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A novel phantom for measuring the 10% and 50% values of the modulation transfer function (MTF) for computed tomography scanners (CT) was investigated. The phantom was constructed by drilling rows of holes of different sizes and frequencies into a small block of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The MTF at a given frequency was determined from the ratio of the range of Hounsfield units within the rows of holes at different frequencies, and the difference in Hounsfield units between air and PMMA. A MTF curve was plotted from measurements at different frequencies and the 10% and 50% MTF values were obtained from a cubic spline interpolation. The MTF results obtained with the drilled hole phantom method were compared to a conventional method - using a thin wire and Spice-CT ImageJ Plugin- and with identical acquisition and reconstruction parameters. The drilled hole phantom measured the 50% MTF with reasonable accuracy but underestimated the 10% MTF by 8.2% on average. MTF measurements were reproducible for repeated image acquisitions and with different users analysing the images, and the phantom was able to accurately measure the change in MTF when measured on images using different reconstruction kernels. The tool may find application as a cheap, easy to use method for routine QC testing of CT scanners.
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Inadequately managed amputation pain can contribute to postoperative morbidity and mortality. However, amputation pain can be challenging to manage due to its complex nature, with both central and peripheral nociceptive and neuropathic elements. Here, we present the case of a 47-year old man who developed irreversible ischaemic injuries to all four limbs following admission to intensive care with sepsis. He required quadruple amputation and we describe our approach to his peri-operative management including anaesthesia, invasive monitoring and the multi-modal approach to his peri-operative management using a combination of intravenous analgesics, bilateral brachial plexus nerve catheters and a combined spinal and epidural. The patient made a good recovery and was able to return home from a rehabilitation facility 12 months after the operation, able to undertake many tasks himself with the aid of prosthetics.
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Different types of memory are thought to rely on different types of synaptic plasticity, many of which depend on the activation of the N-Methyl-D Aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors. Accordingly, there is considerable interest in the possibility of using positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of NMDA receptors (NMDARs) as cognitive enhancers. Here we firstly review the evidence that NMDA receptor-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity: short-term potentiation (STP), long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) can be pharmacologically differentiated by using NMDAR ligands. These observations suggest that PAMs of NMDAR function, depending on their subtype selectivity, might differentially regulate STP, LTP and LTD. To test this hypothesis, we secondly performed experiments in rodent hippocampal slices with UBP714 (a GluN2A/2B preferring PAM), CIQ (a GluN2C/D selective PAM) and UBP709 (a pan-PAM that potentiates all GluN2 subunits). We report here, for the first time, that: (i) UBP714 potentiates sub-maximal LTP and reduces LTD; (ii) CIQ potentiates STP without affecting LTP; (iii) UBP709 enhances LTD and decreases LTP. We conclude that PAMs can differentially regulate distinct forms of NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity due to their subtype selectivity.
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Potenciación a Largo Plazo/efectos de los fármacos , Depresión Sináptica a Largo Plazo/efectos de los fármacos , Plasticidad Neuronal/efectos de los fármacos , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/efectos de los fármacos , Regulación Alostérica , Animales , Bencimidazoles/farmacología , Hipocampo , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratas , Ratas WistarRESUMEN
Coupled slope and scintillation detection and ranging (CO-SLIDAR) is a very promising technique for the metrology of near ground Cn2 profiles. It exploits both phase and scintillation measurements obtained with a dedicated wavefront sensor and allows profiling on the full line of sight between pupil and sources. This technique is applied to an associated instrument based on a mid-IR Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor coupled to a 0.35 m telescope, which observes two cooperative sources. This paper presents what we believe is the first comprehensive description of the CO-SLIDAR method in the context of near-ground optical turbulence metrology. It includes the presentation of the physics principles underlying the measurements of our unsupervised Cn2 profile reconstruction strategy together with the error bar estimation on the reconstructed values. The application to data acquired in a heterogeneous rural landscape during an experimental campaign in Lannemezan, France, demonstrates the ability to obtain profiles with a sampling pitch of about 220 m over a 2.7 km line of sight. The retrieved Cn2 profiles are presented and their variability in space and time is discussed.
