Sample records for young patients preliminary

  1. Comparison between digital subtraction angiography and magnetic resonance angiography in investigation of nonlacunar ischemic stroke in young patients: preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Conforto, Adriana Bastos; Fregni, Felipe; Puglia, Paulo; Leite, Claudia da Costa; Yamamoto, Fabio Iuji; Coracini, Karen F; Scaff, Milberto

    2006-06-01

    We preliminarily investigated the relevance of performing digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in addition to magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in definition of ischemic stroke etiology in young patients. DSAs and MRAs from 17 young patients with nonlacunar ischemic stroke were blindly analyzed and their impact on stroke management was evaluated. Etiologies were the same considering results of either DSA or MRA in 12/17 cases. In 15/17 patients no changes would have been made in treatment, regardless of the modality of angiography considered. These preliminary results suggest that DSA may be redundant in two thirds of ischemic strokes in young patients. Further larger prospective studies are necessary to determine indications of DSA in this age group.

  2. Inguinal-scrotal hernias in young patients: is laparoscopic repair a possible answer? Preliminary results of a single-institution experience with a transabdominal preperitoneal approach.

    PubMed

    Agresta, F; Mazzarolo, G; Balbi, P; Bedin, N

    2010-10-01

    The laparoscopic trans-abdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) approach to inguinal hernia repair is well documented as an excellent choice in numerous studies, especially when conducted by an experienced surgeon. Its full list of specific indications is still under debate. Generally, the repair of scrotal hernias demands a higher level of experience on the part of the surgeon, irrespective of the applied surgical technique. In this report, we evaluate our preliminary experience of TAPP laparoscopic repair for inguinoscrotal hernias in young patients in a Community Hospital setting, focusing on the feasibility of the technique and the incidence of complications. Between January 2008 and January 2009 a total of ten consecutive young patients at the "Civil Hospital" in Vittorio Veneto (TV), underwent TAPP laparoscopic repair of bilateral inguinoscrotal hernias. The overall mean operative time was 65 (+/-15) min. All procedures were performed on a day surgery basis. There were no conversions to open repair, no mortality/morbidity or relapsing hernias. The mean follow-up was 14 (+/-2) months. No patients reported severe pain at 10 days, There were no reports of night pain at 30 days. All patients had a return to physical-work capacity within 14 days. All patients were completely satisfied at the 3-month follow up. Analysis of the short-term post-operative outcomes of our experience enabled us to conclude that, in the proper setting, TAPP can be performed for inguinoscrotal hernia repair with an efficiency comparable to that of normal inguinal hernia repair.

  3. Preliminary bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equation for body composition assessment in young females from Colombia

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Caicedo-Eraso, J. C.; González-Correa, C. H.; González-Correa, C. A.

    2013-04-01

    A previous study showed that reported BIA equations for body composition are not suitable for Colombian population. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a preliminary BIA equation for body composition assessment in young females from Colombia, using hydrodensitometry as reference method. A sample of 30 young females was evaluated. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were defined to minimize the variability of BIA. Height, weight, BIA, residual lung volume (RV) and underwater weight (UWW) were measured. A preliminary BIA equation was developed (r2 = 0.72, SEE = 2.48 kg) by stepwise multiple regression with fat-free mass (FFM) as dependent variable and weight, height and impedance measurements as independent variables. The quality of regression was evaluated and a cross-validation against 50% of sample confirmed that results obtained with the preliminary BIA equation is interchangeable with results obtained with hydrodensitometry (r2 = 0.84, SEE = 2.62 kg). The preliminary BIA equation can be used for body composition assessment in young females from Colombia until a definitive equation is developed. The next step will be increasing the sample, including a second reference method, as deuterium oxide dilution (D2O), and using multi-frequency BIA (MF-BIA). It would also be desirable to develop equations for males and other ethnic groups in Colombia.

  4. Articulation Rate and Vowel Space Characteristics of Young Males with Fragile X Syndrome: Preliminary Acoustic Findings

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Zajac, David J.; Roberts, Joanne E.; Hennon, Elizabeth A.; Harris, Adrianne A.; Barnes, Elizabeth F.; Misenheimer, Jan

    2006-01-01

    Purpose: Increased speaking rate is a commonly reported perceptual characteristic among males with fragile X syndrome (FXS). The objective of this preliminary study was to determine articulation rate--one component of perceived speaking rate--and vowel space characteristics of young males with FXS. Method: Young males with FXS (n = 38), …

  5. Orthognathic surgery in the young cleft patient: preliminary study on subsequent facial growth.

    PubMed

    Wolford, Larry M; Cassano, Daniel Serra; Cottrell, David A; El Deeb, Mohamed; Karras, Spiro C; Goncalves, Joao Roberto

    2008-12-01

    This study evaluated the long-term effects of orthognathic surgery on subsequent growth of the maxillomandibular complex in the young cleft patient. We evaluated 12 young cleft patients (9 male and 3 female patients), with a mean age of 12 years 6 months (range, 9 years 8 months to 15 years 4 months), who underwent Le Fort I osteotomies, with maxillary advancement, expansion, and/or downgrafting, by use of autogenous bone or hydroxyapatite grafts, when indicated, for maxillary stabilization. Five patients had concomitant osteotomies of the mandibular ramus. All patients had presurgical and postsurgical orthodontic treatment to control the occlusion. Radiographs taken at initial evaluation (T1) and presurgery (T2) were compared to establish the facial growth vector before surgery, whereas radiographs taken immediately postsurgery (T3) and at longest follow-up (T4) were used to determine postsurgical growth. Each patient's lateral cephalograms were traced, and 16 landmarks were identified and used to compute 11 measurements describing presurgical and postsurgical growth. Before surgery, all patients had relatively normal growth. After surgery, cephalograms showed statistically significant growth changes from T3 to T4, with the maxillary depth decreasing by -3.3 degrees +/- 1.8 degrees , Sella-nasion-point A by -3.3 degrees +/- 1.8 degrees, and point A-nasion-point B by -3.6 degrees +/- 2.8 degrees. The angulation of the maxillary incisors increased by 9.2 degrees +/- 11.7 degrees. Of 12 patients, 11 showed disproportionate postsurgical jaw growth. Maxillary growth occurred predominantly in a vertical vector with no anteroposterior growth, even though most patients had shown anteroposterior growth before surgery. The distance increased in the linear measurement from nasion to gnathion by 10.3 +/- 7.9 mm. Four of 5 patients operated on during the mixed dentition phase had teeth that erupted through the cleft area. A variable impairment of postoperative growth was seen

  6. Identification of Emerging Self-Injurious Behavior in Young Children: A Preliminary Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kurtz, Patricia F.; Chin, Michelle D.; Huete, John M.; Cataldo, Michael F.

    2012-01-01

    Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a chronic disorder that often begins in early childhood; however, few studies have examined the onset of SIB in young children. This preliminary study reports on the identification, assessment, and observation of SIB in 32 children who had begun to engage in SIB within the previous 6 months. Participants were under…

  7. Young patients with diverticular disease: a preliminary quality of life study.

    PubMed

    Koo, Vincent; Strange, John; Lam, Ching Yin; Epanomeritakis, Manos

    2007-08-01

    Diverticular disease is more apparent in the younger population under 50 years however, its management remains controversial. We report a preliminary quality of life (QoL) assessment which may be useful when determining the optimal management strategy. A retrospective review of clinical records was carried out from April 1999 to 2004, to identify all patients diagnosed with diverticular disease and its complications, confirmed either by radiology and/or histology evidence. The younger patients were classified according to their management: surgical or conservative. Information on demographic, investigations, treatment, follow-up and recurrent episodes was recorded, and the health-related SF-36 QoL questionnaire was administered. A total of 47 patients had confirmed diverticular disease. Forty-one patients were managed conservatively and six underwent surgery. Ten (24%) from the conservative group and one (17%) from the surgical group were re-admitted for recurrence of symptoms. About 80% (33 conservative and five surgical) responded to the QoL questionnaire. There was an overall negative impact on all QoL domains (conservative vs surgical): general health (54.1 vs 39.0), physical functioning (72.7 vs 56.0), social functioning (63.3 vs 67.0), physical role limitation (50.0 vs 45.0), emotional role limitation (58.6 vs 26.7), bodily pain (56.9 vs 48.5), vitality (45.0 vs 43.0), mental health (64.5 vs 57.6), PCS (44.5 vs 40.8), MCS (42.6 vs 38.8); and these domain scores did not differ significantly. Although there was a negative impact on the quality of life, the majority of patients can be treated adequately by conservative management. We highlighted the need to consider the QoL aspect when determining the optimal management of the disease in the younger population.

  8. Preliminary Evaluation of a Social Skills Training and Facilitated Play Early Intervention Programme for Extremely Shy Young Children in China

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Li, Yan; Coplan, Robert J.; Wang, Yuemin; Yin, Jingtong; Zhu, Jingjing; Gao, Zhuqing; Li, Linhui

    2016-01-01

    The goal of this study was to provide a preliminary evaluation of a social skills and facilitated play early intervention programme to promote social interaction, prosocial behaviours and socio-communicative skills among young extremely shy children in China. Participants were a sample of n = 16 extremely shy young children attending kindergarten…

  9. Planning primary health-care services for South Australian young offenders: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Wilson, Anne

    2007-10-01

    Although many young offenders receive health care during periods of detention, addressing their health needs after release from secure care is a key strategy for successful rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine current discharge planning practices for young offenders in Youth Training Centres in South Australia with a view to improving offenders' connection with primary health-care services on discharge. To determine the strengths and weaknesses of current discharge planning practices, this exploratory study involved in-depth review of literature and a semistructured focus group of stakeholders. Findings were discussed with an expert advisory group before final recommendations were made. This study identified a service model approach to discharge planning that recommended a nurse located within the Divisions of General Practice as the coordinator. The study found that trusted staff in detention centres, with an awareness of services available in the location of release, influence young offenders' decision-making in relation to health-care services. Awareness and recognition of young offenders' health beyond periods of juvenile detention and into their adult lives is valuable in that it has the potential to establish lifelong healthy behaviours. Bonding with young offenders and gaining their trust increases their likelihood of attending primary health-care services.

  10. Acceptability and Preliminary Outcomes of a Peer-Led Depression Prevention Intervention for African American Adolescents and Young Adults in Employment Training Programs

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Tandon, Darius; Mendelson, Tamar; Mance, GiShawn

    2011-01-01

    This study examines the acceptability and preliminary outcomes from an open trial of a depression prevention intervention for low-income African American adolescents and young adults in employment training programs. The sample (N=42) consisted of predominately African American adolescents and young adults (mean age=19.1) exhibiting subclinical…

  11. Family History in Young Patients With Stroke.

    PubMed

    Thijs, Vincent; Grittner, Ulrike; Dichgans, Martin; Enzinger, Christian; Fazekas, Franz; Giese, Anne-Katrin; Kessler, Christof; Kolodny, Edwin; Kropp, Peter; Martus, Peter; Norrving, Bo; Ringelstein, Erich Bernd; Rothwell, Peter M; Schmidt, Reinhold; Tanislav, Christian; Tatlisumak, Turgut; von Sarnowski, Bettina; Rolfs, Arndt

    2015-07-01

    Family history of stroke is an established risk factor for stroke. We evaluated whether family history of stroke predisposed to certain stroke subtypes and whether it differed by sex in young patients with stroke. We used data from the Stroke in Fabry Patients study, a large prospective, hospital-based, screening study for Fabry disease in young patients (aged <55 years) with stroke in whom cardiovascular risk factors and family history of stroke were obtained and detailed stroke subtyping was performed. A family history of stroke was present in 1578 of 4232 transient ischemic attack and ischemic stroke patients (37.3%). Female patients more often had a history of stroke in the maternal lineage (P=0.027) than in the paternal lineage. There was no association with stroke subtype according to Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment nor with the presence of white matter disease on brain imaging. Patients with dissection less frequently reported a family history of stroke (30.4% versus 36.3%; P=0.018). Patients with a parental history of stroke more commonly had siblings with stroke (3.6% versus 2.6%; P=0.047). Although present in about a third of patients, a family history of stroke is not specifically related to stroke pathogenic subtypes in patients with young stroke. Young women with stroke more often report stroke in the maternal lineage. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00414583. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

  12. Online Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment: Preliminary Results of the "OCD? Not Me!" Self-Guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program for Young People.

    PubMed

    Rees, Clare Samantha; Anderson, Rebecca Anne; Kane, Robert Thomas; Finlay-Jones, Amy Louise

    2016-07-05

    The development and evaluation of Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) interventions provides a potential solution for current limitations in the acceptability, availability, and accessibility of mental health care for young people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Preliminary results support the effectiveness of therapist-assisted iCBT for young people with OCD; however, no previous studies have examined the effectiveness of completely self-guided iCBT for OCD in young people. We aimed to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the OCD? Not Me! program for reducing OCD-related psychopathology in young people (12-18 years). This program is an eight-stage, completely self-guided iCBT treatment for OCD, which is based on exposure and response prevention. These data were early and preliminary results of a longer study in which an open trial design is being used to evaluate the effectiveness of the OCD? Not Me! Participants were required to have at least subclinical levels of OCD to be offered the online program. Participants with moderate-high suicide/self-harm risk or symptoms of eating disorder or psychosis were not offered the program. OCD symptoms and severity were measured at pre- and posttest, and at the beginning of each stage of the program. Data was analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. A total of 334 people were screened for inclusion in the study, with 132 participants aged 12 to 18 years providing data for the final analysis. Participants showed significant reductions in OCD symptoms (P<.001) and severity (P<.001) between pre- and posttest. These preliminary results suggest that fully automated iCBT holds promise as a way of increasing access to treatment for young people with OCD; however, further research needs to be conducted to replicate the results and to determine the feasibility of the program. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR): ACTRN12613000152729; https

  13. Surgical treatment of chronic pancreatitis in young patients.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Feng; Gou, Shan-Miao; Xiong, Jiong-Xin; Wu, He-Shui; Wang, Chun-You; Liu, Tao

    2014-10-01

    The main treatment strategies for chronic pancreatitis in young patients include therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) intervention and surgical intervention. Therapeutic ERCP intervention is performed much more extensively for its minimally invasive nature, but a part of patients are referred to surgery at last. Historical and follow-up data of 21 young patients with chronic pancreatitis undergoing duodenum-preserving total pancreatic head resection were analyzed to evaluate the outcomes of therapeutic ERCP intervention and surgical intervention in this study. The surgical complications of repeated therapeutic ERCP intervention and surgical intervention were 38% and 19% respectively. During the first therapeutic ERCP intervention to surgical intervention, 2 patients developed diabetes, 5 patients developed steatorrhea, and 5 patients developed pancreatic type B pain. During the follow-up of surgical intervention, 1 new case of diabetes occurred, 1 case of steatorrhea recovered, and 4 cases of pancreatic type B pain were completely relieved. In a part of young patients with chronic pancreatitis, surgical intervention was more effective than therapeutic ERCP intervention on delaying the progression of the disease and relieving the symptoms.

  14. Study of young patients with myocardial infarction: Design and rationale of the YOUNG-MI Registry.

    PubMed

    Singh, Avinainder; Collins, Bradley; Qamar, Arman; Gupta, Ankur; Fatima, Amber; Divakaran, Sanjay; Klein, Josh; Hainer, Jon; Jarolim, Petr; Shah, Ravi V; Nasir, Khurram; Di Carli, Marcelo F; Bhatt, Deepak L; Blankstein, Ron

    2017-11-01

    The YOUNG-MI registry is a retrospective study examining a cohort of young adults age ≤ 50 years with a first-time myocardial infarction. The study will use the robust electronic health records of 2 large academic medical centers, as well as detailed chart review of all patients, to generate high-quality longitudinal data regarding the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients who experience a myocardial infarction at a young age. Our findings will provide important insights regarding prevention, risk stratification, treatment, and outcomes of cardiovascular disease in this understudied population, as well as identify disparities which, if addressed, can lead to further improvement in patient outcomes. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  15. Quantification of wear-time adherence of removable appliances in young orthodontic patients in relation to their BMI: a preliminary study

    PubMed Central

    Schott, Timm Cornelius; Ludwig, Björn

    2014-01-01

    Purpose The relationship between unhealthy body mass index (BMI) and adherence to orthodontic treatment with removable appliances has not previously been evaluated. Objective The aim of this study was to quantify the association between BMI and wear time of removable orthodontic appliances and to evaluate BMI changes during orthodontic treatment. Patients and methods Fifty-three normal-weight and 39 overweight/obese children and adolescents (7–15 years old) undergoing orthodontic treatment with removable appliances were enrolled into the study. BMI categories were determined using standardized age-specific and sex-specific BMI criteria, using data measured at the beginning of therapy and once during orthodontic treatment. Wear times of removable appliances were measured at 15-minute intervals over a period of 5 months using implanted microelectronic sensors. Median wear-time values were used in the analysis with the Mann–Whitney U-test used to test statistical differences between groups. Results The median wear time of removable orthodontic appliances was 9.3 hours for normal-weight patients and 9.2 hours for overweight/obese patients. No statistically significant (P>0.05) or clinically relevant differences in usage or adherence were detected between normal-weight and overweight/obese patients. BMI did not influence wear time or behavior of removable orthodontic appliances by young patients. The majority of patients showed qualitative decreases in BMI during therapy. Conclusion The orthodontic treatment of young patients with removable devices does not require BMI-dependent changes in the treatment strategy. However, the use of removable appliances during meal times raises the possibility of reducing food intake, and in this way the orthodontist may have an active role to play in weight reduction. PMID:25484576

  16. Treatment Modification in Young Breast Cancer Patients.

    PubMed

    Scharl, Anton; Salterberg, Annette; Untch, Michael; Liedtke, Cornelia; Stickeler, Elmar; Papathemelis, Thomas

    2016-01-01

    Patients not older than 40 years are referred to as young patients. These women benefit from chemo-, endocrine and anti-HER2 therapy to a similar degree as older women. Surgery and radiation therapy also follow the same recommendations. This manuscript deals with the following topics that need special consideration in young women: endocrine therapy and ovarian suppression; fertility protection and family planning; and genetic counselling. There is an on-going debate on whether tamoxifen is sufficient as an endocrine treatment in young patients with endocrine-responsive tumours or whether suppression of ovarian function in combination with tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor should be preferred. Recent data suggest a benefit from ovarian suppression plus exemestane in women of 35 years or younger with high-risk breast cancer. However, increased side effects bear the risk of lesser compliance, which eventually results in higher mortality. Child bearing is nowadays frequently postponed to the 4th decade of life, thereby increasing the number of women who have not yet finished their reproductive desires when diagnosed with breast cancer. These patients are in urgent need of counselling for fertility protection. Breast cancer diagnosis at young age is an indication for a possible mutation in breast cancer susceptibility genes. This has an impact on the cancer risk of the whole family, especially the offspring. Drugs that are specifically targeted to cancer cells with genetic alterations that impair DNA repair are already entering the arsenal of oncologists. © 2016 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg.

  17. Quantification of wear-time adherence of removable appliances in young orthodontic patients in relation to their BMI: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Schott, Timm Cornelius; Ludwig, Björn

    2014-01-01

    The relationship between unhealthy body mass index (BMI) and adherence to orthodontic treatment with removable appliances has not previously been evaluated. The aim of this study was to quantify the association between BMI and wear time of removable orthodontic appliances and to evaluate BMI changes during orthodontic treatment. Fifty-three normal-weight and 39 overweight/obese children and adolescents (7-15 years old) undergoing orthodontic treatment with removable appliances were enrolled into the study. BMI categories were determined using standardized age-specific and sex-specific BMI criteria, using data measured at the beginning of therapy and once during orthodontic treatment. Wear times of removable appliances were measured at 15-minute intervals over a period of 5 months using implanted microelectronic sensors. Median wear-time values were used in the analysis with the Mann-Whitney U-test used to test statistical differences between groups. The median wear time of removable orthodontic appliances was 9.3 hours for normal-weight patients and 9.2 hours for overweight/obese patients. No statistically significant (P>0.05) or clinically relevant differences in usage or adherence were detected between normal-weight and overweight/obese patients. BMI did not influence wear time or behavior of removable orthodontic appliances by young patients. The majority of patients showed qualitative decreases in BMI during therapy. The orthodontic treatment of young patients with removable devices does not require BMI-dependent changes in the treatment strategy. However, the use of removable appliances during meal times raises the possibility of reducing food intake, and in this way the orthodontist may have an active role to play in weight reduction.

  18. Online Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Treatment: Preliminary Results of the “OCD? Not Me!” Self-Guided Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program for Young People

    PubMed Central

    Anderson, Rebecca Anne; Kane, Robert Thomas; Finlay-Jones, Amy Louise

    2016-01-01

    Background The development and evaluation of Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) interventions provides a potential solution for current limitations in the acceptability, availability, and accessibility of mental health care for young people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Preliminary results support the effectiveness of therapist-assisted iCBT for young people with OCD; however, no previous studies have examined the effectiveness of completely self-guided iCBT for OCD in young people. Objective We aimed to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of the OCD? Not Me! program for reducing OCD-related psychopathology in young people (12-18 years). This program is an eight-stage, completely self-guided iCBT treatment for OCD, which is based on exposure and response prevention. Methods These data were early and preliminary results of a longer study in which an open trial design is being used to evaluate the effectiveness of the OCD? Not Me! program. Participants were required to have at least subclinical levels of OCD to be offered the online program. Participants with moderate-high suicide/self-harm risk or symptoms of eating disorder or psychosis were not offered the program. OCD symptoms and severity were measured at pre- and posttest, and at the beginning of each stage of the program. Data was analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Results A total of 334 people were screened for inclusion in the study, with 132 participants aged 12 to 18 years providing data for the final analysis. Participants showed significant reductions in OCD symptoms (P<.001) and severity (P<.001) between pre- and posttest. Conclusions These preliminary results suggest that fully automated iCBT holds promise as a way of increasing access to treatment for young people with OCD; however, further research needs to be conducted to replicate the results and to determine the feasibility of the program. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand

  19. Preliminary impression techniques for microstomia patients

    PubMed Central

    Kumar, K. Aswini; Bhat, Vinaya; Nair, K. Chandrasekheran; Suresh, Reshma

    2016-01-01

    The Prosthetic rehabilitation of microstomia patients presents difficulties at all the stages. The difficulty starts with the preliminary impression making. This is due to the tongue rigidity and the decreased oral opening. A maximum oral opening which is smaller than the size of the tray can make prosthetic treatment challenging. Due to the restricted mouth opening, insertion and removal of the impression trays is extremely cumbersome and various modifications of the trays have been used in the past. Among these are the flexible trays and the sectional trays used with different modes of reassembling the segments extra orally after the impression is made. This article reviews the literature published from 1971 to 2015 concerning preliminary impression techniques used in making impressions for patients with microstomia based on various tray designs. An electronic search was performed across three databases (PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scolar) for relevant citations. The keywords/combinations used for the search were microstomia, limited/constricted/restricted mouth opening/oral access, trismus, sectional trays, impressions and prosthetic/prosthodontic rehabilitation. The search was limited to papers written in English which resulted in a total of 45 related articles of which 17 articles were included for discussion of this review. PMID:27621540

  20. Anomalous subjective experience and psychosis risk in young depressed patients.

    PubMed

    Szily, Erika; Kéri, Szabolcs

    2009-01-01

    Help-seeking young people often display depressive symptoms. In some patients, these symptoms may co-exist with clinically high-risk mental states for psychosis. The aim of this study was to determine differences in subjective experience and social perception in young depressed patients with and without psychosis risk. Participants were 68 young persons with major depressive disorder. Twenty-six patients also met the criteria of attenuated or brief limited intermittent psychotic symptoms according to the Comprehensive Assessment of At Risk Mental States (CAARMS) criteria. Subjective experiences were assessed with the Bonn Scale for the Assessment of Basic Symptoms (BSABS). Recognition of complex social emotions and mental states was assessed using the 'Reading the Mind in the Eyes' test. Perplexity, self-disorder, and diminished affectivity significantly predicted psychosis risk. Depressed patients without psychosis risk displayed impaired recognition performance for negative social emotions, whereas patients with psychosis risk were also impaired in the recognition of cognitive expressions. In the high-risk group, self-disorder was associated with impaired recognition of facial expressions. These results suggest that anomalous subjective experience and impaired recognition of complex emotions may differentiate between young depressed patients with and without psychosis risk. 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  1. Shorter survival in adolescent and young adult patients, compared to adult patients, with stage IV colorectal cancer in Japan.

    PubMed

    Shida, Dai; Ahiko, Yuka; Tanabe, Taro; Yoshida, Takefumi; Tsukamoto, Shunsuke; Ochiai, Hiroki; Takashima, Atsuo; Boku, Narikazu; Kanemitsu, Yukihide

    2018-03-27

    The incidence of colorectal cancer in adolescent and young adult patients is increasing. However, survival and clinical features of young patients, especially those with stage IV disease, relative to adult patients remain unclear. This retrospective single-institution cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care cancer center. Subjects were 861 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer at the age of 15 to 74 years and who were referred to the division of surgery or gastrointestinal oncology at the National Cancer Center Hospital from 1999 to 2013. Overall survival (OS) was investigated and clinicopathological variables were analyzed for prognostic significance. Of these, 66 (8%) were adolescent and young adult patients and 795 (92%) were adult patients. Median survival time was 13.6 months in adolescent and young adult patients and 22.4 months in adult patients, and 5-year OS rates were 17.3% and 20.3%, respectively, indicating significant worse prognosis of adolescent and young adult patients (p = 0.042). However, age itself was not an independent factor associated with prognosis by multivariate analysis. When compared with adult patients, adolescent and young adult patients consisted of higher proportion of the patients who did not undergo resection of primary tumor, which was an independent factor associated with poor prognosis in multivariate analysis. In patients who did not undergo resection (n = 349), OS of adolescent and young adult patients were significantly worse (p = 0.033). Prognoses were worse in adolescent and young adult patients with stage IV colorectal cancer compared to adult patients in Japan, due to a higher proportion of patients who did not undergo resection with more advanced and severe disease, but not due to age itself.

  2. Comparative characteristics of primary hyperparathyroidism in pediatric and young adult patients.

    PubMed

    Nicholson, Kristina J; McCoy, Kelly L; Witchel, Selma F; Stang, Michael T; Carty, Sally E; Yip, Linwah

    2016-10-01

    Primary hyperparathyroidism is rare in pediatric patients. Our study aim was to compare primary hyperparathyroidism in pediatric (<19 years) and young adult (19-29 years) patients. A prospectively collected database from a single, high-volume institution was queried for all patients age <30 years who had initial parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism yielding 126/4,546 (2.7%) primary hyperparathyroidism patients representing 39 pediatric and 87 young adult patients. Presenting symptoms, operative data, and postoperative course were compared for patients age 0-19 years and 20-29 years. Sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism was present in 81.7% and occurred less often in pediatric patients than young adult patients (74.4% vs 86.2%, P = .12). Among patients with hereditary primary hyperparathyroidism, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 was the most common type. Multiglandular disease was common in both pediatric (30.7%) and young adult (21.8%) patients. Following parathyroidectomy, 3 (2.3%) patients had permanent hypoparathyroidism and none had permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. Biochemical cure at 6 months was equally likely in pediatric and young adult patients (97.1% vs 93.6%, P = .44) with comparable follow-up (78.4 months vs 69.1 months, P = .66) and rates of recurrent disease (5.9% vs 10.3%, P = .46). Recurrence was due to multiple endocrine neoplasia 1-related primary hyperparathyroidism in all cases. Although primary hyperparathyroidism is sporadic in most patients <19 years, they are more likely to have multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1-associated primary hyperparathyroidism (23%). Parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism can be performed safely in pediatric patients with a high rate of cure. Follow-up for patients with hereditary disease is necessary. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  3. Parental Substance Abuse As an Early Traumatic Event. Preliminary Findings on Neuropsychological and Personality Functioning in Young Drug Addicts Exposed to Drugs Early

    PubMed Central

    Parolin, Micol; Simonelli, Alessandra; Mapelli, Daniela; Sacco, Marianna; Cristofalo, Patrizia

    2016-01-01

    Parental substance use is a major risk factor for child development, heightening the risk of drug problems in adolescence and young adulthood, and exposing offspring to several types of traumatic events. First, prenatal drug exposure can be considered a form of trauma itself, with subtle but long-lasting sequelae at the neuro-behavioral level. Second, parents' addiction often entails a childrearing environment characterized by poor parenting skills, disadvantaged contexts and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), leading to dysfunctional outcomes. Young adults born from/raised by parents with drug problems and diagnosed with a Substance Used Disorder (SUD) themselves might display a particularly severe condition in terms of cognitive deficits and impaired personality function. This preliminary study aims to investigate the role of early exposure to drugs as a traumatic event, capable of affecting the psychological status of young drug addicts. In particular, it intends to examine the neuropsychological functioning and personality profile of young adults with severe SUDs who were exposed to drugs early in their family context. The research involved three groups, each consisting of 15 young adults (aged 18–24): a group of inpatients diagnosed with SUDs and exposed to drugs early, a comparison group of non-exposed inpatients and a group of non-exposed youth without SUDs. A neuropsychological battery (Esame Neuropsicologico Breve-2), an assessment procedure for personality disorders (Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure-200) and the Symptom CheckList-90-Revised were administered. According to present preliminary results, young drug addicts exposed to drugs during their developmental age were characterized by elevated rates of neuropsychological impairments, especially at the expense of attentive and executive functions (EF); personality disorders were also common but did not differentiate them from non-exposed youth with SUDs. Alternative multi-focused prevention and

  4. Visual acuity in young elite motorsport athletes: a preliminary report.

    PubMed

    Schneiders, Anthony G; Sullivan, S John; Rathbone, Emma J; Louise Thayer, A; Wallis, Laura M; Wilson, Alexandra E

    2010-05-01

    To determine whether elite motorsport athletes demonstrate superior levels of Visual Acuity than age and sex-matched controls. A cross-sectional observational study. A University vision and balance laboratory. Young male motorsport athletes from the New Zealand Elite Motorsport Academy and healthy age and sex-matched controls. Vision performance tests comprising; Static Visual Acuity (SVA), Dynamic Visual Acuity (DVA), Gaze Stabilization Test (GST), and the Perception Time Test (PTT). Motorsport athletes demonstrated superior visual acuity compared to age and sex-matched controls for all measures, and while this was not statistically significant for SVA, GST and DVA, it reached statistical significance for the PTT (ppreliminary investigation into the visual ability of motorsport athletes demonstrated that they may have superior visual performance when compared to controls. Increased visual acuity and perception time may not only act to increase performance, but may also reduce the risk of potential injury. This study highlights the need for further research into the area of visual performance, particularly in motorsport and other high-speed sports, where such skills might be integral to performance and injury reduction.

  5. Comparative clinical outcomes between pediatric and young adult dialysis patients.

    PubMed

    Atkinson, Meredith A; Lestz, Rachel M; Fivush, Barbara A; Silverstein, Douglas M

    2011-12-01

    Published data on the comparative achievement of The Kidney Disease Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative (KDOQI) recommended clinical performance targets between children and young adults on dialysis are scarce. To characterize the achievement of KDOQI targets among children (<18 years) and young adults (18-24 years) with prevalent end stage renal disease (ESRD), we performed a cross-sectional analysis of data collected by the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition, in conjunction with the 2007 and 2008 ESRD Clinical Performance Measures Projects. Data on all enrolled pediatric dialysis patients, categorized into three age groups (0-8, 9-12, 13-17 years), and on a random sample of 5% of patients ≥ 18 years in ESRD Network 5 were examined for two study periods: hemodialysis (HD) data were collected from October to December 2006 and from October to December 2007 and peritoneal dialysis (PD) data were collected from October 2006 to March 2007 and from October 2007 to March 2008. In total, 114 unique patients were enrolled the study, of whom 41.2% (47/114) were on HD and 58.8% (67/114) on PD. Compared to the pediatric patients, young adults were less likely to achieve the KDOQI recommended serum phosphorus levels and serum calcium × phosphorus product values, with less than one-quarter demonstrating values at or below each goal. Multivariate analysis revealed that both young adults and 13- to 17-year-olds were less likely to achieve target values for phosphorus [young adults: odds ratio (OR) 0.04, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.01-0.19, p < 0.001; 13- to 17-year-olds: OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.04-0.77, p = 0.02] and calcium × phosphorus product (young adults: OR 0.01, 95% CI 0.002-0.09, p < 0.001; 13- to 17-year-olds: OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.02-0.56, p = 0.01) than younger children. In summary, there are significant differences in clinical indices between pediatric and young adult ESRD patients.

  6. Femur Neck Fracture in a Young Marfan Syndrome Patient.

    PubMed

    Kwon, Yong-Uk; Kong, Gyu-Min; Park, Jun-Ho

    2016-12-01

    Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant and could decrease bone mineral density. So patients with Marfan syndrome could vulnerable to trauma in old ages. We present the first report, to the best of our knowledge, of a rare fracture of the femoral neck with a minor traumatic history in a juvenile Marfan syndrome patient whose physis is still open. Although the patient is young, her bone mineral density was low and the geometry of femur is changed like old ages. The femur neck fracture in children is very rare and only caused by high energy trauma, we concluded that the Marfan syndrome makes the bone weaker in young age and preventative medications to avoid fractures in younger Marfan syndrome patients are necessary in early ages.

  7. Unprovoked Pulmonary Embolism in a Young Patient with Marfan Syndrome.

    PubMed

    Pak, Stella; Kilgore, Andrew; Thornhill, Rosanne; Rako, Kyle; Meier, Ali; Pora, Gavriella; Costello, Jillian M; Dee, Christine

    2017-09-05

    Marfan syndrome is a rare connective tissue disorder with a prevalence of approximately 2 to 3 per 10,000 individuals. There have been some reports of young patients with Marfan syndrome developing arteriovenous thromboembolism. These events were unprovoked and recurrent. Owing to its rarity, hypercoagulopathy and other metabolic derangement in patients with Marfan syndrome remains largely unknown. Herein, we report a case of a young man with Marfan syndrome who had myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism. We hope that this case adds to the scant body of knowledge about this patient population.

  8. An approach to the young hypertensive patient.

    PubMed

    Mangena, P; Saban, S; Hlabyago, K E; Rayner, B

    2016-01-01

    Hypertension is the leading cause of death worldwide. Globally and locally there has been an increase in hypertension in children, adolescents and young adults<40 years of age. In South Africa, the first decade of the millennium saw a doubling of the prevalence rate among adolescents and young adults aged 15-24 years. This increase suggests that an explosion of cerebrovascular disease, cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease can be expected in the forthcoming decades. A large part of the increased prevalence can be attributed to lifestyle factors such as diet and physical inactivity, which lead to overweight and obesity. The majority (>90%) of young patients will have essential or primary hypertension, while only a minority (<10%) will have secondary hypertension. We do not recommend an extensive workup for all newly diagnosed young hypertensives, as has been the practice in the past. We propose a rational approach that comprises a history to identify risk factors, an examination that establishes the presence of target-organ damage and identifies clues suggesting secondary hypertension, and a limited set of basic investigations. More specialised tests should be performed only where there is a clinical suspicion that a secondary cause for hypertension exists. There have been no randomised clinical trials on the treatment of hypertension in young patients. Expert opinion advises an initial emphasis on lifestyle modification. This can comprise a diet with reduced salt and refined carbohydrate intake, an exercise programme and management of substance abuse issues. Failure of lifestyle measures or the presence of target-organ damage should prompt the clinician to initiate pharmacotherapy. We recommend referral to a specialist practitioner in cases of resistant hypertension, where there is severe target-organ damage and when a secondary cause is suspected.

  9. A preliminary study of cognitive-behavioral family-based treatment versus parent training for young children with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

    PubMed

    Rosa-Alcázar, Ana I; Iniesta-Sepúlveda, Marina; Storch, Eric A; Rosa-Alcázar, Ángel; Parada-Navas, José L; Olivares Rodríguez, José

    2017-01-15

    Cognitive-Behavioral Family-Based Treatment (CBFT) is the standard of care in young children with OCD. Developmental considerations, parent desires, and cost-effective advantages motivate research to explore the relative efficacy of parent-only interventions. The main goal in this study was to test the effectiveness and feasibility of a parent only intervention for OCD in young children, comparing, in a preliminary fashion the relative efficacy of reducing obsessive-compulsive symptoms through two treatment conditions: 1) an individual CBFT for early OCD involving both parents and children, and 2) the family component of the intervention involving only individual Parent Training (PT). Twenty treatment-seeking families from two private outpatient clinics in Spain were alternately assigned to one of the two treatment conditions. Participants had a primary diagnosis of OCD and a mean age of 6.62 years (65% males). Interventions were conducted by the same therapist and the assessments were administered by independent clinicians who were blind to the experimental conditions of the participants. Assessment time-points were pretreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up (including diagnosis, symptom severity, global functioning, family accommodation, externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and satisfaction measures). The two ways of implementation, involving child and parents (CBFT) or involving only parents (PT), produced clinical improvements and were well-accepted by parents and children. The CBFT condition was superior to the PT condition in reducing externalizing problems. reduced sample size and absence of randomization were the main limitations of this study. these results suggest, in a preliminary manner, that the need to have the child present at session with the clinician could be decreased for some children, as well as the overall feasibility of working only with parents for the implementation of CBT for OCD in very young children. Copyright © 2016

  10. Cumulative doses analysis in young trauma patients: a single-centre experience.

    PubMed

    Salerno, Sergio; Marrale, Maurizio; Geraci, Claudia; Caruso, Giuseppe; Lo Re, Giuseppe; Lo Casto, Antonio; Midiri, Massimo

    2016-02-01

    Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) represents the main source of radiation exposure in trauma patients. The radiation exposure of young patients is a matter of considerable medical concern due to possible long-term effects. Multiple MDCT studies have been observed in the young trauma population with an increase in radiation exposure. We have identified 249 young adult patients (178 men and 71 women; age range 14-40 years) who had received more than one MDCT study between June 2010 and June 2014. According to the International Commission on Radiological Protection publication, we have calculated the cumulative organ dose tissue-weighting factors by using CT-EXPO software(®). We have observed a mean cumulative dose of about 27 mSv (range from 3 to 297 mSv). The distribution analysis is characterised by low effective dose, below 20 mSv, in the majority of the patients. However, in 29 patients, the effective dose was found to be higher than 20 mSv. Dose distribution for the various organs analysed (breasts, ovaries, testicles, heart and eye lenses) shows an intense peak for lower doses, but in some cases high doses were recorded. Even though cumulative doses may have long-term effects, which are still under debate, high doses are observed in this specific group of young patients.

  11. Brown adipose and central nervous system glucose uptake is lower during cold exposure in older compared to young men: a preliminary PET study.

    PubMed

    Kindred, John H; Tuulari, Jetro J; Simon, Stacey; Luckasen, Gary J; Bell, Christopher; Rudroff, Thorsten

    2016-06-01

    The purpose of this study was to determine the activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and the central nervous system (CNS) during cold exposure in young and older men. Two young, 24 and 21 years, and two older, 76 and 74 years, men participated in the study. Positron emission tomography images showed cold-induced BAT activity was absent in older men but clearly present in the clavicular region of the young men (Standardized Uptake Value: SUVmean: 3.12 and 3.71). Statistical parametric mapping revealed cortical brain activity was lower in the older men within areas of the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, and the thalamus (peak-level p uncorr  < 0.036). Cervical spinal cord SUVmean values tended to be lower for older (SUVmean: 1.64 and 1.61) compared to young men (SUVmean: 1.91 and 1.71). These preliminary findings suggest lower BAT activity in older men may in part be due to lower CNS activity.

  12. In-patient mental health services for young people--changing to meet new needs?

    PubMed

    Street, Cathy

    2004-05-01

    There is currently considerable interest in consulting with young people and involving them in the development and delivery of mental health services--both at the local and national level. This is a welcome development since, as various studies have highlighted, young people can offer both valuable insights into the services they receive and suggestions for what they want from services. In 2003, YoungMinds, a national charity that works to promote children's mental health, completed a two-year, in-depth qualitative study focused on a sample of in-patient units drawn from across England and Wales. Such units, found at Tier 4 (the most severe or complex problems) within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provide highly specialist care and treatment to some of the most seriously ill and vulnerable children and young people. A key aim of the study was to give a 'voice' to these young people in order to help in-patient services develop their provision in ways that are possibly more 'young-person friendly'. Alongside this, information from staff working both within in-patient units and the community was gathered, to provide an important contrasting perspective and to build up understanding of the current pressures and challenges that face service providers in this area. In total, data was gathered from 107 young people, 35 parents and 169 staff. Information from a number of other services was also compiled to provide case study illustrations of some new models of in-patient care now emerging. Multi-centre Research Ethics Committee approval was gained for the study, with considerable attention being paid to the design of clear 'young person' friendly information sheets, consent forms and questionnaires. Much attention was also paid to explaining how information would be used and confidentiality respected. The study findings reveal a picture of considerable change--of improvements but also continuing service gaps. Most importantly, there was a high level

  13. Clinical outcomes of fertility-sparing treatments in young patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

    PubMed

    Hu, Jun; Zhu, Li-rong; Liang, Zhi-qing; Meng, Yuan-guang; Guo, Hong-yan; Qu, Peng-peng; Ma, Cai-ling; Xu, Cong-jian; Yuan, Bi-bo

    2011-10-01

    To assess the clinical outcomes of fertility-sparing treatments in young patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). A retrospective study of young EOC inpatients (≤40 years old) was performed during January 1994 and December 2010 in eight institutions. Data were analyzed from 94 patients treated with fertility-sparing surgery with a median follow-up time of 58.7 months. As histologic grade increased, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients receiving fertility-sparing surgery declined. Neither staging surgery nor laparoscopy of early stage EOC with conservative surgery had a significant effect on OS or DFS. Normal menstruation recommenced after chemotherapy in 89% of the fertility-sparing group. Seventeen pregnancies among twelve patients were achieved by the end of the follow-ups. Fertility-sparing treatment for patients with EOC Stage I Grade 1 could be cautiously considered for young patients. The surgical procedure and surgical route might not significantly influence the prognosis. Standard chemotherapy is not likely to have an evident impact on ovarian function or fertility in young patients.

  14. Patient-provider communication about the emotional cues and concerns of adolescent and young adult patients and their family members when receiving a diagnosis of cancer.

    PubMed

    Korsvold, Live; Mellblom, Anneli V; Lie, Hanne C; Ruud, Ellen; Loge, Jon Håvard; Finset, Arnstein

    2016-10-01

    This study aimed to examine how emotional cues/concerns are expressed and responded to in medical consultations with adolescent and young adults (AYA), an understudied patient group, at the time of cancer diagnosis. Nine consultations in which AYA patients aged 12-25 years were informed about their cancer diagnosis and treatment plans were audio recorded. Expressions of emotional cues/concerns and physicians' responses were identified and coded using The Verona Coding Definitions of Emotional Sequences (VR-CoDES). A total of 135 emotional cues/concerns (range: 2-26, median: 13) were identified. Cues or concerns that were expressed by patients and relatives following questions from physicians were more often explicit than patient-initiated cues/concerns. Questions about medical and practical issues could often be understood as ways of expressing emotional cues. When patients or relatives expressed less explicit verbal cues about underlying concerns, physicians often responded by presenting medical information without commenting on the emotional aspect indicated by the cue. The communication was dominated by information-giving, but the questions from patients and relatives and their responses to the information often had emotional connotations. Patients' requests for information may include an emotional aspect. These preliminary findings should be tested in a larger sample. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Similarities and differences between older and young adult patients with celiac disease.

    PubMed

    Kalkan, Çağdaş; Karakaya, Fatih; Soykan, Irfan

    2017-11-01

    Celiac disease is an autoimmune enteropathy with variable clinical symptoms. Elderly patients can have different manifestations from those of young patients. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether any differences or similarities exist between older and young patients with celiac disease with a special emphasis on concurrent autoimmune diseases. Celiac disease patients were stratified as older and younger patients. These two groups were then compared by means of clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters and concurrent autoimmune diseases. Factors associated with the presence of an autoimmune disease were identified by univariate and multivariate analysis. There were 66 older patients (mean age 67.7 ± 3.2 years, 50 women), and 277 younger patients (mean age 35.9 ± 11.7 years, 207 women). Of the 66 older patients, eight patients had gastrointestinal symptoms and 58 patients had extradigestive symptoms. In the younger group, the number of patients referred due to gastrointestinal symptoms was higher (8 [12.2%] vs 200 (72.2%), P < 0.001) compared with the older group. Whereas 10 (15.1%) older patients showed polyautoimmunity, 55 (19.8%) younger patients had polyautoimmunity. Multiple autoimmune syndrome was more common in older patients compared with young patients (31 [47%] vs 12 [4%], P < 0.001, respectively). The presentation of celiac disease clinically, histologically and by means of laboratory parameters is different in older and young patients. Polyautoimmunity and multiple autoimmune syndrome are more common in older patients compared with younger patients. A biopsy score of Marsh score type, antinuclear antibody positivity, high serum anti-tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A level and low hemoglobin level were risk factors for having an autoimmune disease. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2060-2067. © 2017 Japan Geriatrics Society.

  16. Incidence of colorectal cancer in young patients.

    PubMed

    Campos, Fábio Guilherme C M DE; Figueiredo, Marleny Novaes; Monteiro, Mariane; Nahas, Sérgio Carlos; Cecconello, Ivan

    2017-01-01

    Sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) is traditionally diagnosed after de sixth decade of life, although a small percentage of cases are diagnosed in patients under 40 years of age, and incidence is increasing. There exists a great volume of controversy regarding clinical outcome of young patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) when compared to elder counterparts. Our aims were to evaluate the rate of CRC in young patients, to review the pertaining literature and to discuss outcomes and clinical prognosis. A retrospective review involving patients with CRC was undertaken, focusing on age at diagnosis. The information extracted from this literature review showed a trend towards a decreased incidence in older people with an opposite effect among adolescents and young adults. Moreover, biological aggressiveness in young adults diagnosed with CRC has not been fully recognized, although it is usually diagnosed later and in association with adverse histological features. Besides that, these features don't affect outcome. These apparent increase in CRC incidence among young patients during the last decades raises the need for a greater suspicious when evaluating common symptoms in this group. Thus, educational programs should widespread information for both population and physicians to improve prevention and early diagnosis results. RESUMO O câncer colorretal (CCR) esporádico é tradicionalmente diagnosticado após a sexta década de vida, embora uma pequena porcentagem de casos seja diagnosticada em doentes abaixo dos 40 anos de idade, e a incidência está aumentando. Existe uma grande controvérsia a respeito da evolução clínica de doentes jovens portadores de CCR em comparação aos mais idosos. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a prevalência de CCR em doentes jovens, rever a literatura pertinente e discutir suas características mais importantes nesta faixa etária. Para tanto realizou-se revisão da literatura envolvendo doentes com CCR com foco na

  17. Characteristics of metabolic and lifestyle risk factors in young Japanese patients with coronary heart disease: a comparison with older patients.

    PubMed

    Azegami, Masako; Hongo, Minoru; Yanagisawa, Setsuko; Yamazaki, Akie; Sakaguchi, Kesami; Yazaki, Yoshikazu; Imamura, Hiroshi

    2006-05-01

    Coronary heart disease (CHD) is recognized as a lifestyle-related disease and is the second leading cause of death in Japan. However, the cardiac risk factor profile of young patients with CHD has not been clarified in suburban areas of Japan. Our study aimed to determine metabolic and lifestyle risk factors in young patients and compare them with older patients living in suburban areas of Nagano Prefecture. A multicenter study was conducted in 86 young (aged less than 40 years) and 91 older (aged 50 years and over) patients diagnosed with CHD from 1992 to 2002. There was a strong association between obesity and the occurrence of CHD events in young patients (odds ratio = 3.61, P = 0.006). Lifestyle in the young patients was characterized by a lack of physical activity and regular physical activity was found to decrease the risk of the CHD events in these patients (odds ratio = 0.31, P = 0.030). In older patients, hypertension was identified as an independent risk factor for CHD events. The results of the present study have demonstrated that obesity and a lack of regular physical exercise are independent risk factors for CHD events in younger patients. Thus, the data may be useful for the effective screening of high-risk individuals and the development of educational programs for the prevention of CHD, especially in younger Japanese.

  18. Delay discounting and impulsivity traits in young and older gambling disorder patients.

    PubMed

    Steward, Trevor; Mestre-Bach, Gemma; Fernández-Aranda, Fernando; Granero, Roser; Perales, José C; Navas, Juan Francisco; Soriano-Mas, Carles; Baño, Marta; Fernández-Formoso, Jose A; Martín-Romera, Virginia; Menchón, José M; Jiménez-Murcia, Susana

    2017-08-01

    Impulsivity is understood to be a multidimensional construct involving aspects such as impulsive choice and impulsive traits. Delay discounting, the tendency to place greater value in immediate rewards over larger, long-term rewards, has been associated with maladaptive choices in gambling disorder (GD). Delay discounting is known to evolve with age; though no study to date has evaluated the interactions between impulsivity, GD severity and age in treatment-seeking patients. We aimed to examine whether associations between delay discounting and impulsivity traits differed between younger and older-aged GD patients. Secondly, we sought to untangle the mediating role of impulsivity in determining gambling behavior in these two age groups. GD patients (N=335) were evaluated using the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale and a delay discounting task. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to explore associations between impulsivity measures and gambling severity in young (18-30years) and old (31-70) GD patients. No differences in delay discounting were found between young and old GD patients. Significant correlations between delay discounting and urgency levels (the tendency to act rashly under emotional states) were identified only in the young GD group. Path analyses also revealed both positive and negative urgency to be a mediator of GD severity levels in young GD patients. Significant associations between impulsive choice and positive urgency are only present in young gamblers, suggesting that positive urgency influence choice behavior to a greater degree at younger ages. Implications for targeted interventions are discussed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  19. Preliminary Evaluation of a Brief Autism Screener for Young Children.

    PubMed

    Zahorodny, Walter; Shenouda, Josephine; Mehta, Uday; Yee, Emily; Garcia, Patricia; Rajan, Mangala; Goldfarb, Madeleine

    2018-04-01

    Our objective was to assess the operating characteristics of the Psychological Development Questionnaire-1 (PDQ-1), an autism screener for use with young children. In Phase 1, we evaluated the concordance of the PDQ-1 with established autism scales, determined test-retest reliability, and identified a risk threshold score. In Phase 2, a population of 1959 toddler-age children was prospectively screened through multiple pediatric practices in a diverse metropolitan region, using the new instrument. Screen-positive children were referred for diagnostic evaluation. Screened children received follow-up at age 4 years to identify autism cases missed by screening and to specify the scale's psychometric properties. By screening a diverse population of low risk children, age 18 to 36 months, with the PDQ-1, we detected individuals with autism who had not come to professional attention. Overall, the PDQ-1 showed a positive predictive value (PPV) of 88%, with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 99% in a low risk population. High specificity, good sensitivity, and PPV were observed across the 18 to 36 month age-range. The findings provide preliminary empirical support for this parent report-based indicator of toddler psychological development and suggest that the PDQ-1 may be a useful supplement to developmental surveillance of autism. Additional research is needed with high risk samples and large, unselected populations under real-world conditions.

  20. Lower-zone emphysema in young patients without α1-antitrypsin deficiency

    PubMed Central

    Martelli, Nestor A.; Goldman, Ernesto; Roncoroni, Aquiles J.

    1974-01-01

    Martelli, N. A., Goldman, E., and Roncoroni, A. J. (1974).Thorax, 29, 237-244. Lowerzone emphysema in young patients without α1-antitrypsin deficiency. Three young patients with radiographic pulmonary emphysema predominantly in the lower zones are reported. The clinical and physiological features were those observed in severe pulmonary emphysema. Predominance of the main lesions in the lower zones was confirmed in two cases by selective pulmonary angiography. One of the patients died and extensive panlobular emphysema was found at necropsy. Although the similarities between our patients and those with emphysema and α1-antitrypsin deficiency were remarkable, the latter condition was ruled out. Images PMID:4545502

  1. Long-acting Reversible Contraception for Adolescents and Young Adults: Patient and Provider Perspectives

    PubMed Central

    Kavanaugh, Megan L.; Frohwirth, Lori; Jerman, Jenna; Popkin, Ronna; Ethier, Kathleen

    2013-01-01

    Study objective To describe and explore provider- and patient-level perspectives regarding long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) for teens and young adults (ages 16-24). Methods Data collection occurred between June – December 2011. We first conducted telephone interviews with administrative directors at 20 publicly funded facilities that provide family planning services. At six of these sites, we conducted a total of six focus group discussions (FGDs) with facility staff and forty-eight in-depth interviews (IDIs) with facility clients ages 16-24. Results Staff in the FGDs did not generally equate being a teen with ineligibility for IUDs. In contrast to staff, one quarter of the young women did perceive young age as rendering them ineligible. Clients and staff agreed that the “forgettable” nature of the methods and their duration were some of LARC’s most significant advantages. They also agreed that fear of pain associated with both insertion and removal and negative side effects were disadvantages. Some aspects of IUDs and implants were perceived as advantages by some clients but disadvantages by others. Common challenges to providing LARC-specific services to younger patients included extra time required to counsel young patients about LARC methods, outdated clinic policies requiring multiple visits to obtain IUDs, and a perceived higher removal rate among young women. The most commonly cited strategy for addressing many of these challenges was securing supplementary funding to support the provision of these services to young patients. Conclusion Incorporating young women’s perspectives on LARC methods into publicly funded family planning facilities’ efforts to provide these methods to a younger population may increase their use among young women. PMID:23287602

  2. Local versus general anesthesia for external dacryocystorhinostomy in young patients.

    PubMed

    Ciftci, Ferda; Pocan, Sibel; Karadayi, Koray; Gulecek, Oguz

    2005-05-01

    To compare the effectiveness, complications, and patient acceptance of local anesthesia with general anesthesia in young patients for external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Data were prospectively collected over an 8-year period (1996-2004) on young patients (mean age: 22.64+/-1.71) undergoing external DCR in Gulhane Military Medical Academy. Patients were randomly allocated in two groups: general anesthesia (GA) and local anesthesia (LA). Of the 480 DCR procedures, 182 were performed with general anesthesia (44 bilateral), 298 were performed with local anesthesia (32 bilateral). Visual analogue scales were recorded in the postoperative 2-hour period. Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), epistaxis, length of hospital stay, and intraoperative bleeding were noted. Patients in both groups reported being comfortable during and immediately after surgery. Only 2 patients in the LA group required additional local anesthetic because of pain. Intraoperative bleeding was lower in the LA group. Analgesic requirement and signs of nausea and vomiting in the GA group were higher in the early postoperative period (p<0.05). The incidence of PONV was higher (p<0.05) in the GA group. Postoperative epistaxis was observed in 12 patients in the GA group and just 2 patients in the LA group. Length of hospital stay was 2.29+/-0.46 days in the GA group, and 1.23+/-0.42 days in the LA group (p<0.01). Local anesthesia in DCR is safe and comfortable when proper anatomical approach to nerve blocks is performed correctly. Local anesthesia in young patients undergoing external DCR is a good alternative because it is cost-effective and it eliminates the complications of general anesthesia.

  3. Mandibular fractures: a comparative analysis between young and adult patients in the southeast region of Turkey

    PubMed Central

    ATILGAN, Serhat; EROL, Behçet; YAMAN, Ferhan; YILMAZ, Nezih; UCAN, Musa Can

    2010-01-01

    Objective The purpose of this study was to review and compare the differences between mandibular fractures in young and adult patients. Material and Methods Patients treated at the Oral and Maxillofacial Department of Dicle University during a five-year period between 2000 and 2005 were retrospectively evaluated with respect to age groups, gender, etiology, localization and type of fractures, treatment methods and complications. Result 532 patients were included in the study, 370 (70%) males and 162 (30%) females, with a total of 744 mandibular fractures. The mean age of young patients was 10, with a male-female ratio of 2:1. The mean age of adult patients was 28, with a male-female ratio of 3:1. The most common causes of injury were falls (65%) in young patients and traffic accidents (38%) in adults. The most common fracture sites were the symphysis (35%) and condyle (36%) in young patients, and the symphysis in adults (36%). Mandibular fractures were generally treated by arch bar and maxillomandibular fixation in both young (67%) and adult (39%) patients, and 43% of the adult patients were treated by open reduction and internal fixation. Conclusion There was a similar gender, monthly and type of treatment distribution in both young and adult patients in the southeast region of Turkey. However, there were differences regarding age, etiology and fracture site. These findings between young and adult patients are broadly similar to those from other studies. Analysis of small differences may be an important factor in assessing educational and socioeconomic environments. PMID:20379677

  4. Metabolic Characteristics and Risks Associated with Stone Recurrence in Korean Young Adult Stone Patients.

    PubMed

    Kang, Ho Won; Seo, Sung Pil; Kim, Won Tae; Kim, Yong-June; Yun, Seok-Joong; Kim, Wun-Jae; Lee, Sang-Cheol

    2017-08-01

    The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic characteristics and risks of stone recurrence in young adult stone patients in Korea. The medical records of 1532 patients presenting with renal or ureteric stones at our stone clinic between 1994 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped according to age (young adult, 18-29 years; intermediate onset, 30-59 years; old age, ≥60 years) at first presentation, and measurements of clinicometabolic characteristics and risks of stone recurrence were compared. Overall, excretion of urinary stone-forming substances was highest in the intermediate onset group, followed by the young adult and old age groups. Importantly, excretion of urinary citrate was lowest in the young adult group. Kaplan-Meier analyses identified a significant difference between the three age groups in terms of stone recurrence (log rank test, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that age at first stone presentation was an independent risk factor for stone recurrence. Urinary citrate excretion was an independent risk factor for stone recurrence in young adult stone patients. Younger age (18-29 years) at first stone presentation was a significant risk factor for stone recurrence, and urinary citrate excretion was an independent risk factor affecting recurrence in this group. Metabolic evaluation and potassium citrate therapy should be considered for young adult stone patients to prevent recurrence.

  5. Modern computer technologies facilitate communication with a young cancer patient.

    PubMed

    Ripamonti, Carla Ida; Piccinelli, Claudia; Pessi, Maria Adelaide; Clerici, Carlo Alfredo

    2010-01-01

    The aim of this paper is to show how new technologies may help the communication process in clinical practice in a department providing supportive care to patients undergoing cancer treatment. Communication via Internet chat between the psychologist and a young man who sees chatting on the Internet as a natural and familiar mode of expression was shown to be useful. The Internet link enabled us to open a communication channel with the patient and to have a conversation that would otherwise have been impossible. Although verbal communication is the most important way to communicate among people, Internet communications are certainly an opportunity worth exploring, because they may open up new channels for cancer patients whose ability to speak is restricted. We might imagine using this approach in pediatric oncology, with adolescents and preadolescents, and with young adults like the patient discussed here. The case discussed highlights the enormous difference between the mere transfer of information and genuine communication, the latter involving an encounter with the patient.

  6. Sexual behavior of married young women: a preliminary study from north India.

    PubMed

    Avasthi, Ajit; Kaur, Rajinder; Prakash, Om; Banerjee, Anindya; Kumar, Lata; Kulhara, P

    2008-07-01

    There are significant gaps in the scientific literature concerning female sexual behavior and attitudes surrounding sexuality, which have definitive implications on public health and clinical work. To study the sexual behavior of young married Indian women. The study group comprised 100 consecutive women attending the Department of Pediatrics for the care of noncritical children in a multispecialty, tertiary care teaching hospital setting in North India. Current levels of sexual functioning and satisfaction were assessed by using the Brief Index of Sexual Functioning for Women (BISF-W). All participants were also administered a translated and culturally adapted instrument called Sex Knowledge and Attitude Questionnaire-II (SKAQ-II). Peno-vaginal sex continues to be considered the most desired and actually performed sexual activity for arousal and orgasm, followed by kissing and foreplay. Difficulties while performing sexual activity, in the form of physical problems, were faced by 17% of the participants. The participants displayed adequate sexual knowledge and favorable attitude towards sexuality as measured by SKAQ-II. The present study is a preliminary effort to understand the contemporary female sexual behavior, knowledge and attitude by employing standard instruments. Still further studies are required in this area.

  7. Clinicopathological and p53 gene alteration comparison between young and older patients with gastric cancer.

    PubMed

    Karim, Sajjad

    2014-01-01

    Differences in clinicopathological characteristics of gastric cancer (GC) between young and older patients are controversial and a matter of debate. Determining the statistical significance of clinicopathological information with respect to age might provide clues for better management and treatment of GC. A total of 103 Indian GC patients were enrolled for study and specimens were classified according to the AJCC-TNM system. Patients were grouped into two age-wise categories, young patients (<40 years; n=13) and older patients (≥40 years, n=90). The clinicopathological features of both groups were retrospectively examined and compared. p53 alterations were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism and immunohistochemistry methods at gene and protein levels respectively. The cases were considered p53 over-expressed if it was present in more than 25% of the tumor cells and p53 alterations was correlated with the clinicopathological characteristics of the patients as well as etiological factors for GC in both groups. We found significant association of young patients with cancer stage (p=0.01), and very strong association with histology grade (p=0.064) and poorly differentiated (p=0.051) state of GC. However, neither young nor elderly patients showed associations with location, gender, etiological factors and p53 expression and alteration. Overall the male-to-female ratio of GC patients was 3.12 and the value was higher in the young (5.5) than in the older group (2.91). Clinicopathological features of GC like cancer stage, cell differentiation and histological grades were significantly different among young and old age cohorts. We observed a male predominance among the young group that decreased significantly with advancing age. More awareness of GC onset is required to detect cancer at an early stage for successful treatment.

  8. Preliminary Evaluation of a Brief Autism Screener for Young Children

    PubMed Central

    Shenouda, Josephine; Mehta, Uday; Yee, Emily; Garcia, Patricia; Rajan, Mangala; Goldfarb, Madeleine

    2018-01-01

    ABSTRACT: Objective: Our objective was to assess the operating characteristics of the Psychological Development Questionnaire-1 (PDQ-1), an autism screener for use with young children. Methods: In Phase 1, we evaluated the concordance of the PDQ-1 with established autism scales, determined test-retest reliability, and identified a risk threshold score. In Phase 2, a population of 1959 toddler-age children was prospectively screened through multiple pediatric practices in a diverse metropolitan region, using the new instrument. Screen-positive children were referred for diagnostic evaluation. Screened children received follow-up at age 4 years to identify autism cases missed by screening and to specify the scale's psychometric properties. Results: By screening a diverse population of low risk children, age 18 to 36 months, with the PDQ-1, we detected individuals with autism who had not come to professional attention. Overall, the PDQ-1 showed a positive predictive value (PPV) of 88%, with a sensitivity of 85% and specificity of 99% in a low risk population. High specificity, good sensitivity, and PPV were observed across the 18 to 36 month age-range. Conclusion: The findings provide preliminary empirical support for this parent report–based indicator of toddler psychological development and suggest that the PDQ-1 may be a useful supplement to developmental surveillance of autism. Additional research is needed with high risk samples and large, unselected populations under real-world conditions. PMID:29300209

  9. Health conditions and motivations for marijuana use among young adult medical marijuana patients and non-patient marijuana users.

    PubMed

    Lankenau, Stephen E; Ataiants, Janna; Mohanty, Salini; Schrager, Sheree; Iverson, Ellen; Wong, Carolyn F

    2018-02-01

    While marijuana has been legal for medical purposes in California since 1996, little is known about the health histories of young adult medical marijuana patients who are a significant proportion of medical marijuana patients. We examined whether young adult medical marijuana patients reported health conditions and motivations for use that were consistent with medical use of marijuana in California. Young adults (N = 366) aged 18 to 26 years were sampled in Los Angeles in 2014-2015 and segmented into medical marijuana 'patients' (n = 210), marijuana users with a current recommendation, and non-patient users or 'non-patients' (n = 156), marijuana users who never had a medical marijuana recommendation. Differences between patients and non-patients regarding self-reported health histories and past/current motivations for marijuana use were expressed as unadjusted risk ratios. Compared with non-patients, patients were significantly more likely to report a range of lifetime health problems, such as psychological, physical pain and gastrointestinal. In the past 90 days, patients were significantly more likely to report motivations for marijuana use than non-patients concerning sleep, anxiety, physical pain and focusing. Psychological and pain problems were the most common health conditions reported to receive a medical marijuana recommendation. Patients were significantly less likely than non-patients to report any privacy concerns about obtaining a medical marijuana recommendation. Patients were significantly more likely to report a range of health conditions and motivations associated with medical use than non-patients. A great majority of patients reported obtaining a medical marijuana recommendation for health problems in accordance with the California law. [Lankenau SE, Ataiants J,Mohanty S, Schrager S, Iverson E, Wong CF.Health conditions and motivations for marijuana use among young adultmedical marijuana patients and non-patient marijuana users. Drug

  10. GBM-associated mutations and altered protein expression are more common in young patients.

    PubMed

    Ferguson, Sherise D; Xiu, Joanne; Weathers, Shiao-Pei; Zhou, Shouhao; Kesari, Santosh; Weiss, Stephanie E; Verhaak, Roeland G; Hohl, Raymond J; Barger, Geoffrey R; Reddy, Sandeep K; Heimberger, Amy B

    2016-10-25

    Geriatric glioblastoma (GBM) patients have a poorer prognosis than younger patients, but IDH1/2 mutations (more common in younger patients) confer a favorable prognosis. We compared key GBM molecular alterations between an elderly (age ≥ 70) and younger (18 < = age < = 45) cohort to explore potential therapeutic opportunities. Alterations more prevalent in the young GBM cohort compared to the older cohort (P < 0.05) were: overexpression of ALK, RRM1, TUBB3 and mutation of ATRX, BRAF, IDH1, and TP53. However, PTEN mutation was significantly more frequent in older patients. Among patients with wild-type IDH1/2 status, TOPO1 expression was higher in younger patients, whereas MGMT methylation was more frequent in older patients. Within the molecularly-defined IDH wild-type GBM cohort, younger patients had significantly more mutations in PDGFRA, PTPN11, SMARCA4, BRAF and TP53. GBMs from 178 elderly patients and 197 young patients were analyzed using DNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and MGMT-methylation assay to ascertain mutational and amplification/expressional status. Significant molecular differences occurred in GBMs from elderly and young patients. Except for the older cohort's more frequent PTEN mutation and MGMT methylation, younger patients had a higher frequency of potential therapeutic targets.

  11. Frequency of MELAS main mutation in a phenotype-targeted young ischemic stroke patient population.

    PubMed

    Tatlisumak, Turgut; Putaala, Jukka; Innilä, Markus; Enzinger, Christian; Metso, Tiina M; Curtze, Sami; von Sarnowski, Bettina; Amaral-Silva, Alexandre; Jungehulsing, Gerhard Jan; Tanislav, Christian; Thijs, Vincent; Rolfs, Arndt; Norrving, Bo; Fazekas, Franz; Suomalainen, Anu; Kolodny, Edwin H

    2016-02-01

    Mitochondrial diseases, predominantly mitochondrial encephalomyopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS), may occasionally underlie or coincide with ischemic stroke (IS) in young and middle-aged individuals. We searched for undiagnosed patients with MELAS in a target subpopulation of unselected young IS patients enrolled in the Stroke in Young Fabry Patients study (sifap1). Among the 3291 IS patients aged 18-55 years recruited to the sifap1 study at 47 centers across 14 European countries, we identified potential MELAS patients with the following phenotypic features: (a) diagnosed cardiomyopathy or (b) presence of two of the three following findings: migraine, short stature (≤165 cm for males; ≤155 cm for females), and diabetes. Identified patients' blood samples underwent analysis of the common MELAS mutation, m.3243A>G in the MTTL1 gene of mitochondrial DNA. Clinical and cerebral MRI features of the mutation carriers were reviewed. We analyzed blood samples of 238 patients (177 with cardiomyopathy) leading to identification of four previously unrecognized MELAS main mutation carrier-patients. Their clinical and MRI characteristics were within the expectation for common IS patients except for severe hearing loss in one patient and hyperintensity of the pulvinar thalami on T1-weighted MRI in another one. Genetic testing for the m.3243A>G MELAS mutation in young patients with IS based on phenotypes suggestive of mitochondrial disease identifies previously unrecognized carriers of MELAS main mutation, but does not prove MELAS as the putative cause.

  12. A conservative approach for treating young adult patients with porcelain laminate veneers.

    PubMed

    Chen, Yen-Wei; Raigrodski, Ariel J

    2008-01-01

    Controversy persists regarding the treatment planning criteria for young adult patients in need of esthetic restorations. The trend of conservative treatment modalities continues to become widely acknowledged. One of the conservative treatment modalities is porcelain laminate veneers (PLVs). PLVs not only provide suitable esthetics but also reliable functional strength. This article presents two anterior esthetic cases to demonstrate a conservative treatment planning approach and its application as a nontraditional solution for young adult patients. It is recommended that a conservative approach be used wherever possible as an alternative to treatment options that may aggressively sacrifice tooth structure as well as the health of the supporting tissues. By using a conservative approach to treatment with porcelain veneers, long-lasting, esthetic, and functional results may be achieved. Sacrificing as little tooth structure as possible and conserving the supporting tissues will facilitate prospective treatments for young adult patients.

  13. Effects of professional rehabilitation training on the recovery of neurological function in young stroke patients

    PubMed Central

    Li, Chao-jin-zi; Du, Xiao-xia; Yang, Kun; Song, Lu-ping; Li, Peng-kun; Wang, Qiang; Sun, Rong; Lin, Xiao-ling; Lu, Hong-yu; Zhang, Tong

    2016-01-01

    Young stroke patients have a strong desire to return to the society, but few studies have been conducted on their rehabilitation training items, intensity, and prognosis. We analyzed clinical data of young and middle-aged/older stroke patients hospitalized in the Department of Neurological Rehabilitation, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Capital Medical University, China from February 2014 to May 2015. Results demonstrated that hemorrhagic stroke (59.6%) was the primary stroke type found in the young group, while ischemic stroke (60.0%) was the main type detected in the middle-aged/older group. Compared with older stroke patients, education level and incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia were higher in younger stroke patients, whereas, incidences of hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease were lower. The average length of hospital stay was longer in the young group than in the middle-aged/older group. The main risk factors observed in the young stroke patients were hypertension, drinking, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, diabetes, previous history of stroke, and heart disease. The most accepted rehabilitation program consisted of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion. Average rehabilitation training time was 2.5 hours/day. Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale scores were increased at discharge. Six months after discharge, the degree of occupational and economic satisfaction declined, and there were no changes in family life satisfaction. The degrees of other life satisfaction (such as friendship) improved. The degree of disability and functional status improved significantly in young stroke patients after professional rehabilitation, but the number of patients who returned to society within 6 months after stroke was still small. PMID:28123417

  14. Total artificial heart implantation in a young Marfan syndrome patient.

    PubMed

    Rao, Prashant; Keenan, Jack B; Rajab, Taufiek K; Kim, Samuel; Smith, Richard; Amabile, Orazio; Khalpey, Zain

    2018-03-01

    Cardiovascular complications represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with Marfan syndrome. Here, we describe a unique case where a total artificial heart was implanted in a young Marfan syndrome woman. A 22-year-old postpartum African American female with Marfan syndrome developed multiple severe valve dysfunction and biventricular failure that was refractory to medical management. She previously had a Bentall procedure for Type A aortic dissection and repair of a Type B dissection. We implanted a total artificial heart with a good outcome. Total artificial heart is a durable option for severe biventricular failure and multiple valvular dysfunction as a bridge to transplant in a young patient with Marfan syndrome.

  15. Collaborative Care for Patients With Severe Personality Disorders: Preliminary Results and Active Ingredients From a Pilot Study (Part I).

    PubMed

    Stringer, Barbara; van Meijel, Berno; Karman, Pieter; Koekkoek, Bauke; Hoogendoorn, Adriaan W; Kerkhof, Ad J F M; Beekman, Aartjan T F

    2015-07-01

    To test if a collaborative care program (CCP) with nurses in a coordinating position is beneficial for patients with severe personality disorders. A pilot study with a comparative multiple case study design using mixed methods investigating active ingredients and preliminary results. Most patients, their informal caregivers, and nurses value (parts of) the CCP positively; preliminary results show a significant decrease in severity of borderline symptoms. With the CCP, we may expand the supply of available treatments for patients with (severe) personality disorders, but a larger randomized controlled trial is warranted to confirm our preliminary results. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. The Frequency of Fabry Disease among Young Cryptogenic Stroke Patients in the City of Sakarya.

    PubMed

    Gündoğdu, Aslı Aksoy; Kotan, Dilcan; Alemdar, Murat

    2017-06-01

    Fabry disease (FD) is known as a rare cause of stroke. Recent studies suggested that FD is an underdiagnosed entity among young stroke patients. We aimed to investigate the frequency of FD in young cryptogenic stroke patients who lived in the City of Sakarya and to define the clinical features that help in recognizing patients with FD. Acute ischemic stroke patients aged 18-55 years who were admitted to our hospital between October 2013 and September 2016 were evaluated for inclusion. Patients with other recognized causes of stroke were excluded. The screening was performed for alpha-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) activity on dried blood spot, and DNA was sequenced for GLA mutation in patients with low plasma α-Gal A activity. Among the 484 acute ischemic stroke patients, 54 (24 male, 44.4%) young cryptogenic stroke patients were enrolled. The α-Gal A activity was detected as low in 3 patients. c.[680G > A] p.[R227Q] missense mutation was identified in 2 male patients. The frequency of FD was calculated as 3.7%. Our research is the first FD screening study in Turkish stroke patients. Our results underlined the importance of considering FD during the etiologic evaluation of young cryptogenic stroke patients as it is a rare but potentially treatable entity. Copyright © 2017 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Young breast cancer patients who develop distant metastasis after surgery have better survival outcomes compared with elderly counterparts.

    PubMed

    Wang, Jingjing; Wang, Jiayu; Li, Qing; Zhang, Pin; Yuan, Peng; Ma, Fei; Luo, Yang; Cai, Ruigang; Fan, Ying; Chen, Shanshan; Li, Qiao; Xu, Binghe

    2017-07-04

    To investigate the recurrence pattern and subsequent survival outcomes in young breast cancer population, 483 young patients (≤ 35) and 739 elderly patients (≥ 65), who received mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery from 2008 to 2012, were included in this study. The young population presented with a higher rate of pathologic tumor stage (P < 0.001), positive pathologic lymph node (P < 0.001), grade III tumors (P < 0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (P < 0.001). With a median follow-up of 56.5 months, young patients had a significantly lower 5-year disease-free survival (73.7% vs 83.4%, P = 0.001), while no difference in 5-year overall survival was observed (91.7% vs 91.7%, P = 0.721). The 5-year cumulative incidences of locoregional relapse (8.9% vs 4.3%, P = 0.009) and distant metastasis (18.8% vs 9.5%, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the young population. However, for patients with distant metastasis, the survival outcomes were significantly better in the young patients (5-year overall survival since diagnosis: 60.0% vs 47.3%, P = 0.025; 5-year overall survival after recurrence: 31.0% vs 24.3%, P = 0.001). Young breast cancer patients present with more aggressive clinicopathological features and have poor prognosis compared with elderly. But young patients with distant metastasis might have better survival outcomes.

  18. Association Between Androgenetic Alopecia and Coronary Artery Disease in Young Male Patients

    PubMed Central

    Sharma, Kamal H; Jindal, Anchal

    2014-01-01

    Background: Several studies have demonstrated an association between androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and cardiovascular disease. Still controversies exist regarding the association. Are they truly associated? Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of AGA and establish its association in young (<45 years) Asian Indian Gujarati male patients having coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: Case-control prospective multicentric study was carried out on 424 men. Case group consisted of 212 male subjects having CAD (Group 1) and another 212, either sibling or first degree male relative of the case subjects (having no evidence of CAD) were considered as the control group (Group 2). Age, total cholesterol, incidence of diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were similar in both groups. The degree of alopecia was assessed using the Norwood-Hamilton scale for men. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test. Results: AGA was found in 80 (37.73%) young CAD patients (Group 1), whereas 44 (20.7%) of patients had alopecia in the control group (Group 2). There was statistically significant association between male AGA and CAD (P = 0.001). Odds ratio was 2.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72 ± 4.26). Statistically significant association was found between high grade baldness (Grades IV-VII) and CAD in young men (P < 0.05). Odds ratio = 2.36 (95% CI, 1.108 ± 5.033). There is statistically significant association of AGA in young Asian Gujarati male with CAD and the prevalence of AGA in young CAD patient is 37.73%. Conclusion: This study implies early onset AGA in male is independently associated with CAD, though mechanisms need to be investigated. PMID:25114445

  19. Association between androgenetic alopecia and coronary artery disease in young male patients.

    PubMed

    Sharma, Kamal H; Jindal, Anchal

    2014-01-01

    Several studies have demonstrated an association between androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and cardiovascular disease. Still controversies exist regarding the association. Are they truly associated? The purpose of the present study was to assess the prevalence of AGA and establish its association in young (<45 years) Asian Indian Gujarati male patients having coronary artery disease (CAD). Case-control prospective multicentric study was carried out on 424 men. Case group consisted of 212 male subjects having CAD (Group 1) and another 212, either sibling or first degree male relative of the case subjects (having no evidence of CAD) were considered as the control group (Group 2). Age, total cholesterol, incidence of diabetes mellitus, and hypertension were similar in both groups. The degree of alopecia was assessed using the Norwood-Hamilton scale for men. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi-square test. AGA was found in 80 (37.73%) young CAD patients (Group 1), whereas 44 (20.7%) of patients had alopecia in the control group (Group 2). There was statistically significant association between male AGA and CAD (P = 0.001). Odds ratio was 2.70 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72 ± 4.26). Statistically significant association was found between high grade baldness (Grades IV-VII) and CAD in young men (P < 0.05). Odds ratio = 2.36 (95% CI, 1.108 ± 5.033). There is statistically significant association of AGA in young Asian Gujarati male with CAD and the prevalence of AGA in young CAD patient is 37.73%. This study implies early onset AGA in male is independently associated with CAD, though mechanisms need to be investigated.

  20. Brain imaging and cognition in young narcoleptic patients.

    PubMed

    Huang, Yu-Shu; Liu, Feng-Yuan; Lin, Chin-Yang; Hsiao, Ing-Tsung; Guilleminault, Christian

    2016-08-01

    The relationship between functional brain images and performances in narcoleptic patients and controls is a new field of investigation. We studied 71 young, type 1 narcoleptic patients and 20 sex- and age-matched control individuals using brain positron emission tomography (PET) images and neurocognitive testing. Clinical investigation was carried out using sleep-wake evaluation questionnaires; a sleep-wake study was conducted with actigraphy, polysomnography, multiple sleep latency test (MSLT), and blood tests (with human leukocyte antigen typing). The continuous performance test (CPT) and Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) were administered on the same day as the PET study. PET data were analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (version 8) software. Correlation of brain imaging and neurocognitive function was performed by Pearson's correlation. Statistical analyses (Student's t-test) were conducted with SPSS version-18. Seventy-one narcoleptic patients (mean age: 16.15 years, 41 boys (57.7%)) and 20 controls (mean age: 15.1 years, 12 boys (60%)) were studied. Results from the CPT and WCST showed significantly worse scores in narcoleptic patients than in controls (P < 0.05). Compared to controls, narcoleptic patients presented with hypometabolism in the right mid-frontal lobe and angular gyrus (P < 0.05) and significant hypermetabolism in the olfactory lobe, hippocampus, parahippocampus, amygdala, fusiform, left inferior parietal lobe, left superior temporal lobe, striatum, basal ganglia and thalamus, right hypothalamus, and pons (P < 0.05) in the PET study. Changes in brain metabolic activity in narcoleptic patients were positively correlated with results from the sleepiness scales and performance tests. Young, type 1 narcoleptic patients face a continuous cognitive handicap. Our imaging cognitive test protocol can be useful for investigating the effects of treatment trials in these patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  1. [Temporary disability in operated spine patients. Preliminary report].

    PubMed

    Rodríguez-Cabrera, Rafael; Ruiz-García, Diana; Velázquez-Ramírez, Ismael

    2013-01-01

    The spinal injuries in workers have become a large scale health problem. The purpose of this study is to review the differences in the spine pathologies from incapacity to work, as well as factors that could alter the recovery time and the possibility of returning the patient to work. Statistical preliminary review study in 37 patients enrolled in the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, workers, undertaken to spinal pathology surgery, comparing days of incapacity with proposed internationally, as well as his return to work. The results show that 37% of the patients studied are still active in the social security, 2 years after surgery. The days of disability generated by the pathology in this study group (212.3 days) are significantly higher than what is set on the Medical Disability Advisor (56 days, almost 4 times more). The study shows the need to develop the same analysis in other hospitals, comparing the proportion of cases that return to the work and total disability times for diagnostics.

  2. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act dependent coverage expansion: Disparities in impact among young adult oncology patients.

    PubMed

    Alvarez, Elysia M; Keegan, Theresa H; Johnston, Emily E; Haile, Robert; Sanders, Lee; Wise, Paul H; Saynina, Olga; Chamberlain, Lisa J

    2018-01-01

    Private health insurance is associated with improved outcomes in patients with cancer. However, to the authors' knowledge, little is known regarding the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Expansion (ACA-DCE), which extended private insurance to young adults (to age 26 years) beginning in 2010, on the insurance status of young adults with cancer. The current study was a retrospective, population-based analysis of hospitalized young adult oncology patients (aged 22-30 years) in California during 2006 through 2014 (11,062 patients). Multivariable regression analyses examined factors associated with having private insurance. Results were presented as adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. A difference-in-difference analysis examined the influence of the ACA-DCE on insurance coverage by race/ethnicity and federal poverty level. Multivariable regression demonstrated that patients of black and Hispanic race/ethnicity were less likely to have private insurance before and after the ACA-DCE, compared with white patients. Younger age (22-25 years) was associated with having private insurance after implementation of the ACA-DCE (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.35). In the difference-in-difference analysis, private insurance increased among white patients aged 22 to 25 years who were living in medium-income (2006-2009: 64.6% vs 2011-2014: 69.1%; P = .003) and high-income (80.4% vs 82%; P = .043) zip codes and among Asians aged 22 to 25 years living in high-income zip codes (73.2 vs 85.7%; P = .022). Private insurance decreased for all Hispanic patients aged 22 to 25 years between the 2 time periods. The ACA-DCE provision increased insurance coverage, but not among all patients. Private insurance increased for white and Asian patients in higher income neighborhoods, potentially widening social disparities in private insurance coverage among young adults with cancer. Cancer 2018;124:110-7. © 2017 American

  3. Fertility preservation in young patients with cancer

    PubMed Central

    Suhag, Virender; Sunita, B. S.; Sarin, Arti; Singh, A. K.; Dashottar, S.

    2015-01-01

    Infertility can arise as a consequence of treatment of oncological conditions. The parallel and continued improvement in both the management of oncology and fertility cases in recent times has brought to the forefront the potential for fertility preservation in patients being treated for cancer. Many survivors will maintain their reproductive potential after the successful completion of treatment for cancer. However total body irradiation, radiation to the gonads, and certain high dose chemotherapy regimens can place women at risk for acute ovarian failure or premature menopause and men at risk for temporary or permanent azoospermia. Providing information about risk of infertility and possible interventions to maintain reproductive potential are critical for the adolescent and young adult population at the time of diagnosis. There are established means of preserving fertility before cancer treatment; specifically, sperm cryopreservation for men and in vitro fertilization and embryo cryopreservation for women. Several innovative techniques are being actively investigated, including oocyte and ovarian follicle cryopreservation, ovarian tissue transplantation, and in vitro follicle maturation, which may expand the number of fertility preservation choices for young cancer patients. Fertility preservation may also require some modification of cancer therapy; thus, patients’ wishes regarding future fertility and available fertility preservation alternatives should be discussed before initiation of therapy. PMID:26942145

  4. [Post-traumatic arthritis in the young patient : Treatment options before the endoprosthesis].

    PubMed

    Burkhart, K J; Hollinger, B

    2016-10-01

    In the young patient, treatment of post-traumatic elbow arthritis remains difficult. Total elbow arthroplasty must be delayed for as long as possible. Therapy starts with nonoperative treatment. If this fails, operative options can be discussed. The aim of surgery is to provide a functional range of motion with acceptable pain without obstructing future treatment options. Patients with pain at terminal extension and/or flexion may benefit from arthroscopic or open debridement. Patients with advanced osteoarthritis and pain throughout the complete range of motion, who are too young for total elbow arthroplasty, are offered interposition arthroplasty or arthrodesis. Arthrodesis of the elbow leads to significant restrictions in daily life due to the complete loss of extension/flexion. Therefore, arthrodesis is only offered as treatment in exceptional circumstances. Interposition arthroplasty is a reasonable option for the young patient without significant bony defects, which may provide a stable, functional flexion arc with an acceptable pain level. Interposition arthroplasty preserves the revision options of re-interposition arthroplasty as well as the withdrawal to total elbow arthroplasty. Partial and total elbow arthroplasty are treatment options of elbow arthritis but are not subjects of this article.

