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Healthy Persons (healthy + person)
Selected AbstractsT-Wave Variability Detects Abnormalities in Ventricular Repolarization: A Prospective Study Comparing Healthy Persons and Olympic AthletesANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009Lara Heinz M.D. Background: Sudden cardiac death in athletes is more common than in the general population. Routine screening procedures are performed to identify competitors at risk. A new Holter-based parameter analyzes variation of the ventricular repolarization (TVar). The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in electrocardiogram (ECG), Echo, and Holter (H) in competitive athletes compared to a healthy control group consisting of medical students (MS). Methods: A total of 40 athletes (19 females, Olympic team, Luxembourg) and 40 MS (22 females) were examined by means of a resting ECG, treadmill exercise (TE), echocardiogram (Echo), as well as H recordings during a routine screening visit. To analyze TVar, a 20-minute H recording at rest (sampling rate 1000 per second) was performed. Moreover, heart rate variability (HRV) as well as HR turbulence (HRT) was computed. Results: No differences in demographic variables were detected. Quantification of HRV detected a significant increase in the vagal component of autonomic cardiac modulation. In contrast, no differences for HRT were found. Echo parameter demonstrated a thicker septal wall without differences of the posterior wall. TVar values were normal in range, but did differ significantly between the two groups. No correlation between TVar and echo as well as Holter parameters was detected. Conclusions: TVar was able to demonstrate significant differences in terms of alterations of ventricular activation. This might indicate an early change of myocardial repolarization representing a substrate for life-threatening arrhythmia. Larger studies on the predictive value of TVar including follow-up are necessary to confirm this preliminary finding. [source] Optimizing BeLPT criteria for beryllium sensitizationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008D.C. Middleton MD Abstract Background The beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT) is used to identify persons sensitized to beryllium. ATSDR convened an expert panel of physicians and scientists in April 2006 to discuss this test and to consider what BeLPT test results actually establish beryllium sensitization. The three criteria proposed by panel members were one abnormal result, one abnormal and one borderline result, and two abnormal results. Methods Complete algorithms were developed for each of the three proposed criteria. Using single-test outcome probabilities developed by Stange et al. [2004. Am J Ind Med 46:453,462], we calculated and compared the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values (PPVs) for each set of criteria. Results The overall sensitivity and specificity of the three criteria were similar. When the criteria required confirmation of an abnormal result the PPV was higher,whether the requirement was satisfied by a borderline result, or only by another abnormal result. Confirmation also reduced the likelihood of false positives. The differences between the three criteria decreased as the prevalence of sensitization increased. Conclusions A single unconfirmed abnormal is usually insufficient to establish sensitization for an apparently healthy person. When the prevalence of beryllium sensitization in a group is high, however, even a single abnormal BeLPT can be a strong predictor. Am. J. Ind. Med. 51:166,172, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Leptin,a predictor of abnormal glucose tolerance and prognosis in patients with myocardial infarction and without previously known Type 2 diabetesDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 8 2008M. Wallander Abstract Aims High levels of leptin and low adiponectin are associated with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular (CV) disease. We studied the prognostic implications of leptin and adiponectin in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) without previously known Type 2 DM. Methods One hundred and eighty-one patients were included. Based on an oral glucose tolerance test at hospital discharge (day 4,5), 168 (67% men) had normal or abnormal glucose tolerance (AGT), defined as impaired glucose tolerance or T2DM. Sex- and age-matched healthy persons served as control subjects (n = 185). The associations between fasting serum leptin and adiponectin (day 2) and newly discovered AGT and CV events (CV mortality, non-fatal stroke, reinfarction or severe heart failure) during a median follow-up of 34 months were investigated. Results Compared with control subjects, patients of both genders had significantly higher levels of leptin 2 days after an AMI. These levels were higher than those obtained at hospital discharge and 3 months later. Circulating levels of (ln) leptin 2 days after the AMI predicted AGT at discharge (odds ratio 2.03, P = 0.042). Ln leptin at day 2 was the only biochemical variable that significantly predicted CV events both on univariate [hazard ratio (HR) 1.60, P = 0.018] and on multivariate analysis (HR 1.75, P = 0.045). Adiponectin levels did not differ between patients and control subjects and did not relate to AGT or CV events. Conclusions Elevated circulating levels of leptin on the first morning after an AMI are associated with the presence of AGT at discharge and with a poorer long-term prognosis. [source] Enhanced external counterpulsation improves skin oxygenation and perfusionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 6 2004M. J. Hilz Abstract Background, Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) augments diastolic and reduces systolic blood pressures. Enhanced external counterpulsation has been shown to improve blood flow in various organ systems. Beneficial effects on skin perfusion might allow EECP to be used in patients with skin malperfusion problems. This study was performed to assess acute effects of EECP on superficial skin blood flow, transdermal oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures. Materials and methods, We monitored heart rate, blood pressure, transdermal blood flow as well as oxygen and carbon dioxide pressures in 23 young, healthy persons (28 ± 4 years) and 15 older patients (64 ± 7 years) with coronary artery disease