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Linear Association (linear + association)
Selected AbstractsThe Clinical Significance of Coexpression of Cyclooxygenases-2, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors, and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in Nasopharyngeal CarcinomaTHE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 11 2008Jianji Pan MD Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis: To investigate the inter-relationship of the expressions of cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) cells, and their clinical significance in association with the extent of disease at diagnosis. Study Design: Prospective. Methods: Expressions of COX-2, VEGF, and EGFR protein were detected using immunohistochemistry in 111 patients with pathologically confirmed stage II to IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The correlation between the expressions of the three tumor markers and the stages of disease at diagnosis were investigated. Results: COX-2, VEGF, and EGFR were over-expressed in 76.6, 66.7, and 73.9% of NPC cells, respectively. The staining patterns was cytoplasmic for VEGF, membranous for EGFR, and both cytoplasmic and membranous for COX-2 in tumor cells. Linear associations were observed between the intensity of the expressions of COX-2 vs. VEGF, COX-2 vs. EGFR, or VEGF vs. EGFR. Furthermore, the intensity of the expressions of all three markers was significantly associated with the extent of the tumor measured by the Tumor, Node, Metastasis classification and staging grouping of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/International Union Against Cancer staging system. Conclusion: COX-2, VEGF, and EGFR expressions in NPC cells were interrelated, and the intensity of the expressions of all three markers were significantly associated with the stage of the disease at diagnosis. Further investigation is needed to determine the clinical applications of COX-2, VEGF, and EGFR in predicting the long-term outcome of NPC after definitive therapy. [source] Birth-cohort and dual diagnosis effects on age-at-onset in Brazilian patients with bipolar I disorderACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2009P. V. Da Silva Magalhães Objective:, Substance use disorders and birth-cohort have been associated with an earlier onset in bipolar disorder (BD). This study aimed at evaluating the inter-relations of these factors in age-at-onset in bipolar illness. Method:, Two-hundred and thirty patients with bipolar I disorder were cross-sectionally evaluated. Patients were categorized into four age groups for analysis. Lifetime comorbidity and age-at-onset were derived from the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Results:, There was a strong linear association between age group and age-at-onset. Lifetime alcohol and drug use disorders were also associated with age-at-onset. Illicit drug and alcohol use disorders and age group remained significant in the multivariate model. No interactions appeared. Conclusion:, Both age group and dual diagnoses had strong and independent impacts on age-at-onset in out-patients with BD. Substance abuse may be partly accountable for earlier symptom onset, but other features of BD in younger generations are still in need to be accounted for. [source] Gonadal dysfunction in male cancer patients before cytotoxic treatmentINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 1 2010Niels J. Van Casteren Summary Male patients diagnosed with cancer are often referred for semen cryopreservation before gonadotoxic treatment but often have low semen quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate which type of cancer affects gonadal function and proposes a risk factor for low pre-treatment semen quality. Between January 1983 and August 2006, 764 male cancer patients were referred for semen cryopreservation prior to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We compared semen characteristics and reproductive hormones between different groups of cancer patients. In addition, we evaluated the role of tumour markers in patients with testicular germ-cell tumours (TGCT) on fertility. Abnormal semen parameters were found in 489 men (64%) before cancer treatment. Patients with TGCT and extragonadal germ-cell tumours had significantly lower sperm concentrations and inhibin B levels than all other patient groups. No semen could be banked in 93 patients (12.2%). Eight hundred and thirty-nine of 927 (90%) produced semen samples were adequate for cryopreservation. Inhibin B in all groups showed to be the best predictor of semen quality. Although pre-treatment raised tumour markers were associated with a decrease in inhibin B and increased follicle stimulating hormone, both predictive for low semen quality; no direct linear association could be found between raised beta-HCG, alfa-fetoprotein and semen quality. Only 1/3 of cancer patients had normal semen parameters prior to cancer treatment. Patients with TGCT and extragonadal GCT have the highest risk for impaired semen quality and gonadal dysfunction at the time of semen cryopreservation. [source] Retro-active skill of multi-tiered forecasts of summer rainfall over southern AfricaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Willem A. Landman Abstract Sea-surface temperature (SST) variations of the oceans surrounding southern Africa are associated with seasonal rainfall variability, especially during austral