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Control Subjects (control + subject)
Kinds of Control Subjects Selected AbstractsFamilial factors in diabetic nephropathy: an offspring studyDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 3 2006E. Agius Abstract Aims Familial clustering of diabetic nephropathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes suggests that inherited factors predispose to diabetic nephropathy, but the nature of these factors is uncertain. The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of known risk factors for nephropathy in non-diabetic offspring of Type 2 diabetic patients with and without nephropathy and in control subjects. Methods Three groups of patients were recruited with 40 or 41 subjects in each group. These were subjects having one Type 2 diabetic parent with nephropathy (DN); subjects having one parent with Type 2 diabetes without nephropathy (DnoN), and non-diabetic unrelated control subjects with no personal or parental history of diabetes (Control subjects). Results The median (interquartile range) albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) was 1.40 (0.96,2.90) mg/mmol in DN; 0.94 (0.50,1.46) mg/mmol in DnoN and 1.22 (0.66,1.83) mg/mmol in Controls (anova: P = 0.03). ACR was higher in group DN than in DnoN (P < 0.006) and in Control subjects (P < 0.03), but there was no difference between DnoN and Control subjects. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring showed mean daytime systolic blood pressure to be significantly higher in group DN than in DnoN (P < 0.02) or Control subjects (P < 0.01) (anova: P = 0.004). Fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were similar in the three groups. Conclusion Our data provide further evidence that genetic factors are important in determining urinary albumin excretion and renal disease associated with Type 2 diabetes and suggest that genes that affect systemic arterial blood pressure but not those relating to insulin resistance or inflammation are likely to be implicated. [source] Cardiac autonomic dysinnervation and myocardial blood flow in long-term Type 1 diabetic patientsDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 5 2003N. Hattori Abstract Aims The aim of the study was to assess scintigraphically the relationship between myocardial blood flow response and sympathetic dysinnervation in long-term Type 1 diabetic patients. Effects of the iron chelator deferoxamine on myocardial blood flow were studied and they were investigated according to the presence of cardiac sympathetic dysfunction. Methods Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was assessed with N-13 ammonia positron emission tomography in 13 long-term Type 1 diabetic patients and 13 control subjects at rest and in response to sympathetic stimulation (cold pressor test (CPT)). In diabetic patients, the study was repeated after preinfusion with deferoxamine. Furthermore, 123I metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scintigraphy was applied to assess regional cardiac sympathetic dysinnervation (uptake score 1 = normal, homogeneous uptake , 6 = no uptake). Results In diabetic patients, MBF increased in response to CPT from 78 ± 18 ml/100 g/min to 84 ± 26 ml/100 g (8%, P < 0.001). Control subjects demonstrated an increase from 63 ± 17 ml/100 g to 84 ± 26 ml/100 g (33%, P < 0.001), respectively. Resting MBF was higher in diabetic patients than in control subjects (P < 0.001). In diabetic patients, increase in MBF in response to CPT was significant in regions with a MIBG uptake score of , 3. Regions with a MIBG uptake score of > 3 did not exhibit a significant increase in MBF in response to CPT. After administration of deferoxamine, the increase in MBF in response to CPT was 23% and the magnitude of increase was related to the MIBG uptake score (r = 0.40, P < 0.0001). Conclusions Myocardial blood flow response to sympathetic stimulation is significantly impaired in long-term Type 1 diabetes. After preinfusion with deferoxamine the impairment is partially reversed and a relationship between myocardial blood flow and the extent of cardiac sympathetic dysfunction is observed. Diabet. Med. 20, 375,381 (2003) [source] Dynamic Assessment of Abnormalities in Central Pain Transmission and Modulation in Tension-type Headache SufferersHEADACHE, Issue 2 2000Jonathan D. Neufeld PhD Objective.,To examine and compare central pain processing and modulation in young tension-type headache sufferers with that of matched healthy controls using an induced headache "challenge" paradigm. Background.,Recent research has suggested that abnormalities in central pain processing and descending pain modulation may contribute to chronic tension-type headache. These abnormalities, if they contribute to headache pathogenesis, should be present in young adult tension-type headache sufferers. Recent research using static measures of physiological variables, such as muscle tenderness and exteroceptive suppression, has identified chronic muscle tenderness as a characteristic of young tension-type headache sufferers, but other central nervous system functional abnormalities may require a dynamic "challenge" to be observed. Methods.,Twenty-four young women meeting the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria for tension-type headache (headache-prone) and a matched group of 24 healthy women who reported fewer than 10 problem headaches per year (control) participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Subjects completed jaw clenching and a placebo condition on different days in counterbalanced order. Pericranial muscle tenderness, pressure-pain thresholds on the temporalis, and exteroceptive suppression periods were assessed before and after each procedure. Head pain was recorded for 12 to16 hours following each condition. Results.,Headache-prone subjects were more likely than controls to experience headaches after both the jaw clenching and placebo procedures, but neither group was significantly more likely to experience headaches following jaw clenching than placebo. In pretreatment measurements, headache-prone subjects exhibited greater muscle tenderness than controls, but pressure-pain detection thresholds and exteroceptive suppression periods did not differ in the two groups. Control subjects showed increases in muscle tenderness and exteroceptive suppression periods following both the clenching and placebo procedures, whereas headache-prone subjects exhibited no significant changes in any of the physiological measures following either experimental manipulation. Conclusions.,These results confirm previous findings indicating abnormally high pericranial muscle tenderness in young tension headache sufferers even in the headache-free state. In addition, the results suggest that the development of headaches following noxious stimulation is more strongly related to headache proneness and associated abnormalities in central pain transmission or modulation (indexed by pericranial muscle tenderness and exteroceptive suppression responses) than muscle strain induced by jaw clenching. [source] Impact of reproductive factors and lactation on breast carcinoma in situ riskINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2004Kathleen Meeske Abstract Incidence rates for breast carcinoma in situ (CIS) have increased markedly over the past 20 years. Breast CIS, detected primarily on mammography, now represents 30,45% of all screened detected breast cancers. We conducted a large population-based case-control study to evaluate the impact of reproductive factors and lactation on breast CIS risk. Case subjects were newly diagnosed with breast CIS at