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PubMed1993

Beta-adrenergic blockade improves uniformity of local contraction in the anterior wall of feline left ventricles.

Uniformity of myocardial contraction has been put forward as an important regulatory mechanism of myocardial contraction, and we have previously demonstrated reduced uniformity of local myocardial contraction in the midwall of left ventricles during preload reduction combined with increased inotropy. The aim of the present study was to explore the isolated inotropic influence on uniformity of contraction, keeping loading conditions constant. Segment performance was measured by implanted piezo-electric crystals in ten open-chest, anaesthetized cats. One crystal pair, circumferential segment, aligned with midwall and epicardial fibres, whereas another perpendicular segment, longitudinal, ran close to endocardial fibre direction. Maximal systolic shortening of longitudinal segments remained unchanged following inotropic interventions, isoprenaline and timolol, whereas circumferential segments revealed reduced performance with timolol (8.4 +/- 1.0% compared with 14.0 +/- 1.3% during control; P < 0.001). In the control state the longitudinal-to-circumferential ratio (LONG/CIRC) a quantitative measure of uniformity, was 0.32 +/- 0.08. No change in uniformity occurred during isoprenaline infusion (0.32 +/- 0.11) but during beta-adrenergic blockade with timolol a clearly higher LONG/CIRC ratio was observed (0.56 +/- 0.06, P < 0.005). Myocardial tissue blood flow measurement by radioactive microspheres showed a shift in transmural distribution with interventions so that subepicardial blood flow was markedly reduced during beta-adrenergic blockade. The direction of subepicardial fibres approximates our circumferential segments. Thus, there may well exist a relationship between segmental shortening and perfusion. In conclusion, circumferential segments were most influenced by changes in inotropy in contrast to previous observations where pronounced changes in longitudinal segments with loading occur. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that reduced inotropy with timolol helped uniform local contraction as estimated by the increased LONG/CIRC ratio, a transition that could improve contraction efficacy.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1984

Applicability of ultrasonic tissue characterization for longitudinal assessment and differentiation of calcification and fibrosis in cardiomyopathy.

Progress in tissue characterization of myocardium with ultrasound suggests that quantitative recognition of ischemic or scarred tissue will be achieved. Despite the increasing recognition and importance of cardiomyopathy, its diagnosis generally requires invasive procedures such as cardiac catheterization and biopsy. To investigate methods that permit the characterization of longitudinal cardiomyopathic changes that might ultimately be extended for noninvasive studies in patients, quantitative ultrasonic methods were utilized for in vitro tissue characterization of hearts from Syrian hamsters of selected age of either 2 to 3 or 5 to 7 months. Normal hamsters were used as controls. Myocardial sites (n = 600) from the young Syrian hamsters exhibited values (+/- standard error) of integrated ultrasonic backscatter averaging -53.87 +/- 0.26 dB, which were significantly different from values (n = 500) in age-matched control hamsters (-58.07 +/- 0.08 dB; p less than 0.001). Cardiomyopathic hearts from older animals exhibited backscatter values (n = 500 sites) averaging -50.87 +/- 0.22 dB, again significantly different from values (n = 300 sites) in age-matched control hamsters (-55.91 +/- 0.11 dB; p less than 0.001). In addition, ultrasonic attenuation was significantly different for hearts from the control and cardiomyopathic hamsters of both age ranges. The results correlated with sequential calcification and fibrosis characteristics assessed histopathologically. This study indicates that quantitative characterization of myocardium with ultrasound may permit longitudinal assessment of cardiomyopathic changes in diverse disease entities and their response to therapy.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2003

A comparison of two methods for the estimation of precision with incomplete longitudinal data, jointly modelled with a time-to-event outcome.