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Whole-genome sequence (WGS) data are increasingly being applied into genomic predictions, offering a higher predictive ability by including causal mutations or single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) putatively in strong linkage disequilibrium with causal mutations affecting the trait. This study aimed to improve the predictive performance of the customized Hanwoo 50 k SNP panel for four carcass traits in commercial Hanwoo population by adding highly predictive variants from sequence data. A total of 16,892 Hanwoo cattle with phenotypes (i.e., backfat thickness, carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score), 50 k genotypes, and WGS imputed genotypes were used. We partitioned imputed WGS data according to functional annotation [intergenic (IGR), intron (ITR), regulatory (REG), synonymous (SYN), and non-synonymous (NSY)] to characterize the genomic regions that will deliver higher predictive power for the traits investigated. Animals were assigned into two groups, the discovery set (7324 animals) used for predictive variant detection and the cross-validation set for genomic prediction. Genome-wide association studies were performed by trait to every genomic region and entire WGS data for the pre-selection of variants. Each set of pre-selected SNPs with different density (1000, 3000, 5000, or 10,000) were added to the 50 k genotypes separately and the predictive performance of each set of genotypes was assessed using the genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP). Results showed that the predictive performance of the customized Hanwoo 50 k SNP panel can be improved by the addition of pre-selected variants from the WGS data, particularly 3000 variants from each trait, which is then sufficient to improve the prediction accuracy for all traits. When 12,000 pre-selected variants (3000 variants from each trait) were added to the 50 k genotypes, the prediction accuracies increased by 9.9, 9.2, 6.4, and 4.7% for backfat thickness, carcass weight, longissimus muscle area, and marbling score compared to the regular 50 k SNP panel, respectively. In terms of prediction bias, regression coefficients for all sets of genotypes in all traits were close to 1, indicating an unbiased prediction. The strategy used to select variants based on functional annotation did not show a clear advantage compared to using whole-genome. Nonetheless, such pre-selected SNPs from the IGR region gave the highest improvement in prediction accuracy among genomic regions and the values were close to those obtained using the WGS data for all traits. We concluded that additional gain in prediction accuracy when using pre-selected variants appears to be trait-dependent, and using WGS data remained more accurate compared to using a specific genomic region.
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Genetic parameters and trends in the average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF), loin muscle area (LMA), lean percentage (LP), and age at 90 kg (D90) were estimated for populations of Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. Additionally, the correlations between these production traits and litter traits were estimated. Litter traits included total born (TB) and number born alive (NBA). The data used for this study were obtained from eight farms during 1999 to 2016. Analyses were carried out with a multivariate animal model to estimate genetic parameters for production traits while bivariate analyses were performed to estimate the correlations between production and litter traits. The heritability estimates were 0.52 and 0.43 for ADG; 0.54 and 0.45 for BF; 0.25 and 0.26 for LMA; 0.54 and 0.48 for LP; and 0.56 and 0.46 for D90 in the Landrace and Yorkshire breeds, respectively. The ADG and D90 showed low genetic correlation with BF and LP. The LMA had -0.40, -0.32, 0.49, and 0.39 genetic correlations with ADG, BF, LP, and D90, respectively. Genetic correlations between production and litter traits were generally low, except for the correlations between LMA and TB (-0.23) in Landrace and ADG and TB (-0.16), ADG and NBA (-0.18), D90 and TB (0.19), and D90 and NBA (0.20) in Yorkshire. Genetic trends in production traits were all favorable except for LMA.
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Estudios de Asociación Genética/veterinaria , Tamaño de la Camada/genética , Carácter Cuantitativo Heredable , Reproducción/genética , Porcinos/anatomía & histología , Porcinos/genética , Porcinos/fisiología , Tejido Adiposo/anatomía & histología , Animales , Femenino , Masculino , Músculo Esquelético/anatomía & histología , Aumento de Peso/genéticaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: North American adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) are known to be at elevated risk of mood and anxiety disorders. This was the first trial of a group psychosocial intervention targeting this patient population. METHODS: Within this feasibility study, we conducted a 2-arm pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which patients were randomized to Usual Care or an 8-session group psychosocial intervention (Adult Congenital Heart Disease-Coping and Resilience [ACHD-CARE]). Here, we report feasibility outcomes in accordance with published recommendations: (1) process, (2) resources, (3) management, (4) acceptability of the intervention, and (5) scientific outcomes (for which the primary outcome measures were anxiety and depression symptoms). RESULTS: Forty-two patients were randomized in the pilot RCT. The study was executable within a realistic timeline and revealed no significant human and data-management problems. The intervention was determined to be acceptable and highly valued by participants who participated in the ACHD-CARE program. The main challenges were practical barriers (eg, transportation, scheduling group sessions in-person given competing schedules) and retention. With regard to scientific outcomes, there were no adverse outcomes, and treatment fidelity was confirmed. Although not powered to test efficacy, there was a medium effect size (in favour of the intervention group) for depression symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We determined it would be feasible to conduct a full-scale trial of a psychosocial intervention targeting adults with CHD, although with modifications to address practical barriers to participation. Should this intervention prove effective, a manualized intervention could be made be available.