before, during and 3 min after 5 min EECP. Friedman test was used to compare the results of 90-s epochs before, during and after EECP. Significance was set at P < 0·05. Results, Enhanced external counterpulsation increased heart rate and mean blood pressure. During EECP, transdermal oxygen pressure and concentration of moving blood cells increased while transdermal carbon dioxide pressure and velocity of moving blood cells decreased significantly in both groups. After EECP, transdermal carbon dioxide pressure was still reduced while the other parameters returned to baseline values. Conclusions, Improved skin oxygenation and carbon dioxide clearance during EECP seem to result from the increased concentration and reduced flow velocity, i.e. prolonged contact time, of erythrocytes. The increased concentration of moving blood cells and the decreased velocity of moving blood cells at both tested skin sites indicate peripheral vasodilatation. [source] Increased QT variability in young asymptomatic patients with ,-thalassemia majorEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Damiano Magrì Abstract Background:, Despite recent progress in iron chelation therapy, sudden cardiac death due to malignant ventricular arrhythmias remains a vexing, clinical problem in patients with ,-thalassemia major (TM). In this study we assessed whether the major indices of QT variability, emerging tools for risk stratification of sudden cardiac death, differ in young asymptomatic patients with TM and healthy persons. Methods: Thirty patients with TM and 30 healthy control subjects underwent a 5-min electrocardiography recording to calculate the following variables: QT variance (QTv), QTv normalized for mean QT (QTVN) and QT variability index (QTVI). All subjects also underwent a two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography study and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine cardiac and hepatic T2* values. Results: No differences were observed in clinical and conventional echo-Doppler findings in healthy control subjects and patients with TM whereas QTv, QTVN and QTVI values were significantly higher in patients than those in controls (QTv, P < 0.001; QTVN, P < 0.05 and QTVI, P < 0.001) and cardiac T2* and hepatic MRI T2* values were significantly lower in patients with TM (P < 0.001). The indices of temporal QT variability correlated significantly with MRI data. Conclusions: Young asymptomatic patients with TM have increased cardiac repolarization variability as assessed by QT variability indices, probably due to cardiac iron deposition. These easily assessed, non-invasive markers could be used to identify increased myocardial repolarization lability early in asymptomatic patients with TM. [source] Functional MRI of the visual cortex and visual testing in patients with previous optic neuritisEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 3 2002A. R. Langkilde The volume of cortical activation as detected by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in the visual cortex has previously been shown to be reduced following optic neuritis (ON). In order to understand the cause of this change, we studied the cortical activation, both the size of the activated area and the signal change following ON, and compared the results with results of neuroophthalmological testing. We studied nine patients with previous acute ON and 10 healthy persons served as controls using fMRI with visual stimulation. In addition to a reduced activated volume, patients showed a reduced blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) signal increase and a greater asymmetry in the visual cortex, compared with controls. The volume of visual cortical activation was significantly correlated to the result of the contrast sensitivity test. The BOLD signal increase correlated significantly to both the results of the contrast sensitivity test and to the Snellen visual acuity. Our results indicate that fMRI is a useful method for the study of ON, even in cases where the visual acuity is severely impaired. The reduction in activated volume could be explained as a reduced neuronal input; however, the greater asymmetry might point to a cortical reorganization as a consequence of neuronal damage. Future fMRI studies in ON will add to the understanding of the neural adaptive behaviour following ON. [source] Apoptosis in oral lichen planusEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 5 2001Evelyn Neppelberg Apoptotic cell death may be a contributory cause of basal cell destruction in oral lichen planus (OLP). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the rate of apoptosis in OLP and the expression of two proteins (FasR and FasL) regulating this process. Biopsies from 18 patients with histologically diagnosed OLP were investigated, with comparison to normal oral mucosa of healthy persons. For visualisation of DNA fragmentation, the TUNEL method was used. In order to characterise the infiltrating cell population (CD3, CD4, CD8) and expression of FasR and FasL, we used an immunohistochemical technique. The results showed that T cells dominated in the subepithelial cell infiltrate. Within the epithelium the apoptotic cells were confined to the basal cell layer, and more apoptotic cells were seen in areas with basal cell degeneration and atrophic epithelium. There was a prominent expression of FasR/FasL in OLP, with a rather uniform distribution throughout the inflammatory cell infiltrate. In the epithelium, the FasR/FasL expression was more abundant in the basal cell area compared to the suprabasal cell layer. In conclusion, apoptosis within the epithelium is significantly increased in situ in OLP compared to normal oral mucosa, and seems to be related to the epithelial thickness. [source] In vitro culture of skin-homing T lymphocytes from inflammatory skin diseasesEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2005Karen Bang Abstract:, We, in this study, describe how T lymphocytes in a skin biopsy can proliferate in vitro for up to 3 months by using T-cell growth factors , interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-4 yielding approximately 100,160 million T lymphocytes within 1 month. We established cell lines from three tuberculin skin tests, four positive patch tests, 15 of 16 biopsies from atopic dermatitis (AD), 15 of 19 biopsies from mycosis fungoides (MF), 12 of 24 biopsies from psoriasis vulgaris, which was significantly less than AD (P < 