  5. Inter-arm blood pressure differences in young, healthy patients.

    PubMed

    Grossman, Alon; Prokupetz, Alex; Gordon, Barak; Morag-Koren, Nira; Grossman, Ehud

    2013-08-01

    The prevalence and magnitude of inter-arm BP difference (IAD) in young healthy patients is not well characterized. Flight academy applicants and designated aviators undergo annual evaluation that includes blood pressure (BP) measurement on both arms. All BP measurements performed from January 1, 2012, to April 30, 2012, were recorded and IAD was calculated. Results were compared between patients in whom BP was initially measured in the right arm (group 1), those in whom BP was initially measured in the left arm (group 2), and those in whom the arm in which BP was initially measured was not recorded (group 3). A total of 877 healthy patients had BP measured during the study period. In the entire group, mean systolic BP was the same in both arms. Absolute IAD was 5.6±5.5 mm Hg for systolic and 4.7±4.5 mm Hg for diastolic BP. IAD >10 mm Hg was recorded in 111 (12.6%) and 77 (8.8%) patients for systolic and diastolic BP, respectively. IAD was the same in the 3 groups and was unrelated to age, body mass index, and heart rate, but was related to systolic BP. IAD is common in young healthy patients, is not dependent on which arm was measured first, and unrelated to age, body mass index, and heart rate. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  6. Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the 'HEYMAN' healthy lifestyle program for young men: a pilot randomised controlled trial.

    PubMed

    Ashton, Lee M; Morgan, Philip J; Hutchesson, Melinda J; Rollo, Megan E; Collins, Clare E

    2017-01-13

    In young men, unhealthy lifestyle behaviours can be detrimental to their physical and/or mental health and set them on a negative health trajectory into adulthood. Despite this, there is a lack of evidence to guide development of effective health behaviour change interventions for young men. This study assessed the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the 'HEYMAN' (Harnessing Ehealth to enhance Young men's Mental health, Activity and Nutrition) healthy lifestyle program for young men. A pilot RCT with 50 young men aged 18-25 years randomised to the HEYMAN intervention (n = 26) or waitlist control (n = 24). HEYMAN was a 3-month intervention, targeted for young men to improve eating habits, activity levels and well-being. Intervention development was informed by a participatory research model (PRECEDE-PROCEED). Intervention components included eHealth support (website, wearable device, Facebook support group), face-to-face sessions (group and individual), a personalised food and nutrient report, home-based resistance training equipment and a portion control tool. Outcomes included: feasibility of research procedures (recruitment, randomisation, data collection and retention) and of intervention components. Generalized linear mixed models estimated the treatment effect at 3-months for the primary outcomes: pedometer steps/day, diet quality, well-being and several secondary outcomes. A 7-week recruitment period was required to enrol 50 young men. A retention rate of 94% was achieved at 3-months post-intervention. Retained intervention participants (n = 24) demonstrated reasonable usage levels for most program components and also reported reasonable levels of program component acceptability for attractiveness, comprehension, usability, support, satisfaction and ability to persuade, with scores ranging from 3.0 to 4.6 (maximum 5). No significant intervention effects were observed for the primary outcomes of steps/day (1012.7, 95% CI = -506.2, 2531

  7. Meniscal injuries in the young, athletically active patient.

    PubMed

    Poulsen, Matthew R; Johnson, Darren L

    2011-02-01

    Meniscal injuries are common in young physically active individuals, particularly those who are involved in contact level 1 sports that involve frequent pivoting, such as soccer and American football. This is a unique population because of their high physical activity at a young age, and it is important that correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment are provided, as the medial and lateral menisci are essential for normal knee function. In this article, we review the anatomy and function of the meniscus, the epidemiology of meniscal tears, and mechanism(s) of injury. Important concomitant injuries are also discussed. When making a diagnosis, relevant patient history, physical examination, and appropriate imaging studies are required. Nonoperative treatment is rarely successful for treating meniscal tears in young athletes, and therefore repair of the torn menisci is often required. We also discuss partial resection (which should only be performed when repair is not possible), as well as rehabilitation protocols after repair has been performed. All of these factors associated with meniscal injuries are important for a physician when diagnosing and treating these often complex injuries.

  8. Development and preliminary validation of the young adult alcohol consequences questionnaire.

    PubMed

    Read, Jennifer P; Kahler, Christopher W; Strong, David R; Colder, Craig R

    2006-01-01

    A substantial proportion of U.S. college students drink alcoholic beverages and report significant deleterious effects. The present study describes the development and initial validation of a measure designed to capture a broad range of alcohol-related consequences experienced by male and female college students. College students (N=340, 176 women) completed a self-report questionnaire battery consisting of information about demographic characteristics, drinking behaviors, and drinking consequences. Drinking consequences were assessed with a composite measure based on the Drinker Inventory of Consequences, the Young Adult Alcohol Problem Screening Test (YAAPST) and items developed by the researchers. To assess concurrent validity, a subset of the total sample (n=126) also completed the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI). Confirmatory factor analyses supported an eight-factor solution (Social-Interpersonal Consequences, Impaired Control, Self-Perception, Self-Care, Risk Behaviors, Academic/Occupational Consequences, Physical Dependence, and Blackout Drinking), with all factors loading on a single, higher-order factor. YAACQ total scores correlated with alcohol quantity and frequency, and the RAPI. Gender comparisons suggest that the YAACQ assesses constructs of interest equally well for women and men. These results offer preliminary support for this measure. Research and clinical applications include the potential to predict future problems by specific type of consequence and to offer detailed feedback about drinking consequences to students as part of a preventive intervention. As such, the YAACQ may serve as an aid in both the description of and intervention for heavy drinking in college.

  9. Risk factor assessment of young patients with acute myocardial infarction

    PubMed Central

    Jamil, Gohar; Jamil, Mujgan; AlKhazraji, Hind; Haque, Amber; Chedid, Fares; Balasubramanian, Manjula; Khairallah, Bahaa; Qureshi, Anwer

    2013-01-01

    The Middle East represents an attractive area for young individuals to seek employment, where they are exposed to numerous environmental conditions. The pursuit of a better standard of living has driven hundreds to the Middle East over the recent decades. This influx has also resulted in a predisposition to premature coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the risk factors in patients younger than 45 years, presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Out of the 148 patients analyzed, 137 were males and 11 females. 119 were from South Asia and 29 were Arabs. Their mean age was 36 ± 4.2 years. Smoking was the most prevalent risk factor in both groups at 67.6%. This was followed by hypertension, family history of CAD, hyperlipidemia and Diabetes mellitus. There was no significant difference in the clinical risk factor profile between these two groups. ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was noted in 67.6%, while 32.4% patients suffered a Non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). 84.5% received coronary stents, 8.8% had lone thrombus aspiration or balloon angioplasty only, while the rest were treated by conservative medical management or referred for coronary artery bypass surgery. Conclusion: There is no significant difference in the CAD risk profile between young South Asian and Arab patients. Preventive strategies focused on risk factor reduction, especially smoking cessation, should be implemented to protect young adults in the most productive years of their life. PMID:23991352

  10. Translating Personality Psychology to Help Personalize Preventive Medicine for Young-Adult Patients

    PubMed Central

    Israel, Salomon; Moffitt, Terrie E.; Belsky, Daniel W.; Hancox, Robert J.; Poulton, Richie; Roberts, Brent; Thomson, W. Murray; Caspi, Avshalom

    2014-01-01

    The rising number of newly insured young adults brought on by healthcare reform will soon increase demands on primary-care physicians. Physicians will face more young-adult patients which presents an opportunity for more prevention-oriented care. In the current study, we evaluated whether brief observer reports of young adults’ personality traits could predict which individuals would be at greater risk for poor health as they entered midlife. Following the Dunedin Study cohort of 1,000 individuals, we show that very brief measures of young adults’ personalities predicted their midlife physical health across multiple domains (metabolic abnormalities, cardiorespiratory fitness, pulmonary function, periodontal disease, and systemic inflammation). Individuals scoring low on the traits of Conscientiousness and Openness-to-Experience went on to develop poorer health even after accounting for preexisting differences in education, socioeconomic status, smoking, obesity, self-reported health, medical conditions, and family medical history. Moreover, personality ratings from peer informants who knew participants well, and from a nurse and receptionist who had just met participants for the first time, predicted health decline from young adulthood to midlife despite striking differences in level of acquaintance. Personality effect sizes were on par with other well-established health-risk factors such as socioeconomic status, smoking, and self-reported health. We discuss the potential utility of personality measurement to function as an inexpensive and accessible tool for healthcare professionals to personalize preventive medicine. Adding personality information to existing healthcare electronic infrastructures could also advance personality theory by generating opportunities to examine how personality processes influence doctor-patient communication, health service use, and patient outcomes. PMID:24588093

  11. Young Voters in the 2006 Elections. Fact Sheet

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Kirby, Emily Hoban; Marcelo, Karlo Barrios

    2006-01-01

    On November 8th, CIRCLE released preliminary estimates showing that youth voter turnout rose to approximately 24% of eligible young voters between the ages of 18 and 29. This fact sheet presents information about young voters' political preferences, the issues that concerned them, and updated turnout estimates. Most of the information presented in…

  12. Incidence and Location of Pain in Young, Active Patients Following Hip Arthroplasty.

    PubMed

    Nam, Denis; Nunley, Ryan M; Sauber, Timothy J; Johnson, Staci R; Brooks, Peter J; Barrack, Robert L

    2015-11-01

    Persistent pain following hip arthroplasty remains a concern, especially in young, active patients. Four hundred twenty patients less than 60 years of age with a pre-symptomatic UCLA score ≥ 6 (196 total hip arthroplasty [THA]; 224 surface replacement arthroplasty [SRA]) completed a pain-drawing questionnaire investigating the location, severity, and frequency of pain around the hip. At a mean of 2.9 years of follow-up, 40% reported pain in at least one location around the hip. There was no difference in the incidence of groin pain between SRA and THA patients (32% vs. 29%, P=0.6), but THA patients had a greater incidence of anterior (25% vs. 8%, P<0.001) and lateral (20% vs. 10%, P=0.01) thigh pain. A high percentage of young, active patients experience persistent pain following hip arthroplasty. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Prevalence of Fabry Disease in Young Patients with Stroke in Argentina.

    PubMed

    Reisin, Ricardo C; Mazziotti, Julieta; Cejas, Luciana León; Zinnerman, Alberto; Bonardo, Pablo; Pardal, Manuel Fernández; Martínez, Alejandra; Riccio, Patricia; Ameriso, Sebastián; Bendersky, Eduardo; Nofal, Pedro; Cairola, Patricia; Jure, Lorena; Sotelo, Andrea; Rozenfeld, Paula; Ceci, Romina; Casas-Parera, Ignacio; Sánchez-Luceros, Analía

    2018-03-01

    Fabry disease (FD) is an underdiagnosed cause of stroke in young adults, but the frequency of this association is largely unknown. We estimated the prevalence of FD in a nationwide cohort of young adults who had stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in Argentina. This was a prospective, multicenter study of stroke and FD in young adults (18-55 years) conducted in Argentina between 2011 and 2015. Patients were enrolled if they had had a TIA or an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke within the previous 180 days. FD was diagnosed by measuring α-galactosidase A activity (males) and through genetic studies (females). We enrolled 311 patients (54% men, mean age: 41 years). Ischemic events occurred in 89% of patients (80% infarcts, 9% TIA) and hemorrhagic strokes in 11%. One female (.3% of the total group, 1% of the cryptogenic ischemic strokes) had the pathogenic mutation c.888G>A/p.Met296Ile /Exon 6 on the GAL gene. Her only other manifestation of FD was angiokeratoma. Eighteen females had nonpathogenic intronic variations: c.-10C>T, c.-12G>A, or both. Two patients had the nonpathogenic mutation D313Y, while a third had the likely benign mutation S126G. FD was identified in 1 patient (.3%) in this first Latin American study. The patient presented with a late-onset oligo-symptomatic form of the disease. A large number of nonpathogenic mutations were present in our cohort, and it is essential that they not be mistaken for pathogenic mutations to avoid unnecessary enzyme replacement treatment. Copyright © 2018 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of rocuronium in young adult and elderly patients undergoing elective surgery.

    PubMed

    Varrique, Renan M; Lauretti, Gabriela R; Matsumoto, Julia A; Lanchote, Vera L; de Moraes, Natalia V

    2016-11-01

    To evaluate the impact of advanced age on rocuronium kinetic disposition in ASA I-III patients undergoing elective surgeries. Young adult (20-50 years, n = 15) and elderly patients (65-85 years, n = 14) submitted to surgery under general anaesthesia were investigated. All patients were induced with individual intravenous doses of midazolam, rocuronium, fentanyl and propofol. Rocuronium-induced neuromuscular block was monitored by train of four stimulations of the adductor muscle of the thumb on the ulnar nerve. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by non-compartmental analysis. The relationship between rocuronium plasma concentration and the neuromuscular blockade was described by a sigmoidal Emax model. Elderly patients presented decreased Cl (2.1 ml/kg per min vs 2.8 ml/kg per min; P = 0.0123); increased AUC/dose (507.8 μg min/ml (mg/kg) vs 392.2 μg min/ml/(mg/kg); P = 0.0168) and reduced volume of distribution (285.4 ml/kg vs 435.6 ml/kg, P = 0.0434) compared to young adults. The concentrations required to achieve 50% of maximum neuromuscular block (EC50) were similar for young adult (338.8 ng/ml) and elderly (462.7 ng/ml) patients (P > 0.05). Elderly patients showed increased AUC/D and reduced total Cl compared to young adult patients due to the age-related reduced renal function. Differences in the PK-PD properties of rocuronium in elderly population are due to changes in drug disposition rather than to alterations in the sensitivity to the drug. © 2016 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

  15. Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) Study Design

    PubMed Central

    Lichtman, Judith H.; Lorenze, Nancy P.; D’Onofrio, Gail; Spertus, John A.; Lindau, Stacy T.; Morgan, Thomas M.; Herrin, Jeph; Bueno, Héctor; Mattera, Jennifer A.; Ridker, Paul M.; Krumholz, Harlan M.

    2011-01-01

    Background Among individuals with ischemic heart disease, young women with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represent an extreme phenotype associated with an excess mortality risk. While women younger than 55 years of age account for less than 5% of hospitalized AMI events, almost 16,000 deaths are reported annually in this group, making heart disease a leading killer of young women. Despite a higher risk of mortality compared with similarly aged men, young women have been the subject of few studies. Methods Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) is a large, observational study of the presentation, treatment and outcomes of young women and men with AMI. VIRGO will enroll 2,000 women, 18–55 years of age, with AMI and a comparison cohort of 1,000 men with AMI from more than 100 participating hospitals. The aims of the study are: to determine sex differences in the distribution and prognostic importance of biological, demographic, clinical, and psychosocial risk factors; determine whether there are sex differences in the quality of care received by young AMI patients; and determine how these factors contribute to sex differences in outcomes (including mortality, hospitalization and health status). Blood serum and DNA for consenting participants will be stored for future studies. Conclusions VIRGO will seek to identify novel and prognostic factors that contribute to outcomes in this young AMI population. Results from the study will be used to develop clinically useful risk-stratification models for young AMI patients, explain sex differences in outcomes and identify targets for intervention. PMID:21081748

  16. Reactive but not predictive locomotor adaptability is impaired in young Parkinson's disease patients.

    PubMed

    Moreno Catalá, María; Woitalla, Dirk; Arampatzis, Adamantios

    2016-07-01

    Gait and balance disorders are common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and major contributors to increased falling risk. Predictive and reactive adjustments can improve recovery performance after gait perturbations. However, these mechanisms have not been investigated in young-onset PD. We aimed to investigate the effect of gait perturbations on dynamic stability control as well as predictive and reactive adaptability to repeated gait perturbations in young PD patients. Fifteen healthy controls and twenty-five young patients (48±5yrs.) walked on a walkway. By means of a covered exchangeable element, the floor surface condition was altered to induce gait perturbations. The experimental protocol included a baseline on a hard surface, an unexpected trial on a soft surface and an adaptation phase with 5 soft trials to quantify the reactive adaptation. After the first and sixth soft trials, the surface was changed to hard, to examine after-effects and, thus, predictive motor control. Dynamic stability was assessed using the 'extrapolated center of mass' concept. Patients' unperturbed walking was less stable than controls' and this persisted in the perturbed trials. Both groups demonstrated after-effects directly after the first perturbation, showing similar predictive responses. However, PD patients did not improve their reactive behavior after repeated perturbations while controls showed clear locomotor adaptation. Our data suggest that more unstable gait patterns and a less effective reactive adaptation to perturbed walking may be a disease-related characteristic in young PD patients. These deficits were related to reduced ability to increase the base of support. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  17. Energy drink and other substance use among adolescent and young adult emergency department patients.

    PubMed

    Cotter, Bradford V; Jackson, Deidrya A E; Merchant, Roland C; Babu, Kavita M; Baird, Janette R; Nirenberg, Ted; Linakis, James G

    2013-10-01

    This study aimed to understand current patterns of energy drink use and compare the extent of usage of energy drinks and other commonly used and misused substances between adolescent (13-17-years-old) and young adult (18-25-years-old) emergency department (ED) patients. During a 6-week period between June and August 2010, all patients presenting to an adult or pediatric ED were asked to complete a computer-based, anonymous questionnaire regarding use of energy drinks and other substances. Wilcoxon rank-sum, 2-sample tests of binomial proportions, Pearson χ(2) testing, and regression models were used to compare energy drink and substance use by age groups. Past 30-day energy drink use was greater for young adults (57.9%) than adolescents (34.9%) (P < 0.03). Adolescents typically consumed a mean of 1.5 and young adults a mean of 2.6 energy drinks per day when using energy drinks and drank at most a mean of 2.4 and 2.6 drinks per day, respectively. Among adolescents, energy drink usage was more common than alcohol, "street" or illicit drugs, and tobacco usage, but less common than caffeine product usage. For young adults, energy drink usage was more common than "street" or illicit drugs, but less common than caffeine use, and similar to tobacco and alcohol usage. Young adult energy drink users were more likely than young adult non-energy drink users also to use tobacco and caffeine. Energy drink use is common among ED patients. Given the high prevalence of energy drink use observed, emergency physicians should consider the involvement of energy drinks in the presentations of young people.

  18. So Others May Benefit: Young Cancer Patients and Survivors Take Part in Oncofertility Research

    Cancer.gov

    Finding young people willing to take part in clinical trials can be difficult. Researchers are using new and traditional ways to connect with and enroll young patients in clinical studies to assess and offset infertility caused by cancer and its treatment.

  19. Increased Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Young Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients

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

    Lee, Ching-Chih; Department of Otolaryngology, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan; Tumor Center, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan

    Purpose: Radiation/chemoradiotherapy-induced carotid stenosis and cerebrovascular events in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) can cause severe disability and even death. This study aimed to estimate the risk of ischemic stroke in this patient population over more than 10 years of follow-up. Methods and Materials: The study cohorts consisted of all patients hospitalized with a principal diagnosis of NPC (n = 1094), whereas patients hospitalized for an appendectomy during 1997 and 1998 (n = 4376) acted as the control group and surrogate for the general population. Cox proportional hazard model was performed as a means of comparing the stroke-free survival ratemore » between the two cohorts after adjusting for possible confounding and risk factors. Results: Of the 292 patients with ischemic strokes, 62 (5.7%) were from the NPC cohort and 230 (5.3%) were from the control group. NPC patients ages 35-54 had a 1.66 times (95% CI, 1.16-2.86; p = 0.009) higher risk of ischemic stroke after adjusting for patient characteristics, comorbidities, geographic region, urbanization level of residence, and socioeconomic status. There was no statistical difference in ischemic stroke risk between the NPC patients and appendectomy patients ages 55-64 years (hazard ratio = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.56-1.33; p = 0.524) after adjusting for other factors. Conclusions: Young NPC patients carry a higher risk for ischemic stroke than the general population. Besides regular examinations of carotid duplex, different irradiation strategies or using new technique of radiotherapy, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy, should be considered in young NPC patients.« less

  20. Patient-oncologist alliance as protection against suicidal ideation in young adults with advanced cancer.

    PubMed

    Trevino, Kelly M; Abbott, Caroline H; Fisch, Michael J; Friedlander, Robert J; Duberstein, Paul R; Prigerson, Holly G

    2014-08-01

    Young adults with cancer are at an increased risk of suicidal ideation. To the authors' knowledge, the impact of the patient-oncologist alliance on suicidal ideation has not been examined to date. The current study examined the relationship between the patient-oncologist therapeutic alliance and suicidal ideation in young adults with advanced cancer. A total of 93 young adult patients (aged 20 years-40 years) with incurable, recurrent, or metastatic cancer were evaluated by trained interviewers. Suicidal ideation was assessed with the Yale Evaluation of Suicidality scale, dichotomized into a positive and negative score. Predictors included diagnoses of major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, physical quality of life, social support, and use of mental health and supportive care services. The Human Connection Scale, dichotomized into a strong (upper third) and weak (lower two-thirds) therapeutic alliance, assessed the strength of the patients' perceived oncologist alliance. Approximately 22.6% of patients screened positive for suicidal ideation. Patients with a strong therapeutic alliance were found to be at reduced risk of suicidal ideation after controlling for confounding influences of cancer diagnosis, Karnofsky performance status, number of physical symptoms, physical quality of life, major depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and social support. A strong therapeutic alliance was also associated with a reduced risk of suicidal ideation after controlling for mental health discussions with health care providers and use of mental health interventions. The patient-oncologist alliance was found to be a robust predictor of suicidal ideation and provided better protection against suicidal ideation than mental health interventions, including psychotropic medications. Oncologists may significantly influence patients' mental health and may benefit from training and guidance in building strong alliances with their young adult patients.

  1. Patient-Oncologist Alliance, Psychosocial Well-Being, and Treatment Adherence Among Young Adults With Advanced Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Trevino, Kelly M.; Fasciano, Karen; Prigerson, Holly G.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose Patients who develop a strong alliance with their health care providers have been shown to have higher levels of psychosocial well-being and rates of treatment adherence. Young adults with cancer have lower levels of psychosocial well-being and treatment adherence relative to patients with cancer in other age groups. This study sought to evaluate the relationships between the patient-oncologist alliance, psychosocial well-being, and treatment adherence in young adults with advanced cancer. Patients and Methods Ninety-five young adults (age 20 to 40 years) with advanced cancer were administered measures of alliance, psychosocial well-being, willingness to adhere to treatment, and treatment adherence. Relationships between alliance and psychosocial well-being were examined bivariately. Multiple linear regression models examined the relationship between alliance and adherence, controlling for confounding influences (eg, psychosocial well-being). Results Alliance was significantly (P ≤ .01) and positively associated with greater perceived social support and less severe illness-related grief. After controlling for significant confounding influences (ie, metastases, appraised support, and grief), alliance remained significantly (P ≤ .01) associated with greater willingness to adhere to treatment and greater adherence to oral medication. Conclusion By developing a strong alliance, oncologists may enhance psychosocial well-being and increase treatment adherence in young adult patients with advanced cancer. PMID:23530105

  2. Multi-gene fluorescence in situ hybridization to detect cell cycle gene copy number aberrations in young breast cancer patients

    PubMed Central

    Li, Chunyan; Bai, Jingchao; Hao, Xiaomeng; Zhang, Sheng; Hu, Yunhui; Zhang, Xiaobei; Yuan, Weiping; Hu, Linping; Cheng, Tao; Zetterberg, Anders; Lee, Mong-Hong; Zhang, J

    2014-01-01

    Breast cancer is a disease of cell cycle, and the dysfunction of cell cycle checkpoints plays a vital role in the occurrence and development of breast cancer. We employed multi-gene fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) to investigate gene copy number aberrations (CNAs) of 4 genes (Rb1, CHEK2, c-Myc, CCND1) that are involved in the regulation of cell cycle, in order to analyze the impact of gene aberrations on prognosis in the young breast cancer patients. Gene copy number aberrations of these 4 genes were more frequently observed in young breast cancer patients when compared with the older group. Further, these CNAs were more frequently seen in Luminal B type, Her2 overexpression, and tiple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) type in young breast cancer patients. The variations of CCND1, Rb1, and CHEK2 were significantly correlated with poor survival in the young breast cancer patient group, while the amplification of c-Myc was not obviously correlated with poor survival in young breast cancer patients. Thus, gene copy number aberrations (CNAs) of cell cycle-regulated genes can serve as an important tool for prognosis in young breast cancer patients. PMID:24621502

  3. Dealing with suicidal patients – a challenging task: a qualitative study of young physicians' experiences

    PubMed Central

    Høifødt, Tordis Sørensen; Talseth, Anne-Grethe

    2006-01-01

    Background Suicide is a major public health problem and treating suicidal patients represents one of the most challenging and complex clinical situations for young physicians. Education of physicians is considered an important strategy in suicide prevention. Young physicians often meet suicidal patients early in their career. Limited information is available about how newly educated physicians experience treating suicidal patients. The aim of the study was to shed light on the meaning of newly educated physicians' lived experiences in treating patients at risk of committing suicide. Methods Thirteen newly educated physicians narrated their experiences with suicidal patients. The interview text was transcribed and interpreted using a phenomenological-hermeneutical method inspired by Ricoeur's philosophy. Results Three main themes and ten themes were noted: Striving for relatedness: relating with the patient; not being able to relate with the patient; Intervening competently: having adequate professional knowledge; performing professionally; having professional values; evaluating one's own competence; and Being emotionally involved: accepting one's own vulnerability; feeling morally indignant; feeling powerless and accepting one's own fallibility. The recently educated physicians clearly described the variety of emotional and ethical dilemmas that arose in meeting suicidal patients and the professional challenge facing this clinical situation. The findings were interpreted in the perspective of communication, clinical decision-making and attention to the professional's emotional reactions. Conclusion An examination of the experiences of young physicians treating suicidal patients reveals three main themes that were a professional challenge for them: Striving for relatedness, Intervening competently and Being emotionally involved. Support for young practitioners that are treating these patients is likely important both to facilitate learning and also for their own

  4. Hip resurfacing in patients under thirty years old: an attractive option for young and active patients.

    PubMed

    Krantz, Nicolas; Miletic, Bruno; Migaud, Henri; Girard, Julien

    2012-09-01

    Metal-on-metal hip resurfacing is offered as an alternative to traditional hip arthroplasty for young, active adults with advanced osteoarthritis. The concept of hip resurfacing is considered very attractive for this specific population (hard-on-hard bearing component with a large femoral head limiting the risk of dislocation, and allowing femoral bone stock preservation). A prospective clinical trial was designed to investigate the outcome of hip resurfacing in young patients (under 30 years old). We studied 24 hips in 22 patients. Mean age at operation was 24.9 years (range 17.1-29.9). No patient was lost to follow-up. There was no revision at average follow-up of 50.6 months (44-59). Mean UCLA activity score improved from 5.5 (1-9) pre-operatively to 7.6 (1-10) postoperatively (p < 0.001). Mean Harris hip score increased from 43.9 (19-67) to 89.3 (55-100) (p < 0.001). Radiological analysis discerned no osteolysis and no implant migration. The absence of short-term complications, such as mechanical failure or dislocation, is encouraging and leads us to think that mid-term results will be satisfactory. Moreover, the specific advantages of hip resurfacing (bone stock preservation, excellent stability, low risk of dislocation, large-diameter head) make the procedure a very attractive option for young subjects.

  5. Astrometric confirmation and preliminary orbital parameters of the young exoplanet 51 Eridani b with the Gemini Planet Imager

    DOE PAGES

    De Rosa, Robert J.; Nielsen, Eric L.; Blunt, Sarah C.; ...

    2015-11-13

    We present new Gemini Planet Imager observations of the young exoplanet 51 Eridani b that provide further evidence that the companion is physically associated with 51 Eridani. Combining this new astrometric measurement with those reported in the literature, we significantly reduce the posterior probability that 51 Eridani b is an unbound foreground or background T-dwarf in a chance alignment with 51 Eridani to 2 × 10 –7, an order of magnitude lower than previously reported. If 51 Eridani b is indeed a bound object, then we have detected orbital motion of the planet between the discovery epoch and the latest epoch. By implementing a computationally efficient Monte Carlo technique, preliminary constraints are placed on the orbital parameters of the system. The current set of astrometric measurements suggest an orbital semimajor axis ofmore » $${14}_{-3}^{+7}$$ AU, corresponding to a period of $${41}_{-12}^{+35}$$ years (assuming a mass of 1.75 M⊙ for the central star), and an inclination of $${138}_{-13}^{+15}$$ deg. The remaining orbital elements are only marginally constrained by the current measurements. As a result, these preliminary values suggest an orbit that does not share the same inclination as the orbit of the distant M-dwarf binary, GJ 3305, which is a wide physically bound companion to 51 Eridani.« less

  6. Astrometric confirmation and preliminary orbital parameters of the young exoplanet 51 Eridani b with the Gemini Planet Imager

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

    De Rosa, Robert J.; Nielsen, Eric L.; Blunt, Sarah C.

    We present new Gemini Planet Imager observations of the young exoplanet 51 Eridani b that provide further evidence that the companion is physically associated with 51 Eridani. Combining this new astrometric measurement with those reported in the literature, we significantly reduce the posterior probability that 51 Eridani b is an unbound foreground or background T-dwarf in a chance alignment with 51 Eridani to 2 × 10 –7, an order of magnitude lower than previously reported. If 51 Eridani b is indeed a bound object, then we have detected orbital motion of the planet between the discovery epoch and the latest epoch. By implementing a computationally efficient Monte Carlo technique, preliminary constraints are placed on the orbital parameters of the system. The current set of astrometric measurements suggest an orbital semimajor axis ofmore » $${14}_{-3}^{+7}$$ AU, corresponding to a period of $${41}_{-12}^{+35}$$ years (assuming a mass of 1.75 M⊙ for the central star), and an inclination of $${138}_{-13}^{+15}$$ deg. The remaining orbital elements are only marginally constrained by the current measurements. As a result, these preliminary values suggest an orbit that does not share the same inclination as the orbit of the distant M-dwarf binary, GJ 3305, which is a wide physically bound companion to 51 Eridani.« less

  7. MRI in acute cerebral ischemia of the young: the Stroke in Young Fabry Patients (sifap1) Study.

    PubMed

    Fazekas, Franz; Enzinger, Christian; Schmidt, Reinhold; Dichgans, Martin; Gaertner, Beate; Jungehulsing, Gerhard J; Hennerici, Michael G; Heuschmann, Peter; Holzhausen, Martin; Kaps, Manfred; Kessler, Christof; Martus, Peter; Putaala, Jukka; Ropele, Stefan; Tanislav, Christian; Tatlisumak, Turgut; Norrving, Bo; Rolfs, Arndt

    2013-11-26

    We focused on cerebral imaging findings in a large cohort of young patients with a symptomatic ischemic cerebrovascular event (CVE) to extract relevant pathophysiologic and clinical information. We analyzed the scans of 2,979 patients (aged 18-55 years) enrolled in the sifap1 project with clinical evidence of ischemic stroke (IS) or clinically defined TIA in whom MRI, including diffusion-weighted imaging, was obtained within 10 days of the CVE. Age groups were categorized as 18-34, 35-44, and 45-55 years. We compared age- and sex-specific proportions of infarct features, white matter hyperintensities, and old microbleeds. Acute infarcts were identified in 1,914 of 2,264 patients (84.5%) with IS and 101 of 715 patients (14.1%) with TIA. Among patients with IS, younger age was significantly associated with acute infarcts in the posterior circulation, while anterior circulation infarcts and acute lacunar infarcts were more frequent in older age groups. One or more old infarcts were present in 26.8% of IS and 17.1% of TIA patients. This rate remained high even after excluding patients with a prior CVE (IS, 21.7%; TIA, 9.9%). The prevailing type of old infarction was territorial in patients younger than 45 years and lacunar in those aged 45 years or older. The frequency of white matter hyperintensities (46.4%) and their severity was positively associated with age. Old microbleeds were infrequent (7.2%). Young adults show a high frequency of preexisting and clinically silent infarcts and a relative preference for acute ischemia in the posterior circulation. Findings suggesting small-vessel disease become apparent at age 45 years and older.

  8. Mucinous Histology Signifies Poor Oncologic Outcome in Young Patients With Colorectal Cancer.

    PubMed

    Soliman, Basem G; Karagkounis, Georgios; Church, James M; Plesec, Thomas; Kalady, Matthew F

    2018-05-01

    The incidence of colorectal cancer in the young (under age 40) is increasing, and this population has worse oncologic outcomes. Mucinous histology is a potential prognostic factor in colorectal cancer, but has not been evaluated specifically in young patients. The objective of the study was to determine factors associated with poor outcome in young patients with colorectal cancer (≤40 years) and to determine relationships between mucinous histology and oncologic outcomes in this population. This is a retrospective study. Patients from a single-institution tertiary care center were studied. A total of 224 patients with colorectal cancer under 40 years of age diagnosed between 1990 and 2010 were included (mean age, 34.7 years; 51.3% female). 34 patients (15.2%) had mucinous histology. There were no interventions. Oncologic outcomes were analyzed according to the presence of mucinous histology. The mucinous and nonmucin colorectal cancer study populations were statistically similar in age, sex, tumor location, pathological stage, differentiation, and adjuvant chemotherapy use. Five-year disease-free survival was 29.1% versus 71.3% (p < 0.0001) and 5-year overall survival was 54.7% versus 80.3% (p < 0.0001) for mucinous and nonmucinous patients, respectively. Mucinous colorectal cancers recurred earlier at a median time of 36.4 months versus 94.2 months for nonmucin colorectal cancers (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, pathological stage (stage II HR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.37-9.50; stage III HR, 5.27; 95% CI, 2.12-12.33), positive margins (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.12-3.23), angiolymphatic invasion (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.26-3.97), and mucinous histology (HR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.44-3.96) were independently associated with worse disease-free and overall survival. This is a retrospective study without genetic information. Mucinous histology is a negative prognostic factor in young patients with colorectal cancer. This is associated with early and high recurrence rates, despite use of

  9. Development and validation of the BRIGHTLIGHT Survey, a patient-reported experience measure for young people with cancer.

    PubMed

    Taylor, Rachel M; Fern, Lorna A; Solanki, Anita; Hooker, Louise; Carluccio, Anna; Pye, Julia; Jeans, David; Frere-Smith, Tom; Gibson, Faith; Barber, Julie; Raine, Rosalind; Stark, Dan; Feltbower, Richard; Pearce, Susie; Whelan, Jeremy S

    2015-07-28

    Patient experience is increasingly used as an indicator of high quality care in addition to more traditional clinical end-points. Surveys are generally accepted as appropriate methodology to capture patient experience. No validated patient experience surveys exist specifically for adolescents and young adults (AYA) aged 13-24 years at diagnosis with cancer. This paper describes early work undertaken to develop and validate a descriptive patient experience survey for AYA with cancer that encompasses both their cancer experience and age-related issues. We aimed to develop, with young people, an experience survey meaningful and relevant to AYA to be used in a longitudinal cohort study (BRIGHTLIGHT), ensuring high levels of acceptability to maximise study retention. A three-stage approach was employed: Stage 1 involved developing a conceptual framework, conducting literature/Internet searches and establishing content validity of the survey; Stage 2 confirmed the acceptability of methods of administration and consisted of four focus groups involving 11 young people (14-25 years), three parents and two siblings; and Stage 3 established survey comprehension through telephone-administered cognitive interviews with a convenience sample of 23 young people aged 14-24 years. Stage 1: Two-hundred and thirty eight questions were developed from qualitative reports of young people's cancer and treatment-related experience. Stage 2: The focus groups identified three core themes: (i) issues directly affecting young people, e.g. impact of treatment-related fatigue on ability to complete survey; (ii) issues relevant to the actual survey, e.g. ability to answer questions anonymously; (iii) administration issues, e.g. confusing format in some supporting documents. Stage 3: Cognitive interviews indicated high levels of comprehension requiring minor survey amendments. Collaborating with young people with cancer has enabled a survey of to be developed that is both meaningful to young

  10. A multimedia interactive education system for prostate cancer patients: development and preliminary evaluation.

    PubMed

    Diefenbach, Michael A; Butz, Brian P

    2004-01-21

    A cancer diagnosis is highly distressing. Yet, to make informed treatment choices patients have to learn complicated disease and treatment information that is often fraught with medical and statistical terminology. Thus, patients need accurate and easy-to-understand information. To introduce the development and preliminary evaluation through focus groups of a novel highly-interactive multimedia-education software program for patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer. The prostate interactive education system uses the metaphor of rooms in a virtual health center (ie, reception area, a library, physician offices, group meeting room) to organize information. Text information contained in the library is tailored to a person's information-seeking preference (ie, high versus low information seeker). We conducted a preliminary evaluation through 5 separate focus groups with prostate cancer survivors (N = 18) and their spouses (N = 15). Focus group results point to the timeliness and high acceptability of the software among the target audience. Results also underscore the importance of a guide or tutor who assists in navigating the program and who responds to queries to facilitate information retrieval. Focus groups have established the validity of our approach and point to new directions to further enhance the user interface.

  11. Longitudinal modelling of the exposure of young UK patients with PKU to acesulfame K and sucralose.

    PubMed

    O'Sullivan, Aaron J; Pigat, Sandrine; O'Mahony, Cian; Gibney, Michael J; McKevitt, Aideen I

    2017-11-01

    Artificial sweeteners are used in protein substitutes intended for the dietary management of inborn errors of metabolism (phenylketonuria, PKU) to improve the variety of medical foods available to patients and ensure dietary adherence to the prescribed course of dietary management. These patients can be exposed to artificial sweeteners from the combination of free and prescribed foods. Young children have a higher risk of exceeding acceptable daily intakes (ADI) for additives than adults, due to higher food intakes per kg body weight. Young patients with PKU aged 1-3 years can be exposed to higher levels of artificial sweeteners from these dual sources than normal healthy children and are at a higher risk of exceeding the ADI. Standard intake assessment methods are not adequate to assess the additive exposure of young patients with PKU. The aim of this study was to estimate the combination effect on the intake of artificial sweeteners and the impact of the introduction of new provisions for an artificial sweetener (sucralose, E955) on exposure of PKU patients using a validated probabilistic model. Food consumption data were derived from the food consumption survey data of healthy young children in the United Kingdom from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS, 1992-2012). Specially formulated protein substitutes as foods for special medical purposes (FSMPs) were included in the exposure model to replace restricted foods. Inclusion of these protein substitutes is based on recommendations to ensure adequate protein intake in these patients. Exposure assessment results indicated the availability of sucralose for use in FSMPs for PKU leads to changes in intakes in young patients. These data further support the viability of probabilistic modelling as a means to estimate food additive exposure in patients consuming medical nutrition products.

  12. Risk factor and etiology analysis of ischemic stroke in young adult patients.

    PubMed

    Renna, Rosaria; Pilato, Fabio; Profice, Paolo; Della Marca, Giacomo; Broccolini, Aldobrando; Morosetti, Roberta; Frisullo, Giovanni; Rossi, Elena; De Stefano, Valerio; Di Lazzaro, Vincenzo

    2014-03-01

    Approximately 10%-14% of ischemic strokes occur in young adults. To investigate risk factors and etiologies of strokes of young adults admitted to the "stroke unit" of Policlinico "Gemelli" of Rome from December 2005 to January 2013. In all, 150 consecutive patients younger than 50 years diagnosed with ischemic stroke were enrolled. Clinical evaluation consisted of a complete neurologic examination and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. Diagnostic workup consisted of anamnesis, extensive laboratory, radiologic, and cardiologic examination. Stroke etiologies were classified according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment. Patients' mean age was 41 ± 8.0 years. The most common risk factors were dyslipidemia (52.7%), smoking (47.3%), hypertension (39.3%), and patent foramen ovale (PFO, 32.8%). Large-artery atherosclerosis was diagnosed as the cause of stroke in 17 patients (11.3%). Cardioembolism was presumed in 36 patients (24%), most of them presented a PFO at transesophageal echocardiography. Small-vessel occlusion was diagnosed in 12 patients (8%); all of them were hypertensive and most of them presented additional risk factors. Forty-one patients (27.3%) presented a stroke of other determined etiology and 44 (29.3%) presented a stroke of undetermined etiology. The 3-year survival was 96.8% and recurrent strokes occurred in only 3 cases. Traditional vascular risk factors are also very common in young adults with ischemic stroke, but such factors increase the susceptibility to stroke dependent to other causes as atherosclerosis and small-artery occlusion represent less than 20% of cases. Prognosis quoadvitam is good, being characterized by low mortality and recurrence rate. Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Enhanced expression of PD-1 and other activation markers by CD4+ T cells of young but not old patients with metastatic melanoma.

    PubMed

    van den Brom, Rob R H; van der Geest, Kornelis S M; Brouwer, Elisabeth; Hospers, Geke A P; Boots, Annemieke M H

    2018-06-01

    The biological behavior of melanoma is unfavorable in the elderly when compared to young subjects. We hypothesized that differences in T-cell responses might underlie the distinct behavior of melanoma in young and old melanoma patients. Therefore, we investigated the circulating T-cell compartment of 34 patients with metastatic melanoma and 42 controls, which were classified as either young or old. Absolute numbers of CD4+ T cells were decreased in young and old melanoma patients when compared to the age-matched control groups. Percentages of naive and memory CD4+ T cells were not different when comparing old melanoma patients to age-matched controls. Percentages of memory CD4+ T cells tended to be increased in young melanoma patients compared to young controls. Proportions of naive CD4+ T cells were lower in young patients than in age-matched controls, and actually comparable to those in old patients and controls. This was accompanied with increased percentages of memory CD4+ T cells expressing HLA-DR, Ki-67, and PD-1 in young melanoma patients in comparison to the age-matched controls, but not in old patients. Proportions of CD45RA-FOXP3 high memory regulatory T cells were increased in young and old melanoma patients when compared to their age-matched controls, whereas those of CD45RA+FOXP3 low naive regulatory T cells were similar. We observed no clear modulation of the circulating CD8+ T-cell repertoire in melanoma patients. In conclusion, we show that CD4+ T cells of young melanoma patients show signs of activation, whereas these signs are less clear in CD4+ T cells of old patients.

  14. Focal adenomyosis (intramural endometriotic cyst) in a very young patient - differential diagnosis with uterine fibromatosis

    PubMed Central

    Manta, L; Suciu, N; Constantin, A; Toader, O; Popa, F

    2016-01-01

    Introduction. Adenomyosis is a widespread disease usually affecting the late reproductive years of the women’s life, which has a great impact on their fertility. The most common form is diffuse adenomyosis, while focal adenomyosis, a cystic variant, is very rare, particularly in patients younger than 30 years old. Materials and methods. We reported a rare case of a 20-year-old Caucasian woman with cystic adenomyosis who was admitted in our service with severe chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and menorrhagia, who had received conservative surgical treatment to preserve fertility and improve her obstetrical prognosis. Results and Discussions. Although the necrobiosis of a uterine fibroid was suspected preoperatively, the extemporaneous histopathological exam revealed adenomyosis associated with fibroleiomyoma with hyaline dystrophy and multiple foci of endometriosis of cystic formation in the wall of a young woman without any risk factors. Conclusion. Although a rare lesion in young patients, cystic adenomyosis should be considered when chronic pelvic pain is exacerbated during menstruation and is associated with a uterine tumor. In young patients, the differential diagnosis should be made with uterine malformations (hematometra), necrobiosis of uterine fibroids, pelvic endometriosis. The surgical treatment should be conservative with the excision of the lesion, always taking into account fertility preservation in young patients. PMID:27453751

  15. Differences between older and young patients with autoimmune gastritis.

    PubMed

    Kalkan, Çağdaş; Soykan, Irfan

    2017-07-01

    Elderly patients with autoimmune gastritis might have different symptoms than those of young patients. The aim of the present study was to compare presented symptoms and laboratory parameters associated with autoimmune gastritis in both old and young age groups. A total of 355 patients with autoimmune gastritis were stratified into two groups: 65 years or older (n = 119, mean age 69.47 ± 5.027 years), and under 65 years (n = 236, mean age 45.79 ± 10.51 years). These two groups were then evaluated and compared by means of clinical symptoms, concurrent autoimmune diseases, serum gastrin, vitamin B 12 and chromogranin A levels, and the presence of enterochromograffin-like cell hyperplasia. Among 119 older patients, 35 had dyspeptic symptoms, and 84 patients were referred for vitamin B 12 and/or iron deficiency. In the younger group (n = 236), there were more patients who had dyspeptic symptoms (36 vs 200, P < 0.001). Serum gastrin (726.68 ± 266.183 vs 214.36 ± 104.62 pg/mL, P < 0.001) and chromogranin A (301.26 ± 172.95 vs 106.59 ± 67.66 ng/mL, P < 0.001) levels were significantly higher, and the presence of enterochromograffin-like cell hyperplasia was more frequent (113 vs 31, P < 0.001) in older patients than younger patients. Polyautoimmunity (66.3% vs 24.5%) and multiple autoimmune syndrome (17.6% vs 5.5%) were more common in older patients (P < 0.001). There are differences in the clinical characteristics and the laboratory parameters between patients with autoimmune gastritis that are older and younger than 65 years-of-age. Elderly patients with autoimmune gastritis were investigated more commonly for vitamin B 12 and/or iron deficiency. Polyautoimmunity and multiple autoimmune syndrome were more common, and serum gastrin and chromogranin A levels were significantly higher in older patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1090-1095. © 2016 Japan Geriatrics Society.

  16. Myopia in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

    PubMed

    Handa, Swati; Chia, Audrey; Htoon, Hla Myint; Lam, Pin Min; Yap, Fabian; Ling, Yvonne

    2015-08-01

    This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who have myopia, as well as the risk factors associated with myopia in this group. In this cross-sectional study, patients aged < 21 years with T1DM for ≥ 1 year underwent a comprehensive eye examination. Presence of parental myopia, and average hours of near-work and outdoor activity were estimated using a questionnaire. Annualised glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), defined as the mean of the last three HbA1c readings taken over the last year, was calculated. Multivariate analysis using genetic, environmental and diabetes-related factors was done to evaluate risk factors associated with myopia. Of the 146 patients (mean age 12.5 ± 3.6 years) recruited, 66.4% were Chinese and 57.5% were female. Myopia (i.e. spherical equivalent [SE] of -0.50 D or worse) was present in 96 (65.8%) patients. The proportion of patients with myopia increased from 25.0% and 53.6% in those aged < 7.0 years and 7.0-9.9 years, respectively, to 59.2% and 78.4% in those aged 10.0-11.9 years and ≥ 12.0 years, respectively. Higher levels of SE were associated with lower parental myopia (p = 0.024) and higher annualised HbA1c (p = 0.011). Compared to the background population, the proportion of myopia in young patients with T1DM was higher in those aged < 10 years but similar in the older age group. Myopia was associated with a history of parental myopia. Environmental risk factors and poor glycaemic control were not related to higher myopia risk.

  17. Conventional Vs Digital Impressions: Acceptability, Treatment Comfort and Stress Among Young Orthodontic Patients.

    PubMed

    Mangano, Alessandro; Beretta, Matteo; Luongo, Giuseppe; Mangano, Carlo; Mangano, Francesco

    2018-01-01

    The objective of the present study was to compare patients' acceptability, comfort and stress with conventional and digital impressions. Thirty young orthodontic patients (15 males and 15 females) who had no previous experience of impressions were enrolled in this study. Conventional impressions for orthodontic study models of the dental arches were taken using an alginate impression material (Hydrogum ® , Zhermack Spa, Badia Polesine, Rovigo, Italy). Fifteen days later, digital impressions of both arches were acquired using an intraoral scanner (CS3600 ® , Carestream Dental, Rochester, NY, USA). Immediately after impression taking, patients' acceptability, comfort and stress were measured using two questionnaires and the State anxiety scale. Data showed no difference in terms of anxiety and stress; however, patients preferred the use of digital impressions systems instead of conventional impression techniques. Alginate impressions resulted as fast as digital impressions. Digital impressions resulted the most accepted and comfortable impression technique in young orthodontic patients, when compared to conventional techniques.

  18. Inadequate Diagnostic Evaluation in Young Patients Registered with a Diagnosis of Dementia: A Nationwide Register-Based Study

    PubMed Central

    Salem, Lise Cronberg; Andersen, Birgitte Bo; Nielsen, T. Rune; Stokholm, Jette; Jørgensen, Martin Balslev; Waldemar, Gunhild

    2014-01-01

    Background Establishing a diagnosis of dementia in young patients may be complex and have significant implications for the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of the diagnostic work-up in young patients diagnosed with dementia in the clinical routine. Methods Two hundred patients were randomly selected from 891 patients aged ≤65 years registered with a diagnosis of dementia for the first time in 2008 in Danish hospitals, and 159 medical records were available for review. Three raters evaluated their medical records for the completeness of the diagnostic work-up on which the diagnosis of dementia had been based, using evidence-based guidelines for the diagnostic evaluation of dementia as reference standards. Results According to the rater review, only 111 (70%) patients met the clinical criteria for dementia. An acceptable diagnostic work-up including all items of recommended basic diagnostic evaluation was performed in only 24%, although more often (28%) in the subgroup of patients where dementia was confirmed by raters. Conclusion This first nationwide study of unselected young patients registered with a diagnosis of dementia indicated that the concept of dementia may be misinterpreted by clinicians and that a diagnosis of dementia in the young is only rarely based on a complete basic diagnostic work-up, calling for increased competency. PMID:24711812

  19. Recent advances in pacemaker and implantable defibrillator therapy for young patients.

    PubMed

    Walsh, Edward P; Cecchin, Frank

    2004-03-01

    This review is intended to highlight major clinical advances over the past year related to (1). biventricular pacing as a treatment for dilated myopathy, (2). growing clinical experience with implantable cardioverter defibrillators in pediatrics, (3). technical advances in standard antibradycardia pacing, and (4). an appraisal of the newly updated ACC/AHA/NASPE guidelines for device implant in children and adolescents. Complex rhythm devices are being used more frequently in children. Biventricular pacing to improve ventricular contractility is a rapidly evolving technology that has now been applied to children and young adults with intraventricular conduction delay, such as bundle branch block after cardiac surgery. Implantable defibrillators are also being used for an expanding list of conditions, although lead dysfunction is seen as a fairly common complication in active young patients. Guidelines for device implantation have been developed, but the weight of evidence remains somewhat limited by the paucity of pediatric data in this field. Thanks to refinements in lead design and generator technology, coupled with rapidly expanding clinical indications, pacemakers and implantable defibrillators have become increasingly important components of cardiac therapy for young patients. Expanded multicenter clinical studies will be needed to develop more objective guidelines for use of this advanced technology.

  20. Brain activity related to phonation in young patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia.

    PubMed

    Kiyuna, Asanori; Maeda, Hiroyuki; Higa, Asano; Shingaki, Kouta; Uehara, Takayuki; Suzuki, Mikio

    2014-06-01

    This study investigated the brain activities during phonation of young patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD) of relatively short disease duration (<10 years). Six subjects with ADSD of short duration (mean age: 24. 3 years; mean disease duration: 41 months) and six healthy controls (mean age: 30.8 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) using a sparse sampling method to identify brain activity during vowel phonation (/i:/). Intragroup and intergroup analyses were performed using statistical parametric mapping software. Areas of activation in the ADSD and control groups were similar to those reported previously for vowel phonation. All of the activated areas were observed bilaterally and symmetrically. Intergroup analysis revealed higher brain activities in the SD group in the auditory-related areas (Brodmann's areas [BA] 40, 41), motor speech areas (BA44, 45), bilateral insula (BA13), bilateral cerebellum, and middle frontal gyrus (BA46). Areas with lower activation were in the left primary sensory area (BA1-3) and bilateral subcortical nucleus (putamen and globus pallidus). The auditory cortical responses observed may reflect that young ADSD patients control their voice by use of the motor speech area, insula, inferior parietal cortex, and cerebellum. Neural activity in the primary sensory area and basal ganglia may affect the voice symptoms of young ADSD patients with short disease duration. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in young patient with achondroplasia - Ten year follow up: Case report.

    PubMed

    van den Broek, M; Verborgt, O; Declercq, G

    2017-11-01

    Skeletal dysplasia in achondroplasia can affect all body joints - including the glenohumeral joint - and is prone to develop to degenerative osteoarthritis (OA). This may cause pain and mobility problems at young age. Surgical treatment is challenging due to the dysplastic anatomy of the shoulder joint - with a dysplastic deformed short humerus, a small, hypoplastic medialized glenoid and lateralized acromion - and the long life expectancy of these patients. The indications for reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) evolved during years with rotator cuff tears and rotator cuff arthropathy in combination with or without glenohumeral OA as the main indicator, with good short to mid-term results. Long term results of RSA are rarely found in literature, especially in young patients. The use of a RSA in glenohumeral OA with an intact rotator cuff has rarely been reported. In this case report we present the ten-year clinical and radiographic results of a RSA for the treatment of degenerative OA with glenohumeral dysplasia in a young patient with achondroplasia. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  2. A Multimedia Interactive Education System for Prostate Cancer Patients: Development and Preliminary Evaluation

    PubMed Central

    Butz, Brian P

    2004-01-01

    Background A cancer diagnosis is highly distressing. Yet, to make informed treatment choices patients have to learn complicated disease and treatment information that is often fraught with medical and statistical terminology. Thus, patients need accurate and easy-to-understand information. Objective To introduce the development and preliminary evaluation through focus groups of a novel highly-interactive multimedia-education software program for patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer. Methods The prostate interactive education system uses the metaphor of rooms in a virtual health center (ie, reception area, a library, physician offices, group meeting room) to organize information. Text information contained in the library is tailored to a person's information-seeking preference (ie, high versus low information seeker). We conducted a preliminary evaluation through 5 separate focus groups with prostate cancer survivors (N = 18) and their spouses (N = 15). Results Focus group results point to the timeliness and high acceptability of the software among the target audience. Results also underscore the importance of a guide or tutor who assists in navigating the program and who responds to queries to facilitate information retrieval. Conclusions Focus groups have established the validity of our approach and point to new directions to further enhance the user interface. PMID:15111269

  3. Clinical characteristics and long-term progression of young patients with acute coronary syndrome in Brazil

    PubMed Central

    Soeiro, Alexandre de Matos; Fernandes, Felipe Lourenço; Soeiro, Maria Carolina Feres de Almeida; Serrano, Carlos Vicente; de Oliveira, Múcio Tavares

    2015-01-01

    Objective In Brazil, there are few descriptions in the literature on the angiographic pattern and clinical characteristics of young patients with acute coronary syndrome, despite the evident number of cases in the population. The objective of this study was to evaluate which clinical characteristics are most closely related to the acute coronary syndrome in young patients, and what long-term outcomes are in this population. Methods This is a prospective observational study with 268 patients aged under 55 years with acute coronary syndrome, carried out between May 2010 and May 2013. Data were obtained on demographics, laboratory test and angiography results, and the coronary treatment adopted. Statistical analysis was presented as percentages and absolute values. Results Approximately 57% were men and the median age was 50 years (30 to 55). The main risk factors were arterial hypertension (68%), smoking (67%), and dyslipidemia (43%). Typical pain was present in 90% of patients. In young individuals, 25.7% showed ST segment elevation. Approximately 56.5% of patients presented with a single-vessel angiographic pattern. About 7.1% were submitted to coronary bypass surgery, and 42.1% to percutaneous coronary angioplasty. Intrahospital mortality was 1.5%, and the combined event rate (cerebrovascular accident/stroke, cardiogenic shock, reinfarction, and arrhythmias) was 13.8%. After a mean follow-up of 10 months, mortality was 9.8%, while 25.4% of the patients had new ischemic events, and 37.3% required readmission to hospital. Conclusion In the short-term, young patients presented with mortality rates below what was expected when compared to the rates noted in other studies. However, there was a significant increase in the number of events in the 10-month follow-up. PMID:26466059

  4. Approximate Quantification in Young, Healthy Older Adults', and Alzheimer Patients

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Gandini, Delphine; Lemaire, Patrick; Michel, Bernard Francois

    2009-01-01

    Forty young adults, 40 healthy older adults, and 39 probable AD patients were asked to estimate small (e.g., 25) and large (e.g., 60) collections of dots in a choice condition and in two no-choice conditions. Participants could choose between benchmark and anchoring strategies on each collection of dots in the choice condition and were required to…

  5. The Gynecologist Has a Unique Role in Providing Oncofertility Care to Young Cancer Patients

    PubMed Central

    Duncan, Francesca E; Jozefik, Jennifer K; Kim, Alison M; Hirshfeld-Cytron, Jennifer; Woodruff, Teresa K

    2011-01-01

    Facing a cancer diagnosis at any age is devastating. However, young cancer patients have the added burden that life-preserving cancer treatments, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, may compromise their future fertility. The possibility of reproductive dysfunction as a consequence of cancer treatment has a negative impact on the quality of life of cancer survivors. The field of oncofertility, which merges the clinical specialties of oncology and reproductive endocrinology, was developed to explore and expand fertility preservation options and to better manage the reproductive status of cancer patients. Fertility preservation for females has proved to be a particular challenge because mature female gametes are rare and difficult to acquire. The purpose of this article is to provide the gynecologist with a comprehensive overview of how cancer treatments affect the female reproductive axis, delineate the diverse fertility preservation options that are currently available or being developed for young women, and describe current measures of ovarian reserve that can be used pre- and post-cancer treatment. As a primary care provider, the gynecologist will likely interact with patients throughout the cancer care continuum. Thus, the gynecologist is in a unique position to join the oncofertility team in providing young cancer patients with up-to-date fertility preservation information and referrals to specialists. PMID:21927621

  6. Young patients', parents', and survivors' communication preferences in paediatric oncology: results of online focus groups.

    PubMed

    Zwaanswijk, Marieke; Tates, Kiek; van Dulmen, Sandra; Hoogerbrugge, Peter M; Kamps, Willem A; Bensing, Jozien M

    2007-11-09

    Guidelines in paediatric oncology encourage health care providers to share relevant information with young patients and parents to enable their active participation in decision making. It is not clear to what extent this mirrors patients' and parents' preferences. This study investigated communication preferences of childhood cancer patients, parents, and survivors of childhood cancer. Communication preferences were examined by means of online focus groups. Seven patients (aged 8-17), 11 parents, and 18 survivors (aged 8-17 at diagnosis) participated. Recruitment took place by consecutive inclusion in two Dutch university oncological wards. Questions concerned preferences regarding interpersonal relationships, information exchange and participation in decision making. Participants expressed detailed and multi-faceted views regarding their needs and preferences in communication in paediatric oncology. They agreed on the importance of several interpersonal and informational aspects of communication, such as honesty, support, and the need to be fully informed. Participants generally preferred a collaborative role in medical decision making. Differences in views were found regarding the desirability of the patient's presence during consultations. Patients differed in their satisfaction with their parents' role as managers of the communication. Young patients' preferences mainly concur with current guidelines of providing them with medical information and enabling their participation in medical decision making. Still, some variation in preferences was found, which faces health care providers with the task of balancing between the sometimes conflicting preferences of young cancer patients and their parents.

  7. Mitochondrial haplogroups associated with Japanese centenarians, Alzheimer's patients, Parkinson's patients, type 2 diabetic patients and healthy non-obese young males.

    PubMed

    Takasaki, Shigeru

    2009-07-01

    The relationships between five classes of Japanese people (i.e., 96 centenarians, 96 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 96 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, 96 type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients, and 96 healthy non-obese young males) and their mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphism (mtSNP) frequencies at individual mtDNA positions of the entire mitochondrial genome were examined using the radial basis function (RBF) network and the modified method. New findings of mitochondrial haplogroups were obtained for individual classes. The five classes of people were associated with the following haplogroups: Japanese centenarians-M7b2, D4b2a, and B5b; Japanese AD patients-G2a, B4c1, and N9b1; Japanese PD patients-M7b2, B4e, and B5b; Japanese T2D patients-B5b, M8a1, G, D4, and F1; and Japanese healthy non-obese young males- D4g and D4b1b. From the points of common haplogroups among the five classes, the centenarians have the common haplogroups M7b2 and B5b with the PD patients and common haplogroup B5b with the T2D patients. In addition, the 112 Japanese semi-supercentenarians (over 105 years old) recently reported were also examined by the method proposed. The results obtained were the haplogroups D4a, B4c1a, M7b2, F1, M1, and B5b. These results are different from the previously reported haplogroup classifications. As the proposed analysis method can predict a person's mtSNP constitution and the probabilities of becoming a centenarian, AD patient, PD patient, or T2D patient, it may be useful in initial diagnosis of various diseases.

  8. Thrombolysis and outcome of young stroke patients over the last decade: insights from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

    PubMed

    Kansara, Amit; Chaturvedi, Seemant; Bhattacharya, Pratik

    2013-08-01

    A recent study found a trend toward increasing hospitalizations for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) among young adults, raising concern for this subgroup. In the present study, we evaluated trends of use of thrombolysis and outcome among young adults (19-44 years of age) with AIS using a nationally representative administrative database. Discharge data were obtained from Nationwide Inpatient Sample between 2001 and 2009. Hospitalizations with a discharge diagnosis of AIS for patients 19 to 44 years of age were included. Use of thrombolysis was determined within this subset. The Cochran-Armitage test was used for trend analysis. Thrombolysis in young patients with AIS increased from 354 (1.84%) in 2001 to 1,237 (4.97%) in 2009 (P < .0001). The highest increase was noted at urban teaching hospitals. There was a progressive decrease in mortality in young AIS patients, from 6.81% in 2001 to 5.43% in 2009 (trend P = .027) and significant increase in discharges to rehabilitation (3.42% in 2002 to 12.7% in 2009 [trend P < .0001]). Discharge to other facilities decreased significantly (29.1% in 2001 to 17.8% in 2009 [trend P < .0001]). The rate of intracranial hemorrhage (2.70% in 2001; 2.69% in 2009) did not show any significant change despite the increase in the use of thrombolysis (trend P = .39). The rate of thrombolysis among young patients with AIS increased significantly between 2001 and 2009. A decrease in deaths with increased rehabilitation placements of young patients with AIS was noted over the last decade, suggesting improving outcomes. The lower rate of use of thrombolysis in rural hospitals may be improved with the widespread use of telestroke. Copyright © 2013 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  9. Intoxication by star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) in six dialysis patients? (Preliminary report)

    PubMed

    Neto, M M; Robl, F; Netto, J C

    1998-03-01

    We observed six cases of patients in a dialysis programme who were apparently intoxicated by ingestion of star fruit. After ingestion of 2-3 fruits or 150-200 ml of the fruit juice, the six patients, who had previously been stable in a regular dialysis programme, developed a variety of symptoms ranging from insomnia and hiccups to agitation, mental confusion and (in one case) death. In preliminary investigations to characterize the hypothetical neurotoxin in the fruit, an extract, when injected intraperitoneally or intracerebroventricularly in rats, provoked persistent convulsions of the tonic-clonic type. It appears that star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) contains an excitatory neurotoxin. Patients with renal failure on conservative or dialysis treatment should be dissuaded from ingestion of the fruit.

  10. Analysis of mobile phone use among young patients with brain tumors in Japan.

    PubMed

    Sato, Yasuto; Kojimahara, Noriko; Yamaguchi, Naohito

    2017-07-01

    The purpose of this study was to clarify ownership and usage of mobile phones among young patients with brain tumors in Japan. The subjects of this study were patients with brain tumors diagnosed between 2006 and 2010 who were between the ages of 6 and 18 years. The target population for the analysis was 82 patients. Patients were divided into two groups: 16 patients who were mobile phone owners 1 year before diagnosis, and 66 patients who did not own mobile phones (non-owners). Using data on the mobile phone ownership rate obtained from three general-population surveys, we calculated the expected number of mobile phone owners. The three age-adjusted standardized ownership ratios were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.56-1.22), 0.51 (95% CI: 0.24-1.04), and 0.75 (95% CI: 0.42-1.32). The mobile phone ownership prevalence among the young Japanese patients with brain tumors in the current study does not differ from available estimates for the general population of corresponding age. However, since the use of mobile phones among children is increasing annually, investigations into the health effects of mobile phone use among children should continue. Bioelectromagnetics. 38:349-355, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. Coping strategies, alexithymia and anxiety in young patients with food allergy.

    PubMed

    Polloni, L; DunnGalvin, A; Ferruzza, E; Bonaguro, R; Lazzarotto, F; Toniolo, A; Celegato, N; Muraro, A

    2017-07-01

    Food allergy is major public health concern affecting nearly 15 million Americans and 80 million Europeans. Risk of anaphylaxis and implications for social activities affect patients' quality of life and psychological well-being. We previously found that young patients reported higher levels of alexithymia (difficulty in recognizing and expressing emotions) compared with healthy peers and may influence affect, management style and clinical outcomes. This study aimed to explore links between coping strategies, alexithymia and anxiety among food-allergic adolescents and young adults. Ninety-two patients with IgE-mediated food allergy (mean age 18.6 years) completed Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced Inventory, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Trait Anxiety subscale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Multivariate analyses of variance assessed differences and associations between subgroups on the scales. Significant differences found between alexithymia levels in coping style were explained by Avoidance strategies. 'Avoidance' had the highest contribution in explaining alexithymia, followed by trait anxiety, age, anaphylaxis and social support. Respondents with higher alexithymia use avoidance as coping strategy over and above other coping strategies such as problem-solving and positive thinking, are younger, will have experienced anaphylaxis and will have lower social support. Recognizing the specific role of affect regulation in health behaviours may constitute an important step in supporting patients to explore more adaptive strategies. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. The Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure in young children: responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference.

    PubMed

    Gaunt, D M; Metcalfe, C; Ridd, M

    2016-11-01

    The Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) has been recommended as the core patient-reported outcome measure for trials of eczema treatments. Using data from the Choice of Moisturiser for Eczema Treatment randomized feasibility study, we assess the responsiveness to change and determine the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of the POEM in young children with eczema. Responsiveness to change by repeated administrations of the POEM was investigated in relation to change recalled using the Parent Global Assessment (PGA) measure. Five methods of determining the MCID of the POEM were employed; three anchor-based methods using PGA as the anchor: the within-patient score change, between-patient score change and sensitivity and specificity method, and two distribution-based methods: effect size estimate and the one half standard deviation of the baseline distribution of POEM scores. Successive POEM scores were found to be responsive to change in eczema severity. The MCID of the POEM change score, in relation to a slight improvement in eczema severity as recalled by parents on the PGA, estimated by the within-patient score change (4.27), the between-patient score change (2.89) and the sensitivity and specificity method (3.00) was similar to the one half standard deviation of the POEM baseline scores (2.94) and the effect size estimate (2.50). The Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure as applied to young children is responsive to change, and the MCID is around 3. This study will encourage the use of POEM and aid in determining sample size for future randomized controlled trials of treatments for eczema in young children. © 2016 The Authors. Allergy Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  13. Effect of Low Perceived Social Support on Health Outcomes in Young Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Results From the VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients) Study

    PubMed Central

    Bucholz, Emily M.; Strait, Kelly M.; Dreyer, Rachel P.; Geda, Mary; Spatz, Erica S.; Bueno, Hector; Lichtman, Judith H.; D'Onofrio, Gail; Spertus, John A.; Krumholz, Harlan M.

    2014-01-01

    Background Social support is an important predictor of health outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but social support varies by sex and age. Differences in social support could account for sex differences in outcomes of young patients with AMI. Methods and Results Data from the Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) study, an observational study of AMI patients aged ≤55 years in the United States and Spain, were used for this study. Patients were categorized as having low versus moderate/high perceived social support using the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory. Outcomes included health status (Short Form‐12 physical and mental component scores), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire), and angina‐related quality of life (Seattle Angina Questionnaire) evaluated at baseline and 12 months. Among 3432 patients, 21.2% were classified as having low social support. Men and women had comparable levels of social support at baseline. On average, patients with low social support reported lower functional status and quality of life and more depressive symptoms at baseline and 12 months post‐AMI. After multivariable adjustment, including baseline health status, low social support was associated with lower mental functioning, lower quality of life, and more depressive symptoms at 12 months (all P<0.001). The relationship between low social support and worse physical functioning was nonsignificant after adjustment (P=0.6). No interactions were observed between social support, sex, or country. Conclusion Lower social support is associated with worse health status and more depressive symptoms 12 months after AMI in both young men and women. Sex did not modify the effect of social support. PMID:25271209

  14. Monoblock Expanded Full-thickness Graft for Resurfacing of the Burned Face in Young Patients.

    PubMed

    Allam, A M; El Khalek, A E A; Mustafa, W; Zayed, E

    2007-12-31

    It has been emphasized by many authors that to obtain better aesthetic results in a burned facial area to be resurfaced - if it extends into more than one aesthetic territory - the units involved should be combined into a single large composite unit allowing the largest possible skin graft to be used. Unfortunately, the donor site for full-thickness grafts is limited in young patients and hence tissue expansion is used. A monoblock expanded full-thickness skin graft for facial resurfacing after post-burn sequelae excision was used in 12 young patients after expansion of the superolateral aspect of the buttock. Females made up the majority of the patients (75%) and the ages ranged between 8 and 18 yr. The operating time was 3-3.5 hours, in two sessions. Post-operatively, we recorded partial graft necrosis in two cases (16.7%) and infection in one (8.3%), and some minor donor-site-related complications were reported, such as haematoma in one patient (8.3%), wound infection in one patient (8.3%), and wide scarring in two patients (16.7%). At follow-up, eight of the patients (66.7%) were satisfied with their new facial look as the mask effect of facial scarring had been overcome. With monoblock expanded full-thickness graft we were able to resurface the face in nine cases (75%). A second complementary procedure to reconstruct the eyebrows or reshape the nose was required in two cases (16.7%). We concluded that the monoblock expanded full-thickness graft was a suitable solution for limitation of the donor site in young patients, as the resulting wound could be closed primarily with a scar that could be concealed by the underwear, with lim.

  15. Monoblock Expanded Full-thickness Graft for Resurfacing of the Burned Face in Young Patients

    PubMed Central

    Allam, A.M.; El Khalek, A.E.A.; Mustafa, W.; Zayed, E.

    2007-01-01

    Summary It has been emphasized by many authors that to obtain better aesthetic results in a burned facial area to be resurfaced - if it extends into more than one aesthetic territory - the units involved should be combined into a single large composite unit allowing the largest possible skin graft to be used. Unfortunately, the donor site for full-thickness grafts is limited in young patients and hence tissue expansion is used. A monoblock expanded full-thickness skin graft for facial resurfacing after post-burn sequelae excision was used in 12 young patients after expansion of the superolateral aspect of the buttock. Females made up the majority of the patients (75%) and the ages ranged between 8 and 18 yr. The operating time was 3-3.5 hours, in two sessions. Post-operatively, we recorded partial graft necrosis in two cases (16.7%) and infection in one (8.3%), and some minor donor-site-related complications were reported, such as haematoma in one patient (8.3%), wound infection in one patient (8.3%), and wide scarring in two patients (16.7%). At follow-up, eight of the patients (66.7%) were satisfied with their new facial look as the mask effect of facial scarring had been overcome. With monoblock expanded full-thickness graft we were able to resurface the face in nine cases (75%). A second complementary procedure to reconstruct the eyebrows or reshape the nose was required in two cases (16.7%). We concluded that the monoblock expanded full-thickness graft was a suitable solution for limitation of the donor site in young patients, as the resulting wound could be closed primarily with a scar that could be concealed by the underwear, with lim. PMID:21991093

  16. Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings fail to suspect Fabry disease in young patients with an acute cerebrovascular event.

    PubMed

    Fazekas, Franz; Enzinger, Christian; Schmidt, Reinhold; Grittner, Ulrike; Giese, Anne-Katrin; Hennerici, Michael G; Huber, Roman; Jungehulsing, Gerhard J; Kaps, Manfred; Kessler, Christof; Martus, Peter; Putaala, Jukka; Ropele, Stefan; Tanislav, Christian; Tatlisumak, Turgut; Thijs, Vincent; von Sarnowski, Bettina; Norrving, Bo; Rolfs, Arndt

    2015-06-01

    Fabry disease (FD) may cause stroke and is reportedly associated with typical brain findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In a large group of young patients with an acute cerebrovascular event, we wanted to test whether brain MRI findings can serve to suggest the presence of FD. The Stroke in Young Fabry Patients (SIFAP 1) study prospectively collected clinical, laboratory, and radiological data of 5023 patients (18-55 years) with an acute cerebrovascular event. Their MRI was interpreted centrally and blinded to all other information. Biochemical findings and genetic testing served to diagnose FD in 45 (0.9%) patients. We compared the imaging findings between FD and non-FD patients in patients with at least a T2-weighted MRI of good quality. A total of 3203 (63.8%) patients had the required MRI data set. Among those were 34 patients with a diagnosis of FD (1.1%), which was definite in 21 and probable in 13 cases. The median age of patients with FD was slightly lower (45 versus 46 years) and women prevailed (70.6% versus 40.7%; P<0.001). Presence or extent of white matter hyperintensities, infarct localization, vertebrobasilar artery dilatation, T1-signal hyperintensity of the pulvinar thalami, or any other MRI finding did not distinguish patients with FD from non-FD cerebrovascular event patients. Pulvinar hyperintensity was not present in a single patient with FD but seen in 6 non-FD patients. Brain MRI findings cannot serve to suspect FD in young patients presenting with an acute cerebrovascular event. This deserves consideration in the search for possible causes of young patients with stroke. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00414583. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

  17. Acceptability of robotic technology in neuro-rehabilitation: preliminary results on chronic stroke patients.

    PubMed

    Mazzoleni, Stefano; Turchetti, Giuseppe; Palla, Ilaria; Posteraro, Federico; Dario, Paolo

    2014-09-01

    During the last decade, different robotic devices have been developed for motor rehabilitation of stroke survivors. These devices have been shown to improve motor impairment and contribute to the understanding of mechanisms underlying motor recovery after a stroke. The assessment of the robotic technology for rehabilitation assumes great importance. The aim of this study is to present preliminary results on the assessment of the acceptability of the robotic technology for rehabilitation on a group of thirty-four chronic stroke patients. The results from questionnaires on the patients' acceptability of two different robot-assisted rehabilitation scenarios show that the robotic approach was well accepted and tolerated by the patients. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Brain magnetic resonance imaging findings in young patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni without overt symptoms.

    PubMed

    Manzella, Adonis; Borba-Filho, Paulo; Brandt, Carlos T; Oliveira, Keyla

    2012-06-01

    The purpose of this study was to describe the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in young patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni without overt neurologic manifestations. This study included 34 young persons (age range = 9-25 years) with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis mansoni who had been previously treated. Patients were scanned on a 1.5-T system that included multiplanar pre-contrast and post-contrast sequences, and reports were completed by two radiologists after a consensus review. Twenty (58.8%) patients had MRI signal changes that were believed to be related to schistosomiasis mansoni. Twelve of the 20 patients had small focal hyperintensities on T2WI in the cerebral white matter, and eight patients had symmetric hyperintense basal ganglia on T1WI. There was a high frequency of brain MRI signal abnormalities in this series. Although not specific, these findings may be related to schistosomiasis.

  19. Uveal Melanoma Mimicking Advanced Coats' Disease in a Young Patient.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Naina; Terrell, William; Schoenfield, Lynn; Kirsch, Claudia; Cebulla, Colleen M

    2016-04-01

    To report a case and the unique histopathology of a necrotic uveal melanoma mimicking advanced Coats' disease in a young adult. A 26-year-old male presented with a blind, painful eye, total exudative retinal detachment, and bulbous aneurysms consistent with Coats' disease. No masses were visualized on ultrasound or CT scan, and the patient underwent enucleation of the eye. Histopathology of the involved eye confirmed a necrotic uveal melanoma with persistent spindle cells forming a collar around residual tumor vessels. Careful consideration is needed in approaching any patient with a blind, painful eye and opaque media, even in younger populations.

  20. Health-related quality of life in young adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Iran: reliability and validity of the Persian translation of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales Young Adult Version.

    PubMed

    Pakpour, Amir H; Zeidi, Isa Mohammadi; Hashemi, Fariba; Saffari, Mohsen; Burri, Andrea

    2013-01-01

    The objective of the present study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Persian translation of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™) 4.0 Generic Core Scales Young Adult Version in an Iranian sample of young adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One hundred ninety-seven young adult patients with RA completed the 23-item PedsQL™ and the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Disease activity based on Disease Activity Score 28 was also measured. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability, as well as construct, discriminant, and convergent validity, were tested. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to verify the original factor structure of the PedsQL™. Also, responsiveness to change in PedsQL™ scores over time was assessed. Cronbach's alpha coefficients ranged from α = 0.82 to α = 0.91. Test-retest reproducibility was satisfactory for all scales and the total scale score. The PedsQL proved good convergent validity with the SF-36. The PedsQL distinguished well between young adult patients and healthy young adults and also RA groups with different comorbidities. The CFA did not confirm the original four-factor model, instead, analyses revealed a best-fitting five-factor model for the PedsQL™ Young Adult Version. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that the PedsQL scale scores for young adults increased significantly over time. The Persian translation of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales Young Adult Version demonstrated good psychometric properties in young adult patients with RA and can be recommended for the use in RA research in Iran.

  1. Spirituality and Young Women in Transition: A Preliminary Investigation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Livingston, Kimberly A.; Cummings, Anne L.

    2009-01-01

    This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge about spirituality and life transitions. Through qualitative investigation, 9 young women in professional education programs described their definition of spirituality, their spiritual activities, and how they used their spirituality to cope with life transitions as they prepared to enter the…

  2. The Development of a Conceptual Framework and Preliminary Item Bank for Childbirth-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome Measures.

    PubMed

    Korst, Lisa M; Fridman, Moshe; Saeb, Samia; Greene, Naomi; Fink, Arlene; Gregory, Kimberly D

    2018-05-24

    To develop a conceptual framework and preliminary item bank for childbirth-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) domains. Women, who were U.S. residents, ≥18 years old, and ≥20 weeks pregnant, were surveyed regarding their childbirth values and preferences (V&P) using online panels. Using community-based research techniques and Patient-Reported Outcomes Management Information System (PROMIS ® ) methodology, we conducted a comprehensive literature review to identify self-reported survey items regarding patient-reported V&P and childbirth experiences and outcomes (PROs). The V&P/PRO domains were validated by focus groups. We conducted a cross-sectional observational study and fitted a multivariable logistic regression model to each V&P item to describe "who" wanted each item. We identified 5,880 V&P/PRO items that mapped to 19 domains and 58 subdomains. We present results for the 2,250 survey respondents who anticipated a vaginal delivery in a hospital. Wide variation existed regarding each V&P item, and personal characteristics, such as maternal confidence and ability to cope well with pain, were frequent predictors in the models. The resulting preliminary item bank consisted of 60 key personal characteristics and 63 V&P/PROs. The conceptual framework and preliminary (PROMIS ® ) item bank presented here provide a foundation for the development of childbirth-specific V&P/PROs. © Health Research and Educational Trust.

  3. Carotid-bulb atypical fibromuscular dysplasia in young Afro-Caribbean patients with stroke.

    PubMed

    Joux, Julien; Chausson, Nicolas; Jeannin, Séverine; Saint-Vil, Martine; Mejdoubi, Mehdi; Hennequin, Jean-Luc; Deschamps, Lydia; Smadja, Didier; Olindo, Stéphane

    2014-12-01

    An atypical form of fibromuscular dysplasia located in the internal carotid-bulb (CaFMD) is thought to be uncommon and is poorly described as a cause of ischemic stroke in the young. This study aimed to obtain a better description of CaFMD in Afro-Caribbean population, who could be particularly affected by it. This study included consecutive patients <55 years consulting at Fort-de-France University Hospital Stroke Center (Martinique, FWI) found to have CaFMD as the only cause after a comprehensive work-up. CaFMD was diagnosed when computed tomographic angiography showed a bulbar spur without calcification. Twenty-five patients with stroke and CaFMD were identified. Computed tomographic angiography showed 2 CaFMD patterns: a thin (n=15) or thick (n=10) spur. Three patients initial computed tomographic angiography images showed a mural thrombus overlying the CaFMD. CaFMD was surgically removed from 7 of 25 and 20 of 25 patients who received antiplatelet therapy; after mean follow-up of 25.3±19.5 months, their respective recurrence rates were 0% and 30%. CaFMD could be a common condition in young Afro-Caribbeans with carotid-territory ischemic stroke. Recurrences were frequent under antiplatelet treatment, while surgical CaFMD removal seemed more effective. © 2014 American Heart Association, Inc.

  4. Quality of life of young patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

    PubMed

    Montaño-Velázquez, B B; Nolasco-Renero, J; Parada-Bañuelos, J E; Garcia-Vázquez, F; Flores-Medina, S; García-Romero, C S; Jáuregui-Renaud, K

    2017-05-01

    To assess quality of life of children and teenagers with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, according to the evidence of infection by human papillomavirus types 6 and 11, compared with healthy volunteers and patients with chronic otitis media. Participants and their parents completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0. Patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and their parents reported lower quality of life than healthy subjects (p < 0.01), but similar quality of life to patients with chronic otitis media. Those with human papillomavirus type 11 showed the lowest scores among all participants (p < 0.05). Young Mexican patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis and their parents perceive a poor quality of life, and they may experience limitations in interactions with their peers. Infection by human papillomavirus type 11 may increase the impact of the disease on quality of life.

  5. Generalised weakness in a young patient: a cause for concern?

    PubMed Central

    Saenz-Abad, Daniel; Rivero-Sanz, Elena; Lahoz-Perez, Maria del Carmen; Martinez-Diez, Maria

    2014-01-01

    Muscular weakness in young patients is usually due to mild, self-limiting causes. Nonetheless, it is important to remember other, more serious aetiologies which can cause this clinical picture. Thyrotoxic hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (THPP) is a rare disease in Europe and the USA, with fatal cardiovascular and respiratory complications. It is characterised by recurrent episodes of generalised muscular weakness, especially in the legs, with an associated hypokalaemia and hyperthyroidism. Diagnosis is based on clinical history, laboratory tests and an ECG. Early treatment focused on cautious correction blood potassium and non-cardiac selective β-blockers. Additionally, it is imperative to normalise thyroid function to prevent relapses. We present a young, healthy man to the emergency department with episodes of intermittent leg weakness. The history and the ECG findings allowed for the diagnosis of THPP to be reached with early treatment causing remission. PMID:24591389

  6. Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer in the United States: The Adolescent and Young Adult Health Outcomes and Patient Experience Study

    PubMed Central

    Smith, Ashley Wilder; Bellizzi, Keith M.; Keegan, Theresa H.M.; Zebrack, Brad; Chen, Vivien W.; Neale, Anne Victoria; Hamilton, Ann S.; Shnorhavorian, Margarett; Lynch, Charles F.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer face numerous physical, psychosocial, and practical challenges. This article describes the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and associated demographic and health-related characteristics of this developmentally diverse population. Patients and Methods Data are from the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Outcomes and Patient Experience (AYA HOPE) study, a population-based cohort of 523 AYA patients with cancer, ages 15 to 39 years at diagnosis from 2007 to 2009. Comparisons are made by age group and with general and healthy populations. Multiple linear regression models evaluated effects of demographic, disease, health care, and symptom variables on multiple domains of HRQOL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and the Short-Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12). Results Overall, respondents reported significantly worse HRQOL across both physical and mental health scales than did general and healthy populations. The greatest deficits were in limitations to physical and emotional roles, physical and social functioning, and fatigue. Teenaged patients (ages 15 to 17 years) reported worse physical and work/school functioning than patients 18 to 25 years old. Regression models showed that HRQOL was worse for those in treatment, with current/recent symptoms, or lacking health insurance at any time since diagnosis. In addition, sarcoma patients, Hispanic patients, and those with high school or lower education reported worse physical health. Unmarried patients reported worse mental health. Conclusion Results suggest that AYAs with cancer have major decrements in several physical and mental HRQOL domains. Vulnerable subgroups included Hispanic patients, those with less education, and those without health insurance. AYAs also experienced higher levels of fatigue that were influenced by current symptoms and treatment. Future research should explore ways to address poor functioning in this

  7. The Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) Classification System: A Taxonomy for Young Women With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

    PubMed

    Spatz, Erica S; Curry, Leslie A; Masoudi, Frederick A; Zhou, Shengfan; Strait, Kelly M; Gross, Cary P; Curtis, Jeptha P; Lansky, Alexandra J; Soares Barreto-Filho, Jose Augusto; Lampropulos, Julianna F; Bueno, Hector; Chaudhry, Sarwat I; D'Onofrio, Gail; Safdar, Basmah; Dreyer, Rachel P; Murugiah, Karthik; Spertus, John A; Krumholz, Harlan M

    2015-11-03

    Current classification schemes for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) may not accommodate the breadth of clinical phenotypes in young women. We developed a novel taxonomy among young adults (≤55 years) with AMI enrolled in the Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) study. We first classified a subset of patients (n=600) according to the Third Universal Definition of MI using a structured abstraction tool. There was heterogeneity within type 2 AMI, and 54 patients (9%; including 51 of 412 women) were unclassified. Using an inductive approach, we iteratively grouped patients with shared clinical characteristics, with the aims of developing a more inclusive taxonomy that could distinguish unique clinical phenotypes. The final VIRGO taxonomy classified 2802 study participants as follows: class 1, plaque-mediated culprit lesion (82.5% of women; 94.9% of men); class 2, obstructive coronary artery disease with supply-demand mismatch (2a: 1.4% women; 0.9% men) and without supply-demand mismatch (2b: 2.4% women; 1.1% men); class 3, nonobstructive coronary artery disease with supply-demand mismatch (3a: 4.3% women; 0.8% men) and without supply-demand mismatch (3b: 7.0% women; 1.9% men); class 4, other identifiable mechanism (spontaneous dissection, vasospasm, embolism; 1.5% women, 0.2% men); and class 5, undetermined classification (0.8% women, 0.2% men). Approximately 1 in 8 young women with AMI is unclassified by the Universal Definition of MI. We propose a more inclusive taxonomy that could serve as a framework for understanding biological disease mechanisms, therapeutic efficacy, and prognosis in this population. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

  8. Predictors of treatment failure in young patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.

    PubMed

    Jacobs, Marni B; Klonoff-Cohen, Hillary; Agarwal, Sanjay; Kritz-Silverstein, Donna; Lindsay, Suzanne; Garzo, V Gabriel

    2016-08-01

    The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether routinely collected clinical factors can predict in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure among young, "good prognosis" patients predominantly with secondary infertility who are less than 35 years of age. Using de-identified clinic records, 414 women <35 years undergoing their first autologous IVF cycle were identified. Logistic regression was used to identify patient-driven clinical factors routinely collected during fertility treatment that could be used to model predicted probability of cycle failure. One hundred ninety-seven patients with both primary and secondary infertility had a failed IVF cycle, and 217 with secondary infertility had a successful live birth. None of the women with primary infertility had a successful live birth. The significant predictors for IVF cycle failure among young patients were fewer previous live births, history of biochemical pregnancies or spontaneous abortions, lower baseline antral follicle count, higher total gonadotropin dose, unknown infertility diagnosis, and lack of at least one fair to good quality embryo. The full model showed good predictive value (c = 0.885) for estimating risk of cycle failure; at ≥80 % predicted probability of failure, sensitivity = 55.4 %, specificity = 97.5 %, positive predictive value = 95.4 %, and negative predictive value = 69.8 %. If this predictive model is validated in future studies, it could be beneficial for predicting IVF failure in good prognosis women under the age of 35 years.

