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Mean Levels (mean + level)
Kinds of Mean Levels Selected AbstractsCapturing coping with symptoms in people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia: introducing the MACS-24INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Maarten Bak Abstract In order to assess coping with psychotic symptoms, the Maastricht Assessment of Coping Strategies (MACS), 24 symptom version, was developed as a refinement of the previous MACS-13. Associations between type of coping and the experienced level of control over psychotic symptoms were examined using MACS-24. MACS-24 was administered to 32 individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. For each of 24 symptoms, experience of distress, type of coping and the resulting degree of perceived control were assessed. Coping types were reduced to two contrasting coping factors: symptomatic coping and non-symptomatic coping (combining active problem solving, passive illness behaviour, active problem avoiding, and passive problem avoiding). Mean level of distress and perceived control (range: 1,7) were, respectively, 4.2 [standard deviation (SD) = 1.9] and 4.2 (SD = 1.9). The association between distress and perceived control was negative [, = ,0.28; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = ,0.41 to ,0.15]. Type of coping interacted with perceived control (p = 0.005), in that symptomatic coping was negatively associated with perceived control [odds ratio (OR) over seven levels = 0.82, 95%CI = 0.71,0.94], whereas for non-symptomatic coping a positive association was apparent (OR over seven levels = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.03,1.19). Previous contrasts between symptomatic and non-symptomatic coping were replicated using MACS-24, suggesting clinical validity and utility. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Pathophysiology of ketoacidosis in Type 2 diabetes mellitusDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 10 2005P. Linfoot Abstract Aims Despite an increasing number of reports of ketoacidosis in populations with Type 2 diabetes mellitus, the pathophysiology of the ketoacidosis in these patients is unclear. We therefore tested the roles of three possible mechanisms: elevated stress hormones, increased free fatty acids (FFA), and suppressed insulin secretion. Methods Forty-six patients who presented to the Emergency Department with decompensated diabetes (serum glucose > 22.2 mmol/l and/or ketoacid concentrations , 5 mmol/l), had blood sampled prior to insulin therapy. Three groups of subjects were studied: ketosis-prone Type 2 diabetes (KPDM2, n = 13) with ketoacidosis, non-ketosis-prone subjects with Type 2 diabetes (DM2, n = 15), and ketotic Type 1 diabetes (n = 18). Results All three groups had similar mean plasma glucose concentrations. The degree of ketoacidosis (plasma ketoacids, bicarbonate and anion gap) in Type 1 and 2 subjects was similar. Mean levels of counterregulatory hormones (glucagon, growth hormone, cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine), and FFA were not significantly different in DM2 and KPDM2 patients. In contrast, plasma C-peptide concentrations were approximately three-fold lower in KPDM2 vs. non-ketotic DM2 subjects (P = 0.0001). Type 1 ketotic subjects had significantly higher growth hormone (P = 0.024) and FFA (P < 0.002) and lower glucagon levels (P < 0.02) than DM2. Conclusions At the time of hospital presentation, the predominant mechanism for ketosis in KPDM2 is likely to be greater insulinopenia. [source] Iron Status: A Possible Risk Factor for the First Febrile SeizureEPILEPSIA, Issue 7 2002Azhar S. Daoud Summary: ,Purpose: We conducted a controlled study to investigate the relation of iron status and first febrile seizure (FFS). Methods: Measures of iron sufficiency including hemoglobin concentration (HB), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and plasma ferritin (PF) were prospectively measured in 75 children with FFS and compared with 75 controls matched for age and sex with febrile illnesses without convulsions. Results: Mean ferritin level was significantly lower in cases with FFS (29.5 ± 21.3 ,g/L) than in controls (53.3 ± 37.6 ,g/L) with p = 0.0001. The proportion of subjects with a PF level ,30 ,g/L was significantly higher among children with FFS (49 of 75 vs. 24 of 75) than in controls (p = 0.000). Mean levels of HB, MCV, and MCH also were lower among FFS cases, but differences failed to attain statistical significance. A higher proportion of cases with FFS had an HB <110 g/L, MCV <72 fL, and MCH <24 pg than did the controls, but the differences were not statistically significant. There were no statistically significant differences between the cases and the controls in the mean peak temperature on admission, types of underlying illness, or family history of epilepsy and of febrile convulsion. Conclusions: PF level was significantly lower in children with FFS than in the reference group, suggesting a possible role for iron insufficiency in FFS. [source] Influenza A viruses with truncated NS1 as modified live virus vaccines: Pilot studies of safety and efficacy in horsesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009T. M. Chambers Summary Reasons for performing study: Three previously described NS1 mutant equine influenza viruses encoding carboxyterminally truncated NS1 proteins are impaired in their ability to inhibit type I IFN production in vitro and are replication attenuated, and thus are candidates for use as a modified live influenza virus vaccine in the horse. Hypothesis: One or more of these mutant viruses is safe when administered to horses, and recipient horses when challenged with wild-type influenza have reduced physiological and virological correlates of disease. Methods: Vaccination and challenge studies were done in horses, with measurement of pyrexia, clinical signs, virus shedding and systemic proinflammatory cytokines. Results: Aerosol or intranasal inoculation of horses with the viruses produced no adverse effects. Seronegative horses inoculated with the NS1-73 and NS1-126 viruses, but not the NS1-99 virus, shed detectable virus and generated significant levels of antibodies. Following challenge with wild-type influenza, horses vaccinated with NS1-126 virus did not develop fever (>38.5°C), had significantly fewer clinical signs of illness and significantly reduced quantities of virus excreted for a shorter duration post challenge compared to unvaccinated controls. Mean levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, and IL-6 were significantly higher in control animals, and were positively correlated with peak viral shedding and pyrexia on Day +2 post challenge. Conclusion and clinical relevance: These data suggest that the recombinant