0.05), and with a reduced cumulative number of lymphocytes (P < 0.05). Omitting IL-2 and IL-4 led to immediate halt of proliferation. Blood mononuclear cells from patients and biopsies from healthy persons never gave cell lines. All cells were T lymphocytes expressing CD45RO+, HLA-DR+ and CD150. The CD7 expression was significantly increased in cell lines from AD (P < 0.05). T-cell receptor ,-chain studies by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that all T lymphocytes had access to the skin compartment. Single-stranded conformational analysis showed clonally expanded T cells numbering between 40 and 60 clones. After approximately 2 months of growth, the mean CD4+ : CD8+ ratio was for AD 1.20, MF 0.65 and psoriasis 0.85. Patients with AD treated with cyclosporin-A had almost no growth of CD8+ cells in vitro. Our findings indicate a changed homeostasis among skin-homing lymphocytes for in vitro culture. Our culture system of skin-homing T lymphocytes leads to a prominent cellular expansion allowing for a range of studies of in vivo activated skin T lymphocytes. [source] Detection of Helicobacter species DNA by quantitative PCR in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy individuals and of patients with inflammatory bowel diseaseFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2004Xander W. Huijsdens Abstract In many animal species different intestinal Helicobacter species have been described and a few species are associated with intestinal infection. In humans, the only member of the Helicobacter family which is well described in literature is Helicobacter pylori. No other Helicobacter -associated diseases have definitely been shown in humans. We developed a sensitive quantitative PCR to investigate whether Helicobacter species DNA can be detected in the human gastrointestinal tract. We tested gastric biopsies (including biopsies from H. pylori positive persons), intestinal mucosal biopsies and fecal samples from healthy persons, and intestinal mucosal biopsies from patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) for the presence of Helicobacter species. All gastric biopsies, positive for H. pylori by culture, were also positive in our newly developed PCR. No Helicobacter species were found in the mucosal biopsies from patients with IBD (n=56) nor from healthy controls (n=25). All fecal samples were negative. Our study suggests that Helicobacter species, other than H. pylori, are not present in the normal human gastrointestinal flora and our results do not support a role of Helicobacter species in IBD. [source] Soluble N-cadherin in human biological fluidsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 12 2006Lara Derycke Abstract Classical cadherins such as E-, P- and N-cadherin are transmembrane proteins that mediate cell,cell adhesion, and are important in embryogenesis, maintenance of tissue integrity and cancer. Proteolytic shedding of the extracellular domain results in the generation of soluble E-, P- or N-cadherin ectodomains. Circulating soluble E- and P-cadherin have been described in the serum, and elevated levels were detected in cancer patients when compared with healthy persons. Here we report the presence of soluble N-cadherin, a 90-kD protein fragment, in the serum of both healthy persons and cancer patients, using a direct ELISA and immunoprecipitation. A correlation was found between prostate specific antigen and soluble N-cadherin, and significantly elevated levels were detected in prostate cancer follow-up patients. The N-cadherin protein is neo-expressed by carcinomas of the prostate, and is responsible for epithelial to fibroblastic transition. This is reflected by the higher concentrations of soluble N-cadherin in prostate cancer patients than in healthy persons. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Quality of life in Chinese elderly people with depressionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 4 2006Sally W. C. Chan Abstract Background Depression is the most prevalent functional mental disorder of later life. It is estimated that about 5% of the elderly population of Hong Kong are suffering from depression. Aim To investigate the self-rated quality of life of community-dwelling elderly people diagnosed with depression, and to examine the relationships between quality of life and mental, physical health, functional status and social support. Methods and results A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted in psychiatric outpatient clinics. A convenience sample of 80 Chinese elderly people with a diagnosis of depressive disorder was recruited. Perception of quality of life was measured by the Hong Kong Chinese World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale,Brief Version. Participants' mental status, functional abilities, physical health condition, and social support status were assessed. Sixty-one (76.3%) participants were female. They were least satisfied with ,meaningfulness of life', ,life enjoyment', ,concentration and thinking', ,energy' and ,work capacity'. Functional abilities had a positive association with participants' perceived quality of life, level of depression and number of physical health conditions had a negative association. Participants had low ratings of quality of life when compared with healthy persons and persons with chronic physical problems. Findings are discussed in light of the socio-cultural environment in Hong Kong. Conclusion Comprehensive treatment and better control of depression, including different modes of medical and psychosocial intervention, could help to improve participants' perception of quality of life. A longitudinal study with a larger sample with various levels of depression and socio-demographic characteristics is recommended. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Insulin-like growth factors in patients with liver cystsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 6 2004Olgica Nedi Abstract Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) play an important role in cell growth and differentiation, and the liver is the main source of IGFs and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) that appear in the circulation. The effect of liver cysts on the circulating IGF system was studied in this work. Serum concentrations of IGF-I and -II were measured by radioimmunoassay, IGFBP patterns were characterised by ligand-affinity and immunoblotting, and a lectin-binding assay was used to investigate the glyco component of IGFBP-3 complexes. IGF-I and -II concentrations in patients with cysts were significantly lower compared to those in healthy individuals (P<0.0001 and P<0.01, respectively), and the decrease was related to age but not sex. The overall mean concentrations of IGF-I and -II were not significantly different whether the cysts were caused by Echinococcus granulosus, cross-reactive pathologies, or some other factor. IGFBP profiles correlated with the amount of IGF present: patients with lower IGF-I concentrations expressed decreased IGFBP-3 and elevated IGFBP-2 levels. Increased IGFBP-3 proteolytic activity in the patients' blood was not detected by immunoblotting. In the lectin-binding assay, IGFBP-3 complexes in the circulation of patients demonstrated reactivity similar to that in healthy persons, suggesting that the overall structure of the saccharide moieties of the IGFBP-3 complexes was not significantly altered due to liver cyst formation. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 18:299,304, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Spaciostructural analyses of mandibular and perioral soft tissue movements during masticationJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 10 2001K. Sakaguchi We considered that elucidation of the movements of perioral soft tissues during mastication would be useful in evaluating masticatory movements. However, evaluation of movements specific to soft tissues is difficult because movements of the surface of the lower face during mastication include movements of the muscles of facial expression and mandibular movements. The aims of this study were to elucidate the influence of mandibular movements on perioral soft tissue movements during mastication using principal component analysis (PCA) and to abstract the component of movement specific to soft tissues in order to evaluate masticatory movements from the movements of perioral soft tissues. The subjects were 10 healthy persons with complete natural dentition. The experimental food used in this study was sufficiently softened chewing gum. The results of this study showed that the movements of mandibular and perioral soft tissue were closely related in the first and third PCs; in other words, the second PC was the component of movement specific to soft tissues. Thus, elucidation of the second PC is useful for evaluation of masticatory movements from movements of perioral soft tissues. [source] Gender differences in dream recall: a meta-analysisJOURNAL OF SLEEP RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008MICHAEL SCHREDL Summary Many studies have reported gender differences in dream recall. Data from 175 independent studies have been included in the analyses. Overall, estimated effect sizes in five age groups of healthy persons differed significantly from zero. Variables like measurement method and publication year did not affect the gender difference but age groups showed different effect sizes. The smallest effect size was found for children (0.097), the largest for adolescents (0.364), whereas the three adult groups ranged from 0.242 to 0.270. The findings suggest that the age-dependent gender differences in dream recall might be explained by gender-specific ,dream socialization'. Longitudinal studies in this area, however, are still lacking. [source] Reconceptualizing the core of nurse practitioner education and practiceJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 1 2009BC (Professor), Mary E. Burman PhD Abstract Purpose: The movement to the doctor of nursing practice (DNP) is progressing rapidly with new programs emerging and curricular documents being developed. We argue that the implementation of the DNP is a good move for nursing, provided that we use the opportunity to reconceptualize the core of advanced practice nursing, especially nurse practitioner (NP) practice. Data sources: Theory and research articles from nursing focused on advanced practice nursing, NPs, and doctoral education. Conclusions: The foundation of NP education is currently based essentially on borrowed or shared content in assessment, pharmacology, and pathophysiology. We argue that the heart and soul of nursing is in health promotion, both in healthy persons and in those dealing with chronic illness. Current master's programs do not prepare NPs to assume high-level practice focused on health promotion and disease management using the latest theoretical developments in health behavior change, behavioral sciences, exercise physiology, nutrition, and medical anthropology. Although these are touched upon in most NP programs, they do not represent the core science of NP education and need to be a critical part of any DNP program. Implications for practice: Ultimately, our vision is for NP care to be consistently "different," yet just as essential as physician care, leading to positive outcomes in health promotion and disease management. [source] In vitro detection and characterization of drug hypersensitivity using flow cytometryALLERGY, Issue 1 2010M. Martin Abstract Background:, The lymphocyte transformation test (LTT) is the only in vitro test for detecting drug sensitization at the cellular level irrespective of the reaction's phenotype. However, the LTT includes working with radioactive substances and is considered impracticable for routine laboratory investigation. Objective:, The aim of this study was to assess drug-specific cytokine production by means of flow cytometry as an alternative nonradioactive approach which may be more appropriate for routine testing and may provide in addition more information about the pathophysiology of the reaction than proliferation-based assays, like the LTT. Method:, Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 19 patients were incubated with culprit drugs (n = 28) or irrelevant antigens (n = 10). Ten healthy persons served as controls for all different drugs (n = 15). Intracellular interleukin (IL)-5, interferon (IFN)-, and IL-10 production was investigated using flow cytometry. Accuracy of the flow cytometry test system was confirmed using different statistical tests, i.e. receiver operating characteristic curve and Mann,Whitney rank test. In addition, drug-specific secretion of IL-5, IL-2 and IFN-, were analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:, Drug-specific cytokine production could be demonstrated in 75% of the patients using flow cytometry and in 79% using