  9. Swimsuit issues: promoting positive body image in young women's magazines.

    PubMed

    Boyd, Elizabeth Reid; Moncrieff-Boyd, Jessica

    2011-08-01

    This preliminary study reviews the promotion of healthy body image to young Australian women, following the 2009 introduction of the voluntary Industry Code of Conduct on Body Image. The Code includes using diverse sized models in magazines. A qualitative content analysis of the 2010 annual 'swimsuit issues' was conducted on 10 Australian young women's magazines. Pictorial and/or textual editorial evidence of promoting diverse body shapes and sizes was regarded as indicative of the magazines' upholding aspects of the voluntary Code of Conduct for Body Image. Diverse sized models were incorporated in four of the seven magazines with swimsuit features sampled. Body size differentials were presented as part of the swimsuit features in three of the magazines sampled. Tips for diverse body type enhancement were included in four of the magazines. All magazines met at least one criterion. One magazine displayed evidence of all three criteria. Preliminary examination suggests that more than half of young women's magazines are upholding elements of the voluntary Code of Conduct for Body Image, through representation of diverse-sized women in their swimsuit issues.

  10. Current status of sperm banking for young cancer patients in Japanese nationwide survey.

    PubMed

    Yumura, Yasushi; Tsujimura, Akira; Okada, Hiroshi; Ota, Kuniaki; Kitazawa, Masahumi; Suzuki, Tatsuya; Kakinuma, Tosiyuki; Takae, Seido; Suzuki, Nao; Iwamoto, Teruaki

    2018-02-02

    This study aimed to ascertain the current status of Japanese sperm banking for young cancer patients. During 2015, we mailed the directors of 695 institutes where sperm cryopreservation might be performed with questionnaires requesting information on the number of patients, age, precryopreservation chemotherapy, semen analyses results and diagnoses, cryopreservation success rate, and causes of unsuccessful cryopreservation. Of these 695 institutes, 92 had cryopreserved sperm before chemotherapy within the study period. In all, 820 cancer patients (237 testicular, 383 hematological, 46 bone and soft tissue, 20 brain, and 134 other malignancy) consulted the responding institutes for sperm cryopreservation. Except for testicular tumor, the number of patients whose sperm was preserved before cancer treatment was low compared to that of young cancer patients. Approximately 20% of patients with malignancies other than testicular tumor underwent chemotherapy before cryopreservation. The success rate of cryopreservation in hematological malignancy was 82.5%, significantly lower than that of both the testicular cancer (93.6%) and other malignancy groups (95.6%) (P < 0.05). The primary reasons for preservation failure were azoospermia and poor semen quality. Patients with hematological malignancies had a higher rate of unsuccessful cryopreservation compared to those in other groups, possibly due to the large number of patients requesting sperm cryopreservation after chemotherapy induction. In Japan, information regarding sperm banking prior to cancer treatment appears to be lacking. Information regarding sperm preservation before chemotherapy should be provided to all Japanese oncologists.

  11. Impact of Infarct Size on Blood Pressure in Young Patients with Acute Stroke.

    PubMed

    Bonardo, Pablo; Pantiú, Fátima; Ferraro, Martín; Chertcoff, Anibal; Bandeo, Lucrecia; Cejas, Luciana León; Pacha, Sol; Roca, Claudia Uribe; Rugilo, Carlos; Pardal, Manuel Maria Fernández; Reisin, Ricardo

    2018-06-01

    Hypertension can be found in up to 80% of patients with acute stroke. Many factors have been related to this phenomenon such as age, history of hypertension, and stroke severity. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between infarct volume and blood pressure, at admission, in young patients with acute ischemic stroke. Patients younger than 55 years old admitted within 24 hours of ischemic stroke were included. Socio-demographic variables, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and infarct volume at admission were assessed. Statistical analysis: mean and SEM for quantitative variables, percentages for qualitative, and Spearman correlations ( p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). Twenty-two patients (12 men), mean age: 44.64 ± 1.62 years. The most frequent vascular risk factors were: hypertension, smoking, and overweight (40.9%). Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure on admission were: 143.27 ± 6.57 mmHg and 85.14 ± 3.62 mmHg, respectively. Infarct volume: 11.55 ± 4.74 ml. Spearman correlations: systolic blood pressure and infarct volume: p = 0.15 r : -0.317; diastolic blood pressure and infarct volume: p = 0.738 r: -0.76. In our series of young patients with acute ischemic stroke, large infarct volume was not associated with high blood pressure at admission.

  12. Scissor bite in a young patient treated with an orthodontic-orthopedic device. A case report.

    PubMed

    Favero, V; Sbricoli, L; Favero, L

    2013-06-01

    Scissor bite is a rare malocclusion that often leads to minor facial asymmetry. An orthodontic and orthopaedic correction is advisable in young patients to prevent subsequent temporomandibular diseases requesting maxillofacial intervention. In this case report a 8-year-old girl in mixed dentition with unilateral left scissor bite was treated with a modified Rapid Palatal Expander. To modify an overexpanded maxilla (width 39 mm measured between both upper first molars) the device was used to close rather than to expand, without need of patient compliance. Orthodontic correction was then completed with traditional bracketing. Results were tangible (width 36 mm) and remained stable even for at least 2 years after retention. This original device has proved to be useful in this kind of situations and can be easily applied to young patient to correct such malocclusions.

  13. Health-related quality of life of adolescent and young adult patients with cancer in the United States: the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Outcomes and Patient Experience study.

    PubMed

    Smith, Ashley Wilder; Bellizzi, Keith M; Keegan, Theresa H M; Zebrack, Brad; Chen, Vivien W; Neale, Anne Victoria; Hamilton, Ann S; Shnorhavorian, Margarett; Lynch, Charles F

    2013-06-10

    Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer face numerous physical, psychosocial, and practical challenges. This article describes the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and associated demographic and health-related characteristics of this developmentally diverse population. Data are from the Adolescent and Young Adult Health Outcomes and Patient Experience (AYA HOPE) study, a population-based cohort of 523 AYA patients with cancer, ages 15 to 39 years at diagnosis from 2007 to 2009. Comparisons are made by age group and with general and healthy populations. Multiple linear regression models evaluated effects of demographic, disease, health care, and symptom variables on multiple domains of HRQOL using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and the Short-Form Health Survey 12 (SF-12). Overall, respondents reported significantly worse HRQOL across both physical and mental health scales than did general and healthy populations. The greatest deficits were in limitations to physical and emotional roles, physical and social functioning, and fatigue. Teenaged patients (ages 15 to 17 years) reported worse physical and work/school functioning than patients 18 to 25 years old. Regression models showed that HRQOL was worse for those in treatment, with current/recent symptoms, or lacking health insurance at any time since diagnosis. In addition, sarcoma patients, Hispanic patients, and those with high school or lower education reported worse physical health. Unmarried patients reported worse mental health. Results suggest that AYAs with cancer have major decrements in several physical and mental HRQOL domains. Vulnerable subgroups included Hispanic patients, those with less education, and those without health insurance. AYAs also experienced higher levels of fatigue that were influenced by current symptoms and treatment. Future research should explore ways to address poor functioning in this understudied group.

  14. Implications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Insurance Coverage and Rehabilitation Use Among Young Adult Trauma Patients.

    PubMed

    Zogg, Cheryl K; Payró Chew, Fernando; Scott, John W; Wolf, Lindsey L; Tsai, Thomas C; Najjar, Peter; Olufajo, Olubode A; Schneider, Eric B; Haut, Elliott R; Haider, Adil H; Canner, Joseph K

    2016-12-21

    Trauma is the leading cause of death and disability among young adults, who are also among the most likely to be uninsured. Efforts to increase insurance coverage, including passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), were intended to improve access to care and promote improvements in outcomes. However, despite reported gains in coverage, the ACA's success in promoting use of high-quality care and enacting changes in clinical end points remains unclear. To assess for observed changes in insurance coverage and rehabilitation use among young adult trauma patients associated with the ACA, including the Dependent Coverage Provision (DCP) and Medicaid expansion/open enrollment, and to consider possible insurance and rehabilitation differences between DCP-eligible vs -ineligible patients and among stratified demographic and community subgroups. A longitudinal assessment of DCP implementation and Medicaid expansion/open enrollment using risk-adjusted before-and-after, difference-in-difference, and interrupted time-series analyses was conducted. Eleven years (January 1, 2005, to September 31, 2015) of Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission data, representing complete patient records from all payers within the state, were used to identify all hospitalized young adult (aged 18-34 years) trauma patients in Maryland during the study period. Of the 69 507 hospitalized patients included, 50 548 (72.7%) were male, and the mean (SD) age was 25 (5) years. Before implementation of the DCP, 1 of 4 patients was uninsured. After ACA implementation, the number fell to less than 1 of 10, with similar patterns emerging in emergency department and outpatient settings. The change was primarily driven by Medicaid expansion/open enrollment, which corresponded to a 20.1 percentage-point increase in Medicaid (95% CI, 18.9-21.3) and an 18.2 percentage-point decrease in uninsured (95% CI, -19.3 to -17.2). No changes were detected among privately insured patients

  15. The impact of cancer and its treatment on physical activity levels and quality of life among young Hong Kong Chinese cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Lam, Katherine K W; Li, William H C; Chiu, S Y; Chan, Godfrey C F

    2016-04-01

    Despite the evidence that regular physical activity can have beneficial effects on the physical and psychological well-being of cancer patients, a review of the literature reveals that a majority of young cancer patients fail to attain the same levels of physical activity that they had before contracting the disease. This study is to examine the impact of cancer and its treatment on the physical activity levels and quality of life of young Hong Kong Chinese cancer patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted, with 76 young cancer patients admitted for treatment to a pediatric oncology unit, and another similar age group of 148 healthy counterparts from the two integrated child and youth service centers were invited to join the study. The study found that the current physical activity levels of young cancer patients were markedly reduced when compared with their pre-cancer situation. Moreover, they were significantly less active in performing physical exercise, and reported lower levels of self-efficacy and quality of life than their healthy counterparts. The results of the hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that physical activity is an important indicator of quality of life among young cancer patients. The results provide further evidence that cancer and its treatment have negative effects on physical and psychological well-being and quality of life among young cancer patients. There is an imperative need for healthcare professionals to promote the adoption of regular physical activity among such patients, even during the treatment itself. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. The relationship between sleep-wake cycle and cognitive functioning in young people with affective disorders.

    PubMed

    Carpenter, Joanne S; Robillard, Rébecca; Lee, Rico S C; Hermens, Daniel F; Naismith, Sharon L; White, Django; Whitwell, Bradley; Scott, Elizabeth M; Hickie, Ian B

    2015-01-01

    Although early-stage affective disorders are associated with both cognitive dysfunction and sleep-wake disruptions, relationships between these factors have not been specifically examined in young adults. Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances in those with affective disorders are considerably heterogeneous, and may not relate to cognitive dysfunction in a simple linear fashion. This study aimed to characterise profiles of sleep and circadian disturbance in young people with affective disorders and examine associations between these profiles and cognitive performance. Actigraphy monitoring was completed in 152 young people (16-30 years; 66% female) with primary diagnoses of affective disorders, and 69 healthy controls (18-30 years; 57% female). Patients also underwent detailed neuropsychological assessment. Actigraphy data were processed to estimate both sleep and circadian parameters. Overall neuropsychological performance in patients was poor on tasks relating to mental flexibility and visual memory. Two hierarchical cluster analyses identified three distinct patient groups based on sleep variables and three based on circadian variables. Sleep clusters included a 'long sleep' cluster, a 'disrupted sleep' cluster, and a 'delayed and disrupted sleep' cluster. Circadian clusters included a 'strong circadian' cluster, a 'weak circadian' cluster, and a 'delayed circadian' cluster. Medication use differed between clusters. The 'long sleep' cluster displayed significantly worse visual memory performance compared to the 'disrupted sleep' cluster. No other cognitive functions differed between clusters. These results highlight the heterogeneity of sleep and circadian profiles in young people with affective disorders, and provide preliminary evidence in support of a relationship between sleep and visual memory, which may be mediated by use of antipsychotic medication. These findings have implications for the personalisation of treatments and improvement of functioning in

  17. Thumb Reach of Indonesian Young Adult When Interacting with Touchscreen of Single-Handed Device: A Preliminary Study

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Umami, M. K.

    2018-01-01

    This study is a preliminary survey on thumb reach of Indonesian population when interacting with single-handed device. This study was aimed to know the thumb reach envelope on the screen of mobile phone. The correlation between the thumb reach vs. the hand length and thumb length was also identified. Thirty young adults participated in the study. All participants had normal body stature and were right-handed person. In the observational phase, the participant was asked to colour the canvas area on the screen of the mobile phone by using his/her thumb. The participant had to complete the task by applying the single hand interaction. The participant should grab the mobile phone as he/she use it normally in his/her daily activities. The thumb reach envelope of participants was identified from the coloured area of the canvas. The results of this study found that participants with a large hand length and thumb length tend to have a large thumb reach. The results of this study also show the thumb reach area of the participants is forming an elliptical shape that runs from the northeast to southwest on the device screen.

  18. AIP mutations in young patients with acromegaly and the Tampico Giant: the Mexican experience.

    PubMed

    Ramírez-Rentería, Claudia; Hernández-Ramírez, Laura C; Portocarrero-Ortiz, Lesly; Vargas, Guadalupe; Melgar, Virgilio; Espinosa, Etual; Espinosa-de-Los-Monteros, Ana Laura; Sosa, Ernesto; González, Baldomero; Zúñiga, Sergio; Unterländer, Martina; Burger, Joachim; Stals, Karen; Bussell, Anne-Marie; Ellard, Sian; Dang, Mary; Iacovazzo, Donato; Kapur, Sonal; Gabrovska, Plamena; Radian, Serban; Roncaroli, Federico; Korbonits, Márta; Mercado, Moisés

    2016-08-01

    Although aryl hydrocarbon receptor-interacting protein (AIP) mutations are rare in sporadic acromegaly, their prevalence among young patients is nonnegligible. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the frequency of AIP mutations in a cohort of Mexican patients with acromegaly with disease onset before the age of 30 and to search for molecular abnormalities in the AIP gene in teeth obtained from the "Tampico Giant". Peripheral blood DNA from 71 patients with acromegaly (51 females) with disease onset <30 years was analysed (median age of disease onset of 23 years) and correlated with clinical, biochemical and imaging characteristics. Sequencing was also carried out in DNA extracted from teeth of the Tampico Giant. Five patients (7 %) harboured heterozygous, germline mutations of the AIP gene. In two of them (a 9-year-old girl with gigantism and a young man with symptoms of GH excess since age 14) the c.910C>T (p.Arg304Ter), well-known truncating mutation was identified; in one of these two cases and her identical twin sister, the mutation proved to be a de novo event, since neither of their parents were found to be carriers. In the remaining three patients, new mutations were identified: a frameshift mutation (c.976_977insC, p.Gly326AfsTer), an in-frame deletion (c.872_877del, p.Val291_Leu292del) and a nonsense mutation (c.868A > T, p.Lys290Ter), which are predicted to be pathogenic based on in silico analysis. Patients with AIP mutations tended to have an earlier onset of acromegaly and harboured larger and more invasive tumours. A previously described genetic variant of unknown significance (c.869C > T, p.Ala299Val) was identified in DNA from the Tampico Giant. The prevalence of AIP mutations in young Mexican patients with acromegaly is similar to that of European cohorts. Our results support the need for genetic evaluation of patients with early onset acromegaly.

  19. Young Children Prefer and Remember Satisfying Explanations

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Frazier, Brandy N.; Gelman, Susan A.; Wellman, Henry M.

    2016-01-01

    Research with preschool children has shown that explanations are important to them in that they actively seek explanations in their conversations with adults. But what sorts of explanations do they prefer, and what, if anything, do young children learn from the explanations they receive? Following a preliminary study with adults (N = 67) to…

  20. Four impacted fourth molars in a young patient: a case report

    PubMed Central

    CLEMENTINI, M.; OTTRIA, L.; PANDOLFI, C.; AGRESTINI, C.; BARLATTANI, A.

    2013-01-01

    Summary The occurrence of supernumerary teeth is a relatively uncommon dental anomaly and it’s rare for patients to have impacted fourth molars in all quadrant. Aim of this work is to describe the presence of bilateral fourth molars in the maxilla and the mandible in a young male patient aged 22 years came to our hospital with acute pericoronal infection around unerupted third inferior molars. Routine radiographic examination revealed impacted inferior third molars but also unerupted bilateral upper and inferior fourth molars. The acute infection was treated by local measures and the patient was subsequently admitted for removal of third and fourth impacted upper and lower molars under general anesthesia. PMID:23741604

  1. Age-Specific Patient Navigation Preferences Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer.

    PubMed

    Pannier, Samantha T; Warner, Echo L; Fowler, Brynn; Fair, Douglas; Salmon, Sara K; Kirchhoff, Anne C

    2017-11-23

    Patient navigation is increasingly being directed at adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients. This study provides a novel description of differences in AYA cancer patients' preferences for navigation services by developmental age at diagnosis. Eligible patients were diagnosed with cancer between ages 15 and 39 and had completed at least 1 month of treatment. Between October 2015 and January 2016, patients completed semi-structured interviews about navigation preferences. Summary statistics of demographic and cancer characteristics were generated. Differences in patient navigation preferences were examined through qualitative analyses by developmental age at diagnosis. AYAs were interviewed (adolescents 15-18 years N = 8; emerging adults 19-25 years N = 8; young adults 26-39 years N = 23). On average, participants were 4.5 years from diagnosis. All age groups were interested in face-to-face connection with a navigator and using multiple communication platforms (phone, text, email) to follow-up. Three of the most frequently cited needs were insurance, finances, and information. AYAs differed in support, healthcare, and resource preferences by developmental age; only adolescents preferred educational support. While all groups preferred financial and family support, the specific type of assistance (medical versus living expenses, partner/spouse, child, or parental assistance) varied by age group. AYAs with cancer have different preferences for patient navigation by developmental age at diagnosis. AYAs are not a one-size-fits-all population, and navigation programs can better assist AYAs when services are targeted to appropriate developmental ages. Future research should examine fertility and navigation preferences by time since diagnosis. While some navigation needs to span the AYA age range, other needs are specific to developmental age.

  2. Mental toughness, sleep disturbances, and physical activity in patients with multiple sclerosis compared to healthy adolescents and young adults

    PubMed Central

    Sadeghi Bahmani, Dena; Gerber, Markus; Kalak, Nadeem; Lemola, Sakari; Clough, Peter J; Calabrese, Pasquale; Shaygannejad, Vahid; Pühse, Uwe; Holsboer-Trachsler, Edith; Brand, Serge

    2016-01-01

    Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic autoimmune demyelinating and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, afflicting both the body and mind. The risk of suffering from MS is 2.5–3.5 times greater in females than in males. While there is extant research on fatigue, depression, and cognitive impairment in patients with MS during its clinical course, there is a lack of research focusing on sleep, psychological functioning, and physical activity (PA) at the point of disease onset. The aims of the present study were therefore, to assess the markers of mental toughness (MT) as a dimension of psychological functioning, sleep disturbances (SD), and PA among patients at the moment of disease onset and to compare these with the corresponding values for healthy adolescents and young adults. Methods A total of 23 patients with MS at disease onset (mean age =32.31 years; 91% females), 23 healthy adolescents (mean age =17.43 years; 82% females), and 25 healthy young adults (mean age =20.72 years; 80% females) took part in the study. They completed questionnaires covering sociodemographic data, MT, SD, and PA. Results Patients with MS had similar scores for MT traits as those in healthy adolescents and healthy young adults, and equivalent levels of moderate-intensity PA and SD as young adults. MS patients reported lower levels of vigorous PA compared to both healthy adolescents and young adults. Conclusion The pattern of the results of the present study suggests that the onset of MS is not associated with poor MT, poor sleep, or reduced moderate-intensity PA. Lower levels of vigorous PA were observed in MS patients. Low levels of vigorous PA may lead to decreased cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with MS and, in the long run, to reduced cardiovascular health and degraded psychological functioning. PMID:27390520

  3. Mental toughness, sleep disturbances, and physical activity in patients with multiple sclerosis compared to healthy adolescents and young adults.

    PubMed

    Sadeghi Bahmani, Dena; Gerber, Markus; Kalak, Nadeem; Lemola, Sakari; Clough, Peter J; Calabrese, Pasquale; Shaygannejad, Vahid; Pühse, Uwe; Holsboer-Trachsler, Edith; Brand, Serge

    2016-01-01

    Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common chronic autoimmune demyelinating and inflammatory disease of the central nervous system, afflicting both the body and mind. The risk of suffering from MS is 2.5-3.5 times greater in females than in males. While there is extant research on fatigue, depression, and cognitive impairment in patients with MS during its clinical course, there is a lack of research focusing on sleep, psychological functioning, and physical activity (PA) at the point of disease onset. The aims of the present study were therefore, to assess the markers of mental toughness (MT) as a dimension of psychological functioning, sleep disturbances (SD), and PA among patients at the moment of disease onset and to compare these with the corresponding values for healthy adolescents and young adults. A total of 23 patients with MS at disease onset (mean age =32.31 years; 91% females), 23 healthy adolescents (mean age =17.43 years; 82% females), and 25 healthy young adults (mean age =20.72 years; 80% females) took part in the study. They completed questionnaires covering sociodemographic data, MT, SD, and PA. Patients with MS had similar scores for MT traits as those in healthy adolescents and healthy young adults, and equivalent levels of moderate-intensity PA and SD as young adults. MS patients reported lower levels of vigorous PA compared to both healthy adolescents and young adults. The pattern of the results of the present study suggests that the onset of MS is not associated with poor MT, poor sleep, or reduced moderate-intensity PA. Lower levels of vigorous PA were observed in MS patients. Low levels of vigorous PA may lead to decreased cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with MS and, in the long run, to reduced cardiovascular health and degraded psychological functioning.

  4. Lifestyle advice provision to teenage and young adult cancer patients: the perspective of health professionals in the UK.

    PubMed

    Pugh, Gemma; Hough, Rachael; Gravestock, Helen; Williams, Kate; Fisher, Abigail

    2017-12-01

    Health professionals are an important source of information for teenage and young adult (TYA) cancer patients. However, little is known about health professionals' provision of lifestyle advice to young people with cancer who are in their care. An online survey was distributed to health professionals within the UK who identified themselves as working with TYA cancer patients. Health professional awareness of lifestyle guidance, provision of lifestyle advice to young people and views on lifestyle information format and delivery were explored. Ninety-five health professionals (44% nurses; 28% allied health professionals; 17% physicians) completed the survey. The majority (72%) of respondents were aware of some lifestyle guidance for cancer patients. However, less than half of TYA health professionals (46%) were able to successfully recall the source of the guidelines and less than a third reported proving specific advice to the majority of their patients on weight management, smoking, alcohol consumption and sun safety. Many health professionals (38%) felt that they were not the right person to provide advice and cited lack of resources as a key barrier to advice provision. The majority (95%) reported being interested in a resource containing relevant lifestyle information that could be given to young people with cancer. TYA health professionals' awareness of lifestyle guidance and provision of advice regarding health behaviour is sub-optimal. Clear and comprehensive guidance written specifically for TYA health professionals could overcome the reported barriers and improve professionals' confidence in addressing and providing advice on lifestyle to young people with cancer.

  5. Designing patient-centric applications for chronic disease management.

    PubMed

    Tsalatsanis, Athanasios; Gil-Herrera, Eleazar; Yalcin, Ali; Djulbegovic, Benjamin; Barnes, Laura

    2011-01-01

    Chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are the leading causes of disability and death in the developed world. Technological interventions such as mobile applications have the ability to facilitate and motivate patients in chronic disease management, but these types of interventions present considerable design challenges. The primary objective of this paper is to present the challenges arising from the design and implementation of software applications aiming to assist patients in chronic disease management. We also outline preliminary results regarding a self-management application currently under development targeting young adults suffering from type 1 diabetes.

  6. Screening for secondary endocrine hypertension in young patients.

    PubMed

    Trifanescu, Raluca; Carsote, Mara; Caragheorgheopol, Andra; Hortopan, Dan; Dumitrascu, Anda; Dobrescu, Mariana; Poiana, Catalina

    2013-06-01

    endocrine hypertension in our series, followed by Cushing's syndrome and pheochromocytomas. Screening of young hypertensive patients for secondary causes, especially primary hyperaldosteronism, is mandatory.

  7. Management of fertility preservation in young breast cancer patients in a large breast cancer centre.

    PubMed

    Lawrenz, B; Neunhoeffer, E; Henes, M; Lessmann-Bechle, S; Krämer, B; Fehm, Tanja

    2010-11-01

    The increase of breast cancer in young women under 40 years and the increasing age of women at the time of the birth of their first child underlines the importance to implement counselling for fertility-preserving strategies in the management of breast cancer care. We present the fertility-preserving procedures performed after routine counselling for primary breast cancer patients in a large certified breast cancer centre. Since November 2006, patients aged below 40 years with histologically confirmed breast cancer are routinely counselled on fertility-preserving possibilities before breast surgery and chemotherapy in the fertility centre of the University Women's Hospital in Tuebingen. The recommendations are based on the treatment recommendations of the network FertiPROTEKT. During the last 40 months, 56 primary breast cancer patients were counselled. Forty-one of these patients were hormone receptor positive. Thirty-four patients (63%) underwent fertility-preserving strategies. The majority of the patients (n = 22) decided on ovarian tissue cryopreservation. GnRH protection was performed in 14 patients. In 12 patients an ovarian stimulation protocol was initiated to cryopreserve fertilized or unfertilized oocytes. A combination of different fertility-preserving methods was performed in 12 patients. The preservation of ovarian function and fertility are of great importance to young breast cancer patients. Counselling on fertility-preserving strategies is therefore critical in these patients and should be routinely performed.

  8. Stuttering on function words in bilingual children who stutter: A preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Gkalitsiou, Zoi; Byrd, Courtney T; Bedore, Lisa M; Taliancich-Klinger, Casey L

    2017-01-01

    Evidence suggests young monolingual children who stutter (CWS) are more disfluent on function than content words, particularly when produced in the initial utterance position. The purpose of the present preliminary study was to investigate whether young bilingual CWS present with this same pattern. The narrative and conversational samples of four bilingual Spanish- and English-speaking CWS were analysed. All four bilingual participants produced significantly more stuttering on function words compared to content words, irrespective of their position in the utterance, in their Spanish narrative and conversational speech samples. Three of the four participants also demonstrated more stuttering on function compared to content words in their narrative speech samples in English, but only one participant produced more stuttering on function than content words in her English conversational sample. These preliminary findings are discussed relative to linguistic planning and language proficiency and their potential contribution to stuttered speech.

  9. Association Between Carotid Bulb Diaphragm and Ischemic Stroke in Young Afro-Caribbean Patients: A Population-Based Case-Control Study.

    PubMed

    Joux, Julien; Boulanger, Marion; Jeannin, Severine; Chausson, Nicolas; Hennequin, Jean-Luc; Molinié, Vincent; Smadja, Didier; Touzé, Emmanuel; Olindo, Stephane

    2016-10-01

    Carotid bulb diaphragm (CBD) has been described in young carotid ischemic stroke (CIS) patients, especially in blacks. However, the prevalence of CBD in CIS patients is unknown, and whether CBD is a risk factor for CIS remains unclear. We assessed the association between CBD and incident CIS in a population-based study. We selected all young (<55 years) CIS patients from a 1-year population-based cohort study in the Afro-Caribbean population of Martinique in 2012. All patients had a comprehensive work-up including a computed tomographic angiography. We calculated CIS associated with ipsilateral CBD incidence with 95% confidence intervals using Poisson distribution. We then selected age- and sex-matched controls among young (<55 years) Afro-Caribbean stroke-free patients admitted for a road crash who routinely had computed tomographic angiography. Odds ratio (ORs) were calculated by conditional logistic regression adjusted for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes and smoking. CIS associated with ipsilateral CBD incidence was 3.8 per 100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 1.4-6.1). Prevalence of ipsilateral CBD was 23% in all CIS and 37% in undetermined CIS patients. When restricted to undetermined CIS, CBD prevalence was 24 times higher than that in controls (adjusted OR, 24.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-325.6). CBD is associated with an increased risk of ipsilateral CIS in young Afro-Caribbean population. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

  10. Acute impact of home parenteral nutrition in patients with late-stage cancer on family caregivers: preliminary data.

    PubMed

    Santarpia, Lidia; Bozzetti, Federico

    2018-02-01

    Since there is no information regarding quality of life of caregivers assisting patients with advanced malignancy on home parenteral nutrition, herewith we report a preliminary series of 19 patients who received total parenteral nutrition at home under the strict supervision of their relatives. The relatives of 19 incurable patients with cancer-related cachexia, discharged from the hospital with a home parenteral nutrition program, were prospectively studied. They filled out a validated questionnaire, the Family Strain Questionnaire Short Form, prior to patient discharge and after 2 weeks of home care. The questionnaire included 30 items, which explored different domains regarding the superimposed burden on caregivers in relation to the assistance given to their relatives. Our findings show that the basal level of strain was relatively high (about three quarters of positive answers) but did not increase after 2 weeks of home care. Similarly, there was no difference in the nutritional status and quality of life of the patients. Eight patients and their relatives could be also analyzed after 2 months and the results maintained unchanged. This preliminary investigation shows that home parenteral nutrition does not exacerbate the level of strain on caregivers involved in surveillance of such a supportive intervention. It is possible that the perception of an active contribution to the benefit of patients, who maintained unchanged their nutritional status and quality of life, could gratify caregivers despite the objective burden in the constant supervision of administering Parenteral Nutrition.

  11. F19. TELOMERE SHORTENING IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH FIRST EPISODE PSYCHOSIS: A 12-MONTH FOLLOW-UP STUDY

    PubMed Central

    Fraguas, David; Recio, Sandra; Diaz-Caneja, Covadonga M; Blasco, Maria A; Moisés, Ana Carolina; Arango, Celso

    2018-01-01

    Abstract Background Short telomere length is a biomarker of cell oxidation and aging. Patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) have been reported to have shorter telomeres than healthy controls (HC), suggesting that there is a premature and accelerated cellular aging in FEP. However, there are not data on longitudinal changes of telomere length in people with FEP relative to HC. We present preliminary results on 1-year longitudinal changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) telomere length and the proportion of PBMCs with short telomeres in young people with FEP and HC. Methods 16 young patients with FEP (43.8% female, mean age 17.9 years) and 21 young HC (61.9% female, mean age 16.6 years) were enrolled in the study. PBMCs telomere length and the proportion of PBMCs with short telomeres (i.e. <3kb) were determined using high-throughput quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (HT Q-FISH) at baseline (16 patients with FEP and 21 HC) and 12-month follow-up (4 patients with FEP and 4 HC). Results At baseline, we did not find significant differences in telomere length nor in proportion of PBMCs with short telomeres between FEP patients and HC. During the one-year follow-up, we found a significantly greater loss of telomere length (p=0.019; explained variance=69.7%) and a non-significantly trend for greater increase in the proportion of PBMCs with short telomeres (p=0.097; explained variance=45.5%) in patients with FEP than in HC. Discussion Telomere length changes during the first years of the illness can represent an early marker of accelerated cellular aging in patients with first-episode psychosis.

  12. Assessing young children's intention-reading in authentic communicative contexts: preliminary evidence and clinical utility.

    PubMed

    Greenslade, Kathryn J; Coggins, Truman E

    2014-01-01

    Identifying what a communication partner is looking at (referential intention) and why (social intention) is essential to successful social communication, and may be challenging for children with social communication deficits. This study explores a clinical task that assesses these intention-reading abilities within an authentic context. To gather evidence of the task's reliability and validity, and to discuss its clinical utility. The intention-reading task was administered to twenty 4-7-year-olds with typical development (TD) and ten with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Task items were embedded in an authentic activity, and they targeted the child's ability to identify the examiner's referential and social intentions, which were communicated through joint attention behaviours. Reliability and construct validity evidence were addressed using established psychometric methods. Reliability and validity evidence supported the use of task scores for identifying children whose intention-reading warranted concern. Evidence supported the reliability of task administration and coding, and item-level codes were highly consistent with overall task performance. Supporting task validity, group differences aligned with predictions, with children with ASD exhibiting poorer and more variable task scores than children with TD. Also, as predicted, task scores correlated significantly with verbal mental age and ratings of parental concerns regarding social communication abilities. The evidence provides preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the clinical task's scores in assessing young children's real-time intention-reading abilities, which are essential for successful interactions in school and beyond. © 2014 Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

  13. Preliminary clinical trial with a new hypotensive, guanabenz, in a group of hypertensive patients.

    PubMed

    De Ridder, J H; Marchandise, P

    1980-01-01

    In a small preliminary clinical trial of guanabenz in 16 hypertensives also under treatment with diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride), blood pressure was safely and completely controlled in 10 (64%), the criterion for "control" being a reduction to the strict level specified by the Society of Actuaries (130/85 m lambda Hg). The dosage of guanabenz was adjusted upward from 16 mg/day until blood pressure normalized or side effects intervened. The 16 patients accumulated 97 months of guanabenz treatment. The 6 unsuccessful cases included only 2 outright therapeutic failures; the other 4 patients discontinued treatment for various reasons: dry mouth and nausea (with good blood pressure reduction); aggravation of existing depression; or generalized urticaria. The fourth patient discontinued for reasons unknown.

  14. Development of three-dimensional brain arteriovenous malformation model for patient communication and young neurosurgeon education.

    PubMed

    Dong, Mengqi; Chen, Guangzhong; Qin, Kun; Ding, Xiaowen; Zhou, Dong; Peng, Chao; Zeng, Shaojian; Deng, Xianming

    2018-01-15

    Rapid prototyping technology is used to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) brain arteriovenous malformation (AVM) models and facilitate presurgical patient communication and medical education for young surgeons. Two intracranial AVM cases were selected for this study. Using 3D CT angiography or 3D rotational angiography images, the brain AVM models were reconstructed on personal computer and the rapid prototyping process was completed using a 3D printer. The size and morphology of the models were compared to brain digital subtraction arteriography of the same patients. 3D brain AVM models were used for preoperative patient communication and young neurosurgeon education. Two brain AVM models were successfully produced. By neurosurgeons' evaluation, the printed models have high fidelity with the actual brain AVM structures of the patients. The patient responded positively toward the brain AVM model specific to himself. Twenty surgical residents from residency programs tested the brain AVM models and provided positive feedback on their usefulness as educational tool and resemblance to real brain AVM structures. Patient-specific 3D printed models of brain AVM can be constructed with high fidelity. 3D printed brain AVM models are proved to be helpful in preoperative patient consultation, surgical planning and resident training.

  15. Agalsidase Benefits Renal Histology in Young Patients with Fabry Disease

    PubMed Central

    Bostad, Leif; Larsen, Kristin Kampevold; Hirth, Asle; Vikse, Bjørn Egil; Houge, Gunnar; Svarstad, Einar

    2012-01-01

    The effect of early-onset enzyme replacement therapy on renal morphologic features in Fabry disease is largely unknown. Here, we evaluated the effect of 5 years of treatment with agalsidase alfa or agalsidase beta in 12 consecutive patients age 7–33 years (median age, 16.5 years). We performed renal biopsies at baseline and after 5 years of enzyme replacement therapy; 7 patients had additional biopsies after 1 and 3 years. After a median of 65 months, biopsy findings from all patients showed total clearance of glomerular endothelial and mesangial cell inclusions, and findings from 2 patients showed complete clearance of inclusions from epithelial cells of the distal tubule. The 4 patients who received the highest dose of agalsidase exhibited substantial clearance of podocyte inclusions, and the youngest patient had nearly complete clearance of these inclusions. Linear regression analysis showed a highly significant correlation between podocyte globotriaocylceramide clearance and cumulative agalsidase dose (r=0.804; P=0.002). Microalbuminuria normalized in five patients. In summary, long-term enzyme replacement therapy in young patients can result in complete globotriaocylceramide clearance of mesangial and glomerular endothelial cells across all dosage regimens, and clearance of podocyte inclusions is dose-dependent. PMID:23274955

  16. Differences in Risk Factors for Rotator Cuff Tears between Elderly Patients and Young Patients.

    PubMed

    Watanabe, Akihisa; Ono, Qana; Nishigami, Tomohiko; Hirooka, Takahiko; Machida, Hirohisa

    2018-02-01

    It has been unclear whether the risk factors for rotator cuff tears are the same at all ages or differ between young and older populations. In this study, we examined the risk factors for rotator cuff tears using classification and regression tree analysis as methods of nonlinear regression analysis. There were 65 patients in the rotator cuff tears group and 45 patients in the intact rotator cuff group. Classification and regression tree analysis was performed to predict rotator cuff tears. The target factor was rotator cuff tears; explanatory variables were age, sex, trauma, and critical shoulder angle≥35°. In the results of classification and regression tree analysis, the tree was divided at age 64. For patients aged≥64, the tree was divided at trauma. For patients aged<64, the tree was divided at critical shoulder angle≥35°. The odds ratio for critical shoulder angle≥35° was significant for all ages (5.89), and for patients aged<64 (10.3) while trauma was only a significant factor for patients aged≥64 (5.13). Age, trauma, and critical shoulder angle≥35° were related to rotator cuff tears in this study. However, these risk factors showed different trends according to age group, not a linear relationship.

  17. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents and young adults.

    PubMed

    Burke, Patrick W; Douer, Dan

    2014-01-01

    The cure rate of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children is 80%, compared to less than half in adults. A major proportion of this cure rate drop occurs in adolescents and young adults (AYAs). The age range defining this population varies between studies, biological characteristics are different from both younger children and older adults, and AYAs are treated either by pediatric or adult oncologists, who often apply different treatment approaches to the same ALL patient population. The outcome of AYAs aged 15-21 years treated by more contemporary pediatric protocols is similar to that of younger children but is inferior when using adult regimens. This motivated studying AYA patients, including those above the age of 21 years, with pediatric or 'pediatrics-inspired' regimens that intensified nonmyelosuppressive drugs such as vincristine, steroids and asparaginase, with very promising preliminary results. Discovering new mutations in AYA ALL will help stratify patients into risk subgroups and identify targets for novel agents. This, together with fine-tuning pediatric chemotherapy principles will hopefully finally decrease the cure rate gap between children and AYAs - and even older adults. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  18. MRI Neuroanatomy in Young Girls with Autism: A Preliminary Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bloss, Cinnamon S.; Courchesne, Eric

    2007-01-01

    Objective: To test the hypothesis that young girls and boys with autism exhibit different profiles of neuroanatomical abnormality relative to each other and relative to typically developing children. Method: Structural magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure gray and white matter volumes (whole cerebrum, cerebral lobes, and cerebellum) and…

  19. A Preliminary Analysis of Calcifying Particles in the Serum and Prostates of Patients with Prostatic Inflammation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jones, Jeffrey A.; Carlson, Grant; Kajander, E. Olavi; Warmflash, David; Taylor, Karen; Ayala, Gustavo; Shoskes, Daniel; Everett, Meg; Feedback, Dan; Ciftcioglu, Neva

    2006-01-01

    Chronic diseases of the prostate such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) & chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) have associated findings of chronic inflammation, despite a lack of causal relationship. Numerous attempts to define an infectious agent responsible for the clinical findings have been inconsistent. The possibility of an infectious agent, that has not been uncovered with routine culturing methods, forms the basis for this study. Serum from 940 healthy Finnish men were compared with serum from 40 Crohn's, 40 path dx prostatitis, & 40 with path dx carcinoma, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA), to detect antigens specific to Nanobacteria(NB) utilizing monoclonal antibodies (Ab) 5/3 and 8D10. This ELISA has not been validated for detecting NB-associated with clinical prostatic disease, yet cross-reactivity with other bacterial species is low. Immunohistochemistry was performed on de-paraffinized prostatic tissue slides, de-calcified with EDTA and stained with the DAKO Catalyzed Signal Amplification kit, employing 8D10 as the primary (target/antigen-detecting) Ab. The mean (plus or minus SD) & median concentrations of NB antigen (U/50 L) were 379.59 (plus or minus 219.28) & 640.00 for patients with prostatitis (BPH) vs 3.31 (plus or minus 3.55) & 2.94 for prostate adenocarcinoma, 1.88 (plus or minus 2.94) & 0.80 for Crohn's disease, & 7.43 (plus or minus 25.57) & 0.00 for patients with no clinical prostatic disease. Unpaired t-tests revealed statistically significant differences between the prostatitis (BPH) sera & each of the other groups with p less than 0.005, but no differences between the other groups themselves. Preliminary studies with immunohistochemistry & 3-D confocal microscopy reveal 16/24 tissue sections + for NB Ag in BPH vs. only 2/22 tissue sections with prostate cancer. The preliminary findings of this serum screening study suggest that NB antigen may be commonly found in the serum of patients with the pathological diagnosis

  20. Genetic mutations of young patients admitted to an emergency department for syncope during sport practice.

    PubMed

    Gómez Alcaraz, Jorge; Bustamante, José; Corral, Ervigio; Casado Florez, Maria Isabel; Vivas, David; Cañadas-Godoy, Victoria; González Del Castillo, Juan; González Armengol, Juan Jorge; López-Farré, Antonio; Martín Sánchez, Francisco Javier

    2018-04-25

    To study the frequency of genetic mutations related to genetic heart disease among young patients admitted for syncope during sport practice. A case series study that included patients≤45 years admitted for syncope during sport practice during 2010-2011. We collected demographic and clinical variables, genetic tests mutations and final clinical diagnosis. A genetic test was performed in 46 (76.7%) of 60 patients evaluated. The genetic test was positive in 12 (26%; 95% CI 15.6-40.3) patients; 10 (21.7%) had PKP2 mutation related to arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia mutation, one (2.2%) KCNQ1 mutation and one (2.2%) SCN5A mutation related to channelopathies. The genetic test was positive in 11 (35.5%) cases of undetermined syncope and one (50%) case of cardiac syncope, being negative in all cases with neuromediated syncopes (P=.037). Gene mutations are common in young patients suffering from syncope during sports, especially in those with cardiac or undetermined aetiology. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  1. Shoulder arthroplasty options in young (<50 years old) patients: review of current concepts.

    PubMed

    Johnson, Michael H; Paxton, E Scott; Green, Andrew

    2015-02-01

    Prosthetic shoulder arthroplasty provides excellent pain relief and functional restoration for patients with glenohumeral arthritis, but concerns of survivorship have limited its use in younger patients. Despite general reports of high long-term survivorship, implant failure and functional deterioration after total shoulder arthroplasty are major concerns in the management of younger patients. In addition to having a longer life expectancy, younger patients also tend to be more active and can be expected to place greater demands on their shoulder arthroplasty. Alternative strategies have been developed and used for shoulder arthroplasty in younger patients. This manuscript reviews current concepts of shoulder arthroplasty in young patients. Copyright © 2015 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. The impact of young age on locoregional recurrence after doxorubicin-based breast conservation therapy in patients 40 years old or younger: How young is 'young'?

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

    Oh, Julia L.; Bonnen, Mark; Outlaw, Elesyia D.

    2006-08-01

    Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients <35 years old have similar risk of locoregional recurrence after breast conservation therapy compared with patients 35 to 40 years old. Methods and materials: We retrospectively reviewed records of 196 consecutive patients {<=}40 years old who received breast conservation therapy (BCT) from 1987 to 2000 for breast cancer and compared outcomes between patients <35 years old with patients 35 to 40 years old. The majority of patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy as part of their treatment. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess risk factors for locoregional recurrence. Results: After amore » median follow-up of 64 months, 22 locoregional recurrences (LRR) were observed. Twenty patients developed locoregional recurrence as their first site of relapse. Two patients had bone-only metastases before their locoregional recurrence. On multivariate analysis, age <35 years was associated with a statistically significant increased risk of locoregional recurrence. The 5-year rate of locoregional control was 87.9% in patients <35 years old compared with 91.7% in patients 35 to 40 years old (p = 0.042). Conclusions: Our finding supports an increased risk of locoregional recurrence as a function of younger age after breast conservation therapy, even among young patients 40 years old and younger.« less

  3. Etiological classification of ischemic stroke in young patients: a comparative study of TOAST, CCS, and ASCO.

    PubMed

    Gökçal, Elif; Niftaliyev, Elvin; Asil, Talip

    2017-09-01

    Analysis of stroke subtypes is important for making treatment decisions and prognostic evaluations. The TOAST classification system is most commonly used, but the CCS and ASCO classification systems might be more useful to identify stroke etiologies in young patients whose strokes have a wide range of different causes. In this manuscript, we aim to compare the differences in subtype classification between TOAST, CCS, and ASCO in young stroke patients. The TOAST, CCS, and ASCO classification schemes were applied to 151 patients with ischemic stroke aged 18-49 years old and the proportion of subtypes classified by each scheme was compared. For comparison, determined etiologies were defined as cases with evident and probable subtypes when using the CCS scheme and cases with grade 1 and 2 subtypes but no other grade 1 subtype when using the ASCO scheme. The McNemar test with Bonferroni correction was used to assess significance. By TOAST, 41.1% of patients' stroke etiology was classified as undetermined etiology, 19.2% as cardioembolic, 13.2% as large artery atherosclerosis, 11.3% as small vessel occlusion, and 15.2% as other causes. Compared with TOAST, both CCS and ASCO assigned fewer patients to the undetermined etiology group (30.5% p < 0.001 and 26.5% p < 0.001, respectively) and assigned more patients to the small vessel occlusion category (19.9%, p < 0.001, and 21.9%, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, both schemes assigned more patients to the large artery atherosclerosis group (15.9 and 16.6%, respectively). The proportion of patients assigned to either the cardioembolic or the other causes etiology did not differ significantly between the three schemes. Application of the CCS and ASCO classification schemes in young stroke patients seems feasible, and using both schemes may result in fewer patients being classified as undetermined etiology. New studies with more patients and a prospective design are needed to explore this topic further.

  4. 10-year results of the uncemented Allofit press-fit cup in young patients.

    PubMed

    Streit, Marcus R; Weiss, Stefan; Andreas, Franziska; Bruckner, Thomas; Walker, Tilman; Kretzer, J Philippe; Ewerbeck, Volker; Merle, Christian

    2014-08-01

    Uncemented acetabular components in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) are commonly used today, but few studies have evaluated their survival into the second decade in young and active patients. We report on a minimum 10-year follow-up of an uncemented press-fit acetabular component that is still in clinical use. We examined the clinical and radiographic results of our first 121 consecutive cementless THAs using a cementless, grit-blasted, non-porous, titanium alloy press-fit cup (Allofit; Zimmer Inc., Warsaw, IN) without additional screw fixation in 116 patients. Mean age at surgery was 51 (21-60) years. Mean time of follow-up evaluation was 11 (10-12) years. At final follow-up, 8 patients had died (8 hips), and 1 patient (1 hip) was lost to follow-up. 3 hips in 3 patients had undergone acetabular revision, 2 for deep infection and 1 for aseptic acetabular loosening. There were no impending revisions at the most recent follow-up. We did not detect periacetabular osteolysis or loosening on plain radiographs in those hips that were evaluated radiographically (n = 90; 83% of the hips available at a minimum of 10 years). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis using revision of the acetabular component for any reason (including isolated inlay revisions) as endpoint estimated the 11-year survival rate at 98% (95% CI: 92-99). Uncemented acetabular fixation using the Allofit press-fit cup without additional screws was excellent into early in the second decade in this young and active patient cohort. The rate of complications related to the liner and to osteolysis was low.

  5. Screening for Secondary Endocrine Hypertension in Young Patients

    PubMed Central

    TRIFANESCU, Raluca; CARSOTE, Mara; CARAGHEORGHEOPOL, Andra; HORTOPAN, Dan; DUMITRASCU, Anda; DOBRESCU, Mariana; POIANA, Catalina

    2013-01-01

    .75%). Conclusion: Primary hyperaldosteronism was the most frequent cause of secondary endocrine hypertension in our series, followed by Cushing's syndrome and pheochromocytomas. Screening of young hypertensive patients for secondary causes, especially primary hyperaldosteronism, is mandatory. PMID:24371473

  6. Do Patient Characteristics Decide if Young Adult Cancer Patients Undergo Fertility Preservation?

    PubMed

    Flink, Dina M; Sheeder, Jeanelle; Kondapalli, Laxmi A

    2017-06-01

    The Fertility Attitudes and Cancer Treatment Study (FACTS) is a two-phase research initiative aimed to understand factors involved with decision making for future fertility. The FACTS will improve services and utilization of fertility preservation (FP) before cancer treatment. Phase-I examined patient characteristics as associated with FP decision. A retrospective cohort study of 108 reproductive-aged (18-45 years) males and females who received a fertility consultation before cancer treatment from January 1, 2012 to April 30, 2014 was conducted. Chi-square, student's t-test, and logistic regression were conducted to examine associations with FP decision. The utilization rate of FP following fertility consultation was 49%. Gender was the most significant factor contributing to FP decision; 74% of those who choose FP were male (odds ratio = 12.5; 95% confidence interval 5.1-31.4). Those who opted for FP were more likely to be Caucasian (p = 0.042), have a solid tumor (p = 0.03), and have a shorter time from diagnosis to fertility consultation (29.5 vs. 58.8 days; p = 0.017). Age, relationship, tumor location, treatment plan, and parity were not significant predictors of FP. Current perceptions about patient demographics do not predict FP utilization by young adult cancer patients. Providing patients an informed fertility consultation has demonstrated an increase in FP utilization to nearly one-half of patients. Despite gender being a significant factor in choosing FP, the study did not provide reasons as to why. The phase-II study will explore patients' reasons for FP decision in a qualitative design to understand these differences.

  7. Cardiac transplant in young female patient diagnosed with diffuse systemic sclerosis.

    PubMed

    Bennasar, Guillermo; Carlevaris, Leandro; Secco, Anastasia; Romanini, Felix; Mamani, Marta

    2016-01-01

    Systemic sclerosis (SS) in a multifactorial and systemic, chronic, autoimmune disease that affects the connective tissue. We present this clinical case given the low prevalence of diffuse SS with early and progressive cardiac compromise in a young patient, and treatment with cardiac transplantation. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Reumatología y Colegio Mexicano de Reumatología. All rights reserved.

  8. Effects of kinesthetic haptic feedback on standing stability of young healthy subjects and stroke patients.

    PubMed

    Afzal, Muhammad Raheel; Byun, Ha-Young; Oh, Min-Kyun; Yoon, Jungwon

    2015-03-13

    Haptic control is a useful therapeutic option in rehabilitation featuring virtual reality interaction. As with visual and vibrotactile biofeedback, kinesthetic haptic feedback may assist in postural control, and can achieve balance control. Kinesthetic haptic feedback in terms of body sway can be delivered via a commercially available haptic device and can enhance the balance stability of both young healthy subjects and stroke patients. Our system features a waist-attached smartphone, software running on a computer (PC), and a dedicated Phantom Omni® device. Young healthy participants performed balance tasks after assumption of each of four distinct postures for 30 s (one foot on the ground; the Tandem Romberg stance; one foot on foam; and the Tandem Romberg stance on foam) with eyes closed. Patient eyes were not closed and assumption of the Romberg stance (only) was tested during a balance task 25 s in duration. An Android application running continuously on the smartphone sent mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) tilt angles to a PC, which generated kinesthetic haptic feedback via Phantom Omni®. A total of 16 subjects, 8 of whom were young healthy and 8 of whom had suffered stroke, participated in the study. Post-experiment data analysis was performed using MATLAB®. Mean Velocity Displacement (MVD), Planar Deviation (PD), Mediolateral Trajectory (MLT) and Anteroposterior Trajectory (APT) parameters were analyzed to measure reduction in body sway. Our kinesthetic haptic feedback system was effective to reduce postural sway in young healthy subjects regardless of posture and the condition of the substrate (the ground) and to improve MVD and PD in stroke patients who assumed the Romberg stance. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that kinesthetic haptic feedback significantly reduced body sway in both categories of subjects. Kinesthetic haptic feedback can be implemented using a commercial haptic device and a smartphone. Intuitive balance cues were

  9. Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Gene Polymorphism (T29C) in Egyptian Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Infection: A Preliminary Study

    PubMed Central

    Talaat, Roba M.; Dondeti, Mahmoud F.; El-Shenawy, Soha Z.; Khamiss, Omaima A.

    2013-01-01

    The interindividual variations in the capacity of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) production have been ascribed to genetic polymorphisms in TGF-β1 gene. As pathogenesis of HBV has a genetic background, this preliminary study was designed to assess the impact of TGF-β1 (T29C) on the susceptibility of Egyptians to HBV infection. Genotyping was performed using single stranded polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) in 65 Egyptian hepatitis B patients and 50 healthy controls. TGF-β1 plasma levels were measured using Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The frequency of CC genotype was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in HBV patients compared to controls. On the contrary, TC genotype did not show significant difference in both groups. TT genotype was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in controls than HBV patients. Our current preliminary data revealed that the frequency of the genotypes in the controls were within Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) while the patients group was out of HWE (P < 0.01). TGF-β1 was significantly (r = −0.684; P < 0.001) deceased in the sera of patients as compared to normal subjects. Depending on our preliminary work, CC genotype may act as a host genetic factor in the susceptibility to HBV infection in Egyptians. Taken together, the current data pointed to the importance of polymorphism of TGF-β1 gene (T29C) in HBV infection. PMID:24455227

  10. Early Corneal Cellular and Nerve Fiber Pathology in Young Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Identified Using Corneal Confocal Microscopy.

    PubMed

    Szalai, Eszter; Deák, Eszter; Módis, László; Németh, Gábor; Berta, András; Nagy, Annamária; Felszeghy, Eniko; Káposzta, Rita; Malik, Rayaz A; Csutak, Adrienne

    2016-03-01

    The aim of this study was to quantify epithelial, stromal, and endothelial cell density, and subbasal nerve morphology in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus with and without diabetic retinopathy. A total of 28 young patients (mean age, 22.86 ± 9.05 years) with type 1 diabetes, with (n = 18) and without (n = 10) retinopathy, and 17 age-matched healthy control subjects (mean age, 26.53 ± 2.43 years) underwent corneal confocal microscopy (CCM). We found significantly lower epithelial (P < 0.0001) and endothelial (P = 0.001) cell densities and higher keratocyte cell density (P = 0.024) in patients with type 1 diabetes compared to controls. Significantly lower corneal nerve fiber density (P = 0.004), nerve branch density (P = 0.004), total nerve branch density (P = 0.04), and nerve fiber length (P = 0.001), and greater nerve fiber width (P = 0.04) were observed in patients with type 1 diabetes compared to control subjects. Significantly lower epithelial (P < 0.001) and endothelial (P = 0.02) cell densities, nerve branch density (P = 0.02), and nerve fiber length (P = 0.04), and significantly higher keratocyte cell density (P = 0.02) were found in patients with type 1 diabetes without retinopathy compared to control subjects. Corneal confocal microscopy identifies corneal cellular and small nerve fiber pathology in young patients with type 1 diabetes without retinopathy, which increases in severity in those with retinopathy. Corneal confocal microscopy appears to have considerable use as an imaging biomarker for early subclinical pathology in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

  11. Risk factors for discontinuation of insulin pump therapy in pediatric and young adult patients.

    PubMed

    Kostev, Karel; Rockel, Timo; Rosenbauer, Joachim; Rathmann, Wolfgang

    2014-12-01

    Previous studies have shown that only a small number of pediatric and young adult patients discontinue pump therapy, but risk factors for discontinuation are unclear. To identify characteristics of pediatric and young adult patients with pump therapy which are associated with discontinuation of treatment. Retrospective cohort study using a representative nationwide database (LRx; IMS Health) in Germany covering >80% of all prescriptions to members of statutory health insurances in 2008-2011. All patients (age group <25 years) with new prescriptions of insulin pumps were identified (2009-2010) and were followed for 12 months. Overall, 2452 new pump users were identified, of whom 177 (7.2%) switched to other forms of insulin therapy within 12 months. In multivariate logistic regression, younger age (<6 years; reference 18 to <25 years: Odds ratio, OR, 95% CI: 0.36; 0.17-0.74) and use of teflon needles (reference steel needles: OR, 95% CI: 0.59; 0.41-0.83) were related to a lower odds of pump discontinuation. A non-significant trend was found for male sex (OR, 95% CI: 0.75; 0.52-1.08). Prescriptions of thyroid therapeutics (ATC H03A: OR, 95% CI: 1.79; 1.23-2.61) and antiepileptics (N03: OR, 95% CI: 3.14; 1.49-6.59) were significantly associated with discontinuation of pump therapy. About 93% of pediatric and young adult patients maintained insulin pump therapy within 12 months. Age <6 years, male sex and teflon needle use were associated with a lower risk of discontinuation. Thyroid therapy (indicating autoimmunity) and antiepileptic drug prescriptions were associated with a higher likelihood for discontinuation of insulin pump treatment. Copyright © 2014 Primary Care Diabetes Europe. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. Alcohol use patterns and alcohol use disorders among young adult, ethnically diverse bariatric surgery patients.

    PubMed

    Spadola, Christine E; Wagner, Eric F; Accornero, Veronica H; Vidot, Denise C; de la Cruz-Munoz, Nestor; Messiah, Sarah E

    2017-01-01

    Research suggests that young adults and racial/ethnic minorities are at an increased risk for problematic alcohol use. Recent studies have also documented patterns of problematic alcohol use among a subset of weight loss surgery (WLS) patients. However, to date, there are no published studies investigating the intersection of these demographic and clinical characteristics. This study used descriptive and inferential analyses to examine alcohol use patterns, prevalence of pre- and post-WLS alcohol use disorders (AUDs), and predictors of increased alcohol use and problematic alcohol use post-WLS among young adult (mean age 26.5 years, SD = 5.5 years) ethnically diverse (57% Hispanic, 28% non-Hispanic black) WLS patients (N = 69). Over 21% of the sample had a history of a lifetime AUD, and 4.2% of the sample developed an AUD post-WLS. In the past 30 days, 14.5% of respondents reported binge drinking, and 42% reported drinking until intoxication. History of a pre-WLS AUD was associated with an increased frequency of alcohol use post-WLS (P = .012). Age, time since WLS, the gastric bypass procedure, and pre-WLS history of an AUD were not significant predictors of binge drinking or drinking to intoxication post-WLS. Ethnically diverse, young adults may have an elevated prevalence of AUD diagnoses pre-WLS. Having a pre-WLS AUD appears to be a risk factor for increased alcohol use post-WLS. Young adult WLS patients might also demonstrate high rates of binge drinking and drinking to intoxication. Binge drinking could be especially problematic considering that WLS could increase sensitivity to alcohol. Further investigation is warranted with this important subpopulation to explore risk factors for problematic alcohol use post-WLS; future assessments of alcohol use should consider potential heightened alcohol sensitivity resulting from WLS.

  13. Clinical findings and risk factors to oral squamous cell carcinoma in young patients: A 12-year retrospective analysis.

    PubMed

    Santos, Hellen-Bandeira-de-Pontes; dos Santos, Thayana-Karla-Guerra; Paz, Alexandre-Rolim; Cavalcanti, Yuri-Wanderley; Nonaka, Cassiano-Francisco-Weege; Godoy, Gustavo-Pina; Alves, Pollianna-Muniz

    2016-03-01

    In recent years have been observed an increased incidence of OSCC in young individuals. Based on this, the aim this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of all cases of OSCC in younger patients, diagnosed in two oncology referral hospitals, at the northeast region of Brazil within a 12-year period. Data regarding general characteristics of patients (age, gender and tobacco and/or alcohol habits) and information about the lesions (tumor location, size, regional lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and clinical stage) were submitted to descriptive and inferential analysis. Statistical analysis included Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests (P<0.05). Out of 2311 registered cases of OSCC, 76 (3.3%) corresponded to OSCC in patients under 45 years old. Most of them were male (n=62, 81.6%) and tobacco and/or alcohol users (n=40, 52.8%). The most frequent site was the tongue (n=31, 40.8%), with predominance of cases classified at advanced clinical stage (III and IV, n = 46, 60.5%). The advanced stage of OSCC (III and IV) was statistically associated with male gender (P=0.035), lower education level (P=0.007), intraoral sites (P<0.001), presence of pain symptomatology (P=0.006), and consumption of tobacco and/or alcohol (P=0.001). The profile of OSCC in young patients resembles to the commonly characteristics reported for overall population. The late diagnosis in young patients usually results in poor prognosis, associated with gender, harmful habits and tumor location. Although prevalence is low, stimulus to prevention and to early diagnosis should be addressed to young individuals exposed to risk factors.

  14. Social, educational and vocational outcomes in patients with childhood-onset and young-adult-onset growth hormone deficiency.

    PubMed

    Mitra, M Tanya; Jönsson, Peter; Åkerblad, Ann-Charlotte; Clayton, Peter; Kołtowska-Häggström, Maria; Korbonits, Márta; Toogood, Andy; Gleeson, Helena

    2017-04-01

    Hypopituitarism diagnosed in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood has the potential to affect growth and somatic development. Less is known about the impact of such a diagnosis on other aspects of development. An analysis of the KIMS database (Pfizer International Metabolic Database) was performed to explore social, educational and vocational outcomes of adult patients diagnosed in childhood, adolescence and young adulthood compared with adult-onset controls. A total of 2952 adult patients diagnosed with hypothalamic pituitary conditions before the age of 25 were divided into two groups: childhood-onset [<16 years (CO)] (n = 1782) and young-adult-onset [16 to <25 years (YAO)] (n = 1170). A total of 1617 adult patients diagnosed with a nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma at the age of 25 or older formed the adult-onset control group (AO). KIMS Patient Life Situation Form which provided information on social, educational and vocational outcomes. Compared with the AO control group, CO and YAO patients were between 4·5 and 8·0 times more likely to live with their parents in adulthood; CO and YAO patients were also less likely to live in partnership and to have children. The impact on educational and vocational outcomes was less marked than on social outcomes with no significant differences compared with the AO control group. Educational and vocational outcomes showed the lowest level in male and female CO and YAO patients who had been previously diagnosed with a brain tumour. Social outcomes were more affected than educational and vocational outcomes. Although CO patients are more adversely affected, YAO patients were also failing to achieve social milestones. This has consequences for the delivery of endocrine care in both paediatric and adult services. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  15. Alterations in the trapezius muscle in young patients with migraine--a pilot case series with MRI.

    PubMed

    Landgraf, M N; Ertl-Wagner, B; Koerte, I K; Thienel, J; Langhagen, T; Straube, A; von Kries, R; Reilich, P; Pomschar, A; Heinen, F

    2015-05-01

    Migraine is frequent in young adults and adolescents and often associated with neck muscle tension and pain. Common pathophysiological pathways, such as reciprocal cervico-trigeminal activation, are assumed. Tense areas within the neck muscles can be clinically observed many patients with migraine. The aim of this pilot case study was to visualize these tense areas via magnet resonance imaging (MRI). Three young patients with migraine were examined by an experienced investigator. In all three patients tense areas in the trapezius muscles were palpated. These areas were marked by nitroglycerin capsules on the adjacent skin surface. The MRI showed focal signal alterations at the marked locations within the trapezius muscles. Visualization of palpable tense areas by MRI may be usefully applied in the future to help elucidate the underlying pathophysiological processes of migraine. Copyright © 2015 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Survival Among Patients With Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer.

    PubMed

    Holowatyj, Andreana N; Ruterbusch, Julie J; Rozek, Laura S; Cote, Michele L; Stoffel, Elena M

    2016-06-20

    Racial disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) persist, despite overall reductions in morbidity and mortality. In addition, incidence is rising among individuals younger than 50 years of age. We compared the survival of young-onset CRC among non-Hispanic black (NHB), non-Hispanic white (NHW), and Hispanic individuals. Using the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program data, we identified individuals between the ages of 20 and 49 years, diagnosed with CRC between 2000 and 2009. Survival rates and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare stage-specific 5-year survival among NHBs, NHWs, and Hispanics. We identified 28,145 patients with young-onset CRC (19,497 NHW; 4,384 NHB; 4,264 Hispanic) during the 10-year study period. Overall survival at 5 years after CRC diagnosis was 54.9% among NHB, 68.1% among NHW, and 62.9% among Hispanic individuals (P < .001). NHB individuals had a significantly higher hazard of cancer-specific death compared with NHWs after adjusting for age, sex, race, stage, county-level poverty, and treatment history in cases of colon (hazard ratio [HR], 1.35; 95% CI 1.26 to 1.45) and rectum/rectosigmoid junction (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.37 to 1.68) cancers, whereas there was no significant difference in survival between NHWs and Hispanics. The greatest racial disparities in cancer-specific survival were observed among NHB and NHW patients diagnosed with stage II cancers of the colon (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.14) and stage III cancers of the rectum (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.63 to 2.40). Survival after CRC diagnosis at a young age is significantly worse among NHBs compared with NHWs, even among patients with early-stage disease. Further study is needed to determine whether differences in tumor biology and/or treatment are associated with racial disparities in outcomes, which would have implications for CRC treatment and prevention. © 2016 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

  17. The etiologic spectrum of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in young patients

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Xin; Gao, Xiao-lei; Liang, Xin-hua; Tang, Ya-ling

    2016-01-01

    Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), accounting for more than 80% in head and neck malignancies, kills thousands of people a year in the world. Despite most of the patients are more than 45, and the occurrences of head and neck cancer shows a decreasing trend; however, horribly, the incidences of the patients under 45 years old is steadily increasing. Hence, it's of vital importance to get more pathogen information about risk factors of HNSCC in children and young adults. This review outlines the etiologic spectrum of HNSCC, especially oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, in patients under 45 years of age. PMID:27528225

  18. Talking About Cancer Among Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Systematic Review.

    PubMed

    Janin, Madeleine Marie Hortense; Ellis, Sarah Jane; Wakefield, Claire Elizabeth; Fardell, Joanna Elizabeth

    2018-05-31

    Communication plays an essential role in social relationships. Yet it is unclear how young cancer patients and survivors communicate with peers, and whether this contributes to increased rates of social difficulties. We aimed to analyze how childhood cancer patients and survivors communicate about their cancer with family and peers. We systematically searched Medline, Embase and PsycINFO for peer-reviewed studies on cancer-related communication among patients and survivors (any cancer, <25 years at diagnosis). We screened 309 articles, and included 6 qualitative studies. Studies were assessed using a standardized quality assessment tool. Participants were adolescents and young adults, 16-34 years of age at the time of study. Included studies related to different forms of cancer-related communication, benefits, and challenges. We found that cancer-related communication was an individual, complex process, addressing medical, existential, and emotional aspects of cancer. Communication occurred on a spectrum with variation in who information was shared with, as well as differences in the frequency at which information was shared, and the amount and type of information shared. Communication often occurred at uncertain or significant times for participants, or was initiated by others. Communicating about cancer yielded benefits as a coping strategy, prompted social support, and appeared central to significant relationships. Barriers to communication, including fear of stigma and poor peer reactions, hindered willingness to disclose. The number of studies analyzing this topic was limited. Communicating about cancer is a significant yet complex process for young patients and survivors. Further research is needed to complement the existing literature and to establish the evidence base for the development of future effective interventions promoting social and communication skills.

  19. Play-Based Interview Methods for Exploring Young Children's Perspectives on Inclusion

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Koller, Donna; San Juan, Valerie

    2015-01-01

    Inclusive education provides learning opportunities for children with disabilities in regular settings with other children. Despite the prevalence of inclusive education, few qualitative studies have adequately explored young children's perspectives on inclusion. This paper reviews the findings of a preliminary qualitative study where play-based…

  20. Editor's Choice-Sex differences in young patients with acute myocardial infarction: A VIRGO study analysis.

    PubMed

    Bucholz, Emily M; Strait, Kelly M; Dreyer, Rachel P; Lindau, Stacy T; D'Onofrio, Gail; Geda, Mary; Spatz, Erica S; Beltrame, John F; Lichtman, Judith H; Lorenze, Nancy P; Bueno, Hector; Krumholz, Harlan M

    2017-10-01

    Young women with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have a higher risk of adverse outcomes than men. However, it is unclear how young women with AMI are different from young men across a spectrum of characteristics. We sought to compare young women and men at the time of AMI on six domains of demographic and clinical factors in order to determine whether they have distinct profiles. Using data from Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO), a prospective cohort study of women and men aged ⩽55 years hospitalized for AMI ( n = 3501) in the United States and Spain, we evaluated sex differences in demographics, healthcare access, cardiovascular risk and psychosocial factors, symptoms and pre-hospital delay, clinical presentation, and hospital management for AMI. The study sample included 2349 (67%) women and 1152 (33%) men with a mean age of 47 years. Young women with AMI had higher rates of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities than men, including diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal failure, and morbid obesity. They also exhibited higher levels of depression and stress, poorer physical and mental health status, and lower quality of life at baseline. Women had more delays in presentation and presented with higher clinical risk scores on average than men; however, men presented with higher levels of cardiac biomarkers and more classic electrocardiogram findings. Women were less likely to undergo revascularization procedures during hospitalization, and women with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction were less likely to receive timely primary reperfusion. Young women with AMI represent a distinct, higher-risk population that is different from young men.

  1. Family history and outcome of young patients with breast cancer in the UK (POSH study).

    PubMed

    Eccles, B K; Copson, E R; Cutress, R I; Maishman, T; Altman, D G; Simmonds, P; Gerty, S M; Durcan, L; Stanton, L; Eccles, D M

    2015-07-01

    Young patients presenting to surgical clinics with breast cancer are usually aware of their family history and frequently believe that a positive family history may adversely affect their prognosis. Tumour pathology and outcomes were compared in young British patients with breast cancer with and without a family history of breast cancer. Prospective Outcomes in Sporadic versus Hereditary breast cancer (POSH) is a large prospective cohort study of women aged less than 41 years with breast cancer diagnosed and treated in the UK using modern oncological management. Personal characteristics, tumour pathology, treatment and family history of breast/ovarian cancer were recorded. Follow-up data were collected annually. Family history data were available for 2850 patients. No family history was reported by 65·9 per cent, and 34·1 per cent reported breast/ovarian cancer in at least one first- or second-degree relative. Patients with a family history were more likely to have grade 3 tumours (63·3 versus 58·9 per cent) and less likely to have human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive tumours (24·7 versus 28·8 per cent) than those with no family history. In multivariable analyses, there were no significant differences in distant disease-free intervals for patients with versus those without a family history, either for the whole cohort (hazard ratio (HR) 0·89, 95 per cent c.i. 0·76 to 1·03; P = 0·120) or when stratified by oestrogen receptor (ER) status (ER-negative: HR 0·80, 0·62 to 1·04, P = 0·101; ER-positive: HR 0·95, 0·78 to 1·15, P = 0·589). Young British patients presenting to breast surgical clinics with a positive family history can be reassured that this is not a significant independent risk factor for breast cancer outcome. © 2015 BJS Society Ltd Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  2. Delayed Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Young Patients With Previous Anterior Tibial Spine Fractures.

    PubMed

    Mitchell, Justin J; Mayo, Meredith H; Axibal, Derek P; Kasch, Anthony R; Fader, Ryan R; Chadayammuri, Vivek; Terhune, E Bailey; Georgopoulos, Gaia; Rhodes, Jason T; Vidal, Armando F

    2016-08-01

    Avulsion fractures of the anterior tibial spine in young athletes are injuries similar to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in adults. Sparse data exist on the association between anterior tibial spine fractures (ATSFs) and later ligamentous laxity or injuries leading to ACL reconstruction. To better delineate the incidence of delayed instability or ACL ruptures requiring delayed ACL reconstruction in young patients with prior fractures of the tibial eminence. Case series; Level of evidence, 4. We identified 101 patients between January 1993 and January 2012 who sustained an ATSF and who met inclusion criteria for this study. All patients had been followed for at least 2 years after the initial injury and were included for analysis after completion of a questionnaire via direct contact, mail, and/or telephone. If patients underwent further surgical intervention and/or underwent later ACL reconstruction, clinical records and operative reports pertaining to these secondary interventions were obtained and reviewed. Differences between categorical variables were assessed using the Fisher exact test. The association between time to revision ACL surgery and fracture type was assessed by Kaplan-Meier plots. The association between need for revision ACL surgery and age, sex, and mechanism of surgery was assessed using logistic regression. Nineteen percent of all patients evaluated underwent delayed ACL reconstruction after a previous tibial spine fracture on the ipsilateral side. While there were a higher proportion of ACL reconstructions in type II fractures, there was not a statistically significant difference in the number of patients within each fracture group who went on to undergo later surgery (P = .29). Further, there was not a significant association between fracture type, sex, or mechanism of injury as it related to the progression to later ACL reconstruction. However, there was a significant association between age at the time of injury and progression

  3. Impact of Young Age on Treatment Efficacy and Safety in Advanced Colorectal Cancer: A Pooled Analysis of Patients From Nine First-Line Phase III Chemotherapy Trials

    PubMed Central

    Blanke, Charles D.; Bot, Brian M.; Thomas, David M.; Bleyer, Archie; Kohne, Claus-Henning; Seymour, Matthew T.; de Gramont, Aimery; Goldberg, Richard M.; Sargent, Daniel J.

    2011-01-01

    Purpose Colorectal cancer predominantly occurs in the elderly, but approximately 5% of patients are 50 years old or younger. We sought to determine whether young age is prognostic, or whether it influences efficacy/toxicity of chemotherapy, in patients with advanced disease. Methods We analyzed individual data on 6,284 patients from nine phase III trials of advanced colorectal cancer (aCRC) that used fluorouracil-based single-agent and combination chemotherapy. End points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), response rate (RR), and grade 3 or worse adverse events. Stratified Cox and adjusted logistic-regression models were used to test for age effects and age-treatment interactions. Results A total of 793 patients (13%) were younger than 50 years old; 188 of these patients (3% of total patients) were younger than 40 years old. Grade 3 or worse nausea (10% v 7%; P = .01) was more common, and severe diarrhea (11% v 14%; P = .001) and neutropenia (23% v 26%; P < .001) were less common in young (younger than 50 years) than in older (older than 50 years) patients. Age was prognostic for PFS, with poorer outcomes occurring in those younger than 50 years (median, 6.0 v 7.5 months; hazard ratio, 1.10; P = .02), but it did not affect RR or OS. In the subset of monotherapy versus combination chemotherapy trials, the relative benefits of multiagent chemotherapy were similar for young and older patients. Results were comparable when utilizing an age cut point of 40 years. Conclusion Young age is modestly associated with poorer PFS but not OS or RR in treated patients with aCRC, and young patients have more nausea but less diarrhea and neutropenia with chemotherapy in general. Young versus older patients derive the same benefits from combination chemotherapy. Absent results of a clinical trial, standard combination chemotherapy approaches are appropriate for young patients with aCRC. PMID:21646604

  4. The perception of natural vs. built environments by young children

    Treesearch

    Briavel Holcomb

    1977-01-01

    This paper questions the assumption that young children need exposure to natural environments for healthy psychological development. Preliminary investigation of the environmental perceptions of 4-year-olds suggests that the distinction between natural and man-made milieux is insignificant to preschoolers, and that they find both kinds of environments similarly...

  5. Developing Parenting Skills through Health Visitors: Preliminary Results from an Evaluation Study.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Stevenson, Jim

    Preliminary results of a study of the extent to which training health visitors in behavior modification techniques improves the effectiveness of their work with families of young children are presented. A total of 14 health visitors were recruited and assigned to training and delay-of-training groups. Selected from case loads, participating…

  6. Listening through narratives: using a narrative approach when discussing fertility preservation options with young cancer patients

    PubMed Central

    Roher, S.I.G.; Gibson, J.; Gibson, B.E.; Gupta, A.A.

    2017-01-01

    Despite clinical practice guideline recommendations mandating that fertility preservation be discussed with young cancer patients, many providers fail to initiate such discussions with adolescents. Researchers and clinicians often focus on system-level changes to improve access to fertility preservation for adolescents and young adults in Canada. However, little of the available information considers the way in which health care providers approach those discussions. Research has shown that, even when fertility preservation options are broached with adolescents, survivors often report dissatisfaction with those conversations, thus raising additional concerns about their content and quality. Here, we consider how a narrative approach—and the Frank narrative typology in particular—could improve the quality of such conversations by helping providers to more accurately and thoughtfully respond to the needs of adolescent patients when discussing the possibility of fertility preservation. Based on findings from a qualitative research project, we provide concrete suggestions for how to more sensitively approach fertility preservation conversations with male adolescent cancer patients and survivors. PMID:28270719

  7. Acute heart failure in the young: Clinical characteristics and biomarker profiles.

    PubMed

    Tromp, Jasper; Meyer, Sven; Mentz, Robert J; O'Connor, Christopher M; Metra, Marco; Dittrich, Howard C; Ponikowski, Piotr; Teerlink, John R; Cotter, Gad; Davison, Beth; Cleland, John G F; Givertz, Michael M; Bloomfield, Daniel M; van Veldhuisen, Dirk J; Hillege, Hans L; Voors, Adriaan A; van der Meer, Peter

    2016-10-15

    Young patients (<50years) exhibit specific characteristics in chronic heart failure (HF), but their phenotype in acute heart failure (AHF) is not well described. 2033 patients of the PROTECT trial were divided into two groups: young patients (≤50years) and older patients (>50years). Biomarkers from different pathophysiological domains were available in 1266 patients. Patients were compared with regard to clinical characteristics, biomarker profiles, and in-hospital (worsening renal function [WRF] and decongestion) and post-discharge (180-day survival) outcome. Young patients (n=121) were mostly men, had fewer comorbidities with better renal function, and more often had a reduced ejection fraction. At admission, young patients were more likely to have jugular venous distension, but less rales and dyspnea compared with older patients. During hospitalization, young patients received higher loop diuretic doses and were decongested earlier than older patients. WRF occurred less frequently in young patients (5.9% vs. 13.3%, p=0.020) and they were more often discharged alive. At 180days, the mortality of young patients was lower than that of the older patients (9.9% vs. 18.1, p=0.021). Biomarker levels indicative of inflammation and renal damage were lower in the young, although they exhibited higher BNP levels than older patients. Despite use of higher diuretic doses, young patients with AHF less often developed WRF during hospitalization and had better outcomes than older patients. Differences in biomarker levels between the age groups suggest distinct underlying pathophysiologies. https://clinicaltrials.gov numbers NCT00328692 and NCT00354458. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  8. [Is vocational reintegration of young cancer patients possible?].

    PubMed

    Weiss, J; Kuhn, R; Wentrock, S; Malitz, J; Reuss-Borst, M

    2013-12-01

    Besides an improvement in quality of life, one of the major targets of rehabilitation programmes is to preserve the ability to work and to integrate the patient into working life again. Cancer in particular is often associated with a loss of employment and joblessness, frequently caused by incomplete rehabilitation. The programme is aimed at young cancer patients aged between 18 and 40 years. In addition to medical rehabilitation, they undergo a specially developed programme which they complete in groups of no more than 5 persons. At baseline and at the end of the 3 weeks rehabilitation, tests on physical and mental capacity are conducted. During rehabilitation, different training programmes concerning mobility at work, fine motor skills and cognitive abilities are held, complemented by an intensive psycho-social training programme. Additionally, patients receive individual social counselling. So far, 34 patients with an average age of 31.8 years have participated in the programme, 65% of them suffering from malignant haematological diseases. The combination of a medical and a vocational rehabilitation programme was judged extremely positively by the participants, which remained the case 6 months after completion of the programme. The rehabilitation programme significantly reduced work incapacity periods: at baseline, only 6% of the participants had not experienced such periods, but after 3 and 6 months, this rate had increased to 61% and 62% respectively. This was accompanied by an increased health-related quality of life and reduced fatigue. With our pilot project we were able to show that such a programme is feasible, can be well integrated into clinical routine and is successful.

  9. Young People and Newspapers: An Exploratory Study. Part II.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yankelovich, Skelly and White, Inc., New York, NY.

    This second part of a two-part report is based on preliminary findings of an investigation into the recent decline in newspaper reading among young adults approximately 18 to 24 years old. It presents more then 50 hypotheses for the decline, derived from the findings of the investigation, documents them with verbatim quotes from members of the…

  10. [Acute myocardial infarction in young patients--severe failures in the system of acute and secondary care].

    PubMed

    Dostálová, G; Bělohlávek, J; Vítek, L; Muchová, L; Skvařilová, M; Karetová, D; Jirátová, K; Kvasnička, J; Vondráková, D; Toman, O; Linhart, A

    2012-10-01

    The incidence of cardiovascular (CV) diseases and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Czech Republic is de-clining. In spite of this in a proportion of patients AMI occurs in young age. The aim of our project was to assess the character of risk factors, precipitating diseases and the quality of care in young AMI survivors. We included 132 patients (97 men and 35 women) in whom AIM with ST elevations occurred before age of 45 years in men and age of 50 years in women. Several results were compared to a control group composed of 84 healthy volunteers of comparable age. We assessed the course of the disease, extent of coronary involvement, subsequent therapy and control of risk factors after 3 years from the index event. Smoking represented the main risk factor - 85% patents were active smokers at the time of AMI and 9% were former smokers, 64% patients had a positive family history of CV disease. We found a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia history in men. In spite of high rate of statin use, laboratory examination during follow-up revealed higher triglyceride values and low levels of HDL-cholesterol in both genders. All together 23% of patients had a history of provoking underlying disease or precipitating factors (inflammatory diseases, malignancies, combined thrombophilias, drug abuse). In total 95% of patients underwent coronary angiography during the acute phase of AMI, the median time from pain onset to intervention was 9 hours. Most patients had single vessel disease, 14% had even coronary angiogram without clinically significant stenosis. The subsequent care was satisfactory concerning the rate of drug prescriptions. However, target lipid values were not reached in 78% patients and blood pressure targets in 37%. In patients who suffered AMI in young age, risk factors are dominated by smoking and positive family history of CV diseases. One fifth of patients suffer from other underlying disease (inflammatory disease, malignancies, combined thrombophilia) or

  11. Asthma and allergy in young athletes in Siena Province. Preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Macucci, F; Guerrini, L; Strambi, M

    2007-09-01

    The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of asthma and related respiratory symptoms in a sample of the Siena pediatric population that engages in sport. The subjects were 460 young athletes, age 7-14 years, enrolled in 23 sporting clubs in 10 municipalities of Siena Province. Subjects and their parents answered a questionnaire on life style and the children underwent basal spirometric tests at their respective training centers. A total of 352 questionnaires (76.6%) were returned; 80% of responders performed the spirometric test. The lifetime prevalences of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were found to be 17.33%, 22.16% and 11.08%, respectively. About 33.2% of subjects had also experienced symptoms compatible with exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) during sport and 4.2% of them had had to stop activity at least once. The results suggest that EIB is a major phenomenon in our province and that this disorder interferes with, or even limits, physical activity of young athletes.