Several methods for the estimation and comparison of rates of change in longitudinal studies with staggered entry and informative drop-outs have been recently proposed. For multivariate normal linear models, REML estimation is used. There are various approaches to maximizing the corresponding log-likelihood; in this paper we use a restricted iterative generalized least squares method (RIGLS) combined with a nested EM algorithm. An important statistical problem in such approaches is the estimation of the standard errors adjusted for the missing data (observed data information matrix). Louis has provided a general technique for computing the observed data information in terms of completed data quantities within the EM framework. The multiple imputation (MI) method for obtaining variances can be regarded as an alternative to this. The aim of this paper is to develop, apply and compare the Louis and a modified MI method in the setting of longitudinal studies where the source of missing data is either death or disease progression (informative) or end of the study (assumed non-informative). Longitudinal data are simultaneously modelled with the missingness process. The methods are illustrated by modelling CD4 count data from an HIV-1 clinical trial and evaluated through simulation studies. Both methods, Louis and MI, are used with Monte Carlo simulations of the missing data using the appropriate conditional distributions, the former with 100 simulations, the latter with 5 and 10. It is seen that naive SEs based on the completed data likelihood can be seriously biased. This bias was largely corrected by Louis and modified MI methods, which gave broadly similar estimates. Given the relative simplicity of the modified MI method, it may be preferable.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1999

Development of the human corpus callosum during childhood and adolescence: a longitudinal MRI study.

1. Interest in the morphologic development of the corpus callosum (CC) during childhood and adolescence stems from adolescent changes in cognitive functions subserved by the CC, reports of CC anomalies for a wide variety of childhood neuropsychiatric illnesses, and controversy regarding sexual dimorphism. 2. Characterization of the normal developmental pattern of the CC is hindered by enormous variability of its size. This is especially problematic for cross-sectional studies seeking to assess possible non-linear developmental curves. 3. To more accurately characterize developmental changes, a longitudinal brain magnetic resonance imaging study with subjects rescanned at approximately 2 year intervals was conducted resulting in 251 scans from 139 healthy children and adolescents. 4. Midsagittal area of the CC, especially the posterior regions, increased robustly from ages 5 to 18 years. 5. Although the genu of the CC was significantly larger in males there were no sex differences in mean area after adjustment for total cerebral volume and the growth patterns did not differ between sexes. 6. Analysis revealed a non-linear increase in the splenium, the most posterior region, with increases greatest in the younger years. 7. The results of this longitudinal study, in addition to confirming and extending previous cross-sectional reports, provide an increasingly accurate yardstick from which to assess pathological development.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Static and dynamic longitudinal structural analyses of cognitive changes in old age.

BACKGROUND: Among the main data-analytical advances of recent decades are Latent Growth Models (LGM) and Multilevel Models (MLM) for the analysis of longitudinal data. OBJECTIVE: We discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of the two analytical methods and offer some practical guidelines concerning the choice between LGM and MLM based on (a). completeness and balance of the data, (b). theoretical functional form of change examined, (c). examination of the error structure, (d). theoretical relations among differential level effects and differential change effects, and (e). role of time-invariant covariates. METHODS: To discuss LGM and MLM, we provide illustrations from applications to the Berlin Aging Study (BASE) and the Swiss Interdisciplinary Longitudinal Study on the Oldest Old (SWILSO-O). RESULTS: As predicted by two-component theories of lifespan cognition, performance on a vocabulary test (indicator of broad crystallized intelligence) did not decline over time, while scores on a digit letter test (indicator of broad fluid intelligence) decreased over 6 years. Differential level effects were obtained on both variables, while average and differential change effects were obtained only for the digit letter test. In a second set of analyses, we tested the error-free effect that a broad fluid intelligence indicator exerted on the latent yearly change in a broad crystallized intelligence indicator, and vice versa. In both data sets we obtained strong evidence for a more reliable effect of the fluid indicator on the change in the crystallized indicator. This evidence provided support for the dedifferentiation hypothesis of cognitive abilities in very old age. CONCLUSIONS: New insights into cognitive aging phenomena can be gained with proper applications of LGM and MLM. We posit that the choice between LGM and MLM and their specification rests on theoretical and empirical motives to be defined a priori.

