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Cognitive predictors of functional decline in vascular dementia.

BACKGROUND: This study examined changes in cognitive-functional relationships in vascular dementia (VaD) over the course of one year. METHODS: Twenty-four patients with probable VaD were administered the Dementia Rating Scale (DRS). Caregivers completed an informant-based measure of instrumental (IADL) and basic activities of daily living (BADL). Follow-up assessment was conducted one-year post-baseline. RESULTS: Logistic regression revealed that changes in the DRS Initiation/Perseveration and DRS Memory subscales were significantly associated with declines in IADLs and BADLs, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with VaD, longitudinal changes in IADLs and BADLs are most strongly associated with changes in executive functioning and memory abilities, respectively. Findings suggest that different cognitive functions subserve complex instrumental and rote, habituated basic functional activities, and neuropsychological screening measures are useful in the prediction of such functional changes.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Correlates of insight and insight change in schizophrenia.

Various theories have been proposed to account for poor insight in schizophrenia. This study examined the relationships between insight, mood, schizophrenic symptoms and cognitive functioning. The relationship between longitudinal changes in insight and changes in symptoms and mood was also investigated. One-hundred patients with DSM-III-R schizophrenia, recently recovered from a relapse of their illness, were rated on the Insight and Treatment Attitudes Questionnaire (ITAQ), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test and tests of current and premorbid IQ. A random sample of 53 were then given an educational package (video and booklets) designed to improve their insight. Follow-up ratings on the ITAQ, PANSS and MADRS were subsequently obtained. At baseline, better insight was significantly correlated with lower mood and fewer positive symptoms. It was not related to cognitive functioning. Improvement in insight at follow up was related to worsening of mood, but not to change in positive symptoms. The results are consistent with the concept that poor insight, at least in part, results from the psychotic disease process itself. In addition, they suggest that poor insight may protect against depression in the early stages of recovery from schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗

Diffusion tensor imaging in multiple sclerosis: a tool for monitoring changes in normal-appearing white matter.

Our objectives were to determine the reproducibility of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in volunteers and to evaluate the ability of the method to monitor longitudinal changes occurring in the normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). DTI was performed three-monthly for one year in seven MS patients: three relapsing-remitting (RRMS), three secondary progressive (SPMS) and one relapsing SP. They were selected with a limited cerebral lesion load. Seven age- and sex-matched controls also underwent monthly examinations for three months. Diffusivity and anisotropy were quantified over the segmented whole supratentorial white matter, with the indices of trace (Tr) and fractional anisotropy (FA). Results obtained in volunteers show the reproducibility of the method. Patients had higher trace and lower anisotropy than matched controls (P < 0.0001). Over the follow-up, both Tr and FA indicated a recovery after the acute phase in RRMS and a progressive shift towards abnormal values in SPMS. Although this result is not statistically significant, it suggests that DTI is sensitive to microscopic changes occurring in tissue of normal appearance in conventional images and could be useful for monitoring the course of the disease, even though it was unable to clearly distinguish between the various physiopathological processes involved.

Adult↗

Total body water in pregnancy: assessment by using bioelectrical impedance.

Determinations of total body water (TBW) calculated from deuterium dilution spaces and bioelectrical-impedance measurements were made serially in a group of 15 women before, during, and after pregnancy. Similar measurements were made once in a group of 50 nonpregnant women and intermittently in another group of 10 women during pregnancy and postpartum. TBW increased significantly during pregnancy, then decreased postpartum. Estimates of TBW in pregnancy and postpartum calculated with models derived from nonpregnant and pregnant women were similar to measured values. Changes in reactance and resistance explained more of the variance in predicting changes in TBW than did body weight, abdominal circumference, or hematocrit (50-75% vs 4-50%, respectively). Changes in TBW estimated with the nonpregnancy impedance model were significantly different than either the measured changes or changes predicted with the pregnancy impedance model. These findings indicate that the impedance method is a practical and valid method for determining longitudinal changes in TBW.

Adult↗

Use of Fourier analysis to determine age-related changes in the facial profile.

