LR Group (lr + group)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Acute Ethanol Effects on Brain Activation in Low- and High-Level Responders to Alcohol

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 7 2010
Ryan S. Trim
Background:, A low level of response (LR) to alcohol is an important endophenotype associated with an increased risk of alcoholism. However, little is known about how neural functioning may differ between individuals with low and high LRs to alcohol. This study examined whether LR group effects on neural activity varied as a function of acute alcohol consumption. Methods:, A total of 30 matched high- and low-LR pairs (N = 60 healthy young adults) were recruited from the University of California, San Diego, and administered a structured diagnostic interview and laboratory alcohol challenge followed by two functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) sessions under placebo and alcohol conditions, in randomized order. Task performance and blood oxygen level-dependent response contrast to high relative to low working memory load in an event-related visual working memory (VWM) task were examined across 120 fMRI sessions. Results:, Both LR groups performed similarly on the VWM task across conditions. A significant LR group by condition interaction effect was observed in inferior frontal and cingulate regions, such that alcohol attenuated the LR group differences found under placebo (p < 0.05). The LR group by condition effect remained even after controlling for cerebral blood flow, age, and typical drinking quantity. Conclusions:, Alcohol had differential effects on brain activation for low- and high-LR individuals within frontal and cingulate regions. These findings represent an additional step in the search for physiological correlates of a low LR and identify brain regions that may be associated with the low LR response. [source]


Effects of late referral to a nephrologist in patients with chronic renal failure

NEPHROLOGY, Issue 5 2005
EKREM DOGAN
SUMMARY: Background: We lack information about the role of late diagnosis of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), late nephrological referral and its impact on biochemical variables and first hospitalization in East Anatolia, Turkey. Methods and Results: For a total of 101 ESRD patients, dialysis was initiated between January 1998 and December 2002 at the Yuzuncu Yil University Hospital. Early referral (ER) and late referral (LR) were defined as the time of first referral or admission to a nephrologist greater or less than 12 weeks, respectively, before initiation of haemodialysis (HD). Results: The need for urgent dialysis was less among the early referral cases compared with the late referral cases (P = 0.03). Patients with LR started dialysis with lower levels of haemoglobin (8.6 vs 9.5 g/dL, P < 0.05) bicarbonate (16 vs 12 mEq/lt, P < 0.03) and albumin (2.9 vs 3.29 mg/dL, P < 0.02) and with higher serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (173 vs 95 mg/dL, P < 0.001), creatinine (10 vs 7.9 mg/dL, P < 0.001) and potassium (5.3 vs 4.8, P < 0.04). Hospitalization duration beginning at dialysis was significantly longer in the LR group (27.3 ± 24) compared with the ER group (13.4 ± 7.5, P < 0.001). When the groups were compared in terms of distance between the patients home and hospital, there were significantly more patients living far away from hospital (i.e. >100 km) in the LR group compared with the ER (P < 0.0001) group. Conclusion: Early referral to a nephrology unit and/or early diagnosis of ESRD results in better biochemical variables, shorter first hospitalization length and a higher percentage of elective construction of AVF and the availability to start with an alternative dialysis modality (i.e. CAPD). [source]


Liver Transplantation for Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma on Cirrhosis After Liver Resection: University of Bologna Experience

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2008
M. Del Gaudio
Liver resection (LR) for patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with preserved liver function, employing liver transplantation (LT) as a salvage procedure (SLT) in the event of HCC recurrence, is a debated strategy. From 1996 to 2005, we treated 227 cirrhotic patients with HCC transplantable: 80 LRs and 147 LTs of 293 listed for transplantation. Among 80 patients eligible for transplantation who underwent LR, 39 (49%) developed HCC recurrence and 12/39 (31%) of these patients presented HCC recurrence outside Milan criteria. Only 10 of the 39 patients underwent LT, a transplantation rate of 26% of patients with HCC recurrence. According to intention-to-treat analysis of transplantable HCC patients who underwent LR (n = 80), compared to all those listed for transplantation (n = 293), 5-year overall survival was 66% in the LR group versus 58% in patients listed for LT, respectively (p = NS); 5-year disease-free survival was 41% in the LR group versus 54% in patients listed for LT (p = NS). Comparable 5-year overall (62% vs. 73%, p = NS) and disease-free (48% vs. 71%, p = NS) survival rates were obtained for SLT and primary LT for HCC, respectively. LR is a valid treatment for small HCC and in the event of recurrence, SLT is a safe and effective procedure. [source]


Laparoscopic colonic resection in inflammatory bowel disease: minimal surgery, minimal access and minimal hospital stay

COLORECTAL DISEASE, Issue 9 2008
E. Boyle
Abstract Objective, Laparoscopic surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is technically demanding but can offer improved short-term outcomes. The introduction of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) as the default operative approach for IBD, however, may have inherent learning curve-associated disadvantages. We hypothesise that the establishment of MIS as the standard operative approach does not increase patient morbidity as assessed in the initial period of its introduction into a specialised unit, and that it confers earlier postoperative gastrointestinal recovery and reduced hospitalisation compared with conventional open resection. Method, A case,control study was undertaken on laparoscopic resection (LR) vs open colon resection (OR) for IBD. The LR group was collated prospectively and compared with a pathologically matched historical control set. Outcomes measured included: postoperative length of stay, time to normal bowel function and postoperative morbidity. Statistical analysis was performed using spss. Results, Twenty-eight patients were investigated (14 LR, 14 OR). The two groups were matched for type of operation, type of disease and age. There were no conversions in the LR group. Morbidity and readmissions did not differ significantly between the groups. Those undergoing laparoscopic resection had a quicker return to diet (median 2 vs 4 days; P = 0.000002), time to first bowel motion (2 vs 4 days; P = 0.019) and shorter postoperative length of stay (5.5 vs 12.5; P = 0.0067). Conclusion, These findings support the routine use of MIS for the elective surgical management of IBD in our department. Patients undergoing laparoscopic colectomies for IBD can expect faster return of gastrointestinal function and shorter hospitalisation. [source]