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Prospective Cross-sectional Study (prospective + cross-sectional_study)
Selected AbstractsPrevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Carriage in Three PopulationsJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010S. Kottler Background: A higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization is reported in healthcare workers compared with nonhealthcare workers. Hypothesis: The prevalence of MRSA colonization differed in people and pets in households with healthcare workers as compared with households without healthcare workers. Subjects: A person and 1 dog or cat from 586 households defined as either a nonhealthcare (n = 213), veterinary healthcare (n = 211), or human healthcare (n = 162) worker household. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Samples from humans and pets were cultured in vitro. Staphylococcus aureus was identified as methicillin sensitive (MSSA) or MRSA with mecA polymerase chain reaction. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and spa -typing were used to characterize relatedness of S. aureus and MRSA and assign USA types. Results: The prevalence of MSSA and MRSA in humans was 21.5% (126/586) and 5.63% (33/586), respectively, and 7.85% (46/586) and 3.41% (20/586), respectively, in pets. There were no differences in prevalences of either MSSA or MRSA between household types. The proportion of MRSA among all S. aureus isolates in humans and pets was 20.8% (33/159) and 30.3% (20/66), respectively. In <1.0% (4/586) of households, the same strain of MRSA was found in both a person and a pet. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: There were no differences in the prevalences of MSSA or MRSA between healthcare worker and nonhealthcare worker households. Pets and people colonized with S. aureus were as likely to be colonized with MRSA. Colonization of a person and their pet with the same strain of MRSA was rare. [source] Serum Bile Acids Concentrations in Healthy and Clinically III Neonatal FoalsJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2007Michelle Henry Barton Background:Reference ranges for serum bile acids (SBA) concentration are well established in healthy adult horses. Increased values are indicative of hepatic disease. Hypotheses: SBA concentrations are significantly greater in the neonatal period compared with mature horses, and illness in the neonatal period will further increase SBA. Animals:Ten healthy mature horses, 12 healthy foals, and 31 clinically ill foals. Methods:Prospective cross-sectional study. Blood samples were obtained once from the mature horses, from healthy foals immediately after birth, at 2 days, and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks of age; and from ill foals less than 1 month of age at the time of admission to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. SBA concentrations were determined enzymatically and by radioimmunoassay. Total and direct bilirubin and triglyceride concentrations were measured, as well as sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) and ,-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities. Results:There was a significant negative correlation between age and SBA concentration. Compared with mature horses, SBA concentrations were significantly greater in healthy foals at each collection time over the first 6 weeks of life. Radioimmunoassay values were lower than enzymatic SBA values, with increasing bias as the mean difference between values increased. When comparing age-matched values between healthy and ill foals, there were no significant differences in SBA. None of the ill foals had a primary diagnosis of hepatic disease. There was no significant correlation between the SBA concentration and the bilirubin or triglyceride concentrations or the GGT activity. There was a significant direct correlation between increased SBA and serum SDH activity in healthy foals only. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: SBA concentrations in foals are significantly higher in the early neonatal period, underscoring the importance of using age-matched references when evaluating clinical pathology values during the neonatal period. [source] Auricular anthropometry of Hong Kong Chinese babiesORTHODONTICS & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2004T.F. Fok Structured Abstract Authors , Fok TF, Hon KL, So HK, Wong E, Ng PC, Lee AKY, Chang A Objectives , To provide a database of the auricular measurements of Chinese infants born in Hong Kong. Design , Prospective cross-sectional study. Setting and Sample Population , A total of 2384 healthy singleton, born consecutively at the Prince of Wales Hospital and the Union Hospital from October 1998 to September 2000, were included in the study. The range of gestation was 33,42 weeks. Measurements and Results , Measurements included ear width (EW), ear length (EL) and ear position (EP). The data show generally higher values for males in the parameters measured. When compared with previously published data for Caucasian and Jordanian term babies, Chinese babies have shorter EL. The ears were within normal position in nearly all our infants. Conclusion , The human ear appears to grow