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Certain Subgroups (certain + subgroup)
Selected AbstractsThe HPV Vaccine May Be Underutilized by Certain Subgroups of Insured YouthPERSPECTIVES ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, Issue 2 2010J. Rosenberg No abstract is available for this article. [source] Elevated activities of MMP-2 in the non-tumorous lung tissues of curatively resected stage I NSCLC patients are associated with tumor recurrence and a poor survival,JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Sang-Hui Kim Abstract Background and Objectives We wanted to assess whether the level of enzyme activity for a particular matrix metalloproteinase (MMP), and not the amount of expressed protein, in lung tissue could be used as a reliable prognostic biomarker for tumor recurrence leading to poorer survival in a certain subgroup of patients who have undergone curative resection for stage I human NSCLC. Methods We determined what type of MMP was significant for tumor recurrence by using a mouse model of pulmonary metastasis with inoculating the footpad with H460 human cancer cells. We then looked for any association between tumor recurrence and the level of enzyme activities for the selected MMP in the tumor and also in the pathologically non-tumorous tissues from 34 stage I lung cancer patients. Results We obtained H460/PM6 cells having a highly metastatic potential after six repeated cycles of pulmonary metastasis by using the mouse footpad inoculated with the metastasized cancer cells in the previous cycle. We started with human lung cancer cells, H460, and we found that among the tested MMPs we tested for, the level of MMP-2 mRNA was elevated. No significant difference was seen in the level of enzyme activity of the MMP-2 cells from the curatively resected tumor tissues of the stage I NSCLC patients who were later found with or without recurrence. However, the level of MMP-2 enzyme activity was found to be significantly different between the non-tumorous lung tissues from patients later found with and without recurrence, and it was associated with the 5-year survival rate. Conclusions This observation suggests that the higher level of MMP-2 enzyme activity in the non-tumorous tissues from the patients could be used as a prognostic biomarker to predict post-operative tumor recurrence and survival for patients with stage I NSCLC. The elevated enzyme activity of MMP-2 in the non-tumorous tissue resected from stage I NSCLC could be used as a prognostic indicator for post-operative tumor recurrence and the patients' poor survival. Further, this could be an important aid for physicians' making decision on whether to subject particular patients to post-operative adjunct chemotherapy. J. Surg. Oncol. 2007;95:337,346. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Quantitative Analysis of Cytokine mRNA Expression in Hearts from Patients with Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)JOURNAL OF CARDIAC SURGERY, Issue 2003Akira Ukimura To evaluate the role of cytokines in nonischemic DCM, we analyzed the relative quantity of cytokine mRNA expression in the hearts from DCM patients with refractory heart failure, using the ABI PRISM7700 real-time PCR system. We used heart tissues resected from 32 DCM patients at the time of elective partial ventriculectomy (PLV), and five biopsy specimens with normal histological findings as control. Results and Discussion: Interleukin (IL)-1,, IL-10, and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-, mRNA were expressed at low levels in all normal hearts. The number of IL-10-positive DCM cases was significantly smaller than normal controls (P = 0.0036). One (10%) of 10 DCM patients with IL-10 mRNA expression died after PLV, and 10 (45%) of 22 DCM patients without IL-10 mRNA expression died. IL-1, mRNA was overexpressed (over twice the mean of control subjects) in 15 of 32, and TNF-, mRNA in 10 of 32 patients. We propose the classification of DCM patients into subgroups on the basis of cytokine mRNA expression. Anticytokine therapy or cytokine therapy may have potential in improving the condition of heart failure in certain subgroups of DCM patients. Conclusions: We suggest that DCM patients with heart failure deteriorate without IL-10 mRNA expression in the myocardium. The classification of DCM patients into subgroups on the basis of cytokine mRNA expression may have great value in considering the treatment of this heterogeneous disease state. (J CARD SURG 2003;18 (Suppl 2):S101-S108) [source] Schooling and Labor Market Impacts of a Natural Policy ExperimentLABOUR, Issue 4 2005Harry Patrinos These estimates apply to a subgroup of individuals, in the spirit of the local average treatment effect (LATE) literature. Returns to schooling estimates that apply to a subgroup of individuals affected by the policy intervention may be more interesting from a policy perspective than the return to the ,average' individual. We use an instrument based on the 1980 education reform (the Organic Law of Education), which provided for 9 years of compulsory basic education. Alternative estimates derived from