This study demonstrated the feasibility and utility of fitting a Fourier function to the facial profile to accurately characterize changes in shape associated with aging, orthodontic or prosthodontic treatment, and orthognathic surgery. In contrast to conventional metric approaches, Fourier analysis provided a detailed measurement of the facial profile and facilitated the quantitative assessment of changes in its shape. Fourier functions, corrected for size, were computed for each of the 77 facial profiles and used to measure longitudinal changes in the midsagittal facial outline. The facial profile segment between the maxillary and mandibular lips showed the greatest variability and the tip of the nose the least variability in persons with intact dentitions.

Aging↗

Comparison between PAI and quantitative digital radiographic assessment of apical healing after endodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare both subjective (Periapical Index, PAI) and objective (densitometric) radiographic evaluation of healing after endodontic treatment for apical periodontitis. STUDY DESIGN: Standardized radiographs of 103 teeth taken at baseline (immediately after endodontic treatment) and at 1, 4, 12, 26, and 52 weeks were evaluated. Consensus PAI scores obtained from 7 calibrated observers served as "true scores." Densitometric estimates of periapical status were obtained from digitized radiographs as the ratio of mean gray value of an area of radiolucency (AR) to an adjacent and similar-sized normal (N) area (AR/N). The selected regions of interest on baseline images were automatically superimposed on postoperative images. All estimates of change were measured with respect to baseline. The subtraction estimate was expressed as AR(S)-N(S). Linear regression was used to analyze longitudinal changes against baseline and to assess the relationship of PAI and AR/N and of change in PAI with respect to baseline and AR(S)-N(S). RESULTS: Five hundred fifty-six PAI scores were generated, with 547 AR/N values and 444 subtraction estimates. PAI, AR/N, and AR(S)-N(S) demonstrated statistical significance for change (P < or = .05) starting at 12 weeks. PAI was significantly correlated with AR/N (P < .0001), as was CHPAI with AR(S)-N(S) (P < .024). CONCLUSION: The PAI and 2 densitometric estimates (AR/N and AR(S)-N(S)) detected healing of apical periodontitis at 12 weeks after treatment. No difference could be observed among the methods.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

Comorbidity and its change predict survival in incident dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have performed a comprehensive comparison of the prognostic importance of comorbidity to that of other case-mix factors influencing incident dialysis patients' survival. Longitudinal change in the comorbid illness burden of incident dialysis patients has not been measured. Comorbidity severity and its change may serve as important prognostic markers of survival, independent of other case-mix factors. METHODS: The Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for End-Stage Renal Disease Cohort Study used the Index of Coexistent Disease (ICED) to assess comorbidity at the initiation of chronic dialysis treatment (1,039 incident patients) and during follow-up (733 patients). Using proportional hazards regression analyses, the relationship to survival of baseline ICED level and change in ICED level was examined. RESULTS: At the initiation of chronic dialysis treatment, 36% of patients were at ICED level 0 to 1 (least comorbidity severity); 35%, level 2; and 29%, level 3. After multivariable adjustment, baseline ICED level was the strongest predictor of subsequent mortality. Compared with ICED level 0 to 1, relative risks for mortality were 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 2.6) for ICED level 2 and 2.8 (95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 3.9) for ICED level 3. The prevalence and severity of most comorbid conditions increased during follow-up. After controlling for baseline ICED level and other factors, change in ICED level over time was significantly associated with mortality (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Indexing comorbidity when patients begin chronic dialysis therapy and recording the evolution of index scores yields a predictor of mortality risk that is independent of other case-mix factors.

Cohort Studies↗

Longitudinal cerebrospinal fluid tau load increases in mild cognitive impairment.

Cross-sectional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of tau and amyloid (A) beta (beta) are of diagnostic importance for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, most longitudinal studies of tau fail to demonstrate progression. Because predominantly brain-derived proteins such as tau, have higher ventricle to lumbar ratios, we hypothesized that adjusting for the ventricular enlargement of AD would correct for the dilution of tau, and improve detection of longitudinal change. Abeta which is not exclusively brain derived, shows a ratio <1, and no benefit was expected from adjustment. In a 1 year longitudinal study of eight MCI and ten controls, we examined CSF levels of hyperphosphorylated (P) tau231, Abeta40, and Abeta42. In cross-section, MCI patients showed elevated Ptau231 and Abeta40 levels, and greater ventricular volumes. Longitudinally, only after adjusting for the ventricular volume and only for Ptau231, were increases seen in MCI. Further studies are warranted on mechanisms of tau clearance and on using imaging to interpret CSF studies.

