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Weeks' Duration (week + duration)
Selected AbstractsUnlocking the opportunity of tight glycaemic controlDIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM, Issue 2005Inhaled insulin: clinical efficacy Numerous attempts have been made to develop novel routes of insulin delivery that are both effective and tolerable. Of all the potential non-invasive delivery options, pulmonary delivery is the most clinically viable. Early studies demonstrate that the inhaled insulin is rapidly absorbed and is closer to biological insulin than standard subcutaneous insulin (SC). To date, inhaled insulin (Exubera®) has been clinically assessed in more than 3500 patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, some treated for more than 7 years. Several phase 3 studies of 24-week duration have demonstrated comparable glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) control in patients with type 1 diabetes treated with Exubera® vs. SC insulin. Similar results have also been recorded in patients with type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, Exubera® has shown clinical superiority to oral agent regimens in patients with type 2 diabetes who failed to achieve their target HbA1c using lifestyle modification and oral agents. Exubera® was well tolerated and treatment satisfaction was high, with Exubera® being the preferred insulin therapy in all studies. The results of these trials, and others, suggest that Exubera® may be a valuable tool to help a wide variety of patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes reach their recommended goals for glycaemic control, irrespective of their current therapy. [source] Short-Days Induce Weight Loss in Siberian Hamsters Despite Overexpression of the Agouti-Related Peptide GeneJOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2010P. H. Jethwa Many vertebrates express profound annual cycles of body fattening, although it is not clear whether these represent differential activity of the central pathways known to mediate homeostatic control of food intake and energy expenditure, or whether the recent discovery of a major role for pars tuberalis-ependymal signalling points towards novel mechanisms. We examined this in the Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) by using gene transfection to up-regulate a major orexigenic peptide, agouti-related peptide (AgRP), and then determined whether this increased anabolic drive could prevent the short-day induced winter catabolic state. Infusions of a recombinant adeno-associated virus encoding an AgRP construct into the hypothalamus of hamsters in the long-day obese phase of their seasonal cycle produced a 20% gain in body weight over 6 weeks compared to hamsters receiving a control reporter construct, reflecting a significant increase in food intake and a significant decrease in energy expenditure. However, all hamsters showed a significant, prolonged decrease in body weight when exposed to short photoperiods, despite the hamsters expressing the AgRP construct maintaining a higher food intake and lower energy expenditure relative to the control hamsters. Visualisation of the green fluorescent protein reporter and analysis of AgRP-immunoreactivity confirmed widespread expression of the construct in the hypothalamus, which was maintained for the 21-week duration of the study. In conclusion, the over-expression of AgRP in the hypothalamus produced a profoundly obese state but did not block the seasonal catabolic response, suggesting a separation of rheostatic mechanisms in seasonality from those maintaining homeostasis of energy metabolism. [source] Periodontal therapy: a novel non-drug-induced experimental model to study human inflammationJOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2004F. D'Aiuto Background:, Chronic periodontitis causes a low-grade systemic inflammatory response; its standard treatment, however, induces an acute inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to describe the systemic inflammatory reactions to an intensive periodontal treatment regimen. Methods:, Fourteen otherwise healthy subjects suffering from severe chronic periodontitis were enrolled in a 1 month pilot single-blind trial. Intensive periodontal treatment, consisting of full-mouth subgingival root debridement delivered within a 6-h period, was performed. Periodontal parameters were recorded before and 1 month after completion of treatment. Blood samples were taken at baseline and 1, 3, 5, 7 and 30 days after treatment. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) serum concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Complete blood counts were also performed. Results:, One day after treatment, mild neutrophilia and monocytosis (p < 0.05) and lymphopenia (p < 0.01) were accompanied by a sharp increase in inflammatory markers (IL-1Ra, IL-6, p < 0.01). A 10-fold increase in CRP (p < 0.001) was detected on day 1 and its kinetics followed a pattern of a classical acute phase response (significantly raised concentrations up to 1 week, p < 0.01). At 3,7 days after treatment, subjects presented also with a mild tendency towards a normocytic anaemic state (p < 0.01) and a degree of lympho-thrombocytosis (p < 0.05). The observed changes were similar to those expected following the well-characterized endotoxin-challenge model of inflammation. Conclusions:, Intensive periodontal treatment produced an acute systemic inflammatory response of 1 week duration and might represent an alternative to classic endotoxin-challenge or drug-induced models to study acute inflammation in humans. [source] Acute myelomonocytic leukaemia with short-term spontaneous remission in a catAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2008ME MYLONAKIS A 2-year-old, spayed female domestic shorthair cat was referred with a history of anorexia and depression of 1 week duration. On physical examination, the cat was lethargic and febrile, with splenomegaly, anisocoria and ulcerative stomatitis. A complete blood count (CBC) and a biochemistry profile showed leukocytosis, numerous blast cells in the peripheral blood, thrombocytopenia, hyperglobulinaemia and a positive test for feline leukaemia virus antigen. A diagnosis of acute myelomonocytic leukaemia was made on the basis of the results of bone marrow cytology, histopathology, and immunochemistry (CD3, CD79a, lysozyme, and myeloperoxidase) tests. Following an unexpected 1-month period of clinical and clinicopathological remission without chemotherapy, the cat relapsed and died 1 week later. [source] Timing and duration of developmental nicotine exposure contribute to attenuation of the tadpole hypercapnic neuroventilatory responseDEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 7 2009Cord M. Brundage Abstract The ability for air-breathing vertebrates to adjust ventilation in response to increased CO2 (hypercapnia) is fundamental to maintaining pH homeostasis. Developmental nicotine exposure has been shown to impair tadpole neuroventilatory responses to hypercapnia following 8,12 weeks of exposure. It is not clear, however, to what extent the timing of exposure during development and/or the duration over which the exposure takes place contribute to this impairment. Here, tadpoles were exposed to 30 ,g/L of nicotine for 3- or 10-week durations, either early or late in tadpole development. Correlates of tadpole lung neuroventilation were monitored during normocapnic (1.5% CO2) and hypercapnic (5% CO2) conditions of isolated brainstems. Preparations derived from early metamorphic tadpoles failed to increase lung neuroventilation in response to hypercapnia whether they had been exposed to nicotine for 3 or 10 weeks. Preparations derived from late metamorphic tadpoles failed to respond to hypercapnia after being exposed to nicotine for 10 weeks. These results suggest that both the developmental timing and duration of exposure are important when considering nicotine's effect on the hypercapnic neuroventilatory response. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 2009 [source] Association between eating frequency, weight, and healthNUTRITION REVIEWS, Issue 7 2009Michelle A Palmer There is speculation amongst health professionals, the media, and the public regarding eating frequency (EF) and its impact on weight and health. Nutritional weight-loss and -maintenance interventions of longer than 1 week's duration were reviewed for associations between EF and weight and health. Of the 176 studies identified, 25 relevant studies matched the criteria and only 10 of these were weight-loss interventions. Generally, sample sizes were small, interventions were short-term, and a wide array of definitions was used to define an eating occasion. Several key outcomes such as physical activity, adherence to assigned EF, and hunger were often not measured. The limited evidence available suggests there is no association between EF and weight or health in either weight-loss or -maintenance interventions, with a possible inverse association between EF and lipids in weight-maintenance interventions. Longer term, larger studies that include important weight and health outcomes are needed. [source] Uptake and translocation of p,p,-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene supplied in hydroponics solution to CucurbitaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2007Martin P. N. Gent Abstract Field studies show shoots of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) accumulate