summer when the tropical atmospheric circulation is dominant over the region. Because of instabilities in the linear association between summer rainfall over southern Africa and SSTs of the tropical Indian Ocean, the skilful prediction of seasonal rainfall may best be achieved using physically based models. A two-tiered retro-active forecast procedure for the December,February (DJF) season is employed over a 10-year period starting from 1987/1988. Rainfall forecasts are produced for a number of homogeneous regions over part of southern Africa. Categorized (below-normal, near-normal and above-normal) statistical DJF rainfall predictions are made for the region to form the baseline skill level that has to be outscored by more elaborate methods involving general circulation models (GCMs). The GCM used here is the Centre for Ocean,Land,Atmosphere Studies (COLA) T30, with predicted global SST fields as boundary forcing and initial conditions derived from the National Centres for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data. Bias-corrected GCM simulations of circulation and moisture at certain standard pressure levels are downscaled to produce rainfall forecasts at the regional level using the perfect prognosis approach. In the two-tiered forecasting system, SST predictions for the global oceans are made first. SST anomalies of the equatorial Pacific (NIÑO3.4) and Indian oceans are predicted skilfully at 1- and 3-month lead-times using a statistical model. These retro-active SST forecasts are accurate for pre-1990 conditions, but predictability seems to have weakened during the 1990s. Skilful multi-tiered rainfall forecasts are obtained when the amplitudes of large events in the global oceans (such as El Niño and La Niña episodes) are described adequately by the predicted SST fields. GCM simulations using persisted August SST anomalies instead of forecast SSTs produce skill levels similar to those of the baseline for longer lead-times. Given high-skill SST forecasts, the scheme has the potential to provide climate forecasts that outscore the baseline skill level substantially. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Cumulative Environmental Risk and Youth Problem BehaviorJOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY, Issue 3 2004Jean M. Gerard Using data from Wave 1 (n = 5,070) and Wave 2 (n = 4,404) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we examined the relationship between cumulative risk exposure and youth problem behavior. Cross-sectional analyses revealed a positive, linear association between cumulative risk and problem behaviors. The association between cumulative risk and externalizing problems was stronger for White youth than for Black youth. The association between cumulative risk and internalizing problems was stronger for girls than for boys, and stronger for White youth than for Black and Hispanic youth. Cumulative risk predicted change over time in internalizing problems. Findings support the theoretical notion that adolescents experience diminished psychological comfort when risk factors are present across several social domains. [source] Phosphatidylethanol and Alcohol Consumption in Reproductive Age WomenALCOHOLISM, Issue 3 2010Scott H. Stewart Background:, Fetal alcohol disorders are preventable, but self-reported alcohol consumption can be misleading and impede effective treatment. Biomarkers represent an alternative method for assessing alcohol use, and this study evaluated the relationship between blood phosphatidylethanol (PEth) and alcohol use in a sample of reproductive age women. Methods:, Alcohol use was estimated by validated self-report methods in 80 nonpregnant women ages 18 to 35. PEth was measured by a contracted laboratory using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. Regression methods appropriate for the distribution of PEth were used to define its relationship to alcohol consumption during the prior 2 weeks and explore the effects of drinking patterns on this association. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to estimate the sensitivity of PEth for various drinking levels at 95% specific cutoffs. Results:, PEth had a positive linear association with grams of alcohol consumed (p < 0.001), and was detectable in 93% of subjects consuming an average of 2 or more drinks per day. The relationship between total alcohol consumption and PEth may be stronger in women with recent heavy drinking days. The relationship between drinking and PEth varied considerably between individuals, and sensitivity for a certain amount of drinking was low at a highly specific cutoff concentration. Conclusions:, PEth is a highly sensitive indicator of moderate and heavy alcohol consumption in reproductive age women and may complement the use of self-report alcohol screens when additional objective markers of alcohol use are desirable. However, choosing a highly valid cutoff concentration for PEth to differentiate various levels of alcohol consumption may not be feasible. [source] Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters in Meconium: Are They Biomarkers of Fetal Alcohol Exposure and Effect?ALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2006Enrique M. Ostrea Jr. Background: Biomarkers of fetal exposure to alcohol are important to establish so that early detection and intervention can be made on these infants to prevent undesirable outcomes. The aim of this study was to analyze long-chain fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in meconium as potential biomarkers of fetal alcohol exposure and effect. Methods: Fatty acid ethyl esters were analyzed in the meconium of 124 singleton infants by positive chemical ionization gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and correlated to maternal ethanol use. Results: A total of 124 mother/infant dyads were enrolled in the study: 31 were in the control group and 93 were in the alcohol-exposed group. The incidence (28% vs 9.7%, p=0.037) of ethyl linoleate detected in meconium was significantly higher in the alcohol-exposed groups than the control groups. Similarly, when the concentrations of ethyl linoleate in meconium were grouped (trichotomized), there was a significant linear by linear association between alcohol exposure and group concentrations of ethyl linoleate (p=0.013). Furthermore, only alcohol-exposed infants were found in the group with the highest ethyl linoleate concentration. The sensitivity of ethyl linoleate in detecting prenatal alcohol exposure was only 26.9%, and its specificity and positive predictive value were 96.8 and 96.2%, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the concentration of ethyl linoleate in meconium and absolute alcohol consumed (oz) per drinking day across pregnancy, although a trend toward a positive correlation is seen at lower amounts of alcohol consumed. Among the polyunsaturated, long-chain FAEEs, there was weak evidence that the incidence (21.5% vs 6.5%, p=0.057) and concentration (p=0.064) of ethyl arachidonate (AA) were significantly higher in the alcohol-exposed groups than the control groups. Ethyl linolenate and ethyl docosahexanoate (DHA) in meconium were found only in the alcohol group, although not at statistically significant levels. Highly significant correlations were found among the concentrations of ethyl linoleate, ethyl linolenate, ethyl AA, and ethyl DHA in meconium (correlations ranged between rs=0.203, p=0.024; and rs=0.594, p<0.001). Conclusion: We conclude that FAEEs in meconium, particularly ethyl linoleate and ethyl AA, are biomarkers of high specificity for prenatal exposure to alcohol in newborn infants. We also propose that ethyl AA and DHA could be potential biomarkers of fetal alcohol effects on the developing fetal brain and should be investigated further. [source] 13C-methacetin breath test as a quantitative liver function test in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection: continuous automatic molecular correlation spectroscopy compared to isotopic ratio mass spectrometryALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 2 2007O. GOETZE Summary Background The 13C-methacetin breath test (MBT) has been proposed for the non-invasive evaluation of hepatic microsomal activity. Aim To test a new continuous breath analysis system (BreathID) in comparison with gold-standard isotopic ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and to assess the diagnostic performance of these validation data compared with liver biopsy for the quantification of liver fibrosis. Methods Fifty patients at different METAVIR stages received 75 mg of 13C-methacetin. Breath isotopic ratio was analysed over 90 min by BreathID (one sample/3 min; BreathID) and IRMS (one sample/10 min). Results were expressed as delta over baseline [DOB (%)] at each time interval and maximal DOB [DOBmax(%)]. Results A high linear association between both methods was observed (R2 = 0.95, P < 0.001). For all DOB and DOBmax, the limits of agreement by Bland,Altman analysis were within the predefined maximal width of s.d. <2.5%. MBT parameters in patients with high-grade fibrosis were different from patients with low-grade fibrosis (P < 0.001). Conclusion The MBT obtained by an easy to operate, automated BreathID provides results comparable with standard IRMS and differentiates fibrosis grades in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection. [source] Leaf photoacclimatory responses of the tropical seagrass Thalassia testudinum under mesocosm conditions: a mechanistic scaling-up studyNEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 1 2007Napo M. Cayabyab Summary ,,Here, the leaf photoacclimatory plasticity and efficiency of the tropical seagrass Thalassia testudinum were examined. ,,Mesocosms were used to compare the variability induced by three light conditions, two leaf sections and the variability observed at the collection site. ,,The study revealed an efficient photosynthetic light use at low irradiances, but limited photoacclimatory plasticity to increase maximum photosynthetic rates (Pmax) and saturation (Ek) and compensation (Ec) irradiances under high light irradiance. A strong, positive and linear association between the percentage of daylight hours above saturation and the relative maximum photochemical efficiency (FV/FM) reduction observed between basal and apical leaf sections was also found. ,,The results indicate that T. testudinum leaves have a shade-adapted physiology. However, the large amount of heterotrophic biomass that this seagrass maintains may considerably increase plant respiratory demands and their minimum quantum requirements for growth (MQR). Although the MQR still needs to be quantified, it is hypothesized that the ecological success of this climax species in the oligotrophic and highly illuminated waters of the Caribbean may rely on the ability of the canopy to regulate the optimal leaf light environment and the