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Age-matched Control Group (age-matched + control_group)
Selected AbstractsDichotic listening and school performance in dyslexiaDYSLEXIA, Issue 1 2008Turid Helland Abstract This study focused on the relationship between school performance and performance on a dichotic listening (DL) task in dyslexic children. Dyslexia is associated with impaired phonological processing, related to functions in the left temporal lobe. DL is a frequently used task to assess functions of the left temporal lobe. Due to the predominance of the contralateral neuronal pathways, a right ear advantage in the DL task reflects the superior processing capacity for the right ear stimulus in the left hemisphere (Kimura, 1963). Previous studies using DL in dyslexia are, however, inconclusive, and may reflect degree of severity of dyslexia. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate lateralized processing in two sub-groups of dyslexia, differing in symptom severity. Two groups of dyslexic 12-year-old children and an age-matched control group were tested with a consonant,vowel DL task. The two dyslexia groups differed in severity through how they responded to training efforts being made in their schools, while otherwise being matched for age, IQ and diagnosis. The D1 (respondent group) group showed a DL performance pattern similar to the control group, i.e. a right ear advantage, while the D2 (non-respondent) group failed to show a right ear advantage on the DL task. The performance on the DL task by the two dyslexia groups may provide better insight as to the degree of reading and writing impairment in dyslexia. ,Cracking the code' and acquiring automatized literacy skills may seem harder for the D2 group children compared to the D1 children. Also, the present study points to the use of DL as a valid assessment tool in clinical work to improve differential diagnoses, particularly in relation to measures of school performance. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Dichotic listening deficits in children with dyslexiaDYSLEXIA, Issue 1 2008Deborah W. Moncrieff Abstract Several auditory processing deficits have been reported in children with dyslexia. In order to assess for the presence of a binaural integration type of auditory processing deficit, dichotic listening tests with digits, words and consonant,vowel (CV) pairs were administered to two groups of right-handed 11-year-old children, one group diagnosed with developmental dyslexia and an age-matched control group. Dyslexic children performed more poorly than controls from their left ears when listening to digits and words and from their right ears when listening to CVs. Direction of ear advantage varied across individuals in both groups when tested with digits and CVs, but ear advantage was stable with words. Several factors that may have contributed to inconsistencies in direction of ear advantage are discussed. When the children were tested in a directed response mode, degree of ear advantage differed significantly between groups with both words and digits. More dyslexic than control children demonstrated clinically significant reductions in dichotic listening performance, but no uniform pattern of deficit emerged. Only the double correct score and the left ear score with CV pairs were predictive of word recognition performance in dyslexic children. Binaural integration deficits are present in some children with dyslexia. Auditory processing disorder assessment may help delineate factors that underlie or are associated with reading impairment in this population. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] CLINICAL STUDY: Prolactin response to fenfluramine in abstinent, alcohol-dependent patientsADDICTION BIOLOGY, Issue 3-4 2008Richard J. Porter ABSTRACT It has been suggested that serotonin (5HT) function is abnormal in alcoholics even during abstinence. The prolactin response to fenfluramine (PRF) is generally believed to reflect the activity of the 5HT system and has been previously used to investigate 5HT activity in a variety of conditions, including alcoholism. The origin of the cortisol (CORT) response to fenfluramine is less clear. The objectives of this paper are to examine the prolactin (PRL) and CORT response to dl -fenfluramine in a large cohort of males with alcohol dependence who had been abstinent for 3 weeks, and to compare this with an age-matched control group. Ninety-four subjects with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of moderate to severe alcohol dependence who had been abstinent for 3 weeks, and 23 control subjects underwent neuroendocrine challenge with dl -fenfluramine (10 mg per 10 kg body weight). PRL and CORT responses were measured. No significant difference was found in PRF between abstinent, alcoholic patients and controls (F = 2.7, d.f. = 1.115, P = 0.10). CORT response was significantly lower in abstinent alcoholics than in controls (F = 10.0, d.f. = 1.116, P = 0.002). The results suggest no clear difference in 5HT function between abstinent alcoholics and healthy controls. The reduced CORT response in abstinent alcoholics further supports evidence of hypofunction of the adrenocortical system in this