NS1 viruses are safe and effective as modified live virus vaccines against equine influenza. This type of reverse genetics-based vaccine can be easily updated by exchanging viral surface antigens to combat the problem of antigenic drift in influenza viruses. [source] Procoagulant factors and the risk of myocardial infarction in young womenEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Bea Tanis Abstract:,Objectives:,We investigated whether elevated levels of factor VIII, IX and XI is associated with myocardial infarction (MI) in young women. In addition, we studied ABO blood group, von Willebrand factor (VWF) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Methods and results:,We compared 200 women with MI before age 49 years with 626 controls from a population-based case,control study. Mean levels of factor VIII activity (VIII), von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF), factor IX activity (IX) were higher in patients (133, 134 and 132 IU/dL) than in controls (111, 107 and 120 IU/dL, respectively). Mean levels of factor XI (XI) were equal in patients (114 IU/dL) and controls (113 IU/dL). The odds ratio (OR) for MI for blood group non-O vs. O was 1.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1,2.3]. The OR adjusted for age, index year and area of residence for the highest quartile >150 IU/dL of factor VIII was 2.7 (95% CI 1.6,4.6), of VWF 4.7 (95% CI 2.3,9.7), of factor IX 2.6 (95% CI 1.3,5.4) and of factor XI 0.9 (95% CI 0.5,1.4), all compared with the lowest quartile <100 IU/dL. Conclusions:,Non-O blood group, high VWF, factor VIII and factor IX levels are associated with an increased risk of MI in young women, while high factor XI levels are not. [source] Helicobacter pylori Infection and Gastric Autoimmune Diseases: Is There a Link?HELICOBACTER, Issue 6 2003Fabio Presotto ABSTRACT Background.,Helicobacter pylori is thought to be involved in atrophic body gastritis. We explored the prevalence of H. pylori infection in asymptomatic subjects with gastric parietal cell antibodies, as well as in patients with pernicious anemia, to evaluate a possible role of H. pylori gastric infection in gastric autoimmunity. Patients and Methods., We studied 79 consecutive asymptomatic subjects with parietal cell antibodies, 24 patients with pernicious anemia, and 66 parietal cell antibody-negative controls. All patients underwent gastric biopsies for histology and detection of H. pylori. Red blood cell count and volume, serum levels of gastrin, pepsinogen I, iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, and circulating antibodies to H. pylori and to intrinsic factor were also determined. Results., We found an atrophic body gastritis in 14 of the 79 asymptomatic subjects with parietal cell antibodies (18%) and in 2 of the 66 controls (3%) (p = .01). Mean levels of gastrin were increased (p < .0001), while those of pepsinogen were reduced (p < .001) compared with controls. H. pylori was identified at the gastric level and/or circulating anti- H. pylori antibodies were detected in 46 parietal cell antibody-positive subjects (58%) compared with 26 controls (39%) (p = .03). In patients with pernicious anemia we found an atrophic body gastritis in 18 of 24 cases (75%) (p < .001 vs. controls). Mean levels of gastrin were markedly increased (p < .0001) and those of pepsinogen I decreased (p < .0001) relative to controls. Only five of these patients (21%) had evidence of H. pylori infection compared with 46 of the parietal cell antibody-positive subjects (58%) (p = .003) and 26 of the controls (39%). Considering all patients with gastric autoimmunity (i.e. with parietal cell antibodies and/or with pernicious anemia), H. pylori was found in 44 of 72 of those without atrophy (61%) but in 6 of 31 with gastric body atrophy (19%) (p < .001), indicating that H. pylori infection is greatly reduced when gastric acid secretion decreases. Conclusions., The frequent detection of H. pylori infection in subjects with early gastric autoimmunity, indicated by the presence of parietal cell antibodies, suggests that H. pylori could have a crucial role in the induction and/or the maintenance of autoimmunity at the gastric level. [source] Continuity and change in social and physical aggression from middle childhood through early adolescenceAGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, Issue 5 2009Marion K. Underwood For a sample followed from age 9,13 (N=281), this investigation examined developmental trajectories for social and physical aggression as measured by teacher ratings. Trajectories for both forms of aggression were estimated first separately, then jointly. Mean levels of both social and physical aggression decreased over time for the overall sample, but with high variability of individual trajectories. Subgroups followed high trajectories for both social and physical aggression. Joint estimation yielded six trajectories: low stable, low increasers, medium increasers, medium desisters, high desisters, and high increasers. Membership in the high increaser group was predicted by male gender, unmarried parents, African American ethnicity, and maternal authoritarian and permissive parenting. Permissive parenting also predicted membership in the medium increaser group. This is one of the first studies to examine social aggression longitudinally across this developmental period. Though the results challenge the claim that social aggression is at its peak in early adolescence, the findings emphasize the importance of considering different developmental trajectories in trying to understand origins and outcomes of aggression. Aggr. Behav. 35:357,375, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Is Helicobacter pylori related to endothelial dysfunction during childhood?PEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 2 2008Senol Coskun Abstract Background: Helicobacter pylori infection has been proposed to have a role in the development of atherosclerosis preceded by endothelial dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to determine if a relationship exists between H. pylori infection in childhood and endothelial dysfunction and level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Methods: Between October 2003 and November 2004, 28 subjects who were anti- H. pylori IgG-positive and 25 who were anti- H. pylori IgG-negative were included in the study. Mean ages of the H. pylori -positive and negative groups were not significantly different. Endothelial functions were evaluated on Doppler ultrasonography of the brachial artery. Percent ratio of the change in systolic diameter during hyperemic phase to the basal diameter was evaluated. Each subject's serum was tested for hsCRP, homocysteine and lipids. Results: Percent ratio of the change in systolic diameters during