Biomedical subjects

Mona Boaz

Publications and source records attributed to Mona Boaz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Attitude and knowledge of high school pupils towards adolescents with special needs (Tourette's syndrome).

OBJECTIVE: To determine high school pupils' attitudes towards adolescents with special needs (for example: TS); to learn what they know about the symptomatology and the exceptional behavior of TS; and what they think about their social future. METHODS: Ninety-nine pupils participated in the study. Their mean age was 16.7 +/- 0.8 years. Forty-eight point five percent were boys, and the rest girls. They completed a questionnaire concerning knowledge and attitudes towards adolescents with special needs (diagnosed as TS). They had participated in lessons and class talks about handicapped children with psycho- behavioral symptoms. RESULTS: The scores for their knowledge were at a level of 68.9%. Half of the pupils knew and responded correctly that TS was of genetic origin; but the most important: they expressed a comprehensive and tolerant attitude towards impaired behavior in TS at a level of 55.3%. The tolerant attitude increased with advancing age and with school grades. The attitudes were more comprehensive in families suffering form their own emotional or other psychiatric difficulties. Forty-three point four percent of pupils understand and consider TS to be an emotional, behavioral and psychiatric entity. Sixty-two point six percent of pupils understand as well and believe that the disruptive behavior and outbursts in TS are involuntary and not under the adolescent's control. On the other hand, a quarter of the pupils see justification for repeated punishment of TS adolescents for their impaired behavior. Fifty-six point six percent of regular pupils were ready to develop friendship with TS classmates in spite of their unexpected and unruly behaviour. Eight-three point eight percent of pupils believe it is better to inform teachers and classmates about the impaired behavior of these TS adolescents. Concerning the future of these disabled adolescents, pupils scored a level of 44% for their optimistic beliefs about success in future life; 52% believe that in spite of all difficulties TS adolescents would be able to live an ordinary life, to raise a family and to work. CONCLUSIONS: It is crucial to improve pupils' attitudes in schools (as well as their teachers') towards adolescents with special needs (including TS). The authors recommend that TS be considered as a neuro-behavioral and psychiatric disorder; it should be considered as a disability, which calls for comprehension, (not punishment). It would also be of value to speak in classes about the handicaps and neurobehavioral limitations for example of these TS adolescents, as well as about other pupils in school with special needs, in order to behave socially correctly towards them. The final aim will be that pupils in school will learn to accept the different child and adolescent as they are.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Adolescents with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disability and their proneness to accidents.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine if attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)/ learning disability (LD) adolescents are more prone to accidents and to investigate the parental mode of coping with that risk. METHODS: One hundred and eight high school pupils diagnosed with ADHD/LD and studying in an institute of "special education" were examined and interviewed on the subject of accidents. Eighty-seven pupils, studying in a nearby academic high school, served as a control group. RESULTS: The results showed that pupils in the study group had been involved in 0.57 +/- 1.6 accidents (until the present study) in comparison to 0.23 +/- 0.4 accidents in the control group (p=0.001). The accidents in the ADHD/LD study group had occurred at the mean age of 11.1 +/- 3.4 yr. Eight decimal three percent of these pupils had been involved in recurrent accidents. Circumstances and locations where the accidents occurred were: falls while running or participating in sports activities (38.5%), home environment (23%), school environment (19.2%) and road accidents (11.5%). CONCLUSION: The study shows that there is a real risk for ADHD/LD adolescents to be involved in all kinds of accidents. Parents should be counting on the help of professional advisors to decrease that risk. Physicians should caution these adolescents and their parents about that risk and advise them on ways and means of accident prevention.