ages 35,64 years between March 1, 1995 and May 31, 1998 (n = 567), resided in Los Angeles County and were born in the United States. Control subjects (n = 614), identified through random digit dialing, fulfilled the same eligibility criteria and were required to have had at least one screening mammogram in the 2-year period before their interview. Women with a positive family history of breast cancer had a 2-fold increase in breast CIS risk. Parous women were at reduced risk relative to nulligravid women (odds ratio [OR] = 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.46,1.00). Among nulliparous women, pregnancy was unrelated to breast CIS risk. Among parous women, risk declined with each additional term pregnancy (p -trend = 0.003). No associations were found with age at first term pregnancy, induced abortion or miscarriage. Long duration of breast-feeding (,24 months) was associated with increased risk (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.11,3.60). The observed effects of family history and pregnancy on breast CIS risk are consistent with those observed for invasive breast cancer. The results for breast-feeding are contrary to what has been observed in studies of invasive breast cancer. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Kenosha County Falls Prevention Study: A Randomized, Controlled Trial of an Intermediate-Intensity, Community-Based Multifactorial Falls InterventionJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 4 2007Jane E. Mahoney MD OBJECTIVES: To decrease the rate of falls in high-risk community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Community-based. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred forty-nine adults aged 65 and older with two falls in the previous year or one fall in the previous 2 years with injury or balance problems. INTERVENTION: Subjects received two in-home visits from a trained nurse or physical therapist who assessed falls risk factors using an algorithm. The intervention consisted of recommendations to the subject and their primary physician, referrals to physical therapy and other providers, 11 monthly telephone calls, and a balance exercise plan. Control subjects received a home safety assessment. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was rate of falls per year in the community. Secondary outcomes included all-cause hospitalizations and nursing home admissions per year. RESULTS: There was no difference in rate of falls between the intervention and control groups (rate ratio (RR)=0.81, P=.27). Nursing home days were fewer in the intervention group (10.3 vs 20.5 days, P=.04). Intervention subjects with a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 27 or less had a lower rate of falls (RR=0.55; P=.05) and, if they lived with someone, had fewer hospitalizations (RR=0.44, P=.05), nursing home admissions (RR=0.15, P=.003), and nursing home days (7.5 vs 58.2, P=.008). CONCLUSION: This multifactorial intervention did not decrease falls in at-risk community-living adults but did decrease nursing home utilization. There was evidence of efficacy in the subgroup who had an MMSE score of 27 or less and lived with a caregiver, but validation is required. [source] Effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on breastfeeding outcomes in TaiwanJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2008Shu-Shan Lin RN Aims., The objectives of this study were to design a structured prenatal education programme on breastfeeding and to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. Indicators of effectiveness were selected based on Kirkpatrick's Training Evaluation Model, including satisfaction with the programme, breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding attitude, breastfeeding satisfaction, breastfeeding problems and rate of exclusive breastfeeding. Methods., This study applied a quasi-experimental design. The experimental group included 46 women who received a 90-minute group educational programme on breastfeeding during their 20th,36th week of pregnancy. Each experimental subject was matched by a control subject according to age, educational level, work status and pregnancy gestational age. Control subjects did not receive any intervention. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires at preintervention, postintervention, three days postpartum and one month postpartum. Results., Satisfaction with the programme was high. The experimental group had higher scores in breastfeeding knowledge and breastfeeding attitude at three days postpartum. The experimental group showed higher breastfeeding satisfaction at three days and one month postpartum. There were no significant differences in experiencing breastfeeding problems. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding was higher for the experimental group at three days and one month postpartum, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion., This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on maternal knowledge, attitude and satisfaction toward breastfeeding. Relevance to clinical practice., Other hospitals could apply this model to plan and evaluate their prenatal education programme on breastfeeding. [source] Genetic polymorphisms in the MMP-1 and MMP-3 gene may contribute to chronic periodontitis in a Brazilian populationJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 10 2006Claudia Maria Astolfi Abstract Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3 (MMP-1, MMP-3) represent proteinases that degrade macromolecules of the extracellular matrix. These enzymes play a fundamental role during destruction of periodontal tissues. Genetic polymorphisms were characterized in the promoter region of the MMP-1 and MMP-3 genes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these genetic variations with chronic periodontitis in a Brazilian population. Material and Methods: Non-smoking subjects (n=114) exhibiting sites 5 mm clinical attachment loss were recruited for study. Control subjects (n=109) should not exhibit clinical signals of periodontitis. MMP-1 (,1607 1G/2G, ,519 A/G) and MMP-3 (,1612 5A/6A) gene promoter polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-RFLP methods. Results: Analysis of polymorphisms showed no differences in distribution of the ,1607 1G/2G and ,519 A/G variants in the MMP-1 gene between the healthy and periodontitis group (p>0.05). However, the distribution of genotype frequencies of the ,1612 5A/6A polymorphism in the MMP-3 gene showed that the 5A/5A genotype was significantly more frequent in the periodontitis group (p=0.008). The same was not observed in the 5A/6A genotype once only one 5A allele is carried. We also observed a trend to increase the frequency of the MMP-1/MMP-3 haplotype (2G/5A) in the periodontitis group (p=0.08). Conclusion: On the basis of the results, no significant association is found for the MMP-1 polymorphisms with susceptibility of periodontitis, while the MMP-3 gene polymorphism may contribute to periodontal tissue destruction during periodontitis in Brazilian subjects. [source] Clinical and microbiological studies of periodontal disease in Sjögren's syndrome patientsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2002B. Kuru Abstract Background: Little is known about the periodontal status of patients with Sjögren's Syndrome (SS), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by xerophthalmia and xerostomia. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the periodontal status of SS patients, in terms of clinical and microbiological parameters, differs from systemically healthy age- and gender-matched controls. Methods: 8 primary SS and 10 secondary SS patients were examined in comparison with 11 control subjects. All patients were diagnosed by the European Community Criteria. Control subjects were systemically healthy and not undergoing periodontal treatment. The comparison of clinical status was made in terms of mean periodontal parameters (plaque index, gingival index, gingival recession, probing pocket depth, probing attachment level and bleeding on probing) as well as the frequency distribution of probing pocket depth and probing attachment level measurements. Microbiological assays of the subgingival dental plaque samples were carried out by both a chairside enzyme test (Periocheck®) for the detection of peptidase activity (PA) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis for 9 selected periodontal micro-organisms (Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Eikenella corrodens, Campylobacter rectus, Bacteroides forsythus, Streptococcus oralis). Results: The occurrence, severity and extent of periodontal lesions were not significantly different between the 3 patient groups for all periodontal parameters examined. No significant differences in the sub-gingival plaque samples from control, primary or secondary SS patients for the PA test, frequency or type of periodontal micro-organisms observed. Conclusion: No significant differences could be detected in either clinical or microbiological parameters of primary or secondary SS patients compared with that of control subjects. The results of the present study thus support the notion that the periodontal status of patients with SS do not differ from systemically healthy age- and gender-matched controls. Zusammenfassung Hintergrund: Es ist wenig über den parodontalen Status von Patienten mit Sjögren Syndrom (SS) bekannt, einer chronischen entzündlichen Autoimmunerkrankung, die durch Xerophtalmie und Xerostomie charakterisiert ist. Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war zu überprüfen, ob der parodontale Status der SS-Patienten bi Berücksichtigung der klinischen und mikrobiologischen Parameter von demjenigen bei systemisch gesunden alters- und geschlechtspassenden Kontrollen abweicht. Methoden: 8 primäre SS und 10 sekundäre SS Patienten wurden mit 11 Kontrollpersonen vergleichend untersucht. Alle Patienten waren durch Kriterien der EU diagnostiziert. Die Kontrollpersonen waren systemisch gesund und erhielten keine parodontale Behandlung. Der Vergleich des klinischen Status wurde auf der Basis von mittleren parodontalen Parametern (Plaque-Index, Gingivaindex, gingivale Rezession, Sondierungstiefe, Stützgewebeniveau, Provokationsblutung) sowie der Verteilungsmuster der Sondierungstiefe und des Stützgewebeniveaus vorgenommen. Mikrobiologische Assay's von subgingivalen Plaqueproben wurden sowohl mit einem chairside Enzymtest (Periocheck®) für die Feststellung der Peptidaseaktivität (PA) und einer Polymerasekettenreaktion (PCR) für 9 selektierte parodontale Mikroorganismen (Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Eikenella corrodens, Campylobacter rectus, Bacteroides forsythus, Streptococcus oralis) durchgeführt. Ergebnisse: Das Vorkommen, die Schwere und die Ausdehnung von parodontalen Läsionen unterschied sich nicht signifikant zwischen den 3 Patientengruppen für alle geprüften parodontalen Parameter. Es gab auch keine signifikanten Differenzen in den subgingivalen Plaqueproben von den Kontrollen, den primären oder sekundären SS Patienten für die PA Teste und Frequenz oder Art von beobachteten parodontalen Mikroorganismen. Schlussfolgerung: Es konnten keine signifikanten Differenzen sowohl bei den klinischen oder mikrobiologischen Parametern von primären oder sekundären SS Patienten im Vergleich mit Kontrollpersonen entdeck werden. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Studie unterstützen die Ansicht, dass sich der parodontale Status von Patienten mit SS nicht von demjenigen gesunder alters- und geschlechtspassender Kontrollen unterscheidet. Résumé Origine: On en sait peu sur l'état parodontal des patients atteints du syndrome de Sjögren (SS), une maladie chronique autoimmune inflammatoire caractérisée par une xérophtalmie et une xérostomie. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer si l'état parodontal des patients SS, en terme de paramètres cliniques et microbiologiques était différent de sujets contrôles en bonne santé générale du même âge et du méme sexe. Méthodes: 8 patients atteints de SS primaires et 10 de SS secondaires furent examinés et comparés avec des sujets contrôles. Tous les patients étaient diagnostiqués selon les critères de la communauté européenne. Les sujets contrôles étaient en bonne santé générale et ne suivaient pas de traitement parodontal. La comparaison des états parodontaux fut réalisée pour les paramètres cliniques moyens (indice de plaque, gingival, récession gingivale, profondeur de poche au sondage, niveau d'attache et saignement au sondage) et aussi pour la frèquence de distribution des mesures des profondeurs de poche au sondage et des niveaux d'attache. Les tests microbiologiques des échantillons de plaque sous-gingivale ont été réalisés à la fois par un test enzymatique au fauteuil (Periocheck®) pour la détection de l'activité peptidase (PA) et par réaction de polymérase en chaine (PCR) pour 9 micro-organismes parodontaux sélectionnés (Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Eikenella corrodens, Campylobacter rectus, Bacteroides forsythus, Streptococcus oralis). Résultats: La survenue, la sévérité et l'étendue de la maladie parodontale n'étaient pas significativement différente entre les 3 groupes de patients pour tous les paramètres parodontaux examinés. Aucune différence significative ne fut observée entre les échantillons de plaque sous-gingivale des contrôles et ceux des patients atteints de SS primaire et secondaire, pour PA, la frèquence ou le type de micro-organismes. Conclusions: Aucune différence significative ne put être détectée, ni pour les paramètres cliniques, ni pour les paramètres microbiologiques des patients atteints de SS primaire ou secondaire lorsque l'on comparait avec les sujets contrôles. Les résultats de cette étude corroborent ainsi l'idée suivant laquelle l'état parodontal des patients atteints de SS ne différe pas de celui des sujets en bonne santé du même âge et du même sexe. [source] Alcohol Intake is Significantly Associated with Atrial Flutter in Patients under 60 Years of Age and a Shorter Right Atrial Effective Refractory PeriodPACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2008GREGORY M. MARCUS M.D. Background: Although evidence suggests that alcohol is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), the association between alcohol and atrial flutter (AFL) has not been examined. The mechanism connecting alcohol and atrial arrhythmias is unknown. Methods: Alcohol intake was determined in 195 consecutive patients with AF and AFL. Control subjects included patients with other supraventricular arrhythmias (n = 132) and healthy subjects (n = 54). Because of important competing risk factors for atrial arrhythmias in the elderly, stratification by age was performed. In a subset, atrial effective refractory periods (AERPs) were obtained from the high right atrium and proximal and distal coronary sinus. Results: AF and AFL patients were significantly more likely to be daily alcohol drinkers (27% vs 14% of controls, P = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, AFL patients , 60 years of age were significantly more likely to be daily drinkers than to drink no alcohol compared to controls (odds ratio 17, 95% confidence interval 1.6,192.0, P = 0.019). Progressively more frequent alcohol intake was significantly associated with a progressively greater odds of AFL in patients , 60 years of age (P = 0.045). Neither AF subjects of any age nor AFL subjects > 60 years of age exhibited significant associations with alcohol after multivariable adjustment. Right AERPs shortened significantly with increasing amounts of alcohol intake (P = 0.025), whereas left AERPs were not associated with alcohol intake. Conclusions: Alcohol intake is positively associated with AFL in younger patients. The mechanism may be related to a shortening of the right AERP. [source] Exercise induces expression of leukaemia inhibitory factor in human skeletal muscleTHE JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 8 2008Christa Broholm The leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) belongs to the interleukin (IL)-6 cytokine superfamily and is constitutively expressed in skeletal muscle. We tested the hypothesis that LIF expression in human skeletal muscle is regulated by exercise. Fifteen healthy young male volunteers performed either 3 h of cycle ergometer exercise at ,60% of (n= 8) or rested (n= 7). Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis prior to exercise, immediately after exercise, and at 1.5, 3, 6 and 24 h post exercise. Control subjects had biopsy samples taken at the same time points as during the exercise trial. Skeletal muscle LIF mRNA increased immediately after the exercise and declined gradually during recovery. However, LIF protein was unchanged at the investigated time points. Moreover, we tested the hypothesis that LIF mRNA and protein expressions are modulated by calcium (Ca2+) in primary human skeletal myocytes. Treatment of myocytes with the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, for 6 h resulted in an increase in both LIF mRNA and LIF protein levels. This finding suggests that Ca2+ may be involved in the regulation of LIF in endurance-exercised skeletal muscle. In conclusion, primary human skeletal myocytes have the capability to produce LIF in response to ionomycin stimulation and LIF mRNA levels increase in skeletal muscle following concentric exercise. The finding that the increase in LIF mRNA levels is not followed by a similar increase in skeletal muscle LIF protein suggests that other exercise stimuli or repetitive stimuli are necessary in order to induce a detectable accumulation of LIF protein. [source] An electron microscopic study,Correlation of gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 7 2010Sanghoon Park MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) originates from regurgitation of gastric contents, a mechanism seemingly identical to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Some researchers postulate a connection between LPR and GERD, whereas some assert LPR is a disease apart from GERD. We examined symptoms of GERD from LPR patients, and performed gastrointestinal endoscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to evaluate GERD findings from these patients. Study Design: Prospective study at an academic tertiary care center. Methods: Control subjects had no symptoms or signs of LPR/GERD. LPR was diagnosed with a Reflux Symptom Index >13 and Reflux Finding Score >7, and were questioned for GERD-related symptoms and examined with esophagogastroduodenoscopy, then allocated into either an LPR without GERD or LPR with GERD group. Esophageal tissues were obtained from the squamocolumnar junction and managed for TEM, and the intercellular space (IS) was measured to find dilatation, a characteristic GERD finding. Results: About 30% (8/26) of LPR patients showed GERD-related symptoms, connecting LPR with the GERD group. Most of the LPR patients showed grossly normal endoscopic findings. On TEM, IS of control group (n = 15) was measured as 0.35 ± 0.27 ,m, whereas the LPR without GERD group (n = 18) and LPR with GERD group (n = 8) revealed a dilated IS of 0.61 ± 0.47 ,m and 0.95 ± 0.44 ,m, respectively. This difference was statistically significant compared to the control group (P < .05). Conclusions: The mean IS of LPR was significantly increased, suggesting common pathogenesis between LPR and GERD. Laryngoscope, 2010 [source] Can fabricated evidence induce false eyewitness testimony?APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 7 2010Kimberley A. Wade False information can influence people's beliefs and memories. But can fabricated evidence induce individuals to accuse another person of doing something they never did? We examined whether exposure to a fabricated video could produce false eyewitness testimony. Subjects completed a gambling task alongside a confederate subject, and later we falsely told subjects that their partner had cheated on the task. Some subjects viewed a digitally manipulated video of their partner cheating; some were told that video evidence of the cheating exists; and others were not told anything about video evidence. Subjects were asked to sign a statement confirming that they witnessed the incident and that their corroboration could be used in disciplinary action against the accused. See-video subjects were three times more likely to sign the statement than Told-video and Control subjects. Fabricated evidence may, indeed, produce false eyewitness testimony; we discuss probable cognitive mechanisms. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Assessment of cognitive function in systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis by computerized neuropsychological testsARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2010John G. Hanly Objective Computerized neuropsychological testing may facilitate screening for cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was undertaken to compare patients with SLE, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with healthy controls using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM). Methods Patients with SLE (n = 68), RA (n = 33), and MS (n = 20) were compared with healthy controls (n = 29). Efficiency of cognitive performance on 8 ANAM subtests was examined using throughput (TP), inverse efficiency (IE), and adjusted IE scores. The latter is more sensitive to higher cognitive functions because it adjusts for the impact of simple reaction time on performance. The results were analyzed using O'Brien's generalized least squares test. Results Control subjects were the most efficient in cognitive performance. MS patients were least efficient overall (as assessed by TP and IE scores) and were less efficient than both SLE patients (P = 0.01) and RA patients (P < 0.01), who did not differ. Adjusted IE scores were similar between SLE patients, RA patients, and controls, reflecting the impact of simple reaction time on cognitive performance. Thus, 50% of SLE patients, 61% of RA patients, and 75% of MS patients had impaired performance on ,1 ANAM subtest. Only 9% of RA patients and 11% of SLE patients had impaired performance on ,4 subtests, whereas this was true for 20% of MS patients. Conclusion ANAM is sensitive to cognitive impairment. While such computerized testing may be a valuable screening tool, our results emphasize the lack of specificity of slowed performance as a reliable indicator of impairment of higher cognitive function in SLE patients. [source] Meniscal tear in knees without surgery and the development of radiographic osteoarthritis among middle-aged and elderly persons: The multicenter osteoarthritis study,ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 3 2009Martin Englund Objective Although partial meniscectomy is a risk factor for the development of knee osteoarthritis (OA), there is a lack of evidence that meniscal damage that is not treated with surgery would also lead to OA, suggesting that surgery itself may cause joint damage. Furthermore, meniscal damage is common. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between meniscal damage in knees without surgery and the development of radiographic tibiofemoral OA. Methods We conducted a prospective case,control study nested within the observational Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study, which included a sample of men and women ages 50,79 years at high risk of knee OA who were recruited from the community. Patients who had no baseline radiographic knee OA but in whom tibiofemoral OA developed during the 30-month followup period were cases (n = 121). Control subjects (n = 294) were drawn randomly from the same source population as cases but had no knee OA after 30 months of followup. Individuals whose knees had previously undergone surgery were excluded. Meniscal damage was defined as the presence of any medial or lateral meniscal tearing, maceration, or destruction. Results Meniscal damage at baseline was more common in case knees than in control knees (54% versus 18%; P < 0.001). The model comparing any meniscal damage with no meniscal damage (adjusted for baseline age, sex, body mass index, physical activity, and mechanical knee alignment) yielded an odds ratio of 5.7 (95% confidence interval 3.4,9.4). Conclusion In knees without surgery, meniscal damage is a potent risk factor for the development of radiographic OA. These results highlight the need for better understanding, prevention, and treatment of meniscal damage. [source] Antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide and IgA rheumatoid factor predict the development of rheumatoid arthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 10 2003Solbritt Rantapää-Dahlqvist Objective To evaluate the prevalence and predictive value of anti,cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in individuals who subsequently developed rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine the relationship to rheumatoid factor (RF) of any isotype. Methods A case,control study was nested within the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study and the Maternity cohorts of Northern Sweden. Patients with RA were identified among blood donors whose samples had been taken years before the onset of symptoms. Control subjects matched for age, sex, date of sampling, and residential area were selected randomly from the same cohorts. Anti-CCP antibody and RFs were determined using enzyme immunoassays. Results Eighty-three individuals with RA were identified as having donated blood before presenting with any symptoms of joint disease (median 2.5 years [interquartile range 1.1,4.7] before RA). In samples obtained before the onset of RA, the prevalence of autoantibodies was 33.7% for anti-CCP, 16.9% for IgG-RF, 19.3% for IgM-RF, and 33.7% for IgA-RF (all highly significant compared with controls). The sensitivities for detecting these autoantibodies >1.5 years and ,1.5 years before the appearance of any RA symptoms were 25% and 52% for anti-CCP, 15% and 30% for IgM-RF, 12% and 27% for IgG-RF, and 29% and 39% for IgA-RF. In conditional logistic regression models, anti-CCP antibody and IgA-RF were found to be significant predictors of RA. Conclusion Anti-CCP antibody and RFs of all isotypes predated the onset of RA by several years. The presence of anti-CCP and IgA-RF predicted the development of RA, with anti-CCP antibody having the highest predictive value. This indicates that citrullination and the production of anti-CCP and RF autoantibodies are early processes in RA. [source] 2326: Influence of change in body position on choroidal blood flow in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndromeACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010A ALMANJOUMI Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) has been reported to be associated with ischemic and glaucomatous optic neuropathy (especially normal tension glaucoma). OSA per se is able to generate hypertension, atherosclerosis and autonomic dysfunction, all conditions possibly interacting with ocular vascular regulation. The aim of our study was to characterize the choroidal vascular reactivity to change in body position in OSA patients, as compared with matched healthy control subjects. Methods Eighteen newly diagnosed OSA patients were included in this prospective study. Control subjects were matched with OSA patients for body mass index (BMI), gender and age. At the screening visit, each subject underwent a general exam, cardiovascular, neurologic and ophthalmological examinations, and overnight polysomnography. The LDF instrument used in this study to measure subfoveal choroidal blood flow (ChBF), ChBVel , velocity (kHz); and volume, ChBVol (in arbitrary units, AU) Vascular choroidal reactivity was tested during the change in body position from the sitting to the supine position (10 min). Results OSA patients exhibited a similar choroidal reactivity during change in body position than controls with increased ChBVel (+15%), decreased ChBVol (-11.6%), and unchanged ChBF. IOP increased by 14.2% in the supine position whereas ocular perfusion pressure remained stable. Conclusion This prospective comparative study showed for the first time unimpaired choroidal vascular reactivity in otherwise healthy OSA patients. This suggests OSA patients, without comorbidities, has long-term adaptive mechanisms active in ocular microcirculation. [source] Circulating adiponectin levels during human endotoxaemiaCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2003P. KELLER SUMMARY Adiponectin, an adipocytokine secreted by fat tissue, may prevent development of diabetes type II, as high adiponectin levels are linked with insulin sensitivity. In contrast, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)- ,, which is also produced by fat tissue, leads to insulin resistance and furthermore inhibits adiponectin mRNA production and secretion of the protein. However, adiponectin also negatively regulates TNF- , levels. Therefore, we set out to test whether an infusion of endotoxin would influence circulating adiponectin levels in healthy human subjects. Twenty-three healthy human subjects were injected with endotoxin (2 ng/kg body weight); eight of these subjects were also injected with saline and served as controls. Plasma levels of adiponectin, TNF- , and interleukin-6 were measured at 0, 1·5, 2, 4, 8 and 24 h. TNF- , and interleukin-6 levels peaked at 1·5 h and 2 h, respectively. Control subjects injected with saline showed a decrease in adiponectin plasma levels with time (P < 0·05) presumably owing to the effect of fasting or physical inactivity. However, there was no change in adiponectin plasma levels in endotoxin injected subjects, thus the effect of fasting was opposed. In conclusion, circulating adiponectin levels are reduced during a resting and fasting state, an effect reversed by endotoxin injection. [source] The 4-mg intravenous dexamethasone suppression test in the diagnosis of Cushing's syndromeCLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Caroline Jung Summary Objective, Optimal diagnostic criteria for the 4-mg intravenous dexamethasone suppression test (IVDST) in patients with Cushing's syndrome (CS), compared with normal subjects, have not been established. We evaluated the performance of the 4-mg IVDST for differentiating CS from normal subjects and to define the responses in CS of various aetiologies. Design, subjects, measurements, Thirty-two control subjects [normal and overweight/obese participants with or without type 2 diabetes) were prospectively