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Strong Inverse Relationship (strong + inverse_relationship)
Selected AbstractsInterleukin-6 Levels are Inversely Correlated with Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Decompensated Heart FailureJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2001DORON ARONSON M.D. Interleukin-6 and Heart Rate Variability.Introduction: Increased local and systemic elaboration of cytokines have an important role in the pathogenesis of congestive heart failure (CHF) through diverse mechanisms. Because cytokines are known to act at the neuronal level in both the peripheral and central nervous system, we sought to determine whether increased cytokine levels are associated with the autonomic dysfunction that characterizes CHF. Methods and Results: We studied 64 patients admitted for decompensated CHF (mean age 59 ± 12 years). Autonomic function was assessed using time, and frequency-domain heart rate variability (HRV) measures, obtained from 24-hour Holter recordings. In addition, norepinephrine, tumor necrosis factor-, (TNF-,), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured in all patients. TNF-, levels did not correlate with any of the HRV measures. IL-6 inversely correlated with the time-domain parameters of standard deviation of RR intervals (SDNN) (r =,0.36, P = 0.004) and standard deviation of all 5,minute mean RR intervals (SDANN) (r =,0.39, P = 0.001), and with the frequency-domain parameters of total power (TP) (r =,0.37, P = 0.003) and ultralow-frequency (ULF) power (r =,0.43, P = 0.001). No correlation was found between IL-6 and indices of parasympathetic modulation. Using multiple linear regression models, adjusting for clinical variables and drug therapies, the strong inverse relationship between IL-6 and SDNN (P = 0.006), SDANN (P = 0.001), TP (P = 0.04), and ULF power (P = 0.0007) persisted. Conclusion: Reduction of long-term HRV indices is associated with increased levels of IL-6 in patients with decompensated heart failure. The ability of long-term HRV parameters to better reflect activation of diverse hormonal systems may explain their greater prognostic power for risk stratification in patients with CHF. [source] Rates of breastfeeding in Australia by State and socio-economic status: Evidence from the 1995 National Health SurveyJOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 2 2000S Donath Objective: To estimate rates of breastfeeding in the first year of life in Australia, according to state and socio-economic status. Methodology: Analysis of data from the 1995 Australian National Health Survey. Results: Estimated breastfeeding rates are 81.8% on discharge from hospital, 57.1% fully breastfed at 3 months and 62.6% fully or partially breastfed at 3 months. At 6 months, it is estimated that 18.6% of babies are fully breastfed and 46.2% fully or partially breastfed. At 1 year, 21.2% of infants are receiving some breast milk. Comparison between states demonstrates that there is considerable variation in breastfeeding practice within Australia. Rates of breastfeeding also vary according to the socio-economic status of the geographic area in which the child is living, with a strong inverse relationship between rates of breastfeeding and socio-economic status. Conclusion: Australia's target for breastfeeding in the year 2000 is to have 80% of babies at least partially breastfed for the first 6 months of life. Although Australia has good rates of initiation of breastfeeding, these levels are not maintained over time, and it seems unlikely that we will reach the year 2000 targets. [source] Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein vaccine reduces the alveolar bone loss induced by multiple periodontopathogenic bacteriaJOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2006Ju-Youn Lee Objectives:, Heat shock protein (HSP) can be utilized as a vaccine to cross-protect against multiple pathogenic species. The present study was performed to evaluate Porphyromonas gingivalis heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) as a vaccine candidate to inhibit multiple bacteria-induced alveolar bone loss. Material and methods:, Recombinant P. gingivalis HSP60 was produced and purified from P. gingivalis GroEL gene. Rats were immunized with P. gingivalis HSP60, and experimental alveolar bone loss was induced by infection with multiple periodontopathogenic bacteria. Results:, There was a very strong inverse relationship between postimmune anti- P. gingivalis HSP immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and the amount of alveolar bone loss induced by either P. gingivalis or multiple bacterial infection (p = 0.007). Polymerase chain reaction data indicated that the vaccine successfully eradicated the multiple pathogenic species. Conclusions:, We concluded that P. gingivalis HSP60 could potentially be developed as a vaccine to inhibit periodontal disease induced by multiple pathogenic bacteria. [source] Generation and validation of the Condensed MCMDM-1VWD Bleeding Questionnaire for von Willebrand diseaseJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 12 2008M. BOWMAN Summary.,Background:,Given the challenges involved in obtaining accurate bleeding histories, attempts at standardization have occurred and the value of quantifying hemorrhagic symptoms has been recognized. Patients/methods:,An extensive validated bleeding questionnaire (MCMDM-1VWD) was condensed by eliminating all details that did not directly affect the bleeding score (BS) and the correlation between the two versions was tested. Additionally, the diagnostic utility of the condensed version was prospectively tested. Results:,Data on 259 individuals who were administered the questionnaire are presented here; 217 being prospectively investigated for von Willebrand disease (VWD) (group 1) and 42 previously known to have type 1, 2 or 3 VWD (group 2). Of the 217 prospectively investigated, 35 had positive BS (,4) and 182 had negative scores. Seven individuals (all with positive BS) had laboratory results consistent with type 1 VWD. This results in a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 87%. The positive predictive value is 0.20 and the negative predictive value is 1. The correlation between the full MCMDM-1VWD and condensed versions is excellent (Spearman's 0.97, P < 0.001, linear regression r2 = 96.4). Inter-observer reliability for the condensed version is reasonable (Spearman's 0.72, P < 0.001 and intra-class correlation coefficient 0.805, P < 0.001). There was a significant difference in BS between subtypes of VWD, with type 3 >> type 2 >> type 1 VWD (anovaP < 0.001). There is a strong inverse relationship between VWF:Ag level and BS (Spearman's ,0.411, P < 0.001). Conclusions:,The Condensed MCMDM-1VWD Bleeding Questionnaire is an efficient, effective tool in the evaluation of patients for VWD. [source] An inverse correlation between estimated tuberculosis notification rates and asthma symptomsRESPIROLOGY, Issue 2 2002PHILIPPA SHIRTCLIFFE Background: A recent ecological analysis demonstrated a strong inverse relationship between tuberculosis notification rates and the prevalence of asthma symptoms in 13,14-year-old children as obtained from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC). However, the analysis was confined to the 23 countries in which the tuberculosis notification rates were considered to be of sufficient validity. Methods: A similar analysis was performed using estimated tuberculosis incidence rates obtained from the World Health Organization Global Tuberculosis Programme and asthma symptom prevalence data from ISAAC for both the 6,7 and 13,14 years age groups in 38 and 55 countries, respectively. Results: For the 6,7-year-old children, there was a significant inverse relationship between estimated tuberculosis incidence and the prevalence of key asthma symptoms. However, in the 13,14 year age group, a significant inverse relationship was only demonstrated for ,asthma ever'. Conclusion: The present study extends the inverse relationship between tuberculosis rates and asthma prevalence to the 6,7-year-old age group and suggests that the association, if causal, may be stronger at this younger age. [source] Fund Manager Use of Public Information: New Evidence on Managerial SkillsTHE JOURNAL OF FINANCE, Issue 2 2007MARCIN KACPERCZYK ABSTRACT We show theoretically that the responsiveness of a fund manager's portfolio allocations to changes in public information decreases in the manager's skill. We go on to estimate this sensitivity (RPI) as the R2 of the regression of changes in a manager's portfolio holdings on changes in public information using a panel of U.S. equity funds. Consistent with RPI containing information related to managerial skills, we find a strong inverse relationship between RPI and various existing measures of performance, and between RPI and fund flows. We also document that both fund- and manager-specific attributes affect RPI. [source] | ||||||||||