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P Groups (p + groups)
Selected AbstractsEffectiveness of dental trauma education for elementary school staffDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2008Judy D. McIntyre Using a newly developed reliable survey instrument, we tested our elementary school staff participants about TDI before (time0), immediately after (time1), and three months after (time2) the intervention. Schools were randomized into three groups: no intervention/control (C), pamphlets (P), and pamphlets + lecture (P + L). Outcomes of interest were TDI knowledge over time relative to the interventions vs controls. Statistical analysis involved a repeated measures linear model. At time0, TDI knowledge was low among all three groups. At time1, knowledge increased among all groups and is given by P > P+L > C. For time2 vs time1, the P + L group retained the knowledge while in both the C and P groups the knowledge level decreased. Between time1 and time2, significant differences were found between both intervention groups when compared with the control (P vs C and P + L vs C: both P < 0.05). In summary, both P and P + L groups significantly improved TDI knowledge among elementary school staff, and this difference held up over time. These interventions have the potential to improve TDI management by elementary school staff when faced with such injuries. [source] Contractile Properties, Fatigue and Recovery are not Influenced by Short-Term Creatine Supplementation in Human MuscleEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000J. M. Jakobi There have been several studies on the effect of short-term creatine (Cr) supplementation on exercise performance, but none have investigated both voluntary and stimulated muscle contractions in the same experiment. Fourteen moderately active young men (19-28 years) were randomly assigned, in a double blind manner, to either a creatine (Cr) or placebo (P) group. The subjects supplemented their regular diet 4 times a day for 5 days with either 5 g Cr + 5 g maltodextrin (Cr group), or 5 g maltodextrin (P group). Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), muscle activation, as assessed using the modified twitch interpolation technique, electrically stimulated contractile properties, electromyography (EMG), endurance time and recovery from fatigue were measured in the elbow flexors. The fatigue protocol involved both voluntary and stimulated contractions. Following supplementation there was a significant weight gain in the Cr group (1.0 kg), whereas the P group did not change. For each group, pre-supplementation measures were not significantly different from post-supplementation for MVC, twitch and tetanic tensions at rest, time to peak tension, half-relaxation time and contraction duration. Prior to Cr supplementation time to fatigue was 10 ± 4 min (mean ± S.E.M.) for both groups, and following supplementation there was a non-significant increase of 1 min in each group. MVC force, muscle activation, EMG, stimulated tensions and durations were similar for the Cr and P groups over the course of the fatigue protocol and did not change after supplementation. Furthermore, recovery of MVC, stimulated tensions and contractile speeds did not differ as a result of Cr supplementation. These results indicate that short-term Cr supplementation does not influence isometric elbow flexion force, muscle activation, stimulated contractile properties, or delay time to fatigue or improve recovery. [source] The North American P group of Heterobasidion annosum s.l. is widely distributed in Pinus pinea forests of the western coast of central ItalyFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2007L. D'Amico Summary The distribution of the North American P group of Heterobasidion annosum s.l., recently reported from a Pinus pinea forest in the surroundings of Rome, was studied using mating tests and DNA fingerprinting (mitochondrial DNA, random amplified microsatellite technique and two group-specific markers). This fungus is present in several forests and small plantations along the Tyrrhenian coast of the Italian peninsula, within an area approximately 100 km long, extending from Fregene in the north to the National Park of Circeo in the south, and 27 km wide including the city of Rome. In pine forests of Castelporziano, Castel Fusano and Anzio, where US troops resided during the Second World War, the North American P group is more frequent than the European P group. The low number of mating alleles in the Italian population of the North American P group supports the hypothesis of its origin from a small number of introductions. The near 100% sexual compatibility between the North American and European P groups, together with inconsistencies in results obtained with different identification methods of these groups, suggests that hybridization between the North American and European P populations occurs occasionally. [source] New Beverage for Cardiovascular Health, Proposal Based on Oriental and Occidental Food Culture from a World-Wide Epidemiological StudyGERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2008Emilio Hideyuki Moriguchi Objectives: To investigate whether combined isoflavones and antioxidants in oriental and occidental drinks reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in high-risk Japanese immigrants living in Brazil. Materials and methods: From among over 100 Japanese immigrants thirty-seven females aged 45,60 years in Porto Alegre, Brazil, were randomized after informed consent into two groups to drink 200 ml of whole soy cell juice (S) containing 7.5 g soy protein and 10 mg of isoflavones (aglycone) in peach juice or placebo peach juice (P) with 80 Kcal for 12 weeks. Health survey including 24-hour urine (24 U) examination were carried out before the randomization and after the double blind placebo controlled intervention study. Results: Both weight and body mass index (BMI) were significantly (p < 0.05, 0.01) decreased from the baseline only in the S group. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from the baseline in the S group with elevated 24 U isoflavone excretion (>10 µmol), and there was a significant (p < 0.05) inter-group difference between the S and P groups after intervention. Total and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (C) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the S group from the baseline and there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the S and P groups after intervention. HbA1c and atherogenic index (non-high density lipoprotein (HDL)-C/HDL-C) were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in both groups. Conclusions: Soy isoflavones combined with fruit antioxidants, the combination of which might potentiate local nitric oxide (NO) affect, decreased SBP, total cholesterol and LDL-C. Peach juice itself improved blood glucose levels and the atherogenic index of the high-risk Japanese population in Brazil. [source] Long-Term Effect of Incadronate Disodium (YM-175) on Fracture Healing of Femoral Shaft in Growing RatsJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2001Chaoyang Li Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of incadronate on fracture healing of the femoral shaft in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley 8-week-old rats were injected subcutaneously (sc) with either vehicle (V group) or two doses of incadronate (10 ,g/kg and 100 ,g/kg) three times a week for 2 weeks. Right femoral diaphysis was then fractured and fixed with intramedullary stainless wire. Just after fracture, incadronate treatment was stopped in pretreatment groups (P groups: P-10 and P-100) or continued in continuous treatment groups (C groups: C-10 and C-100). All rats were killed at 25 weeks or 49 weeks after surgery. Fractured femur was evaluated radiologically and mechanically and then stained in Villanueva bone stain and embedded in methyl methacrylate. Undecalcified cross-sections from the fracture area were evaluated microradiologically and histomorphometrically. Radiographic observation showed that the fracture line disappeared in all groups. Cross-sectional area in the C-100 group was the biggest among all groups and in the C-10 group was larger than that in the V group at 25 weeks. Histological and histomorphometric observations showed that the process of fracture healing was delayed under continuous treatment with incadronate as evidenced by the delay of both lamellar cortical shell formation and resolution of original cortex in C groups. Percent linear labeling perimeter, mineral apposition rate (MAR), and bone formation rate (BFR) in C groups significantly decreased compared with the other groups, indicating that the callus remodeling was suppressed under continuous treatment, especially with a high dose. Mechanical study showed that the stiffness and ultimate load of the fractured femur in the C 100 group were the highest among all groups at both 25 weeks and 49 weeks. In conclusion, this study showed that long-term continuous treatment with incadronate delayed the process of fracture healing of femur in rats, especially under high dose but it did not impair the recovery of mechanical integrity of the fracture. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Profile of Peripheral Blood Neutrophil Cytokines in Diabetes Type 1 Pregnant Women and its Correlation with Selected Parameters in the NewbornsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Magdalena Perty, ska-Marczewska Citation Perty,ska-Marczewska M, G,owacka E, Grodzicka A, Sobczak M, Cypryk K, Wilczy,ski JR., Wilczy,ski J. Profile of peripheral blood neutrophil cytokines in diabetes type 1 pregnant women and its correlation with selected parameters in the newborns. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 150,160 Problem, Interleukin (IL)-12, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-, (TNF-,), IL-6 and IL-8 alter as pregnancy progresses, implying continuous immune regulation associated with the maintenance of pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate the peripheral blood neutrophil-derived production of these cytokines in the course of pregnancy complicated by type 1 diabetes. Method of study, These parameters were measured in samples from healthy non-pregnant (C), diabetic non-pregnant (D), healthy pregnant (P) and pregnant diabetic (PD) women. Results, Neutrophil-derived secretion of TNF-, and IL-12 increased along with progression of pregnancy in PD and P groups. The concentration of IL-10 from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neutrophils increased during the course of uncomplicated pregnancy but decreased in diabetic pregnancy. Concentration of IL-8 decreased with the advancing gestational age in P and PD groups. LPS-stimulated neutrophil-derived IL-6 concentration increased only in PD patients. Conclusion, Our results show that diabetes creates pro-inflammatory environment thus potentially influencing the outcome of pregnancy. We conclude that neutrophil-derived cytokine production could contribute to the complications seen in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. [source] Applications of Extensions of Bivariate Rank Sum Statistics to the Crossover Design to Compare Two Treatments Through Four Sequence GroupsBIOMETRICS, Issue 3 2009Atsushi Kawaguchi Summary This article describes applications of extensions of bivariate rank sum statistics to the crossover design with four sequence groups for two treatments. A