Aged↗

Arthroscopic evaluation of the synovial lining before and after open synovectomy of the knee joint in patients with chronic inflammatory joint diseases.

Twenty-eight patients with chronic inflammatory joint diseases had arthroscopy immediately before synovectomy of the knee joint and 6 and 12 months postoperatively. In patients with moderate and/or severe synovitis of the knee joint all of the synovial membrane is involved in the disease process. Resynovitis (synovitis of the regenerated synovial membrane after synovectomy), however, is patchy and if biopsy should be indicated, arthroscopic guidance is advocated. Following synovectomy there is a recurrence of mild synovitis of varying degree in some cases with an increase in resynovitis between 6 and 12 months. The level of synovitis at 12 months was, however, markedly less than at synovectomy (p less than 0.01). Similar development was found both in histopathology and immunohistopathology after synovectomy. Arthroscopic examination of the synovial membrane in chronic inflammatory disease of the knee joints gives valuable information of the severity and the longitudinal changes of synovitis. A simple method of scoring is described and is imperative when comparing patients or groups of patients and when doing longitudinal arthroscopic studies. The method was used both at arthroscopy and at subsequent synovectomy giving a highly significant correlation (p less than 0.001).

Arthroscopy↗

Body mass index, waist circumference and waist to hip ratio and change in sex steroid hormones: the Massachusetts Male Ageing Study.

OBJECTIVE: Cross-sectional data suggest that obesity, particularly central obesity, may be associated with decreased production of sex steroid hormones in men. However, longitudinal hormone data on men in relation to obesity status are limited. Previous studies have not consistently demonstrated whether sex steroids are associated specifically to body mass index or to measures of central obesity. Our objective was to examine the relation of obesity (body mass index > 30 kg/m2), and of central obesity (waist circumference > 100 cm or waist to hip ratio > 0.95) to longitudinal change in sex steroid hormones in men. DESIGN: Prospective follow-up of a population-based sample of men in Boston. PATIENTS: Nine hundred forty-two (942) men in the Massachusetts Male Ageing Study with complete anthropometry and hormone data at baseline (1987-1989, ages 40-70) and follow-up (1995-1997). MEASUREMENTS: Free and total testosterone (FT and TT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were assessed using standardized methods. Health behaviours and medical history were obtained by structured interview. Repeated measures regression was used to describe trends in steroid hormones and SHBG in relation to obesity status, adjusting for age, smoking, alcohol, comorbidities, and physical activity. RESULTS: Obesity was associated with decreased levels of total and free testosterone, and of SHBG at follow-up relative to baseline. For any given baseline concentration of TT, FT or SHBG, follow-up levels were lowest among men who remained obese or who became obese during follow-up. This was true for all three indices of obesity. Central adiposity was associated with lower DHEAS levels at follow-up, while elevated body mass index was not. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity may predict greater decline in testosterone and SHBG levels with age. Central adiposity may be a more important predictor of decline in DHEAS than is body mass index.

Adult↗

Characteristics of Japanese subjects who progress from normal to impaired glucose tolerance. Longitudinal study excluding changes in body weight.

In this retrospective longitudinal study, we focused on the clinical characteristics of Japanese individuals with recent onset impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) who have been followed up for insulin secretory function and 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for more than 3 years annually before they progressed from normal glucose tolerance (NGT) to IGT. Subjects whose body weight did not show significant change for the period were selected and labeled as either NGT (no change in OGTT over 3 years) or IGT (progressors from NGT to IGT) groups (n = 24, each). We compared the basal biochemical data and response of plasma glucose and serum insulin after OGTT of the two groups. In the IGT progressors, significant increase of plasma glucose at 30 to 120 minutes during OGTT and significant decrease of HDL-cholesterol were observed since 3 years before onset of IGT. In addition to increase of serum glucose and decrease of HDL-cholesterol, serum insulin at 120 minutes during OGTT were significantly and remarkably high at onset and 3 years before onset of IGT. Plasma glucose at 30-120 minutes and serum insulin level at 120 minutes after glucose load are potentially significant predictors of progression from NGT to IGT even in subjects who do not show increase of body weight.