ELISA respectively. Combining ELISA and flow cytometry increased the sensitivity to 100%. Analysis of involved T-cell subsets [e.g. CD4+ or CD8+; T helper (TH) 1 or TH 2] allowed characterization of the in vitro lymphocyte reactivity pattern. Conclusions:, Analysis of drug-specific cytokine production by means of flow cytometry proved a useful and reliable approach for the in vitro detection and characterization of drug hypersensitivities. [source] Chronic patients in undergraduate education: didactic value as perceived by studentsMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 8 2006Joseph P M Diederiks Objectives, Medical education should prepare students for future clinical practice. However, this preparation is inadequate for the most prevalent problem in health care: chronic disease. This applies to the continuous aspect of chronic disease. Within the context of a newly developed programme, we investigated what makes a chronic patient interesting in the eyes of medical students, what they learned from a specific programme in which each student had contact with a chronic patient 4 times in 8 months, and what they learned from their patients. Methods, A total of 240 Year 3 students were enrolled in the programme, 89 of whom filled in questionnaires at both the start and end of the programme. Topics included the characteristics of the ideal and the actual patient, the Ideal Physician Questionnaire, and several questions on the expected and actual amount of knowledge gained from the patient. Results, Students preferred patients who demonstrated clear symptoms and had frequent contacts with health care professionals during the programme to ,well adapted' patients. The perceived knowledge obtained from the patient was less than they had expected at the start of the programme. A didactic gain perceived as low was mainly due to low expectations of gaining knowledge at the start of the programme, a doctor-centred attitude and a high level of discrepancy between the student's ideal patient and the actual patient. Conclusions, Programmes that aim to present chronic patients to medical students focus on patient selection so that patients who differ only very slightly from healthy persons are eliminated. In addition, realistic information on the types of patients with whom students can expect to have contact may help students appreciate the knowledge to be gained from these patients. [source] Human pericardial fluid at microwave frequenciesMICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 1 2009Anil Lonappan Abstract This article reports a new method of analyzing pericardial fluid based on the measurement of the dielectric properties at microwave frequencies. The microwave measurements were performed by rectangular cavity perturbation method in the S-band of microwave frequency with the pericardial fluid from healthy persons as well as from patients suffering from pericardial effusion. It is observed that a remarkable change in the dielectric properties of patient samples with the normal healthy samples and these measurements were in good agreement with clinical analysis. This measurement technique and the method of extraction of pericardial fluid are simple. These results give light to an alternative in-vitro method of diagnosing onset pericardial effusion abnormalities using microwaves without surgical procedure. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 155,158, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24010 [source] A novel method of detecting cervical cancer using microwavesMICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 6 2008Anil Lonappan Abstract This article communicates a new method of detecting cervical cancer based on the measurement of the dielectric properties of smear at microwave frequencies. The microwave measurements were performed by rectangular cavity perturbation in the S-band of microwave frequency with the smear samples from healthy persons as well as from cancerous patients. It is observed an appreciable change in the dielectric properties of cancerous samples with the normal healthy samples and these measurements were in good agreement with clinical analysis. This measurement technique is simple and the collection of smear is painless and nonsurgical in nature. The results show a new method of diagnosing cervical cancer using microwave measurement without any surgical procedures and suggest an alternative to Papanikolaou test or Papanicolaou test. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 1552,1554, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23433 [source] Quality of life and related concepts in Parkinson's disease: A systematic reviewMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 11 2007Brenda L. Den Oudsten MSc Abstract Several studies have investigated the quality of life (QOL) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to review the conceptual and methodological quality of quality of life (QOL) studies among patients with PD and to identify factors associated with poor (HR)QOL. Computerized bibliographic databases were screened for publications from 1960 to January 2007. According to a list of predefined criteria, the methodological quality of the 61 studies, was moderate. The term ,QOL' was often used inappropriately. In fact, almost all studies in this review actually assessed health status (HS) instead of QOL. The functioning of patients with PD on physical, social, and emotional domains is affected by PD. Their HS seems to be lower when compared to healthy persons or patients with other chronic diseases. HS studies augment the insight in self-perceived functioning. Therefore, HS is conceived as a valuable construct. However, QOL is also an important factor in health care. Attention towards QOL is needed in order to draw valid conclusions regarding a person's subjective experience of well-being in a broad sense. In order to accomplish this, future studies should apply the QOL concept with more rigor, should use an adequate operational definition, and should employ sound measures. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society [source] Concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the serum of patients with malignant bone tumors,PEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 6 2001Gerold Holzer MD Abstract Background Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is recognized as an important stimulator of angiogenesis. Formation of new blood vessels by angiogenic factors occurs in many biological processes, both physiological and pathological, among others in growth of primary solid malignant tumors and metastasis. This implies that the inhibition of angiogenic factors like VEGF would result in a suppression of tumor growth and metastasis formation. The aim of the present study was to compare preoperative serum VEGF levels of patients having malignant bone tumors with healthy controls to identify serum VEGF levels as a tumor marker. Procedure Blood sera from patients with high-grade osteosarcoma (n,=,17), chondrosarcoma (n,=,4) and Ewing sarcoma (n,=,6) were taken at the time of diagnosis before biopsy and compared with sera from 129 healthy persons. To measure VEGF levels in serum, a commercially available ELISA was used (Quantikine Human VEGF Immunoassay; R&D Systems). Results The observed geometric mean VEGF levels and 95% confidence intervals are 232.0 pg ml,1 (168.9,318.5) for patients with high-grade osteosarcoma, 325.5 pg ml,1 (169.3,625.8) for patients with chondrosarcoma, 484.3 pg ml,1 (284.0,826.0) for patients with Ewing sarcoma, as compared to 216.2 pg ml,1 (192.8,242.5) for healthy individuals. Conclusions While the sample means for the three groups of sarcoma patients were higher than the respective mean for the healthy controls, only the mean for the group with Ewing sarcoma is statistically significantly higher than the mean for the healthy controls. Despite the significant difference, VEGF levels are not suitable as a marker for Ewing sarcoma. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 36:601,604, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Do mitochondrial DNA haplogroups play a role in susceptibility to tuberculosis?RESPIROLOGY, Issue 6 2007Massoud HOUSHMAND Background and objectives: Mitochondrial DNA has a unique role in ATP production and subsequent mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in eukaryotic cells and there is a potential role for ROS and oxygen burst against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, an intracellular pathogen. This study aimed to determine whether the frequency of different mitochondrial haplogroups was significantly different in patients with tuberculosis (TB) compared with a normal population. Methods: Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups M, N, J and K were studied by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and sequencing. Cases were 54 patients with confirmed smear positive pulmonary TB. Controls were 256 healthy persons. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between those with TB and the control group. Conclusions: There was no statistically significant association between mtDNA haplogroups and the presence of TB infection. [source] Monitoring asthma therapy using indirect bronchial provocation tests,THE CLINICAL RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2007John D. Brannan Abstract Objectives:, Bronchial provocation tests that assess airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) are known to be useful in assisting the diagnosis of asthma and in monitoring inhaled corticosteroid therapy. We reviewed the use of bronchial provocation tests that use stimuli that act indirectly for monitoring the benefits of inhaled corticosteroids. Data Source:, Published clinical trials investigating the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on bronchial hyperresponsiveness in persons with asthma were used for this review. Study Selection:, Studies using indirect stimuli to provoke airway narrowing such as exercise, eucapnic voluntary hyperventilation, cold air hyperventilation, hypertonic saline, mannitol, or adenosine monophosphate (AMP) to assess the effect of inhaled corticosteroids were selected. Results:, Stimuli acting indirectly result in the release of a variety of bronchoconstricting mediators such as leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and histamine, from cells such as mast cells and eosinophils. A positive response to indirect stimuli is suggestive of active inflammation and AHR that is consistent with a diagnosis of asthma. Persons with a positive response to indirect stimuli benefit from daily treatment with inhaled corticosteroids. Symptoms and lung function are not useful to predict the long-term success of inhaled corticosteroid dose as they usually resolve rapidly, and well before inflammation and AHR has resolved. Following treatment, AHR to indirect stimuli is attenuated. Further, during long-term treatment, asthmatics can become as non-responsive as non-asthmatic healthy persons, suggesting that asthma is not active. Conclusions:, Non-responsiveness to indirect bronchial provocation tests following inhaled corticosteroids occurs weeks to months following the resolution of symptoms and lung function. Non-responsiveness to indirect stimuli may provide a goal for adequate therapy with inhaled corticosteroids. Please cite this paper as: Brannan JD, Koskela H and Anderson SD. Monitoring asthma therapy using indirect bronchial provocation tests. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2007;1:3,15. [source] Alloiococcus otitidis,otitis media pathogen or normal bacterial flora?,APMIS, Issue 9 2008KRISTER TANO During the last decade a new potential otitis media pathogen, Alloiococcus otitidis, has been studied. It is still not clear whether this bacterium really is a pathogen, although it has been found in a high percentage of middle ear effusions in children. The present study aimed to investigate the presence of A. otitidis in the nasopharynx and outer ear canals, and to develop a culture method that would make it possible to isolate A. otitidis from these locations. Nasopharyngeal samples (n=129) from children below 6 years were investigated by conventional culture on blood agar plates with 6% saline and rabbit antisera against A. otitidis, and by a PCR method. In the same way, we investigated 10 samples from vestibulum nasi of healthy persons, 68 samples from outer ear canals of patients with acute or chronic ear problems, and 24 samples from outer ear canals of healthy persons. In a rat model of acute otitis media, we instilled living A. otitidis into rat middle ears through the tympanic bulla and evaluated the outcome clinically by otomicroscopy at days 3, 6 and 14. Of the 129 nasopharyngeal cultures, 9 were positive for A. otitidis by PCR, but none by the culture method. Of the 68 samples