various hydrophobic contaminants from soil, although many other plants do not, including cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). To investigate the mechanism for this uptake, we presented p,p,-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) to these two species in hydroponics solution. A mixture of DDE bound to TenaxÔ beads stirred with a solution of water passing through a reservoir provided a flowing solution containing DDE at approximately 2 ,g/L for many weeks duration. Approximately 90% of the DDE supplied in solution was adsorbed on the roots of both cucumber and zucchini. Less than 10% of the sorbed DDE was released subsequently when clean solution flowed past these contaminated roots for 9 d. The shoots of both species accumulated DDE, but the fraction that moved from the roots to the shoot in zucchini, ranging from 6 to 27% in various trials, was 10-fold greater than that in cucumber, 0.7 to 2%. The gradient in DDE concentration in zucchini tissues was in the order root > stem > petiole > leaf blade, indicating the movement was through the xylem in the transpiration stream. Some DDE in leaf blades might have been absorbed from the air, because the concentration in this tissue varied less with time, position in trough, or species, than did DDE in stems and petioles. The remarkable ability of zucchini to translocate DDE could not be attributed to differences in tissue composition, growth rate, distribution of weight among plant parts, or in the leaf area and rate of transpiration of water from leaves. Some other factor enables efficient translocation of hydrophobic organic contaminants in the xylem of zucchini. [source] Why do primary care doctors diagnose depression when diagnostic criteria are not met?INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 3 2000Michael Höfler Abstract This study examines predictors of false positive depression diagnoses by primary care doctors in a sample of primary care attendees, taking the patients' diagnostic status from a self-report measure (Depression Screening Questionnaire, DSQ) as a yardstick against which to measure doctors' correct and false positive recognition rates. In a nationwide study, primary care patients aged 15,99 in 633 doctors' offices completed a self-report packet that included the DSQ, a questionnaire that assesses depression symptoms on a three-point scale to provide diagnoses of depression according to the criteria of DSM-IV and ICD-10. Doctors completed an evaluation form for each patient seen, reporting the patient's depression status, clinical severity, and treatment choices. Predictor analyses are based on 16,909 patient-doctor records. Covariates examined included depression symptoms, the total DSQ score, number and persistence of depression items endorsed, patient's prior treatment, history of depression, age and gender. According to the DSQ, 11.3% of patients received a diagnosis of ICD-10 depression, 58.9% of which were correctly identified by the doctor as definite threshold, and 26.2% as definite subthreshold cases. However, an additional 11.7% of patients not meeting the minimum DSQ threshold were rated by their doctors as definitely having depression (the false positive rate). Specific DSQ depression items endorsed, a higher DSQ total score, more two-week depression symptoms endorsed, female gender, higher age, and patient's prior treatment were all associated with an elevated rate of false positive diagnoses. The probability of false positive diagnoses was shown to be affected more by doctors ignoring the ,duration of symptoms' criterion than by doctors not following the ,number of symptoms' criterion for an ICD or DSM diagnosis of depression. A model selection procedure revealed that it is sufficient to regress the ,false positive diagnoses' on the DSQ-total score, symptoms of depressed mood, loss of interest, and suicidal ideation; higher age; and patient's prior treatment. Further, the total DSQ score was less important in prediction if there was a prior treatment. The predictive value of this model was quite good, with area under the ROC-curve = 0.86. When primary care doctors use depression screening instruments they are oversensitive to the diagnosis of depression. This is due to not strictly obeying the two weeks duration required by the diagnostic criteria of ICD-10 and DSM-IV. False positive rates are further increased in particular by the doctor's knowledge of a patient's prior treatment history as well as the presence of a few specific depression symptoms. Copyright © 2000 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Some effects of enamel matrix proteins on wound healing in the dento-gingival regionJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Jan L. Wennström