Aged↗

Longitudinal deteriorations in patient reported outcomes in patients with COPD.

Goals of effective management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include relieving their symptoms and improving their health status. We examined how such patient reported outcomes would change longitudinally in comparison to physiological outcomes in COPD. One hundred thirty-seven male outpatients with stable COPD were recruited for the study. The subjects health status was evaluated using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ). Their dyspnoea using the modified Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and their psychological status using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were assessed upon entry and every 6 months thereafter over a 5-year period. Pulmonary function and exercise capacity as evaluated by peak oxygen uptake (VO2) on progressive cycle ergometry were also followed over the same time. Using mixed effects models to estimate the slopes for the changes, scores on the SGRQ, the CRQ, the MRC and the HADS worsened in a statistically significant manner over time. However, changes only weakly correlated with changes in forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)) and peak (VO2). We demonstrated that although changes in pulmonary function and exercise capacity are well known in patients with COPD, patient reported outcomes such as health status, dyspnoea and psychological status also deteriorated significantly over time. In addition, deteriorations in patient reported outcomes only weakly correlated to changes in physiological indices. To capture the overall deterioration of COPD from the subjective viewpoints of the patients, patient reported outcomes should be followed separately from physiological outcomes.

Age Factors↗

Turning points and developmental change: subjective and "objective" assessments.

Drawing on recent developmental theories that emphasize the interplay of external and internal factors, the present study examines the interrelationship of self-defined turning points in life, and longitudinal change in self-concept and psychological well-being, among younger and older adults. Self-concept dimensions are found to be stable over time and to predict the impact of turning points.

Adult↗

Changing patterns of strabismus: a decade of experience in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Racial variation in the pattern of strabismus is known, but few large scale studies on non-white populations are available. Furthermore, longitudinal change in this pattern within a local setting has not been well documented in the past. This study aims to support the clinical impression that exotropia is more common in Chinese patients, and that the proportion of patients with exotropia has been increasing in the past decade. METHODS: A total of 2704 consecutive patients with the diagnosis of primary horizontal strabismus, seen in the strabismus clinic of the Hong Kong Eye Hospital, were retrospectively analysed to determine the relative prevalence of esotropia and exotropia. Characteristics recorded include patient demographics, type of strabismus, and whether the nature of the squint was constant or intermittent. RESULTS: 742 (27.4%) patients were found to have esotropia, 548 (20.3%) had constant exotropia, 1213 (44.9%) had intermittent exotropia, and 201 (7.4%) had microtropia. The proportion of exotropic to esotropic patients was shown to increase steadily throughout the past decade (p<0.0001). This was mainly accounted for by an increase in the number of patients with intermittent exotropia, and a corresponding decrease in the number of patients with esotropia. CONCLUSION: Exotropia was shown to be more prevalent than esotropia in a Hong Kong Chinese population. Furthermore, the proportion of patients with intermittent exotropia appears to be increasing, in contrast with esotropic patients. The exact nature of this trend, and possible aetiological factors will require further study.

Esotropia↗

Changes in fatalities due to overdose of anxiolytic and sedative drugs in the UK (1983-1999).