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Ansiedad , Depresión , Cardiopatías Congénitas , Terapias Mente-Cuerpo/métodos , Calidad de Vida , Adaptación Psicológica , Adulto , Ansiedad/diagnóstico , Ansiedad/fisiopatología , Depresión/diagnóstico , Depresión/fisiopatología , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Cardiopatías Congénitas/psicología , Cardiopatías Congénitas/terapia , Humanos , Masculino , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud , Técnicas Psicológicas , Psicología , Resiliencia Psicológica , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Genome wide association study was conducted to identify and validate candidate genes associated with fatty acid composition of pork. METHODS: A total of 480 purebreed Duroc pigs were genotyped using IlluminaPorcine60k bead chips while the association test was implemented following genome-wide rapid association using Mixed Model and Regression-Genomic Control (GRAMMAR-GC) approach. RESULTS: A total of 25, 29, and 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly associated with stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1) and saturated fatty acids (SFA), respectively. Genome wide significant variants were located on the same region of swine chromosome 14 (SSC14) that spanned from 120 to 124 Mb. Top SNP ALGA008191 was located at 5 kb near the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) gene. This gene is directly involved in desaturation of stearic acid into oleic acid. General relationship of significant SNPs showed high linkage disequilibrium thus genome-wide signals was attributed to SCD gene. However, understanding the role of other genes like elongation of very long chain fatty acids-3 (ELOVL3) located on this chromosomal segment might help in further understanding of metabolism and biosynthesis of fatty acids. CONCLUSION: Overall, this study provides evidence that validates SCD gene as strong candidate gene associated with fatty acid composition in Duroc pigs. Moreover, this study confirms significant SNPs near ELOVL3 gene.
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Measurement of population persistence is a long-standing problem in ecology; in particular, whether it is possible to gain insights into persistence without long time-series. Fractal measurements of spatial patterns, such as the Korcak exponent or boundary dimension, have been proposed as indicators of the persistence of underlying dynamics. Here we explore under what conditions a predictive relationship between fractal measures and persistence exists. We combine theoretical arguments with an aerial snapshot and time series from a long-term study of seagrass. For this form of vegetative growth, we find that the expected relationship between the Korcak exponent and persistence is evident at survey sites where the population return rate can be measured. This highlights a limitation of the use of power-law patch-size distributions and other indicators based on spatial snapshots. Moreover, our numeric simulations show that for a single species and a range of environmental conditions that the Korcak-persistence relationship provides a link between temporal dynamics and spatial pattern; however, this relationship is specific to demographic factors, so we cannot use this methodology to compare between species.
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Vegetation patch-size distributions have been an intense area of study for theoreticians and applied ecologists alike in recent years. Of particular interest is the seemingly ubiquitous nature of power-law patch-size distributions emerging in a number of diverse ecosystems. The leading explanation of the emergence of these power-laws is due to local facilitative mechanisms. There is also a common transition from power law to exponential distribution when a system is under global pressure, such as grazing or lack of rainfall. These phenomena require a simple mechanistic explanation. Here, we study vegetation patches from a spatially implicit, patch dynamic viewpoint. We show that under minimal assumptions a power-law patch-size distribution appears as a natural consequence of aggregation. A linear death term also leads to an exponential term in the distribution for any non-zero death rate. This work shows the origin of the breakdown of the power-law under increasing pressure and shows that in general, we expect to observe a power law with an exponential cutoff (rather than pure power laws). The estimated parameters of this distribution also provide insight into the underlying ecological mechanisms of aggregation and death.