in a remarkably constant fashion. This study establishes the first set of gestational age,specific standard of the ear parameters for Chinese new-borns, potentially enabling early syndromal diagnosis. There are significant inter-racial differences in these ear parameters. [source] Reference equation for 6-min walk distance in healthy North African children 6,16 years old,PEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Helmi Ben Saad MD Abstract Rationale To assess the need for a 6-min walk distance (6-MWD) reference equation for healthy North African children 6,16 years old. Methods Prospective cross-sectional study. Anthropometric data and 6-MWD were measured in 200 healthy Tunisian children (100 girls) from 6 to 16 years old. Results Published reference equations did not reliably predict measured 6-MWD in North African children. The 6-MWD was significantly correlated with age, height, and weight (P,<,0.001, each). The combination of these parameters explained 60% of the 6-MWD variability in the equation: 6-MWD (m),=,4.63,×,height (cm),,,3.53,×,weight (kg),+,10.42,×,age (years),+ 56.32. In an additional group of 41 children prospectively studied to validate the equation, the agreement between measured and predicted 6-MWD was satisfactory. Conclusion This reliable 6-MWD reference equation enriches the World Bank and provides a useful reference for the care of pediatric patients. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2009; 44:316,324. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Clinical dental examinations of 357 donkeys in the UK.EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 4 2009Part 1: Prevalence of dental disorders Summary Reasons for performing study: Dental disorders have a high prevalence in older donkeys and horses, but the nature and pathogenesis of many of these disorders have yet to be established. Objectives: The identification and determination of the prevalence of important dental disorders in different age groups in a large single population of donkeys, to establish a better understanding of the nature and pathogenesis of these disorders. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was performed on the donkey population at The Donkey Sanctuary with detailed oral examinations of 357 donkeys within 7 different age groups (age range 2,53 years) recorded. Results: The prevalence of dental disease in all donkeys was 73%, increasing in prevalence from 28% in the youngest to 98% in the oldest age group. There was an increase in prevalence of commonly recognised dental disorders with increasing age, such as: diastemata (3.8% in youngest to 86% in oldest group); missing teeth (0,56%); overgrown teeth (15,86%); worn teeth (8,84%); displaced teeth (0,38%); and periodontal disease (0,28%). Conclusions: There was a significant increase in the prevalence of dental disorders with increasing age with the largest significant increase for most dental disorders occurring in the 15,20 year age group. Potential significance: Most dental disorders significantly increase in prevalence in the 15,20 year age group and, therefore, prophylactic geriatric dental treatment in donkeys should be commenced from age 15 years. [source] Association between entero-hepatic Helicobacter species and Crohn's disease: a prospective cross-sectional studyALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 3 2009D. LAHARIE Summary Background, The pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD) involved microbial factors. Some Helicobacter species, the so-called entero-hepatic Helicobacters (EHH), can naturally colonize the intestinal surface and have been detected in humans. Aim, To look for an association between CD and the presence of EHH DNA in intestinal biopsies. Methods, Two groups of patients were included prospectively in a multicentre cross-sectional study: CD patients with an endoscopic post-operative recurrence within 2 years following a surgical resection and controls screened for colorectal polyps or cancer. Intestinal biopsies were taken for Helicobacter culture and Helicobacter 16S DNA detection. If positive, the EHH species were identified with specific PCRs, sequencing and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Results, In the 165 included patients (73 CD and 92 controls), Helicobacter cultures were negative. PCR was positive in 44% of CD and 47% of controls. After age-adjustment, CD was significantly associated with EHH in intestinal biopsies (OR = 2.58; 95%CI: 1.04,6.67). All EHH species detected were identified as Helicobacter pullorum and the closely related species Helicobacter canadensis. Conclusion, Crohn's disease is associated with the presence of EHH species DNA in intestinal biopsies after adjustment for age. Whether these species play a role in the pathophysiology of CD remains to be determined. [source] Effects of socioeconomic status on presentation with acute lower respiratory tract disease in children in Salvador, Northeast BrazilPEDIATRIC PULMONOLOGY, Issue 4 2002Cristiana M. Nascimento-Carvalho MD Abstract Two different socioeconomic groups of children with pneumonia were studied, and their clinical and demographic aspects were evaluated. The diagnosis of pneumonia was based on findings of cough