taken to measure MA. Condylar height, disc length and disc displacement were measured by MRI. The prevalence and severity of MA were compared between the ADD and the control groups. The correlation between the severity of MA with the amount of condylar height shortage, disc deformity and distance of disc displacement were also evaluated within the ADD group. There were 165 cases in the unilateral ADD group, and 156 cases in the control group. One hundred and nineteen cases had MA which accounted 72.12% (119/165) in the ADD group; while in the control group, only 25.64% (40/156) exhibited MA. The mean horizontal menton deviation and condylar height shortage in the unilateral ADD group were significantly larger than that in the control group (5.62 mm vs. 4.19 mm; 3.14 mm vs. 1.32 mm, p < 0.01). The severity of MA was significantly correlated with the amount of disc displacement, disc deformity and condylar height shortage (correlation coefficient: 0.80, 0.70, and 0.82). MA is much more common and severe in young unilateral ADD patients. The severity of MA is correlated with the height of condyle and the status of the disc. Copyright © 2014 European Association for Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Association between urinary microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in hypertensive patients].

PubMed

Zhu, Hang; Xue, Hao; Wang, Guangyi; Fu, Zhenhong; Liu, Jie; Shi, Yajun

2015-04-01

To explore the association between urinary microalbumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in hypertensive patients. A total of 877 primary hypertension patients were enrolled in this trial from September 2009 to December 2012, and were randomly recruited and patients were divided into normal ACR group (ACR < 30 mg/g, n = 723), micro-albuminuria group (30 mg/g ≤ ACR < 300 mg/g, n = 136) and macro-albuminuria group (ACR ≥ 300 mg/g, n = 18). baPWV was measure by automatic pulse wave velocity measuring system. The baPWV values in patients of micro-albuminuria group and macro-albuminuria group were significantly higher than in the normal ACR group (all P < 0.05). The baPWV value of macro-albuminuria group was significantly higher than in the micro-albuminuria group (P < 0.05). Linear correlation analysis revealed that ACR was positively correlated with baPWV (r = 0.413, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that ACR independently correlated with baPWV in patients with primary hypertension (β = 0.29, R(2) = 0.112, P < 0.01) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein and triglyceride. Using ACR < 30 mg/g and ACR ≥ 30 mg/g as dichotomous variable, binary logistic regression analysis showed that ACR ≥ 30 mg/g was also a risk factor of the ascending baPWV in primary hypertension patients (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.62-2.98) after adjusting the traditional cardiovascular risk factors. ACR is positively correlated to baPWV in primary hypertension patients, and the ascending baPWV is a risk factor of early renal dysfunction in primary hypertension patients.

Body Size Is a Significant Predictor of Congruency in Species Richness Patterns: A Meta-Analysis of Aquatic Studies

PubMed Central

Velghe, Katherine; Gregory-Eaves, Irene

2013-01-01

Biodiversity losses over the next century are predicted to result in alterations of ecosystem functions that are on par with other major drivers of global change. Given the seriousness of this issue, there is a need to effectively monitor global biodiversity. Because performing biodiversity censuses of all taxonomic groups is prohibitively costly, indicator groups have been studied to estimate the biodiversity of different taxonomic groups. Quantifying cross-taxon congruence is a method of evaluating the assumption that the diversity of one taxonomic group can be used to predict the diversity of another. To improve the predictive ability of cross-taxon congruence in aquatic ecosystems, we evaluated whether body size, measured as the ratio of average body length between organismal groups, is a significant predictor of their cross-taxon biodiversity congruence. To test this hypothesis, we searched the published literature and screened for studies that used species richness correlations as their metric of cross-taxon congruence. We extracted 96 correlation coefficients from 16 studies, which encompassed 784 inland water bodies. With these correlation coefficients, we conducted a categorical meta-analysis, grouping data based on the body size ratio of organisms. Our results showed that cross-taxon congruence is variable among sites and between different groups (r values ranging between −0.53 to 0.88). In addition, our quantitative meta-analysis demonstrated that organisms most similar in body size showed stronger species richness correlations than organisms which differed increasingly in size (radj 2 = 0.94, p = 0.02). We propose that future studies applying biodiversity indicators in aquatic ecosystems consider functional traits such as body size, so as to increase their success at predicting the biodiversity of taxonomic groups where cost-effective conservation tools are needed. PMID:23468903

Investigation of the relationship between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.

PubMed

Yenigun, A; Karamanli, H

2015-09-01

To investigate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and sleep apnoea severity relationship. Patients (n = 178) were assigned to five groups according to apnoea-hypopnea indices and continuous positive airway pressure use. White blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values were compared for each group. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio values of severe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients (group 4) were significantly higher than those of: control patients (group 1), mild obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome patients (group 2) and patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure (group 5) (p = 0.008, p = 0.008 and p = 0.003). Minimum oxygen saturation values of group 4 were significantly lower than those of groups 1, 2 and 5 (p = 0.0005, p = 0.011 and p = 0.001). There was a positive correlation between apnoea-hypopnea index and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (r = 0.758, p = 0.034), and a negative correlation between apnoea-hypopnea index and minimum oxygen saturation (r = -0.179, p = 0.012). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may be used to determine disease severity, complementing polysomnography.

Speech disorders did not correlate with age at onset of Parkinson's disease.

PubMed

Dias, Alice Estevo; Barbosa, Maira Tonidandel; Limongi, João Carlos Papaterra; Barbosa, Egberto Reis

2016-02-01

Speech disorders are common manifestations of Parkinson´s disease. Objective To compare speech articulation in patients according to age at onset of the disease. Methods Fifty patients was divided into two groups: Group I consisted of 30 patients with age at onset between 40 and 55 years; Group II consisted of 20 patients with age at onset after 65 years. All patients were evaluated based on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale scores, Hoehn and Yahr scale and speech evaluation by perceptual and acoustical analysis. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding neurological involvement and speech characteristics. Correlation analysis indicated differences in speech articulation in relation to staging and axial scores of rigidity and bradykinesia for middle and late-onset. Conclusions Impairment of speech articulation did not correlate with age at onset of disease, but was positively related with disease duration and higher scores in both groups.

Correlation of Orthodontic Treatment by Fixed or Myofunctional Appliances and Periodontitis: A Retrospective Study.

PubMed

Sharma, Kanchan; Mangat, Sukhpreet; Kichorchandra, Modi S; Handa, Akash; Bindhumadhav, Suresh; Meena, Meenakshi

2017-04-01

Malocclusion plays an important role in the development of periodontitis. Thus, by treating malocclusion, a good gingival health can be achieved. This study was conducted to establish the correlation between orthodontic tooth movement and periodontitis. This is a retrospective study conducted on 220 patients who underwent orthodontic treatment for malocclusion. They were divided into two groups: Group I patients were treated with fixed orthodontics, while group II patients received myofunctional appliances. The value for plaque, gingival recession, and tooth mobility significantly increased in group I patients. However, the difference was statistically nonsignificant in group II patients. The authors concluded that there is correlation between malocclusion and periodontitis. Malocclusion leads to periodontitis. Malocclusion is the main reason for the development of poor periodontal health. Combined effort has to be played by both periodontist and orthodontist for the treatment of various orthodontic-periodontal problems.

Complex Sentence Comprehension and Working Memory in Children With Specific Language Impairment

PubMed Central

Montgomery, James W.; Evans, Julia L.

2015-01-01

Purpose This study investigated the association of 2 mechanisms of working memory (phonological short-term memory [PSTM], attentional resource capacity/allocation) with the sentence comprehension of school-age children with specific language impairment (SLI) and 2 groups of control children. Method Twenty-four children with SLI, 18 age-matched (CA) children, and 16 language- and memory-matched (LMM) children completed a nonword repetition task (PSTM), the competing language processing task (CLPT; resource capacity/allocation), and a sentence comprehension task comprising complex and simple sentences. Results (1) The SLI group performed worse than the CA group on each memory task; (2) all 3 groups showed comparable simple sentence comprehension, but for complex sentences, the SLI and LMM groups performed worse than the CA group; (3) for the SLI group, (a) CLPT correlated with complex sentence comprehension, and (b) nonword repetition correlated with simple sentence comprehension; (4) for CA children, neither memory variable correlated with either sentence type; and (5) for LMM children, only CLPT correlated with complex sentences. Conclusions Comprehension of both complex and simple grammar by school-age children with SLI is a mentally demanding activity, requiring significant working memory resources. PMID:18723601

Evaluation of the hemodynamics and right ventricular function in pulmonary hypertension by echocardiography compared with right-sided heart catheterization

PubMed Central

Li, Yidan; Wang, Yidan; Li, Hong; Zhu, Weiwei; Meng, Xiangli; Lu, Xiuzhang

2017-01-01

The present study aimed to evaluate hemodynamics and right ventricular function in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) using transthoracic echocardiography and to compare these results with measurements obtained using right-sided heart catheterization (RHC). A total of 75 patients with PH were examined using echocardiography and RHC. Patients were divided into the following two groups according to their difference between SPAPecho and SPAPRHC measurement: The overestimated group and underestimated group. The overestimated group included the subgroups groupover-A (difference <20 mmHg) and groupover-B (difference ≥20 mmHg), and the underestimated group included groupunder-A (absolute value of the difference <20 mmHg) and groupunder-B (absolute value of the difference ≥20 mmHg). SPAPecho measurements were revealed to be significantly positively correlated with SPAPRHC measurements (r=0.794; P<0.01). Among all echocardiographic measurements, only tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) was significantly different between groups; it was increased in groupover-A and groupunder-A compared with groupover-B (P<0.01). Although SPAP measurements obtained using echocardiography were significantly positively correlated with those obtained using RHC, a high proportion of overestimation or underestimation of SPAP by echocardiography remained. PMID:29042956

Plasma homocysteine is associated with increased oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity in welders.

PubMed

Liu, Hung-Hsin; Shih, Tung-Sheng; Huang, Hsin-Ru; Huang, Shih-Chien; Lee, Lien-Hsiung; Huang, Yi-Chia

2013-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the association of vitamin B6 status and plasma homocysteine with oxidative stress and antioxidant capacities in welders. Workers were divided into either the welding exposure group (n = 57) or the nonexposure controls (n = 42) based on whether they were employed as welders. There were no significant differences in vitamin B₆ status and plasma homocysteine concentration between the welding exposure group and the nonexposure controls. The welding exposure group had significantly higher levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lower erythrocyte glutathione concentration and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities when compared to nonexposure controls. Plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate concentration did not correlate with oxidative stress indicators or antioxidant capacities in either group. However, plasma homocysteine significantly correlated with total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (partial r(s) = -0.34, P < 0.05) and erythrocyte SOD activities (partial r(s) = 0.29, P < 0.05) after adjusting for potential confounders in the welding exposure group. In the welding exposure group, adequate vitamin B₆ status was not associated with oxidative stress or antioxidant capacities. However, elevated plasma homocysteine seemed to be a major contributing factor to antioxidant capacities (TAC and erythrocyte SOD activities) in welders.

Salience Network and Depressive Severities in Parkinson's Disease with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Structural Covariance Network Analysis.

PubMed

Chang, Ya-Ting; Lu, Cheng-Hsien; Wu, Ming-Kung; Hsu, Shih-Wei; Huang, Chi-Wei; Chang, Wen-Neng; Lien, Chia-Yi; Lee, Jun-Jun; Chang, Chiung-Chih

2017-01-01

Purpose: In Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), we investigated the clinical significance of salience network (SN) in depression and cognitive performance. Methods: Seventy seven PD-MCI patients that fulfilled multi-domain and non-amnestic subtype were included. Gray matter structural covariance networks were constructed by 3D T1-magnetic resonance imaging and seed based analysis. The patients were divided into two groups by psychiatric interviews and screening of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): PD-MCI with depression (PD-MCI-D) or without depression (PD-MCI-ND). The seed or peak cluster volume, or the significant differences in the regression slopes in each seed-peak cluster correlation, were used to evaluate the significance with the neurobehavioral scores. Results: This study is the first to demonstrate that the PD-MCI-ND group presented a larger number of voxels of structural covariance in SN than the PD-MCI-D group. The right fronto-insular seed volumes and the peak cluster of left lingual gyrus showed significant inverse correlation with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS; r = -0.231, P = 0.046). Conclusions: This study is the first to validate the clinical significance of the SN in PD-MCI-D. The right insular seed value and the SN correlated with the severity of depression in PD-MCI.

Salience Network and Depressive Severities in Parkinson’s Disease with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Structural Covariance Network Analysis

PubMed Central

Chang, Ya-Ting; Lu, Cheng-Hsien; Wu, Ming-Kung; Hsu, Shih-Wei; Huang, Chi-Wei; Chang, Wen-Neng; Lien, Chia-Yi; Lee, Jun-Jun; Chang, Chiung-Chih

2018-01-01

Purpose: In Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), we investigated the clinical significance of salience network (SN) in depression and cognitive performance. Methods: Seventy seven PD-MCI patients that fulfilled multi-domain and non-amnestic subtype were included. Gray matter structural covariance networks were constructed by 3D T1-magnetic resonance imaging and seed based analysis. The patients were divided into two groups by psychiatric interviews and screening of Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS): PD-MCI with depression (PD-MCI-D) or without depression (PD-MCI-ND). The seed or peak cluster volume, or the significant differences in the regression slopes in each seed-peak cluster correlation, were used to evaluate the significance with the neurobehavioral scores. Results: This study is the first to demonstrate that the PD-MCI-ND group presented a larger number of voxels of structural covariance in SN than the PD-MCI-D group. The right fronto-insular seed volumes and the peak cluster of left lingual gyrus showed significant inverse correlation with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS; r = -0.231, P = 0.046). Conclusions: This study is the first to validate the clinical significance of the SN in PD-MCI-D. The right insular seed value and the SN correlated with the severity of depression in PD-MCI. PMID:29375361

Physiological correlates of skating performance in women's and men's ice hockey.

PubMed

Gilenstam, Kajsa M; Thorsen, Kim; Henriksson-Larsén, Karin B

2011-08-01

The purpose of the current investigation was to identify relationships between physiological off-ice tests and on-ice performance in female and male ice hockey players on a comparable competitive level. Eleven women, 24 ± 3.0 years, and 10 male ice hockey players, 23 ± 2.4 years, were tested for background variables: height, body weight (BW), ice hockey history, and lean body mass (LBM) and peak torque (PT) of the thigh muscles, VO2peak and aerobic performance (Onset of Blood Lactate Accumulation [OBLA], respiratory exchange ratio [RER1]) during an incremental bicycle ergometer test. Four different on-ice tests were used to measure ice skating performance. For women, skating time was positively correlated (p < 0.05) to BW and negatively correlated to LBM%, PT/BW, OBLA, RER 1, and VO2peak (ml O2·kg(-1) BW(-1)·min(-1)) in the Speed test. Acceleration test was positively correlated to BW and negatively correlated to OBLA and RER 1. For men, correlation analysis revealed only 1 significant correlation where skating time was positively correlated to VO2peak (L O2·min(-1)) in the Acceleration test. The male group had significantly higher physiological test values in all variables (absolute and relative to BW) but not in relation to LBM. Selected off-ice tests predict skating performance for women but not for men. The group of women was significantly smaller and had a lower physiological performance than the group of men and were slower in the on-ice performance tests. However, gender differences in off-ice variables were reduced or disappeared when values were related to LBM, indicating a similar capacity of producing strength and aerobic power in female and male hockey players. Skating performance in female hockey players may be improved by increasing thigh muscle strength, oxygen uptake, and relative muscle mass.

Tear menisci after laser in situ keratomileusis with mechanical microkeratome and femtosecond laser.

PubMed

Xie, Wenjia; Zhang, Dong; Chen, Jia; Liu, Jing; Yu, Ye; Hu, Liang

2014-08-21

To investigate the effect on tear menisci after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with flap creation by either microkeratome or femtosecond laser. Sixty eyes of 30 myopes were analyzed. Fifteen patients underwent LASIK with Moria II microkeratome, and the other 15 patients with 60-KHz IntraLase femtosecond laser. Upper and lower tear meniscus parameters of height (UTMH, LTMH) and area (UTMA, LTMA) were measured by SD-OCT preoperatively and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months postoperatively. Compared with the baseline values, all tear meniscus parameters decreased significantly at each postoperative time point (all P < 0.01) in both groups. LTMH increased significantly between 1 week and 1 month and between 1 and 3 months after surgery in the microkeratome (both P < 0.01) and femtosecond laser groups (P < 0.01, P = 0.012, respectively). There were significant increases in LTMA between 1 week and 1 month after surgery in the microkeratome group (P < 0.01) and in the femtosecond laser group (P = 0.028). There were no significant differences in UTMH, UTMA, LTMH, or LTMA between two groups. The depth of ablation was negatively correlated with the LTMA at 1 week after surgery (R = -0.256, P = 0.049) for all patients. There were no significant differences in the tear meniscus parameters between the microkeratome and femtosecond laser groups. The depth of ablation was significantly correlated with the LTMA only at 1 week after surgery. Copyright 2014 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc.

Hallux abductus interphalangeus in normal feet, early-stage hallux limitus, and hallux valgus.

PubMed

Castillo-Lopez, Jose M; Ramos-Ortega, Javier; Reina-Bueno, Maria; Domínguez-Maldonado, Gabriel; Palomo-Toucedo, Inmaculada C; Munuera, Pedro V

2014-03-01

Excessive deviation of the distal phalanx in abduction frequently occurs in advanced stages of hallux rigidus but not in hallux valgus. Therefore, theoretically there should be no significant differences in the hallux interphalangeal angle (HIPA) between individuals with normal feet, those with hallux valgus, and those with mild hallux limitus. The objective of the present study was thus to determine if significant differences in HIPA exist in the early stages of hallux valgus or hallux limitus deformities. The hallux interphalangeal angle was measured in three groups of participants: a control group with normal feet (45 participants), a hallux valgus group (49 participants), and a hallux limitus group (48 participants). Both of the pathologies were at an early stage. A dorsoplantar radiograph under weightbearing conditions was taken for each individual, and measurements (HIPA and hallux abductus angle [HAA]) were taken using AutoCAD (Autodesk Inc, San Rafael, California) software. Intergroup comparisons of HIPA, and correlations between HIPA, HAA, and hallux dorsiflexion were calculated. The comparisons revealed no significant differences in the values of HIPA between any of the groups (15.2 ± 5.9 degrees in the control group, 15.5 ± 3.9 degrees in the hallux valgus group, and 16.15 ± 4.3 in the hallux limitus group; P  =  0.634). The Pearson correlation coefficients in particular showed no correlation between hallux dorsiflexion, HAA, and HIPA. For the study participants, there were similar deviations of the distal phalanx of the hallux with respect to the proximal phalanx in normal feet and in feet with the early stages of the hallux limitus and hallux valgus deformities.

Expression levels of the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand and osteoprotegerin and the number of gram-negative bacteria in symptomatic and asymptomatic periapical lesions.

PubMed

Carneiro, E; Parolin, A B; Wichnieski, C; Rosa, E A R; Silva Neto, U X; Westphalen, V P D; Fariniuk, L F; Johann, A C B R

2017-01-01

The study aimed to verify the potential correlation between the detected amount of gram-negative bacteria and the radiographic sizes of the lesions in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic apical periodontitis. Furthermore, to evaluate whether the expression of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) and the RANKL/OPG ratio are differentially regulated in both groups. Twenty patients with periapical lesions were divided into two groups: symptomatic (SYM) n=10 and asymptomatic (ASYM) n=10. After periapical surgery, the lesions were collected and processed for histological examination, and immunohistochemistry. The percentage of RANKL- and OPG-immunopositive areas relative to the total area of the microscopic field was calculated. For gram staining, the number of gram-negative cells per microscopic field was assessed. The radiographs of each patient were processed and measured. The Student's t-test and the Pearson correlation coefficient were performed. The SYM group showed a significantly higher number of gram-negative cells (p=0.007) when compared to the ASYM group. A higher number of gram-negative bacteria occurred more frequently in larger periapical lesions and the SYM group (p=0.03). The expression for RANKL and OPG and the RANKL/OPG ratio were not significantly different between the groups. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of bacteria and OPG levels in the SYM group (p=0.01). The number of bacteria seems to influence the symptoms and the radiographic size of a periapical lesion. Gram-negative bacteria may play an important role in OPG activity in the SYM group. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural correlates of literacy difficulties in the second language: Evidence from Mandarin-speaking children learning English.

PubMed

Li, Hehui; Booth, James R; Bélanger, Nathalie N; Feng, Xiaoxia; Tian, Mengyu; Xie, Weiyi; Zhang, Manli; Gao, Yue; Ang, Chen; Yang, Xiujie; Liu, Li; Meng, Xiangzhi; Ding, Guosheng

2018-06-12

Several neuroimaging studies have explored the neural basis of literacy difficulties in the second language (L2). However, it remains unclear whether the associated neural alterations are related to literacy abilities in the first language (L1). Using magnetic resonance imaging, we explore this issue with two experiments in Mandarin-speaking children learning English as second language. In the first experiment, we investigated children with literacy difficulties in L2 and L1 (poor in both, PB) and children with literacy difficulties only in L2 (poor in English, PE). We compared the brain structure in these two groups to a control literacy (CL) group. The results showed that the CL group had significantly less gray matter volume in the left supramarginal gyrus compared to the PB group and moderately less gray matter volume compared to the PE group. In addition, the PB group had significant greater gray matter volume in the left medial fusiform gyrus compared to the PE group and had marginally greater gray matter volume compared to the CL group. In the second experiment, we explored the relationship between the two atypical regions and literacy abilities in the two languages in an independent sample consisting of children with typical literacy. Correlation analyses revealed that the left supramarginal gyrus was significantly associated with literacy performance only in the second language, English, whereas the left medial fusiform gyrus did not correlate with the performances in either L1 or L2. Taken together, these findings suggest that literacy difficulties in an alphabetic L2 are associated with a structural abnormality in the left supramarginal gyrus, a region implicated in phonological processing, which is independent of literacy abilities in the native language. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Soluble Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1 as a Novel Marker for Abdominal Sepsis.