Aging↗
PubMed1998

Macroinvertebrate Community Structure Along the Longitudinal Gradient of an Agriculturally Impacted Stream

/ Lapwai Creek, an agriculturally impacted stream in northern Idaho, was sampled seasonally over a two-year period to determine if macroinvertebrate community composition changed along the longitudinal gradient and if changes followed predictions of the river continuum concept. Possible relationships between changes in food resource availability and community structure were also examined. Benthic invertebrates were collected at eight locations along the longitudinal gradient of Lapwai Creek using a Hess sampler. Random skewer analysis suggested there was no longitudinal gradient for either number of individuals or functional feeding group composition. Cluster analysis revealed that all locations, excluding a site receiving outflow from a small, eutrophic reservoir, had a similar community structure, further suggesting that invertebrate community composition remained consistent along the longitudinal gradient of the stream. The community was dominated at all sites, excluding the site below the reservoir, by functionalgrazers. Shredders were rare throughout Lapwai Creek, even in areas where healthy riparian vegetation still remained. Studies of other streams within the drainage basin show that many species found in the upper reaches of these streams, where agricultural impacts are low, were absent throughout the length of Lapwai Creek. Data collected concurrently with macroinvertebrates indicated that the input, storage, and transport of particulate organic matter was low throughout the stream, whereas periphyton abundance was high. The absence of longitudinal changes, despite flowing through three distinct geomorphological regions, and the grouping of all sites except one by cluster analysis for both dominant taxa and functional feeding groups suggest that agricultural alteration has influenced community structure of Lapwai Creek, resulting in a relatively homogeneous assemblage of macroinvertebrates capable of tolerating agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Additional support for this hypothesis is the high abundance of one food source, periphyton, and the small quantities of terrestrially derived organic matter. The abundance of the former and the rarity of the latter can be attributed to alteration of the drainage basin resulting from agricultural activities through inputs of fertilizers that generated high nutrient concentrations and the removal of riparian vegetation to clear more land for agriculture and provide increase access to the stream.KEY WORDS: Agriculture; Longitudinal patterns; Macroinvertebrates; Nonpoint source; River continuum

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of longitudinally and cross-sectionally determined age-related decline in spirometric measurements.

In order to compare the longitudinally and cross-sectionally determined annual decline of spirometric measurements, we measured spirograms from 326 male adults four times over five years. Acceptable results were obtained three times or more in 269 subjects aged 30 to 55 at the initial survey. Longitudinal annual changes in the height-squared proportional values of forced vital capacity (CFVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (CFEV1), and maximal expiratory flow at 50% and 25% of FVC (CVmax 50 and CVmax 25), was estimated by the model in which the effect of each individual's level was included as an explanatory variable. The cross-sectional annual change in those indices was determined by including the effect of each survey's level in the model. The longitudinal estimate of annual decline was significantly smaller than the cross-sectional estimate for all indices except CVmax 25. No evidence suggested that systemic error of measurement or a learning effect caused significant bias in the data. The discrepancy in the estimated annual changes seemed to be caused by the cohort effect in our subjects, since the cross-sectional analysis is primarily sensitive to harmful factors operating in the past. We concluded that the longitudinal data for individuals or groups should not be compared with any reference value based on a cross-sectional analysis.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Performance variability is related to change in cognition: evidence from the Victoria Longitudinal Study.

Performance variability across repeated task administrations may be an important indicator of age-related cognitive functioning. In the present investigation, the authors examined whether age differences and change in inconsistency were related to 6-year (3 occasion) cognitive change. Inconsistency scores were computed from 4 reaction time tasks performed by 446 older adults (54-89 years). Replicating previous cross-sectional results, greater inconsistency was observed for older participants even after controlling for differences in response speed. New longitudinal results demonstrated (a) associations between inconsistency at baseline measurement and 6-year change in cognitive performance; (b) longitudinal change in inconsistency; and (c) intraindividual covariation between 6-year change in inconsistency and 6-year change in level of cognitive function. These findings support the view that performance variability serves as a marker of cognitive aging.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Longitudinal comparisons of dental arch changes in normal and untreated Class II, Division 1 subjects and their clinical implications.

