Experienced Improvements (experience + improvement)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Treatment of erosive vulvovaginal lichen planus with methotrexate

AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
Nelly Jang
SUMMARY We report the successful treatment of severe long-standing erosive vulvovaginal lichen planus in four adult female patients using 2.5,7.5 mg of oral methotrexate once weekly in conjunction with topical clobetasol dipropionate 0.05% ointment and tacrolimus 0.03,0.10% ointment. All cases experienced improvement in symptoms and healing of lesions within 4,8 weeks. Methotrexate was well tolerated and no adverse events have been observed in any of the patients at follow up 4,6 months later. [source]


An open-label trial of enhanced brief interpersonal psychotherapy in depressed mothers whose children are receiving psychiatric treatment,,

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 7 2006
Holly A. Swartz M.D.
Abstract Major depression affects one out of five women during her lifetime. Depressed mothers with psychiatrically ill children represent an especially vulnerable population. Challenged by the demands of caring for ill children, these mothers often put their own needs last; consequently, their depressions remain untreated. This population is especially difficult to engage in treatment. We have developed a nine-session intervention, an engagement session followed by eight sessions of brief interpersonal psychotherapy designed to increase maternal participation in their own psychotherapy, resolve symptoms of maternal depression, and enhance relationships (IPT-MOMS). This open-label trial assesses the feasibility and acceptability of providing this treatment to depressed mothers. Thirteen mothers meeting DSM-IV criteria for major depression were recruited from a pediatric mental health clinic where their school-age children were receiving psychiatric treatment. Subjects (mothers) were treated openly with IPT-MOMS. Eighty-five percent (11/13) completed the study. Subjects were evaluated with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, and completed self-report measures of quality of life and functioning at three time points: baseline, after treatment completion, and 6-months posttreatment. A signed rank test was used to compare measurement changes between assessment time points. Subjects showed significant improvement from baseline to posttreatment on measures of maternal symptoms and functioning. These gains were maintained at 6-month follow-up. Therapy was well tolerated and accepted by depressed mothers, who are typically difficult to engage in treatment. A high proportion of subjects completed treatment and experienced improvements in functioning. Future randomized clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy of this approach. Depression and Anxiety 23:398,404, 2006. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Cardiovascular Exercise Training Extends Influenza Vaccine Seroprotection in Sedentary Older Adults: The Immune Function Intervention Trial

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 12 2009
Jeffrey A. Woods PhD
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether cardiovascular exercise training resulted in improved antibody responses to influenza vaccination in sedentary elderly people who exhibited poor vaccine responses. DESIGN: Single-site randomized parallel-arm 10-month controlled trial. SETTING: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred forty-four sedentary, healthy older (69.9 ± 0.4) adults. INTERVENTIONS: Moderate (60,70% maximal oxygen uptake) cardiovascular exercise was compared with flexibility and balance training. MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcome was influenza vaccine response, as measured according to hemagglutination inhibition (HI) anti-influenza antibody titer and seroprotective responses (HI titer ,40). Secondary measures included cardiovascular fitness and body composition. RESULTS: Of the 160 participants enrolled, 144 (90%) completed the 10-month intervention with excellent compliance (,83%). Cardiovascular, but not flexibility, exercise intervention resulted in improvements in indices of cardiovascular fitness, including maximal oxygen uptake. Although not affecting peak (e.g., 3 and 6 weeks) postvaccine anti-influenza HI titers, cardiovascular exercise resulted in a significant increase in seroprotection 24 weeks after vaccination (30,100% dependent on vaccine variant), whereas flexibility training did not. CONCLUSION: Participants randomized to cardiovascular exercise experienced improvements in influenza seroprotection throughout the entire influenza season, whereas those in the balance and flexibility intervention did not. Although there were no differences in reported respiratory tract infections, the exercise group exhibited reduced overall illness severity and sleep disturbance. These data support the hypothesis that regular endurance exercise improves influenza vaccine responses. [source]


A novel approach to treating eating disorders in a day-hospital treatment program

NUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 3 2010
Mellisa ASHLEY
Abstract Aim:, The aim of the present study was to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of an adult day-hospital program that uses a novel approach to delivering nutritional interventions. Methods:, Fifty-six adult eating disorder patients of the Sydney West Area Eating Disorders Day Treatment Program participated in the study. Participants completed standardised self-reported questionnaires designed to measure eating disorder symptoms, at the commencement of treatment and after 12 weeks. Results:, Participation in day-hospital treatment was associated with increases in weight, reductions in number of binge-eating and purging episodes, and frequency of exercise sessions. Participants also experienced improvements in their eating attitudes, drive for thinness, bulimia, depression and anxiety symptoms. Conclusion:, These findings add to the growing body of literature supporting the use of day-hospital programs in the treatment of eating disorders. A number of strategies are suggested for the effective delivery of nutritional interventions in day-hospital programs, such as methods that assist with integrating new information, having an experiential focus and the use of collaborative education processes. [source]