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Ecosistema , Modelos Biológicos , Dinámica PoblacionalRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: One-third of North American adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) have diagnosable mood or anxiety disorders and most do not receive mental health treatment. There are no published interventions targeting the psychosocial needs of patients with CHD of any age. We describe the development of a group psychosocial intervention aimed at improving the psychosocial functioning, quality of life, and resilience of adults with CHD and the design of a study protocol to determine the feasibility of a potential full-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT). METHODS/DESIGN: Drawing upon our quantitative and qualitative research, we developed the Adult CHD-Coping And REsilience (ACHD-CARE) intervention and designed a feasibility study that included a 2-parallel arm non-blinded pilot RCT. Eligible participants (CHD, age ≥ 18 years, no planned surgery, symptoms suggestive of a mood and/or anxiety disorder) were randomized to the ACHD-CARE intervention or Usual Care (1:1 allocation ratio). The group intervention was delivered during eight 90-minute weekly sessions. Feasibility will be assessed in the following domains: (i) process (e.g. recruitment and retention), (ii) resources, (iii) management, (iv) scientific outcomes, and (v) intervention acceptability. DISCUSSION: This study underscores the importance of carefully developing and testing the feasibility of psychosocial interventions in medical populations before moving to full-scale clinical trials. At study conclusion, we will be poised to make one of three determinations for a full-scale RCT: (1) feasible, (2) feasible with modifications, or (3) not feasible. This study will guide the future evaluation and provision of psychosocial treatment for adults with CHD.
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Adaptación Psicológica , Trastornos de Ansiedad/terapia , Cardiopatías Congénitas/psicología , Trastornos del Humor/terapia , Resiliencia Psicológica , Adolescente , Adulto , Trastornos de Ansiedad/epidemiología , Concienciación , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Educación en Salud , Cardiopatías Congénitas/epidemiología , Humanos , Masculino , Salud Mental , Persona de Mediana Edad , Trastornos del Humor/epidemiología , Proyectos Piloto , Calidad de Vida , Proyectos de Investigación , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: With ambitious targets to eliminate lymphatic filariasis over the coming years, there is a need to identify optimal strategies to achieve them in areas with different baseline prevalence and stages of control. Modelling can assist in identifying what data should be collected and what strategies are best for which scenarios. METHODS: We develop a new individual-based, stochastic mathematical model of the transmission of lymphatic filariasis. We validate the model by fitting to a first time point and predicting future timepoints from surveillance data in Kenya and Sri Lanka, which have different vectors and different stages of the control programme. We then simulate different treatment scenarios in low, medium and high transmission settings, comparing once yearly mass drug administration (MDA) with more frequent MDA and higher coverage. We investigate the potential impact that vector control, systematic non-compliance and different levels of aggregation have on the dynamics of transmission and control. RESULTS: In all settings, increasing coverage from 65 to 80 % has a similar impact on control to treating twice a year at 65 % coverage, for fewer drug treatments being distributed. Vector control has a large impact, even at moderate levels. The extent of aggregation of parasite loads amongst a small portion of the population, which has been estimated to be highly variable in different settings, can undermine the success of a programme, particularly if high risk sub-communities are not accessing interventions. CONCLUSION: Even moderate levels of vector control have a large impact both on the reduction in prevalence and the maintenance of gains made during MDA, even when parasite loads are highly aggregated, and use of vector control is at moderate levels. For the same prevalence, differences in aggregation and adherence can result in very different dynamics. The novel analysis of a small amount of surveillance data and resulting simulations highlight the need for more individual level data to be analysed to effectively tailor programmes in the drive for elimination.
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Transmisión de Enfermedad Infecciosa/prevención & control , Filariasis Linfática/tratamiento farmacológico , Filariasis Linfática/transmisión , Filaricidas/administración & dosificación , Control de Insectos/métodos , Modelos Teóricos , Filariasis Linfática/epidemiología , Kenia/epidemiología , Prevalencia , Sri Lanka/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests some overlap between the pathological use of food and drugs, yet how impulsivity compares across these different clinical disorders remains unclear. Substance use disorders are commonly characterized by elevated impulsivity, and impulsivity subtypes may show commonalities and differences in various conditions. We hypothesized that obese subjects with binge-eating disorder (BED) and abstinent alcohol-dependent cohorts would have relatively more impulsive profiles compared to obese subjects without BED. We also predicted decision impulsivity impairment in obesity with and without BED. METHOD: Thirty obese subjects with BED, 30 without BED and 30 abstinent alcohol-dependent subjects and age- and gender-matched controls were tested on delay discounting (preference for a smaller immediate reward over a larger delayed reward), reflection impulsivity (rapid decision making prior to evidence accumulation) and motor response inhibition (action cancellation of a prepotent response). RESULTS: All three groups had greater delay discounting relative to healthy volunteers. Both obese subjects without BED and alcohol-dependent subjects had impaired motor response inhibition. Only obese subjects without BED had impaired integration of available information to optimize outcomes over later trials with a cost condition. CONCLUSIONS: Delay discounting appears to be a common core impairment across disorders of food and drug intake. Unexpectedly, obese subjects without BED showed greater impulsivity than obese subjects with BED. We highlight the dissociability and heterogeneity of impulsivity subtypes and add to the understanding of neurocognitive profiles across disorders involving food and drugs. Our results have therapeutic implications suggesting that disorder-specific patterns of impulsivity could be targeted.