group. [source] Age-related analysis of insulin resistance, body weight and arterial pressure in the Zucker fatty ratEXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Francesco Di Nardo The evolution with ageing of insulin resistance, body weight (BW) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) was studied in a group of Zucker fatty rats (ZFRs, n= 22), between 7 and 16 weeks of age, compared with an age-matched control group of Zucker lean rats (ZLRs, n= 22). The minimal model of glucose kinetics was applied to estimate glucose effectiveness, SG, and insulin sensitivity, SI, from insulinaemia and glycaemia measured during a 70 min intravenous glucose tolerance test. No correlation was found between SG and age in both ZFR and ZLR groups. No significant changes in mean SG between the two groups indicated no alteration of glucose-mediated glucose disposal. Estimates of SI from individual ZFRs were independent of age and, on average, showed 83% reduction (P < 0.001) compared with the ZLR group. Despite the lack of alteration of SI with age, the ZFR group showed an age-related increase of MAP, which correlated with increasing BW (r = 0.71 and P < 0.001). These results support the hypothesis that in our ZFRs, as a suitable genetic model of obesity and hypertension, insulin resistance is fully established at the age of 7 weeks and remains practically unaltered until at least the sixteenth week. An age-related increase in arterial pressure, observed in this strain, relates more properly to increasing BW, rather than insulin resistance. Development of hypertension with increasing age and BW may result from an enhanced insulin-mediated activity of the sympathetic nervous system, as observed in our previously reported study. [source] Osteitis condensans ilii: a significant association with sacroiliac joint tenderness in womenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 1 2009Katey JENKS Abstract Aim:, To determine whether subjects with radiological evidence of osteitis condensans ilii exhibit symptoms and signs in common with sacroiliitis when compared with an age-matched control group and to examine demographic features. Methods:, The Dunedin Hospital radiology database was searched for all subjects with changes of osteitis condensans ilii over a 10-year period. An age-matched control group with plain X-rays of the pelvis was recruited from the same database. All subjects were sent a questionnaire enquiring about back pain and details of previous pregnancies. Those who responded to the questionnaire were invited for clinical assessment. Results:, Thirty-five individuals with osteitis condensans ilii were identified over the 10-year period. All were female and reported prior pregnancy supporting an association between osteitis condensans ilii and pregnancy. Stress testing of the sacroiliac joints was associated with greater tenderness in the osteitis condensans ilii group with a mean of 1.8 positive tests out of a possible 4, compared to 0.8 in the control group (Wilcoxon rank-sum test P = 0.02). Comparison between the two groups showed no difference in number of pregnancies, newborn weight, presence of back pain, back pain assessed by the Oswestry Low Back Pain Questionnaire or loss of function using the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI). Conclusion:, Osteitis condensans ilii is associated with tenderness during sacroiliac joint compression tests and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when sacroiliac joint tenderness is elicited. [source] The functional status and perceived quality of life in long-term survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrestACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2007H. Harve Background:, Limited data exist on how long-term survivors after pre-hospital cardiac arrest lead their lives. This study assessed functional status and perceived quality of life in patients surviving for 15 years after successful resuscitation from witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest as a result of ventricular fibrillation. Methods:, A 15-year follow-up study of 59 1-year survivors after successful pre-hospital resuscitation who were thoroughly evaluated at 3 and 12 months after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Eleven patients were still alive 15 years later. Ten of them were reached and underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological and neurological examination. Cognitive performance was evaluated and compared with individual results 15 years earlier and with an age-matched control group. The cause and time of death of the non-survivors were established. Results:, All 10 evaluated long-term survivors lived at home and were independent in their activities of daily living. Their mean age was 72 years. In nine patients there was no change in the present neurological status compared with the status at 1 year after resuscitation, and in one patient it had improved. Five patients were cognitively intact. In four patients mild cognitive problems had emerged or slightly progressed. All but one were satisfied with their perceived quality of life. By the time of examination, the mean survival time for the 1-year survivors was 7 