  12. Results of remote follow-up and monitoring in young patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

    PubMed

    Silvetti, Massimo S; Saputo, Fabio A; Palmieri, Rosalinda; Placidi, Silvia; Santucci, Lorenzo; Di Mambro, Corrado; Righi, Daniela; Drago, Fabrizio

    2016-01-01

    Remote monitoring is increasingly used in the follow-up of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices. Data on paediatric populations are still lacking. The aim of our study was to follow-up young patients both in-hospital and remotely to enhance device surveillance. This is an observational registry collecting data on consecutive patients followed-up with the CareLink system. Inclusion criteria were a Medtronic device implanted and patient's willingness to receive CareLink. Patients were stratified according to age and presence of congenital/structural heart defects (CHD). A total of 221 patients with a device - 200 pacemakers, 19 implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and two loop recorders--were enrolled (median age of 17 years, range 1-40); 58% of patients were younger than 18 years of age and 73% had CHD. During a follow-up of 12 months (range 4-18), 1361 transmissions (8.9% unscheduled) were reviewed by technicians. Time for review was 6 ± 2 minutes (mean ± standard deviation). Missed transmissions were 10.1%. Events were documented in 45% of transmissions, with 2.7% yellow alerts and 0.6% red alerts sent by wireless devices. No significant differences were found in transmission results according to age or presence of CHD. Physicians reviewed 6.3% of transmissions, 29 patients were contacted by phone, and 12 patients underwent unscheduled in-hospital visits. The event recognition with remote monitoring occurred 76 days (range 16-150) earlier than the next scheduled in-office follow-up. Remote follow-up/monitoring with the CareLink system is useful to enhance device surveillance in young patients. The majority of events were not clinically relevant, and the remaining led to timely management of problems.

  13. The Working Alliance in Online Therapy with Young People: Preliminary Findings

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hanley, Terry

    2009-01-01

    This paper examines the quality of the working alliance in online counseling relationships with young people. A mixed method approach has been adopted which combines the completion of a self-report quantitative measure (the "Therapeutic Alliance Quality Scale") and qualitative interviews with service users of a UK-based service…

  14. [Systemic and local stiffness of the arteries in young patients with arterial hypertension].

    PubMed

    Chernova, I M; Zairova, A R; Luk'ianov, M M; Serdiuk, S E; Boĭtsov, S A

    2014-01-01

    The aim of the work was to study characteristics of systemic and local arterial stiffness in young patients with arterial hypertension (AH) suffering this condition in the childhood or adulthood and to relate them to risk factors of cardiovascular complications. Materials and methods. 54 patients aged 18-35 (mean 25.3 +/- 3.4) years with AH. 37 of them had AH since 18 year and 27 ones starting from the childhood or adulthood Control group included 26 healthy volunteers aged 25.8 +/- 3.7 year. The carotid-femoral pulse wave propagation rate (PWPR) was measured by applanation tonometry with a SphygmoCor apparatus. Parameters of carotid stiffness of CCA were studied by the echo-tracking method using Aloka ProSound a7 device. Results. Patients with AH and without it in the childhood or adulthood showed higher PWPR values than controls (7.1 +/- 1.2 and 7.5 +/- 1.4 vs. 6.3 +/- 1.0 m/s respectively) Ep and AC values were higher in patients who did not have AH in the childhood or adulthood: right Ep 89 +/- 24.4 and 68.7 +/- 18.4 kPa, AC 0.9 +/- 0.2 and 1.1 +/- 0.1 mm2/kPa respectively; left Ep 86.1 +/- 20.3 and 71/4 +/- 16 kP AC 0.9 +/- 0.2 and 1.1 +/- 0.1 mm2/kPA (p < 0.05). In the patients with AH since the childhood or adulthood with concomitant metabolic syndrome (MS) the PWPR values and carotid artery stiffness were higher than in the absence of MS (p < 0.05). Young patients with AH showed carotid-femoral PWPR compared with control regardless of AH in the childhood or adulthood Parameters of local carotid stiffness were increased only in patients having no AH in the childhood or adulthood Patients with AH since the childhood or adulthood with concomitant MS had higher carotid stiffness and carotid-femoral PWPR than in the absence of MS

  15. Thoracic aorta 3D hemodynamics in pediatric and young adult patients with bicuspid aortic valve.

    PubMed

    Allen, Bradley D; van Ooij, Pim; Barker, Alex J; Carr, Maria; Gabbour, Maya; Schnell, Susanne; Jarvis, Kelly B; Carr, James C; Markl, Michael; Rigsby, Cynthia; Robinson, Joshua D

    2015-10-01

    To evaluate the 3D hemodynamics in the thoracic aorta of pediatric and young adult bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) patients. 4D flow MRI was performed in 30 pediatric and young adult BAV patients (age: 13.9 ± 4.4 (range: [3.4, 20.7]) years old, M:F = 17:13) as part of this Institutional Review Board-approved study. Nomogram-based aortic root Z-scores were calculated to assess aortic dilatation and degree of aortic stenosis (AS) severity was assessed on MRI. Data analysis included calculation of time-averaged systolic 3D wall shear stress (WSSsys ) along the entire aorta wall, and regional quantification of maximum and mean WSSsys and peak systolic velocity (velsys ) in the ascending aorta (AAo), arch, and descending aorta (DAo). The 4D flow MRI AAo velsys was also compared with echocardiography peak velocity measurements. There was a positive correlation with both mean and max AAo WSSsys and peak AAo velsys (mean: r = 0.84, P < 0.001, max: r = 0.94, P < 0.001) and AS (mean: rS  = 0.43, P = 0.02, max: rS  = 0.70, P < 0.001). AAo peak velocity was significantly higher when measured with echo compared with 4D flow MRI (2.1 ± 0.98 m/s versus 1.27 ± 0.49 m/s, P < 0.001). In pediatric and young adult patients with BAV, AS and peak ascending aorta velocity are associated with increased AAo WSS, while aortic dilation, age, and body surface area do not significantly impact AAo hemodynamics. Prospective studies are required to establish the role of WSS as a risk-stratification tool in these patients. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  16. TP53 mutation and human papilloma virus status of oral squamous cell carcinomas in young adult patients.

    PubMed

    Braakhuis, B J M; Rietbergen, M M; Buijze, M; Snijders, P J F; Bloemena, E; Brakenhoff, R H; Leemans, C R

    2014-09-01

    Little is known about the molecular carcinogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in young adult patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the detailed TP53 mutation and human papilloma virus (HPV) status of OSCC in patients, younger than 45 years. TP53 mutations were determined with direct sequencing on paraffin-embedded carcinoma tissue from 31 young patients and compared with two older age OSCC reference groups: one from the same institute (N = 87) and an independent one (N = 675). Biologically active tumour HPV was detected by p16-immunohistochemistry followed by a HPV-DNA GP5 + /6 + -PCR. HPV16 was present in one OSCC (3%). TP53 mutations were found in 14 (45%) OSCC: five were missense and nine resulted in a truncated protein. Six of these latter were insertions or deletions of one or more nucleotides leading to frameshift, one was at a splice site and two resulted in a stop codon. The percentage of truncating mutations (64% of all mutations) was higher than that observed in the institute's reference group (44%, P = 0.23) and in the independent reference group (24%, P = 0.002). This study shows that TP53 mutations are common in OSCC of young adult patients; infection with biologically active HPV is rare. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  17. Long term persistence of anti-HBs protective levels in young patients with type 1 diabetes after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.

    PubMed

    Marseglia, G; Alibrandi, A; d'Annunzio, G; Gulminetti, R; Avanzini, M A; Marconi, M; Tinelli, C; Lorini, R

    2000-11-22

    The aim of the present study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-hepatitis B protective levels in young patients with type 1 diabetes, successfully immunised with a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. We re-evaluated, after a 4 year follow-up, 54 patients and 70 age and sex-matched healthy subjects. Protective antibodies levels were found in 50/54 (92%) patients and in 67/70 (96%) controls. Moreover, anti-HBs levels were similar in diabetic patients and controls (means of log-titre and (sd); 1.95 (0.88) and 2.18 (0.64) patients and controls, respectively; P=0.11). No cases of clinical hepatitis were reported and all patients and controls remained HBc negative. These data demonstrate the persistence of anti-HBs levels in children, adolescents and young patients with type 1 diabetes after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine showing evidence of longterm immunogenity and protective effect.

  18. Integrating HIV Prevention and Relationship Education for Young Same-Sex Male Couples: A Pilot Trial of the 2GETHER Intervention.

    PubMed

    Newcomb, Michael E; Macapagal, Kathryn R; Feinstein, Brian A; Bettin, Emily; Swann, Gregory; Whitton, Sarah W

    2017-08-01

    Young men who have sex with men are at high risk for HIV, and most new HIV infections occur in serious relationships. This pilot study assessed the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the 2GETHER couples-based HIV prevention and relationship education intervention for young same-sex male couples. We enrolled 57 young male couples (N = 114) into a four-session hybrid group and individual intervention. We assessed acceptability via post-session surveys and exit interviews, and we examined preliminary efficacy at a two week posttest. The vast majority of participants (93%) reported exclusively positive impressions of 2GETHER, and all components received high mean ratings. We observed decreases in HIV risk behavior, increases in information, motivation and behavioral skills related to HIV prevention, and improvement in relationship investment between pretest and posttest. Integrating relationship education and sexual health programming may be an effective way to reduce HIV transmissions in young male couples.

  19. Does a dedicated program for young breast cancer patients affect the likelihood of fertility preservation discussion and referral?

    PubMed

    Srikanthan, Amirrtha; Amir, Eitan; Warner, Ellen

    2016-06-01

    To assess whether a dedicated program for young breast cancer patients, including a nurse navigator, improves the frequency of: a) fertility discussion documentation and b) fertility preservation (FP) referrals. A retrospective chart review and prospective survey were undertaken of breast cancer patients diagnosed at age 40 or younger between 2011 and 2013 who received adjuvant or neo-adjuvant chemotherapy at two academic cancer centers in Toronto, Canada. The Odette Cancer Centre (OCC) has a dedicated program for young breast cancer patients while Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) does not. Patient demographics, tumor pathology, treatment and fertility discussion documentation prior to systemic chemotherapy administration were extracted from patient records. Prospective surveys were administered to the same cohort to corroborate data collected. Eighty-one patient charts were reviewed at both OCC and PM. Forty-seven and 49 at OCC and PM returned surveys for a response rate of 58% and 60% respectively. Chart reviews demonstrated no difference in the frequency of fertility discussion documentation (78% versus 75% for OCC and PM, p = 0.71); however, surveys demonstrated higher rates of recall of fertility discussion at OCC (96% versus 80%, p = 0.02). A greater proportion of women were offered FP referrals at OCC, as observed in chart reviews (56% versus 41%, p = 0.09), and surveys (73% versus 51%, p = 0.04). Time to initiation of chemotherapy did not differ between women who underwent FP and those who did not. A dedicated program for young breast cancer patients is associated with a higher frequency of FP referrals without delaying systemic therapy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  20. Psychological Neuromodulatory Treatments for Young People with Chronic Pain

    PubMed Central

    Miró, Jordi; Castarlenas, Elena; de la Vega, Rocío; Roy, Rubén; Solé, Ester; Tomé-Pires, Catarina; Jensen, Mark P.

    2016-01-01

    The treatment of young people with chronic pain is a complex endeavor. Many of these youth do not obtain adequate relief from available interventions. Psychological neuromodulatory treatments have been shown to have potential benefit for adults with chronic pain. Here, we review and summarize the available information about the efficacy of three promising psychological neuromodulatory treatments—neurofeedback, meditation and hypnosis—when provided to young people with chronic pain. A total of 16 articles were identified and reviewed. The findings from these studies show that hypnotic treatments are effective in reducing pain intensity for a variety of pediatric chronic pain problems, although research suggests variability in outcomes as a function of the specific pain problem treated. There are too few studies evaluating the efficacy of neurofeedback or meditation training in young people with chronic pain to draw firm conclusions regarding their efficacy. However, preliminary data indicate that these treatments could potentially have positive effects on a variety of outcomes (e.g., pain intensity, frequency of pain episodes, physical and psychological function), at least in the short term. Clinical trials are needed to evaluate the effects of neurofeedback and meditation training, and research is needed to identify the moderators of treatment benefits as well as better understand the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of all three of these treatments. The findings from such research could enhance overall treatment efficacy by: (1) providing an empirical basis for better patient-treatment matching; and (2) identifying specific mechanisms that could be targeted with treatment. PMID:27929419

  1. Social Functioning Trajectories of Young First-Episode Psychosis Patients with and without Cannabis Misuse: A 30-Month Follow-Up Study

    PubMed Central

    González-Blanch, César; Gleeson, John F.; Koval, Peter; Cotton, Sue M.; McGorry, Patrick D.; Alvarez-Jimenez, Mario

    2015-01-01

    The aim of the study was to investigate trajectories of social functioning in young people with first-episode psychosis (FEP) with and without cannabis misuse using a secondary analysis of data from the Episode-II trial. Forty-two young people with FEP and comorbid cannabis use disorder were compared with 39 young people with FEP but without a cannabis use disorder. Social functioning was assessed every 6 months during a 30-month follow-up. Multilevel linear growth curve modeling was used to compare the social functioning trajectories over time for those with and without cannabis misuse. Cannabis misuse was not associated with social functioning at baseline assessment. Over a 30-month follow-up, FEP patients without cannabis disorder showed significant improvements in their social functioning, whereas patients with cannabis misuse at baseline displayed no such improvement. Patients with and without cannabis misuse differed significantly in their levels of social functioning after 24 months. Similar results were obtained after adjusting for potential confounders (i.e., age, gender, negative symptoms, premorbid functioning, DSM-IV diagnoses, baseline social functioning and other substance use). In the context of a specialized early intervention service, patients with cannabis misuse at baseline did not attain the improvements in social outcomes observed in their counterparts without cannabis misuse. There is a need to develop effective interventions to reduce cannabis misuse to ultimately improve social outcomes in young people with psychosis. PMID:25849623

  2. Improving health outcomes for young people with long term conditions: The role of digital communication in current and future patient-clinician communication for NHS providers of specialist clinical services for young people - LYNC study protocol.

    PubMed

    Griffiths, Frances E; Atherton, Helen; Barker, Jack R; Cave, Jonathan Ak; Dennick, Kathryn; Dowdall, Peter; Fraser, Joe; Huxley, Caroline; Kim, Sung-Wook; Madan, Jason J; Matharu, Harjit; Musumadi, Luhanga; Palmer, Tom M; Paul, Moli; Sankaranarayanan, Sailesh; Slowther, Anne-Marie; Sujan, Mark A; Sutcliffe, Paul A; Sturt, Jackie

    2015-01-01

    Young people living with long term conditions are vulnerable to health service disengagement. This endangers their long term health. Studies report requests for digital forms of communication - email, text, social media - with their health care team. Digital clinical communication is troublesome for the UK NHS. In this article we aim to present the research protocol for evaluating the impacts and outcomes of digital clinical communications for young people living with long term conditions and provide critical analysis of their use, monitoring and evaluation by NHS providers (LYNC study: Long term conditions, Young people, Networked Communications). The research involves: (a) patient and public involvement activities with 16-24 year olds with and without long term health conditions; (b) six literature reviews; (c) case studies - the main empirical part of the study - and (d) synthesis and a consensus meeting. Case studies use a mixed methods design. Interviews and non-participant observation of practitioners and patients communicating in up to 20 specialist clinical settings will be combined with data, aggregated at the case level (non-identifiable patient data) on a range of clinical outcomes meaningful within the case and across cases. We will describe the use of digital clinical communication from the perspective of patients, clinical staff, support staff and managers, interviewing up to 15 young people and 15 staff per case study. Outcome data includes emergency admissions, A&E attendance and DNA (did not attend) rates. Case studies will be analysed to understand impacts of digital clinical communication on patient health outcomes, health care costs and consumption, ethics and patient safety.

  3. Allografts about the Knee in Young Patients with High-Grade Sarcoma.

    PubMed

    Brigman, Brian E; Hornicek, Francis J; Gebhardt, Mark C; Mankin, Henry J

    2004-04-01

    Reconstruction after resections for high-grade sarcomas about the knee in children and adolescents is a challenging problem because of the large soft tissue and skeletal defects, the effects of adjuvant therapy, and the potential for long-term use of the limb. One hundred sixteen patients, all 18 years or younger, with osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma located between the middle femur and middle tibia, were treated with chemotherapy, resection, and allograft reconstruction. One hundred three patients with osteosarcoma and 13 patients with Ewing's sarcoma had 105 Stage II and 11 Stage III tumors. There were 72 osteoarticular grafts (39 femur, 33 tibia), 28 intercalary grafts (19 femur), seven allograft-prosthetic composites (all femur,) and nine allograft-arthrodeses (seven femur, two tibia). At latest followup, 49% of all of the allograft reconstructions were rated good or excellent, 14% were rated as fair, and 37% were failures. Sixteen percent had an infection develop. Twenty-seven percent of patients had a fracture, 34% had a nonunion, and 14 patients eventually required amputation. Reconstruction of large bone defects about the knee in young patients who are being treated with chemotherapy is difficult. Although complications significantly affect outcome, allografts are a viable option for reconstruction in children with high-grade sarcomas about the knee.

  4. Sex Differences in Timeliness of Reperfusion in Young Patients With ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction by Initial Electrocardiographic Characteristics.

    PubMed

    Gupta, Aakriti; Barrabes, Jose A; Strait, Kelly; Bueno, Hector; Porta-Sánchez, Andreu; Acosta-Vélez, J Gabriel; Lidón, Rosa-Maria; Spatz, Erica; Geda, Mary; Dreyer, Rachel P; Lorenze, Nancy; Lichtman, Judith; D'Onofrio, Gail; Krumholz, Harlan M

    2018-03-07

    Young women with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction experience reperfusion delays more frequently than men. Our aim was to determine the electrocardiographic correlates of delay in reperfusion in young patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction. We examined sex differences in initial electrocardiographic characteristics among 1359 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction in a prospective, observational, cohort study (2008-2012) of 3501 patients with acute myocardial infarction, 18 to 55 years of age, as part of the VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients) study at 103 US and 24 Spanish hospitals enrolling in a 2:1 ratio for women/men. We created a multivariable logistic regression model to assess the relationship between reperfusion delay (door-to-balloon time >90 or >120 minutes for transfer or door-to-needle time >30 minutes) and electrocardiographic characteristics, adjusting for sex, sociodemographic characteristics, and clinical characteristics at presentation. In our study (834 women and 525 men), women were more likely to exceed reperfusion time guidelines than men (42.4% versus 31.5%; P <0.01). In multivariable analyses, female sex persisted as an important factor in exceeding reperfusion guidelines after adjusting for electrocardiographic characteristics (odds ratio, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.15-2.15). Positive voltage criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy and absence of a prehospital ECG were positive predictors of reperfusion delay; and ST elevation in lateral leads was an inverse predictor of reperfusion delay. Sex disparities in timeliness to reperfusion in young patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction persisted, despite adjusting for initial electrocardiographic characteristics. Left ventricular hypertrophy by voltage criteria and absence of prehospital ECG are strongly positively correlated and ST elevation in lateral leads is negatively correlated with

  5. Long-term prognosis of young breast cancer patients (≤40 years) who did not receive adjuvant systemic treatment: protocol for the PARADIGM initiative cohort study

    PubMed Central

    Dackus, Gwen MHE; ter Hoeve, Natalie D; Opdam, Mark; Vreuls, Willem; Varga, Zsuzsanna; Koop, Esther; Willems, Stefan M; Van Deurzen, Carolien HM; Groen, Emilie J; Cordoba, Alicia; Bart, Jos; Mooyaart, Antien L; van den Tweel, Jan G; Zolota, Vicky; Wesseling, Jelle; Sapino, Anna; Chmielik, Ewa; Ryska, Ales; Amant, Frederic; Broeks, Annegien; Kerkhoven, Ron; Stathonikos, Nikolas; Veta, Mitko; Voogd, Adri; Jozwiak, Katarzyna; Hauptmann, Michael; Hoogstraat, Marlous; Schmidt, Marjanka K; Sonke, Gabe; van der Wall, Elsken; Siesling, Sabine; van Diest, Paul J; Linn, Sabine C

    2017-01-01

    Introduction Currently used tools for breast cancer prognostication and prediction may not adequately reflect a young patient’s prognosis or likely treatment benefit because they were not adequately validated in young patients. Since breast cancers diagnosed at a young age are considered prognostically unfavourable, many treatment guidelines recommend adjuvant systemic treatment for all young patients. Patients cured by locoregional treatment alone are, therefore, overtreated. Lack of prognosticators for young breast cancer patients represents an unmet medical need and has led to the initiation of the PAtients with bReAst cancer DIaGnosed preMenopausally (PARADIGM) initiative. Our aim is to reduce overtreatment of women diagnosed with breast cancer aged ≤40 years. Methods and analysis All young, adjuvant systemic treatment naive breast cancer patients, who had no prior malignancy and were diagnosed between 1989 and 2000, were identified using the population based Netherlands Cancer Registry (n=3525). Archival tumour tissues were retrieved through linkage with the Dutch nationwide pathology registry. Tissue slides will be digitalised and placed on an online image database platform for clinicopathological revision by an international team of breast pathologists. Immunohistochemical subtype will be assessed using tissue microarrays. Tumour RNA will be isolated and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Differences in gene expression found between patients with a favourable and those with a less favourable prognosis will be used to establish a prognostic classifier, using the triple negative patients as proof of principle. Ethics and dissemination Observational data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and left over archival patient material are used. Therefore, the Dutch law on Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) is not applicable. The PARADIGM study received a ‘non-WMO’ declaration from the Medical Ethics Committee of the Netherlands Cancer

  6. Dolichoectasia and Small Vessel Disease in Young Patients With Transient Ischemic Attack and Stroke.

    PubMed

    Thijs, Vincent; Grittner, Ulrike; Fazekas, Franz; McCabe, Dominick J H; Giese, Anne-Katrin; Kessler, Christof; Martus, Peter; Norrving, Bo; Ringelstein, Erich Bernd; Schmidt, Reinhold; Tanislav, Christian; Putaala, Jukka; Tatlisumak, Turgut; von Sarnowski, Bettina; Rolfs, Arndt; Enzinger, Christian

    2017-09-01

    We evaluated whether basilar dolichoectasia is associated with markers of cerebral small vessel disease in younger transient ischemic attack and ischemic stroke patients. We used data from the SIFAP1 study (Stroke in Young Fabry Patients), a large prospective, hospital-based, screening study for Fabry disease in young (<55 years) transient ischemic attack/stroke patients in whom detailed clinical data and brain MRI were obtained, and stroke subtyping with TOAST classification (Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) was performed. Dolichoectasia was found in 508 of 3850 (13.2%) of patients. Dolichoectasia was associated with older age (odds ratio per decade, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.44), male sex (odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-2.42), and hypertension (odds ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.70). Dolichoectasia was more common in patients with small infarctions (33.9% versus 29.8% for acute lesions, P =0.065; 29.1% versus 16.5% for old lesions, P <0.001), infarct location in the brain stem (12.4% versus 6.9%, P <0.001), and in white matter (27.8% versus 21.1%, P =0.001). Microbleeds (16.3% versus 4.7%, P =0.001), higher grades of white matter hyperintensities ( P <0.001), and small vessel disease subtype (18.1% versus 12.4%, overall P for differences in TOAST ( P =0.018) were more often present in patients with dolichoectasia. Dolichoectasia is associated with imaging markers of small vessel disease and brain stem localization of acute and old infarcts in younger patients with transient ischemic attack and ischemic stroke. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00414583. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

  7. Medication adherence and persistence over time with self-administered TNF-alpha inhibitors among young adult, middle-aged, and older patients with rheumatologic conditions.

    PubMed

    Calip, Gregory S; Adimadhyam, Sruthi; Xing, Shan; Rincon, Julian C; Lee, Wan-Ju; Anguiano, Rebekah H

    2017-10-01

    Self-injectable TNF inhibitors are increasingly used early in the chronic treatment of moderate to severe rheumatologic conditions. We estimated medication adherence/persistence over time following initiation in young adult and older adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis or psoriatic arthritis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18+ years newly initiating etanercept, adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, or golimumab using the Truven Health MarketScan Database between 2009 and 2013. Pharmacy dispensing data were used to calculate 12-month medication possession ratios (MPR) and determine adherence (MPR ≥ 0.80) for up to 3 years after starting therapy. Persistence over each 12-month interval was defined as not having a ≥92-day treatment gap. Multivariable generalized estimating equation models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and robust 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between patient characteristics and repeated adherence/persistence measures over time. Among 53,477 new users, 14% were young adults (18-34 years), 49% middle-aged (35-54 years), and 37% older adults (55+ years). Overall, 37% of patients were adherent and 83% were persistent in the first year of therapy. The lowest adherence (17%) and persistence (70%) were observed among young adult patients by Year +3. Compared to older adults, middle-aged (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.71-0.76) and young adults (OR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.47-0.53) were less likely to be adherent. Higher Charlson comorbidity scores, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits were associated with non-adherence/non-persistence. We observed low adherence to self-administered TNF inhibitors but most patients remained persistent over time. Further efforts to improve adherence in young adults and patients with greater comorbidity are needed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  8. Religious versus Conventional Psychotherapy for Major Depression in Patients with Chronic Medical Illness: Rationale, Methods, and Preliminary Results

    PubMed Central

    Koenig, Harold G.

    2012-01-01

    This paper (1) reviews the physical and religious barriers to CBT that disabled medically ill-depressed patients face, (2) discusses research on the relationship between religion and depression-induced physiological changes, (3) describes an ongoing randomized clinical trial of religious versus secular CBT in chronically ill patients with mild-to-moderate major depression designed to (a) overcome physical and religious barriers to CBT and (b) compare the efficacy of religious versus secular CBT in relieving depression and improving immune and endocrine functions, and (4) presents preliminary results that illustrate the technical difficulties that have been encountered in implementing this trial. CBT is being delivered remotely via instant messaging, telephone, or Skype, and Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu versions of religious CBT are being developed. The preliminary results described here are particular to the technologies employed in this study and are not results from the CBT clinical trial whose findings will be published in the future after the study ends and data are analyzed. The ultimate goal is to determine if a psychotherapy delivered remotely that integrates patients' religious resources improves depression more quickly than a therapy that ignores them, and whether religious CBT is more effective than conventional CBT in reversing depression-induced physiological changes. PMID:22778932

  9. Young adult breast cancer patients have a poor prognosis independent of prognostic clinicopathological factors: a study from the Japanese Breast Cancer Registry.

    PubMed

    Kataoka, Akemi; Iwamoto, Takayuki; Tokunaga, Eriko; Tomotaki, Ai; Kumamaru, Hiraku; Miyata, Hiroaki; Niikura, Naoki; Kawai, Masaaki; Anan, Keisei; Hayashi, Naoki; Masuda, Shinobu; Tsugawa, Koichiro; Aogi, Kenjiro; Ishida, Takanori; Masuoka, Hideji; Iijima, Kotaro; Kinoshita, Takayuki; Nakamura, Seigo; Tokuda, Yutaka

    2016-11-01

    The aim of this study was to investigate whether young age at onset of breast cancer is an independent prognostic factor in patients from the Japanese Breast Cancer Registry, after adjustment of known clinicopathological prognostic factors. Of the 53,670 patients registered between 2004 and 2006 and surveyed after a 5-year follow-up prognosis, 25,898 breast cancer patients (48.3 %), who were obtained prognostic data, were examined. Clinicopathological factors were compared between young adult (YA; <35 years), middle-aged adult (MA; 35-50 years), and older adult (OA; >50 years) patients. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were studied. YA patients were associated with an advanced TNM stage and aggressive characteristics (e.g. human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive or oestrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancers) compared to MA and OA patients (P < 0.001). The 5-year DFS and OS rates were 79.4 % and 90.8, 88.5 and 95.0 %, and 87.8 % and 91.6 % for YA, MA, and OA patients, respectively. From the multivariable regression analysis, young age at onset was confirmed as an independent prognostic factor for both DFS (hazard ratio 1.73, 95 % confidence interval 1.42-2.10; P < 0.001) and OS (hazard ratio 1.58, 95 % confidence interval 1.16-2.15; P = 0.004). Young age at onset is an independent negative prognostic factor in breast cancer. Further studies are required to develop new therapeutic strategies for YA breast cancer patients.

  10. Differences in serum zinc levels in acutely ill and remitted adolescents and young adults with bulimia nervosa in comparison with healthy controls - a cross-sectional pilot study.

    PubMed

    Zepf, Florian D; Rao, Pradeep; Runions, Kevin; Stewart, Richard M; Moore, Julia K; Wong, Janice Wy; Linden, Maike; Sungurtekin, Idil; Glass, Franziska; Gut, Linda; Peetz, Dirk; Hintereder, Gudrun; Schaab, Michael; Poustka, Fritz; Wöckel, Lars

    2017-01-01

    Research has implicated that changes in zinc (Zn) metabolism may be associated with the biological underpinnings of eating disorders, in particular anorexia nervosa. However, to date research on the role of Zn in patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) is scarce. We aimed to explore serum Zn concentrations in young patients with BN, with a focus on the stage of the disorder, comparing acutely ill and recovered patients with BN with healthy controls. Serum Zn concentrations were obtained from healthy controls and from acutely ill and remitted young patients with BN. Mean duration of remission was 4.0±3.5 years. Remitted patients showed elevated serum Zn concentrations when compared to controls (Cohen's d=2.022), but concentrations were still in the normal range. Acutely ill patients also had higher serum Zn levels when compared to controls (all values still being within the reference range, Cohen's d=0.882). There was no difference between acutely ill and remitted patients with BN in serum Zn concentrations. Of note, remitted patients had a significantly higher body weight when compared to the other two groups. Overall, there were no significant differences in dietary preferences with regard to Zn containing foods between the groups. The present study provides preliminary evidence that the underlying factors for changes in Zn serum concentrations in young patients with BN do not vary with regard to the stage of illness (acute versus remitted BN). Further prospective research is needed in order to disentangle the possible interplay between serum Zn status and bulimic eating behaviors.

  11. The last three days of life: a comparison of pain management in the young old and the oldest old hospitalised patients using the Resident Assessment Instrument for Palliative Care.

    PubMed

    Steindal, Simen Alexander; Bredal, Inger Schou; Ranhoff, Anette Hylen; Sørbye, Liv Wergeland; Lerdal, Anners

    2015-12-01

    Pain is a common symptom in older patients at the end of life. Little research has evaluated pain management among the oldest hospitalised dying patients. To compare the pain characteristics documented by healthcare workers for the young old and the oldest old hospitalised patients and the types of analgesics administered in the last three days of life. A retrospective cross-sectional comparative study. The study included 190 patients from a Norwegian general hospital: 101 young old patients (aged 65-84 years) and 89 oldest old patients (aged 85-100 years). Data were extracted from electronic patient records (EPRs) using the Resident Assessment Instrument for Palliative Care. No significant differences were found between the young old and the oldest old patients with regard to pain characteristics. Pain intensity was poorly recorded in the EPRs. Most of the patients received adequate pain control. Morphine was the most frequently administered analgesic for dying patients. Compared to the oldest old patients, a greater proportion of the young old patients received paracetamol combined with codeine (OR = 3.25, 95% CI 1.02-10.40). There appeared to be no differences in healthcare workers' documentation of pain characteristics in young old and oldest old patients, but young old patients were more likely to receive paracetamol in combination with codeine. A limitation of the study is the retrospective design and that data were collected from a single hospital. Therefore, caution should be taken for interpretation of the results. The use of systematic patient-reported assessments in combination with feasible validated tools could contribute to more comprehensive documentation of pain intensity and improved pain control. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  12. Recent developments in supporting adolescent and young adult siblings of cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Patterson, Pandora; Medlow, Sharon; McDonald, Fiona E J

    2015-07-01

    The psychosocial needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) siblings of cancer patients are easily overlooked. Accordingly, the evidence base informing short and long-term outcomes for these young people is sparse. This review provides an overview of recent research highlighting the experiences, unmet needs and psychosocial issues of AYA siblings, together with recent interventions. The reviewed studies bring focus to the range of informational and supportive care needs that typically remain unmet in AYA siblings. The limited number of interventions designed specifically for this group not only appear to have positive results but also underscore the need for effective risk stratification preintervention and tailoring of interventions to the specific needs of participants. AYA siblings of cancer patients display a range of psychosocial symptoms that can be ameliorated with age-appropriate information and targeted intervention programs. Limited research suggests that the majority of unmet needs for AYA siblings seem to occur during the acute phases of the brother or sister's initial diagnosis, treatment and relapse. Further research is required on siblings' long-term psychosocial assessment and management, bereavement, family systems, the impact of the cancer experience on siblings' personality and identity, and the development and evaluation of tailored psychosocial interventions. Policy research is also required to identify opportunities for expanding established healthcare systems to include sibling support.

  13. Young onset demented patients in French cognitive-behavioral specialized units.

    PubMed

    Lebert, Florence; Leroy, Melanie; Pasquier, Florence; Strubel, Denise

    2016-06-01

    The number of patients with young onset dementia (YOD) (first symptoms beginning before the age of 60 years) is estimated around 5,000 in France. On account of the usual severity of behavioral symptoms in these patients, the need for cognitive-behavioral specialized unit (UCC) is expected. To determine the number and characteristics of YOD patients cared for in UCC in France during the year 2013. A specific questionnaire was sent to the 84 French UCC. The questionnaire was completed by 55 UCC (65%), whose 33 received 179 YOD patients. The diagnosis was Alzheimer's disease in 50% of the cases and frontotemporal dementia in 30%. The main reasons for the hospitalization in UCC were the severity of behavioral symptoms in 86% of cases, the need to alleviate the caregiver burden in 31% and the waiting for a place in a nursing home in 23%. Mean duration of hospitalization was 40.4 ± 20.5 days. At the end of hospitalization 51% of the patients returned to their original living accomodation and 39% entered into a nursing home. The main reason of YOD patients hospitalization reject was the care team's fear in the UCC without experience. The severity of the behavioral troubles was the major issue while the necessary ethical reflection raised by the YOD patients management was a positive aspect. The teams rated how ready do they feel about taking care of YOD patients on a scale from 0 to 100, the median was 35. The welcoming of YOD patients in UCC is necessary, however the severity of the behavioral troubles and the care teams fear prompt to set up specific education and to increase of the number of staff for YOD patients management.

  14. A Preliminary Exploration of Uppercase Letter-Name Knowledge among Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Greer, Claire W.; Erickson, Karen A.

    2018-01-01

    There are several factors known to impact the alphabet knowledge of young children without disabilities. The impact of these factors on the alphabet knowledge of students with significant cognitive disabilities is unknown. The purpose of this preliminary investigation was to explore the impact of three factors that might influence uppercase…

  15. Comparison of surgical treatment with direct repair versus conservative treatment in young patients with spondylolysis: a prospective, comparative, clinical trial.

    PubMed

    Lee, Gun Woo; Lee, Sun-Mi; Ahn, Myun-Whan; Kim, Ho-Joong; Yeom, Jin S

    2015-07-01

    Although direct repair (DR) with screw fixation at the pars defect is a common surgical treatment for lumbar spondylolysis, it is unknown whether DR leads to better outcomes for young patients with spondylolysis than traditional nonsurgical treatment. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether DR was associated with better outcomes for lumbar spondylolysis in young patients than traditional conservative treatment. This is a prospective cohort study. Of 1,784 patients with low back pain in the reference period, 149 young patients with spondylolysis who followed up for at least 1 year were enrolled in the study. The primary outcome was pain intensity at the lower back measured with a Visual Analog Scale. Secondary outcomes included the functional outcome as measured with the Oswestry disability index (ODI) and the 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12) consisting of the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores, the radiologic outcome as measured with lumbar spine radiographs and computed tomography scans, and complications of treatment. This was a prospective comparative study between two groups of patients who were treated with either conservative treatment or surgery for lumbar spondylolysis. Enrolled patients self-selected their own treatment and were allocated to either the traditional care group with conservative treatment (87 patients) or the surgery group (62 patients). All patients were followed up for at least 1 year. Pain intensity at the lower back did not differ significantly between groups at the final follow-up. Likewise, the ODI and SF-12 (PCS and MCS) scores did not differ significantly between groups (p=.13, .71, and .68, respectively). The change in the gap distance of the pars defect at the final follow-up was significantly different between groups (traditional care group: +0.8±0.4 mm; surgery group: -0.7±0.5; p=.01). The union rate at 1 year after surgical treatment was 52% (32/61). The rate of

  16. Association of plasma homovanillic acid with behavioral symptoms in patients diagnosed with dementia: a preliminary report.

    PubMed

    Sweet, R A; Pollock, B G; Mulsant, B H; Rosen, J; Lo, K H; Yao, J K; Henteleff, R A; Mazumdar, S

    1997-12-01

    Neuroleptic treatment of psychotic symptoms or agitated behavior in elderly patients diagnosed with dementia is associated with reduced efficacy and increased rates of neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism in comparison to younger patients with schizophrenia. We report the first study to examine the relationship between an in vivo measure of dopaminergic function, plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA), and ratings of psychosis, agitation, and parkinsonism before and after neuroleptic treatment in dementia patients. Pretreatment pHVA was significantly correlated with parkinsonian rigidity, with a trend observed with agitation and hostility. Though mean pHVA did not change during perphenazine treatment, intraindividual change in pHVA at day 15 was correlated with improvement in hostility, with a similar trend for improvement in agitation. These preliminary findings are consistent with reports associating dopaminergic function with agitated, but not psychotic, symptoms in patients diagnosed with dementia, and with a reduced responsivity of dopaminergic systems to neuroleptic treatment in these patients.

  17. Impact of Therapy on Metabolic Syndrome in Young Adult Premenopausal Female Lupus Patients: Beneficial Effect of Antimalarials.

    PubMed

    Muniz, Luciana F; Pereira, Rosa M R; Silva, Thiago F; Bonfá, Eloisa; Borba, Eduardo F

    2015-09-01

    There are no data about the main factors associated with metabolic syndrome in young premenopausal systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of metabolic syndrome and disease- or therapy-related factors in premenopausal young SLE patients. A total of 103 premenopausal SLE patients ages <40 years were selected and compared to 35 healthy premenopausal age-matched women. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the 2009 Joint Interim Statement. A higher frequency of metabolic syndrome (22.3% versus 5.7%; P = 0.03) was observed in the SLE group. Metabolic syndrome-SLE patients had higher SLE Disease Activity Index scores (mean ± SD 5.9 ± 7.6 versus 1.9 ± 2.7; P = 0.006), more frequently had previous renal disease (73.9% versus 51.2%; P = 0.05) and current renal disease (34.8% versus 10.0%; P = 0.008), and had higher current prednisone dose (median [range] 20 [0-60] versus 5 [0-60] mg/dl; P = 0.018) and cumulative prednisone dose (mean ± SD 41.48 ± 27.81 versus 24.7 ± 18.66 gm; P = 0.023) than those without metabolic syndrome. Chloroquine was less frequently used in metabolic syndrome-SLE patients (65.2% versus 90.0%; P = 0.008). In multivariate analysis, only current chloroquine use (prevalence ratio [PR] 0.29, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.13-0.64) and cumulative prednisone were associated with metabolic syndrome (PR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04). Further estimated prevalence analysis identified the fact that antimalarial use promoted continuous decrease in the progressive metabolic syndrome prevalence associated with glucocorticoid cumulative dose. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high in premenopausal young adult SLE patients. Chloroquine has a protective effect on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in these patients, and this benefit counteracts the deleterious effect of glucocorticoids in a dose-dependent manner. © 2015, American College of

  18. Timely Digital Patient-Clinician Communication in Specialist Clinical Services for Young People: A Mixed-Methods Study (The LYNC Study)

    PubMed Central

    Bryce, Carol; Cave, Jonathan; Dritsaki, Melina; Fraser, Joseph; Hamilton, Kathryn; Huxley, Caroline; Ignatowicz, Agnieszka; Kim, Sung Wook; Kimani, Peter K; Madan, Jason; Slowther, Anne-Marie; Sujan, Mark; Sturt, Jackie

    2017-01-01

    Background Young people (aged 16-24 years) with long-term health conditions can disengage from health services, resulting in poor health outcomes, but clinicians in the UK National Health Service (NHS) are using digital communication to try to improve engagement. Evidence of effectiveness of this digital communication is equivocal. There are gaps in evidence as to how it might work, its cost, and ethical and safety issues. Objective Our objective was to understand how the use of digital communication between young people with long-term conditions and their NHS specialist clinicians changes engagement of the young people with their health care; and to identify costs and necessary safeguards. Methods We conducted mixed-methods case studies of 20 NHS specialist clinical teams from across England and Wales and their practice providing care for 13 different long-term physical or mental health conditions. We observed 79 clinical team members and interviewed 165 young people aged 16-24 years with a long-term health condition recruited via case study clinical teams, 173 clinical team members, and 16 information governance specialists from study NHS Trusts. We conducted a thematic analysis of how digital communication works, and analyzed ethics, safety and governance, and annual direct costs. Results Young people and their clinical teams variously used mobile phone calls, text messages, email, and voice over Internet protocol. Length of clinician use of digital communication varied from 1 to 13 years in 17 case studies, and was being considered in 3. Digital communication enables timely access for young people to the right clinician at the time when it can make a difference to how they manage their health condition. This is valued as an addition to traditional clinic appointments and can engage those otherwise disengaged, particularly at times of change for young people. It can enhance patient autonomy, empowerment and activation. It challenges the nature and boundaries of

  19. Do chimpanzees seek explanations? Preliminary comparative investigations.

    PubMed

    Povinelli, D J; Dunphy-Lelii, S

    2001-06-01

    During the past decade, considerable effort has been devoted to understanding whether chimpanzees reason about unobservable variables as explanations for observable events. With respect to physical causality, these investigations have explored chimpanzees' understanding of gravity, force, mass, shape, and so on. With respect to social causality, this research has focused on the question of whether they reason about mental states such as emotions, desires, and beliefs. In the studies reported here, we explored whether the chimpanzee's natural motivation for object exploration is modulated by a cognitive system that seeks explanations for unexpected events. We confronted both chimpanzees and young children with simple tasks which occasionally could not be made to work. We coded their reactions to determine if they appeared to be searching for an apparent cause (or explanation) of the task failure. The results of these preliminary studies point to both similarities and differences in how young children and chimpanzees react to such circumstances.

  20. Long-term prognosis of young breast cancer patients (≤40 years) who did not receive adjuvant systemic treatment: protocol for the PARADIGM initiative cohort study.

    PubMed

    Dackus, Gwen Mhe; Ter Hoeve, Natalie D; Opdam, Mark; Vreuls, Willem; Varga, Zsuzsanna; Koop, Esther; Willems, Stefan M; Van Deurzen, Carolien Hm; Groen, Emilie J; Cordoba, Alicia; Bart, Jos; Mooyaart, Antien L; van den Tweel, Jan G; Zolota, Vicky; Wesseling, Jelle; Sapino, Anna; Chmielik, Ewa; Ryska, Ales; Amant, Frederic; Broeks, Annegien; Kerkhoven, Ron; Stathonikos, Nikolas; Veta, Mitko; Voogd, Adri; Jozwiak, Katarzyna; Hauptmann, Michael; Hoogstraat, Marlous; Schmidt, Marjanka K; Sonke, Gabe; van der Wall, Elsken; Siesling, Sabine; van Diest, Paul J; Linn, Sabine C

    2017-11-14

    Currently used tools for breast cancer prognostication and prediction may not adequately reflect a young patient's prognosis or likely treatment benefit because they were not adequately validated in young patients. Since breast cancers diagnosed at a young age are considered prognostically unfavourable, many treatment guidelines recommend adjuvant systemic treatment for all young patients. Patients cured by locoregional treatment alone are, therefore, overtreated. Lack of prognosticators for young breast cancer patients represents an unmet medical need and has led to the initiation of the PAtients with bReAst cancer DIaGnosed preMenopausally (PARADIGM) initiative. Our aim is to reduce overtreatment of women diagnosed with breast cancer aged ≤ 40 years. All young, adjuvant systemic treatment naive breast cancer patients, who had no prior malignancy and were diagnosed between 1989 and 2000, were identified using the population based Netherlands Cancer Registry (n=3525). Archival tumour tissues were retrieved through linkage with the Dutch nationwide pathology registry. Tissue slides will be digitalised and placed on an online image database platform for clinicopathological revision by an international team of breast pathologists. Immunohistochemical subtype will be assessed using tissue microarrays. Tumour RNA will be isolated and subjected to next-generation sequencing. Differences in gene expression found between patients with a favourable and those with a less favourable prognosis will be used to establish a prognostic classifier, using the triple negative patients as proof of principle. Observational data from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and left over archival patient material are used. Therefore, the Dutch law on Research Involving Human Subjects Act (WMO) is not applicable. The PARADIGM study received a 'non-WMO' declaration from the Medical Ethics Committee of the Netherlands Cancer Institute - Antoni van Leeuwenhoek hospital, waiving individual patient

  1. Adolescent and Young Adult Patient Engagement and Participation in Survey-Based Research: A Report From the "Resilience in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer" Study.

    PubMed

    Rosenberg, Abby R; Bona, Kira; Wharton, Claire M; Bradford, Miranda; Shaffer, Michele L; Wolfe, Joanne; Baker, Kevin Scott

    2016-04-01

    Conducting patient-reported outcomes research with adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is difficult due to low participation rates and high attrition. Forty-seven AYAs with newly diagnosed cancer at two large hospitals were prospectively surveyed at the time of diagnosis and 3-6 and 12-18 months later. A subset participated in 1:1 semistructured interviews. Attrition prompted early study closure at one site. The majority of patients preferred paper-pencil to online surveys. Interview participants were more likely to complete surveys (e.g., 93% vs. 58% completion of 3-6 month surveys, P = 0.02). Engaging patients through qualitative methodologies and using patient-preferred instruments may optimize future research success. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. [Pain experiences and life satisfaction of young adult cancer patients].

    PubMed

    Geue, K; Schmidt, R; Sender, A; Friedrich, M

    2017-02-01

    After having completed medical treatment cancer patients often suffer from pain that can impair the quality of life. While young adolescents and adults (AYA) with cancer have become the focus of research during recent years, literature on the prevalence, quality and relief of pain in AYA patients is lacking. This study investigated psychosocial data on pain experienced by AYA patients (e.g. prevalence, type, distress, anxiety and need for support) and the association with the quality of life. Standardized and validated questionnaires were used for assessing pain and quality of life in AYA patients defined as the patient group between 18 and 39 years. Calculated regression models were summarized in a pathway model. Out of 117 AYA patients (66 % women) 45 (39 %) suffered from pain and of these 73 % felt impaired due to the pain, 58 (50 %) had a fear of pain and 21 (20 %) reported a need for support. The severity of pain had a negative influence on physical functioning (β = -0.335) and health-related satisfaction (β = -0.415). Regarding the quality of life, 105 patients (90 %) were overall satisfied with their life. Dissatisfaction was reported in the areas of occupation (39.34 %), ability to relax (36.31 %), physical performance (34.29 %), income (32.27 %) and partnership/sexuality (29.25 %). This study provides evidence that pain plays a relevant role for AYA patients after the end of medical treatment. A substantial proportion of AYA patients reported the need for support so that the question arises whether medical pain management is sufficient, particularly as pain was associated with impairment and strongly negatively associated with health-related satisfaction.

  3. [Resilience in caregivers of patients with dementia: A preliminary study].

    PubMed

    Fernández-Lansac, Violeta; Crespo López, María; Cáceres, Rebeca; Rodríguez-Poyo, María

    2012-01-01

    Caring for a relative with dementia often has negative effects on the caregiver's physical and psychological health. However, many caregivers successfully cope with the stress factors arising from care, and even have uplifts during their experience, showing high resilience levels. This study presents a preliminary analysis of resilience in caregivers of patients with dementia, exploring its relationship with different variables. Resilience was assessed (by CD-RISC) in 53 family caregivers of patients with dementia. Resilience was correlated to the following variables: caregiving context, stressors (e.g., cognitive impairment), appraisals (e.g., burden), moderators (e.g., personality traits and resources), and caregiving consequences (physical and psychological health). The participants showed moderate scores on resilience. Resilience was associated with poor emotional and physical status (significant inverse correlations with anxiety, depression, psycho-active drug use, health habits…). High resilience scores were significantly correlated to burden, neuroticism and extraversion, self-efficacy, self-esteem and less use of emotion focused coping strategies. Higher resilience relates to a good emotional and physical status in caregivers. Moreover, resilience is more associated with caregiver variables (e.g., appraisal and coping with care, personality features), than to situational variables. The data highlight the strengthening of these types of appraisal and coping as a way to improve caregivers' resilience and, consequently, their health. Copyright © 2011 SEGG. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

  4. Essential thrombocythemia in young individuals: frequency and risk factors for vascular events and evolution to myelofibrosis in 126 patients.

    PubMed

    Alvarez-Larrán, A; Cervantes, F; Bellosillo, B; Giralt, M; Juliá, A; Hernández-Boluda, J C; Bosch, A; Hernández-Nieto, L; Clapés, V; Burgaleta, C; Salvador, C; Arellano-Rodrigo, E; Colomer, D; Besses, C

    2007-06-01

    The frequency of vascular events and evolution to myelofibrosis (MF) in young individuals with essential thrombocythemia (ET) is not well known. The incidence and predisposing factors to such complications was studied in 126 subjects diagnosed with ET at a median age of 31 years (range: 5-40). Overall survival and probability of survival free of thrombosis, bleeding and MF were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and the presence of the Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F mutation correlated with the appearance of such complications. The JAK2 mutation (present in 43% of patients) was associated with higher hemoglobin (Hb) (P<0.001) and lower platelets at diagnosis. With a median follow-up of 10 years (range: 4-25), 31 thrombotic events were registered (incidence rate: 2.2 thromboses/100 patients/year). When compared with the general population, young ET patients showed a significant increase in stroke (odds ratio 50, 95% CI: 21.5-115) and venous thromboses (odds ratio 5.3, 95% CI: 3.9-10.6). Thrombosis-free survival was 84% at 10 years, with tobacco use being associated with higher risk of thrombosis. Actuarial freedom from evolution to MF was 97% at 10 years. In conclusion, young ET patients have thrombotic events, especially stroke and venous thrombosis, more frequently than generally considered, whereas they rarely transform to MF.

  5. Sialadenoma papilliferum in a young patient: a case report and review of the literature.

    PubMed

    Mahajan, Dipti; Khurana, Nita; Setia, Namrata

    2007-03-01

    Sialadenoma papilliferum is a rare exophytic tumor of salivary gland origin, accounting for less than 1% of minor salivary gland tumors. It usually occurs in males older than 50 years as a painless papillary intraoral lesion. An 18-year-old male patient presented with an exophytic intraoral lesion present for approximately 12 years. The tumor was excised with a clinical diagnosis of infected hemangioma. However, histopathological diagnosis was consistent with sialadenoma papilliferum. The patient was followed up at regular intervals and no evidence of recurrence was noted. Our patient, aged 18 years, with tumor lasting for 12 years becomes the youngest case of intraoral sialadenoma papilliferum yet reported. This case highlights the importance of keeping sialadenoma papilliferum as a differential diagnosis of an intraoral exophytic proliferative lesion even in a young patient.

  6. The association of methamphetamine use and cardiomyopathy in young patients.

    PubMed

    Yeo, Khung-Keong; Wijetunga, Mevan; Ito, Hiroki; Efird, Jimmy T; Tay, Kevin; Seto, Todd B; Alimineti, Kavitha; Kimata, Chieko; Schatz, Irwin J

    2007-02-01

    Methamphetamine is the most widespread illegally used stimulant in the United States. Previously published case reports and series suggest a potential association between methamphetamine exposure and cardiomyopathy. The objective of this study is to demonstrate an association between methamphetamine use and cardiomyopathy. Case-control study based on chart review of discharges from a tertiary care medical center from January 2001 to June 2004. Patients were < or =45 years old. Cases included patients with a discharge diagnosis of either cardiomyopathy or heart failure. Controls included hospitalized patients who had an echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function with ejection fraction > or =55% and no wall motion abnormalities. One hundred and seven cases and 114 controls were identified. Both groups had similar gender distribution, length of hospital stay, rates of health insurance, prevalence of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, and marijuana and cocaine use. Cases were older than controls (mean age: 38 vs 35 years; P=.008), had higher body mass index (BMI) (mean BMI: 37 vs 30 kg/m2; P<.001), and higher prevalence of renal failure (13% vs 4.4%; P=.03). Methamphetamine users had a 3.7-fold increased odds ratio [95% confidence interval, 1.8-7.8] for cardiomyopathy, adjusting for age, body mass index, and renal failure. Methamphetamine use was associated with cardiomyopathy in young patients.

  7. Predictors of orthorexic behaviours in patients with eating disorders: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Brytek-Matera, Anna; Rogoza, Radosław; Gramaglia, Carla; Zeppegno, Patrizia

    2015-10-15

    The construct of orthorexia in eating disorders (EDs) has received very little attention despite clinical observations of a possible overlap between the two. The aim of this study was: 1) to assess orthorexic behaviours, eating disorder pathology and attitudinal body image in ED patients; 2) to identify possible predictors of orthorexia nervosa among ED patients. Fifty-two women diagnosed with EDs were recruited. Patients' assessment included the following: the ORTO-15 test (Polish version) for orthorexic behaviours; the Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) to identify ED symptoms; the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (Polish version) to assess body image. A latent class analysis was performed and differences between identified classes were assessed. The main differences concerned weight, ED pathology and orthorexic behaviours within the same group of ED patients. In order to examine predictors of orthorexia nervosa, we investigated a structural equation model, which excellently fitted to the data (χ(2)(17) = 23.05; p = .148; CFI = .962; RMSEA = .08; p = .25; SRMR = .05). In ED patients, orthorexic behaviour was negatively predicted by eating pathology, weight concern, health orientation and appearance orientation. The assessment of the orthorexia construct in EDs may add to the paucity of studies about this issue and may help to clarify the relationship between the two. Differences and similarities seem to exist between these disorders, and may benefit from specific treatment approaches. Moreover, these preliminary findings open tracks for future research in the field of the psychology of eating.

  8. Eating behaviours among young women.

    PubMed

    Abraham, S F; Mira, M; Beumont, P J; Sowerbutts, T D; Llewellyn-Jones, D

    1983-09-03

    Disordered eating and weight-control behaviour is becoming increasingly common among adolescent girls. We studied four groups of young women aged between 15 and 27 years (106 school and university students, 50 ballet school students, 22 patients suffering from anorexia nervosa and 44 patients with bulimia). Our results suggest that most young women diet at some time and lose more than three kg in weight; that they may experience episodes of binge eating and "picking" behaviour; and that they wish to be thinner irrespective of their current body weight. Twenty per cent of young women may fulfil the criteria for an eating disorder (bulimia or anorexia nervosa) at some stage, however briefly, and about 7% abuse laxatives or diuretics in order to achieve a fashionably slim figure. We suggest that most young women may pass through a phase of what is currently called disordered eating, and that this is part of normal development and may not necessarily require treatment. The incidence of disordered eating is greater in those young women who are under pressure to maintain a low body weight.

  9. Probabilistic modelling to assess exposure to three artificial sweeteners of young Irish patients aged 1-3 years with PKU and CMPA.

    PubMed

    O'Sullivan, Aaron J; Pigat, Sandrine; O'Mahony, Cian; Gibney, Michael J; McKevitt, Aideen I

    2016-11-01

    The choice of suitable normal foods is limited for individuals with particular medical conditions, e.g., inborn errors of metabolism (phenylketonuria - PKU) or severe cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). Patients may have dietary restrictions and exclusive or partial replacement of specific food groups with specially formulated products to meet particular nutrition requirements. Artificial sweeteners are used to improve the appearance and palatability of such food products to avoid food refusal and ensure dietary adherence. Young children have a higher risk of exceeding acceptable daily intakes for additives than adults due to higher food intakes kg -1 body weight. The Budget Method and EFSA's Food Additives Intake Model (FAIM) are not equipped to assess partial dietary replacement with special formulations as they are built on data from dietary surveys of consumers without special medical requirements impacting the diet. The aim of this study was to explore dietary exposure modelling as a means of estimating the intake of artificial sweeteners by young PKU and CMPA patients aged 1-3 years. An adapted validated probabilistic model (FACET) was used to assess patients' exposure to artificial sweeteners. Food consumption data were derived from the food consumption survey data of healthy young children in Ireland from the National Preschool and Nutrition Survey (NPNS, 2010-11). Specially formulated foods for special medical purposes were included in the exposure model to replace restricted foods. Inclusion was based on recommendations for adequate protein intake and dietary adherence data. Exposure assessment results indicated that young children with PKU and CMPA have higher relative average intakes of artificial sweeteners than healthy young children. The reliability and robustness of the model in the estimation of patient additive exposures was further investigated and provides the first exposure estimates for these special populations.

  10. A lower intensity of treatment may underlie the increased risk of thrombosis in young patients with masked polycythaemia vera.

    PubMed

    Lussana, Federico; Carobbio, Alessandra; Randi, Maria L; Elena, Chiara; Rumi, Elisa; Finazzi, Guido; Bertozzi, Irene; Pieri, Lisa; Ruggeri, Marco; Palandri, Francesca; Polverelli, Nicola; Elli, Elena; Tieghi, Alessia; Iurlo, Alessandra; Ruella, Marco; Cazzola, Mario; Rambaldi, Alessandro; Vannucchi, Alessandro M; Barbui, Tiziano

    2014-11-01

    In patients who do not meet the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for overt polycythaemia vera (PV), a diagnosis of masked PV (mPV) can be determined. A fraction of mPV patients may display thrombocytosis, thus mimicking essential thrombocythaemia (ET). No previous studies have examined clinical outcomes of mPV among young JAK2-mutated patients. We analysed a retrospective cohort of 538 JAK2-mutated patients younger than 40 years, after a re-assessment of the diagnosis according to the haemoglobin threshold for mPV. In this cohort of patients, 97 (18%) met the WHO criteria for PV, 66 patients (12%) were classified as mPV and 375 (70%) as JAK2-mutated ET. Surprisingly, a significant difference in the incidence of thrombosis was found when comparing mPV versus overt PV patients (P = 0·04). In multivariate analysis, the only factor accounting for the difference in the risk of thrombosis was the less frequent use of phlebotomies and cytoreduction in mPV patients compared to those with overt PV. Thus, we emphasize the need for the identification of mPV in young JAK2-mutated patients in order to optimize their treatments. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  11. A preliminary study of Patient Dignity Inventory validation among patients hospitalized in an acute psychiatric ward

    PubMed Central

    Di Lorenzo, Rosaria; Cabri, Giulio; Carretti, Eleonora; Galli, Giacomo; Giambalvo, Nina; Rioli, Giulia; Saraceni, Serena; Spiga, Giulia; Del Giovane, Cinzia; Ferri, Paola

    2017-01-01

    Purpose To investigate the perception of dignity among patients hospitalized in a psychiatric setting using the Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI), which had been first validated in oncologic field among terminally ill patients. Patients and methods After having modified two items, we administered the Italian version of PDI to all patients hospitalized in a public psychiatric ward (Service of Psychiatric Diagnosis and Treatment of a northern Italian town), who provided their consent and completed it at discharge, from October 21, 2015 to May 31, 2016. We excluded minors and patients with moderate/severe dementia, with poor knowledge of Italian language, who completed PDI in previous hospitalizations and/or were hospitalized for <72 hours. We collected the demographic and clinical variables of our sample (n=135). We statistically analyzed PDI scores, performing Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and principal factor analysis, followed by orthogonal and oblique rotation. We concomitantly administered to our sample other scales (Hamilton Rating Scales for Depression and Anxiety, Global Assessment of Functioning and Health of the Nation Outcome Scales) to analyze the PDI concurrent validity. Results With a response rate of 93%, we obtained a mean PDI score of 48.27 (±19.59 SD) with excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient =0.93). The factorial analysis showed the following three factors with eigenvalue >1 (Kaiser’s criterion), which explained >80% of total variance with good internal consistency: 1) “Loss of self-identity and social role”, 2) “Anxiety and uncertainty for future” and 3) “Loss of personal autonomy”. The PDI and the three-factor scores were statistically significantly positively correlated with the Hamilton Scales for Depression and Anxiety but not with other scale scores. Conclusion Our preliminary research suggests that PDI can be a reliable tool to assess patients’ dignity perception in a psychiatric setting, until now

  12. Information needs of adolescent and young adult cancer patients and their parent-carers.

    PubMed

    McCarthy, Maria C; McNeil, Robyn; Drew, Sarah; Orme, Lisa; Sawyer, Susan M

    2018-05-01

    This study aimed to explore health-related information needs of adolescent and young adults (AYAs) and their parent-carers and to examine demographic and clinical variables associated with unmet information needs, including patient activation. In a national cross-sectional study, 196 Australian AYAs diagnosed with cancer between 15 and 25 years and within 24 months of diagnosis and 204 parent-carers reported on total and unmet needs for cancer and health-related information. Fifty-one percent of AYAs were male, 81% had completed treatment and 86% were treated in adult hospitals. AYAs and parents reported high levels of total need for information. The mean number of unmet needs was 5.63 and 6.82 for AYAs and parents, respectively. AYAs reported the highest unmet needs in relation to their cancer (e.g. late effects and cancer recurrence, and having children in the future). The highest unmet parent information needs were related to medical information about their child as well as information on financial issues for their children and themselves. Unmet information need was associated with psychological distress (posttraumatic stress symptoms) for AYAs and parents. Patient activation was negatively associated with unmet information needs for AYAs. Demographic and treatment variables were not significantly associated with information needs. These findings indicate the importance of information needs for AYAs and their carers. The association between patient activation and information needs suggests that promoting young people's engagement with healthcare is a key opportunity within AYA care. Parent information needs and associated emotional distress additionally highlight the importance of family-centered care.

  13. The neurophysiology of urinary retention in young women and its treatment by neuromodulation.

    PubMed

    Goodwin, R J; Swinn, M J; Fowler, C J

    1998-01-01

    Urinary retention occurring in young women as an isolated phenomenon was often thought to be psychogenic in origin. However, in 1988, Fowler et al. described a syndrome in young women in which urinary retention was the predominant feature and in which electromyography (EMG) of the striated urethral sphincter revealed a striking abnormality. This abnormality, it was postulated, would result in an inability of the sphincter to relax and retention would therefore result. Until recently there was no effective treatment for this disorder except management by clean intermittent self-catheterisation. However, preliminary results of neuromodulation using a Medtronic sacral nerve stimulator have been particularly promising in this group of patients. The response is often spectacular; a woman who has not passed urine per urethram for many months or years will frequently find that within a few hours of insertion of the percutaneous nerve evaluation (PNE) lead, she can void quite normally with little or no residual urine. The precise mechanism of action is yet to be defined, but measurements of the latency of anal sphincter contraction on S3 stimulation during PNE are so prolonged that they can only be the result of an afferent-mediated reflex.

  14. Imitation (rather than core language) predicts pragmatic development in young children with ASD: a preliminary longitudinal study using CDI parental reports.

    PubMed

    Miniscalco, Carmela; Rudling, Maja; Råstam, Maria; Gillberg, Christopher; Johnels, Jakob Åsberg

    2014-01-01

    Research in the last decades has clearly pointed to the important role of language and communicative level when trying to understand developmental trajectories in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate whether (1) core language skills, measured as expressive vocabulary and grammar, and/or (2) pre-linguistic social-communicative skills, including gestures and imitation abilities, drive pragmatic language development in young children with ASD. We examined correlates and longitudinal predictors of pragmatic growth in a sample of 34 children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), whose parents were given parts of two MacArthur Communicative Developmental Inventories (CDI: Words & Gestures and CDI: Words & Sentences) for completion at two time points (at time 1 the mean child age was 41 months, and at time 2 it was 54 months). A novel feature in this study is that the relevant parts from both CDI forms were included at both time points, allowing us to examine whether pre-linguistic social-communication skills (e.g. imitation and gesturing) and/or core language skills (i.e. grammar and vocabulary) predict pragmatic language growth. The results show that basically all pre-linguistic, linguistic and pragmatic skills were associated concurrently. When controlling for possible confounders and for the autoregressive effect, imitation skills predicted pragmatic growth over time, whereas core language did not. This could only have been shown by the use of both CDI forms. This preliminary study may be of both conceptual and methodological importance for research in the field of language and communication development in ASD. Imitation may play a pivotal role in the development of subsequent conversational pragmatic abilities in young children with ASD. Future research should be directed at unravelling the mechanisms underlying this association. © 2014 Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

  15. [Stroke in young adults: incidence and clinical picture in 280 patients according to their aetiological subtype].

    PubMed

    Arboix, Adrià; Massons, Joan; García-Eroles, Luís; Oliveres, Montserrat

    2016-03-04

    To assess the clinical features and incidence rate of stroke in young adults (less than 55 years of age). Hospital-based descriptive study of 280 young inpatients consecutively admitted for stroke over a period of 24 years. We conducted a comparison with the remaining 4,312 patients admitted for stroke. Stroke in young adults represented 6.1% of all strokes, 5.7% of transient ischaemic attacks, 5.8% of cerebral infarctions and 8.4% of brain haemorrhages. However, reported minimal frequency of cardioembolic (2.1%) and atherothrombotic (3.4%) infarctions, accounted for 5.9% of lacunar and for 10.7% of essential infarctions and showed a maximum frequency in those infarctions of unusual aetiology (36%). Factors independently associated with stroke in young adults were cigarette smoking (OR 4.23; 95% CI 3.02-5.93; P=.000), unusual aetiology (OR 4.97; 95% CI 3.15-7.84; P=.000), headache (OR 4.57; 95% CI 2.59-8.07; P=.000), alcohol abuse (OR 3.93; 95% CI 2.46-6.29; P=.000), oral contraceptives (OR 14.07; 95% CI 2.37-83.40; P=.004), atrial fibrillation (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.08-0.28; P=.000), arterial hypertension (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.33-0.57; P=.000), COPD (OR 0.20; 95% CI 0.09-0.44; P=.000), atherothrombotic infarction (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.34-0.77; P=.001), female sex (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.52-0.97; P=.029), diabetes mellitus (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.46-0.98; P=.030), ischaemic heart disease (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.33-0.95; P=.032) and intermittent claudication (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.24-0.94; P=.033). Stroke in young adults is infrequent (6.1% of the total), but represents the highest frequency of cerebral infarcts of unusual aetiology (36%). We conclude that stroke in younger patients presents its own and differentiated clinical profile. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  16. Social Media and the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patient with Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Perales, Miguel-Angel; Drake, Emily K; Pemmaraju, Naveen; Wood, William A

    2016-01-01

    Over 70,000 adolescent and young adults aged 15 to 39 years (AYA) are diagnosed with cancer each year in the US. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has identified AYA cancer patients as a unique population. The most common cancers in this age group include tumors typically seen in pediatric patients such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and brain tumors, as well as cancers more typically seen in adult patients such as breast cancer and melanoma. In addition, some cancers have their highest incidence in AYA patients, such as Hodgkin Lymphoma, testicular cancer and bone tumors. AYA patients face additional unique issues due to their age, not just questions about treatment choices due to lack of data, but also questions about fertility, relationships, loss of autonomy, and interruptions in school/work with potentially significant financial complications. This age group also has very high rates of social media usage with up to 90% of adults aged 18 to 29 using social networking sites. In this review, we will describe the use of social media in AYAs with cancer and highlight some of the online resources for AYAs. PMID:26893061

  17. Social Media and the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Patient with Cancer.

    PubMed

    Perales, Miguel-Angel; Drake, Emily K; Pemmaraju, Naveen; Wood, William A

    2016-12-01

    Over 70,000 adolescent and young adults (AYA) aged 15 to 39 years are diagnosed with cancer each year in the US. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has identified AYA cancer patients as a unique population. The most common cancers in this age group include tumors typically seen in pediatric patients such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and brain tumors, as well as cancers more typically seen in adult patients such as breast cancer and melanoma. In addition, some cancers have their highest incidence in AYA patients, such as Hodgkin Lymphoma, testicular cancer, and bone tumors. AYA patients face additional unique issues due to their age, not just questions about treatment choices due to lack of data but also questions about fertility, relationships, loss of autonomy, and interruptions in school/work with potentially significant financial complications. This age group also has very high rates of social media usage with up to 90 % of adults aged 18 to 29 using social networking sites. In this review, we will describe the use of social media in AYAs with cancer and highlight some of the online resources for AYAs.

  18. [Smoking and young people; effectiveness of smoking prevention and cessation programmes].

    PubMed

    Monshouwer, K; Onrust, S; Rikkers-Mutsaerts, E; Lammers, J

    2017-01-01

    - In this article, we discuss the scientific knowledge on the effects of interventions that help young people to quit smoking and interventions that should prevent young people from starting to smoke.- We also describe the interventions in the Netherlands that, after a quality assessment, have been included in the database of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) Centre for Healthy Living.- Interventions have varying degrees of success in helping young people to quit smoking. There are only indications of a modest effect of behavioural interventions.- Preventive interventions mostly occur in a school setting and are making a modest contribution to the reduction of the number of young people that start smoking.- There are preliminary indications of the effectiveness of interventions in a medical setting. However, research into this is rare and there is no insight in long-term effects.- The database of the RIVM Centre for Healthy Living includes mainly preventive interventions in a school setting and only one smoking cessation intervention.

  19. Hacking the hospital environment: young adults designing youth-friendly hospital rooms together with young people with cancer experiences.

    PubMed

    Boisen, Kirsten A; Boisen, Anne; Thomsen, Stine Legarth; Matthiesen, Simon Meggers; Hjerming, Maiken; Hertz, Pernille Grarup

    2015-12-09

    There is a need for youth-friendly hospital environments as the ward environment may affect both patient satisfaction and health outcomes. To involve young people in designing youth-friendly ward environment. We arranged a design competition lasting 42 h (Hackathon). Students in architecture, design, engineering, communication and anthropology participated (27 young adults) - forming eight groups. Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with current or former cancer experience participated as sparring partners. We provided workspace and food during the weekend. The groups presented their products to a jury and relevant stakeholders. The groups created eight unique design concepts. The young designers were extremely flexible listening to ideas and experiences from the young patients, which led to common features including individual and flexible design, privacy in two-bed wardrooms and social contact with other hospitalized AYA. The winning project included an integrated concept for both wardrooms and the AYA day room, including logos and names for the rooms and an 'energy wall' in the day room. A hackathon event was an effective mode of youth participation. The design concepts and ideas were in line with current evidence regarding pleasing hospital environment and youth-friendly inpatient facilities and may be applicable to other young patients.

  20. Management of a young female patient with Fournier's gangrene and Lemierre's syndrome.

    PubMed

    Aslanidis, Theodoros; Myrou, Athena; Giannakou-Peftoulidou, Maria

    2014-01-01

    Fournier's gangrene is an acute, rapidly progressive, and potentially fatal, infective necrotizing fasciitis affecting the external genitalia, perineal or perianal regions. Lemierre's syndrome is a condition characterized by thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and bacteremia caused by primarily anaerobic organisms, following a recent oropharyngeal infection. Although the literature about either of them is rich, there is no report about co-appearance of the two syndromes. We present the case of a young healthy female patient who suffered concomitantly from Fournier's gangrene and Lemierre's syndrome after minor surgery.

  1. Preliminary development and psychometric evaluation of an unmet needs measure for adolescents and young adults with cancer: the Cancer Needs Questionnaire - Young People (CNQ-YP).

    PubMed

    Clinton-McHarg, Tara; Carey, Mariko; Sanson-Fisher, Rob; D'Este, Catherine; Shakeshaft, Anthony

    2012-01-30

    Adolescents and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors may have unique physical, psychological and social needs due to their cancer occurring at a critical phase of development. The aim of this study was to develop a psychometrically rigorous measure of unmet need to capture the specific needs of this group. Items were developed following a comprehensive literature review, focus groups with AYAs, and feedback from health care providers, researchers and other professionals. The measure was pilot tested with 32 AYA cancer survivors recruited through a state-based cancer registry to establish face and content validity. A main sample of 139 AYA cancer patients and survivors were recruited through seven treatment centres and invited to complete the questionnaire. To establish test-retest reliability, a sub-sample of 34 participants completed the measure a second time. Exploratory factor analysis was performed and the measure was assessed for internal consistency, discriminative validity, potential responsiveness and acceptability. The Cancer Needs Questionnaire - Young People (CNQ-YP) has established face and content validity, and acceptability. The final measure has 70 items and six factors: Treatment Environment and Care (33 items); Feelings and Relationships (14 items); Daily Life (12 items); Information and Activities (5 items); Education (3 items); and Work (3 items). All domains achieved Cronbach's alpha values greater than 0.80. Item-to-item test-retest reliability was also high, with all but four items reaching weighted kappa values above 0.60. The CNQ-YP is the first multi-dimensional measure of unmet need which has been developed specifically for AYA cancer patients and survivors. The measure displays a strong factor structure, and excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability. However, the small sample size has implications for the reliability of the statistical analyses undertaken, particularly the exploratory factor analysis. Future studies with a

  2. Preliminary development and psychometric evaluation of an unmet needs measure for adolescents and young adults with cancer: the Cancer Needs Questionnaire - Young People (CNQ-YP)

    PubMed Central

    2012-01-01

    Background Adolescents and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors may have unique physical, psychological and social needs due to their cancer occurring at a critical phase of development. The aim of this study was to develop a psychometrically rigorous measure of unmet need to capture the specific needs of this group. Methods Items were developed following a comprehensive literature review, focus groups with AYAs, and feedback from health care providers, researchers and other professionals. The measure was pilot tested with 32 AYA cancer survivors recruited through a state-based cancer registry to establish face and content validity. A main sample of 139 AYA cancer patients and survivors were recruited through seven treatment centres and invited to complete the questionnaire. To establish test-retest reliability, a sub-sample of 34 participants completed the measure a second time. Exploratory factor analysis was performed and the measure was assessed for internal consistency, discriminative validity, potential responsiveness and acceptability. Results The Cancer Needs Questionnaire - Young People (CNQ-YP) has established face and content validity, and acceptability. The final measure has 70 items and six factors: Treatment Environment and Care (33 items); Feelings and Relationships (14 items); Daily Life (12 items); Information and Activities (5 items); Education (3 items); and Work (3 items). All domains achieved Cronbach's alpha values greater than 0.80. Item-to-item test-retest reliability was also high, with all but four items reaching weighted kappa values above 0.60. Conclusions The CNQ-YP is the first multi-dimensional measure of unmet need which has been developed specifically for AYA cancer patients and survivors. The measure displays a strong factor structure, and excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability. However, the small sample size has implications for the reliability of the statistical analyses undertaken, particularly the exploratory

  3. Timely Digital Patient-Clinician Communication in Specialist Clinical Services for Young People: A Mixed-Methods Study (The LYNC Study).

    PubMed

    Griffiths, Frances; Bryce, Carol; Cave, Jonathan; Dritsaki, Melina; Fraser, Joseph; Hamilton, Kathryn; Huxley, Caroline; Ignatowicz, Agnieszka; Kim, Sung Wook; Kimani, Peter K; Madan, Jason; Slowther, Anne-Marie; Sujan, Mark; Sturt, Jackie

    2017-04-10

    Young people (aged 16-24 years) with long-term health conditions can disengage from health services, resulting in poor health outcomes, but clinicians in the UK National Health Service (NHS) are using digital communication to try to improve engagement. Evidence of effectiveness of this digital communication is equivocal. There are gaps in evidence as to how it might work, its cost, and ethical and safety issues. Our objective was to understand how the use of digital communication between young people with long-term conditions and their NHS specialist clinicians changes engagement of the young people with their health care; and to identify costs and necessary safeguards. We conducted mixed-methods case studies of 20 NHS specialist clinical teams from across England and Wales and their practice providing care for 13 different long-term physical or mental health conditions. We observed 79 clinical team members and interviewed 165 young people aged 16-24 years with a long-term health condition recruited via case study clinical teams, 173 clinical team members, and 16 information governance specialists from study NHS Trusts. We conducted a thematic analysis of how digital communication works, and analyzed ethics, safety and governance, and annual direct costs. Young people and their clinical teams variously used mobile phone calls, text messages, email, and voice over Internet protocol. Length of clinician use of digital communication varied from 1 to 13 years in 17 case studies, and was being considered in 3. Digital communication enables timely access for young people to the right clinician at the time when it can make a difference to how they manage their health condition. This is valued as an addition to traditional clinic appointments and can engage those otherwise disengaged, particularly at times of change for young people. It can enhance patient autonomy, empowerment and activation. It challenges the nature and boundaries of therapeutic relationships but can

  4. Careers in Drug and Alcohol Research: AN Innovative Program for Young Appalachian Women

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Noland, Melody Powers; Leukefeld, Carl; Reid, Caroline

    Supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the University of Kentucky's Center on Drug and Alcohol Research developed the Young Women in Science Program to encourage young women from Appalachia to pursue scientific careers гп drug and alcohol research. This 3-year program, which involved 26 young women entering the ninth grade in 13 counties in southeastern Kentucky, included a summer residential program, community educational sessions, and matching students with mentors. When participants' scores prior to and after the 3-week residential program were compared, it was found that participants increased their science knowledge and improved their scores on confidence in science. Other significant changes occurred as well. These preliminary data indicated that some positive changes resulted from the program, even though contact time with the young women has been modest to date. The program shows considerable promise for providing the encouragement and skills needed for these young women to pursue careers in drug and alcohol research.

  5. Community-based Provision for Young Deaf Children Aged from Birth to Five Years.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Evans, Roy; Robinshaw, Helen

    2000-01-01

    Reports preliminary findings of the first national survey of services to identify and provide specialist support to profoundly deaf infants and young children in England and Wales. Notes that the resources available for early identification of deaf infants and the quality of professional support to promote habilitation is quite variable.…

  6. Young People's Attitudes to Religious Diversity: Quantitative Approaches from Social Psychology and Empirical Theology

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Francis, Leslie J.; Croft, Jennifer S.; Pyke, Alice; Robbins, Mandy

    2012-01-01

    This essay discusses the design of the quantitative component of the "Young People's Attitudes to Religious Diversity" project, conceived by Professor Robert Jackson within the Warwick Religions and Education Research Unit, and presents some preliminary findings from the data. The quantitative component followed and built on the…

  7. Coinheritance of hereditary spherocytosis and reversibility of cirrhosis in a young female patient with hereditary hemochromatosis.

    PubMed

    Höblinger, A; Erdmann, C; Strassburg, C P; Sauerbruch, T; Lammert, F

    2009-04-16

    Here we report a 33-years-old woman with hereditary spherocytosis and hemochromatosis due to homozygosity for the C282Y mutation of the HFE gene. The coinheritance of both conditions led to severe iron overload and liver cirrhosis at young age. The patient was treated by repeated phlebotomy, and reversibility of cirrhosis was documented by transient elastography. This report discusses the pathophysiology of iron accumulation in patients with hemolytic anemia combined with HFE C282Y homozygosity. The case indicates that patients with hematological disorders characterized by increased erythropoetic activity should be screened for HFE mutations.

  8. Genetic features of myelodysplastic syndrome and aplastic anemia in pediatric and young adult patients

    PubMed Central

    Keel, Siobán B.; Scott, Angela; Sanchez-Bonilla, Marilyn; Ho, Phoenix A.; Gulsuner, Suleyman; Pritchard, Colin C.; Abkowitz, Janis L.; King, Mary-Claire; Walsh, Tom; Shimamura, Akiko

    2016-01-01

    The clinical and histopathological distinctions between inherited versus acquired bone marrow failure and myelodysplastic syndromes are challenging. The identification of inherited bone marrow failure/myelodysplastic syndromes is critical to inform appropriate clinical management. To investigate whether a subset of pediatric and young adults undergoing transplant for aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome have germline mutations in bone marrow failure/myelodysplastic syndrome genes, we performed a targeted genetic screen of samples obtained between 1990–2012 from children and young adults with aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome transplanted at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Mutations in inherited bone marrow failure/myelodysplastic syndrome genes were found in 5.1% (5/98) of aplastic anemia patients and 13.6% (15/110) of myelodysplastic syndrome patients. While the majority of mutations were constitutional, a RUNX1 mutation present in the peripheral blood at a 51% variant allele fraction was confirmed to be somatically acquired in one myelodysplastic syndrome patient. This highlights the importance of distinguishing germline versus somatic mutations by sequencing DNA from a second tissue or from parents. Pathological mutations were present in DKC1, MPL, and TP53 among the aplastic anemia cohort, and in FANCA, GATA2, MPL, RTEL1, RUNX1, SBDS, TERT, TINF2, and TP53 among the myelodysplastic syndrome cohort. Family history or physical examination failed to reliably predict the presence of germline mutations. This study shows that while any single specific bone marrow failure/myelodysplastic syndrome genetic disorder is rare, screening for these disorders in aggregate identifies a significant subset of patients with inherited bone marrow failure/myelodysplastic syndrome. PMID:27418648

  9. Differences in serum zinc levels in acutely ill and remitted adolescents and young adults with bulimia nervosa in comparison with healthy controls – a cross-sectional pilot study

    PubMed Central

    Zepf, Florian D; Rao, Pradeep; Runions, Kevin; Stewart, Richard M; Moore, Julia K; Wong, Janice WY; Linden, Maike; Sungurtekin, Idil; Glass, Franziska; Gut, Linda; Peetz, Dirk; Hintereder, Gudrun; Schaab, Michael; Poustka, Fritz; Wöckel, Lars

    2017-01-01

    Background Research has implicated that changes in zinc (Zn) metabolism may be associated with the biological underpinnings of eating disorders, in particular anorexia nervosa. However, to date research on the role of Zn in patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) is scarce. Objective We aimed to explore serum Zn concentrations in young patients with BN, with a focus on the stage of the disorder, comparing acutely ill and recovered patients with BN with healthy controls. Methods Serum Zn concentrations were obtained from healthy controls and from acutely ill and remitted young patients with BN. Mean duration of remission was 4.0±3.5 years. Results Remitted patients showed elevated serum Zn concentrations when compared to controls (Cohen’s d=2.022), but concentrations were still in the normal range. Acutely ill patients also had higher serum Zn levels when compared to controls (all values still being within the reference range, Cohen’s d=0.882). There was no difference between acutely ill and remitted patients with BN in serum Zn concentrations. Of note, remitted patients had a significantly higher body weight when compared to the other two groups. Overall, there were no significant differences in dietary preferences with regard to Zn containing foods between the groups. Conclusion The present study provides preliminary evidence that the underlying factors for changes in Zn serum concentrations in young patients with BN do not vary with regard to the stage of illness (acute versus remitted BN). Further prospective research is needed in order to disentangle the possible interplay between serum Zn status and bulimic eating behaviors. PMID:29089768

  10. Identification of patients with suboptimal results after hip arthroplasty: development of a preliminary prediction algorithm.

    PubMed

    Lungu, Eugen; Vendittoli, Pascal-André; Desmeules, François

    2015-10-05

    The ability to predict preoperatively the identity of patients undergoing hip arthroplasty at risk of suboptimal outcomes could help implement interventions targeted at improving surgical results. The objective was to develop a preliminary prediction algorithm (PA) allowing the identification of patients at risk of unsatisfactory outcomes one to two years following hip arthroplasty. Retrospective data on a cohort of 265 patients having undergone primary unilateral hip replacement (188 total arthroplasties and 77 resurfacing arthroplasties) from 2004 to 2010 were collected from our arthroplasty database. Hip pain and function, as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) were collected, as well as self-reported hip joint perception after surgery. Demographic and clinical variables recorded at the time of the surgery were considered as potential predictors. Patients were considered as having a suboptimal surgical outcome if they were in the worst quartile of the postoperative total WOMAC score and perceived their operated hip as artificial with minimal or major limitations. The PA was developed using recursive partitioning. Mean postoperative surgical follow-up was 446 ± 171 days. Forty patients (15.1 %) had a postoperative total WOMAC score in the worst quartile (>11.5/100) and perceived their joint as artificial with minimal or major restrictions. A PA consisting of the following variables achieved the most acceptable level of prediction: gender, age at the time of surgery, body mass index (BMI), and three items of the preoperative WOMAC (degree of pain with walking on a flat surface and during the night as well as degree of difficulty with putting socks or stockings). The rule had a sensitivity of 75.0 % (95 % CI: 59.8-85.8), a specificity of 77.8 % (95 % CI: 71.9-82.7), a positive predictive value of 37.5 % (95 % CI: 27.7-48.5), a negative predictive value of 94.6 % (95 % CI: 90.3-97.0) and positive and

  11. Psychological and Physical Interventions for 
the Management of Cancer-Related Pain in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients: An Integrative Review.