Accident Proneness↗

PubMed2006

PTHrP and insulin levels following oral glucose and calcium administration.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP), identified as a tumor product, is responsible for humoral malignant hypercalcemia. Unlike PTH, PTHrP is found in almost every body tissue including pancreatic alpha, beta, delta, and pp cells, where it is processed into multiple secretory forms, co-packaged with insulin, and secreted in a regulated fashion in response to insulin secretagogues. Ionized calcium is a stimulator for the release of several peptide hormones. METHODS: In the present study, we examined the effect of an oral calcium (1 g elemental calcium) and glucose (75 g) load on insulin and PTHrP release in 16 healthy volunteers and of an oral calcium load in 16 non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. Serum calcium, glucose, insulin, and PTHrP levels were determined at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, and 60 min. RESULTS: Our results indicate that, at each time point, type 2 diabetic patients exhibited greater basal values of PTHrP than controls (200.3+/-110.5 pg/ml vs. 82.0+/-22.3 pg/ml, respectively, p<0.0001). The PTHrP level was consistently higher in response to the glucose load than the calcium load at each time point observed (p<0.0001). NIDDM patients exhibited greater basal serum PTHrP levels than the control group. CONCLUSION: PTHrP was proven for the first time to be released from beta cells in parallel to insulin and in response to glucose stimulation.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

BNP in septic patients without systolic myocardial dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: We tested our hypothesis that serum BNP levels rise in sepsis and septic shock patients as a result of an inflammatory state and not only because of left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with sepsis or septic shock were enrolled in the study. Echocardiography was performed in every patient on admission and at discharge. Laboratory data were evaluated on admission, during hospitalization, and at discharge. Serum IL-1beta, IL-6, TNFalpha, and BNP concentrations were determined. RESULTS: BNP values on admission (r=0.47, p=0.03), during hospitalization (r=0.64, p=0.014), and on the day of discharge (r=0.54, p=0.015) were all positively correlated with CRP values. Mean BNP (r=0.07, p=0.006) and BNP level at discharge (r=0.68, p=0.001) were also positively associated with IL-1 at discharge. Mean CRP (17.7 mg/dL+/-1.5 vs. 9.2 mg/dL+/-3.6, p=0.002), IL-6 (46.6 pg/mL+/-2.2 vs. 25.6 pg/mL+/-16.3, p=0.003), and SAPS II levels (41.3+/-4.7 vs. 33.9+/-6.5 p=0.01) were also higher in patients who died versus those who survived. No difference in BNP levels was recorded in subjects who died versus those who survived. There was no clinical or echocardiographic evidence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (mean EF% on admission 55.1+/-21.7 vs. 61.3+/-8.6 on discharge, p=0.123). Serum BNP levels at discharge were inversely associated with EF values on admission (r=-0.475, p=0.046) and positively associated with E/A ratio on admission (r=0.565, p=0.028). No association was found between BNP values and death. CONCLUSION: BNP is positively correlated with CRP levels in septic patients without clinical or echocardiographic evidence of systolic dysfunction. No association was found between death and BNP values. It seems that, in septic patients, BNP is less accurate as a measure of ventricular dysfunction.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Visual spatial neglect in multiple sclerosis.

Neuropsychological dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients is now a well-established clinical finding. We examined the entity of visual spatial neglect in demyelinating disease and its correlation to the functional and neuroradiological parameters. The phenomenon of visual spatial neglect was examined in 20 (5 male and 15 female) MS patients. Two different examination methods were used--the line bisection test and the random shape cancellation test. The results were compared with 20 aged matched control individuals. The correlation of the visual spatial neglects to neurological deficits and handicaps, using Kurtzke's Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), as well as with the MRI's neuroradiological findings, was analyzed. A highly significant different result on the line bisection test for three various line lengths (p = .006, p < .0001, p < .001) with displacement towards the right side was found. In all the cancellation subtests, a significant difference in error rate was found in comparing patients to controls toward a higher one on the left side of the MS patients (p = .005, p < .002, p < .0001 and p = .02 in the left side subtest, and p = n.s. in the right side subtest). There was no significant correlation between the cancellation tests and bisection results and the EDSS scale data, as well as with the neuroradiological findings. The present results demonstrate the presence of visual spatial neglect among MS patients, even without the demonstration of a characteristic neuroanatomical lesion. The hypotheses for this finding are discussed with a stress on the possibility of disruption of multiple intrahemispheric connections, especially under the condition of asymmetry of dominance regarding spatial attention.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Heavily pretreated ovarian cancer patients treated by single-agent gemcitabine. A retrospective outcome comparison between platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant patients.

