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Experienced Symptoms (experience + symptom)
Selected AbstractsHigh circulating levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and interleukin 6 in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia,JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 2 2010Alessandro Antonelli Abstract Many patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia and chronic HCV infection experience symptoms, such as dyspnea, which sometimes do not seem to indicate the involvement of the liver but rather the symptoms of heart failure. To our knowledge, there has been no other study evaluating the serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) in such patients. Serum NTproBNP and IL-6 were assayed in 54 patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia and chronic HCV infection, and in 54 sex- and age-matched controls. Cryoglobulinemic-patients showed significantly higher mean NTproBNP and IL-6 levels than the controls (P,=,0.005). By defining a high NTproBNP level as a value higher than 125,pg/ml (the single cut-off point for patients under 75 years of age), 30% of patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia and chronic HCV infection and 7% of controls had high NTproBNP (chi-square; P,<,0.003). With a cut-off point of 300,pg/ml (used to rule out heart failure in patients under 75 years of age), 5/49 patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia and chronic HCV infection and 0/54 controls had high NTproBNP (chi-square; P,<,0.04). With a cut-off point of 900,pg/ml (used for including heart failure in patients aged between 50 and 75, such as the patients in this study) 3/51 of patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia and chronic HCV infection and 0/54 controls had high NTproBNP (chi-square; P,=,0.07). The study revealed high levels of circulating NTproBNP and IL-6 in patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia and chronic HCV infection. The increase in NTproBNP could indicate the presence of a subclinical cardiac dysfunction. J. Med. Virol. 82:297,303, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Symptom overlap in patients with upper gastrointestinal complaints in the Canadian confirmatory acid suppression test (CAST) study: further psychometric validation of the reflux disease questionnaireALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 9 2007S. V. VAN ZANTEN Summary Background The reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ) is a short, patient-completed instrument. Aims To investigate the psychometric characteristics of the RDQ in patients with heartburn-predominant (HB) and non-heartburn predominant (NHB) dyspepsia. Methods HB (n = 388) and NHB (n = 733) patients were randomized to esomeprazole 40 mg daily or twice daily for 1 week, followed by 3 weeks of esomeprazole 40 mg daily. Results High factor loadings (0.78,0.86) supported the ,regurgitation' dimension of the RDQ. Overlapping factor loadings in the ,heartburn' and ,dyspepsia' dimensions suggested symptom overlap. All dimensions demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.79,0.90). Intra-class correlation coefficients over 4 weeks were good (0.66,0.85). The RDQ showed good responsiveness over 4 weeks of treatment, with high effect sizes (,0.80). Moderate or large symptom improvements were reported by 90% and 77% of HB and NHB patients, respectively, following treatment. Patients who responded to acid suppression also experienced symptom benefits in all RDQ dimensions. Conclusions The RDQ is reliable, valid and responsive to change in HB and NHB patients. The symptom overlap is important but need not play a major role in determining treatment strategy as both patient groups benefited from proton pump inhibitor treatment. [source] Patients' subjective symptoms, quality of life and intake of food during the recovery period 3 and 12 months after upper gastrointestinal surgeryEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 1 2007U. OLSSON rnt, phd student Few studies describe patients' quality of life and their experienced symptoms during the recovery period after having undergone upper gastrointestinal surgery at 3 and 12 months. The aims of this study were to explore patients' quality of life and symptoms preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months following upper gastrointestinal surgery and to describe and compare patients' experiences of appetite, food intake, weight changes, tiredness and sleeping patterns. A descriptive and comparative quantitative design was used. Three instruments were used: the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale, the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire and the Eating Dysfunction Scale. A questionnaire was used to investigate symptoms such as mood, appetite, sleep, activities and well-being. Twenty-four patients were included in the study. The major results were that anxiety levels and global health status decreased and that patients felt more disappointed