The purpose of this study was to determine on a longitudinal basis whether the growth trends in maxillary and mandibular dental arch widths and lengths in persons with Class II, Division 1 malocclusions were different from those of normal subjects. Dental casts were available on a total of 37 subjects with Class II, Division 1 malocclusions (15 males and 22 females) and 55 normal subjects (28 males and 27 females). For each subject, three sets of casts were evaluated at the following developmental stages: (1) deciduous dentition (mean age = 5.0 years); (2) mixed dentition (mean age = 8.0 years); and (3) permanent dentition (mean age = 12.5 years). Eighteen dental arch lengths and widths parameters were measured on both the maxillary and the mandibular arches. Interexaminer and intraexaminer reliability were predetermined at 0.5 mm. The Analysis of Variance general linear models procedure was used to compare the various dental arch parameters on both a cross-sectional and a longitudinal basis. Curve parallelism and magnitude were evaluated. The results of the analysis of variance comparing the growth curves of the various dental arch parameters in the normal subjects and untreated subjects with Class II, Division 1 malocclusions indicated the absence of significant differences between the groups, i.e., the curves were parallel (p < 0.01). This finding indicates that the growth trends in the various dental arch parameters evaluated were similar in the normal and Class II, Division 1 malocclusion groups in both male and female subjects. In addition, the differences between the measurements of maxillary and mandibular intermolar arch widths were greater in the normal male subjects than in the male subjects with Class II, Division 1 malocclusions. Female subjects had similar trends but the differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, the present findings indicate that the clinician should assume that the changes in arch lengths and widths in both the subjects with Class II, Division 1 malocclusions and the normal subjects follow the same general patterns. On the other hand, the relative constriction of the maxillary arch as related to the mandibular arch, In Class II malocclusions is expressed from the earlier stages of dental arch development. These trends continue in the mixed and early permanent dentitions and do not self correct without treatment. Therefore when such trends are diagnosed, early correction of transverse discrepancy should be attempted together with that of the anteroposterior discrepancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Changes in responsiveness of freshly isolated longitudinal muscle cells from rat uterus towards oxytocin during gestation: contractility and calcium signaling.

Changes in responsiveness of freshly isolated longitudinal muscle cells from rat uterus to oxytocin during gestation were investigated through measuring contractility as well as intracellular free calcium concentration. We have demonstrated the pregnant stage-dependent contraction of freshly isolated myometrial cells in response to an extracellular hormone, oxytocin, in Ca2+-containing medium. The oxytocin effect appeared to be through oxytocin receptor since the effect could be blocked by a specific oxytocin antagonist. The magnitude of the contraction of the isolated cells in response to extracellular oxytocin was in the order of 21 day >> 18 day > 15 day pregnant rat longitudinal muscle cells. In a concentration dependent manner, oxytocin elicited a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i of longitudinal muscle cells isolated from different stages of the pregnant rat uterus, especially at the term of pregnancy. The time (4-5 s) required to reach a maximum increase in [Ca2+]i of the isolated longitudinal muscle cells in response to oxytocin was the shortest among all previously reported studies. The results also indicated that the freshly prepared longitudinal muscle cells maintained their functional calcium signaling system. The order of the responsiveness of the isolated longitudinal muscle cells to oxytocin was 21 day >> 18 day > 15 day pregnant rats in terms of rate, affinity and magnitude. Oxytocin appears to transmit its signal mainly through stimulating a voltage-dependent and/or receptor operated nonselective calcium channel. However, the possibility that a part of the oxytocin action occurs through stimulating the release of calcium from intracellular store sites of longitudinal muscle still remains.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Circadian, infradian and seasonal changes in neural conduction velocity with reference to the effects of temperature. II: Infradian and seasonal changes].

Using the longitudinal study it was shown that a number of sensory neurographic parameters changed systematically throughout the 4-day investigation. In particular the sensory NCV of the n. medianus of the hand increased significantly. Possible causes i.e. the activation of the metabolism are discussed. Should this assumption prove to be true repetitive stimulation of a nerve could have a therapeutic effect. The seasonal influences are displayed using the results of a cross-sectional study. Six out of 21 neurographic parameters showed significant seasonal variations. In the NCVs of the n. medianus and the n. ulnaris maxima were present in summer and autumn while the NCVs of the lower extremities had minima. In winter and spring differences between the NCVs of the lower and upper arm and leg were lowest. These differences may be caused by seasonal changes of the metabolism which modifies the coefficient of the temperature of the neurographic parameters.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1992

The reproducibility of colour-coded duplex scanning in measuring arterial wall dimensions.