To assess activity and toxicity of gemcitabine treatment in heavily pretreated epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients and compare the outcome between platinum-sensitive and platinum-resistant patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 43 women with EOC treated with gemcitabine on Days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days. Response was evaluated by physical examination and serial CA 125 measurements. The patients (median age 62 years, range 29-87) were previously exposed to a median of 3 (2-8) chemotherapy regimens. A median of 3.5 (1-14) gemcitabine cycles were administered. Eleven (25.6%) patients showed partial response, 19 (44.2%) had stable disease and 13 (30.2%) progressed. Among 22 platinum-sensitive and 21 platinum-resistant patients, the response rate was 45.5% and 4.7% respectively (p = 0.001), and the median time to progression was 5.0 and 2.8 months, respectively (p = 0.0006). The respective median survival was 16.5 and 6.3 months (p = 0.0001). Grade III-IV hematological toxicities included anemia in four (9.3%) patients, thrombocytopenia in four (9.3%) and leucopenia in two (4.7%). The main non-hematological toxicities were grade III fatigue in two patients (4.7%) and nausea and vomiting in two (4.7%). Single agent gemcitabine is an attractive option for heavily pretreated EOC patients. The significant difference between platinum-sensitive and resistant patients' warrants further investigation.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell↗

PubMed2006

A new approach to office hysteroscopy compared with traditional hysteroscopy: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare a "no touch" approach to diagnostic hysteroscopy without anesthesia with traditional diagnostic hysteroscopy after intracervical injection of mepivacaine hydrochloride 3%. METHODS: A total of 130 women undergoing diagnostic hysteroscopy were included in the study and were randomized, using a computer-generated randomization list to one of two treatment groups in a ratio of 2:1. Eighty-three women underwent hysteroscopy without speculum, tenaculum, or anesthesia. Forty-seven women received intracervical anesthesia with 10 mL of 3% mepivacaine hydrochloride solution injected at two sites (3:00 and 9:00 positions) and underwent traditional hysteroscopy. Hysteroscopy was performed using a rigid 3.7-mm hysteroscope and a medium of 0.9% saline, and the image was transmitted to a screen visible to the patient. A visual analog scale (VAS) consisting of a 10-cm line was used to assess the intensity of pain experienced during and after the procedure. Overall patient satisfaction was assessed during, immediately after, 15 minutes later, and 3 days after hysteroscopy. RESULTS: The mean pain score was significantly lower in the group without the use of speculum, tenaculum, or anesthesia (VAS1: 3.8+/-2.7 versus 5.34+/-3.23, P=.01; VAS2: 3.02+/-2.50 versus 4.57+/-3.30, P=.008). Patient satisfaction rate was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Patients reported significantly less pain with the altered approach to diagnostic hysteroscopy compared with patients undergoing the traditional procedure with anesthesia. This new approach can therefore be considered as a useful hysteroscopic technique. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT00319410

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Severe hypophosphatemia in sepsis as a mortality predictor.