after 12 months compared with after 3 months. Four patients at 3 months after surgery and eight patients at 12 months regained their weight compared with the situation before surgery. The contribution of nursing care activities focusing on the importance of food intake and the patients' current and historical medical records in relation to their health status should continue to be examined and researched over a longer period of time. [source] Oral lichen planus: a condition with more persistence and extra-oral involvement than suspected?JOURNAL OF ORAL PATHOLOGY & MEDICINE, Issue 10 2008Marta Bidarra Background:, Lichen planus is a relatively common and often studied chronic mucocutaneous condition. Reports detailing certain aspects relevant to patients affected have been lacking or inconsistent. Methods:, A questionnaire-based survey was employed to assess the duration of oral lesions and the prevalence of self-reported potential extra-oral manifestations associated with oral lichen planus in 87 patients. All patients had recognized clinical features of oral lichen planus, and most had had histopathological confirmation following oral biopsy. Results:, We report the findings of a preliminary survey which assessed the duration of oral lesions and the prevalence of extra-oral lesions consistent with lichen planus in patients presenting with oral lesions. The study confirmed the chronic nature of oral lichen planus and the rarity of spontaneous resolution. Most subjects had experienced symptoms for one to ten years (66 patients; 75.8%). Approximately 40% (36 patients) of the sample reported clinical features suggestive of extra-oral manifestations of lichen planus by the time that their oral lesions were apparent. The most commonly reported extra-oral manifestations involved the nails (27.6%, 24 patients). 25.3% (22 patients) reported a persistently sore throat suggestive of oesophageal or pharyngeal involvement. Skin (17.2%, 11 patients), and genital (10.3%, 9 patients) involvement was relatively infrequently reported. Most patients reported extra-oral lesions at only one site. Conclusions:, The survey results suggest that in patients with oral lichen planus oral lesions persist for a prolonged period, and that extra-oral lesions may be more common than suspected. However, further studies involving specialists to examine extra-oral sites are required. [source] Risk factors for cholelithiasis in pregnancyRESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 6 2004Glenda Lindseth Abstract This study was designed to examine the relationships of demographics, anthropometrics, prenatal physical activity, serum cholesterol, and nutrient intakes to symptomatic cholelithiasis (gallstone) occurrence in 128 northern plains pregnant women. Data collected at 14 and 26 weeks of pregnancy and 4 weeks after delivery, indicated 25.8% of the Native American and 8.3% of the Caucasian pregnant women experienced symptoms of cholelithiasis. Body mass indices (BMIs) were significantly higher in the pregnant women who experienced cholelithiasis than in those who did not have cholelithiasis, and prenatal physical activity was significantly lower in those same women. History of gallbladder disease (,,=,.73; p,=,.001), BMI (,,=,.33; p,=,.01), and prenatal physical activity (,,=,,.20; p,=,.04) were predictive of increased occurrence of cholelithiasis during pregnancy. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 27:382,391, 2004 [source] The Utility of Holter Monitoring Compared to Loop Recorders in the Evaluation of Syncope and PresyncopeANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000Andrew D. Krahn M.D. Background: Holter monitoring is frequently used to assess patients with syncope, but rarely provides a diagnosis. Newer loop recorders provide the opportunity for prolonged electrocardiographic monitoring to enhance diagnostic yield. Methods: The results of 232 Holter monitors and 81 loop recordings performed for the investigation of syncope or presyncope were reviewed for indication, patient demographics, and presence and type of symptoms and/or arrhythmias. The results were classified as (1) symptom-arrhythmia correlation, (2) clinically useful information (group 1 plus those excluding arrhythmic syncope, and those demonstrating asymptomatic serious arrhythmias) and (3) unhelpful (asymptomatic and no serious arrhythmias). Results: Loop recorders provided a symptom-arrhythmia correlation in 11.1% of patients compared to only 0.4% in the Holter group (P < 0.0001). Clinically useful information was obtained in 54.3% of loop patients compared to 27.6% in the Holter group (P < 0.0001). Technical problems occurred in 0.4% of the Holter patients and in 3.7% of loop patients (P = 0.05). Classification was difficult in seven patients in the Holter group; two experienced symptoms during sinus rhythm but also had a serious asymptomatic arrhythmia, and five patients had 6,10 beats of asymptomatic ventricular tachycardia at a rate < 160 beats/min. Conclusion: Loop recording was well tolerated and superior to Holter monitoring in providing a symptom-arrhythmia correlation or clinically useful information in patients with syncope and presyncope. An initial approach with a loop-recording device should be employed in these patients. [source] Exhaled nitric oxide: relation to sensitization and respiratory symptomsCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 2 2004A.