studied, and data from 66 patients with Cushing's disease (CD), three with ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS), 14 with adrenal Cushing's (AC)] and 15 with low probability of CS (LPC) from three tertiary hospitals were retrospectively evaluated. Dexamethasone was infused at 1 mg/h for 4 h. Plasma cortisol and ACTH were measured at ,60 min (baseline), ,5 min, +3 h, +4 h, +5 h and at +23 and +23·5 h on Day 2. Results, Control subjects (including those with type 2 diabetes) exhibited a marked suppression of cortisol which was maintained until Day 2. Two of 15 patients with LPC had Day 2 cortisol results that overlapped with CS. Patients with CD demonstrated partial suppression, with rebound hypercortisolism on Day 2. Patients with AC and EAS did not suppress cortisol levels. Day 2 cortisol level of >130 nmol/l (or >20% of the baseline) diagnosed CS with 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity. Conclusion, While the IVDST allowed complete discrimination between control subjects and CS, 13% of LPC overlapped with CS. Given the small number of EAS, no conclusion can be drawn regarding the utility of this test in the differential diagnosis of CS. [source] Effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on breastfeeding outcomes in TaiwanJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2008Shu-Shan Lin RN Aims., The objectives of this study were to design a structured prenatal education programme on breastfeeding and to evaluate the effectiveness of the programme. Indicators of effectiveness were selected based on Kirkpatrick's Training Evaluation Model, including satisfaction with the programme, breastfeeding knowledge, breastfeeding attitude, breastfeeding satisfaction, breastfeeding problems and rate of exclusive breastfeeding. Methods., This study applied a quasi-experimental design. The experimental group included 46 women who received a 90-minute group educational programme on breastfeeding during their 20th,36th week of pregnancy. Each experimental subject was matched by a control subject according to age, educational level, work status and pregnancy gestational age. Control subjects did not receive any intervention. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires at preintervention, postintervention, three days postpartum and one month postpartum. Results., Satisfaction with the programme was high. The experimental group had higher scores in breastfeeding knowledge and breastfeeding attitude at three days postpartum. The experimental group showed higher breastfeeding satisfaction at three days and one month postpartum. There were no significant differences in experiencing breastfeeding problems. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding was higher for the experimental group at three days and one month postpartum, but the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion., This study demonstrated the effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on maternal knowledge, attitude and satisfaction toward breastfeeding. Relevance to clinical practice., Other hospitals could apply this model to plan and evaluate their prenatal education programme on breastfeeding. [source] GSTT1 and GSTM1 gene deletions are not associated with hepatotoxicity caused by antitubercular drugsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2010S. Chatterjee MD Summary Background and objective:, Susceptibility to antitubercular drug (ATD)-induced hepatotoxicity may be genetically mediated, with variant alleles of genes such as N -acetyltransferase (NAT2) and CYP2E1 reported as risk factors. Two studies of Asian populations have reported that GSTM1*0/*0 (null) genotype was a likely predictor of hepatotoxicity, whereas another of a Caucasian population implicated GSTT1*0/*0. We undertook a prospective case,control study to investigate whether GSTM*0/*0 and GSTT1*0/*0 were risk factors for ATD-induced hepatotoxicity. Methods:, Pulmonary tuberculosis patients on isoniazid, rifampicin and pyrazinamide who developed hepatotoxicity using defined criteria were prospectively identified. These cases were then matched with at least one control subject on the same drugs but without hepatotoxicity. Genotyping for GSTM1 and GSTT1 was performed by multiplex PCR on genomic DNA. The odds ratios for the frequency of specific GSTM1 and GSTT1 homozygotes in the case and control subjects were calculated to test for association between the genotypes and hepatotoxicity. Results and discussion:, Hundred and fifty-one subjects (51 cases, 100 controls) were enrolled. Odds ratio for GSTM1 null genotype was 1·00 (95% CI 0·51,1·97) and GSTT1 null was 2·02 (95% CI 0·39,10·39), respectively, showing that these genotypes are not associated with hepatotoxicity. Conclusion:,GSTM1 *0/*0 or GSTT1 *0/*0 or both null genotypes, do not appear to be associated with ATD-induced hepatotoxicity in our Indian population. [source] The diagnostic value of pressure algometry in myofascial pain of the jaw musclesJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 1 2000M. Farella Recent evidence suggests that evaluation of muscle tenderness in temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) patients might be improved by the use of pressure algometry; nevertheless, the evaluation of the diagnostic value of this tool has received little attention. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic value of pressure algometry in myofascial pain of the jaw muscles, by calculation of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive predictive values (PPV). Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of masseter and anterior temporalis muscles were assessed in 40 female myogenous TMD patients and 40 age-matched female controls. PPTs were significantly lower (P<0·001) in TMD patients than in control subjects for both masseter and temporalis muscles, being 40,50% of the control values. Setting a cutoff value 1 s.d. below the mean PPT values of control subject, sensitivity and specificity were 0·67 and 0·85, respectively, for the masseter muscle and 0·77 and 0·87, respectively, for the temporalis muscle. When taking into account the prevalences of myofascial pain in the general population and in TMD clinics, the PPV ranged from 0·5 to 0·7. As a result of the low PPV, pressure algometry has strong limitations when used as a solitary diagnostic tool. [source] Old and new risk factors for upper extremity deep venous thrombosisJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 11 2005J. W. BLOM Summary.,Background: Well known risk factors for upper extremity deep venous thrombosis are the presence of a central venous catheter (CVC) and malignancy, but other potential risk factors, such as surgery, injury and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), have not yet been explored. Methods: We performed a population-based case-control study including 179 consecutive patients, aged 18,70 years with upper extremity deep venous thrombosis and 2399 control subjects. Participants reported on acquired risk factors in a questionnaire and factor V Leiden and prothrombin 20210A mutation were ascertained. Information on CVC was obtained from discharge letters. Results: Forty-two patients (23%) and one control subject (0.04%) had a CVC (ORadj: 1136, 95% CI: 153,8448, adjusted for age and sex). Cancer patients without a CVC had an eightfold increased risk of venous thrombosis of the arm (ORcrude: 7.7, 95% CI: 4.6,13.0). Other evident risk factors were prothrombotic mutations, surgery, immobilization of the arm (plaster cast), oral contraceptive use and family history, with odds ratios varying from 2.0 up to 13.1. The risk in the presence