and tachypnea, or on crackles on auscultation or on radiologically confirmed infiltrate. This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the Professor Hosannah de Oliveira Pediatric Center, which cares for children of lower socioeconomic status (PHOPC), and at one private hospital which cares for children from middle to high socioeconomic status (Aliança Hospital, AH). Demographics and clinical differences were assessed by the Pearson chi-square test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate; means of continuous variables were compared by Mann-Whitney U-test. In a 26-month period, 3,431 cases were recruited. The 2,476 cases identified at the PHOPC were younger than the 955 identified at AH (2.2,±,2.3 vs. 4.5,±,3.1 years, P,<,0.0001) and had higher scores for severity (3.5,±,1.5 vs. 2.7,±,1.7, P,<,0.0001), duration of hospitalization (days) (10.9,±,12.1 vs. 6.2,±,7, P,<,0.0001), frequency of tobacco smoker in the household (48% vs. 31%, P,<,0.0001), cardiopathy (15.3% vs. 5.9%, P,=,0.003), fever (44.4% vs. 36.3%, P,=,0.0001), tachypnea (67.6% vs. 32.3%, P,<,0.0001), crackles (69.5% vs. 64.9%, P,=,0.02), somnolence (19.9% vs. 10.4%, P,<,0.0001), malnutrition (13.7% vs. 5%, P,<,0.0001), hospitalization rate (27.4% vs. 22.5%, P,=,0.003), and death (0.9% vs. 0.1%, P,=,0.009). However, other features were more frequent among AH cases: parent's university level of education (38.2% vs. 1.0%, P,<,0.0001), underlying chronic illness (40.6% vs. 28.5%, P,<,0.0001), asthma (62.7% vs. 50.8%, P,=,0.01), rhinitis (9.2% vs. 0.4%, P,<,0.0001), previous use of antibiotics (34.3% vs. 27.1%, P,=,0.001), and wheezing (53.1% vs. 42.2%, P,<,0.0001). Children of lower socioeconomic status have more serious lower respiratory tract disease, whereas children with pneumonia of middle to high socioeconomic status have more allergic diseases (rhinitis, asthma) and wheezing. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2002; 33:244,248. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Study of Japanese encephalitis and other viral encephalitis in Nepali childrenPEDIATRICS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2007AJIT RAYAMAJHI Abstract Background: A hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in children aged 1 month,14 years to identify the proportion of viral encephalitis due to Japanese encephalitis (JE) and compare the clinico-laboratory profile and outcome of JE with that of other viral encephalitis (non-JE). Methods: All probable cases of viral encephalitis on clinical and laboratory evaluation were confirmed as JE on anti-JE IgM in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and/or serum. Patients not having anti-JE IgM in CSF and/or serum were diagnosed as having non-JE. Results: Of 94 cases, 58 were JE and 36 non-JE. Although practice of rearing pigs at home was associated with JE (P = 0.0001), significantly higher serum creatinine, protein, aspartate aminotransferase and CSF protein levels were observed in non-JE. Longer duration of fever was associated with complete recovery in JE whereas shorter duration of fever was associated with recovery in non-JE. Risk of neurological sequelae (P = 0.01), especially hemiparesis (P = 0.03) was significantly more in JE. Sequelae were observed at 6 weeks follow up in 18.8% of JE and 13.9% of non-JE. Conclusion: JE was the most common cause of viral encephalitis in eastern Nepal and should be suspected in encephalitic patients having pig rearing at home and neurological sequelae. Although duration of hospitalization and complication were higher in JE, final outcome was similar to non-JE. Longer duration of fever in JE and shorter duration of fever in non-JE correlated with recovery, while altered sensorium and focal neurological deficit were independent predictors of sequelae at 6 weeks only in JE and not in non-JE. [source] Psoriasis among Sarawakian natives in a tertiary skin centre in SarawakAUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2010Felix Boon-Bin Yap ABSTRACT A prospective cross-sectional study was done between December 2007 and June 2009 in the skin clinic, Sarawak General Hospital, to determine the clinical characteristics of 138 Sarawakian natives with a clinical diagnosis of psoriasis. Women made up 50.7% and the mean age of the patients was 45.2 years. Of the group, 94.2% had chronic stable plaque psoriasis, 86.9% had a body surface area involvement of less than 10%, 60.9% had nail disease, 22.5% had joint disease and 55.1% had minimal effects to their quality of life because of their psoriasis. [source] Changes in the plasma activities of protein C and protein S during pregnancyAUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Semra Oruç Summary: The objective of the study was to determine the changes in the plasma activities of protein C and protein S that occur during normal pregnancy. In this prospective cross-sectional study, plasma activities of protein C and protein S were measured in 32 normal pregnant women in the first, second and third trimester and 6 weeks after delivery. There was a significant fall in protein C and protein S activities during normal pregnancy compared with the post-puerperal period. The activities of protein C and protein S also gradually