-C. Olin Summary Background Conflicting data have been presented as to whether nitric oxide (NO) in exhaled air is merely reflecting atopy rather than airway inflammation. Objective To investigate the relationship between exhaled NO (eNO) and nasal NO (nNO), respiratory symptoms, and atopy, in the context of a cross-sectional study of the respiratory health of bleachery workers. Methods Two hundred and forty-six non-smoking bleachery and paper-mill workers answered a questionnaire and were examined by measurements of eNO and nNO and spirometry, outside the pollen season. Blood samples were collected and analysed for specific IgE against common aeroallergens (birch, timothy, cat and house dust mite). Atopy was defined as a positive PhadiatopÔ test. Results The atopic and the non-atopic subjects without asthma or rhinitis had similar levels of eNO. Subjects reporting asthma or rhinitis who were also sensitized to perennial allergens had higher levels of eNO, whereas those sensitized to only seasonal allergens had similar eNO levels as non-atopic subjects with asthma or rhinitis. In multiple linear regression models adjusted for nNO, eNO was associated with asthma and sensitization to perennial allergens. Conclusion The results indicate that only atopic subjects who have recently been exposed to the relevant allergen have elevated levels of eNO. Atopic subjects who are not being exposed to a relevant allergen or have never experienced symptoms of asthma or rhinitis show normal eNO. These data indicate that eNO relates to airway inflammation in atopic subjects. [source] Symptom experience after lung transplantation: impact on quality of life and adherenceCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2007Christiane Kugler Abstract:, Background:, Patients' perceptions of immunosuppression- related symptom experience may impact on quality of life (QoL) and medication adherence. Methods:, A total of 308 lung transplant recipients were screened for study inclusion. Two hundred eighty-seven patients (response rate 93%) completed a 91-item questionnaire consisting of subscales focusing on symptom experiences (frequency and distress), and adherence. QoL was assessed by a 40-item standardized instrument. Impact of symptom experiences on QoL and adherence were assessed. Potential determinants of immunosuppression induced symptom experiences were evaluated. Results:, The most frequent reported symptoms were tremor (70%) and hirsutism (68.1%), whereas Cushingoid appearance (38.6%) and muscle weakness (31.9%) appeared to be the most distressing symptoms. Women (p < 0.001) and younger patients (<40 yr; p < 0.0001) reported a significantly higher level of symptom experience compared with their counterparts respectively. Symptom experiences negatively influenced QoL in all dimensions (p < 0.006). Those who described experiencing adverse effects reported significantly more "drug holidays" (p , 0.004) compared with those reporting minor frequent adverse effects. Patients' self-reported strategies to reduce adverse effects were to postpone medication intake (30%), to drop doses (8%), or to reduce doses (9%). Conclusions:, This study establishes a relationship between patients' perceptions of immunosuppression-related symptom experiences and the impact on QoL and adherence. Immunosuppression is accompanied by significant adverse effects in both symptom frequency and distress. Most frequently experienced symptoms do not necessarily have the greatest impact on perceived distress, and vice versa. High levels of adverse effects tend to negatively influence patients' QoL and adherence. Future research is required to understand the relationship of these complex variables. [source] Cognitive and Physiological Determinants of Symptom Perception and InterpretationJOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOBEHAVIORAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2008Motohiro Nakajima The purpose of the current study was to test the aspects of MacGregor and Fleming's model of symptom reporting and illness interpretation. Participants were randomly assigned to cognitive cue (Chemical or No Chemical), sensory cue (Odor or No Odor), and somatic arousal (Exercise or No Exercise) conditions. The findings suggested that although somatic arousal primarily determines whether one experiences symptoms, and expectations,or one's mental model,determine the nature of the attribution regarding the cause of the symptoms, it appears that both the attribution about the cause of the symptoms and the amount of somatic arousal experienced combine to produce the intensity of negative symptoms. [source] | ||||||||||