of injury and during puerperium was twofold or more increased, although not significantly. In contrast HRT, unusual exercise, travel and obesity did not increase the risk. Hormone users had an increased risk in the presence of prothrombotic mutations or surgery. Obese persons (BMI > 30 kg m,2) undergoing surgery had a 23-fold increased risk of arm thrombosis compared with non-obese persons not undergoing surgery. Conclusion: A CVC is a very strong risk factor for arm thrombosis. Most risk factors for thrombosis in the leg are also risk factors for arm thrombosis. [source] Domino liver transplantation in maple syrup urine disease,LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2006Ajai Khanna Liver transplantation has been reported in a few cases of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), but is controversial. Many patients with approved indications for liver transplantation die before grafts are available. A 25-yr-old man with MSUD underwent liver transplantation, and his liver was used as a domino graft for a 53-yr-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma who had low priority on the liver transplant waiting list and was unlikely to survive until routine organ procurement. Both transplants were performed as "piggy back" procedures, reconstructing the domino graft with caval segments from the cadaveric donor. Neither required veno-venous bypass. Whole body leucine oxidation was estimated by 13CO2 in breath after oral boluses of L -[1- 13C]-leucine, before and after transplantation in both patients and a control subject. The surgical outcome was successful. The patient with MSUD had marked decreases in plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and alloisoleucine (from 255 ± 66 to 16 ± 7 ,mol/L), despite advancement of dietary protein from 6 to >40 gm/day. The domino recipient maintained near-normal levels of plasma amino acids with no detectable alloisoleucine on unrestricted diet. Leucine oxidation increased in the patient with MSUD (from 2.2 to 5.6% recovered in 4 hours) and decreased in the recipient (from 9.7 to 6.2%). Neither patient demonstrated any apparent symptoms of MSUD over more than 7 months. In conclusion, liver transplantation substantially corrects whole body BCAA metabolism in MSUD and greatly attenuates the disease. Livers from patients with MSUD may be considered as domino grafts for patients who might otherwise not survive until transplantation. Liver Transpl 12:876,882, 2006. © 2006 AASLD. [source] Sensory nerve conduction deficit in experimental monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) neuropathyMUSCLE AND NERVE, Issue 6 2001Michael W. Lawlor BS Abstract An emerging body of evidence from in vitro studies and in vivo animal models supports a pathogenic role of antibodies in the development of peripheral neuropathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Although the assessment of motor and sensory nerve fiber function is of clinical importance, it is seldom applied experimentally. We describe the application of an electrophysiologic method for the evaluation of motor and sensory nerve fiber function using an experimental model of MGUS neuropathy. Supramaximal stimulation of the tibial nerve elicited an early motor response (M-wave, 1.7 ± 0.1 ms, n = 10) and a late sensory (H-reflex, 7.8 ± 0.1 ms, n = 10) response that was recorded from the hind foot of anesthetized rats. Intraneural injection of serum antibodies from a MGUS patient with sensorimotor polyneuropathy, but not from an age-matched control subject, produced a marked attenuation of the H-reflex (P < 0.01, n = 10) without affecting the M-wave. Light and electron microscopy of affected nerve showed myelinoaxonal degeneration with sparing of the smaller unmyelinated nerve fibers. The combined electrophysiologic and morphologic findings presented in this study are consistent with a selective sensory conduction deficit in MGUS neuropathy. Selective injury of afferent nerve fibers by this patient's serum antibodies may result from reactivity to neural antigens uniquely expressed by sensory neurons. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 24: 809,816, 2001 [source] Transition from Batch to Continuous Operation in Bio-Reactors: A Model Predictive Control Approach and ApplicationTHE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, Issue 4 2007Prashant Mhaskar Abstract This work considers the problem of determining the transition of ethanol-producing bio-reactors from batch to continuous operation and subsequent control subject to constraints and performance considerations. To this end, a Lyapunov-based non-linear model predictive controller is utilized that stabilizes the bio-reactor under continuous mode of operation. The key idea in the predictive controller is the formulation of appropriate stability constraints that allow an explicit characterization of the set of initial conditions from where feasibility of the optimization problem and hence closed-loop stability is guaranteed. Additional constraints are incorporated in the predictive control design to expand on the set of initial conditions that can be stabilized by control designs that only require the value of the Lyapunov function to decay. Then, the explicit characterization of the set of stabilizable initial conditions is used in determining the appropriate time for which the reactor must be run in batch mode. Specifically, the predictive control approach is utilized in determining the appropriate batch length that achieves stabilizable values of the state variables at the end of the batch. Application of the proposed method to the ethanol production process using Zymomonas mobilis as the ethanol producing micro-organism demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed model predictive control strategy in stabilizing the bio-reactor. Ce travail porte sur le problème de la détermination de la transition entre le fonctionnement discontinu et continu pour des bioréacteurs produisant de l'éthanol et sur le contrôle subséquent lorsque ceux-ci sont soumis à des contraintes et des considérations de performance. À cette fin, on utilise un contrôleur prédictif par modèles non linéaires de type Lyapunov qui stabilise le bioréacteur lorsqu'il est en mode de fonctionnement continu. L'idée maîtresse dans le contrôleur prédictif est la formulation de contraintes de stabilité appropriées qui permettent une caractérisation explicite du jeu des conditions initiales à partir de laquelle la faisabilité du problème d'optimisation et donc la stabilité en boucle fermée sont garanties. Des contraintes additionnelles sont introduites dans la conception du contrôle prédictif pour étendre le jeu de conditions initiales qui peuvent être stabilisées par la conception du contrôle qui requiert seulement que la valeur de la fonction de Lyapunov diminue. Ensuite, la caractérisation explicite du jeu des conditions initiales stabilisables est utilisée dans la détermination de la durée de fonctionnement adéquate pour laquelle le réacteur doit fonctionner en mode discontinu. Spécifiquement, on utilise la méthode de contrôle prédictif dans la détermination de la longueur discontinue appropriée qui réalise les valeurs stabilisables des variables d'état à la fin du mode discontinu. L'application de la méthode proposée au procédé de production de l'éthanol utilisant Zymomonas mobilis comme microorganisme produisant de l'éthanol, démontre l'efficacité de la stratégie de contrôle prédictif de modèles proposée pour stabiliser le bioréacteur. [source] Enthesis inflammation in recurrent acute anterior uveitis without spondylarthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 