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Alcoholismo/fisiopatología , Trastorno por Atracón/fisiopatología , Descuento por Demora/fisiología , Conducta Impulsiva/fisiología , Inhibición Psicológica , Obesidad/fisiopatología , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
Why do we repeat choices that we know are bad for us? Decision making is characterized by the parallel engagement of two distinct systems, goal-directed and habitual, thought to arise from two computational learning mechanisms, model-based and model-free. The habitual system is a candidate source of pathological fixedness. Using a decision task that measures the contribution to learning of either mechanism, we show a bias towards model-free (habit) acquisition in disorders involving both natural (binge eating) and artificial (methamphetamine) rewards, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. This favoring of model-free learning may underlie the repetitive behaviors that ultimately dominate in these disorders. Further, we show that the habit formation bias is associated with lower gray matter volumes in caudate and medial orbitofrontal cortex. Our findings suggest that the dysfunction in a common neurocomputational mechanism may underlie diverse disorders involving compulsion.
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Sesgo , Hábitos , Aprendizaje/fisiología , Trastorno Obsesivo Compulsivo/fisiopatología , Adulto , Algoritmos , Encéfalo/patología , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Conducta de Elección , Simulación por Computador , Femenino , Humanos , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Obesidad/complicaciones , Obesidad/patología , Obesidad/psicología , Trastorno Obsesivo Compulsivo/etiología , Trastorno Obsesivo Compulsivo/patología , Análisis de Regresión , Recompensa , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/complicaciones , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/patología , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/psicología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVES: Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) have been shown to decrease antimicrobial resistance, reduce hospital-acquired infections and decrease overall antimicrobial expenditures. At St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham, WA, a thrice-weekly ASP was initiated in 2010 with the goals of decreasing carbapenem, fluoroquinolone and vancomycin use and tailoring duration of therapy. METHODS: Antibiotic use per 1000 patient-days and carbapenem, fluoroquinolone and vancomycin use were evaluated pre- and post-implementation of the ASP. Total antimicrobial expenditures were evaluated for the 3 years prior to ASP implementation and three years following implementation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Antimicrobial days of therapy per 1000 patient-days declined by 6·4% after implementation of our ASP. There was a 37% reduction in total antimicrobial expenditures after implementation. Carbapenems, vancomycin and levofloxacin use decreased considerably. Ciprofloxacin use increased during the same time period. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: A thrice-weekly, pharmacist-driven ASP can decrease antimicrobial expenditure, shorten duration of therapy and decrease the utilization of carbapenems, vancomycin and levofloxacin.