hyperemic phase to the basal diameter was not significantly different between the H. pylori -negative and -positive groups (P > 0.29). Mean levels of hsCRP were also not significantly different (1.48 ± 1.8 g/dL vs 2.35 ± 3.33 g/dL; P > 0.24). Similarly, serum levels of lipids and homocysteine were not significantly different (P > 0.05 for all lipids). Conclusions: Non-invasive techniques used in the present study were not indicative of early findings of atherosclerosis in H. pylori infection during childhood. Further studies are required to evaluate the relationship between early endothelial dysfunction and H. pylori infection in children with cardiovascular risk factors. [source] Pollination ecology, genetic diversity and selection on nectar spur length in Platanthera lacera (Orchidaceae)PLANT SPECIES BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2005KAREN J. LITTLE Abstract Platanthera lacera (Orchidaceae) is a moth-pollinated, loess prairie orchid producing a raceme of one to many whitish-green flowers. Field studies on a western Illinois population found the crepuscular visiting noctuid moth, Anagrapha falcifera (Noctuidae), to be the most frequent pollinator with occasional visits from Allagrapha aerea (Noctuidae). Visitation rates, assessed by removal of at least one pollinium, were relatively high (84.9%) and fruit production on experimentally outcrossed flowers (94.4%) was higher than open-pollinated plants (71.4%). Experimental pollination showed P. lacera to be highly self-compatible (94.1%) with a low level of autogamy (8.2%). Measurements taken from 598 spurs on 44 plants indicated that nectar spur length varied significantly among plants (10.9,17.1 mm, mean 14.3 mm), but was not under selective pressure from visitation by An. falcifera (mean proboscis length 11.1 mm). The absence of selective pressure on nectar spur length is likely to be explained by occasional pollinating visits from Al. aerea (proboscis length 18 mm) and a limited amount of autogamy. Electrophoretic analysis of 12 enzymes revealed seven polymorphic loci. Mean levels of heterozygosity were He = 0.3384, Ho = 0.3229 and F = 0.0458, indicating that P. lacera is primarily an outcrossing species dependent on noctuid moth pollination. [source] Increased IL-18 Levels in Seminal Plasma of Infertile Men with Genital Tract InfectionsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Ioannis M. Matalliotakis Problem Interleukin (IL)-18 is a novel cytokine, previously known as interferon (IFN)- , inducing factor. We evaluated the levels of IL-18 and IFN- , in seminal plasma (SP) of fertile and infertile men. Method of study Semen samples were obtained by masturbation from 80 men, and were examined for the levels of IL-18 and IFN- , by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seven groups were included: (i) fertile men (n = 18), (i) infertile men with genital tract infections (n = 17), (iii) with varicocele (n = 15), (iv) with Klinefelter syndrome (n = 6), (v) with cryptorchidism (n = 7), (vi) with mumps orchitis (n = 7), and (vii) with idiopathic testicular lesions (n = 10). Results Mean levels of IL-18 were higher in SP from infertile men with genital tract infections compared with SP from other groups except Klinefelter syndrome (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences could be detected for IFN- ,. A significant positive correlations was found between IL-18 and IFN- , in total patient population (P < 0.001). Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between IL-18 and sperm concentrations, and motility (P < 0.01 and <0.03, respectively). Furthermore, there was a positive and statistically significant association between IL-18 and IFN- , levels in SP of infertile men with genital tract infections (P < 0.0001). However, there was no relationship between IL-18 and IFN- ,, and semen parameters in the same group. Conclusion SP IL-18 levels were increased in men with urogenital infections. Thus, the elevated expression of IL-18 in SP may be used as a diagnostic marker in the male genital tract infections. [source] Distinct Expression Pattern of Cytokines in Semen of Men with Genital Infection and Oligo-Terato-AsthenozoospermiaAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Ioannis Matalliotakis PROBLEM: The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible relevance of cytokines in seminal plasma (SP) of patients with accessory gland infection and oligo-terato-asthenozoospermia. METHOD OF STUDY: Semen samples were obtained by masturbation from 90 men and were examined for the presence of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-11 and soluble CD23 (sCD23) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Five groups were included: (1) fertile men (n=20), (2) infertile men with varicocele and oligo-terato-asthenozoospermia (V-OTA, n=20), (3) infertile men with genital infection and OTA (INF-OTA, n=20), (4) infertile men with idiopathic testicular lesion and OTA (ITL-OTA, n=20) and (5) infertile men with azoospermia (AZOO, n=10). RESULTS: We found that the mean level of IL-2 was higher in SP from infertile men compared with SP from fertile men (P < 0.05). Mean levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-11 in SP of INF-OTA were higher than that of all other groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, P < 0.001, respectively). However, no significant differences could be detected between other groups. A significant increase was noted in sCD23 levels in SP from men with ITL-OTA compared with all other groups (P < 0.01). We have not observed any correlations between IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-11 and sCD23 levels in SP and semen parameters. Spearman's correlation coefficient revealed that there was a significant association between IL-6, IL-8, IL-11 levels in men with INF-OTA. CONCLUSION: The measurement of each cytokine separately in the SP of men with INF-OTA, in spite of the existing significant differences, does not have a diagnostic value in male infertility. However, a combined determination of IL-6, IL-8, IL-11 in the SP of men with genital infection and oligo-terato-asthenozoospermia may provide clinically useful information for the diagnosis of male accessory gland infection. [source] Antibodies to apolipoprotein A-I, high-density lipoprotein, and C-reactive protein are associated with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosusARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 3 2010Sean G. O'Neill Objective Inflammatory disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may affect the development of atherosclerosis, contributing to their increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This process may be mediated by anti,apolipoprotein A-I (anti,Apo A-I), anti,high-density lipoprotein (anti-HDL), and anti,C-reactive protein (anti-CRP) autoantibodies. We undertook this study to examine whether levels of these antibodies rise in association with increased SLE disease activity. Methods IgG anti,Apo A-I, anti-HDL, and anti-CRP levels were measured in serum from the following groups: 39 patients with persistently high disease activity (British Isles Lupus Assessment Group [BILAG] A or B score) over the previous 2 years, 42 patients with persistently low disease activity (no BILAG A or B scores) over the previous 2 years, 34 healthy controls, 25 individual patients from whom paired samples (at time of disease flare and quiescence) were obtained and compared, 16 patients with newly diagnosed lupus nephritis from whom multiple samples were obtained and who were followed up prospectively for up to 2 years, and 24 patients with SLE who had experienced CVD events. Results Serum levels of IgG anti,Apo A-I, anti-HDL, and anti-CRP were higher in patients with SLE than in controls. Anti,Apo A-I and anti-HDL levels, but not anti-CRP levels, were higher in patients with persistently high disease activity than in those with low disease activity. Mean levels of the 3 autoantibodies in patients who had experienced CVD events lay between the mean levels in the high and low disease activity groups. Only levels of anti,Apo A-I were significantly higher in samples obtained from individual patients during disease flares than in samples obtained during disease quiescence. In the lupus nephritis patients, anti,Apo A-I and anti-HDL levels correlated with serum levels of high avidity IgG anti,double-stranded DNA. Conclusion Persistent disease activity is associated with a significant increase in IgG anti,Apo A-I and anti-HDL in patients with SLE. [source] The role of transforming growth factor-,1 and oxidative stress in podoconiosis pathogenesisBRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2010S. Addisu Summary Background, Podoconiosis (endemic nonfilarial elephantiasis) occurs in susceptible individuals who go barefoot in regions of irritant volcanic soil. Silicate particles absorbed via the skin are thought to induce an inflammatory process and a consequent endolymphangitis of the lower leg lymphatics. Objectives, To establish which oxidative stress biomarkers play a part in the inflammatory process, and to test whether transforming growth factor (TGF)-,1 also has a pathogenetic role. Patients and methods, We enrolled 50 patients with early clinical stage disease, 43 patients with advanced stage disease and 35 local healthy controls. Oxidative stress biomarkers included serum total peroxides (TP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total nitrate plus nitrite (TN), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The oxidative stress index (OSI) was also determined. Serum total TGF-,1 was assayed using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results, Compared with healthy controls, patients with early stage disease showed significantly higher mean levels of TP (P < 0·001), MDA (P < 0·05) and OSI (P < 0·01); and significantly lower mean concentrations of SOD (P < 0·001) and TGF-,1 (P < 0·001). Mean levels of TGF-,1 were even lower among patients with advanced stage disease (P < 0·001). Mean TAC levels were significantly lower among patients with advanced disease than either other group (P < 0·001). Conclusions, This is the first study, to our knowledge, to attempt to elucidate the molecular pathogenetic events in podoconiosis. We conclude that TGF-,1 may have a pathogenetic role, with oxidative stress playing a minor role in the early stages of disease. [source] Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity measured automatically by oscillometric method is elevated in diabetic patients with incipient nephropathyDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 11 2003H. Yokoyama Abstract Aims To examine whether brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a possible early marker of atherosclerotic vascular damage, is associated with albuminuria in patients with Type 2 diabetes. Methods BaPWV was measured by automatic oscillometric method in 346 Type 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (a mean level of three times measurements of albumin-to-creatinine (ACR) < 30 µg/mg creatinine; n = 200), incipient nephropathy (a mean level of ACR , 30 and < 300 µg/mg creatinine; n = 119), and clinical nephropathy (a mean level of ACR , 300 µg/mg creatinine; n = 27), and without peripheral vascular disease. Results BaPWV (cm/s) was significantly higher in patients with incipient nephropathy (1722 ± 382) and clinical nephropathy (1763 ± 322) than in patients with normoalbuminuria (1559 ± 343, P < 0.0001, respectively). By univariate analysis it correlated significantly with age (r = 0.44, P < 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.55, P < 0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.42, P < 0.0001), albuminuria (r = 0.24, P < 0.0001) and HbA1C (r = 0.11, P < 0.05). Albuminuria revealed an independent significant association with baPWV (P < 0.01) after adjustment for age, sex, smoking, BMI, HbA1C, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. Multiple regression analysis showed age, diastolic blood pressure and albuminuria were independently associated with baPWV (adjusted R2 = 0.42, P < 0.0001). Conclusions The results might indicate a possible link between the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and diabetic nephropathy. Future studies are needed to clarify the usefulness and its predictable value. [source] Factors predictive of nephropathy in DCCT Type 1 diabetic patients with good or poor metabolic controlDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 7 2003L. Zhang Abstract Aims The study aim was to assess the time-related risk of developing diabetic nephropathy [albumin excretion rate (AER) , 40 mg/24 h] from baseline covariates in Type 1 diabetic patients with either good or poor metabolic control (MC). Methods Based on material from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial study (n = 1441), patients were considered as under good or poor MC if their HbA1c mean level up to last visit fell in the lowest (, 6.9%) or highest (, 9.5%) quintile of the overall HbA1c distribution, respectively. Prevalence cases of nephropathy were excluded from the study. Survival analysis and Cox regression were applied to the data. Results Among patients with good MC (n = 277), 15% had developed nephropathy at the end of the study. Conversely, among patients with poor MC (n = 268), the proportion without the complication was 52%. When adjusting for MC, time to diabetic nephropathy was related to age (P < 0.0001), AER (P < 0.001), duration of diabetes (P < 0.005), body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.005), all