PubMed

Song, Xiaofei; Song, Yucheng; Zhang, Xuedong; Xue, Huanzhou

2017-07-01

The aim of the study was to investigate the concentration and diagnostic significance of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in acute abdominal conditions. Plasma specimens were obtained from 68 patients with abdominal sepsis, 60 patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and 60 healthy individuals. The sepsis group was divided into the survival and death groups according to the 28-d outcome. Plasma sTREM-1, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) count were measured. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to compare the diagnostic values of sTREM-1, PCT, CRP, and WBC count. In addition, the correlation between plasma sTREM-1 and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score in the sepsis group was assessed by Spearman correlation analysis. The plasma concentration of sTREM-1 in the sepsis group was significantly higher than that in the SIRS and healthy groups (both p < 0.001). Also, the plasma concentration of sTREM-1 in the death group was markedly higher than that in the survival group. The ROC for the diagnosis of sepsis vs. SIRS showed that the area under the curve of sTREM-1 (0.82) was greater than that of PCT (0.77), CRP (0.72), and WBC count (0.70). Additionally, in the sepsis group, the plasma sTREM-1 concentration correlated positively with the APACHE II score (r = 0.41; p < 0.05). The plasma concentration of sTREM-1 may be a significantly sensitive and useful indicator for the rapid diagnosis of abdominal sepsis.

Role of APN and TNF-α in type 2 diabetes mellitus complicated by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

PubMed

Lin, X; Zhang, Z; Chen, J M; Xu, Y Y; Ye, H R; Cui, J; Fang, Y; Jin, Y; Zhu, D R; Yuan, L

2015-04-10

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease caused by non-excessive alcohol consumption and is the most common cause of elevated levels of serum liver enzymes. We examined changes in adiponectin (APN) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) complicated by NAFLD and their relationships with insulin resistance (IR). Forty-two T2DM, 39 NAFLD, and 45 T2DM complicated with NAFLD (complicated group) patients were enrolled in this study. Body mass index, fasting blood plasma glucose (FPG), fasting insulin, triglyceride (TG), alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, APN, TNF-α, and homeostasis model of assessment (HOMA)-IR were determined. The degree of fatty liver was graded according to liver/spleen computed tomography ratio and intrahepatic vessel manifestations. Compared with the T2DM and NAFLD groups, fasting blood plasma glucose, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, TG, TNF-α, and HOMA-IR in the complicated group were significantly increased, while APN was significantly reduced. Body mass index in the complicated group was significantly higher than in the T2DM group. The complicated group was prone to severe fatty liver compared with the NAFLD group. APN was negatively correlated with body mass index, fasting blood plasma glucose, TG, TNF-α, and HOMA-IR. TNF-α was negatively correlated with APN, but positively correlated with FPG, fasting insulin, TG, and HOMA-IR. The complicated group had clear IR. A more severe degree of fatty liver was associated with higher HOMA-IR and TNF-α and lower APN. APN was an important factor for antagonizing inflammation and mitigating IR.

Graph theory analysis of cortical thickness networks in adolescents with d-transposition of the great arteries.

PubMed

Watson, Christopher G; Stopp, Christian; Newburger, Jane W; Rivkin, Michael J

2018-02-01

Adolescents with d-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) who had the arterial switch operation in infancy have been found to have structural brain differences compared to healthy controls. We used cortical thickness measurements obtained from structural brain MRI to determine group differences in global brain organization using a graph theoretical approach. Ninety-two d-TGA subjects and 49 controls were scanned using one of two identical 1.5-Tesla MRI systems. Mean cortical thickness was obtained from 34 regions per hemisphere using Freesurfer. A linear model was used for each brain region to adjust for subject age, sex, and scanning location. Structural connectivity for each group was inferred based on the presence of high inter-regional correlations of the linear model residuals, and binary connectivity matrices were created by thresholding over a range of correlation values for each group. Graph theory analysis was performed using packages in R. Permutation tests were performed to determine significance of between-group differences in global network measures. Within-group connectivity patterns were qualitatively different between groups. At lower network densities, controls had significantly more long-range connections. The location and number of hub regions differed between groups: controls had a greater number of hubs at most network densities. The control network had a significant rightward asymmetry compared to the d-TGA group at all network densities. Using graph theory analysis of cortical thickness correlations, we found differences in brain structural network organization among d-TGA adolescents compared to controls. These may be related to the white matter and gray matter differences previously found in this cohort, and in turn may be related to the cognitive deficits this cohort presents.

Efficacy of regional saturation of oxygen monitor using near-infrared spectroscopy for lower limb ischemia during minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

PubMed

Toya, Teppei; Fujita, Tomoyuki; Fukushima, Satuki; Shimahara, Yusuke; Kume, Yuta; Yamashita, Kizuku; Matsumoto, Yorihiko; Kawamoto, Naonori; Kobayashi, Junjiro

2018-06-25

Lower limb ischemia with an occlusive cannula is a potential complication of minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS). We evaluated intraoperative local oxygen supply-demand balance by monitoring regional saturation of oxygen (rSO 2 ) using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and analyzed the correlation between cannula size and fluctuation range of rSO 2 . Fifty-four patients undergoing MICS surgery using femoral artery cannulation from April 2015 to August 2016 were enrolled. The rSO 2 of both the cannulated and uncannulated lower limbs were measured using NIRS. The association between the decline of rSO 2 from baseline (delta-rSO 2 ) and the ratio of the cannula diameter to the femoral artery diameter (Cd/FAd) was analyzed. Of the 54 patients, 16 (30%) (Group 1) showed values over 0.65 for Cd/FAd, and the remaining 38 (70%) (Group 2) showed values under 0.65. No patient developed postoperative lower limb ischemia. No patient was treated with an ipsilateral distal perfusion cannula. There were significant differences between Group 1 and Group 2 in the decrease of rSO 2 at the point of cannulation on the cannulated limb. In the lower limb on the cannulated side, delta-rSO 2 showed a significant decrease in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (Group 1 vs Group 2: 19.9 vs 11.0%; p < 0.001). Delta-rSO 2 was significantly correlated with body surface aera (BSA), but not with gender or age. Decreasing rSO 2 correlates with the Cd/FAd index. Low BSA, Cd/Fad > 0.65 is considered as the risk factor for decline of rSO 2 in cannulated limb in MICS.

Evaluation of genetic damage in tobacco and arsenic exposed population of Southern Assam, India using buccal cytome assay and comet assay.

PubMed

Roy, Prasenjit; Mukherjee, Anita; Giri, Sarbani

2016-02-01

Ground water is the principal source of drinking water in Assam. Ground water contamination of arsenic in drinking water is a great concern for human health and considered as a human carcinogen. The present cytogenetic biomonitoring study was undertaken to investigate the genotoxic effects associated with people of southern Assam consuming arsenic contaminated water and chewing tobacco. Employing the buccal cytome assay, exfoliated cells were analyzed in 138 individuals of age range 22-42 years and divided into four groups. Group I (n=54) are participants residing in localities where ground water contains arsenic concentration below the permissible limit (<10μg/l) and without any tobacco chewing history. Group II (n=32) participants from the same area but they are tobacco chewers. Group III (n=24) participants from localities where significantly high arsenic contamination in ground water were observed. Whereas the Group IV (n=28) consists of participants from the arsenic contaminated area and also tobacco chewers. Body mass index (BMI) in all the groups are found to be nearly same and in normal range. Statistically significant (P<0.001) increase in genotoxic, cell death parameters and cell proliferation biomarkers were observed in the Group IV compared to other groups. In the comet assay, percent of tail DNA gradually increases among the groups and has statistical significance. Spearman correlation revealed strong positive correlation between the arsenic exposed peoples and the binucleated cells (r=0.4763; P<0.001). Amount of chewing tobacco had significant positive correlation with micronucleus frequency (r=0.268; P<0.05) and karyolitic cells (r=0.217; P<0.05) and also in the percentage of tail DNA (r=0.5532, P<0.001). A statistically significant increase in glucose content and decrease in hemoglobin content as well as acetylcholine esterase in the blood of exposed individuals was observed. Our preliminary study indicate that population exposed to arsenic through drinking water may become more susceptible towards chewing tobacco induced nuclear damage as evaluated by buccal cytome assay and comet assay. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Caregiver Burden in Semantic Dementia with Right- and Left-Sided Predominant Cerebral Atrophy and in Behavioral-Variant Frontotemporal Dementia.

PubMed

Koyama, Asuka; Hashimoto, Mamoru; Fukuhara, Ryuji; Ichimi, Naoko; Takasaki, Akihiro; Matsushita, Masateru; Ishikawa, Tomohisa; Tanaka, Hibiki; Miyagawa, Yusuke; Ikeda, Manabu

2018-01-01

Caregiver burden is a serious concern for family caregivers of dementia patients, but its nature is unclear in patients with semantic dementia (SD). This study aimed to clarify caregiver burden for right- (R > L) and left-sided (L > R) predominant SD versus behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) patients. Using the Japanese version of the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, we examined caregiver burden and behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in 43 first-visit outpatient/family caregiver dyads (bvFTD, 20 dyads; SD [L > R], 13 dyads; SD [R > L], 10 dyads). We found a significant difference in ZBI score between the 3 diagnostic groups. Post hoc tests revealed a significantly higher ZBI score in the bvFTD than in the SD (L > R) group. The ZBI scores in the SD (L > R) and SD (R > L) groups were not significantly different, although the effect size was large. Caregiver burden was significantly correlated with BPSD scores in all groups and was correlated with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living decline in the bvFTD and SD (R > L) groups. Caregiver burden was highest in the bvFTD group, comparatively high in the SD (R > L) group, and lowest in the SD (L > R) group. Adequate support and intervention for caregivers should be tailored to differences in caregiver burden between these patient groups.

Growth in patients with isolated gonadotrophin deficiency.

PubMed Central

Dickerman, Z; Cohen, A; Laron, Z

1992-01-01

The growth pattern of 66 patients (50 males, 16 females) with isolated gonadotrophin deficiency (IGnD), who had reached their final height with epiphyseal closure, was evaluated. For the purpose of analysis the males were divided into two groups according to age at referral: group 1 less than 16 years (n = 23) and group 2 greater than or equal to 16 years (n = 27). Sex hormone treatment was initiated at a mean (SD) chronological age of 15.8 (1.3) and 18.6 (1.2) years in groups 1 and 2 in the males and at 15.3 (1.3) years in the females. The duration of treatment (until epiphyseal closure) in the males was 3.9 (1.5) years in group 1 and 2.1 (1.0) years in group 2 and 2.8 (1.3) years in the females. There was no significant difference between the mean final height in groups 1 and 2, but it was significantly higher than the mean parental height (mean height SD score (HtSDS): 0.1 (1.1) v -0.8 (0.9)) and they were significantly correlated. For females the mean HtSDS compared with parental height was 0.4 (1.5) v -0.6 (1.2). It is concluded that the timing of induction of puberty by sex hormones in males and females with IGnD has no significant effect on final height provided that moderate doses are used. Furthermore final height was significantly correlated to mid-parental height. PMID:1580683

Relationship between platelet phospholipid FA and mean platelet volume in healthy men.

PubMed

Li, Duo; Turner, Alan; Sinclair, Andrew J

2002-09-01

Increased mean platelet volume (MPV) has been suggested as an independent risk factor for acute myocardial infarction and the increased reactivity of large platelets. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between platelet phospholipid (PL) PUFA composition and MPV in 139 free-living healthy men ages 20-55 yr (vegans, n = 18; ovolacto vegetarians, n = 43; moderate meat-eaters, n = 60; and high meateaters, n = 18). Each subject completed a semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire and gave a blood sample. Platelet PL FA composition and MPV were determined by standard methods. MPV was significantly greater in the vegans than in the ovolacto vegetarian, moderate, or high meat-eater groups (P < 0.01). Both vegan and ovolacto vegetarian groups had significantly higher platelet PL 18:2n-6 and 22:4n-6, and lower 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 compared with the moderate and high meat-eater groups. The vegans demonstrated a significant reduction in 20:4n-6 and 22:5n-3 compared with the ovolacto vegetarian, high meat-eater, and moderate meat-eater groups. Bivariate analysis results showed that MPV was significantly positively correlated with platelet PL 18:2n-6 (P = 0.048) and negatively correlated with 20:3n-6 (P = 0.02), 20:5n-3 (P = 0.005), and 22:5n-3 (P< 0.0001), respectively. In a multiple linear regression analysis, after controlling for potential confounding factors such as dietary group, age, exercise, body mass index, and dietary polyunsaturated and saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrate, and fiber intake, the MPV was still strongly negatively correlated with platelet PL 20:3n-6 (P = 0.003) and 22:5n-3 (P = 0.001). The present data suggest that 22:5n-3 and 20:3n-6 may play a role in the structural function of the platelet membrane.

Changes in anxiety following a randomized control trial of a theatre-based intervention for youth with autism spectrum disorder.

PubMed

Corbett, Blythe A; Blain, Scott D; Ioannou, Sara; Balser, Maddie

2017-04-01

Increased anxiety and stress are frequently found in children with autism spectrum disorder and are associated with social challenges. Recently, we reported changes in social competence following peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the intervention on reducing anxiety and stress. Participants included 30 youth with autism spectrum disorder (8-14 years old) randomly assigned to the experimental (17) or waitlist control (13) group. Pretest adjusted, between-group differences were analyzed for state-anxiety, trait-anxiety, play-based cortisol, and diurnal cortisol. Pearson correlations were conducted between anxiety, cortisol, and group play. Significant pretest-adjusted between-group differences at posttest were observed on trait-anxiety (F(1, 27) = 9.16, p = 0.005) but not state-anxiety (F(1, 27) = 0.03, p = 0.86), showing lower trait-anxiety in the experimental group. There were no between-group differences on cortisol. There was a significant negative correlation between group play and trait-anxiety (r = -0.362, p = 0.05). Playground cortisol correlated with group play, for the experimental group (r = 0.55, p = 0.03). The theatre-based, peer-mediated intervention not only contributes to improvement in social competence in youth with autism spectrum disorder but also contributes to reductions in trait-anxiety associated with more social interaction with peers. Results suggest that some degree of physiological arousal is essential for social interaction.

Changes in anxiety following a randomized control trial of a theatre-based intervention for youth with autism spectrum disorder

PubMed Central

Corbett, Blythe A.; Blain, Scott D.; Ioannou, Sara; Balser, Maddie

2017-01-01

Increased anxiety and stress are frequently found in children with autism spectrum disorder and are associated with social challenges. Recently, we reported changes in social competence following peer-mediated, theatre-based intervention. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of the intervention on reducing anxiety and stress. Participants included 30 youth with autism spectrum disorder (8–14years old) randomly assigned to the experimental (17) or waitlist control (13) group. Pretest adjusted, between-group differences were analyzed for state-anxiety, trait-anxiety, play-based cortisol, and diurnal cortisol. Pearson correlations were conducted between anxiety, cortisol, and group play. Significant pretest-adjusted between-group differences at posttest were observed on trait-anxiety (F(1, 27) = 9.16, p=0.005) but not state-anxiety (F(1, 27)=0.03, p=0.86), showing lower trait-anxiety in the experimental group. There were no between-group differences on cortisol. There was a significant negative correlation between group play and trait-anxiety (r=−0.362, p=0.05). Playground cortisol correlated with group play, for the experimental group (r=0.55, p=0.03). The theatre-based, peer-mediated intervention not only contributes to improvement in social competence in youth with autism spectrum disorder but also contributes to reductions in trait-anxiety associated with more social interaction with peers. Results suggest that some degree of physiological arousal is essential for social interaction. PMID:27154909

The Prognostic Value of Soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 Plasma Level in Children With Acute Lung Injury.

PubMed

Al-Biltagi, Mohammed A; Abo-Elezz, Ahmed Ahmed Abd ElBasset; Abu-Ela, Khaled Talaat; Suliman, Ghada Abudelmomen; Sultan, Tamer Gomaa Hassan

2017-06-01

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1) measurement in plasma for the prediction of outcome of acute lung injury (ALI) in children that may allow early recognition of critical cases. The study was performed as a prospective, controlled cohort study involving 40 children with ALI and 30 healthy children. The plasma level of sICAM-1 was measured at days 1 and 3 of development of ALI for the patient group and measured only once for the control group. C-Reactive protein was measured in both groups on day 1 only. There was significant increase in sICAM-1 in the patient group than in the control group ( P = .001*). The mortality rate reached 55% in children with ALI. The ceased group had significantly higher plasma sICAM-1 levels both at days 1 and 3 than the survived group ( P < .001*), and there was positive correlation between plasma sICAM-1 level and both duration of mechanical ventilation and the death rate, but more significant correlation was observed with plasma sICAM-1 levels at day 3 than day 1. Plasma sICAM-1 level served as a good predictor biomarker for both mechanical ventilation duration and the mortality risk in children with ALI.

Brain-behaviour relationships in people at high genetic risk of schizophrenia.

PubMed

Lymer, G Katherine S; Job, Dominic E; William, T; Moorhead, J; McIntosh, Andrew M; Owens, David G C; Johnstone, Eve C; Lawrie, Stephen M

2006-10-15

The brain is known to be structurally abnormal in schizophrenia, with replicated findings between anatomical deficits and some dysfunctions. These structure-function associations have, however, only very rarely been studied in relatives at risk of schizophrenia. We studied the relationships between structure and schizotypal features (assessed using RISC and SIS) and verbal learning and memory (measured using RAVLT) in relatives at high risk of developing schizophrenia and normal controls. Since these behavioural test scores are strong predictors of schizophrenia in the Edinburgh High Risk Study, we hypothesised that these relationships would differ between those high-risk subjects who will develop schizophrenia from those who will not. We performed multiple regressions of the grey matter segments of the subjects and controls, produced using grey matter optimised, voxel-based morphometry, with their RAVLT, SIS and RISC scores in SPM. Where significant relationships were found, we used SPSS to test for subject group by behavioural score interactions. In those high-risk subjects who became ill, grey matter density (GMD) was significantly correlated with RISC in the left superior temporal gyrus. In subjects who remained well, SIS was significantly correlated with GMD in the right pulvinar. Across the whole HR group, GMD in the right medial dorsal thalamic nucleus was significantly correlated with RAVLT. In those subjects who developed symptoms, RAVLT significantly correlated with GMD in right parahippocampal gyrus whereas in those who became ill, significant correlations existed bilaterally in the pulvinar. These results suggest complex and changing patterns of structural-functional relationships in those subjects at high-risk of schizophrenia.

Polychlorinated biphenyl exposure and effects in transformer repair workers.

PubMed Central

Emmett, E A

1985-01-01

Fifty-five present and past transformer repair workers exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 56 unexposed comparison workers were evaluated in a clinical-epidemiologic study. The groups were similar in most demographic variables. Adipose tissue lipid and serum PCBs concentrations were higher in current exposed workers (geometric means adipose 2.1 ppm, serum 12.2 ppb). Concentrations in comparison (0.6 ppm and 4.6 ppb) and previously exposed (0.83 ppm and 5.9 ppb) workers were lower. Statistically significant differences in serum albumin and lactic dehydrogenase, but not in other liver function tests, were seen between the exposed and comparison groups; however, after adjustment for confounding variables, no correlations were observed between liver function tests and either adipose or serum PCBs concentrations. Statistically significant correlation both before and after adjustment for confounding variables were seen with adipose PCBs and 24-hr urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroid excretion and with serum PCBs and serum gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Both associations could reflect microsomal enzyme induction among other possibilities. No differences were seen in fasting serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL, HDL or VLDL cholesterol between the two exposure groups. A statistically significant correlation between serum PCBs and serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and VLDL cholesterol was removed by adjusting for confounding variables. No correlation was seen between adipose PCBs concentrations and any serum lipid component. Partition phenomena could account for these findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:2863134

Uric acid and the cardiovascular profile of African and Caucasian men.

PubMed

Palmer, I M; Schutte, A E; Huisman, H W

2010-10-01

The African population is considered a high-risk group for the development of hypertension, and identifying risk factors are therefore essential in preventive actions against cardiovascular disease (CVD). Elevated levels of uric acid (UA) are often associated with CVD. Our first aim was to establish possible ethnic differences in UA levels between African and Caucasian men. Our second aim was to determine any associations between UA levels and cardio-metabolic variables, and also how these correlates differ between the two groups. African (N=87) and Caucasian (N=121) men participated in this cross-sectional study. Our results have shown that African men had significantly lower (353±87.7 vs 401±98.2; P<0.01) UA levels compared with Caucasian men. Waist circumference and triglycerides correlated strongly with UA in both ethnic groups. This was confirmed with a forward stepwise multiple regression analysis. After adjustment for confounders, the correlation between UA and triglycerides remained significant only in the Caucasians (r=0.29; P=0.02), whereas only the African men showed an independent correlation between UA and total peripheral resistance (TPR) (r=0.23; P=0.04). TPR increased significantly across UA tertiles only in the African men (P=0.01 vs P=0.96). In conclusion, despite their lower UA levels, Africans showed an independent relationship between UA and vascular resistance, indicating a possible explanation for their high prevalence of hypertension.

Relationships between salivary free testosterone and the expression of force and power in elite athletes.

PubMed

Crewther, B T; Kilduff, L P; Cook, C J; Cunningham, D J; Bunce, P; Bracken, R M; Gaviglio, C M

2012-04-01

This study examined the predictive relationships between the salivary free testosterone (T) concentrations of elite athletes and the expression of force and power. A group of elite male rugby players (N.=64) were assessed for peak force (PF), peak rate of force development (PRFD), force at 100 milliseconds (F100 ms) and 250 milliseconds (F250 ms) during an isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and/or peak power (PP) and height during a countermovement jump (CMJ). Saliva samples were collected before testing and assayed for free T. Relationships between individual T concentrations and performance were assessed as a pooled group and 4 sub-groups of equal size. As pooled data sets, none of the IMTP and CMJ performance variables were significantly correlated with free T in either the PF or PP groups (r=0.01-0.23). The PF and PP abilities of the 4 sub-groups were significantly different, so that PF1>PF2>PF3>PF4 (P<0.001) and PP1>PP2>PP3>PP4 (P<0.01). When the 4 sub-groups were analysed, the T concentrations of the PF4 group were significantly (P<0.05-0.01) correlated to PRFD (r=0.69) and F100 ms (r=0.55) during the IMTP, as was F100 ms in the PF1 group (r=0.66). In the PP1 group, free T also correlated to CMJ height (r=0.62). The key conclusion is that the expression of force and power in an elite athletic group may be dependent, to some extent, on individual variation in salivary free T concentrations and existing strength or power levels. The current results also confirm that the grouping of elite athletes of mixed strength or power ability may bias predictive results in a manner not reflective of sub-groups within this population.

Can the biliary enhancement of Gd-EOB-DTPA predict the degree of liver function?