morphological plasticity of the whole plant to enhance total leaf area and to reduce carbon respiratory losses. [source] Obesity and associated modifiable environmental factors in Iranian adolescents: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program , Heart Health Promotion from ChildhoodPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2003RoYA Kelishadi Abstract Objective:,To evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity among Iranian adolescents and their relationship with modifiable environmental factors. Methods:,The subjects of the present study were 1000 girls and 1000 boys, aged between 11 and 18 years selected by multistage random sampling, their parents (n = 2000) and their school staff (n = 500 subjects) in urban and rural areas of two provinces in Iran. Data concerning body mass index (BMI), nutrition and the physical activity of the subjects were analyzed by SPSSV10/Win software. Results:,The prevalence of 85th percentile , body mass index (BMI) < 95th percentile and BMI > 95th percentile in girls was significantly higher than boys (10.7 ± 1.1 and 2.9 ± 0.1%vs 7.4 ± 0.9 and 1.9 ± 0.1%, respectively; P < 0.05). The mean BMI value was significantly different between urban and rural areas (25.4 ± 5.2 vs 23.2 ± 7.1 kg/m2, respectively; P < 0.05). A BMI> 85th percentile was more prevalent in families with an average income than in high-income families (9.3 ± 1.7 vs 7.2 ± 1.4%, respectively; P < 0.05) and in those with lower-educated mothers (9.2 ± 2.1 vs 11.5 ± 2.4 years of mothers education, respectively). The mean total energy intake was not different between overweight or obese and normal-weight subjects (1825 ± 90 vs 1815 ± 85 kCal, respectively; P > 0.05), but the percentage of energy derived from carbohydrates was significantly higher in the former group compared with the latter (69.4 vs 63.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). Regular extracurricular sports activities were significantly lower and the time spent watching television was significantly higher in overweight or obese than non-obese subjects (time spent watching telelvision: 300 ± 20 vs 240 ± 30 min/day, P < 0.05). A significant linear association was shown between the frequency of consumption of rice, bread, pasta, fast foods and fat/salty snacks and BMI (, = 0.05,0.06; P < 0.05). A significant correlation was shown between BMI percentiles and serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein,cholesterol and systolic blood pressure (Pearson's r = 0.38, ,0.32 and 0.47, respectively). Conclusions:,Enhanced efforts to prevent and control overweight from childhood is a critical national priority, even in developing countries. To be successful, social, cultural and economic influences should be considered. [source] Reversibility of ,Secondary Hypercalcitoninemia' After Kidney TransplantationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 7 2005Kyra A. Borchhardt Whether the increase of calcitonin (CT) concentration in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is reversible or not after kidney transplantation is not known. We examined the effect of kidney transplantation on basal and pentagastrin-stimulated CT in CKD patients with elevated screening CT levels. Before transplantation, the median basal CT concentration of 17 patients was 31 pg/mL (13,76), and decreased to 8 pg/mL (4,28) at 23 months (2,34) after kidney transplantation (p < 0.00005). The maximum concentration of pentagastrin-stimulated CT was 63 pg/mL (25,110) before transplantation and decreased to 20 pg/mL (8,91) (p < 0.00005) thereafter. There was a linear association between CT and calcium as well as between phosphorus and parathyroid hormone at the time of screening. After transplantation, CT correlated with serum creatinine. Therefore, the increase of CT concentration in patients with impaired kidney function presumably reflects ,secondary hypercalcitoninemia' due to C-cell hyperactivity. [source] Stepwise regression analysis to study male and female factors impacting on pregnancy rate in an intrauterine insemination programmeANDROLOGIA, Issue 3 2001M. Montanaro Gauci Summary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of male and female factors on the pregnancy rate in an intrauterine insemination (IUI) programme. Data on 522 cycles were retrospectively studied. All patients 39 years or younger were included in the study where data were available on male and female diagnosis, as well as on ovulation induction methodology. Regression analysis was possible on 495 cycles to study different factors affecting the pregnancy rate per treatment cycle. Logistic regression identified variables which were related to outcome and were subsequently incorporated into a statistical model. The number of follicles was found to have a linear association with the risk ratio (chance) of pregnancy. The age of the woman was also found to have a linear (negative) association with pregnancy. The percentage motility and percentage normal morphology (by strict criteria) of spermatozoa in the fresh ejaculate were the male factors that significantly and independently predicted the outcome. Percentage motility ,,50 was associated with a risk ratio of pregnancy of 2.95 compared to percentage motility < 50. Percentage normal sperm morphology > 14% was associated with a risk ratio of pregnancy of 1.8 compared to percentage normal morphology ,,14%. Female patients with idiopathic infertility were divided