Hypophosphatemia has long been reported to be associated with sepsis and has been correlated with sepsis severity. This retrospective study was undertaken at a university hospital to determine whether severe hypophosphatemia could serve as a mortality predictor in septic patients. Charts of 6,190 septic patients who were hospitalized during one year (2001-02) were examined. Fifty-five patients were selected and were divided into 2 groups: group 1 comprised 26 patients with severe hypophosphatemia (serum inorganic phosphate (Pi) <1 mg/dl); group 2 comprised 29 patients without severe hypophosphatemia (Pi >1 mg/dl. The patients' charts were reviewed and information was collected regarding medical anamnesis, physical examination, hematological and biochemical analyses, chest x-ray, and cultures of blood and urine. The results demonstrated that 80.8% of the patients with severe hypophosphatemia died, vs 34.5% of the patients without severe hypophosphatemia (p = 0.001). Being in the severe hypophosphatemic group increased the risk of death by nearly 8-fold (odds ratio = 7.98; 95% CI = 2.3 to 27.6). These findings indicate that severe hypophosphatemia can serve as an independent mortality predictor in sepsis.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Candidate gene polymorphism in cardiovascular disease: the BIP cohort.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease is now well established as a multifactorial disease. In a given individual, the level of cardiovascular risk is due to the interaction between genetic and environmental components. The BIP cohort comprises 3000 patients with cardiovascular disease who were tested for the benefits of bezafibrate treatment. This cohort has the data for the lipid profile of each individual, fibrinogen, insulin, as well as clinical, demographic and lifestyle parameters. OBJECTIVES: To genotype up to 64 variable sites in 36 genes in the BIP cohort. The genes tested in this assay are involved in pathways implicated in the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques, lipid and homocystein metabolism, blood pressure regulation, thrombosis, rennin-angiotensin system, platelet aggregation, and leukocyte adhesion. METHODS: DNA was extracted from 1000 Israeli patients from the BIP cohort. A multilocus assay, developed by the Roche Molecular System, was used for genotyping. Allele frequencies for some of the markers were compared to the published frequencies in a healthy population (the French Stanislas cohort, n = 1480). RESULTS: Among the 26 comparable alleles checked in the two cohorts, 16 allele frequencies were significantly different from the healthy French population: ApoE(E3, E2, E4), ApoB (71ile), ApoC (3482T, 455C, 1100T, 3175G, 3206G), CETP(405val), ACE (Del), AGT (235thr), ELAM (128arg); P < 0001 and LPL (93G, 291Ser, 447ter); P < 005. CONCLUSIONS: Although a comparable healthy Israeli population study is needed for more precise interpretation of these results, frequency differences in these polymorphic alleles--associated with lipid metabolism, renin-angiotensin system and leukocyte adhesion mechanism--between CVD patients and healthy individuals nevertheless implicate these candidate genes as predisposing for CVD.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed2005

Baseline oxysterols and other markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and malnutrition in the vitamin e and intima media thickness progression in end-stage renal disease (VIPER) cohort.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Oxysterols are markers of oxidative stress, levels of which have not yet been reported in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study was designed to compare levels of the oxysterols 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) and 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (7betaOH) between a cohort of HD patients and healthy controls. METHODS: This nested cross-sectional study reflects baseline (pre-intervention) values for markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and nutrition status in the 160-member vitamin E and carotid intima media thickness progression in end-stage renal disease (VIPER) cohort (age 64.1 +/- 8.8, 33.5% female). Age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers served as controls. Plasma oxysterols 7KC and 7betaOH were determined by isotope dilution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Despite higher plasma alpha-tocopherol levels in HD patients than controls (36.0 +/- 9.3 vs. 31.8 +/- 8.4 micromol/l, p = 0.007), 7KC levels (9.8 +/- 6.9 vs. 5.9 +/- 2.8 nmol/mmol cholesterol, p < 0.0001) and 7betaOH levels (8.7 +/- 4.3 vs. 2.7 +/- 1.6 nmol/mmol cholesterol, p < 0.0001) were higher in HD patients. The oxysterol 7betaOH was significantly, inversely associated with prealbumin (r = -0.18, p = 0.03), though neither oxysterol was significantly associated with any other marker of oxidative stress, inflammation or nutrition status and did not discriminate for CVD in HD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated levels of the oxysterols 7KC and 7betaOH indicate that HD patients are in a state of oxidative stress compared to healthy controls. However, oxysterols 7KC and 7betaOH did not appear to contribute additional information about oxidative stress among HD patients.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Neonates with extra-renal pelvis: the first 2 years.