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Antibacterianos/administración & dosificación , Antibacterianos/economía , Carbapenémicos/administración & dosificación , Infección Hospitalaria/prevención & control , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Fluoroquinolonas/administración & dosificación , Hospitales Comunitarios/economía , Hospitales Comunitarios/métodos , Hospitales Comunitarios/organización & administración , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , Vancomicina/administración & dosificaciónRESUMEN
Lowering blood pressure reduces cardiovascular risk, yet hypertension is poorly controlled in diabetic patients. In a pilot study we demonstrated that a home blood pressure telemonitoring system, which provided self-care messages on the smartphone of hypertensive diabetic patients immediately after each reading, improved blood pressure control. Messages were based on care paths defined by running averages of transmitted readings. The present study tests the system's effectiveness in a randomized, controlled trial in diabetic patients with uncontrolled systolic hypertension. Of 244 subjects screened for eligibility, 110 (45%) were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 55) or control (n = 55) group, and 105 (95.5%) completed the 1-year outcome visit. In the intention-to-treat analysis, mean daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure, the primary end point, decreased significantly only in the intervention group by 9.1 ± 15.6 mmHg (SD; P < 0.0001), and the mean between-group difference was 7.1 ± 2.3 mmHg (SE; P < 0.005). Furthermore, 51% of intervention subjects achieved the guideline recommended target of <130/80 mmHg compared with 31% of control subjects (P < 0.05). These improvements were obtained without the use of more or different antihypertensive medications or additional clinic visits to physicians. Providing self-care support did not affect anxiety but worsened depression on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (baseline, 4.1 ± 3.76; exit, 5.2 ± 4.30; P = 0.014). This study demonstrated that home blood pressure telemonitoring combined with automated self-care support reduced the blood pressure of diabetic patients with uncontrolled systolic hypertension and improved hypertension control. Home blood pressure monitoring alone had no effect on blood pressure. Promoting patient self-care may have negative psychological effects.
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Monitoreo Ambulatorio de la Presión Arterial/métodos , Complicaciones de la Diabetes/prevención & control , Hipertensión/prevención & control , Monitoreo Fisiológico/métodos , Autocuidado/métodos , Telemedicina/métodos , Actividades Cotidianas/psicología , Anciano , Análisis de Varianza , Ansiedad/psicología , Presión Sanguínea/fisiología , Depresión/psicología , Complicaciones de la Diabetes/fisiopatología , Complicaciones de la Diabetes/psicología , Femenino , Humanos , Hipertensión/fisiopatología , Hipertensión/psicología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Evaluación de Resultado en la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Prospectivos , SístoleRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Although several studies have shown a positive association between evidence of anti-adenovirus 36 (Ad-36) antibodies (Ad-36 exposure) and (1) obesity and (2) serum cholesterol in animals, there is limited research demonstrating this association in humans. There is also limited research on transmission, presentation and demographics of Ad-36 infection. DESIGN: (1) Body mass (body mass index (BMI)), (2) fasting serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and (3) demographic characteristics were compared between Ad-36 seropositive and seronegative groups. The majority of subjects were matched as cases versus controls on a number of demographic variables. SUBJECTS: A total of 150 obese and 150 lean active-duty military personnel were studied. MEASUREMENTS: Subjects completed a questionnaire regarding demographic and behavioral characteristics. Subject serum samples were tested by serum neutralization assay for the presence of anti-Ad-36 antibodies. RESULTS: In all, 34% of obese and 39% of lean subjects had Ad-36 exposure, an insignificant difference. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher among the obese subjects than among the lean, but there were no associations between serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and Ad-36 exposure. Positive associations were found between Ad-36 exposure and age, race and gender. CONCLUSION: The study stands in contrast to previous work that has shown a positive relationship between Ad-36 exposure and (1) obesity, and (2) levels of serum cholesterol and triglycerides. In this study there was no association in either case. Unanticipated relationships between Ad-36 exposure and age, race and gender were found, and this is the first time that such a link between Ad-36 exposure and demographics has been found.
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Infecciones por Adenovirus Humanos/sangre , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Colesterol/sangre , Personal Militar , Obesidad/sangre , Triglicéridos/sangre , Infecciones por Adenovirus Humanos/etnología , Infecciones por Adenovirus Humanos/virología , Adenovirus Humanos/inmunología , Adolescente , Adulto , Índice de Masa Corporal , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Ayuno/sangre , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Obesidad/virología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To study patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) scheduled for coronary angioplasty and to examine platelet activation in response to mental stress as a potential mechanism involved in the association between psychosocial factors and cardiac outcomes. Psychosocial factors have been identified as risk factors for CAD and adverse cardiac outcomes, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. METHODS: Markers of platelet activation and platelet reactivity in response to experimentally induced mental stress (mental arithmetic and anger recall) were examined, using flow cytometry analysis and beta-thromboglobulin (BTG) assays among 249 CAD patients (age = 60.3 +/- 9.0 years, 15% women) who were scheduled to undergo elective percutaneous coronary intervention. RESULTS: Mental stress-induced increases in platelet activation (CD41 (GP IIb/IIIa), p = .002; percent of mononuclear cells positive for CD41, p = .01; CD62P (P-selectin) expression, p = .005; and percent platelets positive for CD62P, p < .001). The degree of platelet reactivity was not related to demographic, clinical, or psychological variables, or cardiovascular hemodynamic changes. CONCLUSIONS: Experimentally induced mental stress induced platelet activation in patients with CAD. This mechanism may partially explain the link between psychosocial variables and the development of adverse cardiac outcomes in patients with CAD.