into three groups according to normal sperm morphology. The pregnancy rate per cycle was 2.63% (1/38) for the P (poor) pattern group (0,4% normal forms), 11.4% (17/149) for the G (good) pattern group (5,14%), and 24% (18/75) for the N (normal) pattern group (> 14% normal forms). A female diagnosis of endometriosis or tubal factor impacted negatively on the probability of pregnancy (risk ratio of 0.17), compared with other female diagnoses. Male and female factors contribute to pregnancy outcome, but the clinician can influence prognosis by increasing the number of follicles, especially in severe male factor cases. [source] The Reserve Capacity Model as a Framework for Understanding Psychosocial Factors in Health DisparitiesAPPLIED PSYCHOLOGY: HEALTH AND WELL-BEING, Issue 1 2009Linda C. Gallo Substantial research has identified a robust, linear association between socioeconomic status (SES) and health, across many different populations and outcomes. Among myriad influences, psychosocial factors may contribute to SES-related gradients in health. In the current manuscript, we describe the Reserve Capacity Model (Gallo & Matthews, 2003) as a potential framework through which to examine psychosocial pathways in health disparities. The model posits that SES is connected to health, in part through associations with stress and concomitant negative emotions, and their subsequent links with bio-behavioral functioning. In addition, low SES may predict enhanced emotional and physiological reactivity to stress due to a deficiency in resilient psychosocial resources (i.e. "reserve capacity") and limited opportunities to replenish resource reserves. In addition, resources might represent a direct mediational pathway from SES to health. We describe several studies in which we have examined various tenets of the Reserve Capacity Model, and comment on future research directions to better understand the roles of psychosocial variables in health disparities. [source] Gender, socioeconomic status, need or access?AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2009Differences in statin prescribing across urban, remote Australia, rural Abstract Objectives:,To assess differences in statin prescribing across Australia by geographic area. Design, setting and participants:,A cross-sectional study using Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data on statin prescribing by rurality, gender and patient postcode for the period May to December 2002. Participants were the Australian population, stratified by gender, quintile of index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage and rural, remote and metropolitan areas classification. Results:,Statin prescribing (scripts per 1000 population per month) was higher in urban areas (women, 51.915; men, 51.892) than in rural (women, 48.311; men, 48.098) or remote (women, 39.679; men, 34.145) areas. In urban areas, weighted least squares regression analysis showed a significant negative linear association between statin prescribing and socioeconomic status for both women (weighted least squares slope, ,3.358; standard error (SE) 0.057; P < 0.0001) and men (slope, ,0.507; SE 0.056; P < 0.0001). A similar association occurred in rural areas: women (slope, ,4.075; SE 0.122; P < 0.0001) and men (slope, ,3.455; SE 0.117; P < 0.0001), but not in remote areas where there was a positive linear association (slope, 3.120; SE 0.451; P < 0.0001) and men (slope, 3.098; SE 0.346; P < 0.0001). Conclusion:,Our results suggest differences in statin prescribing in Australia across geographic location, adjusting for age, gender and socioeconomic status. Implications:,These findings suggest that health inequalities due to geography should be addressed. [source] The burden and determinants of dysmenorrhoea: a population-based survey of 2262 women in Goa, IndiaBJOG : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2006V Patel Objective, To describe the prevalence and determinants of dysmenorrhoea, the most common menstrual complaint, in a community in India. Design, Cross-sectional survey. Setting, Catchment area of primary health centre in Goa, India. Population, Three thousand women aged 18,45 years randomly selected. A total of 2494 women consented to participate (83.1%). Methods, Eligible participants were asked standardised questions regarding menstrual complaints over the past 12 months, and socio-demographic, psychosocial and reproductive risk factors. Vaginal or urine specimens were collected for the diagnosis of reproductive tract infections. Main outcome measures, Dysmenorrhoea of moderate to severe intensity. Results, A total of 2262 women were eligible. More than half reported dysmenorrhoea; moderate to severe dysmenorrhoea was reported by 755 participants (33.4%, 95% CI 31.4,35.4). There was a linear association between severity of pain and impact (medication and taking rest) and the onset of pain (premenstrual onset associated with more severe pain). On multivariate analyses, the risk of moderate,severe dysmenorrhoea was associated with the experience of violence (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.5,34); other somatic complaints (OR 3.67, 95% CI 2.7,4.9 for highest somatoform symptom score category compared with the lowest); gynaecological complaints (non-menstrual lower abdominal pain: OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.3,2.3; dysuria: OR 1.98, 1.4,2.7); menorrhagia (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.4,2.6); and