Intimal hyperplasia continues to be a major problem following vascular surgery but experimental evidence suggests that it can be reduced pharmacologically. For clinical studies an accurate, reproducible and non-invasive image of the intima and lumen is required. We have assessed the value of the Acuson 128 Colour Duplex for such studies. Ten patients had their common femoral arteries scanned at a fixed point by two experienced observers on two separate occasions. External vessel diameter, luminal diameter and internal diameter (i.e. the diameter within the internal elastic lamina) were measured in both longitudinal and cross-sectional views. Cross-sectional area and degree of stenosis were all measured and all parameters expressed as limits of agreement. The mean external diameter of the common femoral arteries was 10.5 +/- 1.6 mm. Measurements in the longitudinal view were highly reproducible with limits of agreement ranging from -0.67 - +0.25 mm (internal diameter) to -1.49 - +1.31 mm (luminal diameter). In order to detect a meaningful change in longitudinal external diameter a real difference of 0.86 mm is required representing a change of less than 10%. Cross-sectional diameter measurements were similarly reproducible (-0.73 - +0.47 mm to -1.97 - +1.79 mm). However, cross-sectional area measurements had a wide variation so that the error in degree of stenosis was -25.4 - +30.2%. Thus, duplex ultrasound reproducibly images the layers of the arterial wall. Prospective studies of intimal hyperplasia are feasible but must be based on longitudinal and cross-sectional diameters rather than cross-sectional areas.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

An in vitro method for recording single unit afferent activity from mesenteric nerves innervating isolated segments of rat ileum.

A technique has been developed for recording single unit afferent activity from mesenteric nerves in isolated segments of rat distal ileum in vitro. The preparation consists of a 3-cm segment of ileum, containing a single neurovascular bundle, held horizontally in an organ bath. One end of the segment is attached to a tension transducer to record changes in longitudinal tension of the gut muscle and the other is connected to a pressure transducer to record changes in intra-luminal pressure. Electromyographic activity of the smooth muscle is recorded using glass-insulated tungsten microelectrodes inserted in the wall of the gut. Afferent nerve activity is recorded with a monopolar platinum wire electrode from filaments of the mesenteric nerves that run between the artery and vein supplying the segment. This preparation permits the detailed analysis of the electrical activity of intestinal afferent nerve fibres correlated with mechanical and chemical events occurring naturally in the gut or imposed experimentally on it.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Continuity and change in the social stratification of aging and health over the life course: evidence from a nationally representative longitudinal study from 1986 to 2001/2002 (Americans' Changing Lives Study).

OBJECTIVES: This article overviews previously published and ongoing research from the Americans' Changing Lives (ACL) Study, a longitudinal study of a nationally representative sample of 3,617 adults aged 25 years and older when first interviewed in 1986, focusing on socioeconomic disparities in the way health changes with age during middle and later life, especially in terms of compression of morbidity/functional limitations. METHODS: A variety of descriptive and multivariate regression and growth curve analyses are done on the ACL sample, now surveyed over four waves spanning 15.5 years between 1986 and 2001/2002 with continuing mortality ascertainment via the National Death Index, death certificate searches, and informant reports. RESULTS: Both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses indicate that socioeconomic disparities in health are small in early adulthood, increase through middle and early old age, and then lessen again in later old age. In other terms, compression of morbidity/functional limitations into the later stages of the life course is realized to a much greater degree among the better educated compared with the less educated. Cross-sectional evidence suggests that this reflects differential exposure to or experience of a wide range of psychosocial, environmental, and biomedical risk factors for health (and perhaps their differential impact at different ages and life stages), as well as variations in biological robustness and frailty and also perhaps in the strength of social welfare supports for health at different life stages. Longitudinal analyses reveal several new insights: (a) The flow of causality is much greater from socioeconomic position to health than vice versa; (b) education plays a greater role relative to income in the onset of functional limitations, whereas income has much stronger effects on their progression or course; and (c) educational disparities in the onset and hence of compression of functional limitations over the life course have increased strikingly in later middle and early old age (ages 55-84 years) since 1986. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that understanding and alleviating social disparities in health are both theoretically and methodologically quintessential problems of life course analysis and research.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The profile of bone mineral density in chinese women: its changes and significance in a longitudinal study.