PubMed

Okada, Masahiro; Ishii, Kazunari; Numata, Kazushi; Hyodo, Tomoko; Kumano, Seishi; Kitano, Masayuki; Kudo, Masatoshi; Murakami, Takamichi

2012-06-01

Excretion of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) in the bile may be related to liver function, because of elimination from the liver after preferential uptake by hepatocytes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between liver and biliary enhancement in patients with or without liver dysfunction, and to compare the tumor-to-liver contrast in these patients. Forty patients [group 1: normal liver and Child-Pugh class A in 20 patients, group 2: Child-Pugh class B in 18 patients and Child-Pugh C in 2] were evaluated. All patients underwent MR imaging of the liver using a 1.5-Tesla system. T1-weighted 3D images were obtained at 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes after Gd-EOB-DTPA injection. The relation between group 3 (total bilirubin <1.8 mg/dL) and group 4 (total bilirubin ≥1.8 mg/dL) was investigated at 20 minutes. Liver and biliary signals were measured, and compared between groups 1 and 2 or groups 3 and 4. Tumor-to-liver ratio was also evaluated between groups 1 and 2. Scheffe's post-hoc test after two-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Pearson's correlation test were used for statistical analysis. Liver enhancement showed significant difference at all time points between groups 1 and 2. Biliary enhancement did not show a significant difference between groups 1 and 2 at 5 minutes, but did at 10, 15 and 20 minutes. At 20 minutes, significant differences between groups 3 and 4 were seen for liver and biliary enhancement. At all time points, liver enhancement correlated with biliary enhancement in both groups. At 5 minutes and 20 minutes, statistical differences between groups 1 and 2 were seen for tumor-to-liver ratio. The degree of biliary enhancement has a close correlation to that of liver enhancement. It is especially important that insufficient liver enhancement causes lower tumor-to-liver contrast in the hepatobiliary phase of Gd-EOB-DTPA.

Adherence to depot versus oral antipsychotic medication in schizophrenic patients during the long-term therapy.

PubMed

Stanković, Zana; Ille, Tatjana

2013-03-01

There is a high rate of schizophrenic patients who do not adhere to their prescribed therapy, despite the implementation of antipsychotic long-acting injections and the introduction of atypical antipsychotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in sociodemographic, clinical and medication adherence variables between the two groups of schizophrenic patients on maintenance therapy with depot antipsychotic fluphenazine decanoate and oral antipsychotics only as well as a correlation between the medication adherence and other examined variables. A total of 56 patients of both genders, aged < 60 years, with the diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20) (ICD-10, 1992) clinically stable for at least 6 months were introduced in this cross-sectional study. The patients from the depot group (n = 19) were on classical depot antipsychotic fluphenazine decanoate administering intramuscularly every 4 weeks (with or without oral antipsychotic augmentation) and the patients from the oral group (n = 37) were on oral therapy alone with classical or atypical antipsychotics, either as monotherapy or combined. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used to assess symptom severity. Item G12 of the PANSS was used to assess insight into the illness. The patients completed the Medical Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) was used to assess adherence to the therapy. A higher MARS score indicates behavior [Medical Adherence Questionnaire (MAQ subscale)] and attitudes toward medication [Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI subscale)] that are more consistent with treatment adherence. The exclusion criteria were determined. The Pearson's chi2 test was used to compare categorical variables, Student's t-test to compare continuous variables and Pearson's correlation to test the correlation significance; p = 0.05. Significant between-group differences in age, illness duration, chlorpromazine equivalents, PANSS score and DAI subscore were found. Item G12 of the PANSS subscore and MARS score correlated significantly negatively. A significant positive correlation between receiving depot antipsychotic and DAI subscore as well as between illness duration and both DAI subscore and MARS score were also found. Schizophrenic patients on classical depot antipsychotic maintenance therapy might present subpopulation of patients with significantly longer illness duration, more favorable medication attitude and outcome in relation to those on oral antipsychotics alone.

Connection between self-stigma, adherence to treatment, and discontinuation of medication

PubMed Central

Kamaradova, Dana; Latalova, Klara; Prasko, Jan; Kubinek, Radim; Vrbova, Kristyna; Mainerova, Barbora; Cinculova, Andrea; Ociskova, Marie; Holubova, Michaela; Smoldasova, Jarmila; Tichackova, Anezka

2016-01-01

Introduction Self-stigma plays a role in many areas of the patient’s life. Furthermore, it also discourages therapy. The aim of our study was to examine associations between self-stigma and adherence to treatment and discontinuation of medication in patients from various diagnostic groups. Methods This cross-sectional study involved outpatients attending the Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic. The level of self-stigma was measured with the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness and adherence with the Drug Attitude Inventory. The patients also anonymously filled out a demographic questionnaire which included a question asking whether they had discontinued their medication in the past. Results We examined data from 332 patients from six basic diagnostic categories (substance abuse disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and personality disorders). The study showed a statistically significant negative correlation between self-stigma and adherence to treatment in all diagnostic groups. Self-stigma correlated positively and adherence negatively with the severity of disorders. Another important factor affecting both variables was partnership. Self-stigma positively correlated with doses of antidepressants and adherence with doses of anxiolytics. Self-stigma also negatively correlated with education, and positively with a number of hospitalizations and number of psychiatrists visited. Adherence was further positively correlated with age and age of onset of disorders. Regression analysis showed that self-stigma was an important factor negatively influencing adherence to treatment and significantly contributing to voluntary discontinuation of drugs. The level of self-stigma did not differ between diagnostic categories. Patients suffering from schizophrenia had the lowest adherence to treatment. Conclusion The study showed a significant correlation between self-stigma and adherence to treatment. High levels of self-stigma are associated with discontinuation of medications without a psychiatrist’s recommendation. This connection was present in all diagnostic groups. PMID:27524884

Associations between cortical thickness and general intelligence in children, adolescents and young adults

PubMed Central

Menary, Kyle; Collins, Paul F.; Porter, James N.; Muetzel, Ryan; Olson, Elizabeth A.; Kumar, Vipin; Steinbach, Michael; Lim, Kelvin O.; Luciana, Monica

2013-01-01

Neuroimaging research indicates that human intellectual ability is related to brain structure including the thickness of the cerebral cortex. Most studies indicate that general intelligence is positively associated with cortical thickness in areas of association cortex distributed throughout both brain hemispheres. In this study, we performed a cortical thickness mapping analysis on data from 182 healthy typically developing males and females ages 9 to 24 years to identify correlates of general intelligence (g) scores. To determine if these correlates also mediate associations of specific cognitive abilities with cortical thickness, we regressed specific cognitive test scores on g scores and analyzed the residuals with respect to cortical thickness. The effect of age on the association between cortical thickness and intelligence was examined. We found a widely distributed pattern of positive associations between cortical thickness and g scores, as derived from the first unrotated principal factor of a factor analysis of Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) subtest scores. After WASI specific cognitive subtest scores were regressed on g factor scores, the residual score variances did not correlate significantly with cortical thickness in the full sample with age covaried. When participants were grouped at the age median, significant positive associations of cortical thickness were obtained in the older group for g-residualized scores on Block Design (a measure of visual-motor integrative processing) while significant negative associations of cortical thickness were observed in the younger group for g-residualized Vocabulary scores. These results regarding correlates of general intelligence are concordant with the existing literature, while the findings from younger versus older subgroups have implications for future research on brain structural correlates of specific cognitive abilities, as well as the cognitive domain specificity of behavioral performance correlates of normative gray matter thinning during adolescence. PMID:24744452

Trends of pesticides and nitrate in ground water of the Central Columbia Plateau, Washington, 1993-2003

USGS Publications Warehouse

Frans, L.

2008-01-01

Pesticide and nitrate data for ground water sampled in the Central Columbia Plateau, Washington, between 1993 and 2003 by the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment Program were evaluated for trends in concentration. A total of 72 wells were sampled in 1993-1995 and again in 2002-2003 in three well networks that targeted row crop and orchard land use settings as well as the regional basalt aquifer. The Regional Kendall trend test indicated that only deethylatrazine (DEA) concentrations showed a significant trend. Deethylatrazine concentrations were found to increase beneath the row crop land use well network, the regional aquifer well network, and for the dataset as a whole. No other pesticides showed a significant trend (nor did nitrate) in the 72-well dataset. Despite the lack of a trend in nitrate concentrations within the National Water-Quality Assessment dataset, previous work has found a statistically significant decrease in nitrate concentrations from 1998-2002 for wells with nitrate concentrations above 10 mg L-1 within the Columbia Basin ground water management area, which is located within the National Water-Quality Assessment study unit boundary. The increasing trend in DEA concentrations was found to negatively correlate with soil hydrologic group using logistic regression and with soil hydrologic group and drainage class using Spearman's correlation. The decreasing trend in high nitrate concentrations was found to positively correlate with the depth to which the well was cased using logistic regression, to positively correlate with nitrate application rates and sand content of the soil, and to negatively correlate with soil hydrologic group using Spearman's correlation. Copyright ?? 2008 by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America. All rights reserved.

Afferent and Efferent Aspects of Mandibular Sensorimotor Control in Adults who Stutter

PubMed Central

Daliri, Ayoub; Prokopenko, Roman A.; Max, Ludo

2013-01-01

Purpose Individuals who stutter show sensorimotor deficiencies in speech and nonspeech movements. For the mandibular system, we dissociated the sense of kinesthesia from the efferent control component to examine whether kinesthetic integrity itself is compromised in stuttering or whether deficiencies occur only when generating motor commands. Method We investigated 11 stuttering and 11 nonstuttering adults’ kinesthetic sensitivity threshold and kinesthetic accuracy for passive jaw movements as well as their minimal displacement threshold and positioning accuracy for active jaw movements. We also investigated the correlation with an anatomical index of jaw size. Results The groups showed no statistically significant differences on sensory measures for passive jaw movements. Although some stuttering individuals performed more poorly than any nonstuttering participants on the active movement tasks, between-group differences for active movements were also not statistically significant. Unlike fluent speakers, however, the stuttering group showed a statistically significant correlation between mandibular size and performance in the active and passive near-threshold tasks. Conclusions Previously reported minimal movement differences were not replicated. Instead, stuttering individuals’ performance varied with anatomical properties. These correlational results are consistent with the hypothesis that stuttering participants generate and perceive movements based on less accurate internal models of the involved neuromechanical systems. PMID:23816664

Mathematics achievement and anxiety and their relation to internalizing and externalizing behaviors.

PubMed

Wu, Sarah S; Willcutt, Erik G; Escovar, Emily; Menon, Vinod

2014-01-01

Although behavioral difficulties are well documented in reading disabilities, little is known about the relationship between math ability and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Here, we use standardized measures to investigate the relation among early math ability, math anxiety, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in a group of 366 second and third graders. Math achievement was significantly correlated with attentional difficulties and social problems but not with internalizing symptoms. The relation between math achievement and externalizing behavioral problems was stronger in girls than in boys. Math achievement was not correlated with trait anxiety but was negatively correlated with math anxiety. Critically, math anxiety differed significantly between children classified as math learning disabled (MLD), low achieving (LA), and typically developing (TD), with math anxiety significantly higher in the MLD and LA groups compared to the TD group. Our findings suggest that, even in nonclinical samples, math difficulties at the earliest stages of formal math learning are associated with attentional difficulties and domain-specific anxiety. These findings underscore the need for further examination of the shared cognitive, neural, and genetic influences underlying problem solving and nonverbal learning difficulties and accompanying internalizing and externalizing behaviors. © Hammill Institute on Disabilities 2013.

Mathematics Achievement and Anxiety and Their Relation to Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors

PubMed Central

Wu, Sarah S.; Willcutt, Erik G.; Escovar, Emily; Menon, Vinod

2013-01-01

Although behavioral difficulties are well documented in reading disabilities, little is known about the relationship between math ability and internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Here, we use standardized measures to investigate the relation among early math ability, math anxiety, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in a group of 366 second and third graders. Math achievement was significantly correlated with attentional difficulties and social problems but not with internalizing symptoms. The relation between math achievement and externalizing behavioral problems was stronger in girls than in boys. Math achievement was not correlated with trait anxiety but was negatively correlated with math anxiety. Critically, math anxiety differed significantly between children classified as math learning disabled (MLD), low achieving (LA), and typically developing (TD), with math anxiety significantly higher in the MLD and LA groups compared to the TD group. Our findings suggest that, even in nonclinical samples, math difficulties at the earliest stages of formal math learning are associated with attentional difficulties and domain-specific anxiety. These findings underscore the need for further examination of the shared cognitive, neural, and genetic influences underlying problem solving and nonverbal learning difficulties and accompanying internalizing and externalizing behaviors. PMID:23313869

[Effect of leptin on expression of calpain-1 and Bcl-2 and apoptosis in myocardial tissue of neonatal rats after asphyxia].

PubMed

Wu, Dan-Dan; Wu, Xing-Heng; Zhang, Li-Na

2016-10-01

To study the effect of leptin on the expression of calcium-activated neutral protease 1 (calpain-1) and B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and apoptosis in the myocardial tissue of neonatal rats after asphyxia. A total of 48 neonatal rats were randomly and equally divided into normal control group, asphyxia group, leptin treatment groups, and calpain-1 inhibitor (CAI-1) group. The neonatal rat model of asphyxia under normal atmospheric condition was established in all groups except the control group. For the leptin treatment groups, rats received 20, 80, and 160 μg/kg leptin by intraperitoneal injection immediately after model establishment, respectively. For the CAI-1 group, rats received 10 mg/kg CAI-1 by intraperitoneal injection immediately after model establishment. For all the groups, the myocardial tissue was collected at 2 hours after model establishment. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of calpain-1 and Bcl-2. The TUNEL method was used to evaluate apoptosis of myocardial cells. The expression of calpain-1 and Bcl-2 and apoptosis index (AI) were significantly higher in the asphyxia group than in the normal control group (P˂0.05). The leptin treatment groups and the CAI-1 group had significantly lower expression of calpain-1, significantly lower AI, and significantly higher expression of Bcl-2 than the asphyxia group (P˂0.05). The CAI-1 group had the largest changes in all the indices compared with the asphyxia group. However, there were no significant differences in all indices between the 160 μg/kg leptin treatment group and the CAI-1 group. After asphyxia, the expression of calpain-1 was positively correlated with AI, while the expression of Bcl-2 was negatively correlated with AI and the expression of calpain-1 (P˂0.05). Leptin reduces apoptosis of myocardial cells in asphyxiated neonatal rats by the inhibition of calpain-1 activation and upregulation of Bcl-2 expression.

Agency and communion attributes in adults’ spontaneous self-representations

PubMed Central

Diehl, Manfred; Owen, Stephanie K.; Youngblade, Lise M.

2008-01-01

This study investigated agency and communion attributes in adults’ spontaneous self-representations. The study sample consisted of 158 adults (80 men, 78 women) ranging in age from 20 to 88 years. Consistent with theorising, significant age and sex differences were found in terms of the number of agency and communion attributes. Young and middle-aged adults included significantly more agency attributes in their self-representations than older adults; men listed significantly more agency attributes than women. In contrast, older adults included significantly more communion attributes in their self-representations than young adults, and women listed significantly more communion attributes than men. Significant Age Group × Self-Portrait Display and Sex × Self-Portrait Display interactions were found for communion attributes, indicating that the importance of communion attributes differed across age groups and by sex. Correlational analyses showed significant associations of agency and communion attributes with personality traits and defence mechanisms. Communion attributes also showed significant correlations with four dimensions of psychological well-being. PMID:18592013

Acarbose treatment affects the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines and the gut content of bifidobacteria in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PubMed

Su, Benli; Liu, Haixia; Li, Jing; Sunli, Yongjuan; Liu, Ben; Liu, Dandan; Zhang, Ping; Meng, Xiuxiang

2015-09-01

The effects of acarbose add-on therapy on gut microbiota and inflammatory cytokines were investigated in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Ninety-five DM patients were randomly allocated to two groups: 59 to Group A who received antidiabetic treatment that included acarbose 150 mg/day, and 36 to Group B who received similar treatment to Group A but without acarbose. Forty-five healthy volunteers were selected as a control group. Serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines were determined by ELISA, and the contents of 16S rDNA of gut bacteria were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. General linear analysis for repeated measurements was used to analyze trend differences between the two diabetic groups. After 4 weeks of antidiabetic treatment, the gut contents of Bifidobacterium longum and Enterococcus faecalis were significantly increased in both diabetes groups. The increase of Bifidobacterium longum (P = 0.004) and the decrease of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (P < 0.001) and prothrombin activator inhibitor-1 (P = 0.003) were more significant in Group A. Decreases of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and LPS were more significant in patients whose HbA1c decrease was ≥1%, but there were no significant differences in the changes of other cytokines and gut bacteria between patients with HbA1c <7% and ≥7%. Pearson correlation analysis showed that changes of Enterococcus faecalis were negatively correlated with LPS, while multiple linear regression analysis showed a positive correlation of Bifidobacterium longum with acarbose treatment and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. Acarbose treatment can increase the content of gut Bifidobacterium longum in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and decrease some inflammatory cytokines independently of its antihyperglycemic effects. © 2014 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Incapacity, Handicap, and Oxidative Stress Markers of Male Smokers With and Without COPD.

PubMed

Ben Moussa, Syrine; Rouatbi, Sonia; Ben Saad, Helmi

2016-05-01

Mechanisms of incapacity and quality of life (QOL) of smokers with COPD and those free from COPD (non-COPD) are still unclear. The aims of this work were to compare the submaximal exercise, the QOL, and the blood and lung oxidative stress biomarker data of smokers without and with COPD. Thirty-two male-smokers 40-60 y old were included (16 with COPD). QOL (Saint George Respiratory Questionnaire) and physical activity (Voorrips questionnaire) scores were determined. Blood sample levels of malondialdehyde, protein sulfhydryl, and glutathione were measured. Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide, plethysmographic data, and 6-min walk distance (6MWD) were collected. All data are presented as mean ± SD, except oxidative stress biomarkers expressed as mean ± SE. Correlation coefficient (r) evaluated the association between oxidative stress biomarkers and 6MWD, QOL, and physical activity data. Two age- and amount of tobacco used-matched groups of smokers were included. Compared with the non-COPD group, the COPD group had significantly lower 6MWD (573 ± 63 vs 476 ± 53 m) and physical activity score (7.14 ± 1.50 vs 2.86 ± 1.50) and significantly worse QOL (19.47 ± 15.33 vs 47.70 ± 16.73) and lower glutathione level (39.44 ± 6.28 vs 24.67 ± 5.41 μg/mL). The COPD group malondialdehyde level was significantly correlated with 6MWD, symptoms, and QOL scores (good r value between 0.50 and 0.70). The non-COPD group fraction of exhaled nitric oxide and glutathione levels were significantly correlated with leisure activity score and 6MWD, respectively (good r value between 0.50 and 0.70). Compared with the non-COPD group, the COPD group had a marked decrease in submaximal exercise data and in QOL score. Oxidative stress could be one explanation of incapacity and handicap observed in the COPD group. Copyright © 2016 by Daedalus Enterprises.

Assessment of serum apelin and lipocalin-2 levels in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

PubMed

Zorlu, Mehmet; Kiskac, Muharrem; Karatoprak, Cumali; Kesgin, Sidika; Cakirca, Mustafa; Yildiz, Kemal; Ardic, Cuneyt; Cikrikcioglu, Mehmet Ali; Erkoc, Reha

2014-02-01

Subclinical hypothyroidism is the precursor to hypothyroidism because it has a tendency to transform into hypothyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism is considered one of the risk factors causing metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome can be characterized by plasma levels of apelin and lipocalin-2, both released from adipocytes. In the present study, we aimed to measure serum apelin and lipocalin-2 levels of patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and compare them with serum apelin and lipocalin-2 levels from healthy individuals. This was a cross-sectional study. A total of 80 subjects were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: Group A included 39 patients (females, n=34) diagnosed with subclinical hypothyroidism, and Group B (the control group) comprised 41 healthy volunteers (females, n=38). Serum samples were obtained from each participant for the measurement of apelin and lipocalin-2. These were then stored at minus 80°C until the time of analysis, when serum apelin and lipocalin-2 levels of the two groups were compared. Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (Group A and Group B subjects [healthy controls]) were comparable with respect to gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) (P=0.412, P=0.863, and P=0.269, respectively), nor was there a statistically significant difference between groups in terms of apelin and lipocalin-2 levels (P=0.87, and P=0.67, respectively). Apelin levels showed a positive and significant correlation with BMI (P=0.034). Serum lipocalin-2 levels showed significant positive correlations with BMI and creatinine levels (P=0.002, and P=0.025, respectively). In the present study, no significant difference of serum apelin and lipocalin-2 levels was observed between patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and healthy control subjects. Positive correlations were found, however, between serum apelin level and BMI as well as between serum lipocalin-2 and BMI and creatinine levels. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.

Frequency of ABO/Rhesus Blood Groups in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

PubMed

Oner, Can; Dogan, Burcu; Telatar, Berrin; Celik Yagan, Canan Fidan; Oguz, Aytekin

2016-01-01

The correlation between ABO/Rh blood groups and diabetes mellitus is still controversial. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between ABO/Rhesus blood groups and diabetes in Turkish population. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Istanbul Medeniyet University Göztepe Education and Training Hospital's Diabetes Units. The study group was composed of 421 patients with type-1 diabetes, 484 patients with type-2 diabetes and 432 controls. Blood samples were collected and tested for ABO/Rhesus blood groups. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 17.0. A significant association was found between blood groups and diabetes mellitus. The frequency of AB blood group was significantly higher in type-1 diabetics; and A blood group was significantly higher in type-2 diabetics. Furthermore, Rh negativity were significantly more frequent in type-2 diabetics.

EEG Arousal Norms by Age

PubMed Central

Bonnet, Michael H.; Arand, Donna L.