from patients with running ears, 4 were positive for A. otitidis by PCR, but none by the culture method. Of the 24 healthy ear canals, 7 were positive for A. otitidis by PCR and 3 of them also by the culture method. No A. otitidis could be found from the vestibulum nasi. The rat experiment showed that the reactions in the middle ears were mild; we could not provoke a purulent acute otitis media in any of the rats. There was a 7% prevalence of A. otitidis in children below 6 years. The highest prevalence (29%) was found in outer ear canals of healthy persons, which strongly suggests that A. otitidis is part of the normal bacterial flora of the outer ear canal. The doubtful pathogenicity is also confirmed by the fact that,in the rat model,A. otitidis elicited only a mild response in the middle ear. It was possible to isolate A. otitidis using a blood agar plate with 6% saline. [source] CD56-expressing T cells that have features of senescence are expanded in rheumatoid arthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 1 2007Joshua J. Michel Objective T cells deficient in CD28 expression have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Given that CD28-null T cells are functionally heterogeneous, we undertook this study to screen for novel receptors on these cells. Methods Seventy-two patients with RA (ages 35,84 years) and 53 healthy persons (32 young controls ages 19,34 years, 21 older controls ages 39,86 years) were recruited. Phenotypes and proliferative capacity of T cells from fresh leukocytes and of long-term cultures were monitored by flow cytometry. Lung biopsy specimens from patients with RA-associated interstitial pneumonitis (IP) were examined by immunohistochemistry. Receptor functionality was assessed by crosslinking bioassays. Results Chronic stimulation of CD28+ T cells in vitro yielded progenies that lacked CD28 but that gained CD56. Ex vivo analysis of leukocytes from patients with extraarticular RA showed a higher frequency of CD56+,CD28-null T cells than in patients with disease confined to the joints or in healthy controls. CD56+,CD28-null T cells had nil capacity for proliferation, consistent with cellular senescence. CD56+ T cells had skewed T cell receptor (TCR) ,/,-chain usage and restricted TCR third complementarity-determining region spectra. Histologic studies showed that CD56+ T cells were components of cellular infiltrates in RA-associated IP. CD56 crosslinking on T cells sufficiently induced cytokine production, although CD56/TCR coligation induced higher production levels. Conclusion Chronic activation of T cells induces counterregulation of CD28 and CD56 expression. The loss of CD28 is accompanied by the gain of CD56 that confers TCR-independent and TCR-dependent activation pathways. We propose that accumulation of CD56+ T cells in RA contributes to maladaptive immune responses and that CD56+ T cells are potential targets for therapy. [source] 915 MHz microwaves and 50 Hz magnetic field affect chromatin conformation and 53BP1 foci in human lymphocytes from hypersensitive and healthy personsBIOELECTROMAGNETICS, Issue 3 2005Igor Y. Belyaev Abstract We used exposure to microwaves from a global system for mobile communication (GSM) mobile phone (915 MHz, specific absorption rate (SAR) 37 mW/kg) and power frequency magnetic field (50 Hz, 15 ,T peak value) to investigate the response of lymphocytes from healthy subjects and from persons reporting hypersensitivity to electromagnetic field (EMF). The hypersensitive and healthy donors were matched by gender and age and the data were analyzed blind to treatment condition. The changes in chromatin conformation were measured with the method of anomalous viscosity time dependencies (AVTD). 53BP1 protein, which has been shown to colocalize in foci with DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), was analyzed by immunostaining in situ. Exposure at room temperature to either 915 MHz or 50 Hz resulted in significant condensation of chromatin, shown as AVTD changes, which was similar to the effect of heat shock at 41 °C. No significant differences in responses between normal and hypersensitive subjects were detected. Neither 915 MHz nor 50 Hz exposure induced 53BP1 foci. On the contrary, a distinct decrease in background level of 53BP1 signaling was observed upon these exposures as well as after heat shock treatments. This decrease correlated with the AVTD data and may indicate decrease in accessibility of 53BP1 to antibodies because of stress-induced chromatin condensation. Apoptosis was determined by morphological changes and by apoptotic fragmentation of DNA as analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). No apoptosis was induced by exposure to 50 Hz and 915 MHz microwaves. In conclusion, 50 Hz magnetic field and 915 MHz microwaves under specified conditions of exposure induced comparable responses in lymphocytes from healthy and hypersensitive donors that were similar but not identical to stress response induced by heat shock. Bioelectromagnetics 26:173,184, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Detection of bladder carcinoma by combined testing of urine for hyaluronidase and cytokeratin 20 RNAsCANCER, Issue 7 2005Ph.D., Sanaa Eissa M.D. Abstract BACKGROUND A new, sensitive, noninvasive method for the detection of urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder would open new possibilities in both the diagnosis and followup of patients. METHODS This study included 228 patients diagnosed with bladder carcinoma, 68 patients with benign bladder lesions, and 44 healthy persons served as the control group. All were subjected to: serologic schistosomiasis antibody assay in serum, urine cytology, estimation of urine hyaluronic acid (HA) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and detection of CK-20 and hyaluronidase (HAase) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in urothelial cells from voided urine. RESULTS HA mean rank was higher in benign and malignant groups than in the healthy group (P < 0.0001) and was significantly related to tumor grade (P = 0.021). HA best-cutoff, determined using receiver operating characteristic curve to discriminate between malignant and nonmalignant groups, was 58.5 units/mg protein at 85.8% sensitivity and 60.7% specificity. HAase RNA showed superior sensitivity (90.8%) over cytology (68.9%) and CK-20 (78.1%) with specificity of 93.4%, 98.1% and 80.2%, respectively. The sensitivity reached 94.7% at a specificity of 91.5% when combined with CK-20. All 4 of the investigated markers were related to grade at P <0.05. Whereas only HAase and CK-20 were significantly related to stage (P < 0.05). As to schistosomiasis, only HAase RNA positivity was significantly associated (P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS HAase RNA is a promising noninvasive test with high sensitivity and specificity in bladder carcinoma detection. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society. [source] Machine learning classifiers for glaucoma diagnosis based on classification of retinal nerve fibre layer thickness parameters measured by Stratus OCTACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 1 2010Dimitrios Bizios Abstract. Purpose:, To compare the performance of two machine learning classifiers (MLCs), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and support vector machines (SVMs), with input based on retinal nerve fibre layer thickness (RNFLT) measurements by optical coherence tomography (OCT), on the diagnosis of glaucoma, and to assess the effects of different input parameters. Methods:, We analysed Stratus OCT data from 90 healthy persons and 62 glaucoma patients. Performance of MLCs was compared using conventional OCT RNFLT parameters plus novel parameters such as minimum RNFLT values, 10th and 90th percentiles of measured RNFLT, and transformations of A-scan measurements. For each input parameter and MLC, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AROC) was calculated. Results:, There were no statistically significant differences between ANNs and SVMs. The best AROCs for both ANN (0.982, 95%CI: 0.966,0.999) and SVM (0.989, 95% CI: 0.979,1.0) were based on input of transformed A-scan measurements. Our SVM trained on this input performed better than ANNs or SVMs trained on any of the single RNFLT parameters (p , 0.038). The performance of ANNs and SVMs trained on minimum thickness values and the 10th and 90th percentiles were at least as good as ANNs and SVMs with input based on the conventional RNFLT parameters. Conclusion:, No differences between ANN and SVM were observed in this study. Both MLCs performed very well, with similar diagnostic performance. Input parameters have a larger impact on diagnostic performance than the type of machine classifier. Our results suggest that parameters based on transformed A-scan thickness measurements of the RNFL processed by machine classifiers can improve OCT-based glaucoma diagnosis. [source] Does internal longitudinal microstructure of retinal veins change with age in medically healthy persons?ACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009KE KOTLIAR Purpose We demonstrated previously that roughness of the retinal arterial blood column measured along the vessel axis, termed longitudinal arterial profile (LAP) increases significantly in anamnesticly healthy volunteers with increasing age. Recently we have demonstrated age related changes in LAP of medically healthy persons. Whether longitudinal retinal venous profiles (LVP) are altered with age in this group is investigated. Methods 83 medically healthy volunteers were examined by Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (IMEDOS, Jena, Germany) using stimulation with flickering light. 3 age groups were formed: young (N=28, 30,2±4,3 years), middle age (N=28, 42,3±3,3 years) and seniors (N=27, 64,0±5,0 years). Included in the analysis were volunteers without medical vascular risk factors defined as: blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg, HDL > 35 mg/dl, LDL < 190 mg/dl and glucose levels < 110 mg/dl. Retinal venous diameters were measured along 1 mm vessel segments to obtain LVP. Differences were analyzed using Fourier transformation. Results In all age groups power spectra of LVP do not change during all stages of the venous response to the stimulation. There were no significant differences in LVP between the age groups. Venous diameters in middle-age group were reduced in comparison to the young group at all stages of vessel reaction (p<0,05). Conclusion Our results indicate that in contrast to retinal arteries retinal veins of validated healthy volunteers do not undergo age related microstructural changes. Hence previously reported age related decrease of retinal venous diameter might have physiologic origin due to reduced blood flow in retinal microcirculation with age, not because of structural changes of venous wall. [source] Microstructural alterations of the retinal arterial blood column along the vessel axis in healthy volunteers with ageACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009IM LANZL Purpose We demonstrated previously that roughness of the retinal arterial blood column measured along the vessel axis increases in anamnestically healthy volunteers with increasing age. We termed it longitudinal retinal arterial profile (LAP). Whether LAP is altered with age in medically supervised healthy persons is investigated. Methods 82 medically healthy volunteers were examined by Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (IMEDOS, Jena, Germany) using stimulation with flickering light. 3 age groups were formed: young (N=27, 30,5±4,3 years), middle age (N=28, 42,3±3,3 years) and seniors (N=27, 64,0±5,0 years). Included in the analysis were volunteers without medical vascular risk factors defined as: blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg, HDL > 35 mg/dl, LDL < 190 mg/dl and glucose levels < 110 mg/dl. Retinal arterial diameters were measured along 1 mm vessel segments to obtain LAP. Differences were analyzed using Fourier transformation. Results In all age groups LAP do not change during all stages of the arterial response. Arterial diameters in the senior group were reduced in comparison to the young group at all stages of the vessel reaction (p<0,05). There are differences in LAP between the age groups. Compared to young persons, seniors showed significantly diminished waves with a period of 417 µm at all stages of the arterial reaction, whereas young volunteers showed less pronounced waves with a period of 208 µm (p<0,05). Conclusion Our results represent the healthy aging process in retinal vasculature. Age related microstructural changes in longitudinal profiles of retinal arteries in medically healthy persons might be an indication for alterations in the vascular endothelium and smooth musculature. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||