    PubMed

    Jibb, Lindsay A; Nathan, Paul C; Stevens, Bonnie J; Seto, Emily; Cafazzo, Joseph A; Stephens, Nisha; Yohannes, Liza; Stinson, Jennifer N

    2015-11-01

    To identify and appraise current evidence related to the effectiveness of psychological and physical (nonpharmacologic) pain management modalities for children and young adults with cancer
. Electronic searches in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science (from database inception to June 2013) for clinical trials. A total of 32 unique studies were identified. Substantial heterogeneity existed across identified studies, precluding meta-analysis. Therefore, a narrative review of included studies is presented. Studies featured psychological and/or physical pain interventions for children and young adults (N = 1,171) aged 1-21 years with a variety of cancer diagnoses. Interventions included aromatherapy, art therapy, distraction, hypnosis, physical activity, physical positioning, touch therapy, and multimodal cognitive-behavior therapy. Twenty-two studies (69%) reported success in preventing or reducing pain intensity. The level of evidence and methodologic quality of studies were generally low
. Current nonpharmacologic pain interventions for pediatric and young adult patients with cancer are diverse. Several modalities significantly decreased pain intensity, suggesting that these strategies may be effective methods of pain treatment, particularly in the case of painful medical procedures. Future well-designed, multicenter, randomized, controlled trials are needed to further discern treatment effects on pain and other health outcomes in this population and to compare the relative effectiveness of different modalities. Nurses play a key role in pain assessment and management in pediatric and young adult patients with cancer. The studies included in this review constitute the beginnings of an evidence base that supports the need to implement psychological and physical interventions to improve pain outcomes in pediatric and young adult patients with cancer.

  12. Ovarian preservation in a young patient with Gorlin syndrome and multiple bilateral ovarian masses.

    PubMed

    Morse, Christopher B; McLaren, Janet F; Roy, Darshan; Siegelman, Evan S; Livolsi, Virginia A; Gracia, Clarisa R

    2011-07-01

    To report a case of bilateral ovarian fibromas and ovarian leiomyomas in a young patient with Gorlin syndrome and to highlight issues of fertility preservation, ovarian conservation, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis in this population. Case report. University hospital. A 15-year-old female patient with Gorlin syndrome and bilateral ovarian masses. Ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, hormone analysis, and laparotomy with resection of ovarian fibromas. Preservation of ovarian function, pathologic diagnosis. Our patient represented an adolescent case of bilateral ovarian fibromas and leiomyomas in Gorlin syndrome presenting with menstrual irregularities. She was managed surgically with resection of the lesions and conservation of normal ovarian tissue. In Gorlin syndrome, ovarian fibromas are a common clinical manifestation. Patients with ovarian involvement may present with complex gynecologic needs and may have decreased fertility potential. Careful surgical management, follow-up, and counseling on options for future fertility should be offered to all patients. Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. DNA methylation of ANKK1 and response to aripiprazole in patients with acute schizophrenia: A preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Miura, Itaru; Kunii, Yasuto; Hino, Mizuki; Hoshino, Hiroshi; Matsumoto, Junya; Kanno-Nozaki, Keiko; Horikoshi, Sho; Kaneko, Haruka; Bundo, Miki; Iwamoto, Kazuya; Yabe, Hirooki

    2018-05-01

    Epigenetic modification including DNA methylation may affect pathophysiology and the response to antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of the DNA methylation of ANKK1 (ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1) on the response to aripiprazole and plasma levels of monoamine metabolites in antipsychotic-free acute schizophrenia patients. The subjects were 34 Japanese patients with schizophrenia who had been treated with aripiprazole for 6 weeks. Comprehensive DNA methylation of ANKK1 was determined using a next-generation sequencer. DNA methylation levels at CpG site 387 of ANKK1 were higher in responders to treatment with aripiprazole and correlated with the changes in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale scores, although the associations did not remain significant after Bonferroni correction. In responders, methylation at all CpG sites was significantly correlated with plasma levels of homovanillic acid (r = 0.587, p = 0.035) and 3-methoxy-4hydroxyphenylglycol (r = 0.684, p = 0.010) at baseline. Despite our non-significant results after multiple correction, our preliminary findings suggest that methylation levels at CpG site 387 of ANKK1 may be associated with treatment response to aripiprazole. Furthermore, methylation of ANKK1 may affect dopaminergic neural transmission in the treatment of schizophrenia, and may influence treatment response. Caution is needed in interpreting these findings because of the small sample size, and further studies are needed to confirm and expand our preliminary results. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  14. Socioeconomic status and type 2 diabetes complications among young adult patients in Japan.

    PubMed

    Funakoshi, Mitsuhiko; Azami, Yasushi; Matsumoto, Hisashi; Ikota, Akemi; Ito, Koichi; Okimoto, Hisashi; Shimizu, Nobuaki; Tsujimura, Fumihiro; Fukuda, Hiroshi; Miyagi, Chozi; Osawa, Sayaka; Osawa, Ryo; Miura, Jiro

    2017-01-01

    To assess the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and complications of type 2 diabetes among young adults in Japan. A cross-sectional study. Outpatient wards of 96 member hospitals and clinics of the Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions. A total of 782 outpatients with type 2 diabetes (525 males, 257 females), aged 20-40 years as of March 31, 2012. After excluding 110 participants whose retinopathy diagnosis was in question, 672 participants were analyzed. We examined the relations between SES (educational level, income, type of public healthcare insurance, and employment status) and diabetes complications (retinopathy and nephropathy) using a multivariate logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of type 2 diabetic retinopathy was 23.2%, while that of nephropathy was 8.9%. The odds of having retinopathy were higher among junior high school graduates (OR 1.91, 95% CI 1.09-3.34), patients receiving public assistance (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.20-3.95), and patients with irregular (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.03-2.86) or no employment (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.36-3.68), compared to those with a higher SES, even after covariate adjustment (e.g., age, gender, body mass index). Similarly, the odds of having nephropathy were higher among patients with middle (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.69-8.27) or low income levels (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.11-6.07), even after covariate adjustment. Low SES was associated with a greater likelihood of type 2 diabetes complications in young adults. These findings suggest the necessity of health policies that mitigate socioeconomic disparity and thereby reduce the prevalence of diabetic complications.

  15. Building Young Engineers: TASEM for Third Graders in Woodcreek Magnet Elementary School

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Varney, M. W.; Janoudi, A.; Aslam, D. M.; Graham, D.

    2012-01-01

    Following the success of summer-camp-based programs, a new program has been developed for in-school sessions focused around LEGO robotics to foster interest in STEM topics at a young age. The program has been implemented in a very diverse school, and preliminary results on the efficacy of the program are presented. (Contains 1 table and 6 figures.)

  16. Is antithyroid treatment really relevant for young patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism?

    PubMed

    Yönem, Ozlem; Dökmetaş, Hatice Sebila; Aslan, Süleyman Murat; Erselcan, Taner

    2002-06-01

    This study investigated whether symptoms and findings of hyperthyroidism exist in patients with subclinical hyperthyroidism (SCH) and sought to determine whether hyperthyroidism treatment improves them. Twenty patients (mean age: 36.10 +/- 1.41 years) and 20 healthy controls [mean age: 36.35 +/- 1.50 years) were included in the study. The SCH duration of patients was at least 6 months. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in both patients and controls. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups of 10 patients each. Symptoms and findings of hyperthyroidism were evaluated and BMD, 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure, holter measurements and serum lipids were determined initially in both groups and 6 months after the attainment of euthyroidism in the treatment group (Group 1) and after a 6 months follow-up in the observation group (Group 2). In the patient group, BMD showed a decrease of 1.3% and 3.9% in femur neck and L1-4 vertebra compared with controls, respectively. But there was no difference in BMD between patients and controls. Fatigue, nervousness, over sweating, tachycardia and tremor improved with treatment. The number of patients with fatigue, nervousness, over sweating and tachycardia increased in Group 2 after the observation. There was no difference between initial values and after a 6 month period from observation or on attainment of euthyroidism in the values of BMD, lipids, minimal and maximal heart rate, total number of ventricular and supraventricular beats and heart rate variability. As a result symptoms of hyperthyroidism were found to be increased in SCH but they partly decreased after antithyroid treatment. But no favourable effects of antithyroid treatment on BMD, heart rate and arrhythmia incidence were found in young, premenopausal patients with SCH during the 6 month period.

  17. Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of an Online HIV Prevention Program for Diverse Young Men who have Sex with Men: The Keep It Up! Intervention

    PubMed Central

    Mustanski, Brian; Garofalo, Robert; Monahan, Colleen; Gratzer, Beau; Andrews, Rebecca

    2013-01-01

    Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) are disproportionately infected with HIV/AIDS and there are few prevention programs with published efficacy for this population. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an online, interactive, and highly engaging HIV prevention program called Keep It Up! The intervention was designed to be delivered to diverse YMSM upon receiving an HIV negative text result, with the goal for them to “Keep It Up” and stay negative. In a randomized clinical trial, the intervention was compared to an online didactic HIV knowledge condition. The study sample included 102 sexually active YMSM. Participants reported completing online modules in settings that were private and not distracting. Mixed methods data showed intervention participants felt the program was valuable and acceptable. Compared to the control condition, participants in the intervention arm had a 44 % lower rate of unprotected anal sex acts at the 12-week follow-up (p < 0.05). PMID:23673793

  18. [Myocardial bridge as the only cause of acute coronary syndrome among the young patients].

    PubMed

    Miakinkova, Liudmila O; Teslenko, Yurii V; Tsyhanenko, Irina V

    2018-01-01

    Introduction: Myocardial bridge is an inborn anomaly of coronary artery development, when a part of it is submerged in a myocard, which is pressing the coronary artery to a systola and restrains coronary blood circulation. Generally this feature of coronary blood circulation does not cause any clinical symptoms because the 85% of coronary blood stream of the left ventricle is provided by diastolic filling. Hemodynamic changes in atherosclerosis, tahicardie, hypertrophie of myocard are leading to the manifestation of clinical symptoms of ischemia. The aim: The purpose of the investigation was to discover the features of clinical development of acute coronary syndrome caused by myocardial bridge of young patients without the features of atherosclerotical harm of coronary arteries. Materials and methods: Eight causes of acute coronary syndrome among patients of 28±8,5 years with myocardial bridge which was revealed during coronary angiography, were investigated. Standardized examination and conservative treatment of patients was held, except for three who have got interventional therapy. Results: According to our investigation, myocardial bridge of all investigated patients was located in the middle of the third front interventricular branch of the left coronary artery. Causes of acute coronary syndrome manifestation were tahicardia, spasms of coronary artery, inducted by iatrogenic factors hypertrophie of myocard, hypertrophic cardiomyopatie. Connection between the manifestation of clinical symptoms and length of tunneled segment which did not depend on the level of systolic compres was discovered. The results of conservative and interventional treatment were analyzed. Conclusions: Myocardial bridge can be the cause of myocardial ischemia among patients without signs of coronary atherosclerosis with additional hemodynamic risk facts such as tahicardia, spasms of coronary artery, hypertrophie of myocard. Clinical symptomatology of the acute coronary syndrome is more

  19. Two Studies of the Syntactic Knowledge of Young Children. A Preliminary Report.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Smith, Carlota S.

    This paper deals with two experiments whose purposes are to investigate the linguistic competence of young children and their receptivity to adult speech. In the free response experiment, imperative sentences were presented to 1 1/2- to 2 1/2-year-olds. The sentences were minimal (a single noun), telegraphic, or full adult sentences. The youngest…

  20. Authority and Agency in Young Children's Early Number Work: A Functional Linguistic Perspective

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Murphy, Carol

    2015-01-01

    This paper presents a preliminary study of three six year-old children's use of functional language when engaging collaboratively on a mathematics task. The analysis is presented as an illustration of young children's authority and agency in mathematics as evidenced in their discourse. Modality, as a function of language, was seen to indicate…

  1. Adaptation of handwriting size under distorted visual feedback in patients with Parkinson's disease and elderly and young controls

    PubMed Central

    Teulings, H; Contreras-Vidal, J; Stelmach, G; Adler, C

    2002-01-01

    Objective: The ability to use visual feedback to control handwriting size was compared in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), elderly people, and young adults to better understand factors playing a part in parkinsonian micrographia. Methods: The participants wrote sequences of eight cursive l loops with visual target sizes of 0.5 and 2 cm on a flat panel display digitiser which both recorded and displayed the pen movements. In the pre-exposure and postexposure conditions, the display digitiser showed the actual pen trace in real time and real size. In the distortion exposure conditions, the gain of the vertical dimension of the visual feedback was either reduced to 70% or enlarged to 140%. Results: The young controls showed a gradual visuomotor adaptation that compensated for the visual feedback distortions during the exposure conditions. They also showed significant after effects during the postexposure conditions. The elderly controls marginally corrected for the size distortions and showed small after effects. The patients with PD, however, showed no trial by trial adaptations or after effects but instead, a progressive amplification of the distortion effect in each individual trial. Conclusion: The young controls used visual feedback to update their visuomotor map. The elderly controls seemed to make little use of visual feedback. The patients with Parkinson's disease rely on the visual feedback of previous or of ongoing strokes to programme subsequent strokes. This recursive feedback may play a part in the progressive reductions in handwriting size found in parkinsonian micrographia. PMID:11861687

  2. Myocardial infarction with Moyamoya disease and pituitary gigantism in a young female patient.

    PubMed

    Ahn, Y K; Jeong, M H; Bom, H S; Park, J C; Kim, J K; Chung, D J; Chung, M Y; Cho, J G; Kang, J C

    1999-08-01

    Myocardial infarction is very rare in young female patients with systemic vascular disorders. Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular disease associated with an abnormal vascular network. This report presents a 19-year-old female patient who suffered from chest pain and exertional dyspnea for 2 months prior to admission. She had a history of Moyamoya disease and pituitary gigantism since childhood. Her ejection fraction on echocardiogram was 20% and a perfusion defect with partial reversibility in the anterior wall was demonstrated on stress single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Diagnostic coronary angiogram revealed critical stenosis in the middle left anterior descending artery, which was treated by coronary stenting. Her subjective symptoms were relieved and the perfusion defect seen on SPECT decreased after coronary intervention.

  3. A New Insight Into Sudden Cardiac Death in Young People

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Yueyue; Xia, Lei; Shen, Xiaodong; Han, Guoxin; Feng, Dan; Xiao, Hongju; Zhai, Yongzhi; Chen, Xin; Miao, Yuanyuan; Zhao, Chunhong; Wang, Yingchan; Guo, Mingguang; Li, Tanshi; Zhu, Hai Yan

    2015-01-01

    Abstract Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) causes sudden cardiac death and has garnered increased attention worldwide in recent years. However, few studies have clearly classified the risk factors for this disease, including gender, race and morbidity, as well as the physical and mental stressors that can exacerbate the disease, particularly in young patients. To better analyze the characteristics of young TTC patients, we performed a systematic review of reported cases involving young patients. A computer-assisted search was performed using prominent electronic medical information sources to identify literature published between January 1965 and December 2013. Relevant studies containing clinical data of young TTC patients were included. Ninety-six records that included information about 104 cases were ultimately selected for our review. Several of the following results were noted: First, physical stress was more likely to exacerbate TTC than was mental stress in young patients. Second, more female than male TTC patients were noted among both young patients and the general population. Third, ethnicity appears to play no role in the disease, as no significant differences were noted among individuals of different races with respect to clinical characteristics, morbidity or stressors. Fourth, the clinical manifestations of TTC were similar to those of other cardiac diseases, including coronary heart disease. However, TTC may be detected using the combination of echocardiography and ventriculography. Clinicians should consider TTC if young patients present with symptoms similar to those of coronary heart disease so that harmful treatments such as coronary artery stent placement may be avoided. Moreover, the answers to questions regarding the clinical diagnostic criteria, etiology, pathophysiology, and the management of this syndrome in youth remain unclear; therefore, further research is needed. PMID:26266349

  4. Breast cancer in young women.

    PubMed

    Radecka, Barbara; Litwiniuk, Maria

    2016-01-01

    Breast cancer (BC) in young women is rare, affecting only 4-6% of women under the age of 40. Regardless, BC remains the most common malignancy among younger patients. Recently, a significant increase in BC rates has been observed among pre-menopausal subjects. Breast cancer in young women requires special attention due to its specific morphologic and prognostic characteristics and unique aspects, including fertility preservation and psychosocial issues (e.g. its impact on family life and career). Young women are more likely to have tumors with higher incidence of negative clinicopathologic features (higher histological grade, more lymph node positivity, lower estrogen receptor (ER) positivity, higher rates of Her2/neu overexpression). Also, they tend to be diagnosed at more advanced stages of the disease. That, in turn, contributes to less favorable prognosis as compared to older women. Young women are generally treated similarly to older patients. Surgical management includes mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery, followed by radiation therapy (younger women have higher local recurrence rates than older women, especially after breast-conserving therapy). Although the basics of chemotherapy are the same for patients of all ages, younger women have some special considerations. It is important to consider options for fertility preservation before starting systemic treatment. Patients should have access to genetic testing as their results may affect the choice of therapy. Younger women and their families should receive adequate psychological support and counselling.

  5. Radiation exposure from diagnostic imaging in young patients with testicular cancer.

    PubMed

    Sullivan, C J; Murphy, K P; McLaughlin, P D; Twomey, M; O'Regan, K N; Power, D G; Maher, M M; O'Connor, O J

    2015-04-01

    Risks associated with high cumulative effective dose (CED) from radiation are greater when imaging is performed on younger patients. Testicular cancer affects young patients and has a good prognosis. Regular imaging is standard for follow-up. This study quantifies CED from diagnostic imaging in these patients. Radiological imaging of patients aged 18-39 years, diagnosed with testicular cancer between 2001 and 2011 in two tertiary care centres was examined. Age at diagnosis, cancer type, dose-length product (DLP), imaging type, and frequency were recorded. CED was calculated from DLP using conversion factors. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS. In total, 120 patients with a mean age of 30.7 ± 5.2 years at diagnosis had 1,410 radiological investigations. Median (IQR) surveillance was 4.37 years (2.0-5.5). Median (IQR) CED was 125.1 mSv (81.3-177.5). Computed tomography accounted for 65.3 % of imaging studies and 98.3 % of CED. We found that 77.5 % (93/120) of patients received high CED (>75 mSv). Surveillance time was associated with high CED (OR 2.1, CI 1.5-2.8). Survivors of testicular cancer frequently receive high CED from diagnostic imaging, mainly CT. Dose management software for accurate real-time monitoring of CED and low-dose CT protocols with maintained image quality should be used by specialist centres for surveillance imaging. • CT accounted for 98.3 % of CED in patients with testicular cancer. • Median CED in patients with testicular cancer was 125.1 mSv • High CED (>75 mSv) was observed in 77.5 % (93/120) of patients. • Dose tracking and development of low-dose CT protocols are recommended.

  6. Error-Related Brain Activity in Youth and Young Adults Before and After Treatment for Generalized or Social Anxiety Disorder

    PubMed Central

    Kujawa, Autumn; Weinberg, Anna; Bunford, Nora; Fitzgerald, Kate D.; Hanna, Gregory L.; Monk, Christopher S.; Kennedy, Amy E.; Klumpp, Heide; Hajcak, Greg; Phan, K. Luan

    2016-01-01

    Increased error monitoring, as measured by the error-related negativity (ERN), has been shown to persist after treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder in youth and adults; however, no previous studies have examined the ERN following treatment for related anxiety disorders. We used a flanker task to elicit the ERN in 28 youth and young adults (8–26 years old) with primary diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety disorder (SAD) and 35 healthy controls. Patients were assessed before and after treatment with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and healthy controls were assessed at a comparable interval. The ERN increased across assessments in the combined sample. Patients with SAD exhibited an enhanced ERN relative to healthy controls prior to and following treatment, even when analyses were limited to SAD patients who responded to treatment. Patients with GAD did not significantly differ from healthy controls at either assessment. Results provide preliminary evidence that enhanced error monitoring persists following treatment for SAD in youth and young adults, and support conceptualizations of increased error monitoring as a trait-like vulnerability that may contribute to risk for recurrence and impaired functioning later in life. Future work is needed to further evaluate the ERN in GAD across development, including whether an enhanced ERN develops in adulthood or is most apparent when worries focus on internal sources of threat. PMID:27495356

  7. One patient out of four with newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction is a young man--worrisome picture from the everyday clinical practice.

    PubMed

    Capogrosso, Paolo; Colicchia, Michele; Ventimiglia, Eugenio; Castagna, Giulia; Clementi, Maria Chiara; Suardi, Nazareno; Castiglione, Fabio; Briganti, Alberto; Cantiello, Francesco; Damiano, Rocco; Montorsi, Francesco; Salonia, Andrea

    2013-07-01

    Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complaint in men over 40 years of age, and prevalence rates increase throughout the aging period. Prevalence and risk factors of ED among young men have been scantly analyzed. Assessing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of young men (defined as ≤ 40 years) seeking first medical help for new onset ED as their primary sexual disorder. Complete sociodemographic and clinical data from 439 consecutive patients were analyzed. Health-significant comorbidities were scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Descriptive statistics tested sociodemographic and clinical differences between ED patients ≤ 40 years and >40 years. New onset ED as the primary disorder was found in 114 (26%) men ≤ 40 years (mean [standard deviation [SD

  8. Fertility preservation and cancer: Challenges for adolescent and young adult patients

    PubMed Central

    Benedict, Catherine; Thom, Bridgette; Kelvin, Joanne

    2016-01-01

    Purpose of review With increasing survival rates, fertility is an important quality of life concern for many young cancer patients. There is a critical need for improvements in clinical care to ensure patients are well informed about infertility risks and fertility preservation (FP) options and to support them in their reproductive decision-making prior to treatment. Recent findings A number of barriers prevent fertility from being adequately addressed in the clinical context. Providers’ and patients’ incomplete or inaccurate understanding of infertility risks exacerbate patients’ reproductive concerns. For female patients in particular, making decisions about FP before treatment often leads to decision conflict, reducing the likelihood of making informed, values-based decisions, and post-treatment regret and distress. Recent empirically-based interventions to improve provider training around fertility issues and to support patient decision-making about FP show promise. Summary Providers should be knowledgeable about the infertility risks associated with cancer therapies and proactively address fertility with all patients who might one day wish to have a child. Comprehensive counseling should also include related issues such as contraceptive use and health implications of early menopause, regardless of desire for future children. Although the negative psychosocial impact of cancer-related infertility is now well accepted, limited work has been done to explore how to improve clinical management of fertility issues in the context of cancer care. Evidence-based interventions should be developed to address barriers and provide psychosocial and decision-making support to patients who are concerned about their fertility and interested in FP options. PMID:26730794

  9. Marijuana practices and patterns of use among young adult medical marijuana patients and non-patient marijuana users.

    PubMed

    Lankenau, Stephen E; Fedorova, Ekaterina V; Reed, Megan; Schrager, Sheree M; Iverson, Ellen; Wong, Carolyn F

    2017-01-01

    Little is known about young adult medical marijuana patients (MMP) and their marijuana using patterns and practices, which includes frequency of use, sourcing of marijuana products, forms/modes of administration, and patterns of illicit/prescription drug misuse, compared to non-patient marijuana users (NPU). Young adults (N=366) aged 18-26 years old were sampled in Los Angeles in 2014-15 and segmented into NPU (n=156), marijuana users who never had a medical marijuana (MM) recommendation, and MMP (n=210), marijuana users with a current, verified MM recommendation. Differences regarding self-reported marijuana and other drug use during the past 90days are expressed as unadjusted risk ratios or differences in means. MMP reported significantly greater mean days of use (76.4 vs. 59.2, p<0.001) and mean dollars spent on marijuana products (564.5 vs. 266.9, p<0.001) than NPU. Approximately one-quarter (22.6%) of both MMP and NPU report selling marijuana obtained from a dispensary to someone else in the past 90days. MMP were more likely to report vaporization modalities for concentrates (URR=1.5, 95% C.I.=1.2, 2.0) and for marijuana (URR=1.5, 95% C.I.=1.1, 2.1) than NPU. Though not significant, trends toward lower misuse of prescription drugs in the past 90days were observed among MMP compared to NPU. MMP reported greater access to marijuana via dispensaries, more frequent and intensive use of marijuana, and greater use of non-combustible forms of marijuana compared to NPU. MMP reported less recent misuse of prescription drugs compared to NPU. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  10. Prevalence of Comorbidity in Patients With Young-Onset Alzheimer Disease Compared With Late-Onset: A Comparative Cohort Study.

    PubMed

    Gerritsen, Adrie A J; Bakker, Christian; Verhey, Frans R J; de Vugt, Marjolein E; Melis, René J F; Koopmans, Raymond T C M

    2016-04-01

    With the lack of a cure for Alzheimer disease (AD), the identification of comorbidity is important to reduce the possibility of excess disability. Although comorbidity in patients with late-onset AD (LO-AD) is common, for people with young-onset AD (YO-AD), it is unclear how often comorbidity occurs. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether comorbidity in patients with YO-AD differs from that in patients with LO-AD. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence, types of morbidity, and morbidity profiles in patients with YO-AD compared with those of patients with LO-AD. Explorative cohort study from 2 separate Dutch cohorts (Needs in Young-onset Dementia [NeedYD] and the Clinical Course of Cognition and Comorbidity-Dementia Study [4C-Dementia study]). Participants were recruited in 2007 and 2008 from (1) the memory clinics of 3 Dutch Alzheimer centers, (2) the memory clinics of general hospitals, (3) mental health services in the southern part of the Netherlands, and (4) young-onset dementia specialized day care facilities. A comparison group of community-dwelling, elderly patients with AD was selected from the 4C-Dementia study. Patients in this study were recruited in 2010 and 2011 from the aforementioned Alzheimer centers. The prevalence rates of comorbidity were compared between 177 patients with YO-AD and 155 patients with LO-AD. Comorbidity was classified using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10). The total amount of comorbidity was established by counting the number of existing diseases (ICD categories or chapters) and comorbidity was also dichotomized as present or absent. Furthermore, a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to study clusters of comorbidity. Compared with LO-AD, patients with YO-AD showed less (P < .001) overall comorbidity (58.2% vs 86.5%) and had lower prevalence rates of diabetes, obesity, and circulatory diseases; however, the prevalence rates of diseases of the nervous system in YO-AD (6

  11. A cognitive behavioural group therapy for patients diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and their significant others: feasibility and preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Joosten-Weyn Banningh, Liesbeth W A; Kessels, Roy P C; Olde Rikkert, Marcel G M; Geleijns-Lanting, Caroline E; Kraaimaat, Floris W

    2008-08-01

    To evaluate the feasibility and present preliminary results of a cognitive behavioural group therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment and their significant others. One group pretest-posttest design. Twenty-two patients with mild cognitive impairment and their significant others, running in four group programmes. The main goal of the cognitive behavioural group therapy was to strengthen adaptive behaviour in 10 weekly 2-hour sessions. Distress and mood: The RAND-36, Geriatric Depression Scale--short form; Acceptance and helplessness: Subscales Acceptance and Helplessness from the Illness Cognition Questionnaire; Marital satisfaction: Maudsley Marital Questionnaire; Alertness to memory failure and behaviour changes: Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly and the Revised Memory and Behaviour Problems Checklist Burden. The burden of caregiving reported by the significant others: Sense of competence Questionnaire and Behaviour Problems Checklist Burden, Hindrance subscale. No changes were found on distress and mood measures in both patients and their significant others. Patients showed a significant increased level of acceptance (P<0.05) and a trend for an increased marital satisfaction (P<0.1). The significant others reported an increased awareness of memory and behavioural problems (P<0.05). Attendance was high, indicating a high motivation for this intervention. Preliminary results show evidence for positive changes after a cognitive behavioural group therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment and their significant others. In addition, the developed programme is applicable and feasible. The programme's effectiveness should be studied further, with an estimated sample size of 70 couples in a controlled study design.

  12. Reduced NAA levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of young bipolar patients.

    PubMed

    Sassi, Roberto B; Stanley, Jeffrey A; Axelson, David; Brambilla, Paolo; Nicoletti, Mark A; Keshavan, Matcheri S; Ramos, Renato T; Ryan, Neal; Birmaher, Boris; Soares, Jair C

    2005-11-01

    Converging evidence implicates prefrontal circuits in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. Proton spectroscopy studies performed in adult bipolar patients assessing prefrontal regions have suggested decreased levels of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), a putative marker of neuronal integrity. In order to examine whether such abnormalities would also be found in younger patients, a 1H spectroscopy study was conducted that focused on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of children and adolescents with bipolar disorder. The authors examined the levels of NAA, creatine plus phosphocreatine, and choline-containing molecules in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of 14 bipolar disorder patients (mean age=15.5 years, SD=3, eight female) and 18 healthy comparison subjects (mean age=17.3, SD=3.7, seven female) using short echo time, single-voxel in vivo 1H spectroscopy. Absolute metabolite levels were determined using the water signal as an internal reference. Bipolar patients presented significantly lower NAA levels and a significant inverse correlation between choline-containing molecules and number of previous affective episodes. No differences were found for other metabolites. These findings suggest that young bipolar patients have decreased NAA levels in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, similar to what was previously reported in adult patients. Such changes may reflect an underdevelopment of dendritic arborizations and synaptic connections. These neuronal abnormalities in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of bipolar disorder youth are unlikely to represent long-term degenerative processes, at least in the subgroup of patients where the illness had relatively early onset.

  13. The Development and Preliminary Testing of an Instrument for Assessing Fatigue Self-management Outcomes in Patients With Advanced Cancer.

    PubMed

    Chan, Raymond Javan; Yates, Patsy; McCarthy, Alexandra L

    Fatigue is one of the most distressing and commonly experienced symptoms in patients with advanced cancer. Although the self-management (SM) of cancer-related symptoms has received increasing attention, no research instrument assessing fatigue SM outcomes for patients with advanced cancer is available. The aim of this study was to describe the development and preliminary testing of an interviewer-administered instrument for assessing the frequency and perceived levels of effectiveness and self-efficacy associated with fatigue SM behaviors in patients with advanced cancer. The development and testing of the Self-efficacy in Managing Symptoms Scale-Fatigue Subscale for Patients With Advanced Cancer (SMSFS-A) involved a number of procedures: item generation using a comprehensive literature review and semistructured interviews, content validity evaluation using expert panel reviews, and face validity and test-retest reliability evaluation using pilot testing. Initially, 23 items (22 specific behaviors with 1 global item) were generated from the literature review and semistructured interviews. After 2 rounds of expert panel review, the final scale was reduced to 17 items (16 behaviors with 1 global item). Participants in the pilot test (n = 10) confirmed that the questions in this scale were clear and easy to understand. Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement of results over a 1-week interval. The SMSFS-A items were generated using multiple sources. This tool demonstrated preliminary validity and reliability. The SMSFS-A has the potential to be used for clinical and research purposes. Nurses can use this instrument for collecting data to inform the initiation of appropriate fatigue SM support for this population.

  14. Preoperative Joint Space Width Predicts Patient-Reported Outcomes After Total Hip Arthroplasty in Young Patients.

    PubMed

    Stambough, Jeffrey B; Xiong, Ao; Baca, Geneva R; Wu, Ningying; Callaghan, John J; Clohisy, John C

    2016-02-01

    In a new health care economy, there is an emerging need to understand and quantify predictors of total hip arthroplasty (THA) outcomes. We investigated the association between preoperative radiographic disease (as measured quantitatively by joint space width [JSW]) and patient-reported function, activity, pain, and quality of life after THA. We retrospectively analyzed 146 patients (146 hips) 55 years or younger with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis who underwent cementless THA between January 2009 and December 2010. Preoperative pelvic radiographs were measured by 1 author blinded to clinical outcomes to establish JSW, defined as the shortest distance between the femoral head margin and the superolateral weight-bearing portion of the acetabulum. The JSW value was treated as a continuous variable when applied to statistical modeling. The relationship between the JSW and the improvement of clinical outcome was examined via a general linear modeling approach with adjustments for patients' age, body mass index, and sex. We identified an inverse relationship between preoperative JSW and improvements in functional, activity, pain, and quality of life. We found that, as JSW decreased by 1 mm, the outcome measure improvements were modified Harris Hip Score of 6.3 (p<0.001); SF-12 physical: 2.1 (p=0.027); WOMAC-pain: 4.8 (p=0.01); and UCLA Activity: 0.44 (p=0.02). Our results demonstrate that patients with greater preoperative joint space have less predictable improvement in terms of function, pain relief, and activity. These findings suggest that THA in young patients with a JSW less than 1.5 to 2 mm provides more predictable improvements in pain and functional outcomes. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Preliminary clinical trial of immunotherapy for malignant glioma.

    PubMed

    Ingram, M; Shelden, C H; Jacques, S; Skillen, R G; Bradley, W G; Techy, G B; Freshwater, D B; Abts, R M; Rand, R W

    1987-10-01

    An immunotherapy protocol based on intracranial implantation of stimulated, autologous lymphocytes into the tumor bed following surgical debulking of malignant glioma is described. Phase I clinical trials in human patients are now in progress. Preliminary data representing the first 39 patients treated are presented briefly.

  16. Progressive alterations of the auditory association areas in young non-psychotic offspring of schizophrenia patients.

    PubMed

    Bhojraj, Tejas S; Sweeney, John A; Prasad, Konasale M; Eack, Shaun; Rajarethinam, Rajaprabhakaran; Francis, Alan N; Montrose, Debra M; Keshavan, Matcheri S

    2011-02-01

    Schizophrenia may involve progressive alterations of structure and hemispheric lateralization of auditory association areas (AAA) within the superior temporal gyrus. These alterations may be greater in male patients. It is unclear if these deficits are state-dependent or whether they predate illness onset and reflect familial diathesis. We sought to compare AAA cortical thickness, surface area and lateralization across adolescent and young adult non-psychotic offspring of schizophrenia patients (OS) and healthy controls at baseline and one year follow-up. We also assessed the moderating effect of gender on these measures. Fifty-six OS and thirty-six control subjects were assessed at baseline and at follow-up on AAA surface area and thickness using FreeSurfer to process T1-MRI-images. We used repeated measures ANCOVAs, controlling intra cranial volume and age with assessment-time and side as within-subject factors and gender and study group as between-subject factors. Surface area deficit in OS was greater on the left than on the right, as reflected in a lower surface area laterality-index (left-right/left + right × 100) in OS compared to controls. Left, but not right surface area and surface area laterality-index showed a longitudinal decline in OS compared to controls. Male OS declined more than controls on surface area and thickness. Left AAA surface area may progressively decline in young non-psychotic offspring at familial diathesis for schizophrenia causing a continuing reversal of the leftward AAA lateralization. Progressive surface area reduction and thinning of AAA may be more prominent in young non-psychotic male offspring at risk for schizophrenia. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  17. Brain responses to biological motion predict treatment outcome in young adults with autism receiving Virtual Reality Social Cognition Training: Preliminary findings.

    PubMed

    Yang, Y J Daniel; Allen, Tandra; Abdullahi, Sebiha M; Pelphrey, Kevin A; Volkmar, Fred R; Chapman, Sandra B

    2017-06-01

    Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by remarkable heterogeneity in social, communication, and behavioral deficits, creating a major barrier in identifying effective treatments for a given individual with ASD. To facilitate precision medicine in ASD, we utilized a well-validated biological motion neuroimaging task to identify pretreatment biomarkers that can accurately forecast the response to an evidence-based behavioral treatment, Virtual Reality-Social Cognition Training (VR-SCT). In a preliminary sample of 17 young adults with high-functioning ASD, we identified neural predictors of change in emotion recognition after VR-SCT. The predictors were characterized by the pretreatment brain activations to biological vs. scrambled motion in the neural circuits that support (a) language comprehension and interpretation of incongruent auditory emotions and prosody, and (b) processing socio-emotional experience and interpersonal affective information, as well as emotional regulation. The predictive value of the findings for individual adults with ASD was supported by regression-based multivariate pattern analyses with cross validation. To our knowledge, this is the first pilot study that shows neuroimaging-based predictive biomarkers for treatment effectiveness in adults with ASD. The findings have potentially far-reaching implications for developing more precise and effective treatments for ASD. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  18. Disappointing mid-term results after laparoscopic gastric banding in young patients.

    PubMed

    Lanthaler, Monika; Sieb, Michael; Strasser, Stefan; Weiss, Helmut; Aigner, Franz; Nehoda, Hermann

    2009-01-01

    When gastric banding was introduced as a bariatric operation about 12 years previously, its early results were promising, with a low complication rate. Only a few long-term studies on this subject have been published. This study was performed to assess our results with laparoscopic gastric banding in young patients afterpatients (83% female, 17% male)<25 years old underwent laparoscopic gastric banding at our institution. The patient data were derived from the electronic patient data system, paper charts, and a telephone interview. Psychosocial changes were analyzed using the Moorehead-Ardelt/Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System questionnaire. The mean preoperative body mass index was 44.26+/-6.53 kg/m2, with a mean excess weight of 65.22+/-20.48 kg. The body mass index after 1, 5, and 7 years was 31.50+/-7.38 kg/m2, 31.12+/-7.10 kg/m2, and 32.88+/-5.68 kg/m2, respectively. The mean excess weight loss after 1 year was 60.07%+/-25.33%, and after 5 and 7 years, it was 64.84%+/-27.45% and 57.48%+/-28.07%, respectively. An improvement in obesity-related co-morbidities was observed in nearly all patients. Of our patients, 52% had complications requiring reoperation (27% pouch dilation, 10% band leakage, 5% intragastral band migration, 5% perforation of either the esophagus or the stomach, and 5% port disconnection). According to Bariatric Analysis and Reporting Outcome System, the long-term outcome was regarded as a failure in 40%, fair in 4%, good in 28%, very good in 20%, and excellent in 8% of patients. Our mid-term results were disappointing, with a high complication rate and many dissatisfied patients.

  19. Conflict and conflict resolution: parent and young teen perceptions.

    PubMed

    Riesch, Susan K; Gray, Jacqueline; Hoeffs, Mellisa; Keenan, Tia; Ertl, Tammy; Mathison, Kristin

    2003-01-01

    The purpose of this preliminary study was to describe a novel approach to examine the thinking of parents and young teens about conflict and conflict resolution in their relationship. The novel approach was that teens and parents were asked to solve, in focus groups, a hypothetical conflict situation without, and then with, a structured conflict resolution guide. Two focus groups were conducted. The resulting data were analyzed with use of content analysis from a sample of 8 parent-young teen dyads. The young teens and their parents participated separately from one another in the focus groups. Data demonstrated that the young teens (a) thought parents or siblings initiated most disagreements and that such disagreements were routine, and (b) handled conflict with their parents by trying to prevent it. If a conflict ensued, they used emotion, aggression, cooling off, accepting some of the blame, or submission to resolve it. Parents viewed the disagreements as (a) representing their struggles with their role as a parent or (b) opportunities to instill a sense of intrinsic responsibility in their child. Parents used the strategies of setting clear expectations, parental authority, negotiation, cooling down, and feedback to solve disagreements with their teenage children. We concluded that these parents and young teens do not use a systematic method of solving disagreements but that with structured guidance, the parents and teens were able to resolve conflicts.

  20. Acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a tailored online HIV/STI testing intervention for young men who have sex with men: the Get Connected! program.

    PubMed

    Bauermeister, José A; Pingel, Emily S; Jadwin-Cakmak, Laura; Harper, Gary W; Horvath, Keith; Weiss, Gretchen; Dittus, Patricia

    2015-10-01

    Southeast Michigan accounts for over 70 % of all HIV/STI cases in the state, with young men who have sex with men (YMSM) between the ages of 13 and 24 encumbering the largest burden in HIV/STI incidence. Using community-based participatory research principles, we developed and pilot tested a web-based, randomized control trial seeking to promote HIV/STI testing ("Get Connected!") among YMSM (N = 130; ages 15-24). Randomized participants completed a baseline assessment and shown a test-locator condition (control) or a tailored, personalized site (treatment). At 30-day follow-up, we found high acceptability among YMSM in both conditions, yet higher credibility of intervention content among YMSM in the treatment group (d = .55). Furthermore, 30 participants reported testing by following, with the majority of these participants (73.3 %; n = 22) completing the treatment condition, a clinically meaningful effect (d = .34) suggesting preliminary efficacy for the intervention. These results demonstrate the potential of the intervention, and suggest that a larger efficacy trial may be warranted.

  1. Comparison of patient-reported outcomes between immediately and conventionally loaded mandibular two-implant overdentures: A preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Omura, Yuri; Kanazawa, Manabu; Sato, Daisuke; Kasugai, Shohei; Minakuchi, Shunsuke

    2016-07-01

    The aim of this preliminary study is to compare patient-reported outcomes between immediately and conventionally loaded mandibular two-implant overdentures retained by magnetic attachments. Nineteen participants with edentulous mandibles were randomly assigned into either an immediate loading group (immediate group) or a conventional loading group (conventional group). Each participant received 2 implants in the inter-foraminal region by means of flapless surgery. Prostheses in the immediate and conventional groups were loaded using magnetic attachments on the same day as implant placement or 3 months after surgery, respectively. All participants completed questionnaires (the Japanese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile for edentulous [OHIP-EDENT-J], the patient's denture assessment [PDA], and general satisfaction) before implant placement (baseline) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The median differences between baseline and each monthly score were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. The differences in median and 95% confidence interval between two groups were analyzed. The immediate group showed slightly lower OHIP-EDENT-J summary score at 1 and 3 months than the conventional group (P=0.09). In the lower denture domain of PDA, the immediate group showed a statistically higher score at 3 months (P=0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in general satisfaction between the two groups. Based on this preliminary study, immediate loading of mandibular two-implant overdentures with magnetic attachments tends to improve oral health-related quality of life and patient assessment earlier than observed with a conventional loading protocol. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  2. Electrolysis for corneal opacities in a young patient with superficial variant of granular corneal dystrophy (Reis-Bücklers corneal dystrophy).

    PubMed

    Kamoi, Mizuka; Mashima, Yukihiko; Kawashima, Motoko; Tsubota, Kazuo

    2005-06-01

    To report the efficacy of electrolysis as a treatment of corneal opacities in a young patient with the superficial variant of granular corneal dystrophy. Interventional case report. An 11-year-old boy presented with subepithelial opacities in both eyes. His visual acuity was 0.2 in the left eye; he received corneal electrolysis under topical anesthesia. The electrolysis, which required only 5 minutes, resulted in the disappearance of the subepithelial opacities. His visual acuity improved to 0.4 on the next day and was 1.0 eight months later. The corneal curvature and thickness were not altered by the electrolysis. Corneal electrolysis proved to be an effective treatment for subepithelial opacities, and we recommend electrolysis as an effective and simple treatment for young patients with SGCD.

  3. Partial Red Blood Cell Exchange in Children and Young Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: Manual Versus Automated Procedure.

    PubMed

    Escobar, Carlos; Moniz, Marta; Nunes, Pedro; Abadesso, Clara; Ferreira, Teresa; Barra, António; Lichtner, Anabela; Loureiro, Helena; Dias, Alexandra; Almeida, Helena

    2017-10-31

    The benefits of manual versus automated red blood cell exchange have rarely been documented and studies in young sickle cell disease patients are scarce. We aim to describe and compare our experience in these two procedures. Young patients (≤ 21 years old) who underwent manual- or automated-red blood cell exchange for prevention or treatment of sickle cell disease complications were included. Clinical, technical and hematological data were prospectively recorded and analyzed. Ninety-four red blood cell exchange sessions were performed over a period of 68 months, including 57 manual and 37 automated, 63 for chronic complications prevention, 30 for acute complications and one in the pre-operative setting. Mean decrease in sickle hemoglobin levels was higher in automated-red blood cell exchange (p < 0.001) and permitted a higher sickle hemoglobin level decrease per volume removed (p < 0.001), while hemoglobin and hematocrit remained stable. Ferritin levels on chronic patients decreased 54%. Most frequent concern was catheter outflow obstruction on manual-red blood cell exchange and access alarm on automated-red blood cell exchange. No major complication or alloimunization was recorded. Automated-red blood cell exchange decreased sickle hemoglobin levels more efficiently than manual procedure in the setting of acute and chronic complications of sickle cell disease, with minor technical concerns mainly due to vascular access. The threshold of sickle hemoglobin should be individualized for clinical and hematological goals. In our cohort of young patients, the need for an acceptable venous access was a limiting factor, but iron-overload was avoided. Automated red blood cell exchange is safe and well tolerated. It permits a higher sickle hemoglobin removal efficacy, better volume status control and iron-overload avoidance.

  4. Aorta-Iliac Bypass in Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair in Young Chinese Patients.

    PubMed

    Duan, Yu-Yin; Ge, Yi-Peng; Zheng, Jun; Pan, Xu-Dong; Dong, Xiu-Hua; Ma, Wei-Guo; Cheng, Li-Jian; Zhu, Jun-Ming; Liu, Yong-Min; Sun, Li-Zhong

    2016-04-01

    Many surgical methods of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair (TAAAR) have been introduced over the past several decades, with varying degrees of success. We developed an aorta-iliac bypass technique to treat thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) in young Chinese patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of this technique intraoperatively and postoperatively. From June 2014 to March 2015, 28 patients underwent TAAAR using aorta-iliac bypass technique. A four-branched tetrafurcate graft was used. Two branches of the graft are sutured to bilateral common iliac arteries in an end-to-side fashion. The trunk of the graft was sutured to the proximal descending aorta in an end-to-end fashion. Then aorta-iliac bypass was established, and the lower extremities, viscera organ and spinal cord (SC) obtained perfusion from proximal descending aorta via the bypass graft. The thoracic and abdominal aorta were clamped in a staged fashion. The patent segmental arteries (SAs), and visceral arteries (coeliac trunk, superior mesenteric arteries, and renal arteries) were reattached sequentially. Evoked potential (EP) monitoring was adopted to assess the SC ischaemia throughout the procedure. The postoperative outcomes and follow-up results of this technique were evaluated. There was no in-hospital mortality. Complications included acute kidney dysfunction and pulmonary haemorrhage in one case (3.6%) each. The SAs were reattached in all cases. The EP wave disappeared after proximal descending aorta was clamped, and gradually recovered after the patent SAs reattached. The median follow-up after operation was eight months (range, 1-10 months). There was no delayed neurologic deficit or late death. Thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair using aorta-iliac bypass may be a simple and safe choice for young Chinese patients with thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Copyright © 2015 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the

  5. Children and young people with diabetes in Yorkshire: a population-based clinical audit of patient data 2005/2006.

    PubMed

    McKinney, P A; Feltbower, R G; Stephenson, C R; Reynolds, C

    2008-11-01

    To provide a population-based clinical audit of children and young people with diabetes, reporting outcomes, including glycaemic control, for named individual units. Clinical audit data on care processes and glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) were collected for 1742 children and young people treated in 16 paediatric units in Yorkshire, from January 2005 to March 2006. The Yorkshire Register of Diabetes in Children and Young People provided information technology support and validation that enhanced data quality. Multi-level linear regression modelling investigated factors affecting glycaemic control. An HbA(1c) measure was recorded for 91.6% of patients. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence-recommended target level for HbA(1c) of < 7.5% was achieved for 14.7% of patients. HbA(1c) was positively associated with duration of diabetes and later age at diagnosis. Patients living in deprived areas had significantly poorer control compared with those from affluent areas. Significant between-unit variation in HbA(1c) was not reflected by any association with unit size. Our population-based clinical audit of children with diabetes is the product of an effective collaboration between those who deliver care and health services researchers. High levels of recording the key care process measuring diabetes control, compared with national figures, suggests collaboration has translated into improved services. The interesting association between poor diabetes control and higher deprivation is noteworthy and requires further investigation. Future audits require recording of clinical management and clinic structures, in addition to resources to record, assemble and analyse data.

  6. The Benefit of Mirtazapine in the Treatment of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in a Young HIV-positive Patient

    PubMed Central

    Miranda, Jorge; Sandoval, Hugo; Ramos-Duran, Luis; Tonarelli, Silvina B.

    2018-01-01

    Highly active antiretroviral therapy is well-established in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. Nonadherence with therapy regimens often leads to the occurrence of opportunistic infections that further complicate treatment and challenge the treating physician. We report a young HIV-positive patient who suffered from progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy caused by the human John Cunningham virus and showed objective clinical improvement after adding mirtazapine to the treatment regimen, an observation that is supported by the emerging literature. PMID:29497578

  7. Exponential Decay Nonlinear Regression Analysis of Patient Survival Curves: Preliminary Assessment in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

    PubMed Central

    Stewart, David J.; Behrens, Carmen; Roth, Jack; Wistuba, Ignacio I.

    2010-01-01

    Background For processes that follow first order kinetics, exponential decay nonlinear regression analysis (EDNRA) may delineate curve characteristics and suggest processes affecting curve shape. We conducted a preliminary feasibility assessment of EDNRA of patient survival curves. Methods EDNRA was performed on Kaplan-Meier overall survival (OS) and time-to-relapse (TTR) curves for 323 patients with resected NSCLC and on OS and progression-free survival (PFS) curves from selected publications. Results and Conclusions In our resected patients, TTR curves were triphasic with a “cured” fraction of 60.7% (half-life [t1/2] >100,000 months), a rapidly-relapsing group (7.4%, t1/2=5.9 months) and a slowly-relapsing group (31.9%, t1/2=23.6 months). OS was uniphasic (t1/2=74.3 months), suggesting an impact of co-morbidities; hence, tumor molecular characteristics would more likely predict TTR than OS. Of 172 published curves analyzed, 72 (42%) were uniphasic, 92 (53%) were biphasic, 8 (5%) were triphasic. With first-line chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC, 87.5% of curves from 2-3 drug regimens were uniphasic vs only 20% of those with best supportive care or 1 drug (p<0.001). 54% of curves from 2-3 drug regimens had convex rapid-decay phases vs 0% with fewer agents (p<0.001). Curve convexities suggest that discontinuing chemotherapy after 3-6 cycles “synchronizes” patient progression and death. With postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the PFS rapid-decay phase accounted for a smaller proportion of the population than in controls (p=0.02) with no significant difference in rapid-decay t1/2, suggesting adjuvant chemotherapy may move a subpopulation of patients with sensitive tumors from the relapsing group to the cured group, with minimal impact on time to relapse for a larger group of patients with resistant tumors. In untreated patients, the proportion of patients in the rapid-decay phase increased (p=0.04) while rapid-decay t1/2 decreased (p=0.0004) with increasing

  8. Short-Term Safety of Zoledronic Acid in Young Patients With Bone Disorders: An Extensive Institutional Experience.

    PubMed

    George, Sobenna; Weber, David R; Kaplan, Paige; Hummel, Kelly; Monk, Heather M; Levine, Michael A

    2015-11-01

    Zoledronic acid (ZA) is increasingly used in young patients with bone disorders. However, data related to the safety of ZA administration in this population are limited. The study aimed to characterize the short-term safety profile of ZA and identify risk factors for ZA-related adverse events (AEs) in young patients. This was a retrospective chart review of inpatients and outpatients less than 21 years old who received at least one ZA infusion between July 2010 and January 2014 at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Eighty-one patients (56% male; median age, 12 y; age at first infusion, 0.5 to 20 y) with diverse skeletal disorders received a total of 204 infusions. The most common indications were osteoporosis (33% of cohort) and osteogenesis imperfecta (27.2%). The median ZA dose was 0.025 mg/kg (interquartile range, 0.025-0.05); the median dosing interval was 6 months (range, 1 to 25.6 mo). AEs were mild and more common after the first ZA infusion in patients with no previous bisphosphonate exposure: hypophosphatemia (25.2% of infusions), acute phase reactions (19.1%), and hypocalcemia (16.4%). Symptomatic hypocalcemia requiring iv calcium occurred after two infusions. ZA dose was significantly associated with hypophosphatemia, but not other AEs. Hypocalcemia was more common in patients with high bone turnover as assessed by preinfusion alkaline phosphatase levels. AEs were not associated with diagnosis, baseline serum calcium, or calcium/calcitriol supplementation. Acute AEs related to ZA infusion in youths are common, occur principally after the first ZA infusion in bisphosphonate-naive patients, and are typically mild and easily managed. Future prospective studies are needed to determine the potential long-term risks, as well as benefits, of ZA therapy in the pediatric population.

  9. Short-Term Safety of Zoledronic Acid in Young Patients With Bone Disorders: An Extensive Institutional Experience

    PubMed Central

    George, Sobenna; Weber, David R.; Kaplan, Paige; Hummel, Kelly; Monk, Heather M.

    2015-01-01

    Context: Zoledronic acid (ZA) is increasingly used in young patients with bone disorders. However, data related to the safety of ZA administration in this population are limited. Objective: The study aimed to characterize the short-term safety profile of ZA and identify risk factors for ZA-related adverse events (AEs) in young patients. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a retrospective chart review of inpatients and outpatients less than 21 years old who received at least one ZA infusion between July 2010 and January 2014 at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Results: Eighty-one patients (56% male; median age, 12 y; age at first infusion, 0.5 to 20 y) with diverse skeletal disorders received a total of 204 infusions. The most common indications were osteoporosis (33% of cohort) and osteogenesis imperfecta (27.2%). The median ZA dose was 0.025 mg/kg (interquartile range, 0.025–0.05); the median dosing interval was 6 months (range, 1 to 25.6 mo). AEs were mild and more common after the first ZA infusion in patients with no previous bisphosphonate exposure: hypophosphatemia (25.2% of infusions), acute phase reactions (19.1%), and hypocalcemia (16.4%). Symptomatic hypocalcemia requiring iv calcium occurred after two infusions. ZA dose was significantly associated with hypophosphatemia, but not other AEs. Hypocalcemia was more common in patients with high bone turnover as assessed by preinfusion alkaline phosphatase levels. AEs were not associated with diagnosis, baseline serum calcium, or calcium/calcitriol supplementation. Conclusion: Acute AEs related to ZA infusion in youths are common, occur principally after the first ZA infusion in bisphosphonate-naive patients, and are typically mild and easily managed. Future prospective studies are needed to determine the potential long-term risks, as well as benefits, of ZA therapy in the pediatric population. PMID:26308295

  10. Hemodynamic and autonomic nervous system responses to mixed meal ingestion in healthy young and old subjects and dysautonomic patients with postprandial hypotension

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Lipsitz, L. A.; Ryan, S. M.; Parker, J. A.; Freeman, R.; Wei, J. Y.; Goldberger, A. L.

    1993-01-01

    BACKGROUND. Although postprandial hypotension is a common cause of falls and syncope in elderly persons and in patients with autonomic insufficiency, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS. We examined the hemodynamic, splanchnic blood pool, plasma norepinephrine (NE), and heart rate (HR) power spectra responses to a standardized 400-kcal mixed meal in 11 healthy young (age, 26 +/- 5 years) and nine healthy elderly (age, 80 +/- 5 years) subjects and 10 dysautonomic patients with symptomatic postprandial hypotension (age, 65 +/- 16 years). Cardiac and splanchnic blood pools were determined noninvasively by radionuclide scans, and forearm vascular resistance was determined using venous occlusion plethysmography. In healthy young and old subjects, splanchnic blood volume increased, but supine blood pressure remained unchanged after the meal. In both groups, HR increased and systemic vascular resistance remained stable. Forearm vascular resistance and cardiac index increased after the meal in elderly subjects, whereas these responses were highly variable and of smaller magnitude in the young. Young subjects demonstrated postprandial increases in low-frequency HR spectral power, representing cardiac sympatho-excitation, but plasma NE remained unchanged. In elderly subjects, plasma NE increased after the meal but without changes in the HR power spectrum. Patients with dysautonomia had a large postprandial decline in blood pressure associated with no change in forearm vascular resistance, a fall in systemic vascular resistance, and reduction in left ventricular end diastolic volume index. HR increased in these patients but without changes in plasma NE or the HR power spectrum. CONCLUSIONS. 1) In healthy elderly subjects, the maintenance of blood pressure homeostasis after food ingestion is associated with an increase in HR, forearm vascular resistance, cardiac index, and plasma NE. In both young and old, systemic vascular resistance is

  11. Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus induced Acute Hepatitis in Young Female Patient.

    PubMed

    Ates, İhsan; Kaplan, Mustafa; Yilmaz, Nisbet; Çiftçi, Filiz

    2015-01-01

    Acute hepatitis is a disorder that goes with liver cell necrosis and liver inflammation. Among the causes of acute hepatitis, the most common reasons are viral hepatitis. About 95% of the acute hepatitis generate because of hepatotropic viruses. Epstein-barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are from the family of herpes viruses and rare causes of acute hepatitis. In this case report, acute hepatitis due to EBV and CMV coinfection will be described. Ates İ, Kaplan M, Yilmaz N, Çiftçi F. Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus induced Acute Hepatitis in Young Female Patient. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2015;5(1):60-61.

  12. Improving eating disorders mental health literacy: a preliminary evaluation of the "Should I say something?" workshop.

    PubMed

    Gratwick-Sarll, Kassandra; Bentley, Caroline

    2014-01-01

    A repeated measures, uncontrolled, preliminary evaluation of a single 3-hour workshop-"Should I Say Something?"-aimed at improving eating disorders mental health literacy, was conducted in a sample of 177 university undergraduates. Following participation in the workshop, significant increases in eating disorder recognition and knowledge, and significant decreases in stigmatizing attitudes, were reported by participants. Moreover, 85% of participants reported that they provided assistance to someone whom they suspected had a mental health condition, including an eating disorder, during the 3-month follow-up period. This study provides preliminary evidence that "Should I Say Something?" may be effective in improving the mental health literacy of young people.

  13. Ischemic stroke occurring during intercourse in young women on oral contraceptives.

    PubMed

    Miller, P Elliott; Brown, Lorrel; Khandheria, Paras; Resar, Jon R

    2014-08-01

    Ischemic stroke occurring during intercourse in young patients is exceedingly rare. We present 2 cases of young women taking oral contraceptives, each presenting with an ischemic stroke. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a patent foramen ovale in one patient and an atrial septal defect in the other. The most likely cause of stroke in both patients is embolic. Despite conflicting evidence, young patients presenting with ischemic stroke and found to have a patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect should be considered for possible device-based closure. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  14. Patient compliance and supportive periodontal therapy: Study among young adults of Namakkal district

    PubMed Central

    Gokulanathan, Subramanium; Balan, Natarajan; Aravind, Ramaraj Jayabalan; Thangavelu, Kavin

    2014-01-01

    Aims: The aim of this study is to assess the patient compliance to supportive and maintenance periodontal therapy and to determine the reason for noncompliance among young adult patients of Namakkal district, India. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted on 400 patients who underwent periodontal therapy and subsequently recalled for supportive and maintenance periodontal treatment in the Department of Periodontics, Vivekanandha Dental College for Women, Namakkal. Patients age group 25-35 years and of both gender were equally selected and grouped by occupation and socioeconomic status. According to their compliance with appointments, they are categorized as complete compliance, partially compliance and insufficient or noncompliance. Noncompliance and partially compliance patients were contacted and asked to rate their experience and reason for noncompliance. Results: In this study, 80% of patients showed complete compliance and were regular for supportive periodontal therapy appointments. Women were more regular in maintaining recall appointments than men. Salaried employers showed 84.3% complete compliance, while self-employed personals showed 77% complete compliance and 75% of nonworking personals were regular to the appointment schedule. Noncompliance person has quoted lack of time and forgetting the appointment date as a major reason for missed appointments. Conclusions: This study recommends the need for improvement in communication skills of practitioners and weekend appointment for patient undergoing periodontal maintenance therapy. PMID:25210365

  15. Preliminary Results of Bedaquiline as Salvage Therapy for Patients With Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Disease

    PubMed Central

    Wallace, Richard J.; Benwill, Jeana L.; Taskar, Varsha; Brown-Elliott, Barbara A.; Thakkar, Foram; Aksamit, Timothy R.; Griffith, David E.

    2015-01-01

    BACKGROUND: Bedaquiline is an oral antimycobacterial agent belonging to a new class of drugs called diarylquinolines. It has low equivalent minimal inhibitory concentrations for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease, especially Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab). Bedaquiline appears to be effective for the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB but has not been tested clinically for NTM disease. METHODS: We describe a case series of off-label use of bedaquiline for treatment failure lung disease caused by MAC or Mab. Only patients whose insurance would pay for the drug were included. Fifteen adult patients were selected, but only 10 (six MAC, four Mab) could obtain bedaquiline. The 10 patients had been treated for 1 to 8 years, and all were on treatment at the start of bedaquiline therapy. Eighty percent had macrolide-resistant isolates (eight of 10). The patients were treated with the same bedaquiline dosage as that used in TB trials and received the best available companion drugs (mean, 5.0 drugs). All patients completed 6 months of therapy and remain on bedaquiline. RESULTS: Common side effects included nausea (60%), arthralgias (40%), and anorexia and subjective fever (30%). No abnormal ECG findings were observed with a mean corrected QT interval lengthening of 2.4 milliseconds at 6 months. After 6 months of therapy, 60% of patients (six of 10) had a microbiologic response, with 50% (five of 10) having one or more negative cultures. CONCLUSIONS: This small preliminary report demonstrates potential clinical and microbiologic activity of bedaquiline in patients with advanced MAC or Mab lung disease but the findings require confirmation with larger studies. PMID:25675393

  16. Population-Based Assessment of a Biomarker-Based Screening Pathway to Aid Diagnosis of Monogenic Diabetes in Young-Onset Patients.

    PubMed

    Shields, Beverley M; Shepherd, Maggie; Hudson, Michelle; McDonald, Timothy J; Colclough, Kevin; Peters, Jaime; Knight, Bridget; Hyde, Chris; Ellard, Sian; Pearson, Ewan R; Hattersley, Andrew T

    2017-08-01

    Monogenic diabetes, a young-onset form of diabetes, is often misdiagnosed as type 1 diabetes, resulting in unnecessary treatment with insulin. A screening approach for monogenic diabetes is needed to accurately select suitable patients for expensive diagnostic genetic testing. We used C-peptide and islet autoantibodies, highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for discriminating type 1 from non-type 1 diabetes, in a biomarker screening pathway for monogenic diabetes. We studied patients diagnosed at age 30 years or younger, currently younger than 50 years, in two U.K. regions with existing high detection of monogenic diabetes. The biomarker screening pathway comprised three stages: 1 ) assessment of endogenous insulin secretion using urinary C-peptide/creatinine ratio (UCPCR); 2 ) if UCPCR was ≥0.2 nmol/mmol, measurement of GAD and IA2 islet autoantibodies; and 3 ) if negative for both autoantibodies, molecular genetic diagnostic testing for 35 monogenic diabetes subtypes. A total of 1,407 patients participated (1,365 with no known genetic cause, 34 with monogenic diabetes, and 8 with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes). A total of 386 out of 1,365 (28%) patients had a UCPCR ≥0.2 nmol/mmol, and 216 out of 386 (56%) were negative for GAD and IA2 and underwent molecular genetic testing. Seventeen new cases of monogenic diabetes were diagnosed (8 common Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young [Sanger sequencing] and 9 rarer causes [next-generation sequencing]) in addition to the 34 known cases (estimated prevalence of 3.6% [51/1,407] [95% CI 2.7-4.7%]). The positive predictive value was 20%, suggesting a 1-in-5 detection rate for the pathway. The negative predictive value was 99.9%. The biomarker screening pathway for monogenic diabetes is an effective, cheap, and easily implemented approach to systematically screening all young-onset patients. The minimum prevalence of monogenic diabetes is 3.6% of patients diagnosed at age 30 years or younger. © 2017 by the American

  17. Randomized controlled trial of a web-based indoor tanning intervention: Acceptability and preliminary outcomes.

    PubMed

    Stapleton, Jerod L; Manne, Sharon L; Darabos, Katie; Greene, Kathryn; Ray, Anne E; Turner, Amber L; Coups, Elliot J

    2015-12-01

    This article describes the acceptability and preliminary behavioral outcomes of a pilot randomized control trial of a web-based indoor tanning intervention for young adult women. The intervention targets indoor tanning users' perceptions of the benefits and value of tanning and addresses the role of body image-related constructs in indoor tanning. Participants were 186 young adult women who reported indoor tanning at least once in the past 12 months. The study design was a 2-arm randomized controlled trial with pre- and postintervention assessments and random assignment to an intervention or control condition. Intervention acceptability was assessed by obtaining participants' evaluation of the intervention. Regression analyses were used to test for intervention condition differences in preliminary behavioral outcomes measured at 6 weeks postintervention. Participants provided favorable evaluations of the intervention on several dimensions and a highly positive overall rating. Intervention participants were more likely to report abstaining from indoor tanning and indicated a lower likelihood of using indoor tanning in the future compared with control participants on the postintervention assessment. No differences were found for sunburns. The results of this pilot randomized controlled trial provide evidence that the indoor tanning intervention is acceptable to participants and may encourage cessation of indoor tanning behavior. The findings provide preliminary support for an indoor tanning intervention that engages tanners to challenge their beliefs about the benefits of indoor tanning. The use of a web-based indoor tanning intervention is unique and provides strong potential for dissemination. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved).

  18. Concurrent oral human papilloma virus infection in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Born, Hayley; Ruiz, Ryan; Verma, Avanti; Taliercio, Salvatore; Achlatis, Stratos; Pitman, Michael; Gandonu, Sonate; Bing, Renjie; Amin, Milan R; Branski, Ryan C

    2014-12-01

    To determine oral human papilloma virus (HPV) colonization in patients with adult-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (AO-RRP) and their long-term partners. Prospective, cohort study Patients with pathology-confirmed AO-RRP and a small cohort of their long-term partners were subjected to a standardized oral rinse and swab protocol to obtain oral epithelial cells. DNA from these samples was extracted and subjected to both qualitative analyses via multiplex polymerase chain reaction as well as to a commercially available linear array assay for the determination of specific HPV subtypes. Samples were collected from 27 patients with AO-RRP and six long-term sexual partners. Qualitative analysis of agarose gel products using a multiple genotype primer cocktail suggested the presence of HPV DNA in oral rinse or swabs in 26 patients (96%) and four partner samples (67%). A subset of these positive patient samples was then subjected to genotyping; a spectrum of HPV subtypes was observed. Interestingly, HPV81 was identified in many samples. Recent data suggest that less than 7% of the general population is HPV positive in the oral cavity. Our data suggest that the oral colonization rate is much higher in patients with AO-RRP. Additionally, long-term sexual partners of patients with RRP had a much higher rate of HPV positivity. These preliminary data may have implications for viral transmission and provide a framework for enhanced patient education as well as further investigation. 4. © 2014 The American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Inc.

  19. Preliminary study of the specific endothelin a receptor antagonist zibotentan in combination with docetaxel in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Trump, Donald L; Payne, Heather; Miller, Kurt; de Bono, Johann S; Stephenson, Joe; Burris, Howard A; Nathan, Faith; Taboada, Maria; Morris, Thomas; Hubner, Andreas

    2011-09-01

    This two-part study assessed the safety and tolerability of combined treatment with zibotentan (ZD4054), a specific endothelin A receptor antagonist, plus docetaxel in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Part A was an open-label, dose-finding phase to determine the safety and toxicity profile of zibotentan in combination with docetaxel. Patients received once-daily oral zibotentan 10 mg (initial cohort) or 15 mg in combination with docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) (administered on day 1 of each 21-day cycle) for up to 10 cycles. Part B was a double-blind phase which evaluated the safety and preliminary activity of zibotentan plus docetaxel. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive zibotentan (at the highest tolerated dose identified in part A) plus docetaxel or placebo plus docetaxel. Six patients were enrolled in part A (n  = 3, zibotentan 10 mg; n = 3, zibotentan 15 mg). No dose-limiting toxicity was observed, thus zibotentan 15 mg in combination with docetaxel was evaluated in part B (n = 20, zibotentan plus docetaxel; n = 11, placebo plus docetaxel). CTCAE grade ≥3, most commonly neutropenia or leucopenia, were reported in 10 (50%) and nine (82%) patients in the zibotentan and placebo groups, respectively. One (17%) patient receiving placebo achieved complete response, two (22%) patients receiving zibotentan achieved partial response and stable disease occurred in six (67%) and three (50%) patients receiving zibotentan and placebo, respectively. The tolerability of zibotentan plus docetaxel was consistent with the known profiles of each drug. Sufficient preliminary activity was seen with this combination to merit continued development. Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  20. Comparison of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation and sphincterotomy in young patients with CBD stones and gallstones.

    PubMed

    Seo, Yu Ri; Moon, Jong Ho; Choi, Hyun Jong; Kim, Dong Choon; Ha, Ji Su; Lee, Tae Hoon; Cha, Sang-Woo; Cho, Young Deok; Park, Sang-Heum; Kim, Sun-Joo

    2014-05-01

    Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EBS) results in permanent loss of sphincter function and its long-term complications are unknown. Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is an alternative procedure that preserves sphincter function, although it is associated with a higher risk of pancreatitis than is EBS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of EPBD with limited indications for removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones combined with gallstones in patients younger than 40 years. Young (age < 40 years) patients who had CBD stones combined with gallstones on imaging studies were enrolled in this study. A total of 132 patients were randomly divided into the EPBD group (n = 62) or the EBS group (n = 70) for extraction of CBD stones. The ballooning size of EPBD ranged from 6 to 10 mm. Complete bile duct clearance was achieved in 98.4 % (61/62) of the EPBD group and 100 % (70/70) of the EBS group. Mechanical lithotripsy was required in 8.1 % (5/62) of the EPBD group and 8.6 % (6/70) of the EBS group. The early complication rates were 8.1 % (5/62) (five pancreatitis) in the EPBD group and 11.4 % (8/70) (five [7.1 %] pancreatitis, two bleeding and one perforation) in the EBS group. The recurrence rates of CBD stones were 1.6 % (1/62) in the EPBD group and 5.7 % (4/70) in the EBS group. EPBD with limited indications was safe and effective as EBS for removal of CBD stones combined with gallstones in young patients who had a longer life expectancy.

  1. Development of a Self-Help Web-Based Intervention Targeting Young Cancer Patients With Sexual Problems and Fertility Distress in Collaboration With Patient Research Partners.

    PubMed

    Winterling, Jeanette; Wiklander, Maria; Obol, Claire Micaux; Lampic, Claudia; Eriksson, Lars E; Pelters, Britta; Wettergren, Lena

    2016-04-12

    The Internet should be suitable for delivery of interventions targeting young cancer patients. Young people are familiar with the technologies, and this patient group is small and geographically dispersed. Still, only few psycho-educational Web-based interventions are designed for this group. Young cancer patients consider reproductive health, including sexuality, an area of great importance and approximately 50% report sexual problems and fertility-related concerns following cancer treatment. Therefore, we set out to develop a self-help Web-based intervention, Fex-Can, to alleviate such problems. To improve its quality, we decided to involve patients and significant others as research partners. The first 18 months of our collaboration are described in this paper. The intervention will subsequently be tested in a feasibility study followed by a randomized controlled trial. The study aims to describe the development of a Web-based intervention in long-term collaboration with patient research partners (PRPs). Ten former cancer patients and two significant others participated in building the Web-based intervention, using a participatory design. The development process is described according to the design step in the holistic framework presented by van Gemert-Pijnen et al and evaluates the PRPs' impact on the content, system, and service quality of the planned intervention. The collaboration between the research group and the PRPs mainly took place in the form of 1-day meetings to develop the key components of the intervention: educational and behavior change content, multimedia (pictures, video vignettes, and audios), interactive online activities (eg, self-monitoring), and partial feedback support (discussion forum, tailored feedback from experts). The PRPs influenced the intervention's content quality in several ways. By repeated feedback on prototypes, the information became more comprehensive, relevant, and understandable. The PRPs gave suggestions concerning the

  2. High-dose vitamin B6 decreases homocysteine serum levels in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Miodownik, Chanoch; Lerner, Vladimir; Vishne, Tali; Sela, Ben-Ami; Levine, Joseph

    2007-01-01

    Vitamin B6 plays an essential role in the normal functioning of the central nervous system. Normal homocysteine (Hcy) serum level is maintained by remethylation of Hcy to methionine by enzymes that require folic acid and vitamin B12 and by catabolism to cysteine by a vitamin B6-dependent enzyme. These findings may be consistent with the hypothesis that the vitamin B6 status may influence plasma Hcy levels. The aims of this preliminary study were (1) to determine whether a correlation exists between Hcy and vitamin B6 levels in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders and (2) to investigate whether treatment with high-dose vitamin B6 may reduce Hcy levels in these patients. In this preliminary study, we enrolled 11 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders (7 men and 4 women; mean age +/- SD, 50 +/- 12 years) receiving high doses of vitamin B6 treatment (1200 mg/d) for 12 weeks. Blood samples for the assessment of pyridoxal-5-phosphate and Hcy serum levels were obtained at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Age was significantly positively correlated with Hcy levels at baseline (r = 0.392, P = 0.004). All other parameters, including diagnosis, disease duration, and pyridoxal-5-phosphate serum level, were not correlated with Hcy serum levels at baseline. After vitamin B6 treatment, Hcy serum levels significantly decreased (14.2 +/- 3.4 vs. 11.8 +/- 2.0 micromol/L, respectively, t = 2.679, P = 0.023); this decrease being statistically significant in men but not in women. High doses of vitamin B6 lead to a decrease in Hcy serum level in male patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

  3. Efficacy of implantable cardioverter defibrillators in young patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia: success depends on substrate.

    PubMed

    Miyake, Christina Y; Webster, Gregory; Czosek, Richard J; Kantoch, Michal J; Dubin, Anne M; Avasarala, Kishor; Atallah, Joseph

    2013-06-01

    The effectiveness of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy for the management of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) in young patients is not known. ICD discharges are not always effective and inappropriate discharges are common, both resulting in morbidity and mortality. This is a multicenter, retrospective review of young patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic VT and ICDs from 5 centers. ICD discharges were evaluated to determine arrhythmia mechanism, appropriateness, efficacy of therapy, and complications. A total of 24 patients were included. Median (interquartile range) ages at onset of catecholaminergic polymorphic VT symptoms and ICD implant were 10.6 (5.0-13.8) years and 13.7 (10.7-16.3) years, respectively. Fourteen patients received 140 shocks. Ten patients (42%) experienced 75 appropriate shocks and 11 patients (46%) received 65 inappropriate shocks. On actuarial analysis, freedom from appropriate shock at 1 year after ICD implant was 75%. Of appropriate shocks, only 43 (57%) demonstrated successful primary termination. All successful appropriate ICD discharges were for ventricular fibrillation. No episodes of polymorphic VT or bidirectional VT demonstrated successful primary termination. The adjusted mean (95% confidence interval) cycle length of successful discharges was significantly shorter than unsuccessful discharges (168 [152-184] ms versus 245 [229-262] ms; adjusted P=0.002). Electrical storm occurred in 29% (4/14) and induction of more malignant ventricular arrhythmias in 36% (5/14). There were no deaths. ICD efficacy in catecholaminergic polymorphic VT depends on arrhythmia mechanism. Episodes of ventricular fibrillation were uniformly successfully treated, whereas polymorphic and bidirectional VT did not demonstrate successful primary termination. Inappropriate shocks, electrical storm, and ICD complications were common.

  4. Causes of Troponin Elevation and Associated Mortality in Young Patients.

    PubMed

    Wu, Candace; Singh, Avinainder; Collins, Bradley; Fatima, Amber; Qamar, Arman; Gupta, Ankur; Hainer, Jon; Klein, Josh; Jarolim, Petr; Di Carli, Marcelo; Nasir, Khurram; Bhatt, Deepak L; Blankstein, Ron

    2018-03-01

    While increased serum troponin levels are often due to myocardial infarction, increased levels may also be found in a variety of other clinical scenarios. Although these causes of troponin elevation have been characterized in several studies in older adults, they have not been well characterized in younger individuals. We conducted a retrospective review of patients 50 years of age or younger who presented with elevated serum troponin levels to 2 large tertiary care centers between January 2000 and April 2016. Patients with prior known coronary artery disease were excluded. The cause of troponin elevation was adjudicated via review of electronic medical records. All-cause death was determined using the Social Security Administration's death master file. Of the 6081 cases meeting inclusion criteria, 3574 (58.8%) patients had a myocardial infarction, while 2507 (41.2%) had another cause of troponin elevation. Over a median follow-up of 8.7 years, all-cause mortality was higher in patients with nonmyocardial infarction causes of troponin elevation compared with those with myocardial infarction (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-1.46; P < .001). Specifically, mortality was higher in those with central nervous system pathologies (adjusted HR 2.21; 95% CI, 1.85-2.63; P < .001), nonischemic cardiomyopathies (adjusted HR 1.66; 95% CI, 1.37-2.02; P < .001), and end-stage renal disease (adjusted HR 1.36; 95% CI, 1.07-1.73; P = .013). However, mortality was lower in patients with myocarditis compared with those with an acute myocardial infarction (adjusted HR 0.43; 95% CI:, 0.31-0.59; P < .001). There is a broad differential for troponin elevation in young patients, which differs based on demographic features. Most nonmyocardial infarction causes of troponin elevation are associated with higher all-cause mortality compared with acute myocardial infarction. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Teaching Cooking Skills to Young Women with Mild Intellectual Disability: The Effectiveness of Internet Websites

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Alqahtani, Hanadi Hussein; Schoenfeld, Naomi A.

    2014-01-01

    The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using streaming video websites to improve, maintain, and generalize the cooking (meal-making) skills of four young women (18-22 years old) diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. A pre-experimental design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based multimedia…

  6. The early psychological adjustment of cleft patients after maxillary distraction osteogenesis and conventional orthognathic surgery: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Cheung, Lim Kwong; Loh, John Ser Pheng; Ho, Samuel M Y

    2006-12-01

    To compare the early psychological changes of cleft lip and palate (CLP) and noncleft patients after maxillofacial corrective surgery, including maxillary distraction osteogenesis and conventional orthognathic surgery. Nine CLP patients were compared with a group of 9 non-CLP patients having similar dentofacial deformities in a prospective longitudinal cohort study. Five of the CLP patients underwent maxillary distraction osteogenesis and 4 underwent conventional orthognathic surgery. A control group of 9 noncleft patients received conventional orthognathic surgery. All patients completed a set of questionnaires to enable their psychological profile to be assessed. The data were collected immediately before surgery (T1), and at 3 weeks (T2) and 12 weeks (T3) after surgery. The CLP patients treated with distraction osteogenesis were happier, but had a higher level of social anxiety and distress than the CLP patients receiving conventional orthognathic surgery. On the other hand, the CLP patients overall were happier, with lower social anxiety and distress, than the noncleft control group. The CLP patients showed a higher level of parental self-esteem than the noncleft patients. This preliminary study shows that CLP patients were generally happier, and had a higher level of parental support, than normal patients suffering from dentofacial deformities. Maxillary distraction osteogenesis seemed to induce a higher level of anxiety and distress in CLP patients than conventional orthognathic surgery in both cleft and noncleft patients.

  7. Mini-guts in a dish: Perspectives of adult Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients and parents of young CF patients on organoid technology.

    PubMed

    Boers, Sarah N; de Winter-de Groot, Karin M; Noordhoek, Jacquelien; Gulmans, Vincent; van der Ent, Cornelis K; van Delden, Johannes J M; Bredenoord, Annelien L

    2018-03-06

    Organoid technology enables the cultivation of human tissues in a dish. Its precision medicine potential could revolutionize the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) field. We provide a first thematic exploration of the patient perspective on organoid technology to set the further research agenda, which is necessary for responsible development of this ethically challenging technology. 23 semi-structured qualitative interviews with 14 Dutch adult CF patients and 12 parents of young CF patients to examine their experiences, opinions, and attitudes regarding organoid technology. Four themes emerged: (1) Respondents express a close as well as a distant relationship to organoids; (2) the open-endedness of organoid technology sparks hopes and concerns, (3) commercial use evokes cautiousness. (4) Respondents mention the importance of sound consent procedures, long-term patient engagement, responsible stewardship, and stringent conditions for commercial use. The precision medicine potential of organoid technology can only be realized if the patient perspective is taken adequately into account. Copyright © 2018 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  8. Chromosome analysis in embryos from young patients with previous parity.

    PubMed

    Kilani, Z; Magli, Mc; Qaddomi, E; Ferraretti, Ap; Shaban, M; Crippa, A; Haj Hassan, L; Shenfield, F; Gianaroli, L

    2014-09-01

    This study included 173 young couples of proven fertility who had previously undergone preimplantation genetic screening for chromosomes X and Y for family balancing. Several months later, when the outcome of the pregnancies was already known, the blastomeres from the corresponding embryos transferred were reanalysed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) for chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, 22 with the aim of investigating correlation with embryo viability and the level of FISH sensitivity (embryos confirmed to be euploid). According to the results, informative in 152 couples, the proportion of euploid embryos was significantly lower in 53 nonpregnant women when compared with 99 women with term pregnancy (49% versus 75% respectively, P < 0.001). In addition, in 21 nonpregnant patients, all embryos transferred were found to be chromosomally abnormal. The level of FISH sensitivity was calculated in the group of term pregnancies where the number of euploid embryos was expected to exceed or match with the number of babies born. The resulting false-negative rate was 4.0% per patient and 1.9% per embryo. These findings confirmed the limited prediction power of embryo morphology on implantation but also the relevance of chromosomal abnormalities in causing embryo demise. Copyright © 2014 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  9. No detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus in oral lichen planus: Results of a preliminary study in a French cohort of patients.

    PubMed

    Masson Regnault, Marie; Vigarios, Emmanuelle; Projetti, Fabrice; Herbault-Barres, Beatrice; Tournier, Emilie; Lamant, Laurence; Sibaud, Vincent

    2017-11-01

    Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disease considered as a CD8+ T lymphocyte-mediated autoimmune reaction, which may be triggered by undetermined virus. Recent reports have described the detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA in oral samples from healthy patients and in patients with different forms of oral cancers. We therefore investigated in a prospective way whether MCPyV was detectable in oral lesions of patients with active OLP. Our preliminary results do not support the hypothesis that OLP may be triggered by MCPyV infection. Further studies are needed to evaluate the involvement of other human polyomaviruses in OLP pathogenesis. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  10. Frequency and predictors of acute ischaemic lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging in young patients with a clinical diagnosis of transient ischaemic attack.

    PubMed

    Tanislav, C; Grittner, U; Fazekas, F; Thijs, V; Tatlisumak, T; Huber, R; von Sarnowski, B; Putaala, J; Schmidt, R; Kropp, P; Norrving, B; Martus, P; Gramsch, C; Giese, A K; Rolfs, A; Enzinger, C

    2016-07-01

    Acute lesions in patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) are important as they are associated with increased risk for recurrence. Characteristics associated with acute lesions in young TIA patients were therefore investigated. The sifap1 study prospectively recruited a multinational European cohort (n = 5023) of patients aged 18-55 years with acute cerebrovascular event. The detection of acute ischaemic lesions was based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). The frequency of DWI lesions was assessed in 829 TIA patients who met the criteria of symptom duration <24 h and their association with demographic, clinical and imaging variables was analysed. The median age was 46 years (interquartile range 40-51 years); 45% of the patients were female. In 121 patients (15%) ≥1 acute DWI lesion was detected. In 92 patients, DWI lesions were found in the anterior circulation, mostly located in cortical-subcortical areas (n = 63). Factors associated with DWI lesions in multiple regression analysis were left hemispheric presenting symptoms [odds ratio (OR) 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-2.91], dysarthria (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.38-3.43) and old brain infarctions on MRI (territories of the middle and posterior cerebral artery: OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.42-4.15; OR 2.41, 95% CI 1.02-5.69, respectively). In young patients with a clinical TIA 15% demonstrated acute DWI lesions on brain MRI, with an event pattern highly suggestive of an embolic origin. Except for the association with previous infarctions there was no clear clinical predictor for acute ischaemic lesions, which indicates the need to obtain MRI in young individuals with TIA. © 2016 EAN.

  11. A preliminary evaluation of influence of body mass index on in vitro fertilization outcome in non-obese endometriosis patients.

    PubMed

    Garalejic, Eliana; Arsic, Biljana; Radakovic, Jovana; Bojovic Jovic, Dragana; Lekic, Dragana; Macanovic, Biljana; Soldatovic, Ivan; Perovic, Milan

    2017-11-16

    Obese and overweight women experience a lower probability for pregnancy after IVF. However, despite the increasing prevalence of obesity, the large majority of infertile women are non-obese. One of the most common indications for IVF is endometriosis. Thought-provoking inverse correlation has been established between BMI and endometriosis. Lower BMI is a risk factor for development of endometriosis and a predictive factor for severe endometriosis. Since severe endometriosis carries lower reproductive chances, even after IVF, we preliminary tested a hypothesis that higher BMI among non-obese endometriosis patients improves IVF outcomes. Preliminary retrospective observational cross-sectional study was performed in women with endometriosis as a sole infertility cause who underwent IVF. During analyzed period we performed 2782 IVF procedures. In order to achieve highly homogenous study sample and to eliminate almost all confound factors that could lead to bias, we implemented strict study criteria. The number of eligible subjects was 156 and they were divided into underweight, normal weight and overweight groups. Primary outcomes were number of retrieved oocytes, good quality oocytes, embryos, and the rates of biochemical, clinical and ongoing pregnancies. For group comparisons, we used parametric test, analysis of variance, and non-parametric tests (Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square test). Logistic regression and General linear model was used to assess correlation between BMI and dependent variables (outcome and stimulation duration) when adjusted for age. Endometriosis as a single infertility factor among IVF couples had prevalence of 5.61%. Underweight women accounted for 10.26%, normal weight 71.15% and overweight 18.59% of study population. Significant differences were not found in number of retrieved oocytes (p = 0.880), good quality oocytes (p = 0.476), obtained embryos (p = 0.706), and biochemical (p = 0.298), clinical (p = 0.770) and ongoing (p = 0

  12. Amaurosis fugax in young people.

    PubMed Central

    O'Sullivan, F; Rossor, M; Elston, J S

    1992-01-01

    Nine young adults (median age 19.5 years) who suffered from amaurosis fugax (AF) are described. The attacks of AF were short in duration and preceded by premonitory symptoms in five cases and by a migrainous headache in two. In five patients the visual loss progressed in a lacunar pattern unlike the 'curtain' pattern characteristic of AF in older patients. Investigation revealed no evidence of an embolic or atheromatous aetiology. In two cases a minor abnormality was found on echocardiography. We conclude that AF in young adults has a different clinical pattern and may have a different aetiology, possibly migrainous, compared with that seen in older patients. The pattern of visual loss in some of the cases suggests that the choroidal circulation rather than the retinal circulation is primarily affected. PMID:1477040

  13. Treatment of Young Adults with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

    PubMed

    Kansagra, Ankit; Litzow, Mark

    2017-06-01

    Young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia are a distinctive category of patients, with substantial difference in disease biology and response to therapy; hence, they pose unique challenges and issues beyond those faced by children and older adults. Despite inferior survival compared to children, there is growing evidence to suggest that young adults have improved outcomes when treated with pediatric-based approaches. With better supportive care and toxicity management and multidisciplinary team and approach, we have made great improvement in outcomes of young adults with ALL. However, despite significant progress, patients with persistence of minimal residual disease have a poor prognosis. This review discusses current controversies in the management of young adults with ALL, outcomes following pediatric and adult protocols, and the role of allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We also explore recent advances in disease monitoring and highlight our approach to incorporation of novel therapies in the management of young adults with ALL.