2007-01-01

Study Objectives: Brief arousals have been systematically scored during sleep for more than 20 years. Despite significant knowledge concerning the importance of arousals for the sleep process in normal subjects and patients, comprehensive age norms have not been published. Methods: Seventy-six normal subjects (40 men) without sleep apnea or periodic limb movements of sleep, aged 18 to 70 years, slept in the sleep laboratory for 1 or more nights. Sleep and arousal data were scored by the same scorer for the first night (comparable to clinical polysomnograms) and summarized by age decade. Results: There were no statistically significant differences for sex or interaction of sex by age (p > .5 for both). The mean arousal index increased as a function of age. Newman-Keuls comparisons (.05) showed arousal index in the 18- to 20-year and 21- to 30-year age groups to be significantly less than the arousal index in the other 4 age groups. Arousal index in the 31-to 40-year and 41-to 50-year groups was significantly less than the arousal index in the older groups. The arousal index was significantly negatively correlated with total sleep time and all sleep stages (positive correlation with stage 1 and wake). Conclusions: Brief arousals are an integral component of the sleep process. They increase with other electroencephalographic markers as a function of age. They are highly correlated with traditional sleep-stage amounts and are related to major demographic variables. Age-related norms may make identification of pathologic arousal easier. Citations: Bonnet M; Arand D. EEG Arousal Norms by Age. J Clin Sleep Med 2007;3(3):271–274 PMID:17561594

[The expression and significance of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand and osteoprotegerin in periapical cyst and periapical granuloma].

PubMed

Zhang, Meihua; Yu, Yunzhi; Miao, Yu

2012-08-01

To investigate the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in periapical cyst and periapical granuloma by comparison with the expression in the normal periodontal tissue as control, and to identify their functional mechanism in the bone destruction of periapical cyst and granuloma. 20 periapical cyst tissues (cyst group), 20 periapical granuloma tissues (granuloma group), and 20 normal periodontal tissues (control group) were collected respectively. Immunohistochemical technology was performed to detect the expression of RANKL and OPG in above three groups. In cyst group, granuloma group and control group, the expression of RANKL were 75.00 +/- 7.54, 68.40 +/- 6.74 and 29.40 +/- 2.46, respectively. The expression of OPG were 38.10 +/- 7.09, 47.65 +/- 13.85 and 58.60 +/- 5.88, respectively. The differences among the three groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). RANKL and OPG in cysts group were negatively correlated (r=-0.56, P=0.01) and were not correlated with granuloma and control group (P>0.05). RANKL and OPG play roles in the bone absorption of periapical disease. In periapical disease, abnormal expression of RANKL and OPG are detected, RANKL significantly increase, OPG decrease, bone absorption accelerate and osteolytic lesion are observed. In periapical cyst, the bone absorption is more active compared with periapical granuloma.

Positive Correlation Between Motion Analysis Data on the LapMentor Virtual Reality Laparoscopic Surgical Simulator and the Results from Videotape Assessment of Real Laparoscopic Surgeries

PubMed Central

McDougall, Elspeth M.; Ono, Yoshinari; Hattori, Ryohei; Baba, Shiro; Iwamura, Masatsugu; Terachi, Toshiro; Naito, Seiji; Clayman, Ralph V.

2012-01-01

Abstract Purpose We studied the construct validity of the LapMentor, a virtual reality laparoscopic surgical simulator, and the correlation between the data collected on the LapMentor and the results of video assessment of real laparoscopic surgeries. Materials and Methods Ninety-two urologists were tested on basic skill tasks No. 3 (SK3) to No. 8 (SK8) on the LapMentor. They were divided into three groups: Group A (n=25) had no experience with laparoscopic surgeries as a chief surgeon; group B (n=33) had <35 experiences; and group C (n=34) had ≥35 experiences. Group scores on the accuracy, efficacy, and time of the tasks were compared. Forty physicians with ≥20 experiences supplied unedited videotapes showing a laparoscopic nephrectomy or an adrenalectomy in its entirety, and the videos were assessed in a blinded fashion by expert referees. Correlations between the videotape score (VS) and the performances on the LapMentor were analyzed. Results Group C showed significantly better outcomes than group A in the accuracy (SK5) (P=0.013), efficacy (SK8) (P=0.014), or speed (SKs 3 and 8) (P=0.009 and P=0.002, respectively) of the performances of LapMentor. Group B showed significantly better outcomes than group A in the speed and efficacy of the performances in SK8 (P=0.011 and P=0.029, respectively). Analyses of motion analysis data of LapMentor demonstrated that smooth and ideal movement of instruments is more important than speed of the movement of instruments to achieve accurate performances in each task. Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the average score of the accuracy in SK4, 5, and 8 had significant positive correlation with VS (P=0.01). Conclusions This study demonstrated the construct and predictive validity of the LapMentor basic skill tasks, supporting their possible usefulness for the preclinical evaluation of laparoscopic skills. PMID:22642549

Parent-child communication about sex and young adolescents' sexual knowledge and attitudes.

PubMed

Fisher, T D

1986-01-01

Previous studies indicate that adolescents whose parents talk to them about sex tend to be less sexually active and more likely to use an effective means of contraception. This study sought to determine the relationship between parent-child communication about sex and young adolescents' reproductive and contraceptive knowledge and sexual attitudes. Twenty-two 12- to 14-year-olds and their parents completed sexual-knowledge, sexual-attitude, and contraceptive-choice questionnaires. Families were divided into high-communication and low-communication groups. There were no significant differences in the sexual knowledge, attitudes, or contraceptive choices of the children in the two groups, but the correlation between parents' and children's sexual attitudes in the high-communication group was significantly higher than that of the low-communication group. Although this was a correlational study, it seems likely that the similarity in sexual values was the result of parent-child discussion about sex.

Multivariate analysis of meat production traits in Murciano-Granadina goat kids.

PubMed

Zurita-Herrera, P; Delgado, J V; Argüello, A; Camacho, M E

2011-07-01

Growth, carcass quality, and meat quality data from Murciano-Granadina kids (n=61) raised under three different systems were collected. Canonical discriminatory analysis and cluster analysis of the entire meat production process and its stages were performed using the rearing systems as grouping criteria. All comparisons resulted in significant differences and indicated the existence of three products with different quality characteristics as a result of the three rearing systems. Differences among groups were greater when comparing carcass and meat qualities as compared with growth differences. The paired analyses of canonical correlations among groups of variables integrated in growth, carcass and meat quality, resulted in all being statistically significant, pointing out the canonical correlation coefficient between carcass quality and meat quality. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A study of the neuropsychological correlates in adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Fried, Ronna; Joshi, Gagan; Bhide, Pradeep; Pope, Amanda; Galdo, Maribel; Koster, Ariana; Chan, James; Faraone, Stephen V; Biederman, Joseph

2016-10-01

To examine the unique neuropsychological presentation in adults with high functioning autism spectrum disorders (HF-ASD) by comparison with adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adults with ASD referred to a specialty clinic (n=26) were compared to two non-ASD groups with (n=52) and without (n=52) ADHD of similar age and sex. No differences in IQ were found. Subjects with HF-ASD were significantly more impaired than both comparison groups in processing speed, cognitive flexibility and sight words. Subjects with HF-ASD were more impaired than controls in working memory, but not the ADHD group. These findings suggest that there may be specific neuropsychological correlates of HF-ASD differing from ADHD that could have significant implications for identifying individuals at risk for ASD.

Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics Version 4 (ANAM4): Select Psychometric Properties and Administration Procedures

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

testing. DISCUSSION: Glutamate and NAA showed similar trends which both had lower mean ratios in the military group across all four voxel locations...subjects. Several research studies had used civilian subjects as a control group and found significant differences. However this may introduce bias to...military group across all four voxel locations and the most significant reduced mean ratios in PWM. They were not correlated therefore likely are

Pulmonary function studies in young healthy Malaysians of Kelantan, Malaysia.

PubMed

Bandyopadhyay, Amit

2011-11-01

Pulmonary function tests have been evolved as clinical tools in diagnosis, management and follow up of respiratory diseases as it provides objective information about the status of an individual's respiratory system. The present study was aimed to evaluate pulmonary function among the male and female young Kelantanese Malaysians of Kota Bharu, Malaysia, and to compare the data with other populations. A total of 128 (64 males, 64 females) non-smoking healthy young subjects were randomly sampled for the study from the Kelantanese students' population of the University Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu Campus, Kelantan, Malaysia. The study population (20-25 yr age group) had similar socio-economic background. Each subject filled up the ATS (1978) questionnaire to record their personal demographic data, health status and consent to participate in the study. Subjects with any history of pulmonary diseases were excluded from the study. The pulmonary function measurements exhibited significantly higher values among males than the females. FEV 1% did not show any significant inter-group variation probably because the parameter expresses FEV 1 as a percentage of FVC. FVC and FEV 1 exhibited significant correlations with body height and body mass among males whereas in the females exhibited significant correlation with body mass, body weight and also with age. FEV 1% exhibited significant correlation with body height and body mass among males and with body height in females. FEF 25-75% did not show any significant correlation except with body height among females. However, PEFR exhibited significant positive correlation with all the physical parameters except with age among the females. On the basis of the existence of significant correlation between different physical parameters and pulmonary function variables, simple and multiple regression norms have been computed. From the present investigation it can be concluded that Kelantanese Malaysian youths have normal range of pulmonary function in both the sexes and the computed regression norms may be used to predict the pulmonary function values in the studied population.

Pulmonary function studies in young healthy Malaysians of Kelantan, Malaysia

PubMed Central

Bandyopadhyay, Amit

2011-01-01

Background & objectives: Pulmonary function tests have been evolved as clinical tools in diagnosis, management and follow up of respiratory diseases as it provides objective information about the status of an individual's respiratory system. The present study was aimed to evaluate pulmonary function among the male and female young Kelantanese Malaysians of Kota Bharu, Malaysia, and to compare the data with other populations. Methods: A total of 128 (64 males, 64 females) non-smoking healthy young subjects were randomly sampled for the study from the Kelantanese students’ population of the University Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu Campus, Kelantan, Malaysia. The study population (20-25 yr age group) had similar socio-economic background. Each subject filled up the ATS (1978) questionnaire to record their personal demographic data, health status and consent to participate in the study. Subjects with any history of pulmonary diseases were excluded from the study. Results: The pulmonary function measurements exhibited significantly higher values among males than the females. FEV1% did not show any significant inter-group variation probably because the parameter expresses FEV1 as a percentage of FVC. FVC and FEV1 exhibited significant correlations with body height and body mass among males whereas in the females exhibited significant correlation with body mass, body weight and also with age. FEV1% exhibited significant correlation with body height and body mass among males and with body height in females. FEF25-75% did not show any significant correlation except with body height among females. However, PEFR exhibited significant positive correlation with all the physical parameters except with age among the females. On the basis of the existence of significant correlation between different physical parameters and pulmonary function variables, simple and multiple regression norms have been computed. Interpretation & conclusions: From the present investigation it can be concluded that Kelantanese Malaysian youths have normal range of pulmonary function in both the sexes and the computed regression norms may be used to predict the pulmonary function values in the studied population. PMID:22199104

ABO blood groups and psychiatric disorders: a Croatian study.

PubMed

Pisk, Sandra Vuk; Vuk, Tomislav; Ivezić, Ena; Jukić, Irena; Bingulac-Popović, Jasna; Filipčić, Igor

2018-02-15

The prevalence of ABO alleles is different in different populations, and many studies have shown a correlation between the occurrences of some diseases and different genotypes of ABO blood groups. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a significant association between psychiatric syndromes and ABO blood groups. This case-control study involved 156 psychiatric patients and 303 healthy, unrelated, voluntary blood donors. Genomic DNA was isolated from blood on a QIAcube device using a QIAamp DNA Blood mini QIAcube kit. ABO genotyping on five basic ABO alleles was performed using allele-specific polymerase chain reaction analysis. Compared with healthy subjects, a significantly higher proportion of psychiatric patients had AB blood group (χ 2 =9.359, df=3, p=0.025) and, accordingly, a significantly higher incidence of A1B genotype (χ 2 =8.226, df=3, p=0.042). The odds ratio showed that psychiatric disorders occur almost three times more frequently in carriers of AB group compared to other blood groups. However, no statistically significant difference was found in the distribution of ABO blood groups among patients with different psychiatric diagnoses. Likewise, no correlations were found between ABO blood groups and other characteristics of the psychiatric patients (sex, psychiatric heredity, somatic comorbidity, suicidality). The results of this study support the hypothesis of an association between psychiatric disorders and ABO blood groups. The probability is that psychiatric disorders will occur almost three times more frequently in carriers of AB group compared to other ABO blood groups in the Croatian population.

Validity of selected physical activity questions in white Seventh-day Adventists and non-Adventists.

PubMed

Singh, P N; Tonstad, S; Abbey, D E; Fraser, G E

1996-08-01

The validity and reliability of selected physical activity questions were assessed in both Seventh-day Adventist (N = 131) and non-Adventist (N = 101) study groups. Vigorous activity questions similar to those used by others and new questions that measured moderate and light activities were included. Validation was external, comparing questionnaire data with treadmill exercise time, resting heart rate, and body mass index (kg.m-2), and internal, comparing data with other similar questions. Both Adventist and non-Adventist males showed significant age-adjusted correlations between treadmill time and a "Run-Walk-Jog Index" (R = 0.28, R = 0.48, respectively). These correlations increased substantially when restricting analysis to exercise speeds exceeding 3 mph (R = 0.39, R = 0.71, respectively). Frequency of sweating and a vigorous physical activity index also correlated significantly with treadmill time in males. Correlations were generally weaker in females. Moderate- and light-intensity questions were not correlated with physical fitness. Internal correlations R = 0.50-0.78) between the above three vigorous activity questions were significant in all groups, and correlations (R = 0.14-0.60) for light and moderate activity questions were also documented. Test-retest reliability coefficients were high for vigorous activity questions (R = 0.48-0.85) and for one set of moderate activity questions (R = 0.43-0.75). No important differences in validity and reliability were found between Adventist and non-Adventists, but the validity of vigorous activity measures was generally weaker in females.

Recognition memory, self-other source memory, and theory-of-mind in children with autism spectrum disorder.

PubMed

Lind, Sophie E; Bowler, Dermot M

2009-09-01

This study investigated semantic and episodic memory in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), using a task which assessed recognition and self-other source memory. Children with ASD showed undiminished recognition memory but significantly diminished source memory, relative to age- and verbal ability-matched comparison children. Both children with and without ASD showed an "enactment effect", demonstrating significantly better recognition and source memory for self-performed actions than other-person-performed actions. Within the comparison group, theory-of-mind (ToM) task performance was significantly correlated with source memory, specifically for other-person-performed actions (after statistically controlling for verbal ability). Within the ASD group, ToM task performance was not significantly correlated with source memory (after controlling for verbal ability). Possible explanations for these relations between source memory and ToM are considered.

Advanced glycation end products are elevated in cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and correlate with worse lung function.

PubMed

Hunt, William R; Helfman, Beth R; McCarty, Nael A; Hansen, Jason M

2016-09-01

The onset of cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) exacerbates lung function decline and increases mortality. One pathway that may worsen the lung dysfunction associated with CFRD is that of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its ligands. Human plasma was obtained from age-matched healthy, CF and CFRD patients. Plasma RAGE ligands (i.e. advanced glycation end products, S100A12, and high-mobility group protein B1) and soluble RAGE (sRAGE) levels were measured. CFRD patients had elevated plasma levels of AGEs and S100A12. Soluble RAGE, a RAGE ligand decoy receptor, was not significantly different between groups. Plasma AGE levels and S100A12 levels had significantly negative correlations with FEV1. AGEs are significantly elevated in CFRD and correlate negatively with FEV1. CFRD patients did not have significant increases in the decoy sRAGE, suggesting there may be heightened binding and activation of RAGE in CFRD exacerbating activation of proinflammatory pathways. Copyright © 2015 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The age-related positional and orientational changes of the human cochlea.

PubMed

Lyu, Hui-Ying; Chen, Ke-Guang; Yang, Lin; Zhang, Tian-Yu; Dai, Pei-Dong

2015-03-01

The cochleae of children over 6 years old and adults displaced more outward, backward, and downward in comparison with those of children under 6 years. However, the cochlear orientation does not significantly change during postnatal development. Adjacent structures correlated with the cochlear position. To test whether the cochlear position and orientation, which are important in cochlea implant surgery, change during postnatal development. CT images of both ears of 76 human subjects were studied. They were divided into three groups: group A (1-6 years old), group B (7-18 years old), and group C (>18 years old). The distances from the cochlea to the median sagittal and coronal planes in group A were smaller than those in group B and group C (p < 0.05), but the distance from it to the Frankfurt plane in group A was larger than that in group C (p < 0.05). The volume of the temporal bone pneumatization and the positions of the jugular bulb and the intrapetrous internal carotid artery positively correlated with the cochlear position (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the angles between the central axis of the cochlea and these coordinate planes among age groups.

Gene Expression Analysis Implicates a Death Receptor Pathway in Schizophrenia Pathology

PubMed Central

Catts, Vibeke Sørensen; Shannon Weickert, Cynthia

2012-01-01

An increase in apoptotic events may underlie neuropathology in schizophrenia. By data-mining approaches, we identified significant expression changes in death receptor signaling pathways in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) of patients with schizophrenia, particularly implicating the Tumor Necrosis Factor Superfamily member 6 (FAS) receptor and the Tumor Necrosis Factor [ligand] Superfamily member 13 (TNFSF13) in schizophrenia. We sought to confirm and replicate in an independent tissue collection the noted mRNA changes with quantitative real-time RT-PCR. To test for regional and diagnostic specificity, tissue from orbital frontal cortex (OFC) was examined and a bipolar disorder group included. In schizophrenia, we confirmed and replicated significantly increased expression of TNFSF13 mRNA in the DLPFC. Also, a significantly larger proportion of subjects in the schizophrenia group had elevated FAS receptor expression in the DLPFC relative to unaffected controls. These changes were not observed in the bipolar disorder group. In the OFC, there were no significant differences in TNFSF13 or FAS receptor mRNA expression. Decreases in BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID) mRNA transcript levels were found in the schizophrenia and bipolar disorder groups affecting both the DLPFC and the OFC. We tested if TNFSF13 mRNA expression correlated with neuronal mRNAs in the DLPFC, and found significant negative correlations with interneuron markers, parvalbumin and somatostatin, and a positive correlation with PPP1R9B (spinophilin), but not DLG4 (PSD-95). The expression of TNFSF13 mRNA in DLPFC correlated negatively with tissue pH, but decreasing pH in cultured cells did not cause increased TNFSF13 mRNA nor did exogenous TNFSF13 decrease pH. We concluded that increased TNFSF13 expression may be one of several cell-death cytokine abnormalities that contribute to the observed brain pathology in schizophrenia, and while increased TNFSF13 may be associated with lower brain pH, the change is not necessarily causally related to brain pH. PMID:22545112

Preliminary clinical evaluation of semi-automated nailfold capillaroscopy in the assessment of patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.

PubMed

Murray, Andrea K; Feng, Kaiyan; Moore, Tonia L; Allen, Phillip D; Taylor, Christopher J; Herrick, Ariane L

2011-08-01

  Nailfold capillaroscopy is well established in screening patients with Raynaud's phenomenon for underlying SSc-spectrum disorders, by identifying abnormal capillaries. Our aim was to compare semi-automatic feature measurement from newly developed software with manual measurements, and determine the degree to which semi-automated data allows disease group classification.   Images from 46 healthy controls, 21 patients with PRP and 49 with SSc were preprocessed, and semi-automated measurements of intercapillary distance and capillary width, tortuosity, and derangement were performed. These were compared with manual measurements. Features were used to classify images into the three subject groups.   Comparison of automatic and manual measures for distance, width, tortuosity, and derangement had correlations of r=0.583, 0.624, 0.495 (p<0.001), and 0.195 (p=0.040). For automatic measures, correlations were found between width and intercapillary distance, r=0.374, and width and tortuosity, r=0.573 (p<0.001). Significant differences between subject groups were found for all features (p<0.002). Overall, 75% of images correctly matched clinical classification using semi-automated features, compared with 71% for manual measurements.   Semi-automatic and manual measurements of distance, width, and tortuosity showed moderate (but statistically significant) correlations. Correlation for derangement was weaker. Semi-automatic measurements are faster than manual measurements. Semi-automatic parameters identify differences between groups, and are as good as manual measurements for between-group classification. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Serum Mannose-binding Lectin in Patients on Peritoneal Dialysis Compared With Healthy Individuals.

PubMed

Akbari, Roghayeh; Najafi, Iraj; Maleki, Suzan; Alizadeh-Navaei, Reza

2016-01-01

The increased susceptibility to infection in patients with end-stage renal disease is probably secondary to the impaired immune defense in uremia. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) has an important role in host defense through activation of the lectin complement pathway. The aim of this study was to measure serum MBL level in peritoneal dialysis patients and compare it with a healthy group. Seventy peritoneal dialysis patients and 70 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Serum MBL levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit using the mannan molecule. In addition, serum C-reactive protein and albumin levels were measured to determine whether there is a correlation between serum MBL level and these two parameters. The mean serum MBL level was 2.32 ± 2.54 µg/mL (range, zero to 6.93 µg/mL) in the patients group and 1.80 ± 2.14 µg/mL (range, zero to 6.97µg/mL) in the control group (P = .19). No significant correlation was detected between age and serum MBL level in either the groups. In the patients group, no significant correlation was found between serum MBL and C-reactive protein levels or MBL and albumin levels. There were no correlation between duration of peritoneal dialysis and MBL or dialysis adequacy and MBL, either. This study did not find MBL deficiency in peritoneal dialysis patients as compared to the healthy individuals.

Evaluation of Mandarin Chinese Speech Recognition in Adults with Cochlear Implants Using the Spectral Ripple Discrimination Test

PubMed Central

Dai, Chuanfu; Zhao, Zeqi; Zhang, Duo; Lei, Guanxiong

2018-01-01

Background The aim of this study was to explore the value of the spectral ripple discrimination test in speech recognition evaluation among a deaf (post-lingual) Mandarin-speaking population in China following cochlear implantation. Material/Methods The study included 23 Mandarin-speaking adult subjects with normal hearing (normal-hearing group) and 17 deaf adults who were former Mandarin-speakers, with cochlear implants (cochlear implantation group). The normal-hearing subjects were divided into men (n=10) and women (n=13). The spectral ripple discrimination thresholds between the groups were compared. The correlation between spectral ripple discrimination thresholds and Mandarin speech recognition rates in the cochlear implantation group were studied. Results Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds did not correlate with age (r=−0.19; p=0.22), and there was no significant difference in spectral ripple discrimination thresholds between the male and female groups (p=0.654). Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds of deaf adults with cochlear implants were significantly correlated with monosyllabic recognition rates (r=0.84; p=0.000). Conclusions In a Mandarin Chinese speaking population, spectral ripple discrimination thresholds of normal-hearing individuals were unaffected by both gender and age. Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds were correlated with Mandarin monosyllabic recognition rates of Mandarin-speaking in post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants. The spectral ripple discrimination test is a promising method for speech recognition evaluation in adults following cochlear implantation in China. PMID:29806954

Evaluation of Mandarin Chinese Speech Recognition in Adults with Cochlear Implants Using the Spectral Ripple Discrimination Test.