Extra-renal pelvis (ERpel) is a common ultrasonographic finding among neonates who have undergone recurrent ultrasound examinations for a better definition of prenatal renal pelvic dilatation. This study tries to determine whether or not ERpel has important prognostic implications. Seventy-nine neonates (17 female) were examined. All had a diagnosis of prenatal renal pelvis dilatation, which was shown by postnatal ultrasound to be ERpel. Sixty ERpel neonates were examined 1.5 months to 2.5 months after the ultrasound (US) diagnosis by both Tc-99m diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid (DPTA) dynamic renal scanning and (99m)Tc-pertechnetate direct cystography. Clinical assessment, urine cultures and renal ultrasound follow-up were maintained for 2 years. The proportion of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in patients with ERpel was compared with that of the total neonatal and infantile population with normal US scans in the region of our hospital. Associated minor congenital malformations were found in 12 of 79 neonates (15.2%). Four had a family history of ERpel. Among 60 neonates who underwent renal scanning, 36 (60%) were found to have urinary retention in the collecting system. Another nine (15%) had vesico-ureteral (VU) reflux, of which seven had urinary retention. Fifteen (25%) showed normal isotope imaging. Urinary tract infection was diagnosed in 16 ERpel neonates in whom only one exhibited VU reflux (grade 2). The incidence of neonatal UTI in the ERpel group was more than that of either neonatal or infantile UTI in those with normal US scans in the local population (20.2% vs 1.2% and 4.3%, respectively). Fifty-three infants completed a 2-year follow-up. Repeat renal ultrasonography indicated that one infant (1.8%) had developed bilateral hydronephrosis, 12 (22.6%) had unchanged findings, 18 (40%) showed an improvement (decrease of ERpel width or resolution in one side) and, in 22 (41.5%) infants, the condition had resolved. No clinical or kidney function deterioration was observed. Seven patients (13.2%) each had one episode of UTI during the 2-year follow-up period; none of them had VU reflux. Neonatal ERpel is more frequent in male infants. It is associated with greater rates of minor congenital malformations, VU reflux and UTI than in the general population of the same ages. The increased UTI incidence is not attributed to VU reflux.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed2005

Serum and peritoneal inflammatory mediators in children with suspected acute appendicitis.

HYPOTHESIS: Inflammatory markers differ between subjects with appendicitis and controls. Markers of inflammation differ in serum compared with intraperitoneal fluid. Among subjects with appendicitis, inflammatory markers differ between subjects with and without perforation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Hospitalized care. PATIENTS: Twenty-four children who underwent an appendectomy. Group A (n = 19) consisted of patients with appendicitis and group N (n = 5) of patients with normal appendixes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum and peritoneal levels of interleukin (IL)8, IL-10, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, interferon gamma soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Age, sex, complete blood count, C-reactive protein level, and serum cytokines did not significantly differ by group. Peritoneal concentrations of interleukin-8 (mean +/- SD, 1416.8 +/- 1436 pg/mL vs 48 +/- 74.4 pg/mL, P = .001), IL-10 (mean +/- SD, 3085 +/- 5893 pg/mL vs 84 +/- 46 pg/mL, P = .02), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (mean +/- SD, 1784 +/- 1225.1 ng/mL vs 435 +/- 563 ng/mL, P = .03), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (mean +/- SD, 8939.2 +/- 7312.2 ng/mL vs 602.1 +/- 345.6 ng/mL, P<.001) were significantly different in group A compared with group N. When compared by perforation (n = 8 with perforation vs n = 11 without perforation), peritoneal granulocyte colony-stimulating factor levels were elevated in subjects with perforation (mean +/- SD, 4.3 +/- 14.4 pg/mL vs 62.7 +/- 79.2 pg/mL, P = .02). Although serum tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 was not different between groups N and A, it was significantly different between group N and patients with a perforated appendicitis (mean +/- SD, 205.9 +/- 43.8 ng/mL vs 3068.9 +/- 5122.4 ng/mL, P = .04). CONCLUSION: Presently, it is not practical to differentiate appendicitis in a pediatric population from other causes of abdominal pain based on the detection of systemic inflammatory response markers.