  14. A preliminary clinical evaluation of external snehan and asanas in the patients of sciatica

    PubMed Central

    Singh, Akhilesh K; Singh, Om P

    2013-01-01

    Lower back pain radiating to either on one leg or both legs along the course of sciatic nerve is a common ailment in the clinical practice, this type of peculiar symptomatology is termed as "Sciatica" in modern medicine. The medical treatment is unsatisfactory for both the patient and the neurosurgeons, as the surgical treatment has its own hazards and the cost of the surgical procedure and medical treatment is prohibitory to most of the Indian patients. Hence, most of the patients present themselves to the practitioners of Indian medicines like Ayurveda and yoga. This study was designed to evaluate the preliminary clinical effects of Bahya Snehan and Asanas in the patients of sciatica. This was a prospective randomized active control trial. A total of 60 participants showing classical symptoms of Sciatica between 18 and 65 years of age were randomly assigned to receive Ayurvedic or Yogic measure. One group received Snehan (external) with Bhujang and Shalabh Asana while another group received Bhujang and Salabh Asana only. Both groups practiced supervised intervention for 4 weeks. The signs and symptoms like Katishool (pain), tenderness, Stambha (rigidity), difficulty in walking, pain on bending forward were graded and interpreted at the end of the trail Significant improvement was observed in both groups before and after external Snehan with Bhujang and Shalabh Asana and in another group Bhujang and Salabh Asana only. Conclusions: Both groups, one with Snehan with asanas and the second with asanas only showed significant improvement in the patients of sciatica (Gridhrasi). PMID:23439799

  15. Addressing the Evidence Gap in Stroke Rehabilitation for Complex Patients: A Preliminary Research Agenda.

    PubMed

    Nelson, Michelle L; McKellar, Kaileah A; Munce, Sarah; Kelloway, Linda; Hans, Parminder Kaur; Fortin, Martin; Lyons, Renee; Bayley, Mark

    2018-06-01

    Evidence suggests that a stroke occurs in isolation (no comorbid conditions) in less than 6% of patients. Multimorbidity, compounded by psychosocial issues, makes treatment and recovery for stroke increasingly complex. Recent research and health policy documents called for a better understanding of the needs of this patient population, and for the development and testing of models of care that meet their needs. A research agenda specific to complexity is required. The primary objective of the think tank was to identify and prioritize research questions that meet the information needs of stakeholders, and to develop a research agenda specific to stroke rehabilitation and patient complexity. A modified Delphi and World Café approach underpinned the think tank meeting, approaches well recognized to foster interaction, dialogue, and collaboration between stakeholders. Forty-three researchers, clinicians, and policymakers attended a 2-day meeting. Initial question-generating activities resulted in 120 potential research questions. Sixteen high-priority research questions were identified, focusing on predetermined complexity characteristics-multimorbidity, social determinants, patient characteristics, social supports, and system factors. The final questions are presented as a prioritized research framework. An emergent result of this activity is the development of a complexity and stroke rehabilitation research network. The research agenda reflects topics of importance to stakeholders working with stroke patients with increasingly complex care needs. This robust process resulted in a preliminary research agenda that could provide policymakers with the evidence needed to make improvements toward better-organized services, better coordination between settings, improved patient outcomes, and lower system costs. Copyright © 2017 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in young Greek males.

    PubMed

    Tzilalis, Vassilios; Panagiotopoulos, Nikolaos; Papatheodorou, George; Rallis, Efstathios; Kassimos, Dimitrios

    2011-01-01

    The aim of this paper is to study the prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in young males. Young males were examined prospectively in a district hospital, and laboratory tests were performed on the basis of the clinical history. Young males (3.912), age 18-28 years old, were examined. Raynaud's phenomenon was present in seven men (1,79 per 1.000, 95% CI 0.72-3.68). Three of them had at least one member in their family diagnosed with Raynaud's phenomenon. Three were smokers. All had negative immunological test. Five patients reported having severe attacks and two had only mild ischemic attacks. The treatment was conservative for all patients, two of them necessitated vasodilators. Very low prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon was observed in this young male group compared with the previous studies.

  17. Effect of Formal Education on Vascular Cognitive Impairment after Stroke: A Meta-analysis and Study in Young-Stroke Patients.

    PubMed

    Kessels, Roy P C; Eikelboom, Willem Sake; Schaapsmeerders, Pauline; Maaijwee, Noortje A M; Arntz, Renate M; van Dijk, Ewoud J; de Leeuw, Frank-Erik

    2017-03-01

    The extent of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) after stroke varies greatly across individuals, even when the same amount of brain damage is present. Education level is a potentially protective factor explaining these differences, but results on its effects on VCI are inconclusive. First, we performed a meta-analysis on formal education and VCI, identifying 21 studies (N=7770). Second, we examined the effect of formal education on VCI in young-stroke patients who were cognitively assessed on average 11.0 (SD=8.2) years post-stroke (the FUTURE study cohort). The total sample consisted of 277 young-stroke patients with a mean age at follow-up 50.9 (SD=10.3). Age and education-adjusted expected scores were computed using 146 matched stroke-free controls. The meta-analysis showed an overall effect size (z') of 0.25 (95% confidence interval [0.18-0.31]), indicating that formal education level had a small to medium effect on VCI. Analyses of the FUTURE data showed that the effect of education on post-stroke executive dysfunction was mediated by age (β age -0.015; p<.05). Below-average performance in the attention domain was more frequent for low-education patients (χ2(2)=9.8; p<.05). While education level was found to be related to post-stroke VCI in previous research, the effects were small. Further analysis in a large stroke cohort showed that these education effects were fully mediated by age, even in relatively young stroke patients. Education level in and of itself does not appear to be a valid indicator of cognitive reserve. Multi-indicator methods may be more valid, but have not been studied in relation to VCI. (JINS, 2017, 23, 223-238).

  18. Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus induced Acute Hepatitis in Young Female Patient

    PubMed Central

    Kaplan, Mustafa; Yilmaz, Nisbet; Çiftçi, Filiz

    2015-01-01

    Acute hepatitis is a disorder that goes with liver cell necrosis and liver inflammation. Among the causes of acute hepatitis, the most common reasons are viral hepatitis. About 95% of the acute hepatitis generate because of hepatotropic viruses. Epstein-barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are from the family of herpes viruses and rare causes of acute hepatitis. In this case report, acute hepatitis due to EBV and CMV coinfection will be described. How to cite this article Ates İ, Kaplan M, Yilmaz N, Çiftçi F. Epstein-Barr Virus and Cytomegalovirus induced Acute Hepatitis in Young Female Patient. Euroasian J Hepato-Gastroenterol 2015;5(1):60-61. PMID:29201691

  19. A preliminary quality of life questionnaire-bronchiectasis: a patient-reported outcome measure for bronchiectasis.

    PubMed

    Quittner, Alexandra L; Marciel, Kristen K; Salathe, Matthias A; O'Donnell, Anne E; Gotfried, Mark H; Ilowite, Jonathan S; Metersky, Mark L; Flume, Patrick A; Lewis, Sandra A; McKevitt, Matthew; Montgomery, A Bruce; O'Riordan, Thomas G; Barker, Alan F

    2014-08-01

    The Quality of Life Questionnaire-Bronchiectasis (QOL-B) is the first disease-specific, patient-reported outcome measure for patients with bronchiectasis. Content validity, cognitive testing, responsivity to open-label treatment, and psychometric analyses are presented. Reviews of literature, existing measures, and physician input were used to generate the initial QOL-B. Modifications following preliminary cognitive testing (N = 35 patients with bronchiectasis) generated version (V) 1.0. An open-ended patient interview study (N = 28) provided additional information and was content analyzed to derive saturation matrices, which summarized all disease-related topics mentioned by each participant. This resulted in QOL-B V2.0. Psychometric analyses were carried out using results from an open-label phase 2 trial, in which 89 patients were enrolled and treated with aztreonam for inhalation solution. Responsivity to open-label treatment was observed. Additional analyses generated QOL-B V3.0, with 37 items on eight scales: respiratory symptoms; physical, role, emotional, and social functioning; vitality; health perceptions; and treatment burden. For each scale, scores are standardized on a 0-to-100-point scale; higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life. No total score is calculated. A final cognitive testing study (N = 40) resulted in a minor change to one social functioning scale item (QOL-B V3.1). Content validity, cognitive testing, responsivity to open-label treatment, and initial psychometric analyses supported QOL-B items and structure. This interim QOL-B is a promising tool for evaluating the efficacy of new therapies for patients with bronchiectasis and for measuring symptoms, functioning, and quality of life in these patients on a routine basis. A final psychometric validation study is needed and is forthcoming. ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00805025; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

  20. A preliminary examination of self-concept in older adolescents and young adults with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome.

    PubMed

    Silvestri, Paola R; Chiarotti, Flavia; Baglioni, Valentina; Neri, Valeria; Cardona, Francesco; Cavanna, Andrea E

    2017-05-01

    Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a childhood-onset neuropsychiatric disorder characterised by multiple tics and often associated with behavioural problems. Although there is evidence of significantly reduced self-esteem in children and adolescents with GTS, little is known about perceived self-concept and its clinical determinants at the transition age between adolescence and adulthood. We therefore set out to investigate self-concept in a clinical sample of young patients with GTS at this crucial age for personal development. In addition to standard demographic and clinical data, we collected self-ratings using a standardised battery of psychometric instruments, as well as the Multidimensional Self Concept Scale, a comprehensive questionnaire developed to assess self-concept in subjects aged 9- to 19 years, tapping into the social, competence, affect, academic, family, and physical domains. We found that patients diagnosed with at least one co-morbid psychiatric disorder ("GTS-plus" phenotype) reported significantly lower self-concept than patients with "pure GTS", whereas tic-related variables had no impact on self-concept. Anxiety symptoms were the main determinants of self-concept, especially trait anxiety with regard to social and affective domains. Affective symptoms could also have a negative impact on the physical, affective, competence, and social domains of self-concept. Routine screening for anxiety and affective symptoms should be recommended in all patients with GTS seen at transition clinics from paediatric to adult care, in order to implement effective treatment interventions whenever possible. Copyright © 2016 European Paediatric Neurology Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  1. Assessing the Quality, Feasibility, and Efficacy of Electronic Patient Platforms Designed to Support Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer: A Systematic Review Protocol

    PubMed Central

    McCann, Lisa

    2017-01-01

    Background A range of innovative websites, mobile technologies, eHealth and mHealth platforms have emerged to support adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. Previous reviews have identified these various applications and solutions, but no review has summarized the quality, feasibility, and efficacy of existing patient platforms (inclusive of websites, mobile technologies, mHealth and eHealth platforms) developed specifically for young people with cancer. Objective This paper describes the design of a protocol to conduct a review of published studies or reports which describe or report on an existing platform designed specifically for AYAs who have had a cancer diagnosis. Methods A search string was developed using a variety of key words and Medical Subject Heading and applied to bibliographic databases. General data (sample characteristics, patient platform development, design and, if applicable, pilot testing outcomes) will be extracted from reports and studies. Drawing on a previously developed coding schematic, the identified patient platforms will be coded for mode of delivery into (1) automated functions, (2) communicative functions, and (3) use of supplementary modes. An adapted version of the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS) will be used to assess the of quality of each identified patient platform. The methodological quality of included studies will be assessed using the Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers from a Variety of Fields (QualSyst). Both authors will independently screen eligible studies for final inclusion and will both be responsible for data extraction and appraisal. Data will be synthesized narratively to provide an overview of identified patient platforms. Results The review began in October 2016 and is currently in progress. The review paper will be submitted for peer-review and publication in the summer of 2017. Conclusions This review will be unique in its focus on assessing, where possible, the

  2. Survival after stem-cell transplant in pediatric and young-adult patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

    PubMed

    Crotta, Alessandro; Zhang, Jie; Keir, Christopher

    2018-03-01

    Allogeneic stem-cell transplant (allo-SCT) is the standard of care for pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who relapse after frontline chemotherapy; however, for patients who relapse after allo-SCT, outcomes are very poor. Few studies have examined overall survival in this patient population, particularly in patients who received a second allo-SCT. This was a retrospective analysis using data from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) registry. The study population included patients aged 3 to 21 years who were diagnosed with B-ALL and underwent their first allo-SCT between 2009 and 2013. The primary endpoint was the time from the date of posttransplant relapse to the date of death due to any reason. Outcomes in 1349 pediatric and young-adult patients were included in this analysis. The Kaplan-Meier estimated probability of survival at 3 years after first allo-SCT was 63.1% (95% CI, 60.2%-65.8%). Overall, 29.2% of patients relapsed after first allo-SCT and had a median survival of 7.4 months (95% CI, 6.0-9.6 months). Twenty-five patients in the analysis developed secondary malignancies, most of which were lymphoproliferative disorders. Survival rates are low in pediatric and young-adult patients who relapse after first and second allo-SCT, and new therapies are needed to improve outcomes in this population. This data can be used as a historical comparison for single-arm trials of novel therapies for this patient population, including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.

  3. Clinical, immunologic and insulin secretory characteristics of young black South African patients with diabetes: Hospital based single centre study.

    PubMed

    Ekpebegh, C O; Longo-Mbenza, B

    2013-03-01

    To classify and characterize the clinical features of various diabetes classes among young black South Africans. Cross sectional study of 60 black patients with diabetes, all less than 30 years of age and attending Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha, South Africa. Diabetes was classified as Types 1A, 1B and 2 based on the anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase status and serum C-peptide response to intravenous injection of glucagon. Mean age was 19.6±4.8 years (n=60) with similar gender distribution. The mean duration of diabetes was 24.2±45.1 months. Type 1A was the class of diabetes in 55% (n=33/60) of patients. Type 1B and 2 accounted for 30% (n=18/60) and 15% (n=9/60) of patients respectively. Patients classified as Type 2 had higher waist circumference and higher prevalence of acanthosis nigricans than Types 1A and 1B groups. History of diabetes in a first degree relative and hypertension were found in similar proportions of patients with Types 1A, 1B and 2 diabetes. Five Type 1A diabetes patients had body mass index of 26.2-41kg/m(2) and this included two newly diagnosed patients with body mass index of 26.7kg/m(2) and 33.2kg/m(2). The majority of our young black South Africans with diabetes are of the Type 1A class. Acanthosis nigricans was not found in any patient with Type 1 A diabetes. A minority of Type 1 A diabetes patients were obese at initial diagnosis. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  4. Quality of life of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy: from adolescence to young men.

    PubMed

    Lue, Yi-Jing; Chen, Shun-Sheng; Lu, Yen-Mou

    2017-07-01

    This study investigated quality of life (QOL) in adolescent and young men with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Health-related QOL and global QOL were assessed with the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Associations between functional status and QOL were assessed. All domains of the SF-36 were below Taiwan norms (effect size: -14.2 to -0.5), especially Physical Function, Role Physical, and Social Function. Three of the four domains of the WHOQOL-BREF were below Taiwan norms (effect size: -2.0 to -0.7). The Physical Function of the SF-36 was moderately correlated with functional status (mobility, basic activities of daily living, and arm function). The Social Function of the SF-36 and Social Relationships of the WHOQOL-BREF were also moderately correlated with functional status (impairment, basic activities of daily living, and arm function). The adolescent and young men with DMD had poor health-related and global QOL. Poor QOL was related to both physical condition and social health. We suggest that rehabilitation programs focus on using assistive devices to facilitate arm function and encouraging participation in social activities to improve the QOL of patients with DMD. Implications for rehabilitation Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle weakness disease that not only impacts physical health but also leads to poor quality of life in many domains. A valuable rehabilitation goal for patients with DMD is to encourage participation in social activities. Medical care and educational programs should plan a formal transition processes for patients with DMD from pediatric to adult care to maximum their quality of life. Arm function is associated with many domains of global quality of life, so a key element in improving quality of life may be to improve arm function.

  5. Recurrent exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis due to low intensity fitness exercise in a healthy young patient

    PubMed Central

    Karre, Premnath Reddy; Gujral, Jeetinder

    2011-01-01

    Rhabdomyolysis is an uncommon but life threatening condition that develops due to breakdown of muscle and release of intracellular components into the circulation. A 24-year-old man otherwise healthy was admitted to our hospital because of muscle aches and weakness as well as cola coloured urine developed 3 days after carrying out the low intensity exercise. Diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was made with creatine kinase (CK) levels of 214 356 U/l. He was treated for a similar condition at age 21. A muscle biopsy was done and the findings were normal. Rhabdomyolysis can develop with low intensity exercise; thus, it be considered in healthy young people. Young people with recurrent rhabdomyolysis due to low intensity exercise, in the absence of obvious medical and physical causes, should be evaluated further to rule out uncommon metabolic diseases. Our case demonstrates that complications especially renal failure in patients with rhabdomyolysis do not correspond to CK levels. PMID:22700603

  6. Recurrent exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis due to low intensity fitness exercise in a healthy young patient.

    PubMed

    Karre, Premnath Reddy; Gujral, Jeetinder

    2011-04-01

    Rhabdomyolysis is an uncommon but life threatening condition that develops due to breakdown of muscle and release of intracellular components into the circulation. A 24-year-old man otherwise healthy was admitted to our hospital because of muscle aches and weakness as well as cola coloured urine developed 3 days after carrying out the low intensity exercise. Diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis was made with creatine kinase (CK) levels of 214 356 U/l. He was treated for a similar condition at age 21. A muscle biopsy was done and the findings were normal. Rhabdomyolysis can develop with low intensity exercise; thus, it be considered in healthy young people. Young people with recurrent rhabdomyolysis due to low intensity exercise, in the absence of obvious medical and physical causes, should be evaluated further to rule out uncommon metabolic diseases. Our case demonstrates that complications especially renal failure in patients with rhabdomyolysis do not correspond to CK levels.

  7. A preliminary, controlled investigation of magnesium L-aspartate hydrochloride for illicit cocaine and opiate use in methadone-maintained patients.

    PubMed

    Margolin, Arthur; Kantak, Kathleen; Copenhaver, Michael; Avants, S Kelly

    2003-01-01

    Based on pre-clinical studies suggesting that magnesium (Mg) reduces cocaine self-administration and potentiates the antinociceptive effects of morphine, we conducted a preliminary randomized clinical trial investigating Mg for the treatment of illicit cocaine and opiate use. Eighteen methadone-maintained patients who used illicit opiates and cocaine received either Mg (732 mg/day) or placebo for 12 weeks. Overall, findings showed that the percentage of urine screens testing positive for opiates in the Mg group (22.6%) was half that of the placebo group (46.4%), p = .04; the difference was even greater in the "medication compliant" sample (Mg: 16.3%, placebo: 47.9%), p = .02. Cocaine craving was lower in the Mg compared to the placebo group, but there was no difference between groups in cocaine use. These preliminary findings suggest that Mg may have a beneficial effect for reducing illicit opiate use. It is possible that a higher dose of Mg than was used in this study may be needed to decrease cocaine use.

  8. High Methotrexate Triglutamate Level Is an Independent Predictor of Adverse Effects in Asian Indian Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients-A Preliminary Study.

    PubMed

    Sandhu, Amit; Dhir, Varun; Bhatnagar, Archana; Dhawan, Veena; Kaur, Jasbinder; Sood, Ankita; Naidu, Shankar; Ahmad, Shabeer; Varma, Neelam; Sharma, Aman; Sharma, Shefali

    2017-04-01

    It is unclear whether erythrocyte methotrexate polyglutamate levels (MTX-glun) are associated with response or adverse effects to methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis. This preliminary study evaluated their utility in Asian Indian patients over 24 weeks. Rheumatoid arthritis patients were started on oral methotrexate at a dose of 15 mg/wk, which was escalated to 25 mg by 12 weeks and continued till 24 weeks. Erythrocyte (RBC) MTX-glu1 to MTX-glu5 levels (nmol/L RBC) were determined at 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks by using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Area under the concentration curve (AUC) of MTX-glu1-5, MTX-glu3-5, and MTX-glu3 levels was compared between groups with regards to response and adverse effects. This study included 117 patients with mean (SD) age of 42.7 (±11.9) years and disease duration of 2.0 (1.7) years. Mean (SD) RBC MTX-glu1-5 levels at 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks were 93 (±29), 129 (±46), 143 (±49), and 159 (±65) nmol/L RBC; the highest individual polyglutamate was MTX-glu3 (40%). There was significant correlation between MTX-glu1-5 (r = 0.38, P < 0.001) and MTX-glu3 (r = 0.49, P < 0.001) with methotrexate dose. There was no significant difference of AUC MTX-glun between responders and nonresponders. However, AUC MTX-glu3 was significantly (P = 0.03) higher in patients with adverse effects. On logistic regression, AUC of MTX-glu3 [odds ratio = 1.004 (95% confidence interval 1.002-1.007)] and methotrexate dose at 24 weeks were independent predictors of adverse effects. In this preliminary study, higher levels of RBC MTX-glu3 were found to be the independent predictors for adverse effects in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

  9. A Study of the Effectiveness of Music Appreciation TV Programs for Young Children in Hong Kong

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Yim, Hoi-Yin Bonnie

    2005-01-01

    This paper provides a preliminary report of a small-scale research examining the effectiveness of a series of Music Appreciation segments of "Pre-school: Learn to Fly"--a locally designed and produced early childhood TV program in Hong Kong. Four aspects of young children's musical development were studied: 1) musical exposure; 2)…

  10. Feasibility and Preliminary Effects of an Intervention Targeting Schema Development for Caregivers of Newly Admitted Hospice Patients

    PubMed Central

    Mazurek Melnyk, Bernadette

    2013-01-01

    Abstract Background The transition to hospice care is a stressful experience for caregivers, who report high anxiety, unpreparedness, and lack of confidence. These sequelae are likely explained by the lack of an accurate cognitive schema, not knowing what to expect or how to help their loved one. Few interventions exist for this population and most do not measure preparedness, confidence, and anxiety using a schema building a conceptual framework for a new experience. Objective The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and preliminary effects of an intervention program, Education and Skill building Intervention for Caregivers of Hospice patients (ESI-CH), using an innovative conceptual design that targets cognitive schema development and basic skill building for caregivers of loved ones newly admitted to hospice services. Design A pre-experimental one-group pre- and post-test study design was used. Eighteen caregivers caring for loved ones in their homes were recruited and twelve completed the pilot study. Depression, anxiety, activity restriction, preparedness, and beliefs/confidence were measured. Results Caregivers reported increased preparedness, more helpful beliefs, and more confidence about their ability to care for their loved one. Preliminary trends suggested decreased anxiety levels for the intervention group. Caregivers who completed the intervention program rated the program very good or excellent, thought the information was helpful and timely, and would recommend it to friends. Conclusions Results show promise that the ESI-CH program may assist as an evidence-based program to support caregivers in their role as a caregiver to a newly admitted hospice patient. PMID:23384244

  11. Simple Reshaping of the Breast in Massive Weight Loss Patients: Promising Preliminary Results.

    PubMed

    Ikander, Peder; Gad, Dorte; Gunnarsson, Gudjon Leifur; Boljanovic, Slaven; Salzberg, Andrew; Sørensen, Jens Ahm; Thomsen, Jørn Bo

    2017-02-01

    The challenging breast reshaping after massive weight loss (MWL) has been increasingly performed as the number of bariatric surgery procedures increase worldwide. The breasts often appear wide, lateralized, and deflated, with significant ptosis. The aim of this article is to share our initial experience using the lower pole subglandular advancement mastoplasty (LOPOSAM) technique to reshape the breasts in MWL patients and to elaborate the technical details and simplicity of the method in the attached video. We performed 30 LOPOSAM procedures in 15 MWL women aged 24 to 63 years from February to September 2015. We used a wise pattern mark-up and a superior based pedicle for the relocation of the nipple areola complex. The key step for the autoaugmentation was an inferior and central mound based parabola-shaped flap, which was placed in a subglandular pocket to reshape the breast and lift the inframammary crease. The median operation time for the LOPOSAM procedure was 81 minutes (range, 35-160 minutes) by 2 surgeons. The median weight loss was 64 kg (range, 45-103) and 22 body mass index units (range, 16-33) per patient. The median follow-up was 240 days (range, 105 Powered by Editorial Manager and ProduXion Manager from Aries Systems Corporation to 345). The surgical goal was achieved in all cases. Four complications occurred in 3 patients, 1 major, a hematoma-requiring surgery and 3 minor wound dehiscence. The self-reported patient satisfaction was high, 13 were very satisfied with the result, 1 satisfied, and 1 less satisfied. The LOPOSAM technique is quick and simple to perform, and the preliminary results are promising. However, a longer follow-up is needed to confirm this.

  12. Development and Preliminary Psychometrics of the Exercise Therapy Burden Questionnaire for Patients With Chronic Conditions.

    PubMed

    Martin, William; Palazzo, Clémence; Poiraudeau, Serge

    2017-11-01

    To develop and validate a self-reporting questionnaire assessing the burden of exercise therapy for patients with chronic conditions. Measurement properties of an instrument. Outpatient clinics and tertiary care hospital. Patients (N=201) with at least 1 chronic condition and performing exercise therapy. Not applicable. The dimensional structure of the questionnaire was assessed by principal component analysis. Construct validity of the instrument was assessed by exploring convergent validity with the Treatment Burden Questionnaire (TBQ) and divergent validity with pain, self-efficacy, treatment satisfaction, and health state. Reliability was assessed with the Cronbach α coefficient, a test-retest method using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman plotting. A preliminary list of items was developed from semistructured interviews with 28 patients and reviewed by 2 expert physicians. Items obtained were reduced. Then a sample of 163 patients was used to measure the psychometrics of the Exercise Therapy Burden Questionnaire (ETBQ), consisting of 10 items. Principal component analysis extracted 1 dimension. The Cronbach α was .86 (.82-.89). Test-retest reliability (n=24 patients) was good with an ICC of .93 (.85-.97), and Bland-Altman analysis did not reveal a systematic trend. The ETBQ showed expected convergent validity with the TBQ (ρ=.52) and expected divergent validity with pain (ρ=.37), self-efficacy (ρ=-.34), treatment satisfaction (ρ=-.49), and perceived health state (ρ=-.28). The ETBQ is the first questionnaire assessing exercise therapy burden in patients with chronic conditions. Its psychometric properties are promising. Copyright © 2017 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  13. Preliminary validation of the Satisfaction With Decision scale with depressed primary care patients

    PubMed Central

    Wills, Celia E.; Holmes‐Rovner, Margaret

    2003-01-01

    Abstract Objective To conduct a preliminary validation of the Satisfaction With Decision (SWD) scale with depressed primary care patients. Design  Cross‐sectional observational pilot study using a postal survey. Setting and participants  Depressed primary care patients (n = 97) who recently had made a new decision about antidepressant medication use completed surveys regarding their treatment decisions. Main variables  Measures included patient‐reported satisfaction with decision, decisional conflict, knowledge about depression and treatment, decision involvement, pain and health status, antidepressant medication efficacy, and satisfaction with health services. Results  The SWD scale had good internal consistency reliability (α = 0.85). Evidence for construct validity was confirmed via a hypothesized pattern of relationships between the SWD scale and other measures. Decision satisfaction was associated with several issues of relevance for designing patient‐centred decision support interventions: (1) knowledge about depression and treatment; (2) involvement in health‐related decisions; and (3) aiding evaluation of trade‐offs among pros and cons of treatment. Conclusions  The results of this pilot study show that the SWD scale appears to be a psychometrically sound and practical measure for research with this population. Additional research is needed on the theoretical nature of decision satisfaction and developing and testing patient‐centred decision support interventions for depression treatment. PMID:12752743

  14. Spironolactone reduces severity of obstructive sleep apnoea in patients with resistant hypertension: a preliminary report.

    PubMed

    Gaddam, K; Pimenta, E; Thomas, S J; Cofield, S S; Oparil, S; Harding, S M; Calhoun, D A

    2010-08-01

    Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and hyperaldosteronism are very common in subjects with resistant hypertension. We hypothesized that aldosterone-mediated chronic fluid retention may influence OSA severity in patients with resistant hypertension. We tested this in an open-label evaluation by assessing the changes in the severity of OSA in patients with resistant hypertension after treatment with spironolactone. Subjects with resistant hypertension (clinical blood pressure (BP) >or=140/90 mm Hg on >or=3 antihypertensive medications, including a thiazide diuretic and OSA (defined as an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) >or=15) had full diagnostic, polysomnography before and 8 weeks after spironolactone (25-50 mg a day) was added to their ongoing antihypertensive therapy. In all, 12 patients (mean age 56 years and body mass index 36.8 kg m(-2)) were evaluated. After treatment with spironolactone, the AHI (39.8+/-19.5 vs 22.0+/-6.8 events/h; P<0.05) and hypoxic index (13.6+/-10.8 vs 6.7+/-6.6 events/h; P<0.05), weight and clinic and ambulatory BP were significantly reduced. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and serum creatinine were significantly higher. This study provides preliminary evidence that treatment with a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist substantially reduces the severity of OSA. If confirmed in a randomized assessment, it will support aldosterone-mediated chronic fluid retention as an important mediator of OSA severity in patients with resistant hypertension.

  15. Acute coronary syndrome in young adults from a Malaysian tertiary care centre

    PubMed Central

    Hoo, Fan Kee; Foo, Yoke Loong; Lim, Sazlyna Mohd Sazlly; Ching, Siew Mooi; Boo, Yang Liang

    2016-01-01

    Background and Objective: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is relatively uncommon in young adults as compared to the older population. Our objective was to assess the prevalence, demographic distribution, and risk factors for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients less than 45 years of age admitted to a Malaysian tertiary care centre. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective, and single centre study with random sampling of the patients admitted for ACS to hospital from January 2005 to December 2013. Data were collected and analyzed. Patients less than 45 years of age were compared with patients more than 45 years of age. Result: A total of 628 patients were included in the study and with the prevalence of young ACS was 6.1% and mean age of 39±6 years. All the young ACS patients were diagnosed with unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Tobacco smoking and family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were more frequent in young ACS. 59.5% of the young ACS patients were smokers, while 37.8% and 51.4% of them were found to suffer from diabetes mellitus and hypertension respectively. Tobacco smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension had shown significant association with the onset of young ACS (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Three leading risk factors (tobacco smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) had been shown to be significantly associated with the onset of young ACS. Thus, it is important to identify this cohort and implement aggressive measures in tackling the risk factors in order to prevent or halt the development of coronary artery disease. PMID:27648025

  16. Acute coronary syndrome in young adults from a Malaysian tertiary care centre.

    PubMed

    Hoo, Fan Kee; Foo, Yoke Loong; Lim, Sazlyna Mohd Sazlly; Ching, Siew Mooi; Boo, Yang Liang

    2016-01-01

    Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is relatively uncommon in young adults as compared to the older population. Our objective was to assess the prevalence, demographic distribution, and risk factors for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in patients less than 45 years of age admitted to a Malaysian tertiary care centre. This is a cross-sectional, retrospective, and single centre study with random sampling of the patients admitted for ACS to hospital from January 2005 to December 2013. Data were collected and analyzed. Patients less than 45 years of age were compared with patients more than 45 years of age. A total of 628 patients were included in the study and with the prevalence of young ACS was 6.1% and mean age of 39±6 years. All the young ACS patients were diagnosed with unstable angina and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Tobacco smoking and family history of coronary artery disease (CAD) were more frequent in young ACS. 59.5% of the young ACS patients were smokers, while 37.8% and 51.4% of them were found to suffer from diabetes mellitus and hypertension respectively. Tobacco smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension had shown significant association with the onset of young ACS (p ≤ 0.05). Three leading risk factors (tobacco smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension) had been shown to be significantly associated with the onset of young ACS. Thus, it is important to identify this cohort and implement aggressive measures in tackling the risk factors in order to prevent or halt the development of coronary artery disease.

  17. Type 1 diabetes, sport practiced, and ankle joint mobility in young patients: What is the relationship?

    PubMed

    Francia, Piergiorgio; Toni, Sonia; Iannone, Giulia; Seghieri, Giuseppe; Piccini, Barbara; Vittori, Alessandro; Santosuosso, Ugo; Casalini, Emilio; Gulisano, Massimo

    2018-06-01

    It is known that patients with diabetes can develop limited joint mobility (LJM) and that this can depend on the metabolic control maintained and the duration of the disease. The aims of this study were to verify the presence of ankle joint mobility (AJM) deficits in both plantar and dorsiflexion in young type 1 diabetic patients (T1D) considering also the possible role of sport practiced as a further factor, able to modify AJM. AJM was evaluated by an inclinometer in 82 T1D patients (M/F: 48/34), mean age 12.9 ± 2.6 years, body mass index (BMI) 19.7 ± 3.6 kg/m 2 , duration of diabetes 5.6 ± 3.3 years, mean HbA1c 7.5 ± 1.0% and in 226 healthy controls (M/F: 146/80), age-, gender-, and BMI-matched practicing different sports (soccer, volleyball, basketball, and dance). The patients' ankle range of motion was significantly lower than that in controls (132.7 ± 22.3° vs 126.1 ± 17.9°; P < .017). In particular, ankle plantar flexion was significantly lower in the patients group (31.6° ± 7.9° vs 28.5° ± 6.6°; P < .002). Soccer players showed lower AJM in both groups: patients (120.1 ± 15.9° vs 127.3 ± 18.1) and controls (119.4 ± 21.1° vs 142.0 ± 18.1; P < .0001) than subjects practicing other sports or who were sedentary. In both groups, patients and controls, age, sex, duration of disease, hemoglobin 1Ac, and BMI have not been shown to be correlated to the mobility assessed. The results of this study, in addition to confirming the negative effect of diabetes on AJM of young T1D patients, suggest that during these evaluations the sport-related effect should be considered because it can induce significant changes of AJM. © 2018 The Authors. Pediatric Diabetes published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  18. Following basal stem rot in young oil palm plantings.

    PubMed

    Panchal, G; Bridge, P D

    2005-01-01

    The PCR primer GanET has previously been shown to be suitable for the specific amplification of DNA from Ganoderma boninense. A DNA extraction and PCR method has been developed that allows for the amplification of the G. boninense DNA from environmental samples of oil palm tissue. The GanET primer reaction was used in conjunction with a palm-sampling programme to investigate the possible infection of young palms through cut frond base surfaces. Ganoderma DNA was detected in frond base material at a greater frequency than would be expected by comparison with current infection levels. Comparisons are made between the height of the frond base infected, the number of frond bases infected, and subsequent development of basal stem rot. The preliminary results suggest that the development of basal stem rot may be more likely to occur when young lower frond bases are infected.

  19. How I use hydroxyurea to treat young patients with sickle cell anemia

    PubMed Central

    2010-01-01

    Hydroxyurea has many characteristics of an ideal drug for sickle cell anemia (SCA) and provides therapeutic benefit through multiple mechanisms of action. Over the past 25 years, substantial experience has accumulated regarding its safety and efficacy for patients with SCA. Early proof-of-principle studies were followed by prospective phase 1/2 trials demonstrating efficacy in affected adults, then adolescents and children, and more recently infants and toddlers. The phase 3 National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute–sponsored Multicenter Study of Hydroxyurea trial proved clinical efficacy for preventing acute vaso-occlusive events in severely affected adults. Based on this cumulative experience, hydroxyurea has emerged as an important therapeutic option for children and adolescents with recurrent vaso-occlusive events; recent evidence documents sustained long-term benefits with prevention or reversal of chronic organ damage. Despite abundant evidence for its efficacy, however, hydroxyurea has not yet translated into effective therapy for SCA. Because many healthcare providers have inadequate knowledge about hydroxyurea, patients and families are not offered treatment or decline because of unrealistic fears. Limited support for hydroxyurea by lay organizations and inconsistent medical delivery systems also contribute to underuse. Although questions remain regarding its long-term risks and benefits, current evidence suggests that many young patients with SCA should receive hydroxyurea treatment. PMID:20223921

  20. A Previsit Screening Checklist Improves Teamwork and Access to Preventive Services in a Medical Home Serving Low-Income Adolescent and Young Adult Patients.

    PubMed

    Allende-Richter, Sophie H; Johnson, Sydney T; Maloyan, Mariam; Glidden, Patricia; Rice, Kerrilynn; Epee-Bounya, Alexandra

    2018-06-01

    Publicly insured adolescents and young adults experience significant obstacles in accessing primary care services. As a result, they often present to their medical appointments with multiple unmet needs, adding time and complexity to the visit. The goal of this project was to optimize team work and access to primary care services among publicly insured adolescents and young adults attending an urban primary care clinic, using a previsit screening checklist to identify patient needs and delegate tasks within a care team to coordinate access to health services at the time of the visit. We conducted an interventional quality improvement initiative in a PDSA (Plan-Do-Study-Act) cycle format; 291 patients, 13 to 25 years old were included in the study over an 8-months period. The majority of patients were receptive to the previsit screening checklist; 85% of services requested were provided; nonclinician staff felt more involved in patient care; and providers' satisfaction increased.

  1. Preliminary study of efficacy of dynamic compression system in the correction of typical pectus carinatum.

    PubMed

    Lopez, Manuel; Patoir, Arnaud; Varlet, François; Perez-Etchepare, Eduardo; Tiffet, Théophile; Villard, Aurelien; Tiffet, Olivier

    2013-11-01

    This preliminary study evaluates, by qualitative score, the efficacy of the dynamic compression system (DCS) with a pressure-measuring device in the treatment of pectus carinatum (PC) as an alternative to surgery. A total of 68 patients (infants, adolescents and young adults) presenting with typical PC (64 males and 4 females) were evaluated in our Chest Wall Deformities Unit, between October 2011 and February 2013. The criteria for including subjects were: patients with typical condrogladiolar PC and pressure for initial correction (PIC) ≤ 9 PSI (pound square inch). Seven patients were excluded in this study: three typical PC were treated by minimal invasive surgery (Abramson technique) due to highly elevated PIC and four atypical PC, hybrids forms (PE and PC) were treated by cup suction for pectus excavatum and by the DCS for the PC. The management protocol included: adjustment of the DCS, strengthening exercises and monthly clinical follow-up. The partial and final results were evaluated by the patients, by their parents or by both, using a qualitative scoring scale that was measured in a three-step grading system, where C is a low or very low result, B is acceptable and A is a very good or excellent result. A total of 61 patients (59 males and 2 females) presenting with typical PC were treated by the DCS and included: symmetric PC in 43 cases and asymmetric PC in 18 cases. The mean age was 13.5 years (5-25). The mean PIC was 6.3 PSI (3-9 PSI). The mean utilization time was 19 h daily. The patients were divided into three groups. In Group I, consisting of 35 cases, all the patients have already completed the treatment with excellent aesthetic results (A). In 12 cases, Group II, the normal shape of the thorax has been obtained; all the patients in this group rated their results as excellent (A); however, these patients are still wearing the brace as a retainer for 3 additional months. Fourteen patients, Group III, are progressing and improving under active

  2. Stress and serum TNF-alpha levels may predict disease outcome in patients with pemphigus: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Ragab, Nader; Abdallah, Marwa; El-Gohary, Eman; Elewa, Rana

    2011-04-01

    The aim of the current preliminary case-control study was to estimate the initial serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in case patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and pemphigus foliaceus (PF) and correlate them with history of stress, body surface area (BSA) affected, disease severity, and disease outcome. Ten PV and 4 PF case patients as well as 7 healthy matched controls had their serum levels of TNF-alpha measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Case patients were treated and followed up for 2 months. A statistically significant elevation in serum levels of TNF-alpha in PV case patients compared with controls and in PV case patients compared with PF case patients was detected (P < .05), with no significant difference between PF case patients and controls (P > .05). No significant correlation was detected between the serum levels of TNF-alpha and the BSA affected (P > .05). Four PV case patients had a bad disease outcome, of which 3 had severe emotional stress a month prior to the onset of the attack. All 4 showed significantly elevated initial serum levels of TNF-alpha compared with those who had a good disease outcome (P < .05). Emotional stress is a factor affecting prognosis of the disease. Pretreatment assessment of serum TNF-alpha levels in patients with pemphigus may be a guide to the expected prognosis and selection of the proper treatment regimen.

  3. Characteristics and psychosocial predictors of psychiatric emergency center transport and length of stay in patients with dementia and Alzheimer's disease: a preliminary report.

    PubMed

    Nejtek, Vicki A; Hardy, Sarah; Hall, James R; Winter, A Scott

    2011-07-01

    Agitation and aggression are common behaviors that often lead to psychiatric emergency center (PEC) admission of nursing home patients with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. However, few if any data are available that adequately describe characteristics and psychosocial triggers of agitation and aggression leading to transport and admission to a PEC. A preliminary investigation to explore all possible characteristics and psychosocial predictors of PEC transport and length of stay in men and women nursing home patients with dementia or Alzheimer's disease was designed. Frequency distributions, chi-square, analyses of variance, and regression analyses were used to analyze the data. One hundred PEC patient charts were reviewed, of which 58 charts were missing information and 42 charts provided evaluable data. Nursing homes located in impoverished areas transported patients to the PEC significantly more often than those in affluent areas. A disconnect between the agitated/aggressive mental state reported by nursing home staff leading to the PEC transport and the calm/cooperative mental status PEC clinicians observed during the admission process was evident. Data from the charts also showed that 74% of patients received off-label antipsychotics rather than FDA-approved medications to treat dementia or Alzheimer's disease. This is one of the few studies to identify characteristics and psychosocial triggers of PEC use and length of stay in nursing home patients. We also highlight potentially dangerous antipsychotic use in dementia and Alzheimer disease. Thus, our data add to the existing knowledge base regarding PEC utilization, length of stay, and pharmacotherapy in nursing home patients with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Given the preliminary nature of this study, however, the results should be interpreted with caution.

  4. An immunocompetent young patient with tuberculosis of the penis: a challenging case.

    PubMed

    Rotaru, Maria; Tăban, Sorina; Ţăroi, Mona; Pătraşcu, Virgil; Popa, Florina Ligia

    2015-01-01

    Tuberculous chancre is an extremely rare form of cutaneous tuberculosis. The genital area is a possible site of presentation. We present a case of a young male with a persistent balanopreputial ulceration resembling a luetic chancre with negative serology for syphilis. The diagnosis was based on the specific pathologic features and the positive intradermal reaction to tuberculin. A successful treatment was achieved by combining antituberculosis treatment and surgical approach with circumcision. After six months of antituberculosis treatment, the patient developed paradoxical inguinal lymph node enlargement, which, after surgical excision and biopsy, was not followed by a relapse of the disease and needed no further therapy. Tuberculosis should be considered a potential diagnosis in the case of a persistent genital ulcer.

  5. Raised urinary glucocorticoid and adrenal androgen precursors in the urine of young hypertensive patients: possible evidence for partial glucocorticoid resistance

    PubMed Central

    Shamim, W; Yousufuddin, M; Francis, D; Gualdiero, P; Honour, J; Anker, S; Coats, A

    2001-01-01

    OBJECTIVE—To evaluate urinary glucocorticoid excretion profiles in a cohort of recently diagnosed young hypertensive patients.
METHODS—After excluding patients with secondary causes, 60 individuals with premature hypertension were recruited (diagnosed by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring before the age of 36 years). In addition, 30 older hypertensive controls (age of onset > 36 years, "middle aged hypertensive controls"), and 30 normal controls (age matched to the young hypertensive group) were studied. All provided 24 hour urine collections for mass spectrometry for total cortisol metabolites and total androgen metabolites by gas chromatography.
RESULTS—Among male patients, those with premature hypertension had higher total urinary excretion of cortisol metabolites (mean (SD), 13 332 (6472) µg/day) than age matched normal controls (7270 (1788) µg/day; p = 0.00001) or middle aged hypertensive controls (8315 (3565) µg/day; p = 0.002). A similar increase was seen among the female patients, although the absolute concentrations were lower. There was no significant difference between middle aged hypertensive patients and normal controls. Urinary total androgen excretion profiles in female patients also showed an unusual increase in the premature hypertension group (2958 (1672) µg/day) compared with the other groups (middle aged hypertensive controls, 1373 (748) µg/day, p = 0.0003; normal controls, 1687 (636) µg/day, p = 0.002). In all subjects, serum sodium and creatinine concentrations were within the normal range; serum potassium concentrations were found to be low before the start of treatment.
CONCLUSIONS—Individuals presenting with premature hypertension have an abnormally high excretion of glucocorticoid metabolites in the urine. While the mechanism remains uncertain, these findings are compatible with partial resistance of the glucocorticoid receptors, with a compensatory increase in cortisol and androgen

  6. Insufficient sleep in young patients with diabetes and their families.

    PubMed

    Estrada, Carmela L; Danielson, Kirstie K; Drum, Melinda L; Lipton, Rebecca B

    2012-01-01

    We examined sleep in families of individuals with type 1 diabetes and the relationship of sleep with obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance. Probands with type 1 diabetes diagnosed before age 18 and first- and second-degree relatives were included (n = 323). Demographic, anthropometric and clinical variables, and self-reported sleep duration and napping were assessed. On average, adults (≥20 years) slept 7.5 (SD 1.5) hr, whereas children (5-11 years) and adolescents (12-19 years) slept 9.8 (SD 1.1) and 8.5 (SD 1.9) hr, respectively (p < .01). Based on national recommendations, 40.9% of participants slept insufficiently, particularly young people (vs. adults, p < .01). In age-group stratified analysis, there were no significant associations of insufficient sleep or sleep duration with obesity, diabetes status, or insulin resistance after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, and gender. In all, 42% of participants reported napping regularly (≥1/week), with adolescents significantly more likely to do so (vs. adults, odds ratio [OR] = 1.95, p < .01). Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics also had higher odds of regular napping (vs. non-Hispanic Whites, OR = 3.74, p < .01 and OR = 2.52, p = .03, respectively). In adjusted analysis, leaner (vs. obese) adolescents, whether measured by body mass index, percentage body fat, or waist circumference, were significantly more likely to nap regularly. We found that insufficient sleep was significantly more likely in children and adolescents compared with adults in families with type 1 diabetes. Lower adiposity was associated with regular napping in adolescents. The high prevalence of insufficient sleep in young patients with type 1 diabetes and their relatives detected in the current study may have significant health consequences.

  7. Clinical characteristics of generalized anxiety disorder: older vs. young adults.

    PubMed

    Altunoz, Umut; Kokurcan, Ahmet; Kirici, Sevinc; Bastug, Gulbahar; Ozel-Kizil, Erguvan Tugba

    2018-02-01

    Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders in older people. Although GAD in older adults seems to differ in many aspects like clinical presentation, severity and treatment response, there is a paucity of comparative research. The aim of the study is to compare the clinical presentation of GAD between older and young adults. One hundred and two non-demented older patients (age ≥65) and 64 young patients (age <45) who were diagnosed with GAD according to the DSM-IV-TR criteria were included to the study. Socio-demographic Data Form, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders-1 (SCID-1), the Questionnaire for the Suggested Behavioral Criteria of GAD for DSM-5, the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Severity Scale (GADSS) and the Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) were applied to both groups. Older GAD patients had more disturbances of sleep, less reassurance seeking behaviors, higher rates of depression and higher depression severity when compared to the young patients. Although older people seemed to have a lower severity of GAD, they had higher disability due to worries. Older patients worried more about their own health and family well-being, whereas young patients worried more about future and other's health.

  8. Design and Evaluation of a Pervasive Coaching and Gamification Platform for Young Diabetes Patients.

    PubMed

    Klaassen, Randy; Bul, Kim C M; Op den Akker, Rieks; van der Burg, Gert Jan; Kato, Pamela M; Di Bitonto, Pierpaolo

    2018-01-30

    Self monitoring, personal goal-setting and coaching, education and social support are strategies to help patients with chronic conditions in their daily care. Various tools have been developed, e.g., mobile digital coaching systems connected with wearable sensors, serious games and patient web portals to personal health records, that aim to support patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers in realizing the ideal of self-management. We describe a platform that integrates these tools to support young patients in diabetes self-management through educational game playing, monitoring and motivational feedback. We describe the design of the platform referring to principles from healthcare, persuasive system design and serious game design. The virtual coach is a game guide that can also provide personalized feedback about the user's daily care related activities which have value for making progress in the game world. User evaluations with patients under pediatric supervision revealed that the use of mobile technology in combination with web-based elements is feasible but some assumptions made about how users would connect to the platform were not satisfied in reality, resulting in less than optimal user experiences. We discuss challenges with suggestions for further development of integrated pervasive coaching and gamification platforms in medical practice.

  9. Venus: Preliminary geologic mapping of northern Atla Regio

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nikishin, A. M.; Burba, G. A.

    1992-01-01

    A preliminary geologic map of C1 sheet 15N197 was compiled according to Magellan data. Northern Atla Regio is dominantly a volcanic plain with numerous volcanic features: radar-bright and -dark flows and spots, shield volcanos, volcanic domes and hills with varied morphology, and coronalike constructions. Tesserae are the oldest terrains semiflooded by plain materials. There are many lineated terrains on this territory. They are interpreted as old, partly buried ridge belts. Lineated terrains have intermediate age between young plains and old tesserae. Ozza Mons and Sapas Mons are the high shield volcanos. The prominent structure of northern Atla Regio is Ganis Chasma rift. The rift dissected the volcanic plain and evolved nearly contemporaneously with Ozza Mons shield volcano. Ganis Chasma rift valley is highly fractured and bounded by fault scarps. There are a few relatively young volcanic features in the rift valley. The rift originated due to 5-10 percent crustal extension and crustal subsidence according to analysis of fracturing and rift valley geometry. Ganis Chasma is characterized by rift shoulder uplifts. Geological structures of Alta Regio and Beta Regio are very similar as assumed earlier.

  10. Motivational stage of change in young patients undergoing day treatment for eating disorders.

    PubMed

    Bustin, Lisa A; Lane-Loney, Susan E; Hollenbeak, Christopher S; Ornstein, Rollyn M

    2013-01-01

    The objective was to determine whether motivation to change is significantly altered over the course of partial hospitalization in children and adolescents with eating disorders (EDs). This study was a retrospective chart review of 30 sets of adolescents and their parents who completed the Motivational Stage of Change for Adolescents Recovering from an Eating Disorder (MSCARED) at both intake and discharge from partial hospitalization. The main outcome variables included change in stage of change (SOC) for patients and their parents. Secondary outcomes included correlations between SOC and other baseline variables, as well as changes in SOC and psychological test scores. The SOC was significantly higher at discharge than at intake in both the patients and parents, but the two groups were not in agreement at discharge. The change in the SOC was correlated with change in Children's Eating Attitudes Test scores. Assessment of decisional balance showed correlations with SOC. Age, change in weight, and psychiatric diagnoses did not correlate with initial SOC. The MSCARED may be a useful tool for monitoring young ED patients' psychological improvements with day treatment. Initial SOC is not predictive of treatment outcomes.

  11. Using internet enabled mobile devices and social networking technologies to promote exercise as an intervention for young first episode psychosis patients.

    PubMed

    Killackey, Eoin; Anda, Anna Lee; Gibbs, Martin; Alvarez-Jimenez, Mario; Thompson, Andrew; Sun, Pamela; Baksheev, Gennady N

    2011-05-12

    Young people with first episode psychosis are at an increased risk for a range of poor health outcomes. In contrast to the growing body of evidence that suggests that exercise therapy may benefit the physical and mental health of people diagnosed with schizophrenia, there are no studies to date that have sought to extend the use of exercise therapy among patients with first episode psychosis. The aim of the study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of an exercise program that will be delivered via internet enabled mobile devices and social networking technologies among young people with first episode psychosis. This study is a qualitative pilot study being conducted at Orygen Youth Health Research Centre in Melbourne, Australia. Participants are young people aged 15-24 who are receiving clinical care at a specialist first episode psychosis treatment centre. Participants will also comprise young people from the general population. The exercise intervention is a 9-week running program, designed to gradually build a person's level of fitness to be able to run 5 kilometres (3 miles) towards the end of the program. The program will be delivered via an internet enabled mobile device. Participants will be asked to post messages about their running experiences on the social networking website, and will also be asked to attend three face-to-face interviews. This paper describes the development of a qualitative study to pilot a running program coupled with the use of internet enabled mobile devices among young people with first episode psychosis. If the program is found to be feasible and acceptable to patients, it is hoped that further rigorous evaluations will ultimately lead to the introduction of exercise therapy as part of an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach in routine clinical care.

  12. Health insurance, patient protection and Affordable Care Act, and young adults.

    PubMed

    Dodich, Colleen; Patel, Dilip

    2013-12-01

    In summary, the ACA aims to correct some of the shortcomings of our current health insurance systems. It aims to make health insurance more affordable and more accessible and the health insurance systems easier to navigate. For the young adult population, it aims to protect more individuals by allowing them to stay on their parent's insurance longer and by making it easier to choose an insurance plan that is right for them. Those with preexisting medical conditions do not have to worry about being excluded from a health plan because of their medical history. The law is also making health insurance mandatory, which may help prevent young adults who fall ill from incurring large medical bills. Initial outcomes from the implementation of the ACA have shown both positive and negative responses. All in all, it is giving young adults more options when it comes to obtaining health insurance. As part of discussion with adolescents and young adults, physicians may take into consideration key points summarized in Table 4.

  13. Using robot fully assisted functional movements in upper-limb rehabilitation of chronic stroke patients: preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Caimmi, Marco; Chiavenna, Andrea; Scano, Alessandro; Gasperini, Giulio; Giovanzana, Chiara; Molinari Tosatti, Lorenzo; Molteni, Franco

    2017-06-01

    Robotic rehabilitation is promising to promote function in stroke patients. The assist as needed training paradigm has shown to stimulate neuroplasticity but often cannot be used because stroke patients are too impaired to actively control the robot against gravity. To verify whether a rehabilitation intervention based on robot fully assisted reaching against gravity (RCH) and hand-to-mouth (HTM) can promote upper-limb function in chronic stroke. Cohort study. Chronic stroke outpatients referring to the robotic rehabilitation lab of a rehabilitation centre. Ten chronic stroke patients with mild to moderate upper-limb hemiparesis. Patients underwent 12 sessions (3 per week) of robotic treatment using an end-effector robot Every session consisted of 20 minutes each of RCH and HtM; movements were fully assisted, but patients were asked to try to actively participate. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) was the primary outcome measure; Medical Research Council and Modified Ashworth Scale were the secondary outcome measures. All patients, but one, show functional improvements (FMA section A-D, mean increment 7.2±3.9 points, P<0.008). This preliminary study shows that a robotic intervention based on functional movements, fully assisted, can be effective in promoting function in chronic stroke patients. These results are promising considering the short time of the intervention (1 month) and the time from the stroke event, which was large (27±20 months). A larger study, comprehensive of objective instrumental measures, is necessary to confirm the results. This intervention could be extended even to subacute stroke and other neurological disorders.

  14. The Oncofertility Consortium—addressing fertility in young people with cancer

    PubMed Central

    Woodruff, Teresa K.

    2011-01-01

    The number of young cancer survivors is increasing owing to advances in cancer therapeutics, but many face infertility as a result of their treatment. Technologies that already exist for cancer patients concerned about their future fertility include sperm banking for men and hormonal intervention followed by in vitro fertilization and embryo cryopreservation for women. However, logistical barriers to timely patient referral and coordination of care between specialties can limit patient access to all the available options. Moreover, there are few alternatives for young women and girls who cannot delay their cancer treatment, or who are unable to undergo hormonal intervention. The Oncofertility Consortium is a network of researchers, physicians and scholars who are advancing fertility preservation options for young cancer patients. Research into the societal, ethical, and legal implications is also an important part of the work performed by the Oncofertility Consortium, which is providing new perspectives on patient decision making about how to access these emerging reproductive technologies. Experts in the fields of oncology, reproductive medicine, the social sciences, law, education, and the humanities are working together to develop next generation reproductive interventions and promote communication between scholars, clinicians, patients, and the public to ensure that young cancer patients are equipped with the most appropriate information and options for having a family in the future. PMID:20498666

  15. [Diagnosis of a systolic murmur among young asymptomatic patient: An assessment of professional practices for the expertise in military medicine].

    PubMed

    Boeuf, M-C; Rohel, G; Lamour, G; Piquemal, M; Paleiron, N; Fouilland, X; Le Nestour, C; Vinsonneau, U; Paez, S; Paule, P

    2015-11-01

    The finding of a systolic heart murmur is common in medical military practice. Albeit often benign among young healthy adults, it can reveal a valvular or a cardiac disease, which could worsen during workout or expose to risk of a sudden death. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the military general practitioner when discovering a systolic murmur among young asymptomatic patients. During one year, this study involved all the general practitioners of the medical military centres of Brittany and the cardiologists of the military hospital in Brest. It prospectively enrolled a cohort of all military asymptomatic patients under 40, without any underlying known heart condition. Military general practitioners listed, thanks to an anonymous form, the main features of the systolic murmur and of the ECG and proposed an auscultatory diagnosis: innocent or organic murmur. Then cardiologists did the same and finally performed a transthoracic echocardiography giving the diagnosis. Fifty-eight patients were referred, 5 not meeting the inclusion criteria. Of the 53 patients included, military general practitioners found 46 innocent murmurs and 7 organic ones. Cardiologists found 51 innocent murmurs and 2 organic. Transthoracic echocardiography just took on one organic murmur (linked with a bicuspid aortic valve), spotted by the specialist, though judged innocent by the general practitioner. Most of innocent murmurs diagnosed by general practitioners (45/46) were confirmed. Regarding the seven organic murmurs, the main selected criteria (intensity over 3, orthostatic persistence, diffuse irradiation) are mostly in accordance with the literature, proving right medical instincts. Authors propose a practical management of systolic murmurs among asymptomatic young patients. Military general practitioners seem to master symptoms of organic murmur. This assessment argues for a promotion of a holistic clinical examination, which will help not only to rationalize the

  16. Type 1 Diabetes Modifies Brain Activation in Young Patients While Performing Visuospatial Working Memory Tasks

    PubMed Central

    González-Garrido, Andrés A.; Gudayol-Ferré, Esteban; Guàrdia-Olmos, Joan

    2015-01-01

    In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the effects of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) on cognitive functions. T1D onset usually occurs during childhood, so it is possible that the brain could be affected during neurodevelopment. We selected young patients of normal intelligence with T1D onset during neurodevelopment, no complications from diabetes, and adequate glycemic control. The purpose of this study was to compare the neural BOLD activation pattern in a group of patients with T1D versus healthy control subjects while performing a visuospatial working memory task. Sixteen patients and 16 matched healthy control subjects participated. There was no significant statistical difference in behavioral performance between the groups, but, in accordance with our hypothesis, results showed distinct brain activation patterns. Control subjects presented the expected activations related to the task, whereas the patients had greater activation in the prefrontal inferior cortex, basal ganglia, posterior cerebellum, and substantia nigra. These different patterns could be due to compensation mechanisms that allow them to maintain a behavioral performance similar to that of control subjects. PMID:26266268

  17. The impact of young drivers' lifestyle on their road traffic accident risk in greater Athens area.

    PubMed

    Chliaoutakis, J E; Darviri, C; Demakakos, P T

    1999-11-01

    Young drivers (18-24) both in Greece and elsewhere appear to have high rates of road traffic accidents. Many factors contribute to the creation of these high road traffic accidents rates. It has been suggested that lifestyle is an important one. The main objective of this study is to find out and clarify the (potential) relationship between young drivers' lifestyle and the road traffic accident risk they face. Moreover, to examine if all the youngsters have the same elevated risk on the road or not. The sample consisted of 241 young Greek drivers of both sexes. The statistical analysis included factor analysis and logistic regression analysis. Through the principal component analysis a ten factor scale was created which included the basic lifestyle traits of young Greek drivers. The logistic regression analysis showed that the young drivers whose dominant lifestyle trait is alcohol consumption or drive without destination have high accident risk, while these whose dominant lifestyle trait is culture, face low accident risk. Furthermore, young drivers who are religious in one way or another seem to have low accident risk. Finally, some preliminary observations on how health promotion should be put into practice are discussed.

  18. Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Young Adult – Do We Need Further Investigations?

    PubMed Central

    Walter, Matthias; Wetterauer, Christian; Bruder, Elisabeth; Obermann, Ellen C.; Subotic, Svetozar; Wyler, Stephen

    2016-01-01

    Renal cell carcinomas (RCC), mostly occurring in adults aged 60–70 years, can result from well-known factors like cigarette smoking, obesity and hypertension. However, they have been associated with genetic alterations in children and young adults. A 28 year-old male patient with a confirmed RCC underwent biomolecular and immunohistochemical analyses due to his young age. A point mutation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene was identified. Young patients under 40 years with diagnosed RCC should undergo additional diagnostic investigation, hence the discovery of an underlying cause. This could be important for further treatment and counseling of these young patients. PMID:27169022

  19. [A right sided colon volvulus with necrosis in a young patient. A case reported].

    PubMed

    Márquez-Díaz, Adrián; Ramírez-Ortega, Miguel Angel

    2010-01-01

    Colon volvulus (CV) is the twisting or rotation of an intestinal segment over the mesenterium, which causes occlusion and vascular compromise. It is a frequent disease in individuals over 65 years-old. We report a young patient with right CV and necrosis. A 17 year-old male with clinical findings of acute abdomen presented in the emergency room. During the surgical procedure, a right sided was found, CV with ileocecal valve and caecum ischemia and right colon necrosis with mesenteric vessels thrombosis. The case presented begun with sudden abdominal pain, with intestinal occlusion data, and widespread peritoneal rebound tenderles which suggested an intestinal occlusion. A simple abdomen Rx showed prominent right side colon distention with air levels in small bowel and a "coffee bean" image, suggestive of CVA hemicolectomy with termino-lateral ileocolic anastomosis was performed. Right-sided CV is considered as congenital in origin. They corresponded to 21% of cases in Mexico, with an average age of presentation at 62 years. The CV represents 10% of the causes of large bowel obstruction in Mexico. This is the first case in young people reported in Mexican literature.

  20. Cyclosporine and Vancomycin + Amikacin Induced Hot Kidney Appearance in a Young Adult and a Pediatric Patient.

    PubMed

    Çayır, Derya; Araz, Mine; Filik, Mustafa; Erdoğan, Mehmet

    2017-10-03

    The appearance of a hot kidney on bone scintigraphy is rare and can be seen due to various factors. In our clinic, we observed hot kidney appearance in two patients to whom technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate (Tc-99m MDP) whole body scan has been performed: a young male adult at the age of 18 who was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia with a presumptive diagnosis of avascular necrosis, and a 9-year-old girl with cystitis for a pre-diagnosis of osteomyelitis. The first patient had a history of cyclosporine usage and the second patient was being treated with amikacin + vancomycin. To the best of our knowledge, we present the first cases where hot-kidney appearance on Tc-99m MDP whole body scan due to the use of cyclosporin and amikacin + vancomycin is demonstrated.

  1. Developing a preliminary 'never event' list for general practice using consensus-building methods.

    PubMed

    de Wet, Carl; O'Donnell, Catherine; Bowie, Paul

    2014-03-01

    The 'never event' concept has been implemented in many acute hospital settings to help prevent serious patient safety incidents. Benefits include increasing awareness of highly important patient safety risks among the healthcare workforce, promoting proactive implementation of preventive measures, and facilitating incident reporting. To develop a preliminary list of never events for general practice. Application of a range of consensus-building methods in Scottish and UK general practices. A total of 345 general practice team members suggested potential never events. Next, 'informed' staff (n =15) developed criteria for defining never events and applied the criteria to create a list of candidate never events. Finally, UK primary care patient safety 'experts' (n = 17) reviewed, refined, and validated a preliminary list via a modified Delphi group and by completing a content validity index exercise. There were 721 written suggestions received as potential never events. Thematic categorisation reduced this to 38. Five criteria specific to general practice were developed and applied to produce 11 candidate never events. The expert group endorsed a preliminary list of 10 items with a content validity index (CVI) score of >80%. A preliminary list of never events was developed for general practice through practitioner experience and consensus-building methods. This is an important first step to determine the potential value of the never event concept in this setting. It is now intended to undertake further testing of this preliminary list to assess its acceptability, feasibility, and potential usefulness as a safety improvement intervention.

  2. [Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis in young Chinese women with breast cancer].

    PubMed

    Liu, Xin; Liu, Qi-feng; Xu, Ye; Ouyang, Tao; Li, Jin-feng; Wang, Tian-feng; Fan, Zhao-qing; Fan, Tie; Lin, Ben-yao; Xie, Yun-tao

    2011-07-12

    To analyze the clinicopathologic characteristics and evaluate the prognosis in young Chinese women with breast cancer. A total of 1538 female patients with operable primary breast cancer (stage I-III) treated at our hospital from December 1994 to December 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 1075 patients (≤ 60 yrs) with the complete follow-up data were divided into two groups according to age: young breast cancer group (≤ 40 yrs, n = 208) and control group (41 - 60 yrs, n = 867) to analyze the differences in their clinicopathologic characteristics and evaluate the prognosis of both groups. The patients with young breast cancer were more likely to have positive lymph nodes (P = 0.016), a negative expression of ER (estrogen receptor) (P = 0.016) and a positive expression of HER2 (P = 0.001). The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates of young breast cancer group and control group were 73.3% and 84.1% (P < 0.001) and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rates 83.5% and 89.1% (P = 0.004) respectively. Moreover, the patients with young breast cancer had a worse DFS than control group in patients with stage I-II disease but not in those with stage III disease. And ≤ 40 years was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor of DFS (HR = 1.78, 95%CI: 1.19 - 2.66, P = 0.005) and OS (HR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.01 - 2.90, P = 0.046) in the patients with stage I-II disease. Chinese women with young breast cancer have a worse prognosis, particularly in those with stage I-II disease.

  3. Entheseal involvement in asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infected patients: preliminary results of a clinical and ultrasonographic study.

    PubMed

    Ciancio, Giovanni; Sighinolfi, Laura; Furini, Federica; Segala, Daniela; Farina, Ilaria; Galuppi, Elisa; De Stefani, Elena; Simone, Loredana; Boccia, Sergio; Grilli, Anastasio; Pazzi, Paolo; Libanore, Marco; Contini, Carlo; Govoni, Marcello

    2018-05-24

    As a strong association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and spondyloarthritis (SpA) has been hypothesised, our main objective was to explore by power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) the presence of subclinical enthesitis in asymptomatic HIV patients. The presence of subclinical synovitis was also evaluated. Consecutive asymptomatic HIV patients were studied and compared with asymptomatic HCV patients and healthy controls (HC). All subjects underwent a clinical and PDUS bilateral examination of the following entheses and joints: epicondyle, quadriceps, patellar, Achilles and plantar fascia; wrists, II and III metacarpo-phalangeal, knee and ankle. Twenty-nine HIV, 32 HCV and 25 HC were recruited; 1.032 entheses and 860 joints were examined. Clinical diagnosis of enthesitis was made in 10.3% HIV patients, 6.2% HCV patients (p=0.66) and none HC (p=0.24). PDUS enthesitis was found in 72.4% HIV, 28.1% HCV (p=0.0008) and 12% HC (p<0.0001). Clinical diagnosis of synovitis was made in 3.4% HIV patients, 9.3% HCV patients (p=0.61) and none HC (p=1). PDUS abnormalities were documented in 24.1% HIV patients, 71.8% HCV patients (p=0.0003) and none HC (p=0.0001). In detecting enthesitis and synovitis, PDUS was more sensitive than clinical examination both in HIV and HCV patients. Our preliminary study shows the high frequency of PDUS enthesitis in asymptomatic HIV patients, which highlights the close link between HIV and SpA. Further studies are desirable on a larger number of HIV patients to confirm these results. PDUS proved to be more sensitive than clinical examination in detecting subclinical involvement of entheses and joints.

  4. The development of intonation in young children with cochlear implants: A preliminary study of the influence of age at implantation and length of implant experience

    PubMed Central

    Snow, David; Ertmer, David

    2010-01-01

    This study describes the development of emerging intonation in six children who had received a cochlear implant (CI) before the age of three years. At the time their implant was activated, the children ranged in age from 11 to 37 months. Spontaneous longitudinal speech samples were recorded from 30-minute sessions in which the child interacted with his or her mother. Data were collected 2 months before activation of each child's CI and at monthly intervals after activation for 6 months. The findings were compared to the typical pattern of early intonation development in children with normal hearing (NH). The results suggested that young CI recipients progress through stages similar to those observed in children with NH. However, the intonation development of children with a CI reflects a marked interaction between chronological age at implantation and amount of CI experience. That is, after 2 months of CI-assisted hearing experience, the older children demonstrated a later stage of intonation development than younger children. These preliminary results support the idea that children acquire some foundations or prerequisites of intonation production through maturation, as measured by chronological age, even without robust auditory experience. PMID:20882119

  5. Relationship Between the Elevated Muscle FDG Uptake in the Distal Upper Extremities on PET/CT Scan and Prescan Utilization of Mobile Devices in Young Patients.

    PubMed

    Bai, Xia; Wang, Xuemei; Zhuang, Hongming

    2018-03-01

    It is common to notice increased FDG activity in the muscles of the forearms or hands on PET/CT images. The purpose of this study was to determine relationship between the prevalence of increased FDG activity in the forearms or hands and using mobile devices prior to the FDG PET/CT study. A total of 443 young patients with ages between 5 and 19 years who underwent FDG PET/CT scan were included in this retrospective analysis. All patients had FDG PET/CT with their arms within the field of views. The images were reviewed for elevated activity in the muscles of the distal upper extremities (DUEs), which include forearms and hands. The preimaging questionnaire/interview records regarding using mobile devices prior to FDG PET/CT were also reviewed and compared with the imaging findings. Most patients (72.0% [319/443]) used mobile devices more than 60 minutes in the period of 24 hours prior to the FDG PET/CT study. Elevated uptake in the muscles in the DUEs was observed in 38.6% (123/319) of these patients. In contrast, among 124 patients who did not use the mobile devices or used the mobile device minimally prior to the study, only 6.5% (8/124) of them had elevated FDG activity in the DUEs. The difference persisted following stratification analysis for sex, age, and serum glucose level in our patient population. Increased FDG uptake in the muscles of the DUEs in young patients is commonly seen in those who used mobile devices prior to PET/CT study. Recommendation should be considered to reduce using mobile devices prior to FDG PET/CT study in young patient population.

  6. Patient empowerment in long-term conditions: development and preliminary testing of a new measure

    PubMed Central

    2013-01-01

    Background Patient empowerment is viewed by policy makers and health care practitioners as a mechanism to help patients with long-term conditions better manage their health and achieve better outcomes. However, assessing the role of empowerment is dependent on effective measures of empowerment. Although many measures of empowerment exist, no measure has been developed specifically for patients with long-term conditions in the primary care setting. This study presents preliminary data on the development and validation of such a measure. Methods We conducted two empirical studies. Study one was an interview study to understand empowerment from the perspective of patients living with long-term conditions. Qualitative analysis identified dimensions of empowerment, and the qualitative data were used to generate items relating to these dimensions. Study two was a cross-sectional postal study involving patients with different types of long-term conditions recruited from general practices. The survey was conducted to test and validate our new measure of empowerment. Factor analysis and regression were performed to test scale structure, internal consistency and construct validity. Results Sixteen predominately elderly patients with different types of long-term conditions described empowerment in terms of 5 dimensions (identity, knowledge and understanding, personal control, personal decision-making, and enabling other patients). One hundred and ninety seven survey responses were received from mainly older white females, with relatively low levels of formal education, with the majority retired from paid work. Almost half of the sample reported cardiovascular, joint or diabetes long-term conditions. Factor analysis identified a three factor solution (positive attitude and sense of control, knowledge and confidence in decision making and enabling others), although the structure lacked clarity. A total empowerment score across all items showed acceptable levels of internal

  7. Preliminary experience on the use of the Adnatest® system for detection of circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer patients.

    PubMed

    Todenhöfer, Tilman; Hennenlotter, Jörg; Feyerabend, Susan; Aufderklamm, Stefan; Mischinger, Johannes; Kühs, Ursula; Gerber, Valentina; Fetisch, Jasmin; Schilling, David; Hauch, Siegfried; Stenzl, Arnulf; Schwentner, Christian

    2012-08-01

    The Adnatest® system combines immunomagnetic enrichment of epithelial cells with polymerase chain reaction for prostate cancer (PC)-specific transcripts for the detection circulating tumor cells (CTCs). We evaluated the Adnatest® in patients with castration-resistant PC receiving docetaxel chemotherapy. CTCs were assessed in 16 patients with castration-resistant PC before cycles one and three of chemotherapy. Furthermore, markers of stem cells and epithelial-mesenchymal transition were assessed. Treatment response was assessed by imaging and prostate-specific antigen measurements. Before chemotherapy, 11 patients were Adnatest®-positive whereas five patients were Adnatest®-positive before cycle three. A positive Adnatest® correlated with radiological progression (p=0.02). Rates of disease progression in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive and -negative patients were 100% and 7.7% (p=0.03). In this preliminary study, the Adnatest® detected CTCs in a considerable proportion of patients with castration-resistant PC. First data on certain markers (EGFR and aldehyd dehydrogenase 1) encourage future studies investigating transcripts predicting treatment response.

  8. Acceptance and commitment therapy in youth with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and chronic pain and their parents: A pilot study of feasibility and preliminary efficacy.

    PubMed

    Martin, Staci; Wolters, Pamela L; Toledo-Tamula, Mary Anne; Schmitt, Shawn Nelson; Baldwin, Andrea; Starosta, Amy; Gillespie, Andrea; Widemann, Brigitte

    2016-06-01

    Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder affecting about 1 in 3,500 individuals. Chronic pain is commonly reported among individuals with NF1 and plexiform neurofibroma tumors (PNs). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), an empirically supported method for addressing chronic pain, helps individuals re-focus on valued relationships and activities. This pilot study investigated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a brief ACT workshop in the NF1 population. Eligible participants included adolescents and young adults (AYA; 12-21 years) with NF1 and chronic pain that interfered with daily functioning and their parents. Patients and parents completed baseline measures of pain interference, pain intensity, functional disability, pain acceptance, depression, and anxiety. Then, AYA and parents participated separately in a 2-day small-group ACT workshop. A telephone booster session occurred 1 month post-intervention. Three-month post-treatment measures were completed by mail. Ten adolescents (4 males; M age = 16.9 years) and seven parents provided baseline and 3-month data. Mean satisfaction with the study was moderate to high (3.9 for patients and 4.6 for parents on a 1-5 scales). Patients and parents reported significant declines in patients' pain interference at 3 months post-treatment. Patient-reported pain intensity significantly declined from baseline to 3 months. Parents reported marginally greater acceptance of their child's pain. No changes emerged in functional ability or mood. Preliminary findings suggest that a brief ACT group intervention is feasible and may help AYA with NF1 and PNs cope with their chronic pain, although larger randomized studies are needed to confirm treatment efficacy. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Gray Matter Differences between Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patients and High-Risk Siblings: A Preliminary Voxel-Based Morphometry Study

    PubMed Central

    Gilbert, Andrew R.; Keshavan, Matcheri S.; Diwadkar, Vaibhav; Nutche, Jeffrey; MacMaster, Frank; Easter, Phillip C.; Buhagiar, Christian J.; Rosenberg, David R.

    2008-01-01

    Neuroimaging studies have identified alterations in frontostriatal circuitry in OCD. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) allows for the assessment of differences in gray matter density across the whole brain. VBM has not previously been used to examine regional gray matter density in pediatric OCD patients and the siblings of pediatric OCD patients. Volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were conducted in 10 psychotropic-naïve pediatric patients with OCD, 10 unaffected siblings of pediatric patients with OCD, and 10 healthy controls. VBM analysis was conducted using SPM2. Statistical comparisons were performed with the general linear model, implementing small volume random field corrections for a priori regions of interest (anterior cingulate cortex or ACC, striatum and thalamus). VBM analysis revealed significantly lower gray matter density in OCD patients compared to healthy in the left ACC and bilateral medial superior frontal gyrus (SFG). Furthermore, a small volume correction was used to identify a significantly greater gray matter density in the right putamen in OCD patients as compared to unaffected siblings of OCD patients. These findings in patients, siblings, and healthy controls, although preliminary, suggest the presence of gray matter structural differences between affected subjects and healthy controls as well as between affected subjects and individuals at risk for OCD. PMID:18314272

  10. Diagnosis of Xeroderma pigmentosum variant in a young patient with two novel mutations in the POLH gene.

    PubMed

    De Palma, Armando; Morren, Marie-Anne; Ged, Cécile; Pouvelle, Caroline; Taïeb, Alain; Aoufouchi, Said; Sarasin, Alain

    2017-09-01

    We describe the characterization of Xeroderma Pigmentosum variant (XPV) in a young Caucasian patient with phototype I, who exhibited a high sensitivity to sunburn and multiple cutaneous tumors at the age of 15 years. Two novel mutations in the POLH gene, which encodes the translesion DNA polymerase η, with loss of function due to two independent exon skippings, are reported to be associated as a compound heterozygous state in the patient. Western blot analysis performed on proteins from dermal fibroblasts derived from the patient and analysis of the mutation spectrum on immunoglobulin genes produced during the somatic hypermutation process in his memory B cells, show the total absence of translesion polymerase η activity in the patient. The total lack of Polη activity, necessary to bypass in an error-free manner UVR-induced pyrimidine dimers following sun exposure, explains the early unusual clinical appearance of this patient. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  11. Preliminary evaluation of the North Carolina graduated driver licensing system : effects on young driver crashes

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    2000-07-01

    In December 1997, North Carolina became the second state to enact a comprehensive Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system. The purpose of the GSL is to reduce young driver crashes by introducing beginning drivers to the full range of driving experien...

  12. Evidence-Based Family Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults With Bipolar Disorder.

    PubMed

    Miklowitz, David J

    2016-01-01

    An individual can develop bipolar disorder at any age, but emergence during adolescence and young adulthood can lead to a number of problematic behaviors and outcomes. Several drugs are available as first-line treatments, but even optimal pharmacotherapy rarely leads to complete remission and recovery. When added to pharmacologic treatment, certain targeted psychosocial treatments can improve outcomes for young patients with bipolar disorder. Because bipolar disorder affects family members as well as patients, and because adolescents and young adults often live with and are dependent on their parents, the patient's family should usually be included in treatment. Family-focused treatment and dialectical behavior therapy are promising methods of conducting family intervention. With effective treatment and the support of their families, young patients with bipolar disorder can learn to manage their disorder and become independent and healthy adults. © Copyright 2016 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.

  13. Patient Navigation Preferences for Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Services by Distance to Treatment Location.

    PubMed

    Warner, Echo L; Fowler, Brynn; Pannier, Samantha T; Salmon, Sara K; Fair, Douglas; Spraker-Perlman, Holly; Yancey, Jeffrey; Randall, R Lor; Kirchhoff, Anne C

    2018-05-03

    To describe how distance to treatment location influences patient navigation preferences for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and survivors. This study is part of a statewide needs assessment to inform the development of an AYA cancer patient and survivor navigation program. Participants were recruited from outpatient oncology clinics in Utah. Eligible participants had been diagnosed with cancer between ages 15-39 and had completed at least 1 month of treatment. Participants completed a semi-structured interview on preferences for patient navigation. Summary statistics of demographic and cancer characteristics were generated. Thematic content analysis was used to describe navigation preferences among participants classified as distance (≥20 miles) and local (<20 miles), to explain differences in their needs based on distance from their treatment center. The top three patient navigation needs were general information, financial, and emotional support. More local patients were interested in patient navigation services (95.2%) compared to distance participants (77.8%). Fewer local (38.1%) than distance participants (61.1%) reported challenges getting to appointments, and distance patients needed specific financial support to support their travel (e.g., fuel, lodging). Both local and distance patients desired to connect with a navigator in person before using another form of communication and wanted to connect with a patient navigator at the time of initial diagnosis. Distance from treatment center is an important patient navigation consideration for AYA cancer patients and survivors. After initially connecting with AYAs in person, patient navigators can provide resources remotely to help reduce travel burden.

  14. Palliative Care Options for a Young Adult Patient with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma.

    PubMed

    Sison, Julian; Tran, Hung; Margol, Ashley; Tiwari, Nishant; Garcia, Karla M; Cotter, Jennifer; Kiehna, Erin; Olch, Arthur J; Wong, Kenneth

    2017-08-18

    Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are rare but devastating brain tumors that occur primarily in children. These gliomas have poor prognoses and present options focus on palliation of symptoms and prolongation of life. Here, we present a case of a 16-year-old female diagnosed with a DIPG whose age group has been mostly left out of discussions regarding psychosocial support options. This report is meant to start a conversation about the different support options available at our institution that have shown promising results in the literature for palliative care applications. These options can include camps for patients with brain tumors, psychological counseling, the Ronald McDonald House, and other psychosocial programs. Many of these programs can be tailored to meet the specific needs of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients and will hopefully be integrated into a comprehensive palliative care regimen in future studies.

  15. Experience of Southern Chinese: new challenges in treating young female breast cancer patients at child-bearing age--a call for multi-disciplinary collaboration.

    PubMed

    Kwong, Ava; Chu, Annie Tsz-Wai

    2012-01-01

    Compared with western populations, Southern Chinese, especially those residing in Hong Kong, are experiencing increasing breast cancer incidence and also a younger onset of breast cancer. Combating this problem and treating young women with breast cancer poses specific challenges and complicated considerations. With reference to the postponement in the age of marriage and reproduction in modern societies, the issue of fertility after breast cancer, especially for high-risk young patients, is one significant quality of life concern that cannot be underestimated as a secondary medical topic. While the issue has its significance and is confronting front-line breast cancer care teams of different disciplines, related research is mostly on Caucasians. In cultures where the traditional expectation on women for child-bearing is still prominent, young breast cancer patients may endure significant distress over fertility options after breast cancer. There is a lack of related data on Asian breast cancer survivors at child-bearing age, which calls for a pressing need to encourage qualitative groundwork, case reports, and cohort experiences in hope for providing insight and arouse research interest. In order to provide a long-term comprehensive multidisciplinary management service with encouragement to encompass prospects for a positive future among young breast cancer survivors, relevant disciplines need to collaborate and work efficaciously together both on clinical and research aspects of cancer-related fertility issues.

  16. TMD symptoms and vertical mandibular symmetry in young adult orthodontic patients in North Sumatra, Indonesia: a cross-sectional study

    PubMed Central

    Sofyanti, Ervina; Boel, Trelia; Soegiharto, Benny; Auerkari, Elza I.

    2018-01-01

    Background: Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) includes symptoms of pain and dysfunction in the muscles of mastication and the temporomandibular joint. Differences in vertical condylar height, observed in the assessment of mandibular asymmetry, is a structural alteration that represents a risk factor for TMD. The study aimed to evaluate the association between TMD symptoms and vertical mandibular symmetry in young adult orthodontic patients in North Sumatra, Indonesia.  Methods: The cross-sectional study included 18-25-year-old (mean ± SD, 21.9 ± 2.0 years) old orthodontic patients admitted to the Dental Hospital of Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, between June 2016 and March 2017. Vertical mandibular asymmetry was assessed from all 106 subjects using Kjellberg’s technique from pre-treatment panoramic radiographs. The TMD symptoms were assessed by structural interviews using modified questionnaires based on Temporomandibular Disorder Diagnostic Index and Fonseca’s Anamnestic Index. Results: Of the 106 subjects, 26 (24.5% of the total) with vertical mandibular symmetry and 39 (36.8%) with vertical mandibular asymmetry were positive for TMD symptoms. By contrast, 17 patients (16.0% of the total) with vertical condylar symmetry and 24 patients (22.6%) with vertical mandibular asymmetry were regarded negative for TMD symptoms. There was no significant difference (p=0.520) in TMD symptoms based on vertical mandibular symmetry. Conclusion: The results from this studied Sumatran population indicate that there are common TMD symptoms in young adult orthodontic patients, but there is no significant association between vertical mandibular asymmetry and TMD symptoms. Further study on the development of TMD, mandibular asymmetry and treatment planning for growing patients is suggested, using longitudinal and transitional approaches.