PubMed

Dai, Chuanfu; Zhao, Zeqi; Shen, Weidong; Zhang, Duo; Lei, Guanxiong; Qiao, Yuehua; Yang, Shiming

2018-05-28

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to explore the value of the spectral ripple discrimination test in speech recognition evaluation among a deaf (post-lingual) Mandarin-speaking population in China following cochlear implantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 23 Mandarin-speaking adult subjects with normal hearing (normal-hearing group) and 17 deaf adults who were former Mandarin-speakers, with cochlear implants (cochlear implantation group). The normal-hearing subjects were divided into men (n=10) and women (n=13). The spectral ripple discrimination thresholds between the groups were compared. The correlation between spectral ripple discrimination thresholds and Mandarin speech recognition rates in the cochlear implantation group were studied. RESULTS Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds did not correlate with age (r=-0.19; p=0.22), and there was no significant difference in spectral ripple discrimination thresholds between the male and female groups (p=0.654). Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds of deaf adults with cochlear implants were significantly correlated with monosyllabic recognition rates (r=0.84; p=0.000). CONCLUSIONS In a Mandarin Chinese speaking population, spectral ripple discrimination thresholds of normal-hearing individuals were unaffected by both gender and age. Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds were correlated with Mandarin monosyllabic recognition rates of Mandarin-speaking in post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants. The spectral ripple discrimination test is a promising method for speech recognition evaluation in adults following cochlear implantation in China.

Gut microbiota composition correlates with diet and health in the elderly.

PubMed

Claesson, Marcus J; Jeffery, Ian B; Conde, Susana; Power, Susan E; O'Connor, Eibhlís M; Cusack, Siobhán; Harris, Hugh M B; Coakley, Mairead; Lakshminarayanan, Bhuvaneswari; O'Sullivan, Orla; Fitzgerald, Gerald F; Deane, Jennifer; O'Connor, Michael; Harnedy, Norma; O'Connor, Kieran; O'Mahony, Denis; van Sinderen, Douwe; Wallace, Martina; Brennan, Lorraine; Stanton, Catherine; Marchesi, Julian R; Fitzgerald, Anthony P; Shanahan, Fergus; Hill, Colin; Ross, R Paul; O'Toole, Paul W

2012-08-09

Alterations in intestinal microbiota composition are associated with several chronic conditions, including obesity and inflammatory diseases. The microbiota of older people displays greater inter-individual variation than that of younger adults. Here we show that the faecal microbiota composition from 178 elderly subjects formed groups, correlating with residence location in the community, day-hospital, rehabilitation or in long-term residential care. However, clustering of subjects by diet separated them by the same residence location and microbiota groupings. The separation of microbiota composition significantly correlated with measures of frailty, co-morbidity, nutritional status, markers of inflammation and with metabolites in faecal water. The individual microbiota of people in long-stay care was significantly less diverse than that of community dwellers. Loss of community-associated microbiota correlated with increased frailty. Collectively, the data support a relationship between diet, microbiota and health status, and indicate a role for diet-driven microbiota alterations in varying rates of health decline upon ageing.

Validity of wearable activity monitors for tracking steps and estimating energy expenditure during a graded maximal treadmill test.

PubMed

Kendall, Bradley; Bellovary, Bryanne; Gothe, Neha P

2018-06-04

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of energy expenditure (EE) estimation and step tracking abilities of six activity monitors (AMs) in relation to indirect calorimetry and hand counted steps and assess the accuracy of the AMs between high and low fit individuals in order to assess the impact of exercise intensity. Fifty participants wore the Basis watch, Fitbit Flex, Polar FT7, Jawbone, Omron pedometer, and Actigraph during a maximal graded treadmill test. Correlations, intra-class correlations, and t-tests determined accuracy and agreement between AMs and criterions. The results indicate that the Omron, Fitbit, and Actigraph were accurate for measuring steps while the Basis and Jawbone significantly underestimated steps. All AMs were significantly correlated with indirect calorimetry, however, no devices showed agreement (p < .05). When comparing low and high fit groups, correlations between AMs and indirect calorimetry improved for the low fit group, suggesting AMs may be better at measuring EE at lower intensity exercise.

Correlation between unstimulated salivary flow, pH and streptococcus mutans, analysed with real time PCR, in caries-free and caries-active children.

PubMed

Abbate, G M; Borghi, D; Passi, A; Levrini, L

2014-03-01

Evaluate the correlations between unstimulated salivary flow, pH and level of S. mutans, analysed through real time PCR, in caries-free and caries-active children. Thirty healthy children were divided into 2 groups: test group (DMFT/dmft ≥ 3 and at least 1 active caries lesion) and control group (DMFT/dmft=0). Un-stimulated saliva was collected, pH was measured and S. mutans and total bacterial amount were evaluated with real-time PCR analysis. Unstimulated salivary flow in the test group was significantly lower (p = 0.0269) compared to group control. The level of S. mutans was higher in the test group (p = 0.176), and an inverse correlation was recorded between total bacterial amount and un-stimulated salivary flow (p = 0.063). In the control group a positive relationship was found between total bacterial amount and S. mutans (p = 0.045) and an inverse correlation between pH and S. mutans (p = 0.088). A t-test and a linear regression analysis were performed. A higher salivary flow and an increased salivary pH seem to represent protective factors against caries in children, while high levels of S. mutans are correlated with caries active lesions. Caries risk assessment should be performed considering all parameters involved in the development of the disease.

Specific oxidative stress parameters differently correlate with nailfold capillaroscopy changes and organ involvement in systemic sclerosis.

PubMed

Riccieri, Valeria; Spadaro, Antonio; Fuksa, Leos; Firuzi, Omidreza; Saso, Luciano; Valesini, Guido

2008-02-01

Oxidative stress is suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of the present study was to clarify such a hypothesis by determination of four different plasmatic parameters of oxidative stress, and to define its role in the microvascular damage, assessed by nailfold capillaroscopy (NC). Plasma samples of 18 patients with SSc were analyzed. The biomarkers measured were: total antioxidant capacity, hydroperoxides (ROOHs), and sulfhydryl (SH) and carbonyl (CO) groups. Each patient had a detailed clinical assessment and underwent an NC. The results showed significantly increased ROOHs in SSc patients compared to control group (5.02 +/- 0.24 vs 3.28 +/- 0.19 micromol/l; p < 0.05). Plasmatic levels of SH groups were significantly lower in SSc (0.466 +/- 0.08 mmol/l) compared to control group (0.542 +/- 0.04 mmol/l; p < 0.002). Plasma levels of ROOHs correlated with the capillaroscopy semiquantitative rating scale score (p < 0.05) and with the rating system for avascular areas (p < 0.03). The levels of CO groups inversely correlated with modified Rodnan's skin score (p < 0.039) and were lower in patients with pulmonary fibrosis (p < 0.045), while the levels of SH groups were lower in those presenting gastrointestinal involvement (p < 0.029). The obtained data indicate augmented free radical-mediated injury in SSc and also show correlations among oxidative abnormalities, some clinical findings, and signs of a more severe microvascular involvement. These results give more evidence to the connection between oxidative impairment and SSc.

Cerebral lactic acidosis correlates with neurological impairment in MELAS.

PubMed

Kaufmann, P; Shungu, D C; Sano, M C; Jhung, S; Engelstad, K; Mitsis, E; Mao, X; Shanske, S; Hirano, M; DiMauro, S; De Vivo, D C

2004-04-27

To evaluate the role of chronic cerebral lactic acidosis in mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS). The authors studied 91 individuals from 34 families with MELAS and the A3243G point mutation and 15 individuals from two families with myoclonus epilepsy and ragged red fibers (MERRF) and the A8344G mutation. Subjects were divided into four groups. Paternal relatives were studied as controls (Group 1). The maternally related subjects were divided clinically into three groups: asymptomatic (no clinical evidence of neurologic disease) (Group 2), oligosymptomatic (neurologic symptoms but without the full clinical picture of MELAS or MERRF) (Group 3), and symptomatic (fulfilling MELAS or MERRF criteria) (Group 4). The authors performed a standardized neurologic examination, neuropsychological testing, MRS, and leukocyte DNA analysis in all subjects. The symptomatic and oligosymptomatic MELAS subjects had significantly higher ventricular lactate than the other groups. There was a significant correlation between degree of neuropsychological and neurologic impairment and cerebral lactic acidosis as estimated by ventricular MRS lactate levels. High levels of ventricular lactate, the brain spectroscopic signature of MELAS, are associated with more severe neurologic impairment.

Relationships between milk consumption and academic performance, learning motivation and strategy, and personality in Korean adolescents.

PubMed

Kim, Sun Hyo; Kim, Woo Kyoung; Kang, Myung-Hee

2016-04-01

A healthy diet has been reported to be associated with physical development, cognition and academic performance, and personality during adolescence. This study was performed to investigate the relationships among milk consumption and academic performance, learning motivation and strategies, and personality among Korean adolescents. The study was divided into two parts. The first part was a survey on the relationship between milk consumption and academic performance, in which intakes of milk and milk products and academic scores were examined in percentiles among 630 middle and high school students residing in small and medium-sized cities in 2009. The second part was a survey on the relationships between milk consumption and learning motivation and strategy as well as personality, in which milk consumption habits were collected and Learning Motivation and Strategy Test (L-MOST) for adolescents and Total Personality Inventory for Adolescents (TPI-A) were conducted in 262 high school students in 2011. In the 2009 survey, milk and milk product intakes of subjects were divided into a low intake group (LM: ≤ 60.2 g/day), medium intake group (MM: 60.3-150.9 g/day), and high intake group (HM: ≥ 151.0 g/day). Academic performance of each group was expressed as a percentile, and performance in Korean, social science, and mathematics was significantly higher in the HM group (P < 0.05). In the 2011 survey, the group with a higher frequency of everyday milk consumption showed significantly higher "learning strategy total," "testing technique," and "resources management technique" scores (P < 0.05) in all subjects. However, when subjects were divided by gender, milk intake frequency, learning strategy total, class participation technique, and testing technique showed significantly positive correlations (P < 0.05) in boys, whereas no correlation was observed in girls. Correlations between milk intake frequency and each item of the personality test were only detected in boys, and milk intake frequency showed positive correlations with "total agreeability", "organization", "responsibility", "conscientiousness", and "intellectual curiosity" (P < 0.05). Intakes of milk and milk products were correlated with academic performance (Korean, social science, and mathematics) in Korean adolescents. In male high school students, particularly, higher milk intake frequency was positively correlated with learning motivation and strategy as well as some items of the personality inventory.

Relationships between milk consumption and academic performance, learning motivation and strategy, and personality in Korean adolescents

PubMed Central

Kim, Sun Hyo; Kim, Woo Kyoung

2016-01-01

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES A healthy diet has been reported to be associated with physical development, cognition and academic performance, and personality during adolescence. This study was performed to investigate the relationships among milk consumption and academic performance, learning motivation and strategies, and personality among Korean adolescents. SUBJECTS/METHODS The study was divided into two parts. The first part was a survey on the relationship between milk consumption and academic performance, in which intakes of milk and milk products and academic scores were examined in percentiles among 630 middle and high school students residing in small and medium-sized cities in 2009. The second part was a survey on the relationships between milk consumption and learning motivation and strategy as well as personality, in which milk consumption habits were collected and Learning Motivation and Strategy Test (L-MOST) for adolescents and Total Personality Inventory for Adolescents (TPI-A) were conducted in 262 high school students in 2011. RESULTS In the 2009 survey, milk and milk product intakes of subjects were divided into a low intake group (LM: ≤ 60.2 g/day), medium intake group (MM: 60.3-150.9 g/day), and high intake group (HM: ≥ 151.0 g/day). Academic performance of each group was expressed as a percentile, and performance in Korean, social science, and mathematics was significantly higher in the HM group (P < 0.05). In the 2011 survey, the group with a higher frequency of everyday milk consumption showed significantly higher "learning strategy total," "testing technique," and "resources management technique" scores (P < 0.05) in all subjects. However, when subjects were divided by gender, milk intake frequency, learning strategy total, class participation technique, and testing technique showed significantly positive correlations (P < 0.05) in boys, whereas no correlation was observed in girls. Correlations between milk intake frequency and each item of the personality test were only detected in boys, and milk intake frequency showed positive correlations with "total agreeability", "organization", "responsibility", "conscientiousness", and "intellectual curiosity" (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Intakes of milk and milk products were correlated with academic performance (Korean, social science, and mathematics) in Korean adolescents. In male high school students, particularly, higher milk intake frequency was positively correlated with learning motivation and strategy as well as some items of the personality inventory. PMID:27087904

An Evaluation of Mandibular Dental and Basal Arch Dimensions in Class I and Class II Division 1 Adult Syrian Patients using Cone-beam Computed Tomography.

PubMed

Al-Hilal, Layal H; Sultan, Kinda; Hajeer, Mohammad Y; Mahmoud, Ghiath; Wanli, Abdulrahman A

2018-04-01

Aim: The aim of this study is (1) to inspect any difference in mandibular arch widths between males and females in class I and class II division 1 (class malocclusions using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), (2) to compare the mandibular dental and basal widths between the two groups, and (3) to investigate any possible correlation between dental and basal arch widths in both groups. Materials and methods: The CBCT images of 68 patients aged between 18 and 25 years consisted of 34 class I (17 males and 17 females) and 34 class (17 males and 17 females) who were recruited at the Department of Orthodontics, University of Damascus Dental School (Syria). Using on-demand three-dimensional (3D) on axial views, facial axis points for dental measurements and basal bone center (BBC) points for basal measurements were identified on lower canines and first molars. Dental and basal intercanine width (ICW) and intermolar width (IMW) were measured. Results: Independent t-test showed a statistically significant difference between males and females in several variables in both groups and a statistically significant difference between class I and class groups in the basal ICW for both genders and in the dental ICW for females only (p < 0.05). In class I group, Pearson's correlation coefficients between dental and basal measurements showed a strong correlation in the IMW for both genders (r > 0.73; p < 0.01) and a moderate correlation in females' ICW (r = 0.67; p < 0.01). In the class group, a moderate correlation in females' IMW (r = 0.67; p < 0.01) was found. Conclusion: Females compared with males had narrower dimensions. Class I patients had larger ICW than class II-1 patients in all measurements and had narrower IMW than class in most measurements for both genders. There were moderate-to-strong correlations between dental and basal dimensions. BBC points might be landmarks that accurately represent the basal bone arch. Clinical significance: CBCT-based assessments of dental and basal arch dimensions provide a great opportunity to accurately evaluate these aspects, to enhance clinicians' decisions regarding proper tooth movements, and to achieve good dentoalveolar intra-arch harmony. Keywords: Basal arch, Class I, Class Cone-beam computed tomography, Dental arch, Intercanine width, Intermolar width.

Saliva, Serum Levels of Interleukin-21, -33 and Prostaglandin E2 in Patients with Generalised Aggressive or Chronic Periodontitis.

PubMed

Gümüş, Pınar; Nizam, Nejat; Nalbantsoy, Ayşe; Özçaka, Özgün; Buduneli, Nurcan

This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate saliva, serum levels of interleukin-21 (IL-21), IL-33, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in patients with generalised chronic periodontitis or aggressive periodontitis. Before initiation of any periodontal treatment, saliva and serum samples were collected and clinical periodontal measurements were recorded from 94 participants (25 aggressive periodontitis patients, 25 chronic periodontitis patients, 44 periodontally healthy individuals). IL-21, IL-33 and PGE2 levels in serum and saliva samples were determined by ELISA. Data were tested statistically using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U-, and Spearman-rho rank tests. Saliva IL-33 levels were statistically significantly higher in the chronic than the aggressive group (p < 0.05). Serum IL-33, saliva and serum IL-21 and PGE2 levels were similar in the two periodontitis groups. Saliva IL-33 levels correlated with age in the chronic periodontitis group (p < 0.05). Statistically significant positive correlations were found between serum, saliva PGE2 levels and plaque index (p < 0.05). IL-33 and IL-21 levels in serum samples positively correlated in the periodontitis groups (p < 0.05). IL-21 and PGE2 analysis did not exhibit discriminating data between generalised chronic and aggressive periodontitis, but the present findings support the role of these cytokines in periodontitis. Statistically significantly higher saliva IL-33 levels in the chronic periodontitis group warrant further research.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, is it an autoimmune disease?

PubMed

Janahi, Noor M; Santos, Derek; Blyth, Christine; Bakhiet, Moiz; Ellis, Mairghread

2015-11-01

Autoimmunity has been identified in a significant number of neuropathies, such as, proximal neuropathies, and autonomic neuropathies associated with diabetes mellitus. However, possible correlations between diabetic peripheral neuropathy and autoimmunity have not yet been fully investigated. This study was conducted to investigate whether autoimmunity is associated with the pathogenesis of human diabetic peripheral neuropathy. A case-control analysis included three groups: 30 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, 30 diabetic control patients without neuropathy, and 30 healthy controls. Blood analysis was conducted to compare the percentages of positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA) between the three groups. Secondary analysis investigated the correlations between the presence of autoimmune antibodies and sample demographics and neurological manifestations. This research was considered as a pilot study encouraging further investigations to take place in the near future. Antinuclear antibodies were significantly present in the blood serum of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy in comparison to the control groups (p<0.001). The odds of positive values of ANA in the neuropathy group were 50 times higher when compared to control groups. Secondary analysis showed a significant correlation between the presence of ANA and the neurological manifestation of neuropathy (Neuropathy symptom score, Neuropathy disability score and Vibration Perception Threshold). The study demonstrated for the first time that human peripheral diabetic neuropathy may have an autoimmune aetiology. The new pathogenic factors may lead to the consideration of new management plans involving new therapeutic approaches and disease markers. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of Lower Limb Strength on Falls and Balance of the Elderly

PubMed Central

Cho, Kang Hee; Bok, Soo Kyung; Hwang, Seon Lyul

2012-01-01

Objective To assess the effect of lower limb strength on falls and balance in community-dwelling elderly persons by a health status questionnaire, evaluation of lower limb strength and balance. Method A total of 86 subjects (age 69.8±5.3) were categorized into one of two groups, "Fallers" and "Non-fallers". Thirty one participants who had reported the experience of having fallen unexpectedly at least once in the past year were assigned into the group "Fallers", and the remaining 55 subjects having no fall history in the past year, "Non-fallers". A self-assessment questionnaire was taken. Lower limb strength was measured by a "Chair stand test". Balance was measured by the stability index of the fall risk test protocol of Balance System SD® (Biodex, New York, USA). The differences between the two groups were compared and the correlation between lower limb strength and balance were analyzed. Results The questionnaire demonstrated no significant differences between two groups. The "Chair stand test" showed a significantly less for the "Fallers" (p<0.05). The stability index was significantly greater in the "Fallers" group (p<0.05). There was a moderate negative correlation between the "Chair stand test" and the "Stability index" (R=-0.576, p<0.01). Conclusion This study suggests that the "Chair stand test" is a useful screening process for lower limb strength which correlates to risk for falls and balance in the elderly. PMID:22837975

Immunohistochemical studies of wound healing after monopolar electrocautery and ultrasound submucosal inferior nasal turbinate reduction in sheep.

PubMed

Nousia, C S; Gouveris, H; Giatromanolaki, A; Katotomichelakis, M; Ypsilantis, P; Riga, M; Sivridis, E; Watelet, J B; van Cauwenberge, P; Danielides, V

2013-06-01

Extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as fibronectin and collagen III, enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases and macrophages have been demonstrated to intervene in nasal and paranasal sinuses wound healing. To compare concentration of ECM proteins, enzymes and the recruitment of macrophages during wound repair after monopolar electrocautery in contrast with ultrasound submucosal surgical tissue reduction of inferior nasal turbinate (INT) tested in sheep. Prospective controlled study in sheep. Immunostaining for collagen III, fibronectin, CD68 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) was applied in tissue specimens of INT mucosa after monopolar electrocoagulation (MEC) and ultrasound tissue reduction (UTR). Twelve INTs were studied 1, 3 and 8 weeks post-operatively in each interventional group (MEC and UTR) and 5 INTs were studied in animals of the control group (without surgery). The immunoreactivity was quantitatively graded between 0% to 100% immunoreactivity by a blinded senior pathologist. At the end of the study period collagen III, fibronectin and MMP9 were increased in both groups compared to the levels of the control group. When compared to control group, CD68 immunoreactivity was found higher in MEC group but not in UTR group. Fibronectin subepithelial immunoreactivity exhibited a substantial negative correlation with mucosal epithelial cell necrosis, a substantial positive correlation with fibrosis in MEC-treated specimens and a significant positive correlation with sinusoid engorgement in UTR-treated specimens. Collagen III tissue immunoreactivity showed a particularly significant negative correlation with sinusoid engorgement in MEC-treated specimens. Correlation of fibronectin and collagen III immunoreactivity to histopathologic findings suggests different ECM repair processes between MEC and UTR turbinate tissue reduction. The use of CD68 and MMP9 provides additional clues to the mode of actions of these techniques and to the molecular and cellular events of the nasal mucosa wound healing process.

Cross-correlation earthquake precursors in the hydrogeochemical and geoacoustic signals for the Kamchatka peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ryabinin, Gennadiy; Gavrilov, Valeriy; Polyakov, Yuriy; Timashev, Serge

2012-06-01

We propose a new type of earthquake precursor based on the analysis of correlation dynamics between geophysical signals of different nature. The precursor is found using a two-parameter cross-correlation function introduced within the framework of flicker-noise spectroscopy, a general statistical physics approach to the analysis of time series. We consider an example of cross-correlation analysis for water salinity time series, an integral characteristic of the chemical composition of groundwater, and geoacoustic emissions recorded at the G-1 borehole on the Kamchatka peninsula in the time frame from 2001 to 2003, which is characterized by a sequence of three groups of significant seismic events. We found that cross-correlation precursors took place 27, 31, and 35 days ahead of the strongest earthquakes for each group of seismic events, respectively. At the same time, precursory anomalies in the signals themselves were observed only in the geoacoustic emissions for one group of earthquakes.

Sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritation in the human face: regional and age-related differences.