illiteracy (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.0,1.7). Having had a pregnancy (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.4,0.7), older age of menarche (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.5,0.9, for age >14 compared with <13 years) and older age (OR 0.43, 0.3,0.6 for age 40,50, compared with 18,24 years) were protective. Conclusions, The burden of dysmenorrhoea is greater than any other gynaecological complaint, and is associated with significant impact. Social disadvantage, co-morbidity with other somatic syndromes and reproductive factors are determinants of this complaint. [source] The 24-h frequency-volume chart in adults reporting no voiding complaints: defining reference values and analysing variablesBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 9 2004E.P. Van Haarst OBJECTIVE To determine the variables (e.g. voiding frequency, voided volumes, urine production) and their mutual relationships and differences between age groups and genders, using a frequency-volume chart (FVC) in an adult population (representing all age groups) who denied having any voiding complaints. SUBJECTS AND METHODS In all, 1152 men and women aged >,20 years completed a 24-h FVC; registration started with the first voided volume in the morning and concluded with the first voided volume the next morning. The time of voiding and volume were both recorded, and bedtime hours noted. Each participant claimed to have no voiding complaints. The statistical analysis was aimed at discerning the relationships between the FVC variables, gender and age. RESULTS There was a linear increase in mean 24-h voiding frequency and nocturia in men, from 6.0 and 0.5 in the third decade to 8.5 and 1.6 in those aged >,70 years. Contrary to men, in women the mean 24-h frequency declined slightly in the older decades; it increased from 6.9 in the third to 8.2 in the sixth, declining to 7.8 in those aged >,70 years. Nocturia in women increased linearly, although slower than in men, from 0.7 in the third decade to 1.4 in those aged >,70 years. The mean volume/void decreased significantly in both genders, from 313 to 209 mL in men, and from 274 to 240 mL in women. The mean 24-h volume was 1718 and 1762 mL in men and women, respectively. For both genders there was a strong linear association between 24-h urine production and voided volumes. CONCLUSION The volume/void and maximum voided volume decreased significantly with age in both sexes, but more prominently in men. As a result, in men the frequency increased with age, probably reflecting subclinical changes associated with the development of prostatic enlargement. In contrast to men the frequency in women increased initially and decreased in the older groups. A higher 24-h urine production was associated with a higher mean volume/void. [source] Planar Asymmetry Tips the Phonological Playground and Environment Raises the BarCHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 4 2001Mark A. Eckert Reading readiness varies as a function of family and environmental variables. This study of 11-year-old children (N=39) was designed to determine if there was an additional or interactive contribution of brain structure. Evidence is presented that both environmental and biological variables predict phonological development. Temporal lobe (planar) asymmetry, hand preference, family history of reading disability, and SES explained over half of the variance in phonological and verbal performance. The results demonstrate a linear association between cerebral organization and phonological skill within socioeconomic groups. These data provide concrete evidence to support the commonly held assumption that both environmental and biological factors are independent determinants of a child's ability to process linguistic information. [source] Effects of the angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan on the monocyte expression of biglycan in hypertensive patientsCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Maria A Sardo Summary 1.,Recently, we demonstrated that biglycan (BGN) is increased in circulating monocyte cells from hypertensive patients and that angiotensin (Ang) II is able to increase BGN expression. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of treatment with the angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist losartan on monocyte BGN mRNA and protein expression in essential hypertension. 2.,One hundred and twenty-six newly diagnosed hypertensive patients without additional risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease were treated with 100 mg losartan once daily for 6 months. Biglycan mRNA and protein expression was determined in monocytes isolated from peripheral blood before (T0) and after (T1) therapy. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were also determined. In addition, BGN mRNA and protein expression was determined after the ex vivo addition of 1 ,mol/L AngII to monocytes isolated from 20 randomly selected hypertensive patients. 3.,Biglycan mRNA and protein expression, blood pressure and plasma levels of fibrinogen, IL-6, TNF-, and CRP were significantly lower at T1 than at T0. Variations in BGN expression were associated with inflammatory markers, but not directly with blood pressure. In AngII-stimulated monocytes, BGN mRNA and protein expression was significantly lower at T1 that at T0. Moreover, mean BGN mRNA expression in AngII-stimulated monocytes isolated from losartan-treated patients was similar to baseline expression in unstimulated monocytes from untreated patients. 