Abstract Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate by clinical means the effect of enamel matrix proteins on the healing of a soft tissue wound produced by periodontal pocket instrumentation. Material and methods: The study was performed as an intra-individual, longitudinal trial of 3 weeks duration with a double-masked, split-mouth, placebo-controlled and randomized design. The patient material was comprised of 28 subjects with moderately advanced, chronic periodontitis. Each patient presented with 3 sites in each of 2 jaw quadrants with a probing pocket depth (PPD) of 5 mm and bleeding following pocket probing (BoP). Baseline examination, including assessments of plaque, gingival inflammation, PPD, BoP and root dentin sensitivity, was carried out one week after oral hygiene instruction and careful self-performed plaque control. All experimental sites were scaled and root planed, and the soft tissue wall of the pocket was curetted to remove the pocket epithelium and adjacent granulation tissue. The site was carefully irrigated with saline. When the bleeding from the pocket had ceased, a 24% EDTA gel was applied in the site and retained for 2 min. This was followed by careful irrigation with saline. Left and right jaw quadrants were then randomized to subgingival application of enamel matrix derivative (Emdogain®) or vehicle-control. All sites were re-examined after 1, 2 and 3 weeks. In addition, a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to score the degree of post-treatment discomfort. The primary endpoints of treatment success were defined as (i) pocket closure (PPD 4 mm), (ii) no bleeding following pocket probing, (iii) no sign of gingival inflammation (GI score =0) and (iv) low degree of post-treatment discomfort (VAS 20). Statistical analyzes of intra-individual differences between the test and control treatments were performed by the use of Wilcoxon signed rank test. For comparison of the proportions of sites reaching the defined endpoints of treatment success, a site-based analysis was performed using 2×2 tables and the Fisher exact test. Results: The endpoint "GI score =0" was reached at 16% of the sites subjected to application of Emdogain® at 1 week and at 2% of the control sites (p=0.001). At 2 weeks, the corresponding figures were 25% versus 12% (p=0.028). Absence of BoP was at 1 week 57% for the Emdogain® treated sites compared to 35% for the control sites (p=0.003). At 2 weeks, this endpoint was reached in 73% and 59% of the test and control sites, respectively (p=0.051). In terms of the endpoint defined for probing pocket depth, PPD 4 mm, no differences between test and control sites were found. At 1 week, the proportion of patients reporting a VAS score 20 was significantly higher for the Emdogain® treated quadrants than for controls (p=0.002). Conclusion: The results indicated that Emdogain® topically applied in instrumented pockets enhance the early healing of periodontal soft tissue wounds. Zusammenfassung Zielsetzung: Klinische Untersuchung der Wirkung von Schmelzmatrixprotein (SMP) auf die Heilung der durch subgingivale Instrumentierung verursachten Wunde. Material und Methoden: Das Studiendesign entsprach einer randomisierten longitudinalen plazebokontrollierten doppelt verblindeten Halbseitenstudie, an der 28 Patienten mit mäßig fortgeschrittener chronischer Parodontitis teilnahmen. Jeder Patient wies an 3 Stellen zweier Quadranten Sondierungstiefen (ST) 5 mm und Bluten auf Sondieren (BOP) auf. Eine Woche nach Durchführung von Mundhygieneinstruktionen und gründlicher individueller Mundhygiene erfolgte die Basisuntersuchung: Plaque, gingivale Entzündung, ST, BOP und Zahnhalsüberempfindlichkeit. Alle Testzähne wurden subgingival instrumentiert (Scaling und Wurzelglättung), es wurde eine Weichgewebskürettage durchgeführt und mit Kochsalzlösung (NaCl) gespült. Nach dem Stillstand der Taschenblutung wurde ein 24%iges EDTA-Gel subgingival appliziert und für 2 min belassen. Nach gründlicher NaCl-Spülung erfolgte eine randomisierte Zuweisung der subgingivalen Instillation von SMP-Gel (Test) oder nur Trägergel (Plazebokontrolle) zum rechten bzw. linken Quadranten. Nachuntersuchungen erfolgten nach 1, 2 und 3 Wochen. Dabei wurden zusätzlich die postoperativen Beschwerden mit einer visuellen Analogskala (VAS) erfasst. Als Hauptzielkriterien des Behandlungserfolges wurden definiert: (1) Verschluß der parodontalen Tasche (ST 4 mm), (2) kein BOP, (3) keine Zeichen gingivaler Entzündung (GI=0) und (4) nur geringgradige postoperative Beschwerden (VAS 20). Der Vergleich zwischen Test und Kontrolle erfolgte mit dem Wilcoxon-Test bzw. mit 4-Felder-Tafeln und dem Fisher-Exakt-Test. Ergebnisse: Das Erfolgskriterium "GI=0" war nach 1 Woche bei 16% der Test- und und bei 2% der Kontrollstellen erfüllt (p=0.001). Nach 2 Wochen lagen die Proportionen für Test und Kontrolle bei 25% bzw. 12% (p=0.028). Kein BOP war nach 1 Woche bei 57% der Test- und bei 35% der Kontrollstellen zu beobachten (p=0.003), nach 2 Wochen lagen die Werte bei 73% bzw. 59% (p=0.051). Hinsichtlich des Kriteriums ST 4 mm konnten keine Unterschiede zwischen Test und Kontrolle gefunden werden. 