PubMed

Marrakchi, S; Maibach, H I

2006-01-01

The particular sensitivity of the human face to care products prompted us to study irritation induced by sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in its various regions. We examined regional and age-related differences, correlating basal transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and capacitance to SLS irritation. SLS (2% aq.) was applied under occlusion for 1 h to the forehead, cheek, nose, nasolabial and perioral areas, chin, neck and forearm to two groups of subjects--one with 10 subjects with an average age of 25.2 +/- 4.7 years and another with 10 subjects with an average age of 73.7 +/- 3.9 years. TEWL was measured before and 1 h and 23 h after patch removal. Baseline stratum corneum hydration was also measured. Irritation was assessed by the changes in TEWL (deltaTEWL = TEWL after patch removal - basal TEWL) after corrections to the control. In the younger group, all areas of the face and the neck reacted to SLS, whereas the forearm did not. In the older group, the nose, perioral area and forearm did not react. In both age groups, some significant differences between the regions of the face were detected. The younger group showed higher changes in TEWL than the older group in all the areas studied, but only in the chin and nasolabial area were the differences statistically significant. Significant correlations were found between basal TEWL and deltaTEWL in 5 of the 7 areas which reacted to SLS. Baseline TEWL is one parameter that correlates with the susceptibility of the face to this irritant. 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

The burden of prostatic calculi is more important than the presence

PubMed Central

Park, Bumsoo; Choo, Seol Ho

2017-01-01

Prostatic calculi are a common finding on transrectal prostate ultrasound. However, it remains unclear whether they are significantly associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Our objective was to evaluate the association between prostatic calculi and LUTS with a focus on “calculi burden” because no studies have investigated prostatic calculi using “calculi burden” as an indicator. A total of 606 participants who received transrectal prostate ultrasound were divided into two groups according to the presence of prostatic calculi. “Calculi burden” was defined as the sum of the transverse diameters of all visible calculi within the prostate. The International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and a quality of life (QoL) score were collected. Both groups were compared, and a multivariate analysis was performed to predict moderate/severe LUTS. Linear correlation was evaluated between calculi burden and IPSS in the calculi group. No differences in total IPSS, voiding IPSS, or QoL score were detected between the two groups, but storage IPSS was significantly higher in the calculi group than that of controls. The multivariate analysis showed that the presence of prostatic calculi was not an independent predictor of moderate/severe LUTS. A positive linear correlation was detected between calculi burden and storage IPSS in calculi group (r = 0.148). However, no correlation was found between calculi burden and total IPSS, voiding IPSS, or QoL score. Our results showed that the presence of prostatic calculi was not a significant factor predicting moderate/severe LUTS. However, an increased calculi burden may be associated with aggravating storage symptoms. PMID:27184549

The burden of prostatic calculi is more important than the presence.

PubMed

Park, Bumsoo; Choo, Seol Ho

2017-01-01

Prostatic calculi are a common finding on transrectal prostate ultrasound. However, it remains unclear whether they are significantly associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Our objective was to evaluate the association between prostatic calculi and LUTS with a focus on "calculi burden" because no studies have investigated prostatic calculi using "calculi burden" as an indicator. A total of 606 participants who received transrectal prostate ultrasound were divided into two groups according to the presence of prostatic calculi. "Calculi burden" was defined as the sum of the transverse diameters of all visible calculi within the prostate. The International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and a quality of life (QoL) score were collected. Both groups were compared, and a multivariate analysis was performed to predict moderate/severe LUTS. Linear correlation was evaluated between calculi burden and IPSS in the calculi group. No differences in total IPSS, voiding IPSS, or QoL score were detected between the two groups, but storage IPSS was significantly higher in the calculi group than that of controls. The multivariate analysis showed that the presence of prostatic calculi was not an independent predictor of moderate/severe LUTS. A positive linear correlation was detected between calculi burden and storage IPSS in calculi group (r = 0.148). However, no correlation was found between calculi burden and total IPSS, voiding IPSS, or QoL score. Our results showed that the presence of prostatic calculi was not a significant factor predicting moderate/severe LUTS. However, an increased calculi burden may be associated with aggravating storage symptoms.

Across-sectional study on anxiety and stress in pregnant women with chronic HBV infection in the People’s Republic of China

PubMed Central

Zhou, Fen; Li, Jianju; Lin, Keke; Ji, Ping; Sun, Yumei

2015-01-01

Purpose To investigate the anxiety and pregnancy-associated stress of pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the People’s Republic of China and analyze the relationship between anxiety and pregnancy-associated stress in the hope of finding ways to reduce the stress or improve the coping skills for these mothers-to-be during pregnancy. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. One hundred and sixty chronic HBV-infected pregnant women (HBV group) and 160 healthy pregnant women (control group) selected from three Peking University-affiliated hospitals participated in the study, and completed the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Pregnancy Stress Rating Scale (PSRS) survey. Results The mean scores of STAI and PSRS for the HBV group were higher than for the control group. Factor 2 of PSRS (stress caused by worrying about mother and child’s health and safety) was the highest, and was significantly higher in the HBV group than in the control group. Correlation analysis showed STAI scores were significantly correlated with economic status and diagnosis, as well as the total score, factor 1 (stress about identifying with the role of mother), and factor 2 of PSRS, but not significantly correlated with factor 3 of PSRS (stress caused by the changes of body shape and physical activity). Conclusion Pregnant women with chronic HBV infection experienced higher levels of anxiety and stress than healthy pregnant women. Their major stress came from concerns for the health and safety of the mother and the child. PMID:26346004

Does vitamin D have any role in the improvement of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in type 1 diabetic patients?

PubMed

Ozuguz, U; Oruc, S; Ulu, M S; Demirbas, H; Acay, A; Coker, B; Beyazıt, B; Yaman, M; Koken, T

2016-12-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and vitamin D, nerve growth factor (NGF) and oxidative stress markers in patients with type 1 diabetes. Ninety-six patients with type 1 diabetes were included in the study. All patients were evaluated for DPN with Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument. Fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, lipid parameters, 25 (OH) D3, NGF, total oxidant status, total antioxidant status and oxidative stress index were measured. Twenty-six patients (27 %) had DPN (group 1) and 70 patients did not have neuropathy (group 2). When the groups were evaluated with respect to general demographic characteristics, no differences were detected. Mean age, duration of diabetes and retinopathy were found significantly higher in patients who had neuropathy. Glomerular filtration rate levels were significantly lower in the neuropathy group. Between the groups, 25 (OH) vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the neuropathy group, while there were no differences in NGF levels or in oxidative stress markers. Michigan neuropathy examination score was positively correlated with age, and diabetes duration was negatively correlated with 25 (OH) vitamin D levels. In addition, 25 (OH) vitamin D was positively correlated with NGF. In the logistic regression analysis to determine the independent variables that will affect the development of neuropathy, duration of diabetes was detected as the only factor (p = 0.039, OR = 1.071). It seems that the most important risk factor for the development of neuropathy in type 1 diabetic patients is disease duration.

Climate Variability and Phytoplankton in the Pacific Ocean

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rousseaux, Cecile

2012-01-01

The effect of climate variability on phytoplankton communities was assessed for the tropical and sub-tropical Pacific Ocean between 1998 and 2005 using an established biogeochemical assimilation model. The phytoplankton communities exhibited wide range of responses to climate variability, from radical shifts in the Equatorial Pacific, to changes of only a couple of phytoplankton groups in the North Central Pacific, to no significant changes in the South Pacific. In the Equatorial Pacific, climate variability dominated the variability of phytoplankton. Here, nitrate, chlorophyll and all but one of the 4 phytoplankton types (diatoms, cyanobacteria and coccolithophores) were strongly correlated (p<0.01) with the Multivariate El Nino Southern Oscillation Index (MEI). In the North Central Pacific, MEI and chlorophyll were significantly (p<0.01) correlated along with two of the phytoplankton groups (chlorophytes and coccolithophores). Ocean biology in the South Pacific was not significantly correlated with MEI. During La Nina events, diatoms increased and expanded westward along the cold tongue (correlation with MEI, r=-0.81), while cyanobacteria concentrations decreased significantly (r=0.78). El Nino produced the reverse pattern, with cyanobacteria populations increasing while diatoms plummeted. The diverse response of phytoplankton in the different major basins of the Pacific suggests the different roles climate variability can play in ocean biology.

Contribution of the blood glucose level in perinatal asphyxia.

PubMed

Basu, Pallab; Som, Sabbasachi; Choudhuri, Nabendu; Das, Harendranath

2009-07-01

This is a comparative study between 60 asphyxiated newborns (cases) and 60 normal neonates (controls) in respect of their plasma glucose and uric acid levels and also their clinical and neurological status. The mean plasma glucose level was significantly lower (35.1 +/- 11.4 mg/dl vs. 56.9 +/- 5.5 mg/dl; P < 0.001) and the mean serum uric acid level was higher (8.0 +/- 1.2 mg/dl vs. 4.5 +/- 0.83 mg/dl; P < 0.001) in the asphyxiated group when compared to the controls. Within the perinatal asphyxia group, the plasma glucose level and Apgar scores showed a significant positive linear correlation (r = 0.740, P < 0.001), whereas a significant negative linear correlation was observed between the glucose level and different stages of hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (r = -0.875, P < 0.001). Although a strong positive linear correlation was found between uric acid and HIE stages (r = 0.734, P < or = 0.001), the linear correlation between uric acid and Apgar scores (r = -0.885, P < 0.001) and uric acid and the plasma glucose level (r = -0.725, P < 0.001) were found to be significantly negative among the cases. The severity of encephalopathy and cellular damage varies with the severity of hypoglycemia.

The Effect of ENSO on Phytoplankton Composition in the Pacific Ocean

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rousseaux, Cecile

2012-01-01

The effect of climate variability on phytoplankton communities was assessed for the tropical and sub-tropical Pacific Ocean between 1998 and 2005 using an established biogeochemical assimilation model. The phytoplankton communities exhibited wide range of responses to climate variability, from radical shifts in the Equatorial Pacific, to changes of only a couple of phytoplankton groups in the North Central Pacific, to no significant changes in the South Pacific. In the Equatorial Pacific, climate variability dominated the variability of phytoplankton. Here, nitrate, chlorophyll and all but one of the 4 phytoplankton types (diatoms, cyanobacteria and coccolithophores) were strongly correlated (p less than 0.01) with the Multivariate El Nino Southern Oscillation Index (MEI). In the North Central Pacific, MEI and chlorophyll were significantly (p<0.01) correlated along with two of the phytoplankton groups (chlorophytes and coccolithophores). Ocean biology in the South Pacific was not significantly correlated with MEI. During La Ni a events, diatoms increased and expanded westward along the cold tongue (correlation with MEI, r=-0.81), while cyanobacteria concentrations decreased significantly (r=0.78). El Nino produced the reverse pattern, with cyanobacteria populations increasing while diatoms plummeted. The diverse response of phytoplankton in the different major basins of the Pacific suggests the different roles climate variability can play in ocean biology.

Benign prostate hyperplasia: average volume in southwestern Nigerians and correlation with anthropometrics.

PubMed

Badmus, T A; Asaleye, C M; Badmus, S A; Takure, A O; Ibrahim, M H; Arowolo, O A

2012-03-01

To determine the prevalent age of symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), the average BPH volume, and the association between BPH volumes and the age, and anthropometrics. Selected patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH with tissue diagnosis, and adult men of similar age group with no irritative or obstructive LUTS were prospectively studied from July 2003 to June 2009. The age, height and weight were recorded; prostate volumes determined with ultrasound, body mass index (BMI) calculated, and correlations determined between the prostate volume, the age and anthropometrics. One hundred and five patients aged 43-88years (mean=64.4, 8.88SD) managed for BPH were studied with 93 asymptomatic men aged 43-80years (mean=56.15, 9.89SD). The mean (SD) prostate volume, height, weight and BMI were 83.8(37.7) ml, 1.67(0.07) m, 63.6(9.32) kg and 22.8(3.03) kg/m2, and 24.5(9.2) ml, 1.69(0.06) m, 68.9(10.6) kg and 24.2(3.44) kg/m2 respectively for symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. In the symptomatic group, BPH volume showed significant positive correlation with the age (p=0.030), but no correlation with the weight (p=0.550), height (p=0.375) and BMI (p=0.840). In the asymptomatic group, prostate volume also showed significant positive correlation with the age (p=0.041), but no correlation with the weight (p=0.434), height (p= 0.394), and BMI (p=0.203). The prevalent age of symptomatic BPH in our community is 43-88years with 83.79(37.66) ml mean (SD) volume in symptomatic patients and 24.45(9.21) ml in asymptomatic men. BPH volume correlates with age but not with anthropometrics. Lack of correlation with BPH volume suggests that anthropometrics may not be risk factors for development of BPH.

Benign prostate hyperplasia: average volume in southwestern Nigerians and correlation with anthropometrics.

PubMed

Badmus, T A; Asaleye, C M; Badmus, S A; Takure, A O; Ibrahim, M H; Arowolo, O A

2013-03-01

To determine the prevalent age of symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), the average BPH volume, and the association between BPH volumes and the age, and anthropometrics in our immediate black community. Selected patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH with tissue diagnosis, and adult men of similar age group with no irritative or obstructive LUTS were prospectively studied from July 2003 to June 2009. The age, height and weight were recorded, prostate volumes determined with ultrasound, body mass index (bmi) calculated, and correlations determined between the prostate volume and the age, and anthropometrics. 105 patients aged 43-88 yrs (mean=64.4, 8.88 SD) managed for BPH were studied with 93 asymptomatic men aged 43-80 yrs (mean=56.15, 9.89 SD). The mean (SD) prostate volume, height, weight and bmi were 83.8 (37.7) ml, 1.67 (0.07) m, 63.6 (9.32) kg and 22.8 (3.03) kg/m2, and 24.5 (9.2) ml, 1.69 (0.06) m, 68.9 (10.6) kg and 24.2 (3.44) kg/m2 respectively for symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. In the symptomatic group, BPH volume showed significant positive correlation with the age (p=0.030), but no correlation with the weight (p=0.550), height (p=0.375) and bmi (p=0.840). In the asymptomatic group, prostate volume also showed significant positive correlation with the age (p=0.041), but no correlation with the weight (p=0.434), height (p=0.394), and bmi (p=0.203). The prevalent age of symptomatic BPH in our community is 43- 88 years with 83.79 (37.66) ml mean (SD) volume in symptomatic patients and 24.45 (9.21) ml in asymptomatic men. BPH volume correlates with age but not with anthropometrics. Lack of correlation with BPH volume suggests that anthropometrics may not be risk factors for development of BPH in our community.

Laser and plasma dental soldering techniques applied to Ti-6Al-4V alloy: ultimate tensile strength and finite element analysis.

PubMed

Castro, Morgana G; Araújo, Cleudmar A; Menegaz, Gabriela L; Silva, João Paulo L; Nóbilo, Mauro Antônio A; Simamoto Júnior, Paulo Cézar

2015-05-01

The literature provides limited information regarding the performance of Ti-6Al-4V laser and plasma joints welded in prefabricated bars in dental applications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mechanical strength of different diameters of Ti-6Al-4V alloy welded with laser and plasma techniques. Forty-five dumbbell-shaped rods were created from Ti-6Al-4V and divided into 9 groups (n=5): a control group with 3-mm and intact bars; groups PL2.5, PL3, PL4, and PL5 (specimens with 2.5-, 3-, 4-, and 5-mm diameters welded with plasma); and groups L2.5, L3, L4, and L5 (specimens with 2.5-, 3-, 4-, and 5-mm diameters welded with laser). The specimens were tested for ultimate tensile strength (UTS), and elongation percentages (EP) were obtained. Fractured specimens were analyzed by stereomicroscopy, and welded area percentages (WAP) were calculated. Images were made with scanning electron microscopy. In the initial analysis, the data were analyzed with a 2-way ANOVA (2×4) and the Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test. In the second analysis, the UTS and EP data were analyzed with 1-way ANOVA, and the Dunnett test was used to compare the 4 experimental groups with the control group (α=.05). The Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficient tests were applied to correlate the study factors. Finite element models were developed in a workbench environment with boundary conditions simulating those of a tensile test. The 2-way ANOVA showed that the factors welding type and diameter were significant for the UTS and WAP values. However, the interaction between them was not significant. The 1-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences among the groups for UTS, WAP, and EP values. The Dunnett test showed that all the tested groups had lower UTS and EP values than the control group. The 2.5- and 3-mm diameter groups showed higher values for UTS and WAP than the other test groups. A positive correlation was found between welded area percentage and UTS and a negative correlation between these parameters and the diameters of the specimens. No statistically significant difference was found between the weld techniques. Under the experimental conditions described, diameters of 2.5 and 3 mm resulted in higher UTS and WAP for both laser and plasma welding and appear to be the best option for joining prefabricated rods in this kind of union. Copyright © 2015 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Gene expression of placental hormones regulating energy balance in small for gestational age neonates.

PubMed

Struwe, Ellen; Berzl, Gabriele M; Schild, Ralf L; Dötsch, Jörg

2009-01-01

Fetal growth restriction is associated with an increased risk for metabolic and cardiovascular disease in later life. To further elucidate mechanisms that might be involved in the process of prenatal programming, we measured the adipokines leptin, resistin, and adiponectin and the GH-releasing hormone ghrelin in the placenta of small for gestational age (SGA) neonates. The control group included 24 placentas of appropriate for gestational age (AGA) newborns, in the study group were 16 placentas of SGA neonates. Gene expression of leptin, resistin, adiponectin, and ghrelin was examined. For hormones showing alterations in gene regulation placental protein expression was measured by Western blot. Placental mRNA expression of leptin was significantly increased in SGA placentas (p=0.0035, related to beta-actin). Protein concentration was increased, as well. There were no differences in placental resistin, adiponectin, or ghrelin gene expressions between SGA neonates and controls. Leptin was the only hormone to demonstrate a significant inverse correlation with birth weight (r=-0.44, p=0.01). Adiponectin correlated significantly with leptin (r=0.53, p=0.0023) and ghrelin (r=0.50, p=0.0045). Placental leptin gene expression and protein concentration showed the expected increase in the SGA group. Leptin was inversely correlated with birth weight. Positive correlation of adiponectin with leptin and ghrelin expression suggests an interaction between these hormones in the placenta. However, the unchanged expression of resistin, adiponectin, and ghrelin in SGA placentas and the absence of correlation with birth weight cast doubt whether these hormones produced in the placenta play a key role in fetal programming.

The perception of relations in the family of origin of patients with eating disorders and the perception of relations in families of origin of their parents.

PubMed

Pilecki, Maciej; Józefik, Barbara; Kościelniak, Marta

2015-01-01

Analysis of the correlation between the assessment of current family relations in families of patients diagnosed with eating disorders and the assessment of the relations in the family of origin of their parents. 54 female patients with restrictive anorexia nervosa, 22 female patients with binge-purge anorexia, 36 female patients with bulimia. Two control groups were included: 36 female patients with depressive disorders and 85 schoolgirls from Krakow. The study also covered the girls' parents. Family of Origin Scale and FAM Family Assessment Measure (Polish version). In the families of schoolgirls from Krakow better evaluation of the experience of intimacy and autonomy in the family of origin of parents of the investigated girls was associated with their and their children more favourable perception of relations in the present nuclear family. What proved particularly significant were perception of transgenerational experiences of the fathers. Only a few statistically significant correlations were observed in all clinical groups. In the parents of the investigated patients a weak correlation was observed between the current marital relations perception and transgenerational experiences evaluation and a significant correlation between parents' transgenerational experience evaluation and the assessment of the relations with their daughters. No specific correlations were found between the perception of the transgenerational experience of parents and evaluation of current relations in the nuclear family of their children with eating disorders. The results in the group with eating disorders suggest that the relations between parents and daughters are more intense than marital relations.

Serum adipokines and HIV viral replication in patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy

PubMed Central

Aramă, Victoria; Tilişcan, Cătălin; Ion, Daniela Adriana; Mihăilescu, Raluca; Munteanu, Daniela; Streinu-Cercel, Anca; Tudor, Ana Maria; Hristea, Adriana; Leoveanu, Viorica; Olaru, Ioana; Aramă, Ştefan Sorin

2012-01-01

Introduction Several studies have reported that cytokines secreted by adipose tissue (adipokines) may be linked to HIV replication. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between HIV replication and serum levels of adipokines, in a Caucasian HIV-infected population of men and women undergoing complex antiretroviral therapy. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in an unselected sample of 77 HIV-1-positive patients. Serum adipokines levels were measured including circulating adiponectin, leptin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 - with undetectable viral load and Group 2 - with persistent HIV viral replication. Differences between groups ? were tested using independent-sample t-test for Gaussian variables and Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon test for non-parametric variables. Pearson's chi-squared test was used for correlation analysis. Results A total of 77 patients (age range: 17-65, mean: 32.5 years) including 44 men (57.1% men, age range: 17–63 years, mean: 34.1 years) and 33 women (42.9% women age range: 19–65 years, mean: 30.3 years) were included in the study. TNF-alpha had significantly higher serum levels in patients with detectable viral load (16.89 vs. 9.35 pg/mL), (p=0.043), but correlation analysis lacked statistical significance. Adiponectin had median serum levels of 9.22 ìg/mL in Group 1 vs. 16.50 ìg/mL in Group 2 but the results lacked statistical significance (p=0.059). Higher leptin, IL-6 and resistin serum levels were noted in patients with undetectable HIV viral load, without statistical significance. Conclusions The present study reported higher TNF-alpha serum levels in patients with persistent HIV viral load. We found no statistically significant correlations between adiponectin, leptin, resistin and IL-6 and HIV viral load in our Caucasian HIV-positive study population, undergoing antiretroviral therapy. PMID:24432258

Visual event-related potential changes in two subtypes of multiple system atrophy, MSA-C and MSA-P.