interacting the education reform with father's education are also obtained. The estimates are consistent with recent findings suggesting that the effect of education, at least for certain subgroups affected by policy intervention, is as large as or larger than what is suggested by ordinary least squares estimates. [source] An energy algorithm improves symptoms in some patients with gastroparesis and treated with gastric electrical stimulationNEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY & MOTILITY, Issue 4 2006N. Abidi Abstract, Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is effective to improve symptoms of nausea and vomiting in most patients, but very little is known about the effect of varying stimulation parameters. We analysed stimulation parameters in a pilot study of 22 patients (12 idiopathic, four diabetic and four postsurgical) with drug-refractory gastroparesis who did not respond optimally to initial settings. Patients underwent high-frequency/lowenergy GES using identical initial stimulation parameters: 5 mA of current, 330 ,s pulse width, 14 Hz for 0.1 s on and 5.0 s off. Due to lack on optimal response, 22 patients underwent alteration of an algorithm using stimulation parameters. At follow-up (mean of 4.3 years) a dose,response relationship for charge, power and energy were compared with baseline for the whole group and for each diagnostic subgroup by anovadata are reported as mean ± SE. Based on the mean of individual dose,response curves, differences in data are charge, current per pulse and energy per pulse were noted for the whole group at follow up vs baseline. The subgroup of patients with postsurgical gastroparesis required the most energy using the algorithm. In conclusion, an algorithmic approach to identify optimal stimulation parameters in GES for individual patients is associated with symptom improvement. Also, certain subgroups appear to have different energy parameters. Based on this preliminary data, the use of an algorithm for some patients with GES is feasible and may have potential for clinical application. A randomized-controlled trial of different stimulation parameters for GES seems warranted. [source] The nutrition label knowledge and usage behaviours of women in the USNUTRITION BULLETIN, Issue 4 2000Carol Byrd-Bredbenner Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrition label-reading skills of women to determine the impact of demographic and health factors on label-usage behaviours and label-reading knowledge. A sample of 453 women was surveyed to determine their label-usage behaviours and label-reading knowledge. 80% of all participants reported that they were ,label readers' (i.e. they always or sometimes read labels), however, only about one-quarter indicated that they always read nutrition labels. Three out of four participants reported that labels always or sometimes affected their purchasing decisions. In general, participants had fairly well-developed label-reading knowledge. However, further analysis revealed that certain subgroups were the least proficient at using nutrition labelling (i.e. older women, women with no postsecondary education, and women who perceived their health to be fair to poor). We conclude that nutrition labelling education programmes can help consumers to use nutrition labels to improve the quality of their diets. While probably all consumer groups could benefit from labelling education, the least proficient groups deserve special attention. Labelling education efforts targeted to a subgroup's needs and interests and delivered in a manner that is readily accessible and acceptable to them is key to maximising the impact of nutrition labels. [source] Sexlessness among Married Chinese Adults in Hong Kong: Prevalence and Associated FactorsTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 11 2009Jean H. Kim ScD ABSTRACT Introduction., Despite recent media coverage in the topic of sexless marriages in East Asia, population-based studies examining the absence of sexual activity among nonelderly married individuals are scant. Previous studies have not simultaneously examined sociodemographic, physiological, and lifestyle predictors of sexless marriages. Aims., To determine the prevalence of past-year sexlessness and the associated factors among the married Chinese adults in Hong Kong. Methods., An anonymous, population-based telephone survey was conducted on 2,846 married Chinese men and women between the ages of 25 and 59 in Hong Kong. Main Outcome Measures., The prevalence of past-year sexlessness and the associated factors and mental health symptoms were examined. Results., The prevalence of past-year sexlessness between the ages of 25,34 years, 35,44 years and 45,59 years was 5.5, 5.1, and 17.0%, respectively, among married males, and 8.3, 12.4, and 31.6%, respectively, among married females. Older age and poor spousal relationship were associated with sexlessness for females, whereas lack of interest in sex, older age, and lower education were significant factors for males. Married women demonstrated statistically significant associations between sexlessness and poorer