years, and the mean age at the time of death was 70 years. Conclusion:, Once good outcome after cardiac arrest is achieved, it can be maintained for more than 10 years. [source] The effect of Ginkgo biloba on the cerebellum of aging SAMP mouse,A TUNEL, bcl-2, and fMRI studyMICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE, Issue 8 2007Maria S.M. Wai Abstract EGb 761, an extract from Ginkgo biloba that possesses neuroprotective properties, was fed to a strain of fast aging mice (SAMP-8) beginning at 3 weeks of age until they were sacrificed at 3 months and 11 months, respectively, along with an age-matched control group without herbal feeding. The aim of the study was to determine (1) the status of apoptosis and the status of bcl-2, a molecule involved in the fate of cells following injury, in the cerebella of these mice and (2) to analyze the functional changes as shown by fMRI images. The data indicated that there were no differences in apoptosis between the mice fed with EGb 761 and the control group at the two time points of 3 and 11 months of age. For bcl-2 positive cells, there was a decrease in density only in the cerebella of 11-month-old mice fed with the herbal extract when compared with controls. Functional studies indicated that while no changes were observed in the 3-month-old mice fed with Ginkgo biloba, an expansion of activated sites, possibly related to "synaptic reorganization and pathway alteration," was observed in the 11-month-old mice. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and development of asthma in children with chronic coughPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 6 2001Hideko Nishimura MD Abstract To evaluate the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and the development of asthma in children with chronic cough, we performed methacholine inhalation challenges and transcutaneous oxygen pressure (tcPO2) measurements in 92 children with chronic cough aged from 1,13 years (55 boys and 37 girls; mean, 5.3 years) and followed them for ,,,10 years. Forty-four age-matched children with asthma (24 males and 20 females; mean, 6.5 years) and 44 age-matched children without cough or asthma served as controls (18 males and 26 females; mean, 4.6 years). Consecutive doubling doses of methacholine were inhaled until a 10% decrease in tcPO2 from baseline was observed. The cumulative dose of methacholine at the inflection point of the tcPO2 record (Dmin-PO2) was considered to represent hyperresponsiveness to inhaled methacholine. After 10 years or more of follow-up, 60 of the 92 subjects with cough answered our questionnaire, and 27/60 had been diagnosed with asthma. There was a statistical difference in Dmin-PO2 between the children who presented with chronic cough originally and who developed asthma (asthma-developed group) and those who did not develop asthma (asthma-free group). There was no difference in the value of Dmin-PO2 between the asthma-developed group and the asthma group, or between the asthma-free group and the age-matched control group. Among the children with chronic cough, there was no difference in Dmin-PO2 between girls and boys, either in the asthma-developed group or in the asthma-group. We conclude that 45% of the children with a chronic cough in early life developed asthma, and that BHR in children with chronic cough during the childhood period is a strong risk factor for the development of asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2001; 31:412,418. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Assessment of myocardial involvement using cardiac troponin-I and echocardiography in rheumatic carditis in ,zmir, TurkeyPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2008Vedide Tavli Abstract Background: Acute rheumatic carditis is still a major problem in developing countries. Cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) has been identified as a sensitive and specific marker in the diagnosis of myocarditis in children and adults. Methods: A prospective study was performed using Doppler echocardiography and cTnI in order to detect myocardial involvement in 26 consecutive patients with acute rheumatic valvular disease. Patients were divided into two groups: group 1, rheumatic fever with carditis (n > 16); group 2, rheumatic fever without carditis (n > 10). Results: Clinically age, gender, body temperature, heart rate and white blood count did not differ significantly between the groups and the age-matched control group. C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anti-streptolysin-O were significantly different. Left ventricular fractional shortening was normal in all patients (group 1, 37 ± 10%; group 2, 34 ± 5%; NS). Left ventricular dimensions were larger in group 1, in which all patients except two had moderate to severe mitral and/or aortic valvular regurgitation (5.05 ± 0.75 cm/m2) compared to group 2, in which none had valvular regurgitation (3.27 ± 0.26 cm/m2, P < 0.05). None of the patients in either group presented with or developed pericarditis. Mean cTnI was 0.12 ± 0.034 ng/mL in group 2 and 0.077 ± 0.02 in group 1, the difference of which was not statistically significant. Neither significant cTnI elevations nor echocardiographic