PubMed

Kamitani, Toshiaki; Kuroiwa, Yoshiyuki; Wang, Lihong; Li, Mei; Suzuki, Yume; Takahashi, Tatsuya; Ikegami, Tadashi; Matsubara, Sho

2002-08-01

We investigated the visual event-related potentials (ERPs) in two subtypes of multisystem atrophy (MSA) in 15 MSA-C patients, 12 MSA-P patients, and 21 normal control (NC) subjects. We used a visual oddball task to elicit ERPs. No significant changes were seen in N1 or N2 latency, in either MSA-C or MSA-P, compared with the NC group. An early stage of visual information process related to N1 and a visual discrimination process related to N2 might be preserved in both MSA-C and MSA-P. The P3a peak was more frequently undetectable in MSA than in the NC group. Significant P3a amplitude reduction in both MSA-C and MSA-P suggests impairment of the automatic cognitive processing in both MSA-C and MSA-P. Significant difference was found in P3b latency and P3b amplitude only in MSA-C, compared with the NC group. The result suggests the impairment of the controlled cognitive processing after the visual discrimination process in the MSA-C group. We further investigated the correlation between visual ERP changes and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. Quantitative MRI measurements showed reduced size of the pons, cerebellum, perisylvian cerebral area, and deep cerebral gray matter in both MSA-C and MSA-P, and of the corpus callosum only in MSA-P, as compared to NC group. In both MSA-C and MSA-P, P3b latency was significantly correlated with the size on MRI of the pons and the cerebellum. P3b latency in the whole MSA group was also significantly correlated with the size of the pons and the cerebellum. These results indicate that P3b latency changes in parallel with the volume of the pons and the cerebellum in both MSA-C and MSA-P.

[Clinical significance and distribution of BRCA genes mutation in sporadic high grade serous ovarian cancer].

PubMed

Liu, W L; Wang, Z Z; Zhao, J Z; Hou, Y Y; Wu, X X; Li, W; Dong, B; Tong, T T; Guo, Y J

2017-01-25

Objective: To investigate the mutations of BRCA genes in sporadic high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and study its clinical significance. Methods: Sixty-eight patients between January 2015 and January 2016 from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University were collected who were based on pathological diagnosis of ovarian cancer and had no reported family history, and all patients firstly hospitalized were untreated in other hospitals before. (1) The BRCA genes were detected by next-generation sequencing (NGS) method. (2) The serum tumor markers included carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA(125), CA(199), and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) were detected by the chemiluminescence methods, and their correlation was analyzed by Pearson linear correlation. Descriptive statistics and comparisons were performed using two-tailed t -tests, Pearson's chi square test, Fisher's exact tests or logistic regression analysis as appropriate to research the clinicopathologic features associated with BRCA mutations, including age, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, platinum-based chemotherapy sensitivity, distant metastases, serum tumor markers (STM) . Results: (1) Fifteen cases (22%, 15/68) BRCA mutations were identified (BRCA1: 11 cases; BRCA2: 4 cases), and four novel mutations were observed. (2) The levels of CEA, CA(199), and HE4 were lower in BRCA mutations compared to that in control group, while no significant differences were found ( P >0.05), but the level of CA(125) was much higher in BRCA mutation group than that in controls ( t =-3.536, P =0.003). Further linear regression analysis found that there was a significant linear correlation between CA(125) and HE4 group ( r =0.494, P <0.01), and the same correlation as CEA and CA(199) group ( r =0.897, P <0.01). (3) Single factor analysis showed that no significant differences were observed in onset age, FIGO stage, distant metastasis, and STM between BRCA(+) and BRCA(-) group ( P >0.05), while significant differences were found in CA(125) and sensitivity to platinum-based chemotherapy between the patients with BRCA mutation and wild type ( P <0.05). The multiple factors analysis showed that the high level of CA(125) was a independent risk factor of BRCA mutations in sporadic HGSOC ( P =0.007). Conclusion: The combination of CA(125) with BRCA have great clinical significance, the mutation of BRCA gene could guild the clinical chemotherapy regiments.

Effects of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab on choroidal structure and blood flow in eyes with diabetic macular edema.

PubMed

Okamoto, Masahiro; Yamashita, Mariko; Ogata, Nahoko

2018-05-01

To determine the effects of an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) on the choroidal structure and blood flow in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME). Twenty-eight consecutive patients with DME who received an IVR and 20 non-diabetic, age-matched controls were followed for 1 month. The eyes with DME were divided into those with prior panretinal photocoagulation (PRP, n = 16) and those without prior PRP (no-PRP, n = 12). The enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) scans and Niblack's image binarization were performed to determine the choroidal structure. The choroidal blood flow was determined by laser speckle flowgraphy. The subfoveal choroidal thickness at the baseline was significantly thicker in the no-PRP group than in the PRP-treated group. After IVR, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness in eyes with DME were significantly improved compared to the baseline values. There were significant differences in the choroidal thickness, total choroidal area, and choroidal vascularity index between the groups after IVR. Choroidal vascular index and choroidal blood flow were significantly reduced only in the no-PRP group and not in the PRP-treated group. In addition, the correlation between the central retinal thickness and the choroidal blood flow was significant in the no-PRP group (r = 0.47, P < 0.05). A single IVR will reduce the central retinal thickness and improve the BCVA in eyes with DME in both the no-PRP and PRP-treated group. IVR affected the choroidal vasculature and blood flow significantly, and a significant correlation was found between the central retinal thickness and the choroidal blood flow in eyes without PRP.

Effects of endurance training on hippocampus DJ-1, cannabinoid receptor type 2 and blood glucose concentration in diabetic rats.

PubMed

Kurd, Mohammad; Valipour Dehnou, Vahid; Tavakoli, Seyed A; Gahreman, Daniel E

2018-05-23

To investigate the effect of endurance training on hippocampus DJ-1 and cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB 2 ) protein and blood glucose concentration in diabetic rats. A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into diabetic (D), diabetic and exercise (DE), exercise (E) and control (C) groups. The endurance training was carried out five times per week for 6 weeks. The hippocampus DJ-1 and CB 2 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The level of DJ-1 in the D group was significantly higher than the other groups (P ≤ 0.01). However, the level of DJ-1 was not significantly different between the C, E and DE groups. In addition, the level of CB 2 was significantly lower in the D group compared with the other groups (P ≤ 0.01). Blood glucose was significantly higher in the D group compared with the DE group (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between the level of DJ-1 and blood glucose was observed (r = 0.67, P ≤ 0.001). There was also a significant inverse correlation between the level of CB 2 and blood glucose (r = -0.77, P ≤ 0.001). The results of this study suggest that the level of DJ-1 and CB 2 might change in response to diabetes, and regular aerobic exercise could mediate the effect of DJ-1 and CB 2 on diabetes-induced neurodegenerative diseases. © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Diabetes Investigation published by Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes (AASD) and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

QT interval dispersion in the patients with central serous chorioretinopathy

PubMed Central

Dagli, Necati; Turgut, Burak; Tanyildizi, Rumeysa; Kobat, Sabiha; Kobat, Mehmet Ali; Dogdu, Orhan

2015-01-01

AIM To evaluate QT dispersion (QTD) in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). METHODS This clinical, comperative, case-control study included 30 patients with CSC at acute phase (Group 1) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (Group 2, the control group). From all subjects, a 12-lead surface electrocardiography was obtained. The heart rate (HR), QT maximum (QTmax), QT minimum (QTmin), QT corrected (QTc), QTD and Tmean were manually measured and analyzed. Student's t-test and Pearson's method of correlation were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The patient and control groups were matched for age, smoking status (rate and duration) and gender. There were no significant differences with regard to these among the groups (P>0.05). The participants included 19 men (63.3%) and 11 women (36.7%) in Group 1, 20 men (66.7%) and 10 women (33.3%) in Group 2. QTmax, QTD and QTc were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (P<0.001 for QTmax, P=0.01 for QTD and P=0.001 for QTc). QTmin, Tmean and HR did not differ significantly between the study groups (P=0.28 for QTmin, P=0.56 for Tmean and P>0.05 for HR). No significant correlation was found between duration of the disorder and QTD values (r=0.13, P>0.05). CONCLUSION These findings suggest that CSC may be associated with an increase in QTD and that the patients might be at risk for ventricular arrhythmia. PMID:25709909

QT interval dispersion in the patients with central serous chorioretinopathy.

PubMed

Dagli, Necati; Turgut, Burak; Tanyildizi, Rumeysa; Kobat, Sabiha; Kobat, Mehmet Ali; Dogdu, Orhan

2015-01-01

To evaluate QT dispersion (QTD) in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). This clinical, comperative, case-control study included 30 patients with CSC at acute phase (Group 1) and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (Group 2, the control group). From all subjects, a 12-lead surface electrocardiography was obtained. The heart rate (HR), QT maximum (QTmax), QT minimum (QTmin), QT corrected (QTc), QTD and Tmean were manually measured and analyzed. Student's t-test and Pearson's method of correlation were used for statistical analysis. The patient and control groups were matched for age, smoking status (rate and duration) and gender. There were no significant differences with regard to these among the groups (P>0.05). The participants included 19 men (63.3%) and 11 women (36.7%) in Group 1, 20 men (66.7%) and 10 women (33.3%) in Group 2. QTmax, QTD and QTc were significantly higher than those of healthy controls (P<0.001 for QTmax, P=0.01 for QTD and P=0.001 for QTc). QTmin, Tmean and HR did not differ significantly between the study groups (P=0.28 for QTmin, P=0.56 for Tmean and P>0.05 for HR). No significant correlation was found between duration of the disorder and QTD values (r=0.13, P>0.05). These findings suggest that CSC may be associated with an increase in QTD and that the patients might be at risk for ventricular arrhythmia.

Correlation between insight dimensions and cognitive functions in patients with deficit and nondeficit schizophrenia.

PubMed

Pegoraro, Luiz F L; Dantas, Clarissa R; Banzato, Claudio E M; Fuentes, Daniel

2013-06-01

Previous studies have shown correlations between poor insight and neurocognitive impairment in schizophrenia. Deficit schizophrenia has been associated with worse cognitive functioning and poorer insight. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between insight dimensions (measured by Schedule for the Assessment of Insight-Expanded Version and its factors) and specific neurocognitive functions (assessed through a battery of neuropsychological tests) considering separately patients with deficit (n=29) and nondeficit schizophrenia (n=44), categorized according to the Schedule for the Deficit Syndrome. We found that working memory correlated positively and significantly with awareness of mental illness in both groups. In nondeficit group, awareness of mental illness correlated additionally with verbal fluency and attention. If confirmed by further studies, these results may have important consequences, such as the need of tailoring differently cognitive rehabilitation for each group. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Real-time fMRI neurofeedback of the mediodorsal and anterior thalamus enhances correlation between thalamic BOLD activity and alpha EEG rhythm.

PubMed

Zotev, Vadim; Misaki, Masaya; Phillips, Raquel; Wong, Chung Ki; Bodurka, Jerzy

2018-02-01

Real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-nf) with simultaneous EEG allows volitional modulation of BOLD activity of target brain regions and investigation of related electrophysiological activity. We applied this approach to study correlations between thalamic BOLD activity and alpha EEG rhythm. Healthy volunteers in the experimental group (EG, n = 15) learned to upregulate BOLD activity of the target region consisting of the mediodorsal (MD) and anterior (AN) thalamic nuclei using rtfMRI-nf during retrieval of happy autobiographical memories. Healthy subjects in the control group (CG, n = 14) were provided with a sham feedback. The EG participants were able to significantly increase BOLD activities of the MD and AN. Functional connectivity between the MD and the inferior precuneus was significantly enhanced during the rtfMRI-nf task. Average individual changes in the occipital alpha EEG power significantly correlated with the average MD BOLD activity levels for the EG. Temporal correlations between the occipital alpha EEG power and BOLD activities of the MD and AN were significantly enhanced, during the rtfMRI-nf task, for the EG compared to the CG. Temporal correlations with the alpha power were also significantly enhanced for the posterior nodes of the default mode network, including the precuneus/posterior cingulate, and for the dorsal striatum. Our findings suggest that the temporal correlation between the MD BOLD activity and posterior alpha EEG power is modulated by the interaction between the MD and the inferior precuneus, reflected in their functional connectivity. Our results demonstrate the potential of the rtfMRI-nf with simultaneous EEG for noninvasive neuromodulation studies of human brain function. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Using biological markets principles to examine patterns of grooming exchange in Macaca thibetana.

PubMed

Balasubramaniam, K N; Berman, C M; Ogawa, H; Li, J

2011-12-01

Biological markets principles offer testable hypotheses to explain variation in grooming exchange patterns among nonhuman primates. They predict that when within-group contest competition (WGC) is high and dominance hierarchies steep, grooming interchange with other "commodity" behaviors (such as agonistic support) should prevail. In contrast, when WGC is low and gradients shallow, market theory predicts that grooming reciprocity should prevail. We tested these predictions in a wild, provisioned Tibetan macaque (Macaca thibetana) group across six time periods during which the group had been subjected to varying degrees of range restriction. Data on female-female aggression, grooming, and support were collected using all-occurrences and focal animal sampling techniques, and analyzed using ANCOVA methods and correlation analyses. We found that hierarchical steepness varied significantly across periods, but did not correlate with two indirect indicators of WGC (group size and range restriction) in predicted directions. Contrary to expectations, we found a negative correlation between steepness and group size, perhaps because the responses of group members to external risks (i.e. prolonged and unavoidable exposure to humans) may have overshadowed the effects of WGC. As predicted, grooming reciprocity was significant in each period and negatively correlated with steepness, even after we controlled group size, kinship, rank differences, and proximity. In contrast, there was no evidence for grooming interchange with agonistic support or for a positive relationship between interchange and steepness. We hypothesize that stressful conditions and/or the presence of stable hierarchies during each period may have led to a greater market demand for grooming than support. We suggest that future studies testing these predictions consider more direct measures of WGC and commodities in addition to support, such as feeding tolerance and access to infants. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Urinary oxalate to creatinine ratios in healthy Turkish schoolchildren

PubMed Central

Dursun, Ismail; Çelik, İlknur; Poyrazoglu, Hakan M.; Tanrıkulu, Esen; Sahin, Habibe; Yılmaz, Kenan; Öztürk, Ahmet; Yel, Sibel; Gündüz, Zübeyde; Düşünsel, Ruhan

2017-01-01

Abstract Aim: we aimed to establish reference values for urinary oxalate to creatinine ratios in healthy children aged 6–15 years and to investigate the relationship between their nutritional habits and oxalate excretion. Materials and methods: Random urine specimens from 953 healthy children aged 6–15 years were obtained and analyzed for oxalate and creatinine. Additionally, a 24-h dietary recall form was prepared and given to them. The ingredient composition of the diet was calculated. The children were divided into three groups according to age: Group I (69 years, n = 353), Group II (10–12 years, n = 335), and Group III (13–15 years, n = 265). Results: The 95th percentile of the oxalate to creatinine ratio for subjects aged 6–9, 10–12, and 13–15 years were 0.048, 0.042, and 0.042 mg/mg, respectively. The oxalate to creatinine ratio was significantly higher in Group 1 than in Group 2 and Group 3. Urinary oxalate excretion was positively correlated with increased protein intake and negatively correlated with age. A significant positive correlation was determined between urinary oxalate excretion and the proline, serine, protein, and glycine content of diet. Dietary proline intake showed a positive correlation with the urine oxalate to creatinine ratio and was found to be an independent predictor for urinary oxalate. Conclusions: These data lend support to the idea that every country should have its own normal reference values to determine the underlying metabolic risk factor for kidney stone disease since regional variation in the dietary intake of proteins and other nutrients can affect normal urinary excretion of oxalate. PMID:27846788

Relationship Between Carotid Intima-Media Thickness with some Inflammatory Biomarkers, Ghrelin and Adiponectin in Iranians with and without Metabolic Syndrome in Isfahan Cohort Study

PubMed Central

Hajmohammadi, Taiebeh; Sadeghi, Masoumeh; Dashti, Masoumeh; Hashemi, Mohammad; Saadatnia, Mohammad; Soghrati, Mojgan; Talaei, Mohammad; Sarrafzadegan, Nizal

2010-01-01

BACKGROUND Recent studies have confirmed inflammatory factors and metabolic syndrome (MetS) as important cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Recently measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) has been used for evaluation of early atherosclerosis. This study was designed to assess the correlation between IMT with some inflammatory biomarkers, ghrelin and adiponectin in people with and without MetS in a cohort sample in Isfahan province. METHODS Among participants of Isfahan Cohort Study (ICS) by random sampling, 88 participants were selected and divided into case (with MetS) and control (without MetS) groups. A questionnaire including demographic data and CVD risk factors was completed for all of the participants. Physical examination and blood pressure, height, weight and waist circumference measurements were done for all subjects. Vascular echocardiography was done for evaluation of IMT of each carotid artery of both sides. Interlukin-6 (IL-6), interlukin-10 (IL-10), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), ghrelin and adiponectin levels were measured using ELIZA method. Data were entered in SPSS15 software and analyzed by t-test, chi square, Pearson correlation and linear regression analyze. RESULTS The mean waist circumference, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, hs-CRP and IMT of left carotid artery were significantly higher in participants with Mets. There was significant correlation between left carotid IMT and IL-6 level in all patients (P = 0.03). After adjustment for age and sex, significant relationship in groups with MetS was only reported between the left IMT and IL-6 (P = 0.02). There was no relation between IMT and other inflammatory markers in subjects with and without MetS. CONCLUSION Significant correlation between IL-6 and IMT was reported in patients with MetS. While no significant correlation between IL-10, adiponectin and ghrelin with IMT was observed in metabolic syndrome group. PMID:22577415

Histopathologic lesions in conventional pigs experimentally infected with Haemophilus parasuis serovar 5.

PubMed

Palzer, A; Austin-Busse, R-L; Ladinig, A; Balka, G; Zoels, S; Ritzmann, M

2015-01-01

In the present study various tissues of pigs were investigated for the presence of histopathologic lesions after an experimental infection with Haemophilus (H.) parasuis serovar 5. Conventional pigs (n = 36) were divided into a control group B (n = 9) and a challenge group A (n = 27), which was infected intratracheally. Pigs that did not die prior to study termination were euthanized on day 14 post inoculation. Postmortem samples of the lung, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, left tarsal joint capsule and brain were collected. All but one pig with detectable histopathologic lesions (n = 11) showed typical macroscopic changes. Histopathologic examination of all tissue samples identified pyelitis (n = 10), synovitis (n = 7) and meningitis (n = 7) and all those animals were euthanized prior to study termination. No histopathologic lesions were found in pigs of the control group. The correlations between pyelitis and meningitis, pyelitis and synovitis and synovitis and meningitis were significant (p < 0.001). No significant correlation could be observed between the histopathologic and the clinical examination of the joints. The investigation of samples from the joints by PCR was not significantly correlated with the observed synovitis. The clinical observation of neurologic signs was significantly correlated with meningitis (p = 0.03). A significant correlation (p < 0.001) could be detected between meningitis and the detection of H. parasuis by PCR in brain samples. H. parasuis constantly causes clinical signs and pathologic lesions as soon as it infects the brain while it can infect the joints without causing histopathologic lesions. Pigs with histopathologic lesions do not always show typical clinical signs. Only few studies described the finding of kidney lesions in pigs with Glässer's disease and this is the first study to describe a pyelitis in pigs experimentally infected with H. parasuis. The observed pyelitis mainly occurred in acute cases.

Effect of laser phototherapy on human alveolar bone repair: micro tomographic and histomorphometrical analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Romão, Marcia M. A.; Marques, Márcia M.; Cortes, Arthur R. G.; Horliana, Anna C. R. T.; Moreira, Maria S.; Lascala, Cesar A.

2015-06-01

The immediate dental implant placement in the molars region is critical, because of the high amount of bone loss and the discrepancy between the alveolar crest thickness and the dental implant platform. Laser phototherapy (LPT) improves bone repair thus could accelerate the implant placement. Twenty patients were selected for the study. Ten patients were submitted to LPT with GaAlAs diode laser (808nm) during molar extraction, immediately after, 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h and 7 days. The irradiations were applied in contact and punctual mode (100mW, 0.04cm2, 0.75J/cm2, 30s per point, 3J per point). The control group (n=10) received the same treatment; however with the power of the laser off. Forty days later samples of the tissue formed inside the sockets were obtained for further microtomography (microCTs) and histomorphometry analyses. Data were compared by the Student t test, whereas those from the different microCT parameters were compared by the Pearson correlation test (p<0.05). The relative bone volume, as well as area was significantly higher (p<0.001) in the lased than the control group. In the control group there were negative correlations between number and thickness, and between number and separation of trabecula (p<0.01). Between thickness and separation of trabecula the correlation was positive (p<0.01). The laser group showed significant negative correlation between the number and the thickness of trabecula (p<0.01). LPT accelerated bone repair. By the Pearson correlation test it was possible to infer that the lased group presented a more homogeneous trabecular configuration, which would allow earlier dental implant placement.

Comparison of salivary levels of mucin and amylase and their relation with clinical parameters obtained from patients with aggressive and chronic periodontal disease

PubMed Central

ACQUIER, Andrea Beatriz; PITA, Alejandra Karina De Couto; BUSCH, Lucila; SÁNCHEZ, Gabriel Antonio

2015-01-01

Objective Salivary mucin and amylase levels are increased in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). Due to the fact that aggressive periodontitis (AgP) not only differs from chronic periodontitis in terms of its clinical manifestation, the aim of this study was to compare salivary mucin and amylase levels and their relation to the clinical parameters of patients with aggressive periodontitis with that of patients with chronic periodontitis. Material and Methods Eighty subjects were divided into two groups: 20 patients with AgP and their 20 matched controls and 20 patients with CP and their 20 matched controls, based on clinical attachment loss (CAL), probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding on probing (BOP). Whole unstimulated saliva was obtained and mucin, amylase and protein were determined by colorimetric methods. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between salivary mucin, amylase and protein levels and the clinical parameters. Results Salivary mucin, amylase and protein levels were increased in patients with AgP and CP but there were no differences between them or between control groups. Pearson’s correlation analysis, determined in the entire subjects studied, showed a positive and significant correlation of mucin, amylase and proteins with CAL and PPD and a negative correlation with the flow rate. When Pearson’s correlation analysis was carried out in each group separately, Fisher’s z transformation showed no significant difference between both groups. Conclusion Comparison of the salivary levels of mucin, amylase and protein and their relationship with clinical parameters of AgP patients with that of CP patients revealed no differences between both groups. PMID:26221923

Monitoring of lead load and its effect on neonatal behavioral neurological assessment scores in Guiyu, an electronic waste recycling town in China.