Abdominal Pain↗

PubMed2005

Impulsivity among adolescents with ADHD and bronchial asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of impulsivity of adolescents diagnosed as suffering from ADHD, Bronchial Asthma and Healthy adolescents (without any chronic disease). METHODS: All participants (n=97) had completed the Barrett (Bis 10) questionnaire. RESULTS: The adolescents suffering from Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) scored the highest points 51.6; the control group without any chronic disease was second with 25.2 and the asthmatic adolescents were third with 23.4 points for their impulsivity. CONCLUSION: It should be made clear to the people that the child comes in contact with his impulsive behavior is uncontrollable, and there is no justification for being angry with him nor any punishment. Patience and education is the answer. These adolescent should be under professional care in order to help him define more acceptable ways and means of deportment according to the norms and standards of his society.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Comparison of transvaginal sonography with digital examination and transabdominal sonography for the determination of fetal head position in the second stage of labor.

OBJECTIVE: Precise determination of fetal head position in labor is a prerequisite for safe instrumental deliveries, and essential for the assessment of labor progress. Recent studies have cast serious doubts on the accuracy of the time-honored digital vaginal examination (DVE) in comparison to transabdominal ultrasound scans (TUS). However, transabdominal imaging is technically difficult with a deeply engaged fetal head in the second stage of labor. We examined the accuracy and time requirements of transvaginal scans (TVS) in the second stage of labor for determination of fetal head position. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty laboring women in the second stage of labor with a deeply engaged fetal head were examined by experienced nurse midwives and senior residents. Fetal head position was recorded as "time on a 12-hour clock." Subsequently, TUS and TVS were independently performed by a skilled sonographer. Accuracy and time requirements for all 3 examinations were recorded. RESULTS: Fetal head position could be determined in all cases by TVS, but not in 7 cases and 9 cases by DVE and TUS, respectively (P < .03; P < .008). A discrepancy of 60 degrees or more between the DVE and TUS or TVS was found in 13/60 cases (21.7%) and 14/60 cases (23.3%), respectively. A > or = 90 degrees discrepancy was found in 9/60 cases (15%) and 12/60 cases (20%), respectively (P < .02 for comparison of TUS and TVS). In 5 cases, the digital examination erroneously perceived an occiput posterior position as occiput anterior. No significant differences in fetal head position were detected between TUS and TVS, when the examination was technically feasible. The mean time (+/-SD) required for determining fetal head position was shortest for TVS (8.7 +/- 5.8 seconds) in comparison to DVE (22.7 +/- 14.6 seconds; P < .0001) or TAS (31.7 +/- 19.1 seconds; P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Transvaginal sonography was the most successful and accurate method for determination of fetal head position in the second stage of labor, and required the least time for performance. We believe that TVS should be routinely performed in the labor room setting for the determination of fetal head position.

Abdomen↗

PubMed2005

Determination of arterial compliance using blood pressure waveform analysis with the CR-2000 system: Reliability, repeatability, and establishment of normal values for healthy European population--the seven European sites study (SESS).