systolic function abnormalities were found in the present patients with rheumatic carditis. Conclusions: The present results indicate the absence of myocardial involvement in acute rheumatic carditis without congestive heart failure. [source] Foveal function in children treated for amblyopiaACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2 2010Pia Agervi Abstract. Purpose:, This study aimed to evaluate foveal function, using three different methods, in children treated for monocular amblyopia. Methods:, A sample of 24 otherwise healthy children with treated amblyopia and an age-matched control group of 25 healthy children were examined for best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) using a standard decimal (KM) chart and the computerized TriVA method at 50% and 10% contrasts. Foveal function was also measured with the rarebit fovea test (RFT), which is included in the rarebit perimetry program package. This test uses very small and bright dots against a dark background. The result is expressed as mean hit rate (MHR). Results:, Amblyopic eyes showed significantly lower BCVA when evaluated with the KM chart and with the TriVA test at different contrast levels, compared with both fellow eyes and control eyes. No statistically significant difference between amblyopic and fellow eyes was found when foveal function was evaluated with the RFT (median MHRs 91.5% and 94.5%, respectively), although results for both amblyopic and fellow eyes were statistically lower than those of the control group (median MHR 97%) (p = 0.001 and p = 0.046, respectively). This might indicate that the RFT provides different information about foveal function than conventional VA tests. Conclusions:, The findings in the current study accord with those of other studies reporting abnormalities in the fellow eyes of previously treated amblyopic patients. These findings may reflect a general disturbance in the visual system rather than a monocular adaptation to refractive error or ocular motor disturbance. [source] Successful outcome of splinted implants supporting a ,planned' maxillary overdenture: a retrospective evaluation and comparison with fixed full dental prosthesesCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 4 2009A. Sanna Abstract Objective: Whereas an overdenture concept is generally accepted for the mandible, the outcome of this therapy for the maxilla remains less documented. This retrospective analysis evaluated the peri-implant parameters of implants supporting a ,planned' overdenture in the maxilla, and compared these data with those of an age-matched control group, with a fixed full dental prosthesis. Material and methods: All patients with an implant-supported overdenture in the maxilla from the Leuven University Hospital (at least 12 months in function) were recalled for a thorough examination. Forty-four patients (162 implants, Brånemark type) could be enrolled. Results: The mean loading time was 9 years (range: >1 to >20 years). The cumulative survival rate after 10 years of function was 99.3% if four to six interconnected implants supported the overdenture, but only 85.7% in case two non-connected implants were used as support. The marginal bone level in the former group remained stable, with changes comparable with those observed for implants supporting fixed full dental prostheses. Conclusions: These results fully support the overdenture treatment concept for the maxilla, at least when ,4 splinted implants are used. [source] Arterial remodelling in Fabry diseaseACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2002P Boutouyrie Aim: The enzymatic defect in Fabry disease results in the slow systemic deposition of uncleaved glycosphingolipids in the lysosomes of vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cells, leading to ischaemic strokes, cardiomyopathy and renal failure. Whereas it is known that Fabry disease affects small blood vessels, little is known about its effects on peripheral large arteries. We therefore set out to compare parameters of arterial wall structure and function in a cohort of patients with Fabry disease and an age-matched control group. Methods: Large artery phenotype was non-invasively investigated in 21 hemizygous patients with Fabry disease and 24 age-matched male controls. Common carotid and radial artery diameter, intima-media thickness (IMT) and distensibility were determined with high-definition echotracking systems and aplanation tonometry. Results: Patients with Fabry disease had a significant twofold increase in radial artery IMT and distensibility, independent of body surface area, age and mean blood pressure. In both groups, older age at the time of examination was significantly associated with larger radial artery IMT. The relationship between age and radial IMT was 2.3-fold higher in patients with Fabry disease than in controls (p > 0.01). Carotid IMT was mildly but significantly increased in patients with Fabry disease (+18%), whereas distensibility was unchanged. Conclusion: This study presents evidence of a major increase in arterial wall thickness and distensibility, measurable at the site of a medium-sized artery, in a cohort of patients with classic Fabry disease. [source] | |||||||||||||