randomized clinical trial in ophthalmology provides motivating background for the discussion. The bilateral design for this study has four sequence groups T:T, T:P, P:T, and P:P, respectively, for T as test treatment or P as placebo in the corresponding order for the left and right eyes. This article describes how to use the average of the separate Wilcoxon rank sum statistics for the left and right eyes for the overall comparison between T and P with the correlation between the two eyes taken into account. An extension of this criterion with better sensitivity to potential differences between T and P through reduction of the applicable variance has discussion in terms of a conceptual model with constraints for within-side homogeneity of groups with the same treatment and between-side homogeneity of the differences between T and P. Goodness of fit for this model can have assessment with test statistics for its corresponding constraints. Simulation studies for the conceptual model confirm better power for the extended test statistic with its full invocation than other criteria without this property. The methods summarized here are illustrated for the motivating clinical trial in ophthalmology, but they are applicable to other situations with the crossover design with four sequence groups for either two locations for two treatments at the same time for a patient or two successive periods for the assigned treatments for a recurrent disorder. This article also notes that the methods based on its conceptual model can have unsatisfactory power for departures from that model where the difference between T and P via the T:T and P:P groups is not similar to that via the T:P and P:T groups, as might occur when T has a systemic effect in a bilateral trial. For this situation, more robust test statistics have identification, but there is recognition that the parallel groups design with only the T:T and P:P groups may be more useful than the bilateral design with four sequence groups. [source] The Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Is Involved in the Effects of Sildenafil on Pulmonary Vascular RemodelingCARDIOVASCULAR THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2010Zhen Zeng Pulmonary hypertension is a group of diseases comprising vascular constriction and obstructive changes of the pulmonary vasculature. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, for example, sildenafil, can alleviate vascular remodeling in the monocrotaline pulmonary hypertension model in rats. We investigate the mechanisms of sildenafil on the pulmonary vascular remodeling of pulmonary hypertension induced by monocrotaline (MCT) in rats. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats (weighing 200,220 g) were administered with MCT abdominal cavity injection or equivalent volume of normal saline (NS) (which were treated as C group n = 10) to induce pulmonary hypertension model. Fourteen days later, 20 MCT treated rats were randomly fed with sildenafil (25mg/kg/day) or placebo as S, P group (10 rats for each group), respectively. Another 6 weeks later, mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP), index of right ventricular hypertrophy (RV/LV+S) of all animals were measured under general anesthesia. Pulmonary tissue was collected to investigate pathological features of pulmonary arteries and to measure protein expression of ERK1/ERK2 and MKP1. After 6 weeks, there were significant elevated mPAP and RV/LV+S in both P and S groups. The ratio of wall thickness to vessel diameter in pulmonary arteries with diameters <200 ,m were increased in both P and S groups. But the ratio of wall thickness to vessel diameter was smaller in S group than that in P group. The phosphorylation level of ERK1/ERK2 were elevated in both P and S groups, but the level of phosphorlation ERK1/ERK2 were lower in S group than that in P group. Intriguingly, the expression level of MKP1 was significantly increased in both S and P groups, while it was higher in S group than that in P group. The Sildenafil can decrease mPAP and inhibit the progress of pulmonary vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension rats. The ERK-MAP kinase signaling pathway might play a role during this process. [source] SOY ISOFLAVONE TABLETS REDUCE OSTEOPOROSIS RISK FACTORS AND OBESITY IN MIDDLE-AGED JAPANESE WOMENCLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2004Mari Mori Summary 1.,This study examines whether the supplementation of isoflavones (ISO) exerts beneficial effects on the bone mineral density (BMD) measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). 2.,Eighty-one healthy Japanese pre- and postmenopausal women were randomly assigned to the following two groups taking either ISO (100 mg) tablets (ISO group) or placebo tablets (P group) containing vitamins C (25 mg) and E (5 mg) daily for 24 weeks in a double-blind placebo controlled parallel design. 3.,Seventy women completed the intervention study (34 on ISO, 36 on P), only ISO group was proven to increase significantly BMD (P < 0.05 vs before) and to significantly decrease body fat measured by the DEXA (P < 0.0001 vs before and P < 0.05 vs P group), while BMI was maintained in ISO group despite significant BMI increase in P group. Thus, percent changes in BMI were significantly different between ISO and P groups (P < 0.05) 24 weeks after the intervention. 4.,This prospective DEXA study confirmed a long-term ISO supplementation, 100 mg/day could not only prevent menopausal bone resorption but also increase BMD and decrease body fat concomitantly with BMI reduction. Enough ISO supplementation may contribute to the risk reduction of osteoporosis and obesity and, thus to overall health promotion in menopausal women. [source] |