  17. Three-dimensional remodeling of young Asian women's faces using 20-mg/ml smooth, highly cohesive, viscous hyaluronic acid fillers: a retrospective study of 320 patients.

    PubMed

    Bae, Jung Min; Lee, Dong Won

    2013-09-01

    Because Asian faces are generally flatter than Caucasian faces, Asian women are increasingly requesting facial volume enhancement. To clarify the effectiveness and safety of a volumizing treatment using 20-mg/mL smooth, highly cohesive, viscous hyaluronic acid fillers in young Asian women. We retrospectively reviewed 320 patients who had been treated with this filler from March 2010 to February 2012. The filler was injected in the shape of a diamond to the glabella, both malar eminences, and chin. Overall, 4 to 6 mL of filler was sufficient to enhance the volume of a face in young Asian women. Both the physicians and patients rated effectiveness on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale at week 4. Need for touch-up and any adverse events were also evaluated. Most patients were very satisfied with this volumizing procedure, and there were no major complications. The 20-mg/mL smooth, highly cohesive, viscous hyaluronic acid filler is an effective, well-tolerated treatment option in young Asian women wishing for a more-three-dimensional profile. © 2013 by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  18. Study of ethane level in exhaled breath in patients with age-related macular degeneration: preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Cagini, C; Giordanelli, A; Fiore, T; Giardinieri, R; Malici, B; De Medio, G E; Pelli, M A; De Bellis, F; Capodicasa, E

    2011-01-01

    A variety of factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), and oxidative stress plays an important role in the onset and progression of the disease. Breath ethane is now considered a specific and non-invasive test for determining and monitoring the trend of lipid peroxidation and free radical-induced damage in vivo. This test provides an index of the patients' overall oxidative stress level. We evaluated the breath ethane concentration in exhaled air in patients with advanced ARMD. In this study, we enrolled 13 patients with advanced ARMD and a control group, and a breath analysis was carried out by gas chromatography. The mean ethane level in the ARMD patients was 0.82 ± 0.93 nmol/l (range: 0.01-2.7 nmol/l) and the mean ethane value in the control group was 0.12 ± 0.02 nmol/l (range: 0.08-0.16 nmol/l). The difference between the values of the 2 groups was statistically significant (p < 0.005). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed an elevated area under the curve (0.831; 95% CI: 0.634-0.948), with a significance level of p < 0.0014 (area = 0.5). These preliminary results seem to indicate that breath ethane levels are higher in most patients with ARMD. The breath ethane test could thus be a useful method for evaluating the level of oxidative stress in patients with ARMD. To our knowledge, there are no data on this type of analysis applied to ARMD. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  19. The Effects of Game-Based Breathing Exercise on Pulmonary Function in Stroke Patients: A Preliminary Study.

    PubMed

    Joo, Sunghee; Shin, Doochul; Song, Changho

    2015-06-22

    Reduction of respiratory function along with hemiparesis leads to decreased endurance, dyspnea, and increased sedentary behavior, as well as to an increased risk of stroke. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the preliminary effects of game-based breathing exercise (GBE) on pulmonary function in stroke patients. Thirty-eight in-patients with stroke (22 men, 16 women) were recruited for the study. Participants were randomly allocated into 2 groups: patients assigned to the GBE group (n=19), and the control group (n=19). The GBE group participated in a GBE program for 25 minutes a day, 3 days a week, during a 5 week period. For the same period, both groups participated in a conventional stroke rehabilitation program. Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) were measured by a spirometer in pre- and post-testing. The GBE group had significantly improved FVC, FEV1, and MVV values compared with the control group (p<0.05), although there was no significant difference in FEV1/FVC value between groups. Significant short-term effects of the GBE program on pulmonary function in stroke patients were recorded in this study. These findings gave some indications that it may be feasible to include GBE in rehabilitation interventions with this population.

  20. Communication About Prognosis With Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer: Information Needs, Prognostic Awareness, and Outcomes of Disclosure.

    PubMed

    Mack, Jennifer W; Fasciano, Karen M; Block, Susan D

    2018-04-23

    Purpose Communication about prognosis affects decisions patients and family members make about cancer care, and most patients say they want to know about their chances of cure. We sought to evaluate experiences with prognosis communication among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. Patients and Methods We surveyed 203 AYAs with cancer age 15 to 29 years (response rate, 74%) treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and their oncologists. Patients were approached within 6 weeks of diagnosis and asked to report on their prognosis communication preferences and experiences, their beliefs about likelihood of cure, and psychosocial outcomes of communication, such as trust (using an item from the Trust in Physician Scale), peace of mind (using select items from the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale), and anxiety and depression (using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Oncologists were asked to report the patient's likelihood of cure. Results Most patients (83%, 167 of 203 patients) considered prognostic information to be extremely or very important. Patients who reported having received more extensive prognostic disclosure had higher odds of trust in the oncologist (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.67; P = .05), peace of mind (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.29 to 3.51; P = .002), and hope related to physician communication (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.59; P = .04), after adjusting for patient sex, age, race or ethnicity, prognosis, and diagnosis. Disclosure was also associated with lower distress related to knowing about prognosis (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.95; P = .03). However, a majority of patients (62%) reported prognostic estimates that exceeded those reported by physicians (McNemar P < .001). Conclusion Most AYAs with cancer value receiving prognostic information, which is positively associated with aspects of well-being. However, most overestimate chances of cure relative to oncologists, highlighting the

  1. Welfare reforms and the cognitive development of young children.

    PubMed

    Williamson, Deanna L; Salkie, Fiona J; Letourneau, Nicole

    2005-01-01

    To investigate whether the cognitive development of young children in poverty is affected by activities of their primary caregiver and by household income source, which are two components of family poverty experience that have been affected by recent welfare reforms. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine the relationships that caregiver activity, household income source, and family characteristics (family income adequacy, caregiver depressive symptoms, caregiver education) have with the cognitive development of 59 impoverished children less than three years old. Of the three poverty experience variables included in the multivariate analysis, only employment as the exclusive source of household income had an independent relationship (positive) with children's cognitive development. Two of the family characteristics, income adequacy and caregiver education, also were associated with the children's cognitive score, and they were both better relative predictors than the employment-only income source variable. Income adequacy was positively associated and caregiver education was negatively associated with children's cognitive development. Although recent welfare reforms, in combination with economic growth and declining unemployment, have changed the poverty experience of young families by increasing the proportion that secure at least part of their income from employment, our study provides preliminary evidence that these reforms have made little difference for most young impoverished children. Instead, our findings suggest that the cognitive development of young children is influenced as much by the actual amount of household income as by their parents' activity and source of income.

  2. Patent Foramen Ovale and Cryptogenic Strokes in the Stroke in Young Fabry Patients Study.

    PubMed

    Huber, Roman; Grittner, Ulrike; Weidemann, Frank; Thijs, Vincent; Tanislav, Christian; Enzinger, Christian; Fazekas, Franz; Wolf, Markus; Hennerici, Michael G; McCabe, Dominick J H; Putaala, Jukaa; Tatlisumak, Turgut; Kessler, Christoph; von Sarnowski, Bettina; Martus, Peter; Kolodny, Edwin; Norrving, Bo; Rolfs, Arndt

    2017-01-01

    A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is disproportionately prevalent in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Without alternative explanations, it is frequently considered to be causative. A detailed stratification of these patients may improve the identification of incidental PFO. We investigated the PFO prevalence in 3497 transient ischemic attack and ischemic stroke patients aged 18 to 55 years in the prospective multicenter SIFAP1 study (Stroke in Young Fabry Patients 1) using the ASCO classification. Patients without an obvious cause for transient ischemic attack/stroke (ASCO 0) were divided into subgroups with and without vascular risk factors (ASCO 0+ and 0-). In addition, we looked for PFO-related magnetic resonance imaging lesion patterns. PFO was identified in 25% of patients. Twenty percent of patients with a definite or probable cause of transient ischemic attack/stroke (≥1 grade 1 or 2 ASCO criterion; n=1769) had a PFO compared with 29% of cryptogenic stroke patients (ASCO 0 and 3; n=1728; P<0,001); subdivision of cryptogenic strokes revealed a PFO in 24% of 978 ASCO 3 patients (n.s. versus ASCO 1 and 2) and a higher prevalence of 36% in 750 ASCO 0 cases (P<0.001 versus ASCO 3 and versus ASCO 1 and 2). PFO was more commonly observed in ASCO 0- (n=271) than in ASCO 0+ patients (n=479; 48 versus 29%; P<0.001). There was no PFO-associated magnetic resonance imaging lesion pattern. Cryptogenic stroke patients demonstrate a heterogeneous PFO prevalence. Even in case of less conclusive diseases like nonstenotic arteriosclerosis, patients should preferentially be considered to have a non-PFO-mediated stroke. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00414583. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

  3. A Qualitative Study of Young Adult Experiences in the Bariatric Healthcare System: Psychosocial Challenges and Developmental Difficulties.

    PubMed

    Taube-Schiff, Marlene; Yufe, Shira; Kastanias, Patti; Weiland, Mary; Sockalingam, Sanjeev

    2017-08-01

    Bariatric surgery is an evidence-based treatment for severe obesity; however, the unique developmental and psychosocial needs of young adults often complicate care and, as yet, are not well understood. We sought to identify themes in young adult patients undergoing bariatric surgery regarding: 1) the psychosocial experiences of obese young adults (18 to 24) seeking bariatric surgery; 2) the experiences during the preoperative bariatric surgery process and 3) the postoperative experiences of young adult patients. In-depth, semistructured individual interviews were conducted with 13 young adult bariatric patients who were seeking or had undergone bariatric surgery within the past 5 years. Interviews were analyzed using a qualitative methodology. We found the following themes in our analyses: 1) the impact of relationships (with families and healthcare providers) on the bariatric healthcare experience; 2) preoperative experiences by young adults prior to undergoing surgery and 3) postoperative reflections and challenges experienced by young adult patients. Results revealed that patients' experiences appear to encompass impact on familial relationships, needs sought to be fulfilled by healthcare providers, and various preoperative and postoperative psychosocial concerns. By understanding the experiences of young adults, healthcare providers might be able to provide better care for these patients. Copyright © 2017 Diabetes Canada. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Relationship between blood pressure, cognitive function and education level in elderly patients with diabetes: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Talfournier, J; Bitu, J; Paquet, C; Gobron, C; Guillausseau, P J; Hugon, J; Dumurgier, J

    2013-10-01

    This study aimed to assess the relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function in elderly patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). A total of 32 patients with DM aged ≥ 65 years (seven women and 25 men; mean ± SD age: 74.3 ± 6.4 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Relationships between blood pressure and neuropsychological tests were determined using Spearman's rank correlations (ρ) and multivariable linear regression models. Lower diastolic blood pressure was associated with lower scores on the Frontal Assessment Battery (ρ=0.32, P=0.02), longer times to complete the Trail Making Test Part B (ρ=0.51, P=0.003), lower scores for the Finger Tapping Test (ρ=0.36, P=0.046) and less verbal fluency (ρ=0.36, P=0.047). In multivariable models, these relationships were attenuated after adjusting for levels of education. There was an association between lower diastolic blood pressure and poorer executive function in this cohort of elderly DM patients. These results underline the importance of systematic cognitive evaluation in elderly patients with DM, and suggest that a too-low diastolic blood pressure may have deleterious effects on mental function. Larger studies in the future are required to confirm these preliminary results. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  5. Intracerebral haemorrhage and drug abuse in young adults.

    PubMed

    McEvoy, A W; Kitchen, N D; Thomas, D G

    2000-10-01

    The epidemic of abuse of the so-called 'designer drugs' amphetamine, cocaine and ecstasy--is fast replacing traditional aetiological factors as the largest cause of intracerebral haemorrhage among young adults. Traditional teaching is that these represent hypertensive haemorrhages. Recent reports, however, have indicated that these patients may harbour underlying vascular malformations. We review 13 patients with a positive history of drug abuse preceding the onset of intracerebral haemorrhage. These patients presented to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in central London over a 7-month period. Of the 13 patients (eight male, five female), average age 31 years (19-43) years), 10 were well enough to undergo cerebral angiography. Intracranial aneurysms were demonstrated in six patients and arteriovenous malformations in three patients. In only one of the patients was the angiogram normal. A further patient was subsequently shown to have a middle cerebral artery aneurysm at autopsy. The epidemiology, pharmacology and systemic effects of these drugs are considered. The mechanisms by which these compounds cause intracerebral complications and their influence on prognosis are discussed. The incidence of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH), ischaemic cerebral infarctions and subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) following drug abuse is increasing. Contrary to historical opinion, drug-related ICH is frequently related to an underlying vascular malformation. Arteriography should be part of the evaluation of most young patients with nontraumatic ICH. A thorough history focusing on the use of illicit substances and toxicological screening of urine and serum should be part of the evaluation of any young patient with a stroke.

  6. Preliminary results of a phase I/II clinical trial using in situ photoimmunotherapy combined with imiquimod for metastatic melanoma patients

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Li, Xiaosong; Naylor, Mark F.; Nordquist, Robert E.; Teague, T. Kent; Howard, C. Anthony; Murray, Cynthia; Chen, Wei R.

    2010-02-01

    In Situ Photoimmunotherapy (ISPI), a newly developed modality for cancer therapy, has been shown to be able to modulate the body's own immune response. This clinical trial was designed to evaluate the safety and therapeutic effect of ISPI, using imiquimod as its immunoadjuvant for metastatic melanoma patients. ISPI consisted of three main components applied directly to the cutaneous metastases: 1) local application of topical imiquimod; 2) injection of indocyanine green; and 3) an 805 nm laser for local irradiation. All patients completed at least one cycle of treatment. All the patients completed at least one cycle of treatments; one patient received 6 cycles. The most common adverse effects were rash, pruritus, pain, fatigue and anorexia. Fever, chills, vomiting and cellulitis were relative rare. No grade 4 toxicity was observed. Complete Response (CR) was observed in 6 patients. Median overall survival of the 11 evaluated patients was 12.2 months. Six of the eleven patients were still alive at the time of this report. Treatment of ISPI using imiquimod is safe and well tolerant. Our preliminary clinical results suggest that this new method can be a promising modality for metastatic melanoma.

  7. Young Vs Old Colorectal Cancer in Indian Subcontinent: a Tertiary Care Center Experience.

    PubMed

    Pokharkar, Ashish B; Bhandare, Manish; Patil, Prachi; Mehta, Shaesta; Engineer, Reena; Saklani, Avanish P

    2017-12-01

    This study aims to compare patient, tumor, treatment-related factors and survival between young (<45 years) and old (>45 years) Indian colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Total 778 patients of CRC were registered at tertiary cancer center in India between 1 August 2013 and 31 July 2014. Patients were followed up for median period of 27.73 months. Data regarding patient, tumor, treatment and survival-related factors were collected. Patients were divided in young (≤45 years) and old (>45 years) age groups. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS software version 23. Young age group patients presented more commonly with poor histology, node-positive disease, and rectal site. Younger age group patients received multiple lines of neoadjuvant treatment. There was no significant overall survival difference in both groups of patients. On stratified stage-wise analysis, no significant overall survival (OS) difference was found between two groups (young vs old-1- and 3-year OS: 85.2 and 61.5% vs 81.5 and 64.5%, respectively; P  = 0.881). On univariate analysis, gender, performance status, site, stage, differentiation, TRG, CRM status, signet ring type, and CEA level were significant prognostic factors. In disease-free survival (DFS) analysis, it is found that there is statistically significant difference in DFS (young vs old: 1 and 3 years; 77.6 and 62.8% vs 85.8 and 74.1%, respectively; P value, 0.02), but when OS was analyzed for same group of patient, there was no statistical difference ( P  = 0.302). This study confirms the high incidence rates of CRC in young Indian patients. There is no OS difference between two age groups. In operated group of patients, there is higher DFS in older patients but no OS advantage at 3 years follow-up. Further long-term follow-up is required to see any OS difference.

  8. Diagnosis and dental treatment of a young adult patient with gastroesophageal reflux: a case report with 2-year follow-up.

    PubMed

    Stephan, Andrea Dorothee

    2002-09-01

    A young adult who complained of extreme dentin sensitivity to tactile and thermal stimuli exhibited severe, generalized tooth erosion and an associated parafunctional habit. The diagnosis of the underlying general disease and treatment of its dental sequelae are presented, together with a 2-year follow up. Patients who are suspected of having gastroesophageal reflux should be referred to a gastroenterologist or other health professionals to ensure early diagnosis and treatment of the underlying disorder, thus minimizing the destruction of the patient's dentition and improving the patient's general health. Dental treatment should be adjusted to fit the characteristics of each case.

  9. Colorectal cancer outcomes and treatment patterns in patients too young for average-risk screening.

    PubMed

    Abdelsattar, Zaid M; Wong, Sandra L; Regenbogen, Scott E; Jomaa, Diana M; Hardiman, Karin M; Hendren, Samantha

    2016-03-15

    Although colorectal cancer (CRC) screening guidelines recommend initiating screening at age 50 years, the percentage of cancer cases in younger patients is increasing. To the authors' knowledge, the national treatment patterns and outcomes of these patients are largely unknown. The current study was a population-based, retrospective cohort study of the nationally representative Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry for patients diagnosed with CRC from 1998 through 2011. Patients were categorized as being younger or older than the recommended screening age. Differences with regard to stage of disease at diagnosis, patterns of therapy, and disease-specific survival were compared between age groups using multinomial regression, multiple regression, Cox proportional hazards regression, and Weibull survival analysis. Of 258,024 patients with CRC, 37,847 (15%) were aged <50 years. Young patients were more likely to present with regional (relative risk ratio, 1.3; P<.001) or distant (relative risk ratio, 1.5; P<.001) disease. Patients with CRC with distant metastasis in the younger age group were more likely to receive surgical therapy for their primary tumor (adjusted probability: 72% vs 63%; P<.001), and radiotherapy also was more likely in younger patients with CRC (adjusted probability: 53% vs 48%; P<.001). Patients younger than the recommended screening age had better overall disease-specific survival (hazards ratio, 0.77; P<.001), despite a larger percentage of these individuals presenting with advanced disease. Patients with CRC diagnosed at age <50 years are more likely to present with advanced-stage disease. However, they receive more aggressive therapy and achieve longer disease-specific survival, despite the greater percentage of patients with advanced-stage disease. These findings suggest the need for improved risk assessment and screening decisions for younger adults. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

  10. A Pilot Study of Naltrexone and BASICS for Heavy Drinking Young Adults

    PubMed Central

    Leeman, Robert F.; Palmer, Rebekka S.; Corbin, William R.; Romano, Denise M.; Meandzija, Boris; O’Malley, Stephanie S.

    2008-01-01

    Heavy drinking young adults often have limited motivation to change their drinking behavior. Adding pharmacotherapy to brief counseling is a novel approach to treating this population. A small open-label pilot study was conducted to assess the feasibility of offering eight weeks of daily and targeted (i.e., taken as needed in anticipation of drinking) naltrexone with BASICS (brief motivational) counseling to heavy drinking young adults; to assess the tolerability of the medication in this population and to obtain preliminary efficacy data. The sample (N = 14) showed strong adherence to study appointments and medication taking, supporting the feasibility of this approach. Overall, the medication was well-tolerated. Significant reductions from baseline were observed in drinks per drinking day and in percent heavy drinking days and these gains were maintained one month after treatment ended. A significant decrease in alcohol-related consequences was also observed. Findings from this small pilot study suggest that naltrexone in combination with BASICS represents a promising strategy to reduce heavy drinking among young adults. PMID:18502591

  11. Multimodal treatment, including interferon beta, of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children and young adults: preliminary results from the prospective, multicenter study NPC-2003-GPOH/DCOG.

    PubMed

    Buehrlen, Martina; Zwaan, Christian Michel; Granzen, Bernd; Lassay, Lisa; Deutz, Peter; Vorwerk, Peter; Staatz, Gundula; Gademann, Günther; Christiansen, Hans; Oldenburger, Foppe; Tamm, Miriam; Mertens, Rolf

    2012-10-01

    The authors report preliminary results from a prospective multicenter study (Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma [NPC] 2003 German Society of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology/German Children's Oncology Group [NPC-2003-GPOH/DCOG]). From 2003 to 2010, 45 patients (ages 8-20 years), including 1 patient with stage II NPC and 44 patients with stage III/IV NPC, were recruited to the study. The patient with stage II disease received radiotherapy (59.4 grays [Gy]). The patients with stage III/IV disease received 3 courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and folinic acid. The cumulative irradiation dose was 54 Gy in 5 patients, who achieved complete remission after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and 59.4 Gy in the remaining 40 patients. All patients received concomitant cisplatin during the first week and last week of irradiation. After irradiation, all patients received interferon beta for 6 months. Tumor response was evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging studies and positron emission tomography scans. After the completion of treatment, 43 of 45 patients were in complete remission. In 2 patients, only a partial response was achieved, followed by distant metastases (1 patient) or local progression and distant metastases (1 patient), 6 months and 10 months after diagnosis, respectively. Another patient developed a solitary pelvic bone metastasis 21 months after diagnosis. After a median follow-up of 30 months (range, 6-95 months), the event-free survival rate was 92.4%, and the overall survival was 97.1%. Acute toxicity consisted mainly of leucopenia, mucositis, and nausea; and late toxicity consisted of hearing loss and hypothyroidism. Combined therapy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiochemotherapy, and interferon beta was well tolerated and resulted in a very good outcome that was superior to the outcomes of published results from all other pediatric NPC study groups. Copyright © 2012 American Cancer Society.

  12. [Essential hypertension in young people--ambulatory versus hospital care].

    PubMed

    Mitu, F; Leon, Maria-Magdalena

    2012-01-01

    Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in our country. The number of young people with hypertension grow up quickly, so a good control of dyslipidemia and blood pressure (BP) is essential in prevention of cardiovascular disease. To investigate the prevalence of HTA at young people and established the corelation with another risk factors like smoke, colesterol, obesity and heredity, few data are available on the blood pressure characteristics of young patients. It has been investigate 366 young people between 19-25 years old, in ambulatory system and 350 younger with the same age, in hospital. Blood pressure was measured according to standard procedures, and was considered well-controlled if it was < 140/90 mm Hg. From our ambulatory patients were 198 women (54.1%), 168 men (45.9%) and from hospital were 178 women (50.9%) and 172 men (41.9%). HTA was present at 37 patients (10.1%) in ambulatory system and 50 patients (14.3%) in hospital. Between the intensity of smoke, the number of cigarette and the prevalence of HTA is a direct relation. The heredity factor is very important, too. The prevalence grow more than 2.5 at this patients. The incidence of HTA is 1.9 bigger at women with big values of colesterol and 2.1 at men with big colesterol. The relation between HTA--obesity is proven in our study, the incidence of HTA is 2.6 bigger at the obeses patients. These arguments should also promote further research in primary care on the control and the therapeutic behavior of the physicians.

  13. The impact of perianal disease in young patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

    PubMed

    Zwintscher, Nathan P; Shah, Puja M; Argawal, Amit; Chesley, Patrick M; Johnson, Eric K; Newton, Christopher R; Maykel, Justin A; Steele, Scott R

    2015-09-01

    Perianal disease is a potentially significant source of morbidity for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We sought to identify the impact of perianal disease on IBD outcomes in children, adolescents, and young adults. We studied 12,465 inpatient admissions for patients ≤20 years old with IBD in 2009 using the Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). Patients were stratified by their principal diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD). Perianal disease (perianal abscess, anal fissure, or anal fistula), complex fistulas (rectourethral, rectovaginal, or enterovesical), and growth failure were defined by ICD-9 codes. Logistic regression was performed adjusting for CD or UC, gender, age, need for surgical intervention, fistulas, or growth failure. Of the 511 (4.1%) patients with perianal disease, 480 had CD (94%, p < 0.001). Girls were less likely to suffer perianal disease (OR = 0.63, CI 0.52-0.76, p < 0.001). Those with perianal disease were more likely to suffer complex fistulas (OR = 3.5, CI 1.98-6.20, p < 0.001) but less likely to suffer enteroenteral fistulas (OR = 0.30, CI 0.15-0.63, p = 0.001) than those without perianal disease. Perianal disease did not increase the incidence of growth failure (p = 0.997) but doubled the likelihood of an operation of any type during admission (p < 0.001). Additionally, patients with perianal disease spent on average 1.29 more days in the hospital (7.45 vs. 6.16 days, p < 0.001) and accrued $5838 extra in hospital charges (p = 0.005). Perianal disease in younger patients is associated with a longer length of stay, higher hospital charges, and increased rates of both perineal and abdominal operative procedures. These data support the notion that, similar to adults, the presence of perianal disease in pediatric Crohn's patients is associated with a more severe course.

  14. Evaluation of the level of difficulty of patient cases for veterinary problem-solving examination: a preliminary comparison of three taxonomies of learning.

    PubMed

    Koskinen, Heli

    2007-01-01

    An important issue that has received insufficient attention in the use of problem-based learning in the medical curriculum is the mode of assessing the level of difficulty of patient cases. In the present study, the level of difficulty of case-based questions in a veterinary degree final examination in reproduction was evaluated. First, cognitive taxonomies were evaluated to clarify whether qualitative methods such as Bloom's taxonomy, the Structure of the Observed Learning Outcome (SOLO) taxonomy, and the Amsterdam Clinical Challenge Scale (ACCS) differed from each other as evaluation tools for problem-based cases. Using these taxonomies, 30 case-based questions from the final examination in reproduction in the Helsinki veterinary program were initially evaluated to determine which one was best suited to the evaluation of the difficulty of cases. In follow-up, the same cases were also evaluated by an experienced veterinary instructor in reproduction, with the aim of gaining insight into using these approaches to evaluating difficulty. It would appear, from this preliminary assessment, that the SOLO taxonomy may be the most suitable for evaluating the difficulty of patient cases, since the instructor's quality rating resembled more closely the SOLO than the Bloom taxonomy or the ACCS. It is to be emphasized that the purpose of this study was to provide a preliminary evaluation of possible approaches that might be used to assess patient-case difficulty. Resolving all issues will require a greater number of evaluations of all components.

  15. Psychiatric Functioning and Quality of Life in Young Patients With Cardiac Rhythm Devices

    PubMed Central

    Panek, Kathryn A.; Labella, Madelyn; Taylor, George Alexander; Gauvreau, Kimberlee; Cecchin, Frank; Martuscello, Maria; Walsh, Edward P.; Berul, Charles I.; DeMaso, David R.

    2014-01-01

    BACKGROUND: Less is known about depression, anxiety and quality of life (QoL) in children and adolescents with pacemakers (PMs) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) than is known in adults with these devices. METHODS: A standardized psychiatric interview diagnosed anxiety/depressive disorders in a cross-sectional study. Self-report measures of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder were obtained. Medical disease severity, family functioning and QoL data were collected. A total of 166 patients were enrolled (52 ICD, 114 PM; median age 15 years). RESULTS: Prevalence of current and lifetime psychiatric disorders was higher in patients with ICDs than PMs (Current: 27% vs. 11%, P = .02; Lifetime: 52% ICD vs. 34% PM, P = .01). Patients with ICDs had more anxiety than a healthy population (25% vs. 7%, P < .01). Patients with ICDs and PMs had similar levels of depression as a healthy population (ICD 10%, PM 4%, reference 4%, P = .29). In multivariate analysis including a medical disease score, demographics, exposure to beta-blockers, activity limitations, hospitalizations, shocks and procedures, the type of device (PM versus ICD) did not predict psychiatric diagnoses when age at implantation and the severity of medical disease were controlled for. Patients with ICDs and PMs had lower physical QoL scores (ICD 45, PM 47.5, Norm 53, P ≤ .03), but similar psychosocial functioning scores (ICD 49, PM 51, Norm 51, P ≥ .16) versus a normal reference population. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety is highly prevalent in young patients with ICDs, but the higher rates can be attributed to medical disease severity and age at implantation instead of type of device. PMID:24664095

  16. Aortic root dilatation in young patients with cryptogenic stroke and patent foramen ovale.

    PubMed

    Keenan, Niall G; Brochet, Éric; Juliard, Jean-Michel; Malanca, Mihaela; Aubry, Pierre; Lepage, Laurent; Cueff, Caroline; Jondeau, Guillaume; Iung, Bernard; Vahanian, Alec; Messika-Zeitoun, David

    2012-01-01

    No previous study has looked for an association between aortic dilatation and the clinical sequelae of patent foramen ovale (PFO), although a possible relationship has been identified in case reports. To compare aortic dimensions in patients with symptomatic PFO and healthy controls. Forty-seven patients were identified who presented with cryptogenic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) assessed as most likely secondary to PFO (confirmed by contrast study), were aged less than 50 years and underwent percutaneous PFO closure. Forty-seven age-, sex- and body surface area-matched healthy controls were also identified. Aortic root diameters were greater in PFO patients. The difference was more marked at the levels of the sinuses of Valsalva (34±4 vs 31±3 mm, P<0.01) and the proximal ascending aorta (32±4 vs 29±3, P<0.01) and more modest at the level of the aortic annulus (23±3 vs 22±2 mm, P=0.20). In addition, patients with massive right-to-left shunting tended to have larger aortic diameters. In contrast, left ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic diameters were not larger than in controls (30±4 vs 32±5 mm, P=0.10 and 48±5 vs 50±4 mm, P=0.04, respectively). The present study shows that aortic diameter is increased in young patients with cryptogenic CVA and PFO compared with in healthy subjects. Our results suggest that aortic dilatation may potentiate the risk of CVA in PFO patients and support further research in this area. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  17. Use of CHAID Decision Trees to Formulate Pathways for the Early Detection of Metabolic Syndrome in Young Adults

    PubMed Central

    Liu, Pei-Yang

    2014-01-01

    Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in young adults (age 20–39) is often undiagnosed. A simple screening tool using a surrogate measure might be invaluable in the early detection of MetS. Methods. A chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision tree analysis with waist circumference user-specified as the first level was used to detect MetS in young adults using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009-2010 Cohort as a representative sample of the United States population (n = 745). Results. Twenty percent of the sample met the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP) classification criteria for MetS. The user-specified CHAID model was compared to both CHAID model with no user-specified first level and logistic regression based model. This analysis identified waist circumference as a strong predictor in the MetS diagnosis. The accuracy of the final model with waist circumference user-specified as the first level was 92.3% with its ability to detect MetS at 71.8% which outperformed comparison models. Conclusions. Preliminary findings suggest that young adults at risk for MetS could be identified for further followup based on their waist circumference. Decision tree methods show promise for the development of a preliminary detection algorithm for MetS. PMID:24817904

  18. Cardiovascular Risk and Statin Eligibility of Young Adults After an MI: Partners YOUNG-MI Registry.

    PubMed

    Singh, Avinainder; Collins, Bradley L; Gupta, Ankur; Fatima, Amber; Qamar, Arman; Biery, David; Baez, Julio; Cawley, Mary; Klein, Josh; Hainer, Jon; Plutzky, Jorge; Cannon, Christopher P; Nasir, Khurram; Di Carli, Marcelo F; Bhatt, Deepak L; Blankstein, Ron

    2018-01-23

    Despite significant progress in primary prevention, the rate of MI has not declined in young adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate statin eligibility based on the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for treatment of blood cholesterol and 2016 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for statin use in primary prevention in a cohort of adults who experienced a first-time myocardial infarction (MI) at a young age. The YOUNG-MI registry is a retrospective cohort from 2 large academic centers, which includes patients who experienced an MI at age ≤50 years. Diagnosis of type 1 MI was adjudicated by study physicians. Pooled cohort risk equations were used to estimate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score based on data available prior to MI or at the time of presentation. Of 1,685 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 210 (12.5%) were on statin therapy prior to MI and were excluded. Among the remaining 1,475 individuals, the median age was 45 years, there were 294 (20%) women, and 846 (57%) had ST-segment elevation MI. At least 1 cardiovascular risk factor was present in 1,225 (83%) patients. The median 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score of the cohort was 4.8% (interquartile range: 2.8% to 8.0%). Only 724 (49%) and 430 (29%) would have met criteria for statin eligibility per the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines and 2016 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, respectively. This finding was even more pronounced in women, in whom 184 (63%) were not eligible for statins by either guideline, compared with 549 (46%) men (p < 0.001). The vast majority of adults who present with an MI at a young age would not have met current guideline-based treatment thresholds for statin therapy prior to their MI. These findings highlight the need for better risk assessment tools among young adults. Copyright © 2018 American College of

  19. Building Bridges to the Economic Mainstream for African American Male Ex-Offenders: A Preliminary Assessment of an Inmate Education Re-Entry Program.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Johnson, James H., Jr.; Farrell, Walter C., Jr.; Braithwaite, Lawrence P.

    This paper describes a state-funded inmate education and re-entry program that provides soft skills training for soon-to-be released offenders. The paper presents preliminary evidence regarding the impact of this training on 14 young male participants. Data came from information prepared by inmates throughout the training program and ethnographic…

  20. The heartsink patient: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    McDonald, P S; O'Dowd, T C

    1991-06-01

    Eight GPs identified 78 heartsink patients; in an open-ended interview they were asked to explain why they regarded them in this way. A GP's definition of a heartsink patient was influenced by GP sex, practice location, and time of surgery, although the number of participating GPs was too low to make any definite assertions. Practitioners' anticipations of heartsink consultations were generally over-exaggerated, with most of the encounters going better than expected. GPs expressed the view that these patients raised serious professional issues for them, whilst there was also a dislike for these patients' personalities and behaviour. Two levels of the heartsink state are hypothesized: one, a state of inertia, is when the heartsink patient has been a chronic high user of the primary health care system, and a GP has exhausted all avenues. The other is an acute situation with those heartsink patients who have been low users of the system in the past. Recent, new events in these patients' lives have raised an issue that is just as much to do with patient and doctor reaction to these events, as it is about finding a diagnosis or solution to the problem. We present the results and hypotheses to provoke further discussion and research.

  1. Trans-oral partial epiglottidectomy to treat dysphagia in post-treatment head and neck cancer patients: a preliminary report

    PubMed Central

    Jamal, Nausheen; Erman, Andrew; Chhetri, Dinesh K.

    2013-01-01

    Objectives To determine symptoms and findings in patients with dysphagia related to epiglottic dysfunction. To analyze outcomes in patients who underwent partial epiglottidectomy due to dysphagia related to epiglottic dysfunction Study Design Review and analysis of clinical data obtained as part of the diagnosis and treatment of patients with dysphagia related to epiglottic dysfunction. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all post-treatment head and neck cancer patients who underwent epiglottidectomy at a single tertiary care referral center. Objective pre- and post-procedure swallow findings, endoscopic evaluation, and subjective improvement based on patient self-report were reviewed. Results Seven patients were identified based on endoscopic evaluation and modified barium swallow study (MBSS) as having epiglottic pathology leading to dysphagia. Specific anatomic and functional findings included thickening of the epiglottis, absence of epiglottic deflection, vallecular bolus retention during and after the swallow, and bolus backflow from the pharynx to the oral or nasal cavity. Partial epiglottidectomy was performed in these patients. Post-operative MBSS was analyzed for changes in swallow efficiency and safety. Nearly all patients demonstrated improved pharyngeal bolus passage with little to no added swallowing morbidity. Conclusions Preliminary findings suggest a role for partial epiglottidectomy in post-treatment head and neck cancer patients with swallowing disorders. Ideal candidates have intact tongue base contraction and poor retroflexion of the epiglottis, which result in bolus obstruction at the level of the valleculae. Partial epiglottic resection enables improved bolus passage in the pharyngeal phase. Minimal post-operative morbidity occurs in the appropriately selected patient. PMID:23794244

  2. Design and Evaluation of a Pervasive Coaching and Gamification Platform for Young Diabetes Patients

    PubMed Central

    Klaassen, Randy; Bul, Kim C. M.; op den Akker, Rieks; van der Burg, Gert Jan; Di Bitonto, Pierpaolo

    2018-01-01

    Self monitoring, personal goal-setting and coaching, education and social support are strategies to help patients with chronic conditions in their daily care. Various tools have been developed, e.g., mobile digital coaching systems connected with wearable sensors, serious games and patient web portals to personal health records, that aim to support patients with chronic conditions and their caregivers in realizing the ideal of self-management. We describe a platform that integrates these tools to support young patients in diabetes self-management through educational game playing, monitoring and motivational feedback. We describe the design of the platform referring to principles from healthcare, persuasive system design and serious game design. The virtual coach is a game guide that can also provide personalized feedback about the user’s daily care related activities which have value for making progress in the game world. User evaluations with patients under pediatric supervision revealed that the use of mobile technology in combination with web-based elements is feasible but some assumptions made about how users would connect to the platform were not satisfied in reality, resulting in less than optimal user experiences. We discuss challenges with suggestions for further development of integrated pervasive coaching and gamification platforms in medical practice. PMID:29385750

  3. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging for surgical planning in pediatric patients: a preliminary experience.

    PubMed

    Roland, Jarod L; Griffin, Natalie; Hacker, Carl D; Vellimana, Ananth K; Akbari, S Hassan; Shimony, Joshua S; Smyth, Matthew D; Leuthardt, Eric C; Limbrick, David D

    2017-12-01

    -state analysis precludes any need for task cooperation. These features make rs-fMRI an ideal technology for cerebral mapping in pediatric neurosurgical patients. This review of the use of rs-fMRI mapping in an initial pediatric case series demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing this technique in pediatric neurosurgical patients. The preliminary experience presented here is a first step in translating this technique to a broader clinical practice.

  4. Cryopreservation of ovarian tissue for fertility preservation in young female oncological patients.

    PubMed

    Andersen, Claus Yding; Kristensen, Stine Gry; Greve, Tine; Schmidt, Kirsten Tryde

    2012-05-01

    Girls and women suffering from a cancer that requires treatment with gonadotoxic drugs may experience cessation of reproductive function as a side effect due to obliteration of the ovarian pool of follicles. Techniques are now available for fertility preservation, such as cryopreservation of mature oocytes, embryos or ovarian cortical tissue. Whereas collection of mature oocytes and embryos requires at least a 2-week period, ovarian tissue may on short notice be frozen prior to treatment and can be transplanted back into women with ovarian failure. Transplanted frozen/thawed tissue supports survival and growth of follicles, giving rise to menstrual cycles and hormone production for several years. Worldwide, the procedure has resulted in the birth of 15 healthy children. Many cancer patients including girls and young women want fertility preservation, and the techniques are now being further developed and implemented in several centers.

  5. The association between catastrophizing and craving in patients with chronic pain prescribed opioid therapy: A preliminary analysis

    PubMed Central

    Martel, MO; Jamison, RN; Wasan, AD; Edwards, RR

    2014-01-01

    A growing number of studies have shown that opioid craving (i.e., the perceived need or desire to consume opioids) is one of the strongest determinants of prescription opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain prescribed opioid therapy. To date, however, the factors that are associated with craving in patients with pain remain largely unexplored. Based on previous research, there is reason to believe that catastrophizing might be associated with heightened opioid craving. Objectives To test the hypothesis that catastrophizing would be associated with heightened craving in patients with chronic pain prescribed long-term opioid therapy. Design & subjects, and methods In this cross-sectional study, 109 patients with chronic pain were asked to provide self-reports of catastrophizing and craving. Patients also provided self-reports of pain intensity and depressive symptoms. Results We found that higher levels of catastrophizing were associated with higher levels of craving. Importantly, results of a regression analysis revealed that the association between catastrophizing and craving remained significant even after controlling for a host of demographic (i.e., age, sex), psychological (i.e., depressive symptoms), medical (i.e., pain intensity, pain duration), and medication regimen (i.e., opioid doses) variables. Conclusions Our preliminary findings provide valuable new insights into the determinants of craving in patients with pain. The finding that catastrophizing was associated with craving even after controlling for a host of demographic, psychological, medical, and medication regimen variables is particularly striking, and raises questions concerning the factors that underlie the association between catastrophizing and craving in patients prescribed opioid therapy. PMID:24612286

  6. A nurse-led intensive care after-care programme - development, experiences and preliminary evaluation.

    PubMed

    Samuelson, Karin A M; Corrigan, Ingrid

    2009-01-01

    The benefits of critical care follow-up services include increased understanding of the long-term consequences of intensive care and entail helping patients and their next of kin to come to terms with their problems and distress following critical illness and intensive care treatment. To establish an intensive care after-care programme and to conduct a preliminary evaluation of the follow-up service from the patients' and relatives' perspectives in a general intensive care unit (ICU) in Sweden. A descriptive and evaluative design was used, and data from the first year of the after-care programme were collected. The final programme was nurse led and included five main points; a patient diary with colour photographs, ward visits, a patient information pamphlet, a follow-up consultation 2-3 months after intensive care discharge and feedback to the ICU staff. An evaluation questionnaire was handed out to patients and next of kin attending the follow-up clinic, e.g. asking the respondents to rate their satisfaction of the consultation on a visual analogue scale (VAS). The first year of after-care statistics showed that 170 survivors with a stay of 48 h or more were discharged from the ICU, resulting in 190 ward visits and 79 follow-up consultations. The preliminary evaluation revealed that the 2-month follow-up consultation achieved a median VAS rating of 9.8 (ranging from 1 to 10, poor to excellent) from both patients and next of kin. The development and preliminary evaluation of this nurse-led intensive care programme resulted in a feasible programme, requiring modest resources, with a high level of patient and relative satisfaction. This paper attempts to share with professional colleagues important steps during the developmental process of establishing an intensive care follow-up service and presents the content and preliminary evaluation of a nurse-led intensive care after-care programme focusing on the patients' and relatives' perspectives.

  7. Treatment of multiple synchronous misdiagnosed renal cell cancers in a young patient affected by a "de novo" Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome.

    PubMed

    Allasia, Marco; Battaglia, Antonino; Pasini, Barbara; Gazzera, Carlo; Calandri, Marco; Bosio, Andrea; Gontero, Paolo; Destefanis, Paolo

    2017-02-28

    Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant inherited syndrome occurring in one out of 36,000 live births. Diagnosis could be a challenge in patients with no familial VHL history. Renal cancer (RCC) represents one of the most important manifestations. RCC is usually recurrent and multifocal. Actually treating RCC in VHL patients represent a clinical dilemma: the oncological outcomes must be balanced against renal function preservation. A young man with a negative familial history was referred to our department with seven misdiagnosed renal masses. VHL disease was determined through genetic test. The multiple RCCs were treated by surgery and percutaneous thermal ablation by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with complete control of RCC and no impairment of renal function. This case history confirms that VHL disease has to be suspected in young patients with evidence of synchronous multiple renal masses and in presence of specific clinical criteria.RFA appears to be safe in terms of oncological radicalism and in renal function preservation.In hereditary RCC, we should purpose, whenever it is possible, minimally invasive treatment in terms of low hospital stay and a minimal loss of renal tissue.

  8. An electromechanical gait trainer for restoration of gait in hemiparetic stroke patients: preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Hesse, S; Werner, C; Uhlenbrock, D; von Frankenberg, S; Bardeleben, A; Brandl-Hesse, B

    2001-01-01

    Modern concepts of gait rehabilitation after stroke favor a task-specific repetitive approach. In practice, the required physical effort of the therapists limits the realization of this approach. Therefore, a mechanized gait trainer enabling nonambulatory patients to have the repetitive practice of a gait-like movement without overstraining therapists was constructed. This preliminary study investigated whether an additional 4-week daily therapy on the gait trainer could improve gait ability in 14 chronic wheelchair-bound hemiparetic subjects. The 4 weeks of physiotherapy and gait-trainer therapy resulted in a relevant improvement of gait ability in all subjects. Velocity, cadence, and stride length improved significantly (p < 0.01). The kinesiologic electromyogram of selected lower-limb muscles revealed a more physiologic pattern. The confounding influence of spontaneous recovery, the lack of a control group, and the double amount of therapy limit the clinical relevance of this study. Nevertheless, the gait trainer seems feasible as an adjunctive tool in gait rehabilitation after stroke; further studies are needed.

  9. Feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of measurement-based care depression treatment for HIV patients in Bamenda, Cameroon.

    PubMed

    Pence, Brian W; Gaynes, Bradley N; Atashili, Julius; O'Donnell, Julie K; Kats, Dmitry; Whetten, Kathryn; Njamnshi, Alfred K; Mbu, Tabenyang; Kefie, Charles; Asanji, Shantal; Ndumbe, Peter

    2014-06-01

    Depression affects 18-30 % of HIV-infected patients in Africa and is associated with greater stigma, lower antiretroviral adherence, and faster disease progression. However, the region's health system capacity to effectively identify and treat depression is limited. Task-shifting models may help address this large mental health treatment gap. Measurement-Based Care (MBC) is a task-shifting model in which a Depression Care Manager guides a non-psychiatric (e.g., HIV) provider in prescribing and managing antidepressant treatment. We adapted MBC for depressed HIV-infected patients in Cameroon and completed a pilot study to assess feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy. We enrolled 55 participants; all started amitriptyline 25-50 mg daily at baseline. By 12 weeks, most remained at 50 mg daily (range 25-125 mg). Median (interquartile range) PHQ-9 depressive severity scores declined from 13 (12-16) (baseline) to 2 (0-3) (week 12); 87 % achieved depression remission (PHQ-9 <5) by 12 weeks. Intervention fidelity was high: HIV providers followed MBC recommendations at 96 % of encounters. Most divergences reflected a failure to increase dose when indicated. No serious and few bothersome side effects were reported. Most suicidality (prevalence 62 % at baseline; 8 % at 12 weeks) was either passive or low-risk. Participant satisfaction was high (100 %), and most participants (89 %) indicated willingness to pay for medications if MBC were implemented in routine care. The adapted MBC intervention demonstrated high feasibility, safety, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in this uncontrolled pilot study. Further research should assess whether MBC could improve adherence and HIV outcomes in this setting.

  10. Principles and Recommendations for the Provision of Healthcare in Canada to Adolescent and Young Adult–Aged Cancer Patients and Survivors

    PubMed Central

    Fernandez, Conrad; Fraser, Graeme A.M.; Freeman, Carolyn; Grunfeld, Eva; Gupta, Abha; Mery, Leslie Stephen; De Pauw, Sonja

    2011-01-01

    Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with cancer and survivors of cancer in childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood are a constituency facing disparities of care affecting quality of life and other outcomes in many parts of the world. In Canada, this situation occurs in a nation with population-based cancer control programs and a government-funded healthcare system. The Canadian Task Force on Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer was established in 2008 with a mission to ensure that AYA-aged Canadians with cancer and AYA survivors of cancer have prompt, equitable access to the best care, and to establish and support research to identify how their health outcomes and quality of life can be optimized. Following a survey of existing services, and in consultation with survivors, healthcare professionals, and policy makers, the Task Force identified principles of care, priority issues for research and the establishment of outcome metrics, and strategies for implementing change that are designed to improve the outcomes and quality of life of this specific cohort of patients and survivors with unique developmental needs. The six broad recommendations highlight the need for age-appropriate psychosocial, survivorship, palliative, and medical care as well as research to redress inequities in the care provided to this group relative to both younger and older cancer patients. Improved care for this group will enable individuals to reach their full potential as productive, functioning members of society, and will provide economic and other societal benefits. PMID:23610731

  11. Motivational and mindfulness intervention for young adult female marijuana users

    PubMed Central

    de Dios, Marcel A.; Herman, Debra S.; Britton, Willoughby B.; Hagerty, Claire E.; Anderson, Bradley J.; Stein, Michael D.

    2011-01-01

    This pilot study tested the efficacy of a brief intervention using motivational interviewing (MI) plus mindfulness meditation (MM) to reduce marijuana use among young adult female. Thirty-four female marijuana users between the ages of 18–29 were randomized to either the intervention group (n = 22), consisting of 2 sessions of MI-MM or an assessment-only control group (n = 12). Participants’ marijuana use was assessed at baseline, 1, 2, and 3 months post-treatment. Fixed-effects regression modeling was used to analyze treatment effects. Participants randomized to the intervention group were found to use marijuana on 6.15 (z = −2.42, p=.015), 7.81 (z = −2.78, p=.005), and 6.83 (z = −2.23, p=.026) fewer days at months 1, 2, and 3, respectively, than controls. Findings from this pilot study provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of a brief MI-MM for young adult female marijuana users. PMID:21940136

  12. [Colonic angiodysplasia. Rare cause of low digestive hemorrhage in young patients].

    PubMed

    Paule, A M; Hautbois, E; Talarmin, B; Carre, D; Deligny, M; Garcia, J F; Guenec, Y

    1995-01-01

    We report the following observation of a diffuse kind of colic angiodysplasia in a young subject. Usually to be find in old subjects and regarded as been degenerative origine, angiodysplasiae have been reported in young subjects and we are led to ponder over their nature. The contribution of diagnostic and therapeutic means and their respected place have been specified. In particular the significance of vascular radiology and the angiographic signs of this arterioveinous malformation have been developed.

  13. Return to Work After Acute Myocardial Infarction: Comparison Between Young Women and Men.

    PubMed

    Dreyer, Rachel P; Xu, Xiao; Zhang, Weiwei; Du, Xue; Strait, Kelly M; Bierlein, Maggie; Bucholz, Emily M; Geda, Mary; Fox, James; D'Onofrio, Gail; Lichtman, Judith H; Bueno, Héctor; Spertus, John A; Krumholz, Harlan M

    2016-02-01

    Return to work after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an important outcome and is particularly relevant to young patients. Women may be at a greater risk for not returning to work given evidence of their worse recovery after AMI than similarly aged men. However, sex differences in return to work after AMI has not been studied extensively in a young population (≤ 55 years). We analyzed data from 1680 patients with AMI aged 18 to 55 years (57% women) participating in the Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) study who were working full time (≥ 35 hours) before the event. Data were obtained by medical record abstraction and patient interviews. We conducted multivariable regression analyses to examine sex differences in return to work at 12 months after AMI, and the association of patient characteristics with return to work. When compared with young men, young women were less likely to return to work (89% versus 85%; 85% versus 89%, P=0.02); however, this sex difference was not significant after adjusting for patient sociodemographic characteristics, psychosocial factors, and health measures. Being married, engaging in a professional or clerical type of work, having more favorable physical health, and having no previous coronary disease or hypertension were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of return to work at 12 months. Among a young population, women are less likely to return to work after AMI than men. This disadvantage is explained by differences in demographic, occupational, and health characteristics. © 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.

  14. [Cryptogenic stroke in a young patient with heart disease and kidney failure].

    PubMed

    Oyanguren, B; Segoviano, R; Alegria, E; Besada, E; Gonzalez-Salaices, M; Eimil-Ortiz, M; Lopez de Silanes, C

    2017-05-16

    Fabry's disease is an infrequent metabolic pathology linked to the X chromosome which causes a wide variety of signs and symptoms. A 39-year-old male who was admitted to our stroke unit with right-side hemiparesis (1 + 0) and dysarthria (1). The score on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale was 2. The patient presented angiokeratomas in both thighs. A computerised axial tomography scan of the head showed left thalamic acute infarction. The duplex scan of the supra-aortic trunks was normal, and the transcranial Doppler reflected a generalised increase in the pulsatility indices. Transthoracic echocardiography showed left ventricular hypertrophy and left atrial dilatation. He was discharged five days later, with antiaggregating medication but asymptomatic. The prolonged Holter-electrocardiogram recording showed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. One notable value in the urine analysis was microalbuminuria of 281 mg/L. In view of the multi-organic involvement and the family history, a study for Fabry's disease was performed. Activity of the enzyme alpha-galactosidase A was diminished, and the presence of a mutation in the GLA gene was found. The patient's brother, who suffered from kidney failure and atrial fibrillation, was positive for this mutation. The patient is on treatment with agalsidase beta. Fabry's disease must be suspected in young males with heart disease, stroke or peripheral neuropathy, skin lesions, kidney failure and a history of cases in the family. Hormone replacement therapy must be established at an early stage, as it can improve the prognosis.

  15. Participation in Daily Activities of Young Adults with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder.

    PubMed

    McCollum, Mary; LaVesser, Patti; Berg, Christine

    2016-03-01

    Young adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) struggle to assume adult roles. This research assessed the feasibility of using the Adolescent and Young Adult Activity Card Sort (AYA-ACS) with emerging adults with high functioning ASD. Two phases were utilized during this research: (1) comparing the activity participation reported by emerging adults with an ASD and that reported by their caring adult; (2) examining the barriers to participation reported. Preliminary results demonstrate that the AYA-ACS appears to be a reliable and valid method of identifying emerging adults' participation strengths as well as personal and environmental challenges in a variety of age-appropriate activities. The AYA-ACS could assist service providers by providing an understanding of the challenges to participation faced by this population and aid in developing client centered interventions.

  16. Endoscopy-assisted surgery for the management of benign breast tumors: technique, learning curve, and patient-reported outcome from preliminary 323 procedures.

    PubMed

    Lai, Hung-Wen; Lin, Hui-Yu; Chen, Shu-Ling; Chen, Shou-Tung; Chen, Dar-Ren; Kuo, Shou-Jen

    2017-01-11

    Endoscopy-assisted breast surgery (EABS), a technique that optimizes cosmetic outcome because it is performed through small wounds hidden in inconspicuous areas, could be an alternative surgical technique for benign breast tumors. In this study, we report the preliminary results of 323 EABS procedures performed at our institution for the management of benign breast tumors. The medical records of patients who underwent EABS for benign breast lesions during the periods August 2010 to December 2015 were collected from the Changhua Christian Hospital EABS database. Data on clinicopathologic characteristics, type of surgery, hospital stay, and complications were analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the procedure for benign breast tumors. The operating time with the number of procedure performed was analyzed for learning curve evaluation. Patient satisfaction with cosmetic outcome was evaluated with a self-report questionnaire. A total of 323 EABS procedures were performed in 286 patients with benign breast lesions, including 249 (90.5%) patients with unilateral lesions. The mean age was 36 years, the mean tumor size was 2.2 cm, and the mean distance from the nipple to the tumor was 5.2 cm. Most (93.8%, 303/323) of these tumors were excised through a transareolar wound, 2.4% (8/323) through an axillary wound, and 0.3% (1/323) through the infra-mammary fold. Histopathologic analysis revealed that 63.5% (202/318) of the tumors were fibroadenoma-related lesions. The mean operative time was 81.4 min (59~89 min), which was decreased with experience increased. The overall rate of complications was 6.5%, and all were minor and wound-related. Among the 110 patients who participated in the self-report cosmetic outcome evaluation, 85.4% reported being satisfied with the cosmetic result, and almost all were satisfied with breast symmetry. Of the patients interviewed, 92.7% reported that they would choose the same procedure if they had to undergo the operation again. Our

  17. Preliminary Results of Whole Brain Radiotherapy With Concurrent Trastuzumab for Treatment of Brain Metastases in Breast Cancer Patients

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

    Chargari, Cyrus; Idrissi, Hind Riahi; Pierga, Jean-Yves

    2011-11-01

    Purpose: To assess the use of trastuzumab concurrently with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for patients with brain metastases from human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive breast cancer. Methods and Materials: Between April 2001 and April 2007, 31 patients with brain metastases from human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive breast cancer were referred for WBRT with concurrent trastuzumab. At brain progression, the median age was 55 years (range, 38-73), and all patients had a performance status of 0-2. The patients received trastuzumab 2 mg/kg weekly (n = 17) or 6 mg/kg repeated every 21 days (n = 14). In 26 patients, concurrent WBRTmore » delivered 30 Gy in 10 daily fractions. In 6 patients, other fractionations were chosen because of either poor performance status or patient convenience. Results: After WBRT, radiologic responses were observed in 23 patients (74.2%), including 6 (19.4%) with a complete radiologic response and 17 (54.8%) with a partial radiologic response. Clinical responses were observed in 27 patients (87.1%). The median survival time from the start of WBRT was 18 months (range, 2-65). The median interval to brain progression was 10.5 months (range, 2-27). No Grade 2 or greater acute toxicity was observed. Conclusion: The low toxicity of trastuzumab concurrently with WBRT should probably not justify delays. Although promising, these preliminary data warrant additional validation of trastuzumab as a potential radiosensitizer for WBRT in brain metastases from breast cancer in the setting of a clinical trial.« less

  18. [Psychological evaluation and support in patients with left ventricular assist devices: preliminary data at 6-month follow-up].

    PubMed

    Voltolini, Alessandra; Minotti, Anna; Verde, Alessandro; Cipriani, Manlio; Garascia, Andrea; Turazza, Fabio; Macera, Francesca; Perna, Enrico; Russo, Claudio F; Fumagalli, Emilia; Frigerio, Maria

    2016-11-01

    Heart disease has an impact on patient's identity and self-perception. Taking into account the wide literature about psychological aspects before and after heart transplant, it clearly emerges that there is a lack of data and results for patients up to implantation of ventricular assist devices (VAD). The aim of the present study was to explore quality of life and factors correlated with psychological adjustment in patients supported with VAD. From February 2013 to August 2014, 18 patients (17 male, mean age 57 years) under clinical evaluation before and after VAD implantation were enrolled. During interviews, patients were assessed with EuroQoL-5D questionnaire to monitor improvement of quality of life before implantation and at 3 and 6 months; critical issues, needs and point of views of patients have been described. A significant improvement in the quality of life score was observed at 3 (score 38 [interquartile range 30-40] vs 75 [60-80], p<0.05) and 6 months (38 [30-40] vs 70 [60-80], p<0.05). Overall, patients' psychological state investigated by the test showed a clear and positive trend. All patients need to empower through complete information about the device, related risks and life expectancy. Interdisciplinary approach improved compliance with therapy. Successful treatment and efficient psychological care are closely related to assessment and continuous clinical support. This approach ensures a better selection of patients and improves their compliance. Further data are needed to support our preliminary observations and to explore long-term quality of life.

  19. Health-related quality of life in young men with testicular cancer: validation of the Cancer Assessment for Young Adults (CAYA).

    PubMed

    Hoyt, Michael A; Cano, Stefan J; Saigal, Christopher S; Stanton, Annette L

    2013-12-01

    Patient-reported outcome instruments are needed to measure health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in young adults with cancer. The purpose of this project was to establish a conceptual model and measurement instrument for assessment of HRQOL in young men with testicular cancer. Patient interviews and a literature review were used to develop a conceptual framework of biopsychosocial domains of cancer-related quality of life and an initial pool of questionnaire items. Items were piloted and refined. Revised items were administered to a sample (N = 171) of young (ages 18-29) men with testicular cancer and repeated 4 weeks later. Rasch measurement methods guided item reduction and scale construction. Traditional psychometric analyses were also performed to allow for comparison with existing measures. The conceptual framework included seven biopsychosocial domains: physical, sexual, intrapersonal, cognitive-emotional, social-relational, educational-vocational-avocational, and spiritual to form independent scales of the resulting questionnaire, the Cancer Assessment for Young Adults-Testicular (CAYA-T). Each scale fulfilled Rasch and traditional psychometric criteria (i.e., person separation index, 0.34-0.82; Cronbach's alpha, 0.70-0.91; and an expected pattern of convergent and discriminant validity correlations). The CAYA-T can be used to assess HRQOL across a comprehensive set of domains as identified by young men with cancer. It passes strict psychometric criteria and has potential as a useful research and clinical tool. The CAYA-T has potential research and clinical value for addressing inter-related aspects of HRQOL in young adult men with cancer. The measure may assist with assessing and monitoring HRQOL across a range of domains and contributing to more comprehensive assessment of biopsychosocial needs of young adults.

  20. Effects of hormones on cognition in schizophrenic male patients--preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Bratek, Agnieszka; Koźmin-Burzyńska, Agnieszka; Krysta, Krzysztof; Cierpka-Wiszniewska, Katarzyna; Krupka-Matuszczyk, Irena

    2015-09-01

    Schizophrenia is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder of an unknown etiology and a variable phenotypic expression. In the recent years, the impact of hormones on the course of schizophrenia has been investigated. This study is aimed at assessing the level of correlating serum levels of hormones in schizophrenic male patients with their cognitive functioning measured with neuropsychological tests. In the index group there were 15 medicated male schizophrenic patients. In the control group there were 15 age and education matched healthy men. All subjects underwent analysis of serum hormones level (TSH, testosterone, estradiol, FSH, LH, progesterone and prolactin) and a battery of tests (Trail Making Test A and B, Stroop Test, Verbal and Semantic Fluency Test). The mean serum levels of the following hormones were higher in the index group than in the control group: TSH (1.76 mIU/L vs 1.58 mIU/L; p=0.66), progesterone (0.85 ng/ml vs 0.69 ng/ml; p=0.22) and prolactin (558.71 uIU/ml vs 181 uIU/ml; p=0.025). The mean levels of estradiol (24.36 pg/ml vs 25.40 ng/ml; p=0.64), FSH (3.17 mIU/ml vs 5.72 mIU/ml; p=0.019), LH (3.85 mIU/ml vs 5.77 mIU/ml; p=0.056) and testosterone (2.90 ng/ml vs 5.38 ng/ml; p=0.003) were higher in the control group. In the index group there were significant negative correlations between FSH and semantic fluency (ρ=-0.678606), progesterone and: TMT B (ρ=-0.586763), Stroop 1 (ρ=-0.701880) and Stroop 2 (ρ=-0.601074) and prolactin and TMT A (ρ=-0.579607). The preliminary results of our study show that serum levels of FSH and testosterone are significantly lower, whereas the level of prolactin is markedly higher, in schizophrenic male patients than in healthy men. There is an inverse correlation between serum levels of progesterone, FSH and prolactin and the results of certain cognitive functioning tests in schizophrenic men.

  1. Acute free-floating carotid artery thrombus causing stroke in a young patient: unique etiology and management using endovascular approach.

    PubMed

    Tan, Ai Peng; Taneja, Manish; Seah, Boon Heng; Leong, Hoe Nam; Venketasubramanian, Narayanaswamy

    2014-01-01

    Atherosclerotic disease accounts for 20%-30% of strokes in the general population. In young adults, it is an unexpected event and its causes involve diverse pathologies. Herein, we describe a unique case of acute embolic stroke in a young adult patient due to the presence of a large clot in the right common and internal carotid arteries, as a result of an extrinsic cause. Surgical clot retrieval was considered unsafe at that point in time in view of the active inflammatory changes surrounding the affected vessels. This was eventually treated with a novel endovascular technique, a unique alternative to open surgery, with excellent clinical outcome. To our knowledge, the penumbra system has never been used for thrombus removal in a nonacute setting. Copyright © 2014 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. RAPID3 scores and hand outcome measurements in RA patients: a preliminary study.

    PubMed

    Qorolli, Merita; Hundozi-Hysenaj, Hajrije; Rexhepi, Sylejman; Rehxepi, Blerta; Grazio, Simeon

    2017-06-01

    The Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) is a patient-reported disease activity measure used to assess physical function, pain, and global health in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) without formal joint counts. Since hand involvement and its decreased function are hallmarks of RA, the aim of our study was to investigate the performance of RAPID3 scores with regard to hand function and to confirm previous findings that the RAPID3 score as a disease activity measure is strongly correlated with the DAS28 score. Sixty-eight consecutive patients with RA (85% female), aged 18-75 years, were included in the study and were recruited during their outpatient visit. Apart from demographic and clinical data, the obtained parameters of interest included RAPID3 scores and assessments of the function of the hand, namely, the signal of functional impairment (SOFI)-hand, grip strength, and pulp-to-palm distance, as well the Health Assessment Questionnaire- Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and DAS28 scores. Pearson's correlation coefficient, Student's t test and linear regression were used in the statistical analysis of the results. The significance was set to p < 0.05. A positive correlation was found between RAPID3 scores and HAQ-DI scores, SOFI-hand scores, and pulp-to-palm distance, and negative correlation was observed between RAPID3 scores and grip strength. The order regarding the strength of correlations between RAPID3 scores and other variables (from the strongest to the weakest) was as follows: HAQ-DI, grip strength, SOFI-hand and pulp-to-palm distance. The hand assessment variables had stronger correlations with RAPID3 scores than with DAS28 scores. Our preliminary study showed that RAPID3 scores were strongly correlated with measurements of the functional ability of the hand, demonstrating that RAPID3 can be used as a measure of disease activity in clinical practice and to characterize hand function. Further studies are needed to confirm this result.

  3. Audiophonological results after cochlear implantation in 40 congenitally deaf patients: preliminary results.

    PubMed

    Loundon, N; Busquet, D; Roger, G; Moatti, L; Garabedian, E N

    2000-11-30

    The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic factors of audiophonological results in cochlear implant in congenitally deaf patients. Between 1991 and 1996. 40 congenitally deaf children underwent cochlear implantation in our department, at an average age of 7 years (median: 5 years). The results of speech therapy were evaluated with a mean follow-up of 2 years and were classified according to four criteria: perception of sound, speech perception, speech production and the level of oral language. For each criterion, a score was established ranging from zero to four. These scores were weighted according to age such that the results before and after implantation only reflected the changes related to the implantation. The prognostic factors for good results were: a good level of oral communication before implantation, residual hearing, progressive deafness and implantation at a young age. On the other hand, poor prognostic factors were: the presence of behavioral disorders and poor communication skills prior to implantation. Overall, the major prognostic factor for a good outcome appeared to be the preoperative level of oral language, even if this was rudimentary.

  4. The Effect of Tinnitus on Listening Effort in Normal-Hearing Young Adults: A Preliminary Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Degeest, Sofie; Keppler, Hannah; Corthals, Paul

    2017-01-01

    Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic tinnitus on listening effort. Method: Thirteen normal-hearing young adults with chronic tinnitus were matched with a control group for age, gender, hearing thresholds, and educational level. A dual-task paradigm was used to evaluate listening effort in different…

  5. Preliminary Development of an Informational Media Use Measure for Patients with Implanted Defibrillators: Toward a Model of Social-Ecological Assessment of Patient Education and Support.

    PubMed

    Knoepke, Christopher E; Matlock, Daniel D

    2017-11-01

    Social work interventions in health care, particularly those that involve working with people being treated for chronic and life-threatening conditions, frequently involve efforts to educate patients about their disease, treatment options, safety planning, medical adherence, and other associated issues. Despite an intuitive notion that patients access information about all of these issues through a variety of media-both inside and outside the clinical encounter, created by professionals and by others-there currently exists no validated means of assessing patients' use of these forms of information. To address this gap, authors first created candidate item measures with input from both physicians and a small group of diverse patients who currently have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), a sophisticated cardiac device for which a trajectory model of social work intervention was recently outlined. Authors then surveyed a group of 205 individuals who have these devices, assessing their use of various media to learn about ICDs. They then conducted factor and item analysis to refine and remove poorly performing items while delineating forms of media use by type. The resultant preliminary measure of informational media use can be further refined and adapted for use with any clinical population. © 2017 National Association of Social Workers.

  6. Comparison of transportation related injury mechanisms and outcome of young road users and adult road users, a retrospective analysis on 24,373 patients derived from the TraumaRegister DGU®.

    PubMed

    Brockamp, Thomas; Schmucker, Uli; Lefering, Rolf; Mutschler, Manuel; Driessen, Arne; Probst, Christian; Bouillon, Bertil; Koenen, Paola

    2017-06-14

    Most young people killed in road crashes are known as vulnerable road users. A combination of physical and developmental immaturity as well as inexperience increases the risk of road traffic accidents with a high injury severity rate. Understanding injury mechanism and pattern in a group of young road users may reduce morbidity and mortality. This study analyzes injury patterns and outcomes of young road users compared to adult road users. The comparison takes into account different transportation related injury mechanisms. A retrospective analysis using data collected between 2002 and 2012 from the TraumaRegister DGU® was performed. Only patients with a transportation related injury mechanism (motor vehicle collision (MVC), motorbike, cyclist, and pedestrian) and an ISS ≥ 9 were included in our analysis. Four different groups of young road users were compared to adult trauma data depending on the transportation related injury mechanism. Twenty four thousand three hundred seventy three, datasets were retrieved to compare all subgroups. The mean ISS was 23.3 ± 13.1. The overall mortality rate was 8.61%. In the MVC, the motorbike and the cyclist group, we found young road users having more complex injury patterns with a higher AIS pelvis, AIS head, AIS abdomen and AIS of the extremities and also a lower GCS. Whereas in these three sub-groups the adult trauma group only had a higher AIS thorax. Only in the group of the adult pedestrians we found a higher AIS pelvis, AIS abdomen, AIS thorax, a higher AIS of the extremities and a lower GCS. This study reports on the most common injuries and injury patterns in young trauma patients in comparison to an adult trauma sample. Our analysis show that in contrast to more experienced road users our young collective refers to be a vulnerable trauma group with an increased risk of a high injury severity and high mortality rate. We indicate a striking difference in terms of the region of injury and the mechanism of

  7. Risk factors of young ischemic stroke in Qatar.

    PubMed

    Khan, Fahmi Yousef

    2007-11-01

    There is limited information about risk factors of young ischemic stroke in Qatar. The aim of this study was to describe the risk factors and subtypes of young ischemic stroke among Qatari and non-Qatari residents. Hospital based prospective observational study involving all young adults (15-45 years of age) admitted to Hamad General Hospital with first-ever ischemic stroke from September 2004 to September 2005. A stroke was defined according to WHO criteria. Stroke was confirmed in 40 (32 males and 8 females). Their ages ranged from 17 to 44 years (mean 37.1+/-13.27). Thirty (75%) of the patients were non-Qatari. The most common risk factors were hypertension 16 (40%), diabetes mellitus 13 (32.5%), hypercholesterolemia 11 (27.5%), smoking 11 (27.5%), and alcohol intake 9 (22.5%). Regarding stroke subtypes, lacunar stroke syndrome (LACS) was diagnosed in 17 (42.5%), total anterior circulation stroke syndrome (TACS) in 16 (40%), partial anterior circulation stroke syndrome (PACS) in 5 (12.5%) and posterior circulation stroke syndrome (POCS) in 2 (5%). Partial anterior circulation stroke syndrome (PACS) was observed with a higher frequency in Qatari patients compared with non-Qataris (p=0.009), whereas total anterior circulation stroke syndrome (TACS) was observed more in non-Qatari than in Qatari patients (p=0.03). Average hospital stay was 18 days. In-hospital mortality was 2.5%. The risk factors of ischemic stroke in young adults are numerous. The most common were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and alcohol intake. Only one Indonesian male patient with POCS died in the hospital.

  8. Retinopathy screening in patients with type 1 diabetes diagnosed in young age using a non-mydriatic digital stereoscopic retinal imaging.

    PubMed

    Minuto, N; Emmanuele, V; Vannati, M; Russo, C; Rebora, C; Panarello, S; Pistorio, A; Lorini, R; d'Annunzio, G

    2012-04-01

    Diabetic retinopathy seriously impairs patients' quality of life, since it represents the first cause of blindness in industrialized countries. To estimate prevalence of retinopathy in young Type 1 diabetes patients using a non-mydriatic digital stereoscopic retinal imaging (NMDSRI), and to evaluate the impact of socio-demographic, clinical, and metabolic variables. In 247 young patients glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), gender, age, pubertal stage, presence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), HLA-DQ heterodimers of susceptibility for Type 1 diabetes, and β-cell autoimmunity at clinical onset were considered. At retinopathy screening, we evaluated age, disease duration, pubertal stage, body mass index (BMI-SDS), insulin requirement, HbA1c levels, other autoimmune diseases, diabetes-related complications, serum concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Retinopathy was found in 26/247 patients: 25 showed background retinopathy, and 1 had a sight-threatening retinopathy. A significant relationship between retinopathy and female gender (p=0.01), duration of disease ≥15 yr (p<0.0001), serum triglycerides levels >65 mg/dl (p=0.012) and mean HbA1c ≥7.5% or >9% (p=0.0014) were found at the multivariate logistic analysis. Metabolic control is the most important modifiable factor and promotion of continuous educational process to reach a good metabolic control is a cornerstone to prevent microangiopathic complications. Symptoms appear when the complication is already established; a screening program with an early diagnosis is mandatory to prevent an irreversible damage.

  9. Genetic Predictors of Fatigue in Prostate Cancer Patients Treated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy: Preliminary Findings

    PubMed Central

    Jim, Heather S.L.; Park, Jong Y.; Permuth-Wey, Jennifer; Rincon, Maria A.; Phillips, Kristin M.; Small, Brent J.; Jacobsen, Paul B.

    2012-01-01

    Background Fatigue is a common and distressing side effect of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer. The goal of the current study was to examine the relationship between changes in fatigue following initiation of ADT and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in three pro-inflammatory cytokine genes: interleukin-1 beta (IL1B), interleukin-6 (IL6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA). Methods As part of a larger study, men with prostate cancer (n=53) were recruited prior to initiation of ADT. Fatigue was assessed at recruitment and six months after initiation of ADT. DNA was extracted from blood drawn at baseline. Results Patients with the IL6-174 (rs1800795) G/C or C/C genotype displayed greater increases in fatigue intrusiveness, frequency, and duration than the G/G genotype (p values≤0.05), although inclusion of age, race, and baseline depressive symptomatology in the model attenuated these relationships (p values≤0.09). Patients with the TNFA-308 (rs1800629) G/A genotype showed greater increases in fatigue severity than the G/G genotype (p=0.02). IL1B-511 (rs16944) genotype did not significantly predict changes in fatigue (p values>0.46). Patients with higher numbers of variants displayed greater increases in fatigue duration and interference (p values≤0.02) than patients with lower numbers of variants. Conclusions Prostate cancer patients treated with ADT who carry variant alleles of the IL6 and TNFA genes are susceptible to heightened fatigue. These preliminary data lend support for the role of genetic variation in the development of cancer-related fatigue secondary to ADT. Findings are relevant to attempts to develop personalized approaches to cancer treatment. PMID:22475653

  10. Spine problems in young athletes.

    PubMed

    Sucato, Daniel J; Micheli, Lyle J; Estes, A Reed; Tolo, Vernon T

    2012-01-01

    As the number of young people involved in sports activities increases, acute and chronic back pain has become more common. With a careful medical history and physical examination, along with the judicious use of imaging modalities, the causes of back pain can be correctly diagnosed and treated so that young athletes can quickly return to sports participation. Although most back pain in these young patients is muscular in origin, findings that should trigger increased concern include night pain, marked hamstring tightness, pain with lumbar spine hyperextension, or any neurologic finding. When recently developed vague back pain is present, a delay in radiographic imaging is warranted. With new back pain after trauma, AP and lateral radiographs of the symptomatic spinal area are indicated. CT, bone scans, and MRI should be reserved for special circumstances. Spondylolysis is the most common bony cause of back pain in young athletes. Spondylolysis can be treated with activity limitation, a specific exercise program, a thoracolumbar orthosis, and/or surgery. Treatment should be based on the amount of pain as well as the desire of the young athlete to continue in the sports activity that caused the pain. Other significant causes of back pain that require more extensive treatment in these young athletes include spondylolisthesis, lumbar disk disorders, and sacral stress fractures. It is anticipated that nearly all young athletes can return to sports activity after successful treatment. Even if surgical treatment is needed, return to all sports is expected, with the occasional exception of collision sports.

  11. Evidence-Based Intervention for Young Children Born Premature: Preliminary Evidence for Associated Changes in Physiological Regulation

    PubMed Central

    Graziano, Paulo A.; Bagner, Daniel M.; Sheinkopf, Stephen J.; Vohr, Betty R.; Lester, Barry M.

    2012-01-01

    The current study examined whether changes in maternal behaviors following an evidence-based treatment—Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)—was associated with improvements in cardiac vagal regulation in young children born premature. Participants included 28 young children (mean age = 37.79 months) that were born premature and presented with elevated externalizing behavior problems. To assess cardiac vagal regulation, resting measures of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and RSA change (withdrawal or suppression) to a clean-up task were derived pre and post-treatment. Results indicated that an increase in behaviors mothers are taught to use during treatment (i.e., do skills—praise, reflection, and behavioral descriptions) were associated with an improvement in children’s post-treatment RSA suppression levels. The current study illustrates the important role of caregiver behavior in promoting physiological regulation in children born premature. PMID:22721742

  12. Ethical implications of digital communication for the patient-clinician relationship: analysis of interviews with clinicians and young adults with long term conditions (the LYNC study).

    PubMed

    Ignatowicz, Agnieszka; Slowther, Anne-Marie; Elder, Patrick; Bryce, Carol; Hamilton, Kathryn; Huxley, Caroline; Forjaz, Vera; Sturt, Jackie; Griffiths, Frances

    2018-02-23

    Digital communication between a patient and their clinician offers the potential for improved patient care, particularly for young people with long term conditions who are at risk of service disengagement. However, its use raises a number of ethical questions which have not been explored in empirical studies. The objective of this study was to examine, from the patient and clinician perspective, the ethical implications of the use of digital clinical communication in the context of young people living with long-term conditions. A total of 129 semi-structured interviews, 59 with young people and 70 with healthcare professionals, from 20 United Kingdom (UK)-based specialist clinics were conducted as part of the LYNC study. Transcripts from five sites (cancer, liver, renal, cystic fibrosis and mental health) were read by a core team to identify explicit and implicit ethical issues and develop descriptive ethical codes. Our subsequent thematic analysis was developed iteratively with reference to professional and ethical norms. Clinician participants saw digital clinical communication as potentially increasing patient empowerment and autonomy; improving trust between patient and healthcare professional; and reducing harm because of rapid access to clinical advice. However, they also described ethical challenges, including: difficulty with defining and maintaining boundaries of confidentiality; uncertainty regarding the level of consent required; and blurring of the limits of a clinician's duty of care when unlimited access is possible. Paradoxically, the use of digital clinical communication can create dependence rather than promote autonomy in some patients. Patient participants varied in their understanding of, and concern about, confidentiality in the context of digital communication. An overarching theme emerging from the data was a shifting of the boundaries of the patient-clinician relationship and the professional duty of care in the context of use of clinical

  13. Feasibility of a Website and a Hospital-Based Online Portal for Young Adults With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Views and Experiences of Patients.

    PubMed

    Ammerlaan, Judy Jw; Scholtus, Lieske W; Drossaert, Constance Hc; van Os-Medendorp, Harmieke; Prakken, Berent; Kruize, Aike A; Bijlsma, Johannes Jw

    2015-08-14

    To improve knowledge and to encourage active involvement of young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), an informative website with written and video information and an online portal with access to the personal medical record, self-monitoring, and e-consult functionalities were developed. Before implementing these applications in daily practice, it is important to gain insight into their feasibility in terms of ease of use, perceived usefulness and intention to use. The aim of this study was to evaluate and to examine the feasibility of the website and the online portal for young adults with JIA. A qualitative, feasibility study was conducted among the first users: 13 young adults with JIA. After provided access to the website and online portal, patients were interviewed on perceived usefulness, ease of use, and intention to (re)use the applications. Participants in the study considered the website and online portal as useful and easy-to-use. New medical information and feedback would motivate them to revisit the applications again. On the website, videos showing other young adults, telling how they handle their condition, were found as the most useful. On the portal, access to their medical records was most appreciated: it made the young JIA patients feel in control and it helped them monitor symptoms and disease activity. e-consults were thought to facilitate communication with physicians. The young adults considered both the website and the online portal as feasible, but they also had valuable suggestions to improve accessibility and use. Based on these findings, a news and event section was added on the website and a direct link was made to a discussion board and social media. To provide and support health information, the website is actively used in daily care. Considering the online portal, the use of self-monitoring tools and e-consult can be stimulated if there is direct linkage to treatment and feedback from the multidisciplinary team

  14. Feasibility of a Website and a Hospital-Based Online Portal for Young Adults With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Views and Experiences of Patients

    PubMed Central

    Scholtus, Lieske W; Drossaert, Constance HC; van Os-Medendorp, Harmieke; Prakken, Berent; Kruize, Aike A; Bijlsma, Johannes JW

    2015-01-01

    Background To improve knowledge and to encourage active involvement of young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), an informative website with written and video information and an online portal with access to the personal medical record, self-monitoring, and e-consult functionalities were developed. Before implementing these applications in daily practice, it is important to gain insight into their feasibility in terms of ease of use, perceived usefulness and intention to use. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate and to examine the feasibility of the website and the online portal for young adults with JIA. Methods A qualitative, feasibility study was conducted among the first users: 13 young adults with JIA. After provided access to the website and online portal, patients were interviewed on perceived usefulness, ease of use, and intention to (re)use the applications. Results Participants in the study considered the website and online portal as useful and easy-to-use. New medical information and feedback would motivate them to revisit the applications again. On the website, videos showing other young adults, telling how they handle their condition, were found as the most useful. On the portal, access to their medical records was most appreciated: it made the young JIA patients feel in control and it helped them monitor symptoms and disease activity. e-consults were thought to facilitate communication with physicians. Conclusions The young adults considered both the website and the online portal as feasible, but they also had valuable suggestions to improve accessibility and use. Based on these findings, a news and event section was added on the website and a direct link was made to a discussion board and social media. To provide and support health information, the website is actively used in daily care. Considering the online portal, the use of self-monitoring tools and e-consult can be stimulated if there is direct linkage to treatment and

  15. Anti-inflammatory cytokines in gingival crevicular fluid in patients with periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis: a preliminary report.

    PubMed

    Bozkurt, Fatma Yeşim; Yetkin Ay, Zuhal; Berker, Ezel; Tepe, Eser; Akkuş, Selami

    2006-08-01

    Cytokines which are produced by host cells play an important role in pathogenesis both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic periodontitis (CP). In this study, we aim to investigate the levels of Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). Seventeen patients with CP, 17 patients with RA and 17 healthy controls (HC) were included. The RA group was divided into two groups according to gingival sulcus depths (RA-a: PD < or =3mm, (n=12), RA-b: PD>3mm, (n=5)). For each patient, clinical parameters were recorded. The GCF samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IL-4 and IL-10 levels. IL-4 levels in the RA-a, RA-b and CP subjects were significantly lower compared to the HC subjects (p<0.05). The mean level of IL-4 in RA-b group was significantly higher than that in CP group (p<0.05). IL-10 mean level in the HC group was higher than those in the other groups (p<0.05). In the RA-a group, higher IL-10 level was found compared to the CP patients (p<0.05). Within the limitations of this preliminary report, it can be concluded that the initiation and progression of periodontal inflammation may be due to a lack or inappropriate response of the anti-inflammatory cytokines in both CP and RA.

  16. Developing a preliminary ‘never event’ list for general practice using consensus-building methods

    PubMed Central

    de Wet, Carl; O’Donnell, Catherine; Bowie, Paul

    2014-01-01

    Background The ‘never event’ concept has been implemented in many acute hospital settings to help prevent serious patient safety incidents. Benefits include increasing awareness of highly important patient safety risks among the healthcare workforce, promoting proactive implementation of preventive measures, and facilitating incident reporting. Aim To develop a preliminary list of never events for general practice. Design and setting Application of a range of consensus-building methods in Scottish and UK general practices. Method A total of 345 general practice team members suggested potential never events. Next, ‘informed’ staff (n =15) developed criteria for defining never events and applied the criteria to create a list of candidate never events. Finally, UK primary care patient safety ‘experts’ (n = 17) reviewed, refined, and validated a preliminary list via a modified Delphi group and by completing a content validity index exercise. Results There were 721 written suggestions received as potential never events. Thematic categorisation reduced this to 38. Five criteria specific to general practice were developed and applied to produce 11 candidate never events. The expert group endorsed a preliminary list of 10 items with a content validity index (CVI) score of >80%. Conclusion A preliminary list of never events was developed for general practice through practitioner experience and consensus-building methods. This is an important first step to determine the potential value of the never event concept in this setting. It is now intended to undertake further testing of this preliminary list to assess its acceptability, feasibility, and potential usefulness as a safety improvement intervention. PMID:24567655

  17. Clinical pharmacokinetics, safety, and preliminary efficacy evaluation of icotinib in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

    PubMed

    Liu, Dongyang; Zhang, Li; Wu, Yiwen; Jiang, Ji; Tan, Fenlai; Wang, Yingxiang; Liu, Yong; Hu, Pei

    2015-09-01

    To receive pharmacokinetics, safety, and anti-tumor activity of icotinib, a novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients (n=40) with advanced NSCLC were enrolled to receive escalating doses of icotinib, which was administrated on Day 1 followed by 28-day continuous dosing starting from Day 4. Four dosing regimens, 100mg b.i.d., 150 mg b.i.d., 125 mg t.i.d., and 200mg b.i.d. were studied. Pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and efficacy of icotinib were evaluated. Icotinib was well tolerated in Chinese patients with refractory NSCLC. No toxicity with >3 grades were reported in more than 2 patients under any dose levels. One complete response (3%) and 9 partial responses (23%) were received. Total disease control rate could reach at 73% and median progress-free survival (range) was 154 (17-462) days. PK exposure of icotinib increased with increase of dose in NSCLC patients. Food was suggested to increase PK exposure by ∼30%. Mean t1/2β was within 5.31-8.07 h. No major metabolite (>10% plasma exposure of icotinib) was found in NSCLC patients. Icotinib with up to 400 mg/day exhibited good tolerance and preliminary antitumor activity in Chinese NSCLC patients. Pharmacokinetics of icotinib and 5 major metabolites were fully investigated in NSCLC patients. Optimized biologic dose (OBD) was finally recommended to be 125 mg t.i.d. for the later clinical study. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

  18. Phenotype Heterogeneity in Glucokinase-Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (GCK-MODY) Patients.

    PubMed

    Wędrychowicz, Anna; Tobór, Ewa; Wilk, Magdalena; Ziółkowska-Ledwith, Ewa; Rams, Anna; Wzorek, Katarzyna; Sabal, Barbara; Stelmach, Małgorzata; Starzyk, Jerzy B

    2017-09-01

    The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical phenotypes of glucokinase-maturity-onset diabetes of the young (GCK-MODY) pediatric patients from Southwest Poland and to search for phenotype-genotype correlations. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data on 37 CGK-MODY patients consisting of 21 girls and 16 boys of ages 1.9-20.1 (mean 12.5±5.2) years, treated in our centre in the time period between 2002 and 2013. GCK-MODY carriers were found in a frequency of 3% among 1043 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and constituted the second most numerous group of DM patients, following type 1 DM, in our centre. The mean age of GCK-MODY diagnosis was 10.4±4.5 years. The findings leading to the diagnosis were impaired fasting glucose (IFG) (15/37), symptoms of hyperglycemia (4/37), and a GCK-MODY family history (18/37). Mean fasting blood glucose level was 6.67±1.64 mmol/L. In the sample, there were patients with normal values (4/37), those with DM (10/37), and IFG (23/37). In OGTT, 120 min glucose level was normal in 8, diabetic in 2, and characteristic for glucose intolerance in 27 of the 37 cases. Twelve of the 37 cases (32%) were identified as GCK-MODY carriers. In the total group, mean C-peptide level was 2.13±0.65 ng/mL and HbA1c was 6.26±0.45% (44.9±-18 mmol/mol). Thirty-two patients had a family history of DM. DM autoantibodies were detected in two patients. The most common mutations were p.Gly318Arg (11/37) and p.Val302Leu (8/37). There was no correlation between type of mutations and plasma glucose levels. The phenotype of GCK-MODY patients may vary from those characteristic for other DM types to an asymptomatic state with normal FG with no correlation with genotype.