at baseline, and to gender (P < 0.01). Patients with upper normal range AER levels, longer duration of diabetes and lower BMI were at higher risk, regardless of MC. The adverse effect of younger age on diabetic nephropathy was more marked in good than in poor MC. Although women tended to develop the complication more often under good MC, they appeared to be better protected under poor MC. Conclusions This study confirms occurrence of diabetic nephropathy under good MC and non-occurrence of the complication despite poor MC. It also demonstrates that some baseline covariates can affect, in a differential manner, time to diabetic nephropathy depending on MC. Diabet. Med. 20, 580,585 (2003) [source] Prevalence of persistent primary reflexes and motor problems in children with reading difficultiesDYSLEXIA, Issue 4 2004M. McPhillips Abstract It has been shown that some children with reading difficulties have underlying developmental delay and that this may be related to the persistence of primary reflexes. This study investigated the prevalence of persistent primary reflexes in the ordinary primary school population and how this related to other cognitive and social factors. Three groups of 41 children were drawn from a representative, cross-sectional sample of 409 children (aged 9,10 years) attending 11 ordinary primary schools in N. Ireland. The three groups represented the bottom, middle and top 10% respectively of readers from the total sample population. The relative persistence (on a scale of 0 to 4) of the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) and the prevalence of motor difficulties were assessed for these 3 groups. The rôle of 5 predictor variables (verbal IQ, social deprivation, sex, month of birth and religious affiliation) in determining the reading level of the total sample was also investigated. It was found that the lowest reading group had a significantly higher mean level of ATNR (1.56 [95% CI 1.22,1.90]) compared with the middle reading group (0.56 [0.22,0.90]) and the top reading group (0.59 [0.25,0.92]). 17% of children in the lowest reading group had extremely high levels of the ATNR while 24% showed no presence of ATNR. This contrasted with 0% and 66%, respectively for both middle and top reading groups. It was also found that there was a significant difference between the lowest reading group and the top reading group on a standardised test of motor ability. Furthermore, there was evidence that ATNR persistence but not motor ability was associated with the sex of the child with boys, in particular, at risk. There was no evidence that ATNR persistence or motor ability was significantly associated with social deprivation. It was also found that there were no significant differences between dyslexic and non-dyslexic children with reading difficulties in motor (including balance) performance. This study highlights the high levels of primary reflex persistence in children with reading difficulties and it provides further evidence of the association between reading difficulties and movement difficulties in young children. However, while the implications for intervention are discussed, it is stressed that the persistence of primary reflexes cannot be used as a causal model for reading difficulties, including dyslexia. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Indirect study of thrombopoiesis(TPO, reticulated platelets, glycocalicin)in patients with hereditary macrothrombocytopeniaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2000F. Fabris To better understand the pathogenesis of thrombopoiesis in this hereditary thrombocytopenic disorder, we determined the percentage of reticulated platelets (RP), plasma glycocalicin (GC) and thrombopoietin (TPO) levels in 29 patients with CHMT, 23 patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), and 17 patients with thrombocytopenia secondary to decreased bone marrow megakaryocytes (hypoplasia). The % RP was similar in CHMT (2.27±1.33) and hypoplasia (1.98±1.35) patients and markedly lower than that in ITP patients (8.80±7.97; p<0.001), suggesting that the production of new platelets is reduced in CHMT. Plasma GC was within the normal range (0.84±0.16 ,g/mL) both in patients with CHMT (0.63±0.20 ,g/mL) and ITP (0.82±0.90 ,g/mL), while it was significantly decreased in patients with hypoplasia (0.16±0.04 ,g/mL; p<0.001). When the GC value was normalized for platelet count, the GC index was normal in CHMT patients (2.05±1.1) and in patients with hypoplasia (0.85±0.10) while it was significantly increased in ITP patients (10.88±18.00; p<0.001); thus, patients with CHMT seem to have a normal platelet turnover. TPO was significantly increased in CHMT (195±72 pg/ml) as compared with normal (80±53 pg/ml; p<0.002); however, the mean level was not as high as in ITP patients (345±167 pg/mL; p<0.001). This finding suggests that CHMT syndrome is not secondary to a defective production of TPO and that megakaryocyte mass is nearly normal. [source] Big Five personality development in adolescence and adulthoodEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 1 2007Susan J. T. Branje Abstract The present article examines Big Five personality development across adolescence and middle adulthood. Two adolescents and their fathers and mothers from 285 Dutch families rated their own and their family members' personality. Using accelerated longitudinal growth curve analyses, mean level change in Big Five factors was estimated. For boys, Extraversion and Openness decreased and for girls, Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, and Openness increased. Whereas mothers' Emotional Stability and Conscientiousness increased, fathers' Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Emotional Stability decreased. Differences in self- and other-reported personality change were found, as well as interindividual differences in personality change. Results confirm that personality change is possible across the life course but these changes are not similar for all individuals and depend on the type of observer. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Are cognitive differences between immigrant and majority groups diminishing?EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 5 2004Jan te Nijenhuis A review is given of scores on various cognitive measures, comparing groups of ethnic Dutch and non-Western immigrants using a large number of datasets. The research shows that there are large group differences in school results, work proficiency, and g for Turks, Moroccans, Surinamese, Netherlands Antilleans, and Indonesians from the Moluccans compared with ethnic Dutch. However, South-East Asians score higher, and persons with one immigrant and one ethnic Dutch parent score only slightly below the mean of the Dutch. When comparing first-generation disadvantaged immigrant groups with later generations the data show substantial improvements for g, a remarkable stability of educational differences for younger children, and a clear improvement in educational achievement at the end of primary school. Indirect data on intergenerational improvements in work proficiency appear suggestive of a trend of closing gaps. Some of the data reflect higher cognitive capacities over time, and this enhances integration of immigrants into Dutch society. Causes of group differences and improvements in mean level of g are discussed. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Gamma regression improves Haseman-Elston and variance components linkage analysis for sib-pairsGENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Mathew J. Barber Abstract Existing standard methods of linkage analysis for quantitative phenotypes rest on the assumptions of either ordinary least squares (Haseman and Elston [1972] Behav. Genet. 2:3,19; Sham and Purcell [2001] Am. J. Hum. Genet. 68:1527,1532) or phenotypic normality (Almasy and Blangero [1998] Am. J. Hum. Genet. 68:1198,1199; Kruglyak and Lander [1995] Am. J. Hum. Genet. 57:439,454). The limitations of both these methods lie in the specification of the error distribution in the respective regression analyses. In ordinary least squares regression, the residual distribution is misspecified as being independent of the mean level. Using variance components and assuming phenotypic normality, the dependency on the mean level is correctly specified, but the remaining residual coefficient of variation is constrained a priori. Here it is shown that these limitations can be addressed (for a sample of unselected sib-pairs) using a generalized linear model based on the gamma distribution, which can be readily implemented in any standard statistical software package. The generalized linear model approach can emulate variance components when phenotypic multivariate normality is assumed (Almasy and Blangero [1998] Am. J. Hum Genet. 68: 1198,1211) and is therefore more powerful than ordinary least squares, but has the added advantage of being robust to deviations from multivariate normality and provides (often overlooked) model-fit diagnostics for linkage analysis. Genet Epidemiol 26:97,107, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Three sides of the same coin: measuring global cognitive impairment with the MMSE, ADAS-cog and CAMCOGINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 8 2010Hans Wouters Abstract Objective The total scores of the ADAS-cog, MMSE and CAMCOG, comprising various cognitive tasks, are widely used to measure a dimension of global cognitive impairment. It is unknown, however, whether this dimension is common to these instruments. This hampers comparisons when either of these instruments is used. The extent to which these instruments share a common dimension of global cognitive impairment and how their scores relate was examined. Methods Rasch analysis of CAMCOG and MMSE data of participants from a population based study and two memory clinics pooled with ADAS-cog and MMSE data of participants from three RCTs (overall N,=,1566) to estimate a common dimension of global cognitive impairment and to examine the goodness of fit of the individual items to this dimension. Results Using the estimated common dimension of global cognitive impairment, the total scores of the instruments could be related, e.g. a mean level of global cognitive impairment corresponded to a predicted score of 11.4 (ADAS-cog), 72.6 (CAMCOG) and 22.2 (MMSE). When revised according to The Rasch validity analyses, every individual item could be fitted to the dimension. Conclusions The MMSE, ADAS-cog and CAMCOG reflect a valid common dimension of global cognitive impairment, which enables comparisons of RCTs that use the ADAS-cog and observational studies that use the CAMCOG and MMSE. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Daily Variations in Objective Nighttime Sleep and Subjective Morning Pain in Older Adults with Insomnia: Evidence of Covariation over TimeJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 5 2010Joseph M. Dzierzewski MS OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between objectively measured nocturnal sleep and subjective report of morning pain in older adults with insomnia; to examine not only the difference between persons in the association between sleep and pain (mean level over 14 days), but also the within-person, day-to-day association. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: North-central Florida. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty community-dwelling older adults (mean age±standard deviation 69.1±7.0, range 60,90) with insomnia. MEASUREMENTS: Daily home-based assessment using nightly actigraphic measurement of sleep and daily self-report of pain over 14 consecutive days. RESULTS: Between persons, average sleep over 14 days was not associated with average levels of rated pain, but after a night in which an older adult with insomnia experienced above-average total sleep time he or she subsequently reported below-average pain ratings. The model explained approximately 24% of the within-person and 8% of the between-person variance in pain ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep and pain show day-to-day associations (i.e., covary over time) in older adults with insomnia. Such associations may suggest that common physiological systems underlie the experience of insomnia and pain. Future research should examine the crossover effects of sleep treatment on pain and of pain treatment on sleep. [source] Plasma progesterone, oestradiol-17, and total oestrogen profiles in relation to oestrous behaviour during induced ovulation in Murrah buffalo heifersJOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 4 2009K. S. Roy Summary The objectives of this study were to establish the characteristics of oestrous behaviour in Ovsynch (induction of ovulation through administration of GnRH-PGF2, -GnRH in a systemic manner on 0, seventh and ninth day respectively) and Ovsynch plus Norprolac (Quinagolide hydrochloride , an inhibitor of prolactin secretion) treated Murrah buffalo heifers and to determine the relationships between this behaviour and the plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17, (E2), total oestrogen, and progesterone. Oestrus was detected by visual observations of oestrus signs, per rectal examination of genitalia and bull parading thrice a day during treatment period. Among all the symptoms, it was observed that bull mounting of heifers in oestrus was highest. Examination of genital tracts per rectum revealed that the cervix was relaxed, uterus was turgid and ovaries had palpable follicle in animals with