Bone mineral density (BMD) has been shown to be different in different ethnic groups. When lifestyle and diet evolve, there is a possibility of a change in the normal reference BMD values within an ethnic group over a period of time. As the osteoporotic risk uses the T-score as the bench mark, it is pertinent to evaluate whether such changes do occur. Two measurements, 5 years apart, of the BMD of the spine and the hip were made in a cohort of Chinese women in Hong Kong. A kernel function smoothing method, a nonparametric statistical method, was employed to present the BMD data. The greatest rate of bone loss was found to occur between 50 and 59 years of age, but this rate of loss was reduced from age 60 onwards. The BMD values obtained in these two measurements were different from the previous studies in the same population and were found to be higher at the lumbar spine and neck of femur in women over 65 years of age. Even within the cohort, there seemed to be a reduction in the BMD values of the hip in a span of 5 years, although the differences were statistically insignificant. These studies suggest that BMD values could change in a population for a variety of possible reasons. Hence, the reference BMD values might need to be evaluated at regular intervals for the T-score to be meaningful.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1995

Aberrations associated with rigid contact lenses.

A rigid contact lens on an eye can produce levels of spherical aberration very different from those produced by a spectacle lens in front of the eye. These levels are considerably affected by contact lens surface asphericity. Change in longitudinal spherical aberration associated with aspherizing a contact lens surface is well predicted by a simple equation for change in sagittal power of the surface. Displacing an aspheric contact lens on the eye can produce considerable defocus, which is well predicted by simple equations for change in sagittal and tangential surface powers. The best refractive correction with contact lenses can be determined only by overrefraction with a patient wearing a contact lens of power and characteristics similar to that which will be prescribed. An aspheric contact lens that moves to a considerable extent on the eye will cause more unstable vision than will a spherical lens that moves to the same extent.

Contact Lenses↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Geographical pattern of plant affinity to different communities and its causes (by the example of North-European forests)].

The same vascular plant species occur in communities of different types in different parts of their ranges. This phenomenon can be traced in both the latitudinal and the longitudinal directions. Changes in plant affinity to communities of different types are viewed by the example of the North-European forest studied in 1993-2001. Species occurring near their range limits, prefer habitats with smoothed amplitudes of minimum factors ("the law of preference for non-varying environments"). That's why Oxalis acetosella and other boreal-nemoral species demonstrate affinity to riparian forests of the middle-boreal subzone. Another cases of latitudinal change in ecological behavior may be caused by decrease in competitive ability (in Milium effusum), respective changes in the regeneration niche (in Cystopteris fragilis), or behavior of birds dispersing seeds (in Lonicera xylosteum). The longitudinal variation in plant behavior, as viewed by the example of the European-Siberian riparian-subalpine tall-herb synusia, is connected with the post-glacial plant migration in the European North. There is a lot of evidence for the individualistic character of the process, but it looks coherent in the historical retrospective. The possible role of refugia and long-distance dispersal in the process of formation of the present-day ranges of species is briefly reviewed. Conditions for plant dispersal in the past seemingly differ from those nowadays observed. The principal factor, which governs the dispersal rate, is that of interspecific competition level. Plant dispersal could be rather fast in the course of the corresponding primary succession following the glacier retreat or the marine retrogression (the "impulse" hypothesis). Since the climax pattern is established running waters and disturbed lands serve as "migration channels" for plants.

Ecology↗
PubMed2005

Relationship between general health status and the change in chewing ability: a longitudinal study of the frail elderly in Japan over a 3-year period.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to identify the onset predictors of a change in chewing ability over a 3-year period in the frail elderly. METHODS: The subjects were frail elderly people living in southern Japan. Data were collected at baseline (n = 92) and 3 years later (n = 60). The dependent variable was a change in self-rated chewing ability. The independent variables were age, gender, number of present teeth, dentition, maximum bite force (evaluated using a pressure-sensitive foil), basic activities of daily living, self-rated general health status, higher level of competence (evaluated using Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology index), cognitive status (evaluated by revised Hasegawa Dementia Rating scale), and quality of life (evaluated using Philadelphia Geriatric Center morale scale) at baseline. To identify the most reliable predictors, bivariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed, with the change of chewing ability as the dependent variable. RESULTS: Bivariate analysis showed the change in chewing ability was significantly associated with general health status (p < 0.01), number of present teeth (p < 0.05) and maximum bite force (p < 0.01). Backward logistic regression analysis revealed that the most reliable predictor of a change in chewing ability at 3 years was general health status (odds ratio = 6.35, 95% CI = 1.69-23.88). CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that general health status at baseline produces a change in chewing ability.

Activities of Daily Living↗