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Enfermedad Coronaria/sangre , Activación Plaquetaria , Estrés Psicológico/sangre , Anciano , Ira , Angioplastia Coronaria con Balón , Micropartículas Derivadas de Células , Angiografía Coronaria , Enfermedad Coronaria/diagnóstico por imagen , Enfermedad Coronaria/psicología , Enfermedad Coronaria/terapia , Depresión/sangre , Depresión/epidemiología , Emociones , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Matemática , Recuerdo Mental , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ontario/epidemiología , Lectura , Método Simple Ciego , Apoyo Social , beta-Tromboglobulina/análisisRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Document the frequency of substance use and oral hygiene among adolescents and young adults with moderate to complex congenital heart disease (CHD). BACKGROUND: Patients' knowledge of health behaviors, including substance use and oral hygiene, has been examined among patients with CHD, but patients' actual behavior has not been studied. Understanding patients' behavior is needed to inform interventions that enhance healthy lifestyles, and in turn encourage patients to better care for their own health. METHODS: Young adults (19 or 20 years old) and older adolescents (16-18 years old) with moderate or complex CHD (n = 328) reported their substance use (i.e., smoking, marijuana, alcohol, other illicit drugs) and oral hygiene. Rates of these health behaviors were contrasted with comparison samples of peers of the same age. RESULTS: Just over half of the young adults (54%) and over one-quarter of the adolescents (28%) reported significant substance use (i.e., smoking cigarettes on more than 2 days, using marijuana or other illicit drugs at least once, or binge drinking) during the previous 30 days. Rates of significant substance use among the patients with CHD were either comparable to, or lower than, rates in comparison samples of similar aged peers. Only about 15% of the patients with CHD had excellent oral hygiene (i.e., self-reported annual teeth cleaning by dentist, brushing and flossing daily); however, virtually all patients (>95%) brushed daily. Patients with CHD generally had comparable oral hygiene to comparison samples in previously published data. CONCLUSIONS: Many older adolescents and young adults with CHD are engaging in behaviors that may compromise their health. The impact of substance use and poor dental hygiene warrants further investigation. Nevertheless, health behaviors should be routinely discussed in this population.
Asunto(s)
Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Cardiopatías Congénitas/epidemiología , Higiene Bucal/estadística & datos numéricos , Psicología del Adolescente , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/epidemiología , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/psicología , Canadá/epidemiología , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Cardiopatías Congénitas/psicología , Humanos , Masculino , Fumar Marihuana/epidemiología , Fumar Marihuana/psicología , Higiene Bucal/psicología , Educación del Paciente como Asunto , Proyectos de Investigación , Fumar/epidemiología , Fumar/psicología , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/psicología , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Guidelines recommend home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) to improve blood pressure control, but the attitudes of primary care physicians and their hypertensive patients towards its use are not known. METHODS: A 28-item self-administered survey about home blood pressure monitoring was mailed to a random sample of 1418 primary care physicians in Ontario and 765 (55%) were returned. Of the 478 physicians treating hypertension, 299 agreed to give surveys to their hypertensive patients. We received 149 patient surveys. RESULTS: The majority of primary care physicians (63%) often or almost always encouraged their hypertensive patients to monitor their own blood pressure at home. Only 13%, however, preferred home blood pressure monitoring to office or ambulatory readings for diagnostic purposes and 19%, to guide therapy. Physicians had concerns about patients becoming preoccupied with home monitoring (70%) and the accuracy of home devices (65%). Most patients (78%) had a device at home, and 84% indicated that their doctor encouraged them to measure blood pressure. Yet, 80% received no advice from their physician on the type of device to purchase, only 8% had specific training on proper measurement technique, 68% did not regularly take the results to the doctor and 39% did nothing specific about alarming readings. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care physicians prefer office or ambulatory to home readings to make diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. While home monitoring is popular among patients, its clinical usefulness is undermined by the lack of reliable purchasing information, standard measurement protocols, proper training on measurement technique and specific instructions on handling and interpreting results.