oestrus. The peak concentrations of E2 (10.81 ± 0.62 pg/ml) and total oestrogen (17.11 ± 1.21 pg/ml) occurred at 9.45 ± 0.85 and 9.64 ± 0.93 h after second GnRH administration, respectively, in Ovsynch treated animals. However, the peak levels of E2 (20.02 ± 2.87 pg/ml) and total oestrogen (32.71 ± 3.15 pg/ml) occurred at 10.18 ± 0.50 and 10.36 ± 0.75 h after second GnRH administration, respectively, in Ovsynch plus Norprolac treated animals. Plasma progesterone concentration was basal (0.20 ± 0.001 ng/ml) during the peri-oestrus period. The plasma progesterone concentration was the lowest on the day of oestrus and increased to register a peak on day 13 ± 2 of the cycle. Oestrous behaviour was positively correlated with the peak concentration of E2 (p < 0.001) and total oestrogen (p < 0.001) during the peri-oestrus period. Inhibition of prolactin by Norprolac administration significantly increased the concentration of E2 and total oestrogen during oestrus in buffaloes in comparison to those recorded in animals subjected to Ovsynch protocol alone. In conclusion, our results suggest that the peak concentrations of E2 and total oestrogen and mean level of E2 and total oestrogen during the peri-oestrus period are the important factors contributing the behavioural manifestation of oestrus in buffalo cows. [source] Abstracts of the 8th Meeting of the Italian Peripheral Nerve Study Group: 81JOURNAL OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, Issue 1 2003S Lori Symptomatic neuropathy in young patients with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (t1DM) is rare but subclinical peripheral alterations can be assessed by electroclinical evaluation. This study aimed to assess prevalence of clinical and subclinical peripheral neuropathy in patients with t1DM. Motor and/or sensory nerve conduction studies of both median, ulnar, peroneal, tibial and sural nerves and standard clinical examination of peripheral nervous system were performed in 83 patients (27 females and 56 males) with diabetes onset since five years. The mean age of patients was 19.89 (range 9,28.3) years, the mean disease duration was 9.61(range 4.4,19.3) and the mean age at the onset of diabetes was 9.02 (range 0.8,23.5). Five patients (6.02 %) had both symptomatic (light clinical abnormalities as paresthesias and mild reduction of vibratory sensibility) and electrophysiologic neuropathy and six (7.2 %) with mild abnormal nerve conduction studies were totally asymptomatic (subclinical neuropathy). The majority of symptoms and electrophysiological alterations were found on the lower limbs. Only two patients had a minimal distal neuropathy of median nerve. No patients showed laboratory evidence of early renal complications or systemic hypertension; 5 (6.02 %) had early diabetic retinal abnormalities as microaneurisms, seen by fundus examination. Analysis of sex, age of onset, duration of diabetes, age at the date of electrophysiologic examination, Hemoglobin A1c (mean level of the last two years), association with retinal abnormalities and clinical assessment was performed (Fisher Exact Test, ANOVA). No correlation was found with the age at the onset, retinal abnormalities and glycaemic control index. Peripheral neuropathy was significantly related with patient age at the date of electrophysiological study and duration of t1DM. [source] Effect of garlic consumption on total antioxidant status and some biochemical and haematological parameters in blood of ratsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 8 2009Alireza Zamani Abstract BACKGROUND: The effect of diet garlic supplementation on total antioxidant status (TAS), nitric oxide (NO) and routine biochemical and haematological parameters was investigated in blood of rats. A total of 30 male rats were divided equally into two groups. Each of 15 rats of treatment group was fed 600 mg kg,1 garlic solution in distilled water by gavage and controls only received distilled water. After garlic consumption for 1 month, blood serum total antioxidant, nitrate and some biochemical and haematological tests including serum lipids parameters, blood sugar, complete blood count (CBC), and haemoglobin were measured. RESULTS: The garlic treatment group showed significantly increase in the mean level of TAS from 0.77 ± 0.10 mol L,1 to 1.18 ± 0.11 mol L,1 (P < 0.01) and nitrate (a NO metabolite) from 0.78 ± 0.06 µmol L,1 to 1.44 ± 0.27 µmol L,1 (P < 0.05) in the blood sera of rats compared with the controls. There were no significant differences between the routine biochemical and haematological parameters. CONCLUSION: Garlic consumption should have antioxidant properties and may not affect the lipids profile and total blood cell counts. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Toward an "omic" physiopathology of reactive chemicals: Thirty years of mass spectrometric study of the protein adducts with endogenous and xenobiotic compoundsMASS SPECTROMETRY REVIEWS, Issue 5 2009Federico Maria Rubino Abstract Cancer and degenerative diseases are major causes of morbidity and death, derived from the permanent modification of key biopolymers such as DNA and regulatory proteins by usually smaller, reactive molecules, present in the environment or generated from endogenous and xenobiotic components by the body's own biochemical mechanisms (molecular adducts). In particular, protein adducts with organic electrophiles have been studied for more than 30 [see, e.g., Calleman et al., 1978] years essentially for three purposes: (a) as passive monitors of the mean level of individual exposure to specific chemicals, either endogenously present in the human body or to which the subject is exposed through food or environmental contamination; (b) as quantitative indicators of the mean extent of the individual metabolic processing which converts a non-reactive chemical substance into its toxic products able to damage DNA (en route to cancer induction through genotoxic mechanisms) or key proteins (as in the case of several drugs, pesticides or otherwise biologically active substances); (c) to relate the extent of protein modification to that of biological function impairment (such as enzyme inhibition) finally causing the specific health damage. This review describes the role that contemporary mass spectrometry-based approaches employed in the qualitative and quantitative study of protein,electrophile adducts play in the discovery of the (bio)chemical mechanisms of toxic substances and highlights the future directions of research in this field. A particular emphasis is given to the measurement of often high levels of the protein adducts of several industrial and environmental pollutants in unexposed human populations, a phenomenon which highlights the possibility that a number of small organic molecules are generated in the human organism through minor metabolic processes, the imbalance of which may be the cause of "spontaneous" cases of cancer and of other degenerative diseases of still uncharacterized etiology. With all this in mind, it is foreseen that a holistic description of cellular functions will take advantage of new analytical methods based on time-integrated metabolomic measurements of a new biological compartment, the "adductome," aimed at better understanding integrated organism response to environmental and endogenous stressors. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., Mass Spec Rev 28:725,784, 2009 [source] Thermoluminescence sensitivity and thermal history of type 3 ordinary chondrites: Eleven new type 3.0,3.1 chondrites and possible explanations for differences among H, L, and LL chondritesMETEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE, Issue 6 2002P. H. Benoit We have identified 11 UOCs of petrologic types 3.0,3.1: Adrar 003, Elephant Moraine (EET) 90066, EET 90161, Grosvenor Mountains (GRO) 95502, Lewis Cliff (LEW) 88477, Meteorite Hills (MET) 96503, Yamato (Y)-790787, Y-791324, Y-791558, Y-793565, and Y-793596. These samples represent an important new resource for researchers interested in the nature of primitive solar system materials. Previously reported trends in which TL sensitivity increases with TL peak temperature and TL peak width, which we interpret in terms of crystallization of feldspar in the ordered or disordered forms during metamorphism, are confirmed by the new data. Importantly, the present data strengthen the trend described earlier in which the mean level of metamorphism experienced by UOCs increases along the series LL, L and H. This suggests either different burial depths for the UOCs from each class, or formation at similar depths in regoliths of different thickness. [source] Spatial and temporal population genetic structure of four northeastern Pacific littorinid gastropods: the effect of mode of larval development on variation at one mitochondrial and two nuclear DNA markersMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 10 2009HYUK JE LEE Abstract We investigated the effect of development mode on the spatial and temporal population genetic structure of four littorinid gastropod species. Snails were collected from the same three sites on the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada in 1997 and again in 2007. DNA sequences were obtained for one mitochondrial gene, cytochrome b (Cyt b), and for up to two nuclear genes, heat shock cognate 70 (HSC70) and aminopeptidase N intron (APN54). We found that the mean level of genetic diversity and long-term effective population sizes (Ne) were significantly greater for two species, Littorina scutulata and L. plena, that had a planktotrophic larval stage than for two species, Littorina sitkana and L. subrotundata, that laid benthic egg masses which hatched directly into crawl-away juveniles. Predictably, two poorly dispersing species, L. sitkana and L. subrotundata, showed significant spatial genetic structure at an 11- to 65-km geographical scale that was not observed in the two planktotrophic species. Conversely, the two planktotrophic species had more temporal genetic structure over a 10-year interval than did the two direct-developing species and showed highly significant temporal structure for spatially pooled samples. The greater temporal genetic variation of the two planktotrophic species may have been caused by their high fecundity, high larval dispersal, and low but spatially correlated early survivorship. The sweepstakes-like reproductive success of the planktotrophic species could allow a few related females to populate hundreds of kilometres of coastline and may explain their substantially larger temporal genetic variance but lower spatial genetic variance relative to the direct-developing species. [source] HsCRP levels: Measurement of airway inflammation in asthmatic childrenPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2008Ruth Soferman Abstract Background: The inflammatory marker, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HsCRP), is known to be related to non-allergic asthma, obesity, cardiovascular disease and smoking in adults. The aim of the present study was to determine whether HsCRP is related to respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function test findings in asthmatic children. Methods: HsCRP was measured in 63 asthmatic children aged 2,12 years. The measurements were performed in 37 children during an episode of acute exacerbation and in 42 children during remission. Results: HsCRP level (14.28 ± 8.45 mg/L) during exacerbation was significantly higher than the mean level (1.92 ± 3.16 mg/L) during remission (P < 0.0001), with the decrease being more prominent in children with a low body mass index percentile (P < 0.05). A reciprocal relationship was found between forced expiratory volume in 1 s and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values (P > 0.049). Conclusion: Elevated HsCRP levels were significantly associated with respiratory impairment in children. [source] Increased production of serum IgA-class antibody to lipid A in Kawasaki diseasePEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2002Seiichiro Takeshita Abstract Background:,The etiology of Kawasaki disease (KD) remains unknown. To investigate whether a conventional bacterial antigen is involved in the pathogenesis of KD, we studied the serum response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods:,We measured the serum levels of IgG-, IgM- and IgA-class antibodies (Ab) to lipid A, a toxic site of LPS, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 20 patients with KD, 11 patients with Gram-negative bacterial infection (GNBI), 27 healthy children and 12 healthy adults. Results:,The serum levels of anti-lipid A IgG, IgM and IgA tended to increase with advancing age in healthy children older than 6 months of age. The mean level of anti-lipid A IgM in the acute phase of GNBI and the mean levels of anti-lipid A IgM and IgA in the acute phase of KD were found to increase significantly, in comparison to the age-matched controls. Furthermore, the mean level of anti-lipid A IgA also showed a significant increase from the acute to the subacute phases of KD. Regarding the IgA-subclass response, higher titers of anti-lipid A specific Ab were seen in the IgA2 subclass than in the IgA1 subclass. Conclusion:,These findings indicate that KD patients demonstrate an intense response to lipid A in the IgA, especially IgA2-subclass, thus suggesting that an unusual activation of the mucosal immune response to a ubiquitous antigen derived from Gram-negative bacteria may be involved in the pathogenesis of KD. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||