7 2009Santiago Muñoz-Fernández Objective To investigate whether patients with idiopathic recurrent acute anterior uveitis (AAU) have enthesis alterations comparable with those in patients with spondylarthritis (SpA). Methods A blinded, controlled study of enthesis evident on ultrasound (US) examination was performed in 100 patients and controls classified into 5 groups, as follows: patients with confirmed SpA (group 1), patients with recurrent AAU who were positive for HLA,B27 and did not have SpA (group 2), patients with recurrent AAU who were negative for HLA,B27 and did not have SpA (group 3), patients with forms of uveitis other than those related to SpA (group 4), and healthy controls (group 5). In total, 12 enthesis locations were explored in each patient and control subject by 2 ultrasonographers who were blinded with regard to the diagnosis. A newly developed US method, the Madrid Sonography Enthesitis Index (MASEI), in which the diagnosis of SpA is determined as a cutoff score of 18 points, was used. Results A total of 1,200 entheses were explored by US in 100 patients and controls. The MASEI cutoff limit was met or exceeded by 81%, 55.6%, 40%, 10%, and 19% of the subjects in the 5 groups, respectively. The MASEI score was significantly higher in groups 1 and 2 than in groups 4 and 5. The differences between groups 1 and 3 were also found to be significant. Conclusion Our findings indicate that a high percentage of HLA,B27,positive patients with idiopathic recurrent AAU without features of SpA have enthesis lesions comparable with those seen in patients with SpA. These data suggest that patients with recurrent AAU, especially those who are HLA,B27 positive, have an abortive or incomplete form of SpA. [source] Influence of surgical and postoperative treatment on survival in differentiated thyroid cancerBRITISH JOURNAL OF SURGERY (NOW INCLUDES EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SURGERY), Issue 5 2007C. I. Lundgren Background: The extent of thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to identify how surgical technique and postoperative treatments influence survival and locoregional recurrence in DTC. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted in a cohort of 5123 patients diagnosed with DTC in Sweden between 1958 and 1987. One matched control subject was selected randomly for each patient who died from DTC. Details regarding surgery and postoperative treatments were obtained from medical records. The effect of treatment on survival was estimated by conditional logistic regression. Results: Patients not treated surgically had a poorer prognosis, but the risk of death from DTC was not affected by the choice of surgical technique. The extent of surgery influenced survival only in patients with TNM stage III disease. Locoregional recurrence resulted in a fivefold increased risk of death. Postoperative treatment was not associated with improved survival. Conclusion: In operated patients, the most important prognostic factor was complete removal of the tumour. The extent of removal of remaining thyroid tissue was of prognostic importance in stage III disease only. Adjuvant postoperative treatment did not influence the prognosis favourably. Copyright © 2007 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] FS04.6 Dose/unit area and time , key factors influencing the elicitation capacity of MCI/MICONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 3 2004Claus Zachariae The objective of the study was to investigate, using the Repeated Open Application Test (ROAT), two key parameters of exposure , allergen concentration (dose/unit area) and time in terms of the elicitation capacity of methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) in MCI/MI-sensitised individuals and to explore the inter-relationship between these two key factors. The study was designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response ROAT preceded by a Diagnostic Patch Test (DPT). 79 patients with a known MCI/M allergy were contacted, 29 were diagnostically patch tested and 25 had their allergy confirmed. 25 MCI/M-allergic subjects and 10 healthy non-allergic control subjects were challenged with 2 ppm of MCI/MI/unit area of skin for 4 weeks. After a wash out period of at least 4 weeks the subjects were challenged with 7.5 ppm of MCI/MI/unit area of skin for 4 weeks. A ROAT with 2 drops of solution twice a day was conducted on the volar aspect of the left and right forearms on a 3 × 3 cm area resulting in dose/unit area of MCI/MI of 0.025 mg/cm2 and 0.095 mg/cm2 for 2 ppm and 7,5 ppm MCI/MI respectively. The elicitation capacity of MCI/MI in MCI/MI sensitive patients is dependent on the exposure dose/unit area and time The results of this study will be a useful addition to the risk assessment information available for MCI/MI. The risk assessment for the use of MCI/MI in rinse off consumer products is unaffected by the results of this study. [source] Use of in vitro release of interferon-, in the diagnosis of contact allergy to potassium dichromate , a controlled studyCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 4 2003A. Trattner The use of in vitro release of interferon-, (IFN-,) in the diagnosis of contact allergy to potassium dichromate was studied in 20 patients who had positive patch tests to chromate and in 30 control subjects (10 patients with contact dermatitis, allergic to other allergens, 10 patients with other dermatologic diseases and 10 healthy subjects). The release of IFN-, in the supernatants of the peripheral blood lymphocytes was significantly higher in the patients with proven allergy to chromate (P = 0·001). Further studies are needed to determine if IFN-, release may serve as an additional diagnostic tool in contact dermatitis. [source] Alcohol expectancies in convicted rapists and child molestersCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2001Anu S. Aromäki PhD Background Previous findings suggest that cognitive factors and expectancies related to drinking can mediate subjective sexual arousal as well as aggression in men. Our aim was to investigate the drinking habits and alcohol-related expectancies that might predispose men to sexually aggress in two groups of sexual offenders. Method Men convicted of rape (n = 10) were compared with men convicted of child molesting (n = 10) and with control subjects (n = 31). Current drinking habits (while not in prison) were assessed by self-report, and the extent of alcohol abuse was mapped by the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST; Selzer, 1971). Cognitive expectancies related to alcohol use were explored by the standard Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire (AEQ; Brown et al., 1980). Results The majority of the men who committed rape (70%) but only a third of the men convicted of child molesting were diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Alcohol abuse was common in men convicted of both rape and child molesting and the men convicted of rape expected significantly more positive effects from drinking than the control group. Both sex offender groups were the only groups to express significant alcohol-related cognitive expectancies linked to arousal and aggression. Expectancy patterns were directly linked to the antisocial personality characteristics. Conclusion Alcohol abuse is common in men who commit both rape and child molesting. Heavy drinking and the anticipation of alcohol effects such as sexual enhancement, arousal and aggression may facilitate sexual aggression in offenders with antisocial personality disorder. Copyright © 2001 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||