1 Woche nach Instrumentierung war der Anteil der Patienten in der Testgruppe, die eine VAS 20 angaben, höher als in der Kontrollgruppe (p=0.002). 3 Wochen nach Therapie wiesen beide Gruppen hinsichtlich keines der Erfolgskriterien mehr statistisch signifikante Unterschiede auf. Schlussfolgerungen: Die topische subgingivale Applikation von SMP in instrumentierte parodontale Taschen könnte die frühe Wundheilung des Weichgewebes begünstigen. Résumé But: Le but de l'étude présente a été d'évaluer cliniquement l'effet des protéines de la matrice amélaire (Emdogain®) sur la guérison des tissus mous produits par l'instrumentation de la poche parodontale. Matériaux et méthodes: Cette étude a été effectuée en tant qu'essai longitudinal intra-individuel de 3 semaines avec un modèle en double aveugle, par bouche divisée, au hasard et contrôlé par placebo. 28 sujets avec parodontite chronique modérement avancée ont participéà cette étude. Chaque patient présentait 3 sites dans 2 quadrants avec une profondeur au sondage (PPD) 5 mm et un saignement au sondage (BoP). L'examen initial comprenant la prise des indices de plaque, d'inflammation gingivale, de PPD, de BoP et de la sensibilité dentinaire a été effectué une semaine après l'instruction en hygiène buccale et le contrôle de plaque dentaire réalisé par la personne elle-même. Tous les sites expérimentaux ont été détartrés et surfacés, et la paroi de tissu mou de la poche a été curetée pour enlever l'épithélium de la poche et le tissu de granulation adjacent. Ce site a été irrigué avec du sérum physiologique. Lorsque le saignement de la poche avait cessé, un gel d'EDTA 24% a été appliqué dans le site et est resté in situ pendant 2 min. Ensuite une nouvelle irrigation avec du sérum physiologique a été prodiguée. Les quadrants gauches et droits étaient ensuite distribués au hasard pour l'application sous-gingivale du dérivé de la matrice amélaire (Emdogain®) ou en tant que véhicule contrôle. Tous les sites ont été ré-éxaminés aprés 1, 2 et 3 semaines. De plus une échelle analogue de vision (VAS) a été utilisée pour mesurer le degré d'inconfort post-traitement. Les points principaux du succès du traitement étaient définis comme suit (1) fermeture de la poche (PPD 4 mm), (2) absence de saignement au sondage, (3) aucun signe d'inflammation gingivale (GI=0) et (4) un faible degré d'inconfort post-traitement (VS20). Les analyses statistiques des différences intra-individuelles entre les traitements tests et contrôles ont été effectuées à l'aide du test par Wilcoxon Signed Rank. Pour la comparaison des proportions de sites atteignant le succès souhaité, une analyse basée sur les sites a été effectuée en utilisant des tables 2×2 et le test exact de Fisher. Résultats: Le but GI=0 a été atteint dans 16% des sites avec Emdogain® après 1 semaine seulement et dans 2% des sites contrôles (p=0.001). A 2 semaines, les figures correspondantes étaient 25% versus 12% (p=0.028). L'absence de BoP a 1 semaine atteignait 57% des sites traités par Emdogain® contre 35% pour les contrôles (p=0.003). A 2 semaines, ce but était atteint dans respectivement 73% et 59% des sites tests et contrôles (p=0.051). En terme de PPD4 mm, aucune différence n'a été trouvée entre les sites. A 1 semaine, la proportion de patients qui avaient un VAS 20 était significativement plus importante dans le groupe traité par Emdogain® que chez les contrôle (p=0.002). Conclusions: Les résultats ont indiqué que l'Emdogain® placé localement dans des poches nettoyées peut augmenter la guérison précoce des tissus mous parodontaux. [source] Hepatitis C virus infection and interferon therapy in patients with Down syndromePEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2008Yoko Miyoshi Abstract Background: The clinical features of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver diseases, or the efficacy of interferon (IFN) therapy in children with Down syndrome (DS) remain to be elucidated. The purpose of the present paper was to survey the features of liver diseases in this subset of children and evaluate the efficacy of IFN treatment in those patients. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 41 members of the Japan Society of Pediatric Hepatology. Ten of them reported on 11 patients with DS who had concomitant chronic HCV infection, providing information on liver disease and the response to IFN treatment. Results: Interferon therapy of 24 weeks duration using natural IFN-, was instituted in six of the 11 patients with DS, but none of the six patients cleared HCV-RNA from their serum. Among 12 age- and sex-matched control children who were treated with IFN using the same regimen against chronic HCV infection, half of them had a favorable response to IFN therapy with a sustained clearance of HCV-RNA from their serum. The major baseline features including alanine aminotransferase levels, HCV genotype and viral load were not apparently different between the six patients with DS and the 12 controls. Conclusions: IFN therapy for HCV infection in patients with DS may be unfavorable as compared with non-DS children. [source] Does elimination of placebo responders in a placebo run-in increase the treatment effect in randomized clinical trials?DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 1 2004A meta-analytic evaluation Abstract The use of a placebo run-in phase, in which placebo responders are withdrawn from a study before random assignment to treatment condition, has been criticized as favoring the active treatment in clinical trials. We compared the effect size of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials (in the treatment of depression with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs]) that include a placebo run-in phase with those that do not, using a meta-analytic approach. This study differed from earlier meta-analytic studies in that it considered only SSRIs and included only studies using continuous measures of depression, allowing for a more refined assessment of effect size. An extensive literature search identified 43 datasets published between 1980 and 2000 comparing placebo with SSRI and using a continuous measure of depression (usually the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale). We included only studies of at least 6 weeks' duration focusing on treatment for primary acute major depression in adults 18,65 years of age. Studies focusing on depression in specific medical illnesses were not included. Analysis of efficacy was based on 3,047 subjects treated with an SSRI antidepressant and 3,740 subjects treated with a placebo. There was no statistically significant difference in effect size between the clinical trials that had a placebo run-in phase followed by withdrawal of placebo responders and those trials that did not. Despite the lack of a statistically significant difference between studies of withdrawing early placebo responders and those not using this procedure, this approach is likely to continue to be used widely because it produces large absolute effect sizes. It is recommended that future studies clearly describe these procedures and report the number of subjects dropped from the study for early placebo response and other reasons. Depression and Anxiety 19:10,19, 2004. 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Deliberate induction of alcohol tolerance: empirical introduction to a novel health riskADDICTION, Issue 10 2010Julia A. Martinez ABSTRACT Aims Alcohol tolerance is a hallmark indicator of alcohol dependence. Even so, the allure of peers' admiration for having the ability to drink heavily may lead some adolescents and young adults to practice, or ,train', to increase their tolerance (particularly at US colleges, where heavy drinking is highly prevalent and central to the social culture). This is a potential health hazard that has not been documented empirically. Thus, we initiated a study of tolerance ,training' and its association to risky and heavy drinking. Design, setting and participants A cross-sectional online survey of 990 college student life-time drinkers at a large Midwestern US university. Findings Of the sample, 9.9% (n = 97) reported deliberately ,training' to increase tolerance. On average, they reported increasing from approximately seven to 10 US standard drinks in a night prior to ,training' to 12,15 drinks at the end of ,training,' over approximately 2,3 weeks' duration. Although the proportion of frequent binge drinking among ,non-trainers' (34.4%) was similar to national rates, ,trainers' were much more likely to be frequent bingers (76.3%; OR = 6.15). Conclusions A number of students report deliberately inducing alcohol tolerance, probably directly increasing the risk for alcohol poisoning and other acute harms and/or dependence. This phenomenon might additionally be applicable to other populations, and deserves further study and attention as a potential personal and public health risk. Prevention efforts might aim to reduce the perceived importance of heavy-drinking abilities. [source] Intertemporal Substitution of Effort: Some Empirical EvidenceECONOMICA, Issue 280 2003John G. Treble