decreased through-out pregnancy (p < 0.01). Increasing plasma volume during normal pregnancy and its dilutional effect might play some role in the low activities of protein S observed. The normal falls in protein S and protein C activities make it difficult to diagnose protein S and C deficiency during pregnancy. Based on our findings, if a woman has a thromboembolic event during pregnancy, testing for a definitive diagnosis of protein C or protein S deficiency or functional failure should be delayed until at least 6 weeks postpartum. [source] Internationalizing the Broselow Tape: How Reliable Is Weight Estimation in Indian ChildrenACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 5 2008Naresh Ramarajan AB Abstract Objectives:, The Broselow pediatric emergency weight estimation tape is an accurate method of estimating children's weights based on height,weight correlations and determining standardized medication dosages and equipment sizes using color-coded zones. The study objective was to determine the accuracy of the Broselow tape in the Indian pediatric population. Methods:, The authors conducted a 6-week prospective cross-sectional study of 548 children at a government pediatric hospital in Chennai, India, in three weight-based groups: <10 kg (n = 175), 10,18 kg (n = 197), and >18 kg (n = 176). Measured weight was compared to Broselow-predicted weight, and the percentage difference was calculated. Accuracy was defined as agreement on Broselow color-coded zones, as well as agreement within 10% between the measured and Broselow-predicted weights. A cross-validated correction factor was also derived. Results:, The mean percentage differences were ,2.4, ,11.3, and ,12.9% for each weight-based group. The Broselow color-coded zone agreement was 70.8% in children weighing less than 10 kg, but only 56.3% in the 10- to 18-kg group and 37.5% in the >18-kg group. Agreement within 10% was 52.6% for the <10-kg group, but only 44.7% for the 10- to 18-kg group and 33.5% for the >18-kg group. Application of a 10% weight-correction factor improved the percentages to 77.1% for the 10- to 18-kg group and 63.0% for the >18-kg group. Conclusions:, The Broselow tape overestimates weight by more than 10% in Indian children >10 kg. Weight overestimation increases the risk of medical errors due to incorrect dosing or equipment selection. Applying a 10% weight-correction factor may be advisable. [source] Quality of life issues for South Africans with acne vulgarisCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2005A. Mosam Summary The adverse effects of acne on the psyche have been established in patients from ,first world' countries. There has been no in depth study in predominantly black patients from Africa addressing this issue. This was a prospective cross-sectional study of acne patients attending a dermatology unit in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A questionnaire was completed and acne graded by the Global Acne Grading scale. Psychological morbidity and quality of life (QOL) were assessed by the General Health Questionnaire and Dermatology Specific Quality of Life Questionnaires, respectively. We found that clinical severity was not associated with patient perception or psychological distress. The QOL measures such as feelings, social activities, performance at work or school, activities of daily living and overall mental health were found to be associated with distress with associated P -values of 0.0002, 0.0168, 0.0032, 0.033 and <,0.0001, respectively. The severity of acne was not associated with psychological distress. Painful and bleeding lesions were associated with distress levels; P = 0.042 and P = 0.019, respectively. In conclusion, South African patients with acne vulgaris suffer significant psychological distress, which affects the quality of their lives. [source] New and old risk-factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection: prospective cross-sectional study among military personnel in the Czech RepublicCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 10 2007P. Kolbekova Abstract The aims of this study were to evaluate seroprevalence and the importance of various risk-factors for Toxoplasma infection in the Czech Republic. A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted among military personnel in Prague. Consenting subjects (n = 3250) completed a questionnaire concerning demographics and risk-factors, and blood samples were taken to determine anti- Toxoplasma antibody titres according to complement fixation and ELISA IgG and IgM tests. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 23%. In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of Toxoplasma seropositivity were age (OR 1.03,/,year), consumption of raw meat (OR 1.35), owning a cat (OR 1.25), owning rabbits (OR 1.47), childhood residence in a town with a population of <10 000 inhabitants (OR 1.63) vs. location of the childhood residence in a town with population of >100 000 inhabitants, and blood group type A (OR 1.28), B (OR 1.33) or AB (OR 1.43) vs. O. These results suggested that horizontal toxoplasmosis transmission in the Czech Republic may occur through consumption of raw meat, contact with cat faeces and farming. [source] | ||||||||||