Initial Group (initial + group)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Longitudinal assessment of symptom and subtype categories in obsessive,compulsive disorder

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 7 2007
Lutfullah Besiroglu M.D.
Abstract Although it has been postulated that symptom subtypes are potential predictors of treatment response, few data exist on the longitudinal course of symptom and subtype categories in obsessive,compulsive disorder (OCD). Putative subtypes of OCD have gradually gained more recognition, but as yet there is no generally accepted subtype discrimination. Subtypes, it has been suggested, could perhaps be discriminated based on autogenous versus reactive obsessions stemming from different cognitive processes. In this study, our aim was to assess whether symptom and subtype categories change over time. Using the Yale,Brown Obsessive Compulsive Symptom Checklist (Y-BOCS-SC), we assessed 109 patients who met DSM-IV criteria for OCD to establish baseline values, then reassessed 91 (83%) of the initial group after 36±8.2 months. Upon reassessment, we found significant changes from baseline within aggressive, contamination, religious, symmetry and miscellaneous obsessions and within checking, washing, repeating, counting and ordering compulsion categories. Sexual, hoarding, and somatic obsessions, and hoarding and miscellaneous compulsions, did not change significantly. In accordance with the relevant literature, we also assigned patients to one of three subtypes,autogenous, reactive, or mixed groups. Though some changes in subtype categories were found, no subtype shifts (e.g., autogenous to reactive or reactive to autogenous) were observed during the course of the study. Significantly more patients in the autogenous group did not meet OCD criteria at follow-up than did patients in the other groups. Our results suggest that the discrimination between these two types of obsession might be highly valid, because autogenous and reactive obsessions are quite different, both in the development and maintenance of their cognitive mechanisms, and in their outcome. Depression and Anxiety 24:461,466, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Echocardiographic Features of Patients With Heart Failure Who May Benefit From Biventricular Pacing

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 3 2003
Amgad N. Makaryus
Background: Recent studies suggest that cardiac resynchronization therapy through biventricular pacing (BVP) may be a promising new treatment for patients with advanced congestive heart failure (CHF). This method involves implantation of pacer leads into the right atrium (RA), right ventricle (RV), and coronary sinus (CS) in patients with ventricular dyssynchrony as evidenced by a bundle branch block pattern on electrocardiogram (ECG). Clinical trials are enrolling stable patients with ejection fractions (EF) , 35%, left ventricular end-diastolic diameters (LVIDd) , 54 mm, and QRS duration ,140 msec. We compared echocardiography features of these patients (group 1) with other patients with EF , 35%, LVIDd , 54 mm, and QRS < 140 msec (group 2 = presumably no dyssynchrony). Methods: Nine hundred fifty-one patients with CHF, LVID 54 mm, EF 35% by echocardiography were retrospectively evaluated. One hundred forty-five patients remained after those with primary valvular disease, prior pacing systems, or chronic atrial arrhythmias were excluded. From this group of 145 patients, a subset of 50 randomly selected patients were further studied (25 patients [7 females, 18 males] from group 1, and 25 patients [7 females, 18 males] from group 2). Mean age group 1 = 75 years old, mean age group 2 = 67 years old. Mean QRS group 1 = 161 msec, mean QRS group 2 = 110 msec. Each group was compared for presence of paradoxical septal motion, atrial and ventricular chamber sizes, LV mass, LVEF, and RV systolic function. Results: Of the initial group of 951 patients, 145 (15%) met inclusion criteria. In the substudy, 20/25 (80%) of group l and 7/25 (28%) of group 2 subjects had paradoxical septal motion on echo (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.0005). The t-tests performed on the other echocardiography variables demonstrated no differences in chamber size, function, or LV mass. Conclusions: Cardiac resynchronization therapy with BVP appears to target a relatively small population of our advanced CHF patients (15% or less). Although increasing QRS duration on ECG is associated with more frequent paradoxical septal motion on echo, it is not entirely predictive. Paradoxical septal motion on echo may therefore be more sensitive at identifying patients who respond to BVP. Further prospective studies are needed. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, April 2003) [source]


The endocrine disruptor screening program: How EPA plans to select an initial group of chemicals for screening

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2003
Kathleen Gibson
First page of article [source]


Strategy to prevent recurrent portal vein stenosis following interventional radiology in pediatric liver transplantation

LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 3 2010
Yukihiro Sanada
Portal vein complications after liver transplantation (LT) are serious complications that can lead to graft liver failure. Although the treatment of interventional radiology (IVR) by means of balloon dilatation for portal vein stenosis (PVS) after LT is an effective method, the high rate of recurrent PVS is an agonizing problem. Anticoagulant therapy for PVS is an important factor for preventing short-term recurrence following IVR, but no established regimen has been reported for the prevention of recurrent PVS following IVR. In our population of 197 pediatric patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), 22 patients (22/197, 11.2%) suffered PVS. In the 9 earliest patients, unfractionated heparin was the only anticoagulant therapy given following IVR. In the 13 more recent patients, 3-agent anticoagulant therapy using low-molecular-weight heparin, warfarin, and aspirin was employed. In the initial group of 9 patients, 5 patients (55.6%) suffered recurrent PVS and required repeat balloon dilatation. Among the 13 more recent patients, none experienced recurrent PVS (P = 0.002). In conclusion, our 3-agent anticoagulant therapy following IVR for PVS in pediatric LDLT can be an effective therapeutic strategy for preventing recurrent PVS. Liver Transpl 16:332,339, 2010. © 2010 AASLD. [source]


Strategic Influences of Technological Innovation in Greece

BRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2001
Vangelis Souitaris
This exploratory paper analyses the ,importance' and ,awareness' of a set of established ,strategic' influences of technological innovation in the context of a European newly-industrialized country. The author interviewed 105 Greek manufacturing firms (mainly SMEs) and measured their perceived innovation rate as well as 17 ,strategic' factors regarding top-management practices and characteristics. Using correlation and regression analysis the initial group of factors was reduced to a subset of five ,major importance' influences of innovation, namely: incorporation of technology plans in the business strategy, managerial attitude towards risk, perceived intensity of competition and rate of change of customer needs, and finally status of the CEO (owner-CEOs were associated with higher innovation rate than appointed CEOs). The ,statistical' results are exploratory and have to be treated with caution, as they are highly dependent on the accuracy of the respondents' perception of their company's innovation rate and top-management practices and characteristics. The ,statistical' results were then compared with the managers' perception on the important factors determining innovation (also measured during the interviews). Overall the perceptual analysis confirmed the significance of the statistically important variables, with the exception of a disagreement in the direction of association between the status of the CEO and the rate of innovation. In general, top-management characteristics proved more important ,strategic' influences of innovation for the Greek SMEs than corporate practices. The study also indicated that the important influences of innovation were generally scarce in the Greek institutional context. The highly innovative companies were the ones to overcome country-specific innovation barriers such as the low supply of technology, the low level of competition and the risk-averse national culture. [source]