BACKGROUND: We determined the reliability and repeatability of measurements of arterial compliance (AC) and gender- and age-specific normal ranges for a healthy European population. METHODS: Three hundred eight healthy volunteers from seven sites were evaluated. Two measurements were taken during the first visit, repeated on a second visit 1 to 4 weeks later. We used the HDI/PulseWave CR-2000 for measurements of AC. RESULTS: Intravisit measurements, taken 5 min apart, differed by less than 3% (range, 0.36% to 2.97%). All intervisit measures differed by less than 4% (range, 0.24% to 3.67%); none of these differences was statistically significant. All correlation coefficients for pairs of AC parameters measured 5 min apart at the same visit were significant at P < .0001. Paired AC parameters at visit 1 and 2 were highly correlated (P < .0001). Repeated measures GLM (general linear model) failed to detect a significant association between either of the AC parameters and visit (first or second), time (first or second measure at the same visit), and visit-by-time (the interaction of the two preceding factors), suggesting that order of measure had no effect on the final value. Analysis of reliability was used to develop a strictly parallel model estimate of unbiased reliability. Both intravisit and intervisit estimates of reliability indicate good repeatability of measure and were significant (P < .0001). The AC values were found to differ significantly by age group, with an inverse association between each of the AC parameters and age group. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of the arterial waveform with the CR-2000 system is highly reproducible in healthy subjects.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Antihypertensive effect of sweetie fruit in patients with stage I hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Interventional studies have shown that increased intake of fruit and vegetables reduces blood pressure (BP). However, the contribution of specific dietary components has not been evaluated. The aim of the present study was to determine, in patients with stage I hypertension, the antihypertensive effect of juice of the so-called sweetie fruit (a hybrid between grapefruit and pummelo) with and without high flavonoid content. METHODS: A double-blind, cross-over study was conducted in 12 patients. Each patient received alternately high-flavonoid (HF) sweetie juice and low-flavonoid (LF) sweetie juice, each for a 5-week period. The LF sweetie juice had 25% of naringin and 30% of narirutin content compared with the original HF sweetie juice. RESULTS: The HF sweetie juice was more effective than LF sweetie juice in reducing diastolic blood pressure (P = .04). Systolic blood pressure declined in both groups; however there was no significant difference between subjects given HF sweetie versus those given LF sweetie juice. CONCLUSIONS: In this study HF sweetie juice was shown to have a significant beneficial effect in reducing diastolic blood pressure, compared with the effect observed with LF sweetie juice, in patients with stage I hypertension. These data suggest that the active ingredients associated with the antihypertensive effect of sweetie juice are the flavonoids naringin and narirutin.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Memory performance in late pregnancy and erythrocyte indices.

OBJECTIVE: A previous study in elderly people observed an association between chronologically younger erythrocyte population and memory impairment. The aim of this study was to assess whether a similar shift in erythrocyte population in pregnant women in late pregnancy is associated with changes in memory performance in healthy pregnant women. METHODS: Thirty healthy pregnant women were included in a prospective cross-sectional study. Explicit memory and autobiographic memory tests were performed in the late third trimester and 4 months postpartum. Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) was considered the primary predictor variable. RESULTS: The mean explicit memory recall scores were significantly higher at post-delivery compared to pre-delivery: 8.3 +/- 1.7 and 7.4 +/- 1.4, respectively (P = .015). The difference in mean autobiographic memory test score pre- and post-delivery did not reach statistical significance. A positive correlation between post-delivery explicit memory recall scores and the difference between pre- and post-delivery MCV was detected (r = 0.458, P = .01). The correlation between delta MCV and delta explicit memory recall scores was r = 0.2, P =.311. Pre-delivery autobiographic memory test scores were positively correlated with MCV (r = 0.50, P = .006), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (r = 0.57, P = .001), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (r = 0.46, P = .013). CONCLUSION: The change in erythrocyte population that is present in late pregnancy predicted explicit memory performance after delivery, when it was improved. The younger erythrocyte population that exists in late pregnancy is associated with a better autobiographic memory.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disabilities (ADHD/LD): parental characterization and perception.

Sixty-six parents of adolescents (mean age, 14.8 years), who attended special education classes and who were diagnosed as having attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder/learning disabilities (ADHD/LD), were interviewed. The comorbidity of the ADHD group included emotional lability and/or depression, 70%; oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), 67%; obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 44%; addiction to buying, 44%; and aggressiveness, 62%. Twenty-one percent were either involved in the past or presently using drugs. Nine percent had attempted suicide. According to their parents, the main characteristic of these adolescents was low self-image. Parents enumerated five negative characteristics: impulsiveness; nervousness; angered easily ('short fused'); aggressiveness with cursing and outbursts; and impaired sociability with impoliteness.

Adaptation, Psychological↗