The labour economics literature refers often to effort, but there is little empirical evidence as to how productivity and effort respond to wage rate variations. An unusual natural experiment in which wage rates suffered an exogenous change of two weeks' duration gives some insight into the magnitude of this effect. For a group of workers in Victorian County Durham, the effort response, measured as the impact of a temporary wage rate change on output per shift, dominates the response of attendance. Comparison of the estimates presented here with those in Treble (Journal of Economic History, 61, 414,38, 2001) suggests that the effects are short lived. [source] Carcinomas arising in multilocular thymic cysts of the neck: a clinicopathological study of three casesHISTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2004C A Moran Aims :,To report three cases of primary carcinoma of the neck arising in multilocular thymic cysts (MTC). Methods and results :,The patients were three men aged 47, 50 and 52 years who presented with a painless neck mass of several weeks' duration. The patients had no history of previous surgical procedures or of malignancy elsewhere. The tumours in all three patients were located on the right lateral side of the neck; all patients underwent complete surgical resection of the mass. Grossly, the tumours were cystic and measured between 20 and 30 mm in greatest diameter. Histologically, the tumours showed cyst walls lined by squamous epithelium. The cyst walls contained prominent germinal centres with lymphoid hyperplasia, cholesterol cleft granulomas, and scattered keratinized structures reminiscent of Hassall's corpuscles. In addition, a neoplastic cellular proliferation composed of round to oval cells arranged in sheets and originating from the lining of the cystic structures was present. The neoplastic cells showed moderate amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm, round nuclei, and, in some areas, prominent nucleoli. Mitotic figures were easily found, and cellular pleomorphism was present in several areas. In two cases the tumours showed features of basaloid carcinoma of the thymus, while in one case the pattern was that of squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical studies for keratin showed a strong positive reaction in the tumour cells, while leucocyte common antigen strongly stained the lymphoid background. Follow-up information obtained in two patients showed them to be alive 6 months after initial diagnosis. One patient was lost to follow-up. Conclusion :,The cases described here represent an unusual variant of carcinoma arising in multilocular thymic cyst in the neck region. [source] Chagas' disease reactivation with skin symptoms in a patient with kidney transplantINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007Verónica Gallerano MD Immunodepressed patients in the intermediate phase of Chagas' disease may undergo reactivation of the disease together with atypical symptoms. The case of an immunodepressed kidney transplant patient with reactivation of Chagas' disease with skin symptoms is reported. A 65-year-old man presented with infiltrated erythematous lesions on the anterior aspect of the right thigh of 2 weeks' duration. The lesions later extended to the abdomen, thorax, and lower limbs. In the histologic skin examination, amastigotes and Trypanosoma cruzi trypoamastigotes were observed. A fresh smear showed positive parasitemia. Using the Strout hemoconcentration method, multiple Trypanosoma cruzi trypoamastigotes with motility could be seen. Polymerase chain reaction was positive for Trypanosoma cruzi. An immunofluorescence test was positive (1 : 64) and there was hemoagglutination (1 : 32). Treatment was started with benznidazole, 7 mg/kg/day. The patient did not evolve favorably and died 20 days after hospitalization. Skin lesions may be a manifestation of the reactivation of Chagas' disease in immunosuppressed patients. All patients with positive Chagas' serology who require immunosuppressant drugs should receive specific treatment for Chagas' disease. [source] Reduction in Fear of Falling Through Intense Tai Chi Exercise Training in Older, Transitionally Frail AdultsJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 7 2005Richard W. Sattin MD Objectives: To determine whether an intense tai chi exercise program could reduce fear of falling better than a wellness education (WE) program in older adults who had fallen previously and meet criteria for transitioning to frailty. Design: Cluster-randomized, controlled trial of 48 weeks' duration. Setting: Ten matched pairs of congregate living facilities in the greater Atlanta area. Participants: Sample of 291 women and 20 men, aged 70 to 97. Measurements: Activity-related fear of falling using the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and the Fall Efficacy Scale at baseline and every 4 months for 1 year. Demographics, time to first fall and all subsequent falls, functional measures, Centers for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, medication use, level of physical activity, comorbidities, and adherence to interventions. Results: Mean ABC was similar in both cohort groups at the time of randomization but became significantly higher (decreased fear) in the tai chi cohort at 8 months (57.9 vs 49.0, P<.001) and at study end (59.2 vs 47.9, P<.001). After adjusting for covariates, the mean ABC after 12 months of intervention was significantly greater in the tai chi group than in the WE group, with the differences increasing with time (mean difference at 12 months=9.5 points, 95% confidence interval=4.8,14.2, P<.001). Conclusion: Tai chi led to a significantly greater reduction in fear of falling than a WE program in transitionally frail older adults. The mean percentage change in ABC scores widened between tai chi and WE participants over the trial period. Tai chi should be considered in any program designed to reduce falling and fear of falling in transitionally frail older adults. [source] CA-125 levels in ruptured and unruptured tubal ectopic pregnanciesJOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2006Erdal Malatyalioglu Abstract Aim:, This prospective, single-blind and controlled clinical study aimed to research if CA-125 levels could be a useful test in the differential diagnosis of intact and ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy. Methods:, Sixty-five women with tubal ectopic pregnancy of 5,10 weeks' duration (27 women with ruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy [REP] and 38 women with unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy [UREP]) and 65 women with normal intrauterine pregnancy (NIUP) of the same gestational age were studied prospectively. Serum CA-125 levels were measured in all women and these levels were compared among the REP, UREP, and NIUP groups. Results:, The mean CA-125 levels didn't show any significant difference between the REP and NIUP groups (P > 0.05). The mean CA-125 levels of these two groups were higher than that in the UREP group (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, respectively). The dispersion ratios of the CA-125 levels had a statistically significant difference between the REP and UREP groups (,2: 42.44, P < 0.0001). CA-125 levels weren't correlated with gestational weeks in the REP and UREP groups (r: 0.005, P > 0.05; r: 0.008, P > 0.05, respectively). Conclusion:, In intact tubal ectopic pregnancies, expectant or managed with medical treatment, the increase of CA-125 levels in the serial measurements could be a supplementary test for an early diagnosis of tubal rupture. [source] The combination of nebulized sodium cromoglycate and salbutamol in the treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma in childrenPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Kenshi Furusho The aim of this multi-centre prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of the combination of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) and salbutamol (administered as a nebulized solution), compared to SCG alone and salbutamol alone, in the management of severe, intractable asthma in childhood. The study was an open, randomized, cross-over trial of 12 weeks' duration in children with moderate-to-severe intractable asthma. All treatments were administered twice daily by powered nebulizer. The primary outcome measure was the change in asthma severity, as measured by the mean asthma score during the last 2 weeks of a baseline period and the last 2 weeks of each treatment. Secondary outcome measure was the patient's opinion of the effectiveness of treatment. The change in asthma scores from baseline values were significantly greater with the combination treatment compared to each component administered separately. The mean difference in asthma score between the combination and salbutamol was: ,7.5; 95% CI, ,11.70 to ,3.29 (p < 0.0001). The mean difference between the combination and SCG was: ,8.53; 95% CI, ,14.03 to ,3.25 (p < 0.0001). Patients were also significantly in favor of combination treatment (p < 0.001 vs. salbutamol; p < 0.01 vs. SCG). Two patients reported adverse effects. We concluded that regular twice-daily inhalation of a combination of SCG and salbutamol gave better control of symptoms than previous treatments in patients with severe, intractable asthma. Few adverse effects with this therapy suggest that it is extremely useful, safe, and effective. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||