OBJECTIVE: To establish the frequency with which anxiolytic and sedative drugs result in fatal poisonings and to examine longitudinal changes in poisoning deaths. METHOD: The number of fatal poisonings between 1983 and 1999 in England, Scotland and Wales due to a single anxiolytic or sedative drug was obtained from the Department of Health in the UK. This was divided by the number of prescriptions for these drugs in England and Scotland to derive a fatal toxicity index (FTI) of deaths per million prescriptions. RESULTS: Chloral hydrate, clomethiazole, barbiturates, and related sedatives had much higher FTIs than benzodiazepines, buspirone, zolpidem and zopiclone. There has been a substantial reduction in the annual number of deaths from sedative drug poisoning between 1983 and 1999. This has been due to a sustained reduction in prescriptions for high toxicity drugs and more recently a major reduction in temazepam deaths that coincided with the withdrawal of gelatin capsule formulations. CONCLUSION: Deaths would be expected to be further reduced if there were reduced prescriptions of high toxicity drugs--and the continuing need for short-acting barbiturates, clomethiazole and chloral hydrate should be questioned.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗

Pulmonary manifestations of uncomplicated falciparum and vivax malaria: cough, small airways obstruction, impaired gas transfer, and increased pulmonary phagocytic activity.

Despite recognition of acute respiratory distress syndrome in both falciparum and vivax malaria, disease-related changes in pulmonary function have not been defined, and underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, pulmonary phagocytic cell activity, and longitudinal changes were examined in 26 adults with uncomplicated falciparum, vivax, and ovale malaria after treatment. Self-limiting cough occurred in both falciparum (36%) and vivax or ovale (53%) malaria. In infection with each malaria species, admission measures of airflow and gas transfer were lower than predicted, and mean lung (99m)technetium-sulfur-colloid uptake was significantly increased. Changes were most evident in falciparum malaria, with treatment resulting in initial worsening of airflow obstruction and gas transfer. Altered pulmonary function in malaria is common and includes airflow obstruction, impaired ventilation, impaired gas transfer, and increased pulmonary phagocytic activity, and its occurrence in both vivax and falciparum malaria suggests that there may be common underlying inflammatory mechanisms.

Adult↗

Relationship between intraocular pressure and obesity in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Some cross-sectional studies have suggested that age, systolic blood pressure and obesity are positively related to intraocular pressure (IOP), but few longitudinal studies have examined this relationship. This study was carried out to evaluate the association between intraocular pressure and obesity by cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses in a large Japanese population. METHODS: Data were collected from annual health examinations between 1989 and 1997 and reviewed retrospectively. Subjects of the cross-sectional analysis were 70 139 males and females aged 14-94 years. Among these subjects, 25 216 males and females who had undergone IOP measurements more than three times were analysed longitudinally. The association between IOP and obesity was examined cross-sectionally and longitudinally. RESULTS: Cross-sectional analysis: The mean IOP at the last visit was 11.6 mmHg. The IOP decreased gradually with age and was significantly higher in males than in females in almost all age groups. Body mass index (BMI) significantly correlated with IOP after controlling for age, gender and blood pressure. Longitudinal analysis: There was a significant association between longitudinal change in IOP and change in weight. This relationship remained significant after controlling for initial BMI, initial blood pressure, change in blood pressure, gender and age. CONCLUSION: This study showed a significant association between IOP and obesity in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. These findings suggest that obesity is an independent risk factor for increase in IOP.

Adolescent↗

Comparative evaluation of the DPX and DPX-IQ lunar densitometer systems following software upgrade.

Bone densitometry research departments perform system and software upgrades infrequently in order to maintain high precision. This study compares the results obtained on a Lunar densitometer with DPX, and DPX-IQ installed to achieve year 2000 compliance. The DPX-IQ provides an improved femur edge detection algorithm with an expanded reference database. Two hundred data files for each measurement site acquired on DPX were reanalyzed on DPX-IQ. There was no change to the bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), T-scores or Z-scores for the L2-L4 spine, radius (ultradistal and 33%), and total body. There was a significant high correlation for the femoral neck BMD (r = 0.98; p < 0.05). The mean differences in BMD, BMC, T-scores, and Z-scores at the femoral neck and Ward's and trochanteric regions were not significant (p > 0.05). The limits of agreement within the 95% confidence interval for the femoral neck BMD using the Bland and Altman method was between -0.057 and 0.063 g/cm(2). This order of magnitude magnifies the long-term precision error and alters the usual confidence limits for interpretation of true change in densitometry practice. Therefore, it is important for reanalysis of DPX data files with the DPX-IQ to be performed so that longitudinal changes in BMD can be accurately assessed.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