mental health indicators, such as lower quality of life and being bothered by the unavailability of a sex partner. Conclusions., Sexlessness is prevalent among certain subgroups of urban Chinese couples in Hong Kong, and the large discrepancy in sexlessness between married men and women in each age strata suggests a high prevalence of extramarital relationships. Contrary to commonly held beliefs, there was a stronger association between sexlessness and poorer psychosocial symptoms among married females than males. Sexless marriages are an underappreciated phenomenon among urban Chinese individuals. Kim JH, Lau JTF, and Cheuk KK. Sexlessness among married Chinese adults in Hong Kong: Prevalence and associated factors. J Sex Med 2009;6:2997,3007. [source] Trends in incidence and survival of pediatric and adolescent patients with germ cell tumors in the United States, 1975 to 2006CANCER, Issue 20 2010Jenny N. Poynter PhD Abstract BACKGROUND: Pediatric germ cell tumors (GCTs) are rare and heterogeneous tumors with uncertain etiology. In the current study, data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program were used to evaluate trends in incidence and survival of GCTs in boys and girls ages ,19 years. To the authors' knowledge, few studies to date have evaluated trends in pediatric GCTs. Results from these analyses may provide clues to the etiology of GCTs. METHODS: Frequencies, incidence rates, and 5-year relative survival rates stratified by sex were evaluated overall and by demographic subgroups based on age (birth to 9 years and 10-19 years), race (white, black, and other), and ethnicity (non-Hispanic and Hispanic) as sample size permitted. RESULTS: In whites, the incidence of GCTs was lower for females than males in the 10-year to 19-year age group (rate ratio [RR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.42-0.53), whereas the rates were similar in the age group for birth to 9 years. In contrast, incidence rates were higher in black females than in black males in both age groups (RR, 2.01 [95%CI, 1.08-3.84] in those ages birth to 9 years; RR, 3.30 [95% CI, 2.13-5.28] in those ages 10-19 years). The incidence of ovarian GCT was significantly higher in Hispanic compared with non-Hispanic girls in the groups aged 10 to 19 years. Incidence rates increased during the study period in boys ages 10 to 19 years (annual percentage change [APC], 1.2; 95% CI, 0.4-2.1) and girls ages birth to 9 years (APC, 1.9; 95% CI, 0.3-2.5). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of pediatric GCTs in the United States appears to be increasing only in certain subgroups, suggesting that the etiology is not completely overlapping in all age groups. Differences in incidence patterns by race and ethnicity merit further investigation. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. [source] Review of select transplant subpopulations at high risk of failure from standard immunosuppressive therapyCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2000Mark H Deierhoi Despite improvements in short-term graft and patient survival rates for solid organ transplants, certain subgroups of transplant recipients experience poorer clinical outcome compared to the general population. Groups including pediatrics, African-Americans, diabetics, cystic fibrosis patients, and pregnant women require special considerations when designing immunosuppressive regimens that optimize transplant outcomes. Problems specific to pediatric transplant recipients include altered pharmacokinetics of immunosuppressive drugs, such as cyclosporine (CsA) and tacrolimus (poor absorption, increased metabolism, rapid clearance), the need to restore growth post-transplantation, and a high incidence of drug-related adverse effects. African-Americans have decreased drug absorption and bioavailability, high immunologic responsiveness, and a high incidence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus. Diabetics and cystic fibrosis patients exhibit poor absorption of immunosuppressive agents, which may lead to underimmunosuppression and subsequent graft rejection. Pregnant women undergo physiologic changes that can alter the pharmacokinetics of immunosuppressives, thus requiring careful clinical management to minimize the risks of either under- or overimmunosuppression to mother and child. To achieve an optimal post-transplant outcome in these high-risk patients, the problems specific to each group must be addressed, and immunosuppressive therapy individualized accordingly. Drug formulation greatly impacts upon pharmacokinetics and the resultant level of immunosuppression. Thus, a formulation with improved absorption (e.g., CsA for microemulsion), higher bioavailability, and less pharmacokinetic variability may facilitate patient management and lead to more favorable outcomes, especially in groups demonstrating low and variable bioavailability. Other strategies aimed at improving transplant outcome include the use of higher immunosuppressive doses, different combinations of immunosuppressive agents, more frequent monitoring, and management of concurrent disease states. [source] | ||||||||||