  19. The Cambridge Otology Quality of Life Questionnaire: an otology-specific patient-recorded outcome measure. A paper describing the instrument design and a report of preliminary reliability and validity.

    PubMed

    Martin, T P C; Moualed, D; Paul, A; Ronan, N; Tysome, J R; Donnelly, N P; Cook, R; Axon, P R

    2015-04-01

    The Cambridge Otology Quality of Life Questionnaire (COQOL) is a patient-recorded outcome measurement (PROM) designed to quantify the quality of life of patients attending otology clinics. Item-reduction model. A systematically designed long-form version (74 items) was tested with patient focus groups before being presented to adult otology patients (n. 137). Preliminary item analysis tested reliability, reducing the COQOL to 24 questions. This was then presented in conjunction with the SF-36 (V1) questionnaire to a total of 203 patients. Subsequently, these were re-presented at T + 3 months, and patients recorded whether they felt their condition had improved, deteriorated or remained the same. Non-responders were contacted by post. A correlation between COQOL scores and patient perception of change was examined to analyse content validity. Teaching hospital and university psychology department. Adult patients attending otology clinics with a wide range of otological conditions. Item reliability measured by item–total correlation, internal consistency and test– retest reliability. Validity measured by correlation between COQOL scores and patient-reported symptom change. Reliability: the COQOL showed excellent internal consistency at both initial presentation (a = 0.90) and 3 months later (a = 0.93). Validity: One-way analysis of variance showed a significant difference between groups reporting change and those reporting no change in quality of life (F(2, 80) = 5.866, P < 0.01). The COQOL is the first otology-specific PROM. Initial studies demonstrate excellent reliability and encouraging preliminary criterion validity: further studies will allow a deeper validation of the instrument.

  20. Mismatch Repair Deficiency Testing in Patients With Colorectal Cancer and Nonadherence to Testing Guidelines in Young Adults.

    PubMed

    Shaikh, Talha; Handorf, Elizabeth A; Meyer, Joshua E; Hall, Michael J; Esnaola, Nestor F

    2018-02-08

    Mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency of DNA has been observed in up to 15% of sporadic colorectal cancers (CRCs) and is a characteristic feature of Lynch syndrome, which has a higher incidence in young adults (age, <50 years) with CRC. Mismatch repair deficiency can be due to germline mutations or epigenetic inactivation, affects prognosis and response to systemic therapy, and results in unrepaired repetitive DNA sequences, which increases the risk of multiple malignant tumors. To evaluate the utilization of MMR deficiency testing in adults with CRC and analyze nonadherence to long-standing testing guidelines in younger adults using a contemporary national data set to help identify potential risk factors for nonadherence to newly implemented universal testing guidelines. Adult (age, <30 to ≥70 years) and, of these, younger adult (<30 to 49 years) patients with invasive colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 2010 and 2012 and known MMR deficiency testing status were identified using the National Cancer Database. The study was conducted from March 16, 2016, to March 1, 2017. Patient sociodemographic, facility, tumor, and treatment characteristics. The primary outcome of interest was receipt of MMR deficiency testing. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of testing in adult and/or young adult patients. A total of 152 993 adults with CRC were included in the study (78 579 [51.4%] men; mean [SD] age, 66.9 [13.9] years). Of these patients, only 43 143 (28.2%) underwent MMR deficiency testing; the proportion of patients tested increased between 2010 and 2012 (22.3% vs 33.1%; P<.001). Among 17 218 younger adult patients with CRC, only 7422 (43.1%) underwent MMR deficiency testing; the proportion tested increased between 2010 and 2012 (36.1% vs 48.0%; P < .001). Irrespective of age, higher educational level (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.15-1.66), later diagnosis year (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.65-1.98), early stage disease (OR, 1

  1. Celiac Disease Does Not Influence Fracture Risk in Young Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

    PubMed Central

    Reilly, Norelle R; Lebwohl, Benjamin; Mollazadegan, Kaziwe; Michaëlsson, Karl; Green, Peter HR; Ludvigsson, Jonas F

    2015-01-01

    Objectives To examine the risk of any fractures in patients with both type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease (CD) vs patients with T1D only. Study design We performed a population-based cohort study. We defined T1D as individuals aged ≤30 years who had a diagnosis of diabetes recorded in the Swedish National Patient Register between 1964–2009. Individuals with CD were identified through biopsy report data between 1969–2008 from any of Sweden’s 28 pathology departments. Some 958 individuals had both T1D and CD and were matched for sex, age and calendar period with 4,598 reference individuals with T1D only. We then used a stratified Cox regression analysis, where CD was modeled as a time-dependent covariate, to estimate the risk of any fractures and osteoporotic fractures (hip, distal forearm, thoracic and lumbar spine, and proximal humerus) in patients with both T1D and CD compared with that in patients with T1D only. Results During follow-up, 12 patients with T1D and CD had a fracture (1 osteoporotic fracture). CD did not influence the risk of any fracture (adjusted Hazard Ratio=0.77; 95%CI=0.42–1.41) or osteoporotic fractures (adjusted Hazard Ratio=0.46; 95%CI=0.06–3.51) in patients with T1D. Stratification for time since CD diagnosis did not affect risk estimates. Conclusion Having a diagnosis of CD does not seem to influence fracture risk in young patients with T1D. Follow-up in this study was, however, too short to ascertain osteoporotic fractures which traditionally occur in old age. PMID:26589343

  2. Benefits of a transfer clinic in adolescent and young adult kidney transplant patients.

    PubMed

    McQuillan, Rory F; Toulany, Alene; Kaufman, Miriam; Schiff, Jeffrey R

    2015-01-01

    Adolescent and young adult kidney transplant recipients have worse graft outcomes than older and younger age groups. Difficulties in the process of transition, defined as the purposeful, planned movement of adolescents with chronic health conditions from child to adult-centered health care systems, may contribute to this. Improving the process of transition may improve adherence post-transfer to adult care services. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a kidney transplant transfer clinic for adolescent and young adult kidney transplant recipients transitioning from pediatric to adult care improves adherence post-transfer. We developed a joint kidney transplant transfer clinic between a pediatric kidney transplant program, adult kidney transplant program, and adolescent medicine at two academic health centers. The transfer clinic facilitated communication between the adult and pediatric transplant teams, a face-to-face meeting of the patient with the adult team, and a meeting with the adolescent medicine physician. We compared the outcomes of 16 kidney transplant recipients transferred before the clinic was established with 16 patients who attended the clinic. The primary outcome was a composite measure of non-adherence. Non-adherence was defined as either self-reported medication non-adherence or displaying two of the following three characteristics: non-attendance at clinic, non-attendance for blood work appointments, or undetectable calcineurin inhibitor levels within 1 year post-transfer. The two groups were similar at baseline, with non-adherence identified in 43.75 % of patients. Non-adherent behavior in the year post-transfer, which included missing clinic visits, missing regular blood tests, and undetectable calcineurin inhibitor levels, was significantly lower in the cohort which attended the transfer clinic (18.8 versus 62.5 %, p = 0.03). The median change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the year following transfer

  3. The Adolescent HIV Disclosure Cognition and Affect Scale: Preliminary Reliability and Validity.

    PubMed

    Evangeli, Michael

    2017-07-01

    Globally, there are 2 million HIV-positive 10-19-year-olds. One challenge for this population is sharing their HIV status with others (onward HIV disclosure). There are no multi-item, multidimensional scales of HIV disclosure cognitions and affect for young people living with HIV. An 18-item measure of HIV disclosure cognition and affect was developed, administered to 65 adolescents living with HIV (aged 12-16 years). Data were explored using principal component analysis and preliminary construct and criterion validity assessed. Three factors were revealed: negative disclosure attitudes and feelings, self-efficacy, and positive disclosure attitudes and feelings. The full scale and its subscales were internally consistent. The total score showed statistically significant positive relationships with HIV disclosure in the past 6 months, HIV disclosure intention and self-perception. Preliminary evidence of the measure's good psychometric properties suggests it may be helpful in future clinical and research work. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com

  4. Role for limited neck exploration in young adults with apparently sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism.

    PubMed

    Adam, Laura A; Smith, Brian J; Calva-Cerqueira, Daniel; Howe, James R; Lal, Geeta

    2008-07-01

    The risk of multiglandular disease (MGD) dictates the extent of exploration in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Historically, young patients with PHPT were more likely to have MGD, but the existing literature is sparse and conflicting. We hypothesized that young adults (ages 16-40 years) without familial PHPT have a disease process similar to that in older patients. A 22-year retrospective chart review was performed on patients who underwent neck exploration for PHPT at our tertiary care center. Altogether, 708 charts were reviewed for demographics, family history, laboratory values, operative findings, pathology, and outcomes. As a group, young adults comprised 14.0% of the total population and were more likely to have preexisting familial disorders of PHPT (p < 0.01), therapeutic failure (p < 0.01), failure to identify an abnormal parathyroid at operation (p < 0.01), and higher reoperative rates (p = 0.02); they were less likely to have single-gland disease (p = 0.04). Young adults without a family history of the disease demonstrated no disease differences except for a higher rate of symptoms (p < 0.01). Additional analysis found that patients with a family history of hypercalcemia, a sole family member with PHPT, or nephrolithiasis ("possible" family history) were more likely to have MGD (relative risk 2.0). In this largest single-institution study of young adults with sporadic PHPT, we conclude that sporadic PHPT in young adults represents a disease entity similar to that in older patients, with no increased risk for MGD, and hence they can be managed with a similar surgical approach. Further studies are needed to assess the role of a "possible" family history as a risk factor for MGD.

  5. Isolated popliteal artery occlusion in the young.

    PubMed

    Khoda, J; Lantsberg, L; Sebbag, G

    1992-01-01

    Three young patients with an isolated popliteal artery occlusion are presented, two with severe claudication and the third with a critical ischaemic foot. The work-up of these patients leads to certain aetiologic possibilities: microtrauma, smoking and contraceptive pills. Two of our patients underwent thromboembolectomy, the third managed conservatively. The follow-up was between six months and seven years and up to now all three patients remain well.

  6. Academic physicians' opinions on preliminary reporting of echocardiographic data.

    PubMed

    McDonald, R W; Rice, M J; Reller, M D; Silberbach, G M; Imus, R L; Marcella, C P; Brazee, R B; Pantely, G A

    1993-01-01

    Preliminary reporting of echocardiographic data by cardiac sonographers has become a key issue in the echocardiography community. A survey on this issue was sent to 248 academic physicians and 89 (35.8%) were returned. In response to a question in the survey, 76 physicians stated that they had at least a limited amount of knowledge in echocardiography. For the group, 62% wanted a written or verbal preliminary report and 52% concluded that this report should be a part of the cardiac sonographer's position. If cardiac abnormalities are suspected, 65% wanted the results before the cardiologist reviewed the study, but only 42% of the physicians wanted a diagnostic versus a descriptive type of report. About 49% stated that if necessary they would attempt to influence the cardiac sonographer to give them a preliminary report, whereas 67% of the physicians would possibly use this information to medically manage the patient. Fifty percent believed that it was legal for a cardiac sonographer to give a preliminary report. Another 70% said that the cardiac sonographer would NOT be "practicing medicine without a license" and 66% concluded that they would NOT be "aiding and abetting the unauthorized practice of medicine" if given this information. These data have important potential ramifications for both cardiac sonographers as well as for the practice of cardiology regarding the issue of preliminary echocardiographic reports.

  7. Self-Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance of Young Children Who Stutter: Initial Findings

    PubMed Central

    Hertsberg, Naomi; Zebrowski, Patricia M.

    2016-01-01

    Purpose The goals of this study were to determine whether young children who stutter (CWS) perceive their own competence and social acceptance differently than young children who do not stutter (CWNS), and to identify the predictors of perceived competence and social acceptance in young speakers. Method We administered the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (PSPCSA; Harter & Pike, 1984) to 13 CWS and 14 CWNS and examined group differences. We also collected information on the children's genders, temperaments, stuttering frequencies, language abilities, and phonological skills to identify which of these factors predicted PSPCSA scores. Results CWS, as a group, did not differ from CWNS in their perceived general competence or social acceptance. Gender predicted scores of perceived general competence, and stuttering frequency predicted perceived social acceptance. Temperament, language abilities, and phonological skills were not significant predictors of perceived competence or social acceptance in our sample. Conclusions While CWS did not significantly differ from CWNS in terms of perceived competence and social acceptance, when both talker groups were considered together, girls self-reported greater perceived competence than boys. Further, lower stuttering frequency was associated with greater perceived social acceptance. These preliminary findings provide motivation for further empirical study of the psychosocial components of childhood stuttering. PMID:27614314

  8. Last three days of life in the hospital: a comparison of symptoms, signs and treatments in the young old and the oldest old patients using the Resident assessment instrument for palliative care.

    PubMed

    Steindal, Simen A; Ranhoff, Anette H; Bredal, Inger S; Sørbye, Liv W; Lerdal, Anners

    2013-09-01

    Knowledge concerning the provision of end of life care to the oldest old hospitalised patients is deficient. To analyse whether there were differences in registered nurses' documentation of the young old vs. the oldest old patients according to symptoms, clinical signs and treatment in the last 3 days of life. Data were collected retrospectively in a cross-sectional comparative study at a hospital between autumn 2007 and spring 2009. Methods.  The study included 190 patients: 101 (65-84 years) and 89 (85+). Data were extracted from the patients' electronic records using the Resident Assessment Instrument for Palliative Care (RAI-PC). Falls (OR = 4.01, 95% CI 1.47-10.90) and peripheral oedema (OR = 2.74, 95% CI 1.06-7.11) were significantly more frequent documented in the oldest old patients compared with the young old patients. Delirium was recorded in 15.3% of all patients. With the exception of more falls and peripheral oedema in the oldest old patients, this study showed no differences in symptoms and treatment between the young old and the oldest old patients. Delirium was poorly documented compared to other studies. Implications for practice.  The oldest old patients have a higher risk of falls in the final phase of life, and fall prevention should be considered. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  9. Predicting Treatment Outcomes from Prefrontal Cortex Activation for Self-Harming Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Preliminary Study

    PubMed Central

    Ruocco, Anthony C.; Rodrigo, Achala H.; McMain, Shelley F.; Page-Gould, Elizabeth; Ayaz, Hasan; Links, Paul S.

    2016-01-01

    Self-harm is a potentially lethal symptom of borderline personality disorder (BPD) that often improves with dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). While DBT is effective for reducing self-harm in many patients with BPD, a small but significant number of patients either does not improve in treatment or ends treatment prematurely. Accordingly, it is crucial to identify factors that may prospectively predict which patients are most likely to benefit from and remain in treatment. In the present preliminary study, 29 actively self-harming patients with BPD completed brain-imaging procedures probing activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during impulse control prior to beginning DBT and after 7 months of treatment. Patients that reduced their frequency of self-harm the most over treatment displayed lower levels of neural activation in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) prior to beginning treatment, and they showed the greatest increases in activity within this region after 7 months of treatment. Prior to starting DBT, treatment non-completers demonstrated greater activation than treatment-completers in the medial PFC and right inferior frontal gyrus. Reductions in self-harm over the treatment period were associated with increases in activity in right DLPFC even after accounting for improvements in depression, mania, and BPD symptom severity. These findings suggest that pre-treatment patterns of activation in the PFC underlying impulse control may be prospectively associated with improvements in self-harm and treatment attrition for patients with BPD treated with DBT. PMID:27242484

  10. Predicting Treatment Outcomes from Prefrontal Cortex Activation for Self-Harming Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder: A Preliminary Study.

    PubMed

    Ruocco, Anthony C; Rodrigo, Achala H; McMain, Shelley F; Page-Gould, Elizabeth; Ayaz, Hasan; Links, Paul S

    2016-01-01

    Self-harm is a potentially lethal symptom of borderline personality disorder (BPD) that often improves with dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). While DBT is effective for reducing self-harm in many patients with BPD, a small but significant number of patients either does not improve in treatment or ends treatment prematurely. Accordingly, it is crucial to identify factors that may prospectively predict which patients are most likely to benefit from and remain in treatment. In the present preliminary study, 29 actively self-harming patients with BPD completed brain-imaging procedures probing activation of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during impulse control prior to beginning DBT and after 7 months of treatment. Patients that reduced their frequency of self-harm the most over treatment displayed lower levels of neural activation in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) prior to beginning treatment, and they showed the greatest increases in activity within this region after 7 months of treatment. Prior to starting DBT, treatment non-completers demonstrated greater activation than treatment-completers in the medial PFC and right inferior frontal gyrus. Reductions in self-harm over the treatment period were associated with increases in activity in right DLPFC even after accounting for improvements in depression, mania, and BPD symptom severity. These findings suggest that pre-treatment patterns of activation in the PFC underlying impulse control may be prospectively associated with improvements in self-harm and treatment attrition for patients with BPD treated with DBT.

  11. Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy of a Live-Chat Social Media Intervention to Reduce HIV Risk Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men

    PubMed Central

    Pachankis, John E.; Gamarel, Kristi E.; Surace, Anthony; Golub, Sarit A.; Parsons, Jeffrey T.

    2014-01-01

    Given the popularity of social media among young men who have sex with men (YMSM), and in light of YMSM’s elevated and increasing HIV rates, we tested the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of a live chat intervention delivered on Facebook in reducing condomless anal sex and substance use within a group of high risk YMSM in a pre-post design with no control group. Participants (N = 41; 18–29 years old) completed up to eight one-hour motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral skills-based online live chat intervention sessions, and reported on demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics at baseline and immediately post-intervention. Analyses indicated that participation in the intervention (n = 31) was associated with reductions of days of drug and alcohol use in the past month and instances of anal sex without a condom (including under the influence of substances), as well as increases in knowledge of HIV-related risks at 3-month follow-up. This pilot study argues for the potential of this social media-delivered intervention to reduce HIV risk among a most vulnerable group in the United States, in a manner that was highly acceptable to receive and feasible to execute. A future randomized controlled trial could generate an intervention blueprint for providers to support YMSM’s wellbeing by reaching them regardless of their geographical location, at a low cost. PMID:25256808

  12. Single-blinded, randomised preliminary study evaluating the effects of 2 Hz electroacupuncture for postoperative pain in patients with total knee arthroplasty

    PubMed Central

    Tzeng, Chung-Yuh; Chang, Shih-Liang; Wu, Chih-Cheng; Chang, Chu-Ling; Chen, Wen-Gii; Tong, Kwok-Man; Huang, Kui-Chou; Hsieh, Ching-Liang

    2015-01-01

    Objective To explore the point-specific clinical effect of 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) in treating postoperative pain in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA), Methods In a randomised, partially single-blinded preliminary study, 47patients with TKA were randomly divided into three groups: control group (CG, n=17) using only patient-controlled analgesia (PCA); EA group (EAG, n=16) with 2 Hz EA applied at ST36 (Zusanli) and GB34 (Yanglingquan) contralateral to the operated leg for 30 min on the first two postoperative days, also receiving PCA; and non-point group (NPG, n=14), with EA identical to the EAG except given 1 cm lateral to both ST36 and GB34. The Mann–Whitney test was used to show the difference between two groups and the Kruskal–Wallis test to show the difference between the three groups. Results The time until patients first required PCA in the CG was 34.1±22.0 min, which was significantly shorter than the 92.0±82.7 min in the EAG (p<0.001) and 90.7±94.8 min in the NPG (p<0.001); there was no difference between the EAG and NPG groups (p>0.05). The total dosage of PCA solution given was 4.6±0.9 mL/kg body weight in the CG, 4.2±1.0 mL/kg in the EAG and 4.5±1.0 mL/kg in the NPG; there were no significant differences (p>0.05) among the three groups. Conclusions In this small preliminary study, EA retarded the first demand for PCA in comparison with no EA. No effect was seen on the total dosage of PCA required and no point-specific effect was seen. PMID:25910930

  13. Management of factor VII-deficient patients undergoing joint surgeries--preliminary results of locally developed treatment regimen.

    PubMed

    Windyga, J; Zbikowski, P; Ambroziak, P; Baran, B; Kotela, I; Stefanska-Windyga, E

    2013-01-01

    Inherited factor VII (FVII) deficiency is a rare coagulation disorder with variable haemorrhagic manifestations. In severely affected cases spontaneous haemarthroses leading to advanced arthropathy have been observed. Such cases may require surgery. Therapeutic options for bleeding prevention in FVII deficient patients undergoing surgery comprise various FVII preparations but the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) seems to be the treatment of choice. To present the outcome of orthopaedic surgery under haemostatic coverage of rFVIIa administered according to the locally established treatment regimen in five adult patients with FVII baseline plasma levels below 10 IU dL(-1). Two patients required total hip replacement (THR); three had various arthroscopic procedures. Recombinant activated factor VII was administered every 8 h on day of surgery (D0) followed by every 12-24 h for the subsequent 9-14 days, depending on the type of surgery. Factor VII plasma coagulation activity (FVII:C) was determined daily with no predefined therapeutic target levels. Doses of rFVIIa on D0 ranged from 18 to 37 μg kg(-1) b.w. and on the subsequent days--from 13 to 30 μg kg(-1) b.w. Total rFVIIa dose per procedure ranged from 16 to 37.5 mg, and the total number of doses per procedure was 16-31. None of our patients developed excessive bleeding including those in whom FVII:C trough levels returned nearly to the baseline level on the first post-op day. Preliminary results demonstrate that rFVIIa administered according to our treatment regimen is an effective and safe haemostatic agent for hypoproconvertinaemia patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

  14. Assessment Needs Analysis for Developing Mobile Apps to Encourage Proactive Preventive Medicine Education Among Young Military Personnel.

    PubMed

    De Leo, Gianluca; Bonacina, Stefano; Brivio, Eleonora; Cuper, Taryn

    2012-04-01

    International travel to underdeveloped areas where both hygienic conditions and sufficient medical care are often in short supply can pose severe health risks. Infectious disease is one of the most common health risks for military forces deployed overseas. Careful personal hygiene and early symptom recognition serve as important steps in averting potential illness. With the ubiquitous deployment threat of chemical and biological warfare agents, the benefit of early detection and action can ultimately be critical for survival. Nowadays game-based learning models, made available on mobile devices in the form of apps, can provide relevant medical knowledge, and they can effectively reach a young military population. The aims of this preliminary research project are twofold: (1) We want to investigate whether young U.S. Army personnel would be open to the use of mobile apps while deployed abroad, and (2) we want to share the research design adopted with the intent of providing a baseline methodology that can be used in future larger studies. We recruited and interviewed Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets at a university in the United States. Focus groups have been adopted as a research tool for collecting data. Open and close-ended questions were used during the focus group. Four domains were investigated: Cell phone usage, game console perceptions, game genre preferences, and gaming habits and perceptions. The analysis of the focus group data reported that young military personnel often play with videogames and that they prefer first person Action/Combat genre. The data also showed that they do not consider playing videogames to be a leisure activity but a part of their lives. The preliminary results of this study suggest that games on cell phones could be considered as a platform for teaching young military personnel medical-related concepts and health safety procedures.

  15. A recurrent central giant cell granuloma in a young patient and orthodontic treatment: a case report.

    PubMed

    Patel, Devaki; Minhas, Gursharan; Johnson, Paul

    2016-12-01

    Central giant cell granuloma (CGCG) is an uncommon benign intraosseous lesion of the jaw, found predominantly in children and young adults below 30 years of age. The purpose of this article was to present a summary of the current literature and a case report of an 11-year-old boy diagnosed with an aggressive CGCG involving the anterior maxilla that was removed in 2004 and subsequently recurred almost 3 years later in 2006. The presenting features of the patient and the effect of combined surgical and orthodontic treatment for this condition are discussed. This case shows how the dentition was successfully maintained with conservative surgery and orthodontic treatment in spite of the extensive destruction of the supporting bone, and the importance of long-term follow-up. The report also reminds orthodontic practitioners that rare pathological conditions can occur in their child patient groups.

  16. Molecular genetics of childhood, adolescent and young adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

    PubMed

    Miles, Rodney R; Shah, Rikin K; Frazer, J Kimble

    2016-05-01

    Molecular genetic abnormalities are ubiquitous in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but genetic changes are not yet used to define specific lymphoma subtypes. Certain recurrent molecular genetic abnormalities in NHL underlie molecular pathogenesis and/or are associated with prognosis or represent potential therapeutic targets. Most molecular genetic studies of B- and T-NHL have been performed on adult patient samples, and the relevance of many of these findings for childhood, adolescent and young adult NHL remains to be demonstrated. In this review, we focus on NHL subtypes that are most common in young patients and emphasize features actually studied in younger NHL patients. This approach highlights what is known about NHL genetics in young patients but also points to gaps that remain, which will require cooperative efforts to collect and share biological specimens for genomic and genetic analyses in order to help predict outcomes and guide therapy in the future. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  17. Two Young Women with Left-sided Pneumothorax Due to Thoracic Endometriosis.

    PubMed

    Yukumi, Shungo; Suzuki, Hideaki; Morimoto, Masamitsu; Shigematsu, Hisayuki; Okazaki, Mikio; Abe, Masahiro; Kitazawa, Sohei; Nakamura, Kenji; Sano, Yoshifumi

    Pneumothorax associated with thoracic endometriosis (TE) generally occurs in women around 30 years old and it usually affects the right pleural cavity. We herein report two cases of TE associated with left-sided pneumothorax in young women. The prevalence of TE in younger patients may be underestimated if these cases are treated as spontaneous pneumothorax. Pneumothorax occurring in younger patients has not been reported to show laterality. TE-related or catamenial pneumothorax in young women must therefore represent a different clinical entity from the condition seen in older patients.

  18. Lumbar disc herniation in young children.

    PubMed

    Haidar, R; Ghanem, I; Saad, S; Uthman, I

    2010-01-01

    This article explores lumbar disc herniation in young children through focusing on matters relevant to patient presentation, physical examination, differential diagnosis, imaging and treatment. Major databases were searched for studies that addressed lumbar disc herniation in young children. Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation in young children is usually delayed because of the rarity and lack of experience with this entity and the difficulty in extracting a reliable medical history. Nevertheless, lumbar disc herniation should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any young child presenting with a chief complaint of back pain and/or radiculopathy, especially in the setting of recent trauma. This should be coupled with a directed physical examination to elicit signs and narrow the differential diagnosis. Imaging studies, mainly magnetic resonance imaging, will help establish a diagnosis; yet radiographs are still required to exclude other spinal lesions. The initial management of lumbar disc herniation in children is the same as that in adults and consists of conservative treatment unless lumbar disc herniation affects the patient's motor and neurological functions in which case, early surgical treatment must be undertaken. Although the latter remains more difficult, current experience suggests a favourable outcome. Awareness of lumbar disc herniation will help the paediatrician extract a relevant medical history, perform a directed physical examination, and order appropriate imaging studies. This will aid in initiating early intervention, be it conservative or operative, and achieving a favourable outcome.

  19. Risk of metachronous neoplasia on surveillance colonoscopy in young patients with colorectal neoplasia.

    PubMed

    Kim, Hyun Gun; Cho, Young-Seok; Cha, Jae Myung; Shin, Jeong Eun; Kim, Kyeong Ok; Yang, Hyo-Joon; Koo, Hoon Sup; Joo, Young-Eun; Boo, Sun-Jin

    2018-03-01

    Few prior reports exist that address the appropriate colonoscopy surveillance interval for individuals <50 years old. We compared the risk of metachronous neoplasia between younger (20-49 years) and older (50-54 years) cohorts. This multicenter retrospective cohort study compared the incidence of metachronous neoplasia in younger and older cohorts according to baseline risk stratification. Subjects were eligible if they underwent their first colonoscopy between June 2006 and May 2010 and had at least 1 or more surveillance colonoscopy up to June 2015. Among a total of 10,477 subjects who underwent baseline colonoscopy, 9722 were eligible after excluding 755 subjects. Of those 9722 subjects, 43% underwent surveillance colonoscopy. In the baseline high-risk adenoma group (n = 840), the 3-year risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia was 10.7% in the younger patients on screening colonoscopy and 8.9% in the older patients (P > .1). In the baseline low-risk adenoma group (n = 1869), the 5-year risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia was 4.9% in the younger patients on screening colonoscopy and 5.1% in the older patients (P > .1). Similarly, in the baseline no neoplasia group (n = 7013), the 5-year risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia was 4.1% in the younger patients on screening colonoscopy and 5.6% in the older patients (P > .1). Considering the similar risk of metachronous advanced neoplasia in younger and older individuals, we suggest a 3-year surveillance interval for high-risk adenoma and a 5-year surveillance interval for low-risk adenoma in young individuals without a strong family history. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  20. An unusual case of acute parotitis in a young adult.

    PubMed

    Sehic, Azra; Haenig, Caitlin; Spear, Francis

    2017-08-01

    Acute bacterial parotitis is uncommon in young adults. Infection with Serratia marcescens is even rarer and usually found in hospitalized patients. This case report focuses on a young woman with acute bacterial parotitis caused by S. marcescens that required a longer-than-normal course of antibiotics.

  1. Struggling with cancer and treatment: young athletes recapture body control and identity through exercise: qualitative findings from a supervised group exercise program in cancer patients of mixed gender undergoing chemotherapy.

    PubMed

    Adamsen, L; Andersen, C; Midtgaard, J; Møller, T; Quist, M; Rørth, M

    2009-02-01

    Cancer and treatment can negatively affect the body's performance and appearance. Exercise has been tested in a few studies for altered body image among middle-aged women with breast cancer. The aim of the study was to explore how young pre-cancer athletes of both genders experience disease- and treatment-related physical fitness and appearance changes while undergoing chemotherapy and participating in a 6-week group exercise intervention. A prospective, explorative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted before and at termination of the intervention. The study included 22 cancer patients (median age 28 years). The young athletes experienced a change from a high level of physical activity, body satisfaction and a positive self-identity to a low level of physical activity, body denial and a negative self-identity. In the program, the patients experienced increased physical strength and recapture of certain aspects of their former positive body perception. Deterioation of muscle functions caused by chemotherapy was particularly painful to these patients, independent of gender and age. Young physically active patients are heavily dependent on their physical capacity, body satisfaction and self-identity. This should be taken into account when designing programs to rehabilitate and encourage these patients through the often-strenuous antineoplastic treatments.

  2. [Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis by Strains of Beijing Family, in Patients from Lisbon, Portugal: Preliminary Report].

    PubMed

    Maltez, Fernando; Martins, Teresa; Póvoas, Diana; Cabo, João; Peres, Helena; Antunes, Francisco; Perdigão, João; Portugal, Isabel

    2017-03-31

    Beijing family strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are associated with multidrug-resistance. Although strains of the Lisboa family are the most common among multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant patients in the region, several studies have reported the presence of the Beijing family. However, the features of patients from whom they were isolated, are not yet known. Retrospective study involving 104 multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, from the same number of patients, isolated and genotyped between 1993 and 2015 in Lisbon. We assessed the prevalence of strains of both families and the epidemiologic and clinical features of those infected with Beijing family strains. Seventy-four strains (71.2%) belonged to the Lisboa family, 25 (24.0%) showed a unique genotypic pattern and five (4.8%) belonged to the Beijing family, the latter identified after 2009. Those infected with Beijing family strains were angolan (n = 1), ukrainian (n = 2) and portuguese (n = 2), mainly young-aged and, four of five immunocompetent and with no past history of tuberculosis. All had multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. We did not find any distinctive clinical or radiological features, neither a predominant resistance pattern. Cure rate was high (four patients). Although the number of infected patients with Beijing strains was small, it suggests an important proportion of primary tuberculosis, a potential for transmission in the community but also a better clinical outcome when compared to other reported strains, such as W-Beijing and Lisboa. Although Lisboa family strains account for most of the multidrug and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis cases in Lisbon area, Beijing strains are transmitted in the city and might change the local characteristics of the epidemics.

  3. Mental health in young adults and adolescents - supporting general physicians to provide holistic care.

    PubMed

    Jurewicz, Izabela

    2015-04-01

    In the era of an ageing population, young adults on medical wards are quite rare, as only 12% of young adults report a long-term illness or disability. However, mental health problems remain prevalent in the younger population. In a recent report, mental health and obesity were listed as the most common problems in young adults. Teams set up specifically for the needs of younger adults, such as early intervention in psychosis services are shown to work better than traditional care and have also proven to be cost effective. On the medical wards, younger patients may elicit strong emotions in staff, who often feel protective and may identify strongly with the young patient's suffering. In order to provide holistic care for young adults, general physicians need to recognise common presentations of mental illness in young adults such as depression, deliberate self-harm, eating disorders and substance misuse. Apart from treating illness, health promotion is particularly important for young adults. © 2015 Royal College of Physicians.

  4. [Acculturation, bicultural identity and psychiatric morbidity in young Turkish patients in Germany].

    PubMed

    Gül, Vahdet; Kolb, Semra

    2009-01-01

    This study was designed to examine, with the use of Berry's acculturation concept (2003), personal self-esteem and collective esteem in the acculturation of young Turks in Germany. Further, it was aimed to examine whether ethnic identity is linked to better mental health. Consecutive psychiatric primary care patients with Turkish background were screened with the 5-item Acculturation Questionnaire, adopted from the Latin American Validated Acculturation Scale. The interviewed patients were also assessed for psychiatric disorders according to ICD-10. By using the acculturation questionnaire among 220 patients included to this study, 154 (70%) patients, (88 male- 57,14%, mean age:22,1 sd. +/- 3,26 and 66 female- 42,85%, mean age: 21,73 sd. +/- 1,19) were found to be relatively good adjusted (group 1), and of 66 (30%) patients (44 male- 66,6%, mean age:26,3 sd. +/-3,39 and 22 female- 33,3%, mean age:25,88 sd. +/- 3,41) were found to be relatively poor adjusted (group 2) to the host community. The psychiatric co-morbidity showed in these two groups two distinct patterns (p< 0.001). Endogenous depression and the depression caused by the conflicts in the family-milieu are significantly more common in the group I. Unlike, the depression triggered by the psycho-social maladjustment is clearly more prevalent in the group II. The predictors of good adaptation were shown to be: bilingualism, bicultural identity and Germany as country of birth, whereas poor adaptation was related to: dominance of ethnic culture and language, and being born outside of Germany. The research presented provides firm evidence for a bicultural identity through assessments of several domains of acculturation: language spoken most of the time, language thought, ethnic identity, birthplace and the degree of adjustment to the host community. Cultural identity is one of the key determinants of mental health in evaluating adaptation to the host culture among immigrants. It is vital for the mental health

  5. Young Children's Explorations: Young Children's Research?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Murray, Jane

    2012-01-01

    "Exploration" is recognised as research behaviour; anecdotally, as an early years' teacher, I witnessed many young children exploring. However, young children's self-initiated explorations are rarely regarded as research by adult researchers and policy-makers. The exclusion of young children's autonomous explorations from recognition as…

  6. Self-perceived competence and social acceptance of young children who stutter: Initial findings.

    PubMed

    Hertsberg, Naomi; Zebrowski, Patricia M

    The goals of this study were to determine whether young children who stutter (CWS) perceive their own competence and social acceptance differently than young children who do not stutter (CWNS), and to identify the predictors of perceived competence and social acceptance in young speakers. We administered the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children (PSPCSA; Harter & Pike, 1984) to 13 CWS and 14 CWNS and examined group differences. We also collected information on the children's genders, temperaments, stuttering frequencies, language abilities, and phonological skills to identify which of these factors predicted PSPCSA scores. CWS, as a group, did not differ from CWNS in their perceived general competence or social acceptance. Gender predicted scores of perceived general competence, and stuttering frequency predicted perceived social acceptance. Temperament, language abilities, and phonological skills were not significant predictors of perceived competence or social acceptance in our sample. While CWS did not significantly differ from CWNS in terms of perceived competence and social acceptance, when both talker groups were considered together, girls self-reported greater perceived competence than boys. Further, lower stuttering frequency was associated with greater perceived social acceptance. These preliminary findings provide motivation for further empirical study of the psychosocial components of childhood stuttering. Readers will be able to describe the constructs of perceived competence and social acceptance in young children, and whether early stuttering plays a role in the development of these constructs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  7. An analysis of the sequence of the BAD gene among patients with maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY).

    PubMed

    Antosik, Karolina; Gnyś, Piotr; Jarosz-Chobot, Przemysława; Myśliwiec, Małgorzata; Szadkowska, Agnieszka; Małecki, Maciej; Młynarski, Wojciech; Borowiec, Maciej

    2017-01-01

    Monogenic diabetes is a rare disease caused by single gene mutations. Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is one of the major forms of monogenic diabetes recognised in the paediatric population. To date, 13 genes have been related to MODY development. The aim of the study was to analyse the sequence of the BCL2-associated agonist of cell death (BAD) gene in patients with clinical suspicion of GCK-MODY, but who were negative for glucokinase (GCK) gene mutations. A group of 122 diabetic patients were recruited from the "Polish Registry for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes - nationwide genetic screening for monogenic diabetes" project. The molecular testing was performed by Sanger sequencing. A total of 10 sequence variants of the BAD gene were identified in 122 analysed diabetic patients. Among the analysed patients suspected of MODY, one possible pathogenic variant was identified in one patient; however, further confirmation is required for a certain identification.

  8. Study protocol for Young & Strong: a cluster randomized design to increase attention to unique issues faced by young women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

    PubMed

    Greaney, Mary L; Sprunck-Harrild, Kim; Ruddy, Kathryn J; Ligibel, Jennifer; Barry, William T; Baker, Emily; Meyer, Meghan; Emmons, Karen M; Partridge, Ann H

    2015-01-31

    Each year, approximately 11% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States are 45 years of age or younger. These women have concerns specific to or accentuated by their age, including fertility-related concerns, and have higher rates of psychosocial distress than women diagnosed at older ages. Current guidelines recommend that fertility risks be considered early in all treatment plans; however, the extant research indicates that attention to fertility by the healthcare team is limited. Importantly, attention to fertility may be a proxy for whether or not other important issues warranting attention in younger women with breast cancer are addressed, including genetic risks, psychosocial distress, sexual functioning, and body image concerns. The Young & Strong study tests the efficacy of an intervention designed for young women recently diagnosed with breast cancer and their oncologists with the intention to: 1) increase attention to fertility as an important surrogate for other issues facing young women, 2) educate and support young women and their providers, and 3) reduce psychosocial distress among young women with breast cancer. The study employs a cluster randomized design including 14 academic institutions and 40 community sites across the U.S. assigned to either the study intervention arm or contact-time comparison intervention arm. Academic institutions enroll up to 15 patients per site while community sites enroll up to 10 patients. Patient eligibility requirements include: an initial diagnosis of stage I-III invasive breast cancer within three months prior, without a known recurrence or metastatic breast cancer; 18-45 years of age at diagnosis; ability to read and write in English. The primary outcome is oncologists' attention to fertility concerns as determined by medical record review. Secondary outcomes include differences in patient satisfaction with care and psychosocial distress between the two study arms. Study findings will provide

  9. Does metformin affect ovarian morphology in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome? A retrospective cross-sectional preliminary analysis

    PubMed Central

    Falbo, Angela; Orio, Francesco; Venturella, Roberta; Rania, Erika; Materazzo, Caterina; Tolino, Achille; Zullo, Fulvio; Palomba, Stefano

    2009-01-01

    Background The significance of polycystic ovarian morphology and its relation to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unclear, but probably it is associated with higher androgen and insulin levels and lower sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in absence of identifiable differences in gonadotropin dynamics. The aim of this study was to evaluate ovarian morphology in patients affected by PCOS with different ovulatory responses to metformin. Methods In this cross-sectional analysis, we studied 20 young normal-weight PCOS patients who had received a six-month course of metformin treatment. Ten of these patients remained anovulatory (anovulatory group), whereas other ten became ovulatory, but failed to conceive (ovulatory group). Other ten age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched PCOS subjects were also enrolled as controls and observed without any treatment (control group). Results After six months of metformin, in both PCOS treated groups, a similar improvement in testosterone (T) and insulin resistance indexes was observed. Moreover, in one (10.0%) and nine (90.0%) subjects from anovulatory and ovulatory PCOS groups, respectively, ovarian morphology changed, whereas a significant reduction in ovarian dimension was observed in the PCOS ovulatory group only. Conclusion PCOS patients under metformin administration demonstrate a change in ovarian morphology closely related to ovulatory response. PMID:19480717

  10. Does metformin affect ovarian morphology in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome? A retrospective cross-sectional preliminary analysis.

    PubMed

    Falbo, Angela; Orio, Francesco; Venturella, Roberta; Rania, Erika; Materazzo, Caterina; Tolino, Achille; Zullo, Fulvio; Palomba, Stefano

    2009-05-31

    The significance of polycystic ovarian morphology and its relation to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unclear, but probably it is associated with higher androgen and insulin levels and lower sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in absence of identifiable differences in gonadotropin dynamics. The aim of this study was to evaluate ovarian morphology in patients affected by PCOS with different ovulatory responses to metformin. In this cross-sectional analysis, we studied 20 young normal-weight PCOS patients who had received a six-month course of metformin treatment. Ten of these patients remained anovulatory (anovulatory group), whereas other ten became ovulatory, but failed to conceive (ovulatory group). Other ten age- and body mass index (BMI)-matched PCOS subjects were also enrolled as controls and observed without any treatment (control group). After six months of metformin, in both PCOS treated groups, a similar improvement in testosterone (T) and insulin resistance indexes was observed. Moreover, in one (10.0%) and nine (90.0%) subjects from anovulatory and ovulatory PCOS groups, respectively, ovarian morphology changed, whereas a significant reduction in ovarian dimension was observed in the PCOS ovulatory group only. PCOS patients under metformin administration demonstrate a change in ovarian morphology closely related to ovulatory response.

  11. Facilitating Teamwork in Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology

    PubMed Central

    Macpherson, Catherine Fiona; Smith, Ashley W.; Block, Rebecca G.; Keyton, Joann

    2016-01-01

    A case of a young adult patient in the days immediately after a cancer diagnosis illustrates the critical importance of three interrelated core coordinating mechanisms—closed-loop communication, shared mental models, and mutual trust—of teamwork in an adolescent and young adult multidisciplinary oncology team. The case illustrates both the opportunities to increase team member coordination and the problems that can occur when coordination breaks down. A model for teamwork is presented, which highlights the relationships among these coordinating mechanisms and demonstrates how balance among them works to optimize team function and patient care. Implications for clinical practice and research suggested by the case are presented. PMID:27624944

  12. Safety and preliminary efficacy of deep transcranial magnetic stimulation in MS-related fatigue

    PubMed Central

    Gaede, Gunnar; Tiede, Marina; Lorenz, Ina; Brandt, Alexander U.; Pfueller, Caspar; Dörr, Jan; Bellmann-Strobl, Judith; Piper, Sophie K.; Roth, Yiftach; Zangen, Abraham; Schippling, Sven

    2017-01-01

    Objective: To conduct a randomized, sham-controlled phase I/IIa study to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of deep brain H-coil repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the primary motor cortex (MC) in patients with MS with fatigue or depression (NCT01106365). Methods: Thirty-three patients with MS were recruited to undergo 18 consecutive rTMS sessions over 6 weeks, followed by follow-up (FU) assessments over 6 weeks. Patients were randomized to receive high-frequency stimulation of the left PFC, MC, or sham stimulation. Primary end point was the safety of stimulation. Preliminary efficacy was assessed based on changes in Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Beck Depression Inventory scores. Randomization allowed only analysis of preliminary efficacy for fatigue. Results: No serious adverse events were observed. Five patients terminated participation during treatment due to mild side effects. Treatment resulted in a significant median FSS decrease of 1.0 point (95%CI [0.45,1.65]), which was sustained during FU. Conclusions: H-coil rTMS is safe and well tolerated in patients with MS. The observed sustained reduction in fatigue after subthreshold MC stimulation warrants further investigation. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01106365. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that rTMS of the prefrontal or primary MC is not associated with serious adverse effects, although this study is underpowered to state this with any precision. PMID:29259998

  13. IGF-1 and Insulin Resistance Are Major Determinants of Common Carotid Artery Thickness in Morbidly Obese Young Patients.

    PubMed

    Sirbu, Anca; Nicolae, Horia; Martin, Sorina; Barbu, Carmen; Copaescu, Catalin; Florea, Suzana; Panea, Cristina; Fica, Simona

    2016-03-01

    We assessed the relationship between insulin resistance, serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels, and common carotid intima-media thickness (CC-IMT) in morbidly obese young patients. A total of 249 patients (aged 37.9 ± 9.8 years, body mass index [BMI] 45.6 ± 8.3 kg/m(2)) were evaluated (metabolic tests, serum IGF-1 measurements, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance [HOMA-IR], and ultrasonographically assessed CC-IMT) in a research program for bariatric surgery candidates. After adjusting for age, gender, BMI, systolic blood pressure, uric acid, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering treatment, metabolic syndrome, and metabolic class, both HOMA-IR and IGF-1 z-score were significantly associated with CC-IMT. These results were confirmed in logistic regression analysis, in which age (β = 1.11, P = .001), gender (β = 3.19, P = .001), HOMA-IR (β = 1.221, P = .005), and IGF-1 z-score (β = 1.734, P = .009) were the only independent determinants of abnormal CC-IMT, presumably modulating the effect of the other risk factors included in the regression. Area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for the model was 0.841 (confidence interval: 0.776-0.907; P < .001). In conclusion, in morbidly obese young adults, insulin resistance and IGF-1 z-score are significantly associated with CC-IMT, independent of other major cardiovascular risk factors. © The Author(s) 2015.

  14. Short Communication: Lack of Support for Socially Connected HIV-1 Transmission Among Young Adult Black Men Who Have Sex with Men.

    PubMed

    Fujimoto, Kayo; Coghill, Lyndon M; Weier, Christopher A; Hwang, Lu-Yu; Kim, Ju Yeong; Schneider, John A; Metzker, Michael L; Brown, Jeremy M

    2017-09-01

    We explore the phylogenetic relationships among HIV sequences sampled from young adult black men who have sex with men (YAB-MSM), who are connected through peer referral/social ties and who attend common venues. Using 196 viral sequences sampled from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 10 individuals, our preliminary phylogenetic results indicate that these socially connected YAB-MSM are infected with distantly related viruses and provide no evidence for viral transmission between network members. Our results suggest that HIV-prevention strategies that target young adult MSM should extend beyond their network members and local community.

  15. Patient-Reported Outcomes, Quality of Life, and Satisfaction Rates in Young Patients Aged 50 Years or Younger After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

    PubMed

    Goh, Graham Seow-Hng; Liow, Ming Han Lincoln; Bin Abd Razak, Hamid Rahmatullah; Tay, Darren Keng-Jin; Lo, Ngai-Nung; Yeo, Seng-Jin

    2017-02-01

    Recent studies have shown a discrepancy between traditional functional outcomes and patient satisfaction, with some reporting less than 85% satisfaction in older patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). As native knee biomechanics are not completely replicated, the resulting functional limitations may cause dissatisfaction in higher-demand individuals. Few studies have recorded patient-reported outcomes, health-related quality of life scores, and patient satisfaction in a young population undergoing TKA. One hundred thirty-six primary TKAs were performed in 114 patients aged 50 years or younger (mean age, 47.0 years; range, 30-50 years) at a single institution. The main diagnoses were osteoarthritis (85%) and rheumatoid arthritis (10%). The range of motion, Knee Society Score, Oxford Knee Score, and Physical and Mental Component Scores of Short Form-36 increased significantly (P < .001). At 2 years, 85.3% of patients had good/excellent knee scores, 71.3% had good/excellent function scores, 94.9% met the minimal clinically important difference for the Oxford Knee Score, and 84.6% met the minimal clinically important difference for the Physical Component Score. We found that 88.8% of patients were satisfied with their surgeries, whereas 86.8% had their expectations fulfilled. Survivorship using revision as an end point was 97.8% at a mean of 7 years (range, 3-16 years). Patients aged 50 years or younger undergoing TKA can experience significant improvements in their quality of life, have their expectations met, and be satisfied with their surgeries, at rates similar to those of non-age-restricted populations. Surgeons should inform them of these benefits and the potential risk of revision surgery in the future, albeit increasingly shown to be low. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  16. Development and Preliminary Psychometric Properties of the Transition Competence Battery for Deaf Adolescents and Young Adults.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bullis, Michael; Reiman, John

    1992-01-01

    The Transition Competence Battery for Deaf Adolescents and Young Adults (TCB) measures employment and independent living skills. The TCB was standardized on students (N from 180 to 230 for the different subtests) from both mainstreamed and residential settings. Item statistics and subtest reliabilities were adequate; evidence of construct validity…

  17. Introduction to Adolescent and Young Adult Cancers

    Cancer.gov

    Cancer researchers, advocates, and a cancer survivor introduce the topic of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers, covering distinct aspects of cancer in these patients and research questions to answer.

  18. Emergency Department Visits by Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients Compared with Pediatric Cancer Patients in the United States.

    PubMed

    Kaul, Sapna; Russell, Heidi; Livingston, John A; Kirchhoff, Anne C; Jupiter, Daniel

    2018-06-20

    Limited information exists on emergency department (ED) visits for adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer. We examined the clinical reasons for ED visits, and outcomes, for AYAs with cancer compared to pediatric cancer patients. The 2013 Nationwide Emergency Department Sample data were used to identify 53,274 AYA (ages 15-39) and 6952 pediatric (ages 0-14) cancer ED visits. We evaluated patient (i.e., demographic and diagnosis) and hospital characteristics, and the ED event outcome (admitted to the same hospital or treated/released). Clinical reasons for visits were identified as procedures, infections, or noninfectious toxicities. Variables were compared between groups using chi-squared tests. Logistic regressions identified characteristics associated with the outcome between and within groups. AYA cancer visits were more likely to be self-paid (15.8% vs. 1.9%, p < 0.001), and be from low-income households and nonmetro counties than pediatric visits. Toxicity was the most prevalent reason for AYA visits (46.0%) and infections for pediatrics (47.3%, p < 0.001). AYA cancer visits were less likely to be admitted (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.71-0.98; p = 0.03) than pediatric cancer. Among AYAs, self-paid visits were less likely to be admitted compared with privately insured visits (OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.52-0.66, p < 0.001). Self-pay did not affect the outcome for pediatric visits. In the United States, compared with pediatric cancer patients, AYAs with cancer visit EDs more often for toxicity-related problems, and are more often self-paid and from poorer households. These distinctive features impacting health service use should be incorporated into care plans aimed at delineating effective care for these patients.

  19. Effects of virtual reality-based training with BTs-Nirvana on functional recovery in stroke patients: preliminary considerations.

    PubMed

    De Luca, Rosaria; Russo, Margherita; Naro, Antonino; Tomasello, Provvidenza; Leonardi, Simona; Santamaria, Floriana; Desireè, Latella; Bramanti, Alessia; Silvestri, Giuseppe; Bramanti, Placido; Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore

    2018-02-02

    Cognitive impairment occurs frequently in post-stroke patients. This study aimed to determine the effects of a virtual reality training (VRT) with BTs-Nirvana (BTsN) on the recovery of cognitive functions in stroke patients, using the Interactive-Semi-Immersive Program (I-SIP). We enrolled 12 subjects (randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (EG); and control group (CG)), who attended the Laboratory of Robotic and Cognitive Rehabilitation of IRCCS Neurolesi of Messina from January to June 2016. The EG underwent a VRT with BTsN, whereas CG received a standard cognitive treatment. Both the groups underwent the same conventional physiotherapy program. Each treatment session lasted 45 minutes and was repeated three times a week for 8 weeks. All the patients were evaluated by a specific clinical-psychometric battery before (T0), immediately (T1), and one month (T2) after the end of the training. At T1, the EG presented a greater improvement in the trunk control test (p = 0.03), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (p = 0.01), the selective attention assessment scores (p = 0.01), the verbal memory (p = 0.03), and the visuospatial and constructive abilities (p = 0.01), as compared to CG. Moreover, such amelioration persisted at T2 only in the EG. According to these preliminary data, VRT with I-SIP can be considered a useful complementary treatment to potentiate functional recovery, with regard to attention, visual-spatial deficits, and motor function in patients affected by stroke.

  20. The LARI Experience - Young Stellar Light Curves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Cook, Michael J.; Coveyl, Kevin; Heiland, Leo; Steffens, Gary W.

    2015-05-01

    The Lowell Observatory has had a long and rich history of professional-amateur (Pro-Am) collaborations beginning with the observatory's founder, Percival Lowell. The Lowell Amateur Research Initiative (LARI) was launched in 2012 to formally involve amateur astronomers in scientific research by bringing them to the attention of and helping professional astronomers with their research endeavours. One of the LARI projects is the BVRI photometric monitoring of Young Stellar Objects (YSOs), wherein amateurs obtain observations to search for new outburst events and characterize the colour evolution of previously identified outbursters. We summarize the scientific and organizational aspects of this LARI program, including its goals and science motivation, the process for getting involved with the project, the current team members and their equipment, our unique methods of collaboration, programme stars, preliminary findings, and lessons learned.

  1. Risk factors for lung function decline in a large cohort of young cystic fibrosis patients.

    PubMed

    Cogen, Jonathan; Emerson, Julia; Sanders, Don B; Ren, Clement; Schechter, Michael S; Gibson, Ronald L; Morgan, Wayne; Rosenfeld, Margaret

    2015-08-01

    To identify novel risk factors and corroborate previously identified risk factors for mean annual decline in FEV1% predicted in a large, contemporary, United States cohort of young cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. Retrospective observational study of participants in the EPIC Observational Study, who were Pseudomonas-negative and ≤12 years of age at enrollment in 2004-2006. The associations between potential demographic, clinical, and environmental risk factors evaluated during the baseline year and subsequent mean annual decline in FEV1 percent predicted were evaluated using generalized estimating equations. The 946 participants in the current analysis were followed for a mean of 6.2 (SD 1.3) years. Mean annual decline in FEV1% predicted was 1.01% (95%CI 0.85-1.17%). Children with one or no F508del mutations had a significantly smaller annual decline in FEV1 compared to F508del homozygotes. In a multivariable model, risk factors during the baseline year associated with a larger subsequent mean annual lung function decline included female gender, frequent or productive cough, low BMI (<66th percentile, median in the cohort), ≥1 pulmonary exacerbation, high FEV1 (≥115% predicted, in the top quartile), and respiratory culture positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, or Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. We have identified a range of risk factors for FEV1 decline in a large cohort of young, CF patients who were Pa negative at enrollment, including novel as well as previously identified characteristics. These results could inform the design of a clinical trial in which rate of FEV1 decline is the primary endpoint and identify high-risk groups that may benefit from closer monitoring. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  2. Digital comparison of healthy young adults and borderline patients engaged in non-suicidal self-injury.

    PubMed

    Stroehmer, Rachel; Edel, Marc A; Pott, Steffi; Juckel, Georg; Haussleiter, Ida S

    2015-01-01

    It still remains unclear whether non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in young adult populations represents an actual symptom leading to psychiatric illness, constitutes a disorder itself or is rather a cultural peer influence. The purpose of this web-based qualitative cross-sectional study was to characterize NSSI (type of injury, frequency, tools, body parts, circumstances) in 50 patients with borderline personality disorder (NSSI + BPD) in direct comparison with 50 age and gender matched non-clinical young adults (NSSI - BPD), all of them currently or previously engaged in NSSI. Self-harming participants completed an open-access, anonymous 75-items questionnaire including the temperament questionnaire briefTEMPS-M. The mean age of NSSI onset was 20.56 ± 6.36 (NSSI + BPD) and 17.5 ± 9.28 years (NSSI - BPD), respectively (p = 0.261). NSSI - BPD participants (1) rarely sought out medical treatment (p < 0.001) and differed significantly from BPD patients; They (2) reported more often fear and disappointment as feelings preceding their self-harm (p < 0.001 each); (3) cut themselves in more locations (p = 0.005) and (4) in rather hidden areas (lower limb, proximal) (p = 0.002); (5) had lower depressive temperament scores (p = 0.007); and (6) scored generally fewer character traits "at risk" (p = 0.043) with a lower total score (p = 0.018). NSSI tended to onset slightly earlier in life and in different shape when BPD was absent. Our findings support current approaches of early NSSI recognition and identification of risk profiles. Further prospective studies, which have to be sufficiently large and longitudinal, are needed and of great importance.

  3. Mental illness and suicide after self-harm among young adults: long-term follow-up of self-harm patients, admitted to hospital care, in a national cohort.

    PubMed

    Beckman, K; Mittendorfer-Rutz, E; Lichtenstein, P; Larsson, H; Almqvist, C; Runeson, B; Dahlin, M

    2016-12-01

    Self-harm among young adults is a common and increasing phenomenon in many parts of the world. The long-term prognosis after self-harm at young age is inadequately known. We aimed to estimate the risk of mental illness and suicide in adult life after self-harm in young adulthood and to identify prognostic factors for adverse outcome. We conducted a national population-based matched case-cohort study. Patients aged 18-24 years (n = 13 731) hospitalized after self-harm between 1990 and 2003 and unexposed individuals of the same age (n = 137 310 ) were followed until December 2009. Outcomes were suicide, psychiatric hospitalization and psychotropic medication in short-term (1-5 years) and long-term (>5 years) follow-up. Self-harm implied an increased relative risk of suicide during follow-up [hazard ratio (HR) 16.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 12.9-20.9). At long-term follow-up, 20.3% had psychiatric hospitalizations and 51.1% psychotropic medications, most commonly antidepressants and anxiolytics. There was a six-fold risk of psychiatric hospitalization (HR 6.3, 95% CI 5.8-6.8) and almost three-fold risk of psychotropic medication (HR 2.8, 95% CI 2.7-3.0) in long-term follow-up. Mental disorder at baseline, especially a psychotic disorder, and a family history of suicide were associated with adverse outcome among self-harm patients. We found highly increased risks of future mental illness and suicide among young adults after self-harm. A history of a mental disorder was an important indicator of long-term adverse outcome. Clinicians should consider the substantially increased risk of suicide among self-harm patients with psychotic disorders.

  4. Pain experience, expression and coping in boys and young men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy - A pilot study using mixed methods.

    PubMed

    Hunt, Anne; Carter, Bernie; Abbott, Janice; Parker, Arija; Spinty, Stefan; deGoede, Christian

    2016-07-01

    There is limited research exploring the pain experience of boys and young men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study to assess the feasibility of using particular measures of pain, pain coping and quality of life within semi-structured interviews with boys and young men with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and a postal survey of their parents. Non-probability, convenience sampling was used. Twelve young men aged 11-21 years (median 15 years), three of whom were still ambulant, and their parents/guardians were recruited. The measures used were acceptable to the young men and demonstrated potential to provide useful data. Two-thirds of young men suffered from significant daily pain which was associated with reduced quality of life. Pain complaints were largely kept within the family. Young men's pain-coping strategies were limited by their restricted physical abilities. Statistical power based on these preliminary results suggests a study of approximately 50 boys/young men which appears feasible. Further study is needed to explore acceptable and effective methods of pain management in this population and ways of enhancing pain-coping strategies. In clinical practice, assessment of pains and discomfort should form part of all routine consultations. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

  5. Patient-reported outcome measure for neuromyelitis optica: pretesting of preliminary instrument and protocol for further development in accordance with international guidelines.

    PubMed

    Moore, P; Jackson, C; Mutch, K; Methley, A; Pollard, C; Hamid, S; Jacob, A

    2016-09-30

    This study outlines the development of a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), an instrument to obtain self-reported health status for neuromyeltis optica (NMO), a disabling neurological condition. Development was conducted in accordance with international guidance for PROMs including systematic review of existing literature, item generation guided by qualitative interviews, health-related quality of life conceptual framework and clinical expert panel and cognitive interviews with NMO patients. Participants were identified through a national NMO clinic in a tertiary NHS neurosciences service. 15 individuals with NMO participated in cognitive interviews requiring review and ranking of proposed PROM items and qualitative feedback on content, layout and response options. Participants endorsed the draft instrument as reflecting their experience of the condition and as being easy to understand. Rating and ranking of item relevance and importance reduced the draft instrument from 106 to 48 items. Participant feedback on overlapping items eliminated a further 2 items and resulted in a preliminary instrument of 46 items. As a direct result of participant feedback ordering of the 10 domains was revised, a 4 option Likert scale was employed and a 4-week recall period for impact of symptoms was selected. A 46-item instrument developed in accordance with international PROM development guidelines through literature review, developed by subject matter experts and refined through pretesting examining content validity provides a preliminary measure for assessing patient-report of health status in NMO. Further evaluation is proposed including sensitivity to clinical change, and international contributions to evaluating the measure are encouraged. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

  6. Involving children and young people in clinical research through the forum of a European Young Persons' Advisory Group: needs and challenges.

    PubMed

    Gaillard, Segolene; Malik, Salma; Preston, Jenny; Escalera, Begonya Nafria; Dicks, Pamela; Touil, Nathalie; Mardirossian, Sandrine; Claverol-Torres, Joana; Kassaï, Behrouz

    2018-02-19

    Children and young people are seen as fundamental to the design and delivery of clinical research as active and reflective participants. In Europe, involvement of children and young people in clinical research is promoted extensively in order to engage young people in research as partners and to give them a voice to raise their own issues or opinions and for their involvement in planning and decision making in addition to learning research skills. Children and young people can be trained in clinical research through participation in young person advisory groups (YPAGs). Members of YPAGs assist other children and young people to learn about clinical research and share their experience and point of view with researchers, thereby possibly influencing all phases of research including the development and prioritization of research questions, design and methods, recruitment plans, and strategies for results dissemination. In the long term, the expansion of YPAGs in Europe will serve as a driving force for refining pediatric clinical research. It will help in a better definition of research projects according to the patients' needs. Furthermore, direct engagement of children and young people in research will be favorable to both researchers and young people. © 2018 Société Française de Pharmacologie et de Thérapeutique.

  7. Mental Stress-Induced-Myocardial Ischemia in Young Patients With Recent Myocardial Infarction: Sex Differences and Mechanisms.

    PubMed

    Vaccarino, Viola; Sullivan, Samaah; Hammadah, Muhammad; Wilmot, Kobina; Al Mheid, Ibhar; Ramadan, Ronnie; Elon, Lisa; Pimple, Pratik M; Garcia, Ernest V; Nye, Jonathon; Shah, Amit J; Alkhoder, Ayman; Levantsevych, Oleksiy; Gay, Hawkins; Obideen, Malik; Huang, Minxuan; Lewis, Tené T; Bremner, J Douglas; Quyyumi, Arshed A; Raggi, Paolo

    2018-02-20

    Mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI) is frequent in patients with coronary artery disease and is associated with worse prognosis. Young women with a previous myocardial infarction (MI), a group with unexplained higher mortality than men of comparable age, have shown elevated rates of MSIMI, but the mechanisms are unknown. We studied 306 patients (150 women and 156 men) ≤61 years of age who were hospitalized for MI in the previous 8 months and 112 community controls (58 women and 54 men) frequency matched for sex and age to the patients with MI. Endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilation and microvascular reactivity (reactive hyperemia index) were measured at rest and 30 minutes after mental stress. The digital vasomotor response to mental stress was assessed using peripheral arterial tonometry. Patients received 99m Tc-sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging at rest, with mental (speech task) and conventional (exercise/pharmacological) stress. The mean age of the sample was 50 years (range, 22-61). In the MI group but not among controls, women had a more adverse socioeconomic and psychosocial profile than men. There were no sex differences in cardiovascular risk factors, and among patients with MI, clinical severity tended to be lower in women. Women in both groups showed a higher peripheral arterial tonometry ratio during mental stress but a lower reactive hyperemia index after mental stress, indicating enhanced microvascular dysfunction after stress. There were no sex differences in flow-mediated dilation changes with mental stress. The rate of MSIMI was twice as high in women as in men (22% versus 11%, P =0.009), and ischemia with conventional stress was similarly elevated (31% versus 16%, P =0.002). Psychosocial and clinical risk factors did not explain sex differences in inducible ischemia. Although vascular responses to mental stress (peripheral arterial tonometry ratio and reactive hyperemia index) also did not explain sex differences in

  8. Long-term safety and efficacy of deferasirox in young pediatric patients with transfusional hemosiderosis: Results from a 5-year observational study (ENTRUST).

    PubMed

    Vichinsky, Elliott; El-Beshlawy, Amal; Al Zoebie, Azzam; Kamdem, Annie; Koussa, Suzanne; Chotsampancharoen, Thirachit; Bruederle, Andreas; Gilotti, Geralyn; Han, Jackie; Elalfy, Mohsen

    2017-09-01

    Children with red blood cell disorders may receive regular transfusions from an early age and consequently accumulate iron. Adequate iron chelation therapy can prevent organ damage and delayed growth/development. Deferasirox is indicated for treatment of pediatric patients with chronic iron overload due to transfusional hemosiderosis; however, fewer than 10% of patients in the registration studies were aged 2 to less than 6 years. Deferasirox, a once-daily oral iron chelator, was evaluated in young pediatric patients with transfusional hemosiderosis during the observational 5-year ENTRUST study. Patients aged 2 to less than 6 years at enrollment received deferasirox according to local prescribing information, with the primary objective of evaluating safety, specifically renal and hepatic function. Serum ferritin was observed as a surrogate efficacy parameter. In total, 267 patients (mean age 3.2 years) predominantly with β-thalassemia (n = 176, 65.9%) were enrolled. Mean ± standard deviation deferasirox dose was 25.8 ± 6.5 mg/kg per day over a median of 59.9 months. A total of 145 patients (54.3%) completed 5 years' treatment. The proportion of patients with two or more consecutive postbaseline measurements (≥7 days apart) of serum creatinine higher than age-adjusted upper limit of normal (ULN) and alanine aminotransferase more than five times the ULN was 4.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1-7.9) and 4.0% (95% CI: 1.8-7.4), respectively. Median serum ferritin decreased from 1,702 ng/ml at baseline to 1,127 ng/ml at 5 years. There were no new safety signals. Safety and efficacy of deferasirox in young pediatric patients in this long-term, observational study in everyday clinical practice were consistent with the known deferasirox profile. © 2017 The Authors. Pediatric Blood & Cancer Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  9. Interactive Block Games for Assessing Children's Cognitive Skills: Design and Preliminary Evaluation.

    PubMed

    Lee, Kiju; Jeong, Donghwa; Schindler, Rachael C; Hlavaty, Laura E; Gross, Susan I; Short, Elizabeth J

    2018-01-01

    Background: This paper presents design and results from preliminary evaluation of Tangible Geometric Games (TAG-Games) for cognitive assessment in young children. The TAG-Games technology employs a set of sensor-integrated cube blocks, called SIG-Blocks, and graphical user interfaces for test administration and real-time performance monitoring. TAG-Games were administered to children from 4 to 8 years of age for evaluating preliminary efficacy of this new technology-based approach. Methods: Five different sets of SIG-Blocks comprised of geometric shapes, segmented human faces, segmented animal faces, emoticons, and colors, were used for three types of TAG-Games, including Assembly, Shape Matching, and Sequence Memory. Computational task difficulty measures were defined for each game and used to generate items with varying difficulty. For preliminary evaluation, TAG-Games were tested on 40 children. To explore the clinical utility of the information assessed by TAG-Games, three subtests of the age-appropriate Wechsler tests (i.e., Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, and Picture Concept) were also administered. Results: Internal consistency of TAG-Games was evaluated by the split-half reliability test. Weak to moderate correlations between Assembly and Block Design, Shape Matching and Matrix Reasoning, and Sequence Memory and Picture Concept were found. The computational measure of task complexity for each TAG-Game showed a significant correlation with participants' performance. In addition, age-correlations on TAG-Game scores were found, implying its potential use for assessing children's cognitive skills autonomously.

  10. Interactive Block Games for Assessing Children's Cognitive Skills: Design and Preliminary Evaluation

    PubMed Central

    Lee, Kiju; Jeong, Donghwa; Schindler, Rachael C.; Hlavaty, Laura E.; Gross, Susan I.; Short, Elizabeth J.

    2018-01-01

    Background: This paper presents design and results from preliminary evaluation of Tangible Geometric Games (TAG-Games) for cognitive assessment in young children. The TAG-Games technology employs a set of sensor-integrated cube blocks, called SIG-Blocks, and graphical user interfaces for test administration and real-time performance monitoring. TAG-Games were administered to children from 4 to 8 years of age for evaluating preliminary efficacy of this new technology-based approach. Methods: Five different sets of SIG-Blocks comprised of geometric shapes, segmented human faces, segmented animal faces, emoticons, and colors, were used for three types of TAG-Games, including Assembly, Shape Matching, and Sequence Memory. Computational task difficulty measures were defined for each game and used to generate items with varying difficulty. For preliminary evaluation, TAG-Games were tested on 40 children. To explore the clinical utility of the information assessed by TAG-Games, three subtests of the age-appropriate Wechsler tests (i.e., Block Design, Matrix Reasoning, and Picture Concept) were also administered. Results: Internal consistency of TAG-Games was evaluated by the split-half reliability test. Weak to moderate correlations between Assembly and Block Design, Shape Matching and Matrix Reasoning, and Sequence Memory and Picture Concept were found. The computational measure of task complexity for each TAG-Game showed a significant correlation with participants' performance. In addition, age-correlations on TAG-Game scores were found, implying its potential use for assessing children's cognitive skills autonomously. PMID:29868520

  11. Employing Machine-Learning Methods to Study Young Stellar Objects

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moore, Nicholas

    2018-01-01

    Vast amounts of data exist in the astronomical data archives, and yet a large number of sources remain unclassified. We developed a multi-wavelength pipeline to classify infrared sources. The pipeline uses supervised machine learning methods to classify objects into the appropriate categories. The program is fed data that is already classified to train it, and is then applied to unknown catalogues. The primary use for such a pipeline is the rapid classification and cataloging of data that would take a much longer time to classify otherwise. While our primary goal is to study young stellar objects (YSOs), the applications extend beyond the scope of this project. We present preliminary results from our analysis and discuss future applications.

  12. "I Got My Diagnosis on a Yellow Post-it Note": Young Adult Cancer Patients' Experiences of the Process of Being Diagnosed With Cancer.

    PubMed

    Hauken, May Aasebø; Hølge-Hazelton, Bibbi; Larsen, Torill M B

    2018-06-01

    Cancer in young adults is rare but young adult cancer patients (YACPs) are at an increased risk of severe physical and psychosocial impairments during cancer treatment and survivorship. However, little is known about the onset of this process. The aim of this study was to explore how young cancer survivors experience the process of being diagnosed with cancer. A qualitative method founded on a phenomenological-hermeneutical approach was used and included in-depth interviews with 20 young adult survivors (aged 24-35 years) with different cancer diagnoses, analyzed by Systematic Text Condensation. The participants' experiences of the diagnosis process were elaborated according to 3 main themes: (1) "I felt something was wrong, but…," (2) "The traumatic uncertainty," and (3) "The day my world collapsed." The findings indicate that the YACPs experienced a diagnosis of cancer as a highly traumatic and long-lasting process, characterized by lack of information and uncertainty. The findings indicate that healthcare professionals do not acknowledge the vulnerable phase of life and transitional challenges of YACPs. The findings highlight the need to raise awareness of cancer in young adulthood in the public and in the primary healthcare system, to shorten the diagnosis process, and to clarify responsibility for age-related information and psychosocial follow-up during the diagnosis process. Further research is highly warranted.

  13. Early impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on insurance among young adults with cancer: Analysis of the dependent insurance provision.

    PubMed

    Parsons, Helen M; Schmidt, Susanne; Tenner, Laura L; Bang, Heejung; Keegan, Theresa H M

    2016-06-01

    The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) included provisions to extend dependent health care coverage up to the age of 26 years in 2010. The authors examined the early impact of the ACA (before the implementation of insurance exchanges in 2014) on insurance rates in young adults with cancer, a historically underinsured group. Using National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data for 18 cancer registries, the authors examined insurance rates before (pre) (January 2007-September 2010) versus after (post) (October 2010-December 2012) dependent insurance provisions among young adults aged 18 to 29 years when diagnosed with cancer during 2007 through 2012. Using multivariate generalized mixed effect models, the authors conducted difference-in-differences analysis to examine changes in overall and Medicaid insurance after the ACA among young adults who were eligible (those aged 18-25 years) and ineligible (those aged 26-29 years) for policy changes. Among 39,632 young adult cancer survivors, the authors found an increase in overall insurance rates in those aged 18 to 25 years after the dependent provisions (83.5% for pre-ACA vs 85.4% for post-ACA; P<.01), but not among individuals aged 26 to 29 years (83.4% for pre-ACA vs 82.9% for post-ACA; P = .38). After adjusting for patient sociodemographics and cancer characteristics, the authors found that those aged 18 to 25 years had a 3.1% increase in being insured compared with individuals aged 26 to 29 years (P<.01); however, there were no significant changes noted in Medicaid enrollment (P = .17). The findings of the current study identify an increase in insurance rates for young adults aged 18 to 25 years compared with those aged 26 to 29 years (1.9% vs -0.5%) that was not due to increases in Medicaid enrollment, thereby demonstrating a positive impact of the ACA dependent care provisions on insurance rates in this population. Cancer 2016;122:1766-73. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

  14. Performance adaptive training control strategy for recovering wrist movements in stroke patients: a preliminary, feasibility study

    PubMed Central

    2009-01-01

    Background In the last two decades robot training in neuromotor rehabilitation was mainly focused on shoulder-elbow movements. Few devices were designed and clinically tested for training coordinated movements of the wrist, which are crucial for achieving even the basic level of motor competence that is necessary for carrying out ADLs (activities of daily life). Moreover, most systems of robot therapy use point-to-point reaching movements which tend to emphasize the pathological tendency of stroke patients to break down goal-directed movements into a number of jerky sub-movements. For this reason we designed a wrist robot with a range of motion comparable to that of normal subjects and implemented a self-adapting training protocol for tracking smoothly moving targets in order to facilitate the emergence of smoothness in the motor control patterns and maximize the recovery of the normal RoM (range of motion) of the different DoFs (degrees of Freedom). Methods The IIT-wrist robot is a 3 DoFs light exoskeleton device, with direct-drive of each DoF and a human-like range of motion for Flexion/Extension (FE), Abduction/Adduction (AA) and Pronation/Supination (PS). Subjects were asked to track a variable-frequency oscillating target using only one wrist DoF at time, in such a way to carry out a progressive splinting therapy. The RoM of each DoF was angularly scanned in a staircase-like fashion, from the "easier" to the "more difficult" angular position. An Adaptive Controller evaluated online performance parameters and modulated both the assistance and the difficulty of the task in order to facilitate smoother and more precise motor command patterns. Results Three stroke subjects volunteered to participate in a preliminary test session aimed at verify the acceptability of the device and the feasibility of the designed protocol. All of them were able to perform the required task. The wrist active RoM of motion was evaluated for each patient at the beginning and at the end

  15. Normal overall mortality rate in Addison's disease, but young patients are at risk of premature death.

    PubMed

    Erichsen, Martina M; Løvås, Kristian; Fougner, Kristian J; Svartberg, Johan; Hauge, Erik R; Bollerslev, Jens; Berg, Jens P; Mella, Bjarne; Husebye, Eystein S

    2009-02-01

    Primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) is a rare autoimmune disease. Until recently, life expectancy in Addison's disease patients was considered normal. To determine the mortality rate in Addison's disease patients. i) Patients registered with Addison's disease in Norway during 1943-2005 were identified through search in hospital diagnosis registries. Scrutiny of the medical records provided diagnostic accuracy and age at diagnosis. ii) The patients who had died were identified from the National Directory of Residents. iii) Background mortality data were obtained from Statistics Norway, and standard mortality rate (SMR) calculated. iv) Death diagnoses were obtained from the Norwegian Death Cause Registry. Totally 811 patients with Addison's disease were identified, of whom 147 were deceased. Overall SMR was 1.15 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.96-1.35), similar in females (1.18 (0.92-1.44)) and males (1.10 (0.80-1.39)). Patients diagnosed before the age of 40 had significantly elevated SMR at 1.50 (95% CI 1.09-2.01), most pronounced in males (2.03 (1.19-2.86)). Acute adrenal failure was a major cause of death; infection and sudden death were more common than in the general population. The mean ages at death for females (75.7 years) and males (64.8 years) were 3.2 and 11.2 years less than the estimated life expectancy. Addison's disease is still a potentially lethal condition, with excess mortality in acute adrenal failure, infection, and sudden death in patients diagnosed at young age. Otherwise, the prognosis is excellent for patients with Addison's disease.

  16. Learning Lives of North Korean Young Defectors: A Preliminary Study of Reconstructing Identity in Career Development

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Park, Hyewon; Kim, Junghwan; Schied, Fred M.

    2015-01-01

    This study of eleven young North Korean Defectors (NKDs) examines how they engage in daily learning focusing on the process of identity reconstruction through their attempt to engage in career development activities. For the purposes of this paper one case was selected to illustrate how a reconstructed identity is learned. The main research…

  17. Hand Robotics Rehabilitation: Feasibility and Preliminary Results of a Robotic Treatment in Patients with Hemiparesis

    PubMed Central

    Sale, Patrizio; Lombardi, Valentina; Franceschini, Marco

    2012-01-01

    Background. No strongly clinical evidence about the use of hand robot-assisted therapy in stroke patients was demonstrated. This preliminary observer study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of intensive robot-assisted therapy in hand function recovery, in the early phase after a stroke onset. Methods. Seven acute ischemic stroke patients at their first-ever stroke were enrolled. Treatment was performed using Amadeo robotic system (Tyromotion GmbH Graz, Austria). Each participant received, in addition to inpatients standard rehabilitative treatment, 20 sessions of robotic treatment for 4 consecutive weeks (5 days/week). Each session lasted for 40 minutes. The exercises were carried out as follows: passive modality (5 minutes), passive/plus modality (5 minutes), assisted therapy (10 minutes), and balloon (10 minutes). The following impairment and functional evaluations, Fugl-Meyer Scale (FM), Medical Research Council Scale for Muscle Strength (hand flexor and extensor muscles) (MRC), Motricity Index (MI), and modified Ashworth Scale for wrist and hand muscles (AS), were performed at the beginning (T0), after 10 sessions (T1), and at the end of the treatment (T2). The strength hand flexion and extension performed by Robot were assessed at T0 and T2. The Barthel Index and COMP (performance and satisfaction subscale) were assessed at T0 and T2. Results. Clinical improvements were found in all patients. No dropouts were recorded during the treatment and all subjects fulfilled the protocol. Evidence of a significant improvement was demonstrated by the Friedman test for the MRC (P < 0.0123). Evidence of an improvement was demonstrated for AS, FM, and MI. Conclusions. This original rehabilitation treatment could contribute to increase the hand motor recovery in acute stroke patients. The simplicity of the treatment, the lack of side effects, and the first positive results in acute stroke patients support the recommendations to extend the clinical trial of this treatment

  18. Effects of Dexamethasone and Placebo on Symptom Clusters in Advanced Cancer Patients: A Preliminary Report.

    PubMed

    Yennurajalingam, Sriram; Williams, Janet L; Chisholm, Gary; Bruera, Eduardo

    2016-03-01

    Advanced cancer patients frequently experience debilitating symptoms that occur in clusters, but few pharmacological studies have targeted symptom clusters. Our objective was to examine the effects of dexamethasone on symptom clusters in patients with advanced cancer. We reviewed the data from a previous randomized clinical trial to determine the effects of dexamethasone on cancer symptoms. Symptom clusters were identified according to baseline symptoms by using principal component analysis. Correlations and change in the severity of symptom clusters were analyzed after study treatment. A total of 114 participants were included in this study. Three clusters were identified: fatigue/anorexia-cachexia/depression (FAD), sleep/anxiety/drowsiness (SAD), and pain/dyspnea (PD). Changes in severity of FAD and PD significantly correlated over time (at baseline, day 8, and day 15). The FAD cluster was associated with significant improvement in severity at day 8 and day 15, whereas no significant change was observed with the SAD cluster or PD cluster after dexamethasone treatment. The results of this preliminary study suggest significant correlation over time and improvement in the FAD cluster at day 8 and day 15 after treatment with dexamethasone. These findings suggest that fatigue, anorexia-cachexia, and depression may share a common pathophysiologic basis. Further studies are needed to investigate this cluster and target anti-inflammatory therapies. ©AlphaMed Press.

  19. Urothelial cancer of bladder in young versus older adults: clinical and pathological characteristics and outcomes.

    PubMed

    Telli, Onur; Sarici, Hasmet; Ozgur, Berat Cem; Doluoglu, Omer Gokhan; Sunay, Mehmet Melih; Bozkurt, Selen; Eroglu, Muzaffer

    2014-09-01

    Bladder urothelial carcinoma is rare in young adults and occurs more commonly in older individuals. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical behavior, pathologic characteristics, and prognosis of urothelial carcinoma of urinary bladder in young versus older adults. A retrospective review of our records between 2007 and 2013 identified 56 patients (42 males and 14 females) with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder who were less than 40 years old. Clinical and pathological parameters of patients who were less than 40 years of age were compared with those of a series of patients older than 40 years of age (the control group) during the same period. A survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test, and Cox regression was performed to identify clinical parameters that affected the clinical outcomes. The mean age was 29.21 years (range, 5-40 years) for patients less than 40 years old and 61.66 years (range, 41-75) for those older than 40 years. The mean follow-up was 40.26 months (range, 12-65 months) for young patients and 42.57 months (range, 12-72 months) for the older patients. Young bladder cancer patients had smaller-sized tumors (less than 3 cm), less high-grade cancers, higher papillary urothelial neoplasms of low malignant potential, and low-grade tumors than patients older than 40 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis predicted tumor recurrence in young patients with high-grade tumors [odds ratio (OR), 1.959; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.235-2.965; p = 0.046] and tumors larger than 3 cm (OR, 1.772; 95% CI, 1.416-1.942; p = 0.032). The 5-year overall survival rate was 100% for young patients and 88.1% for older patients. No difference was observed in the recurrence-free (p = 0.321) and progression-free (p = 0.422) survival rates between the two groups. We concluded that although the clinical stage distribution, natural history, and outcomes of bladder urothelial cancer in young adults are

  20. Managing Complexity: Exploring Decision Making on Medication by Young Adults with ADHD.

    PubMed

    Druedahl, Louise C; Kälvemark Sporrong, Sofia

    2018-04-19

    Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) causes difficulties with hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. Treatment of ADHD includes both medication and non-pharmacological options. Knowledge of treatment preferences by young adults with ADHD is sparse. The objective of this study was to explore the beliefs and experiences of young adults with ADHD related to their medication treatment decisions. Data were collected in Denmark in 2016 through a focus group and individual in-depth interviews. Conventional content analysis was used. Ten young adults with ADHD (22-to 29-year-old) participated. Three major themes were identified: (1) the patient’s right to choose concerning ADHD medicine; (2) the patient’s decision of whether or not to treat ADHD with medication; and (3) factors affecting the patient’s decision on whether to take ADHD medication or not. The latter theme contained 15 factors, which were distributed across three levels: individual, between-individuals, and societal. The dominant factors were increasing quality of life and improving oneself e.g., improving social skills. For counselling at the pharmacy and by prescribers, it is important to be aware of the different factors that affect young adult patients’ decisions on whether to take ADHD medication or not. This knowledge will aid to understand reasons for non-adherence and to determine appropriate treatment for the individual patient.