4.,The results of the present study show that losartan can reduce BGN expression in monocytes from hypertensive patients, without any linear association with blood pressure, suggesting that the effects of AngII on BGN expression in monocytes may be modulated, in part, by an AT1 receptor blocker. [source] Parent, child, and contextual predictors of childhood physical punishmentINFANT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2002Lianne J. Woodward Abstract Data gathered over the course of an 18-year longitudinal study of 1025 New Zealand children were used to: (a) develop a profile of the maternal, child, and contextual factors associated with differing levels of exposure to maternal physical punishment, and (b) identify the key predictors of maternal physical punishment as reported by young people at age 18. Results revealed the presence of clear linear associations between the extent of young people's reported exposure to physical punishment and a wide range of maternal, child, and contextual factors. The key predictors of physical punishment suggested that the psychosocial profile of those mothers at greatest risk of physically punishing or mistreating their child was that of a young woman with a personal history of strict parenting who entered motherhood at an early age, and who was attempting to parent a behaviourally difficult child within a dysfunctional family environment characterized by elevated rates of inter-parental violence and childhood sexual abuse. These findings were consistent with a cumulative risk factor model in which increasing risk factor exposure is associated with increasing levels of child physical punishment/maltreatment. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking and the risk of gallbladder cancer death: A prospective cohort study in JapanINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2008Kiyoko Yagyu Abstract Gallbladder cancer is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis, and few risk factors have been identified to date. This prospective study was conducted to evaluate the association of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption with the risk of gallbladder cancer death. A baseline survey in 45 areas throughout Japan was conducted from 1988 to 1990 using a self-administered questionnaire, and a total of 113,496 participants (65,740 women) aged 40,89 years at entry were followed for 15 years. During the follow-up period, 165 gallbladder cancer deaths (95 women) were observed. Among women, the hazard ratio (HR) [95 percent confidence interval: 95% CI] of current smoker was 2.00 [0.91,4.42], when adjusted for age and drinking. There was no clear association between alcohol consumption and the risk. Among men, HR of current smoker was 2.27 [1.05,4.90]. HRs of those who smoked 21 cigarettes or more per day and those with 801,1,000 cigarette-years were 3.18 [1.18,8.53] and 3.44 [1.40,8.45], respectively, and positive linear associations were observed between that risk and the number of cigarettes per day (p for trend = 0.007) or "cigarette-years" (p for trend = 0.012). The alcohol dose was linearly associated with risk (p for trend = 0.004), where the HR among those who consumed 72.0 g or more of alcohol per day was 3.60 [1.29,9.85]. Among both men and women, cigarette smoking may elevate the risk of death from gallbladder cancer. Drinking may pose an elevated risk among men, but that seems to be less true among women. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Associations between leisure-time physical activity and health-related quality of life among adolescent and adult survivors of childhood cancersPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 9 2010Raheem J. Paxton Abstract Objective: Survivors of childhood cancer are at an increased risk for reduced quality of life (QOL), yet few studies have explored factors associated with improving health-related QOL (HRQOL) in this population. We thus explored the relationship between physical activity (PA) and HRQOL among survivors of childhood cancer. Methods: A total of 215 survivors of childhood lymphoma, leukemia, and central nervous system cancers completed mailed surveys that elicited information regarding leisure-time PA (LTPA) measured in metabolic equivalents, HRQOL, and diagnostic and demographic factors. Correlations and adjusted regression models were used to explore the relationship between LTPA and HRQOL. Results: In the total sample, modest, yet significant linear associations were observed between LTPA and overall HRQOL (,=0.17, p<0.01), as well as each of the respective subscales (,=0.11,0.23 and p's<0.05 to <0.001). Among adolescent survivors of childhood cancer, LTPA was significantly associated with overall HRQOL (,=0.27), cancer worry (,=0.36), cognitive function (,=0.32), body appearance (,=0.29), and social function (,=0.27) (all p's<0.05). Among adult survivors of childhood cancer, LTPA was only significantly associated with physical function (,=0.28, p<0.001). Conclusions: Significant associations exist between LTPA and HRQOL; however, the association was stronger and observed in more domains for adolescent survivors of childhood cancer. More research is needed to determine the antecedents and consequences of PA in this population. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||||||||