PubMed

Li, Yan; Xu, Xijin; Wu, Kusheng; Chen, Gangjian; Liu, Junxiao; Chen, Songjian; Gu, Chengwu; Zhang, Bao; Zheng, Liangkai; Zheng, Minghao; Huo, Xia

2008-10-01

Guiyu is the major electronic waste (e-waste) recycling town in China. The primary purpose of this study was to measure the lead levels in neonates and examine the correlation between lead levels and neurobehavioral development. One hundred full-term neonates from Guiyu and fifty-two neonates from neighboring towns (control group) in the late summer of 2006 were selected for study. The lead levels in the umbilical cord blood (CBPb) and lead levels in meconium (MPb) of neonates were determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) was conducted on all neonates. A questionnaire related to the exposure to lead of pregnant women was used as a survey of the neonates' mothers. Compared with the control group, neonates in Guiyu had significantly higher levels of lead (P < 0.01), and the mean CBPb and MPb were 113.28 microg L(-1) and 2.50 microg g(-1), respectively. The relatively high lead levels in the neonates of the Guiyu group were found to correlate with their maternal occupation in relation to e-waste recycling. Neonates with high levels of lead load have lower NBNA scores (P < 0.01). There was a statistically significant difference in NBNA scores between the Guiyu group and the control group by t test (P < 0.05). No correlation was found between CBPb and NBNA scores; however, a negative correlation was found between MPb and NBNA scores (P < 0.01). There is a correlation between relatively high lead levels in the umbilical cord blood and meconium in neonates and the local e-waste recycling activities related to lead contamination. This study suggests that environmental lead contamination due to e-waste recycling have an impact on neurobehavioral development of neonates in Guiyu.

Comparison of Serum Levels of Endothelin-1 in Chronic Periodontitis Patients Before and After Treatment

PubMed Central

Varghese, Sheeja S; Sankari, M.; Jayakumar, ND.

2017-01-01

Introduction Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictive peptide with multi functional activity in various systemic diseases. Previous studies indicate the detection of ET-1 in gingival tissues and gingival crevicular fluid. Aim The aim of this study was to estimate the serum ET-1 levels in clinically healthy subjects and subjects with chronic periodontitis, before and after treatment, and correlate it with the clinical parameters. Materials and Methods A total of 44 patients were included in the study. Group I comprised of 20 subjects with clinically healthy periodontium. Group II comprised of 24 subjects with chronic periodontitis. Group III comprised of same Group II subjects following periodontal management. Serum samples were collected from the subjects and an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was done to estimate the ET-1 levels. The ET-1 levels were then correlated among the three groups with the clinical parameters namely, Plaque Index (PI), Sulcus Bleeding Index (SBI), probing pocket depth, clinical attachment loss and Periodontally Inflamed Surface Area (PISA). The independent t-test and paired t-test were used for comparison of clinical parameters and Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used for correlating the ET-1 levels. Results ET-1 levels in chronic periodontitis subjects were significantly higher compared to healthy subjects (p<0.001). However, the clinical parameters did not statistically correlate with the ET-1 levels. There was a significant decrease in ET-1 levels following treatment (p<0.001). Conclusion Serum ET-1 is increased in chronic periodontitis and reduces after periodontal therapy. Further studies are required to establish ET-1 as a biomarker for periodontal disease. PMID:28571268

Cortical thickness and volume abnormalities in Internet gaming disorder: Evidence from comparison of recreational Internet game users.

PubMed

Wang, Ziliang; Wu, Lingdan; Yuan, Kai; Hu, Yanbo; Zheng, Hui; Du, Xiaoxia; Dong, Guangheng

2018-06-08

Although online gaming may lead to Internet gaming disorder (IGD), most players are recreational game users (RGUs) who do not develop IGD. Thus far, little is known about brain structural abnormalities in IGD subjects relative to RGUs. The inclusion of RGUs as a control group could minimize the potential effects of gaming experience and gaming-related cue familiarity on the neural mechanism of IGD subjects. In the current study, structural magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired from 38 IGD subjects and 66 RGUs with comparable age, gender, and educational level. Group differences in cortical thickness and volume were analyzed using the FreeSurfer software. Correlations between cortical changes and addiction severity were calculated for both groups. Compared with the RGU group, the IGD group showed significantly decreased cortical thickness in the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex, inferior parietal lobule, bilateral cuneus, precentral gyrus, and right middle temporal gyrus. Moreover, significantly reduced cortical volume was observed in the left superior temporal gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus in the IGD group. Whole-brain correlational analysis indicated different correlations between the two groups. The brain regions that showed group differences were considered to be involved in cognitive control, decision making, and reward/loss processing. These functions may serve as potential mechanisms that explain why IGD individuals experience negative outcomes in frequent game playing. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOTOR COMPETENCE AND PHYSICAL FITNESS IS WEAKER IN THE 15-16 YR. ADOLESCENT AGE GROUP THAN IN YOUNGER AGE GROUPS (4-5 YR. AND 11-12 YR.).

PubMed

Haga, Monika; Gísladóttír, Thórdís; Sigmundsson, Hermundur

2015-12-01

Developing motor competence and physical fitness can affect the maintenance of a sufficient level of physical activity in children and adolescents. This study assesses the relationship between motor competence and physical fitness from childhood through early adolescence. A cross-sectional sample of 194 participants from 4 to 16 years old were divided into three groups; 4-6 yr. (n=42, M age=5.2, SD 0.6), 11-12 yr. (n=58, M age=12.4, SD=0.3), and 15-16 yr. (n=94, M age=15.9, SD=0.4). To assess motor competence, each child completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). To measure physical fitness, three tasks (strength, speed, and endurance) were selected from the Test of Physical Fitness (TPF). To analyze the significance of the difference between the correlation coefficient in the three age groups (samples) (4-6, 11-12, and 15-16 yr.), Fischer r-to-z transformation was used. The correlation (Pearson's) between motor competence and physical fitness in the age groups was statistically higher for the youngest age groups (4-6 and 11-12 yr.) and the adolescent group (age 15-16). The differences between the two youngest age groups were not statistically significant. The results demonstrate that the correlation between motor competence and physical fitness decreases with age.

Study on the relationship between the methylation of the MMP-9 gene promoter region and diabetic nephropathy.

PubMed

Yang, Xiao-Hui; Feng, Shi-Ya; Yu, Yang; Liang, Zhou

2018-01-01

This study aims to explore the relationship between the methylation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 gene promoter region and diabetic nephropathy (DN) through the detection of the methylation level of MMP-9 gene promoter region in the peripheral blood of patients with DN in different periods and serum MMP-9 concentration. The methylation level of the MMP-9 gene promoter region was detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), and the content of MMP-9 in serum was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results of the statistical analysis revealed that serum MMP-9 protein expression levels gradually increased in patients in the simple diabetic group, early diabetic nephropathy group and clinical diabetic nephropathy group, compared with the control group; and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the methylation levels of MMP-9 gene promoter regions gradually decreased in patients in the simple diabetic group, early diabetic nephropathy group, and clinical diabetic nephropathy group; and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, correlation analysis results indicated that the demethylation levels of the MMP-9 gene promoter region was positively correlated with serum protein levels, urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR), urea and creatinine; and was negatively correlated with GFR. The demethylation of the MMP-9 gene promoter region may be involved in the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy by regulating the expression of MMP-9 protein in serum.

Comparison of local anesthetic effects of lidocaine versus tramadol and effect of child anxiety on pain level in circumcision procedure.

PubMed

Polat, Fazli; Tuncel, Altug; Balci, Melih; Aslan, Yilmaz; Sacan, Ozlem; Kisa, Cebrail; Kayali, Mustafa; Atan, Ali

2013-10-01

To compare the local anesthetic effects of tramadol hydrochloride with those of lidocaine in circumcision procedures. We also investigated the effect of child anxiety on pain level. A total of 70 children were included in this study. The children were randomized into 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 26) received lidocaine hydrochloride + epinephrine and they underwent circumcision using Ali's clamp(®). Group 2 (n = 35) received lidocaine hydrochloride + epinephrine and group 3 (n = 12) 5% tramadol. The last two groups underwent conventional circumcision. The mean anxiety score was 22.6. We did not find significant differences in terms of anxiety score among the groups (p = 0.761). When the pain scores of the groups during injection were compared, it was found that there were no significant differences. However, the pain score of the third group was significantly high when it was compared with the first and second group 2 and 10 min after injection. In the correlation analysis, we found a positive correlation between children's anxiety scores and the pain degree during injection (r = 0.373, p = 0.001). Tramadol may not provide effective local anesthesia in male circumcision. The child's anxiety before the circumcision seems to have a negative effect on pain level. Copyright © 2012 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exhaled breath malondialdehyde, spirometric results and dust exposure assessment in ceramics production workers.

PubMed

Sakhvidi, Mohammad Javad Zare; Biabani Ardekani, Javad; Firoozichahak, Ali; Zavarreza, Javad; Hajaghazade, Mohammad; Mostaghaci, Mehrdad; Mehrparvar, Amirhooshang; Barkhordari, Abolfazl

2015-01-01

The study aimed at measuring exhaled breath malondialdehyde (EBC-MDA) in workers exposed to dust containing silica and at its comparison with the non-exposed control group. The cross sectional, case-control study (N = 50) was performed in a tile and ceramics production factory in Yazd, Iran. EBC-MDA was quantified in exhaled breath of the participants by a lab made breath sampler. Exposure intensity was measured according to the NIOSH 0600 method in selected homogeneous exposure groups. Additionally, spirometry test was conducted to investigate a correlation between EBC-MDA and spirometric findings in the exposed workers. There was no difference in the observed exposure intensities of silica containing dust in different units. However, "coating preparation" was the unit with the highest concentration of dust. Although, the level of EBC-MDA in the cases was slightly higher than in the controls, the difference was not statistically significant (U = 252, p = 0.464). A significant and positive correlation was found between dust exposure intensity in working units and the measured EBC-MDA of workers (r = 0.467, N = 25, p = 0.027). There were also no statistically significant differences among job categories in the exposed group for the values of FEV1% (F(3, 44) = 0.656, p = 0.584), FVC% (F(3, 44) = 1.417, p = 0.172), and FEV1/FVC% (F(3, 44) = 1.929, p = 0.139). The results showed a significant correlation between respirable dust exposure intensity and the level of EBC-MDA of the exposed subjects. However, our results did not show a significant correlation between lung function decreases and EBC-MDA. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.

Intrabolus pressure on high-resolution manometry distinguishes fibrostenotic and inflammatory phenotypes of eosinophilic esophagitis.

PubMed

Colizzo, J M; Clayton, S B; Richter, J E

2016-08-01

The aim of this investigation was to determine the motility patterns of inflammatory and fibrostenotic phenotypes of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) utilizing high-resolution manometry (HRM). Twenty-nine patients with a confirmed diagnosis of EoE according to clinicopathological criteria currently being managed at the Joy McCann Culverhouse Swallowing Center at the University of South Florida were included in the retrospective analysis. Only patients who completed HRM studies were included in the analysis. Patients were classified into inflammatory or fibrostenotic subtypes based on baseline endoscopic evidence. Their baseline HRM studies prior to therapy were analyzed. Manometric data including distal contractile integral, integrated relaxation pressure, and intrabolus pressure (IBP) values were recorded. HRM results were interpreted according to the Chicago Classification system. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS software (Version 22, IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). Data were compared utilizing Student's t-test, χ(2) test, Pearson correlation, and Spearman correlation tests. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. A total of 29 patients with EoE were included into the retrospective analysis. The overall average age among patients was 40 years. Male patients comprised 62% of the overall population. Both groups were similar in age, gender, and overall clinical presentation. Seventeen patients (58%) had fibrostenotic disease, and 12 (42%) displayed inflammatory disease. The average IBP for the fibrostenotic and inflammatory groups were 18.6 ± 6.0 mmHg and 12.6 ± 3.5 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.05). Strictures were only seen in the fibrostenotic group. Of the fibrostenotic group, 6 (35%) demonstrated proximal esophageal strictures, 7 (41%) had distal strictures, 3 (18%) had mid-esophageal strictures, and 1 (6%) patient had pan-esophageal strictures. There was no statistically significant correlation between the level of esophageal stricture and degree of IBP. Integrated relaxation pressure, distal contractile integral, and other HRM metrics did not demonstrate statistical significance between the two subtypes. There also appeared no statistically significant correlation between patient demographics and esophageal metrics. Patients with the fibrostenotic phenotype of EoE demonstrated an IBP that was significantly higher than that of the inflammatory group. © 2015 International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.

Tolerance as a Correlate of Experience With Stigma: The Case of the Homosexual

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Corbett, Sherry L.; And Others

1977-01-01

Scales measuring attitudes toward various unconventional groups were presented to 100 college students and 51 homosexual respondents. Homosexual respondents expressed significantly more tolerant attitudes toward deviantly labeling groups than did student respondents. (Author)

Leadership styles in secondary school science teachers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawson, Michael A.

A comparison of United States secondary school science teachers who mentor high quality student research and teachers who do not mentor research was conducted using a demographic survey and the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire-Form 5X. The major demographic difference between the two groups was a significantly greater number of years of teaching experience in the research group, a factor that correlated significantly with Extra Effort in students. Research group teachers self-reported higher mean scores than non-research group teachers on the five transformational leadership scales plus the transactional scale of Contingent Reward; however, a Multivariate Analysis of Variance found no significant difference between the groups. Independent t-tests found no significant difference between the groups based upon the remaining transactional scales. The research group was found to be significantly higher on the outcome variable of Extra Effort generated by students while the non-research group rated themselves significantly higher on Satisfaction of students. Transformational leadership in teachers should be addressed by future studies as a possible method of identifying motivational teachers.

The Unevenness and Non-orthogonal State of Distribution of Corneal Thickness and the Influence on Correction of Myopic Astigmatism by LASEK.

PubMed

Wang, Shulin; Wang, Xin; Liu, Mingna; Wang, Haiying; Li, Jing; Shi, Weiyun

2015-09-01

To observe and calculate the unevenness and the non-orthogonal state of distribution of corneal thickness and the relationship between them using Pentacam and to investigate the influence of unevenness and the non-orthogonal state on correction of myopic astigmatism by laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK). 230 eyes with myopic astigmatism treated with LASEK were divided into two groups: 114 eyes as the low astigmatism group (-0.25 to -0.75 DC) and 116 eyes as the midrange-high astigmatism group (-1.00 to -4.50 DC). With the help of the diagram of keratoconus evaluation program of the Pentacam, the D 3.0 and D 6.5 were calculated for the index of distribution of unevenness of the corneal thickness, and the absolute value of the angle between the maximum and minimum progression-index orientation (M 90) for the index of non-orthogonal states. The correction of myopic astigmatism by LASEK was based on standard vector analysis and power vector analysis. The follow-up period was for 3 months. The preoperative M 90 was 22.14° ± 20.87°, D 6.5 was 58.66 ± 21.32 μm, and D 3.0 was 16.11 ± 4.28 μm for the 230 eyes that were tested. The D 6.5 of low astigmatism group (55.62 ± 20.81) μm was significantly lower than that of midrange-high astigmatism group (61.65 ± 21.48) μm (P < 0.05). Of the 230 eyes, the M 90 was positively correlated with D 6.5 (r = 0.37, P < 0.001), and D 6.5 was positively correlated with D 3.0 (r = 0.56, P < 0.001). 3 months postoperatively, the absolute error vector (|EV|) of low astigmatism group (0.46 ± 0.34) was significantly lower than that of midrange-high astigmatism group (0.53 ± 0.29) (P < 0.01). The error of magnitude of low astigmatism group (-0.10 ± 0.31) was significantly lower than that of midrange-high astigmatism group (0.08 ± 0.41) (P < 0.001). The absolute error of angle (|EA|) of low astigmatism group (26.10 ± 27.24) was significantly higher than that of midrange-high astigmatism group (9.99 ± 17.32) (P < 0.001). The correction ratio of low astigmatism group (1.45 ± 1.21) was significantly higher than that of midrange-high astigmatism group (0.94 ± 0.33) (P < 0.01). The error ratio (ER) of low astigmatism group (1.34 ± 1.40) was significantly higher than that of midrange-high astigmatism group (0.42 ± 0.27) (P < 0.001). In low astigmatism group, M 90 was positively correlated with |EV| (r = 0.30, P < 0.001). In midrange-high astigmatism group, M 90 was positively correlated with ER (r = 0.31, P < 0.001) and D 6.5 was positively correlated with |EV| and B, respectively (r = 0.34, 0.33, P < 0.001). The relationship between unevenness and non-orthogonal state of distribution of corneal thickness could influence the correction of astigmatism by LASEK. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the correction of midrange-high astigmatism group by excimer surgery.

Nutritional status and birth outcomes of the diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women.

PubMed

Begum, S; Huda, S N; Musarrat, N; Ahmed, S; Banu, L A; Ali, S M Keramat

2002-12-01

This cross sectional study compares the nutritional status and birth outcomes of 357 diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women (203 DM and 154 NDM as control). Uncomplicated diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women of singleton pregnancies with age range of 19-35 years were enrolled at term in BIRDEM hospital. Maternal anthropometry and neonatal anthropometric measurements were taken following standard techniques. Educational level was significantly different between the groups. The diabetic mothers were found significantly less educated (p<0.0001) compared to non-diabetic mothers. Highly significant differences were observed between the groups on mean maternal age, weight at term, height, body mass index (BMI), mid arm circumference (MAC), and hemoglobin concentration (p values for all: <0.001) with higher values for the DM group. Most of the DM pregnant mothers were either overweight (BMI: 26.0-29.0) or obese (BMI: >29.0), on the other hand most of the NDM pregnant mothers were within normal range (BMI: 19.8-26.0). DM pregnant mothers were found more anemic (45.8% vs. 23.4%; p<0.001). Mean birth weight of the infants of DM & NDM groups were 3100g +/- .500g and 2850g +/- 360g respectively. The mean chest circumference of the infants of DM mothers was found significantly higher for diabetic group (p<0.01). DM mothers delivered most of the preterm babies (16.3% vs. 5.8%; p<0.002) and macrosomy babies were found only in this group (5.9%). Significant correlation was observed between birth weight and maternal MAC (p<0.001) in both the groups. Head circumference was found significantly correlated with maternal MAC and age in the DM group only. Diabetic pregnant women were significantly different compared to the non-diabetic group by nutritional status. The DM group experienced more anemia and preterm deliveries and macrosomic babies were born only in them.

Changes in the dominance hierarchy of captive female Japanese macaques as a consequence of merging two previously established groups.

PubMed

Anderson, Emily J; Weladji, Robert B; Paré, Patrick

2016-11-01

Dominance hierarchies play an important role in reducing competition and aggression in social animals. In zoos, changes in group composition are often required due to management protocols, but these changes may have long lasting effects on dominance hierarchies, and, consequently, the wellbeing of the animals. We studied the changes in the female dominance hierarchy that occurred both during and after the formation of a group of 10 adult Japanese macaques at the Zoo de Granby by combining members from two previously established groups. There was no significant correlation between individual ranks in the old groups (groups A and B) and their ranks in the new group (group AB), indicating a significant change in the hierarchy. Alliances between kin appeared to be important in determining rank; when the sister of the dominant female was removed from group AB, the hierarchy changed significantly a second time. The average standardized rank of individuals added later in the formation process of group AB was not different from those added earlier. Ranks in the group AB did correlate with age of individual at the beginning of the field season, but not at the end, after the shift in hierarchy occurred. Zoo management must be aware of the consequences small changes in a social group can have when removing and transferring individuals in both primates and in other social species. Zoo Biol. 35:505-512, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Prism under cover test in alternate fixation horizontal strabismus.

PubMed

Tejedor, Jaime; Gutiérrez-Carmona, Francisco José

2018-02-01

To evaluate the applicability of the prism under cover test (PUCT) to quantify manifest deviation in horizontal strabismus with alternate fixation when simultaneous prism and cover test (SPCT) is not feasible. Children aged 4-11 years, with alternate fixation horizontal strabismus and alternate prism and cover test (APCT) distance deviation (DD) up to 25 PD were eligible. In group 1 of the study, SPCT was not feasible (n = 18), whereas in group 2, it was feasible (n = 24). Refraction, PUCT, APCT, central/peripheral fusion, and stereoacuity were measured. Repeatability of PUCT, agreement between PUCT and SPCT, and Pearson correlations between variables were studied. In group 1, mean DD was 15.6 and 9.5 PD using APCT and PUCT, respectively (intraclass correlation, ICC: 0.90). Mean stereoacuity was 201.1 arc seconds. PUCT was better correlated with stereoacuity than APCT, but not significantly (p = 0.12). Coefficient of repeatability for PUCT was 3.4 PD. In group 2, mean DD was 17.6, 14.1, and 12.5 PD using APCT, PUCT, and SPCT, respectively. Mean stereoacuity was 285.9 arc seconds. Correlations APCT-PUCT (0.87), APCT-SPCT (0.82), and SPCT-PUCT (0.95) were significant. APCT did not show as good correlation with stereoacuity (0.58) as SPCT and PUCT (0.74 and 0.78, respectively). Concordance correlation coefficient between SPCT and PUCT was 0.91, and Bland Altman agreement between the two variables was also good. PUCT is a procedure with good repeatability, of interest in children to estimate manifest deviation when SPCT is not feasible, and in support of the diagnosis of monofixation syndrome.

Circulating omentin-1 might be associated with metabolic health status in different phenotypes of body size.

PubMed

Alizadeh, Shahab; Mirzaei, Khadijeh; Mohammadi, Chonur; Keshavarz, Seyed Ali; Maghbooli, Zhila

2017-12-01

Adipokines are mediators of body composition and are involved in obesity complications. This study aimed to assess the association of circulating omentin-1, vaspin, and RBP-4 with body composition indices and metabolic health status (MHS) in different phenotypes of body size. A total of 350 subjects were included in the current cross-sectional study. Body composition was measured using a body composition analyzer, and serum concentrations of omentin-1, vaspin, and RBP-4 were assessed by ELISA kits. Circulating omentin-1 was significantly (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.00-1.91, P = 0.01) and marginally (OR = 1.63, 95%CI: 1.00-1.75, P = 0.06) associated with MHS in the overweight and obese subjects, respectively. But no association was seen between omentin-1 and MHS in normal-weight subjects. Serum levels of vaspin and RBP-4 were not correlated with MHS. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between circulating omentin-1 and body mass index (BMI) as well as fat percentage (P = 0.02) in the MHS group. Serum vaspin concentrations were not related to body composition components in both groups. In addition, in the MHS group, circulating RBP-4 was positively correlated with fat percentage and fat mass (FM) (p < 0.0001) and was negatively correlated with fat-free mass (FFM) and total body water (TBW) (p < 0.0001). In contrast, in the metabolically unhealthy group, RBP-4 was negatively correlated with fat percentage, FM, and BMI (p < 0.0001) and was positively correlated with FFM and TBW (p < 0.0001). This study showed that circulating levels of omentin-1 are useful predictors of metabolic health status in overweight and obese people.