Search results for " function"
showing 10 items of 9395 documents
2015
Age is known to affect prefrontal brain structure and executive functioning in healthy older adults, patients with neurodegenerative conditions and TBI. Yet, no studies appear to have systematically investigated the effect of age on cognitive performance in patients with focal lesions. We investigated the effect of age on the cognitive performance of a large sample of tumour and stroke patients with focal unilateral, frontal (n=68), or non-frontal lesions (n=45) and healthy controls (n=52). We retrospectively reviewed their cross sectional cognitive and imaging data. In our frontal patients, age significantly predicted the magnitude of their impairment on two executive tests (Raven's Advanc…
Linguistic multifeature MMN paradigm for extensive recording of auditory discrimination profiles
2011
We studied whether a multifeature mismatch negativity (MMN) paradigm using naturally produced speech stimuli is feasible for studies of auditory discrimination accuracy of adult participants. A naturally produced trisyllabic pseudoword was used in the paradigm, and MMNs were recorded to changes that were acoustic (changes in fundamental frequency or intensity) or potentially phonological (changes in vowel identity or vowel duration). All the different changes were presented in three different word segments (initial, middle, or final syllable). All changes elicited an MMN response, but the vowel duration change elicited a different response pattern than the other deviant types. Changes in vo…
Prospective Comparison on Cardiac Iron and Liver Iron by MR In Thalassemia Major Patients Treated with Combination Deferipron–Desferrioxamine Versus …
2010
Abstract Abstract 5164 Introduction: Using T2* MR a randomised placebo controlled study from Sardinia demonstrated combination therapy with deferiprone and desferrioxamine (DFP+DFO) significantly more effective than DFO in improving myocardial iron. One non-randomised study from Sardinia and one observational study from Greece seem to confirm for DFP+DFO therapy the most rapid clearance of cardiac iron. No data are available in literature about prospective comparisons on cardiac iron and function and liver iron in TM patients treated with DFP+DFO versus DFP and DFO in monotherapy. The aim of this multi-centre study was to assess prospectively in a large clinical setting the efficacy of the …
Constipation severity is associated with productivity losses and healthcare utilization in patients with chronic constipation
2014
OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the association between constipation severity, productivity losses and healthcare utilization in a national sample of Italian patients with chronic non-organic constipation (CC). METHODS: We enrolled 878 outpatients with CC. Clinical and demographic data were collected by physicians during clinical examinations. Patients completed a self-administered questionnaire (Patient Assessment of Constipation-Symptoms, PAC-SYM; Work Productivity and Activity Impairment; healthcare utilization, and Symptoms Checklist 90 Revised - Somatization Scale, SCL-90 R). RESULTS: Mean PAC-SYM score was 1.62 ± 0.69. Mean weekly sick time due to constipation was 2.7 ± 8.6 h and pro…
Changes in gallbladder motor function during the female cycle — a risk factor leading to gallstone formation?
1982
The gallbladder volume of eight women with stable cycles was determined by sonography. Furthermore, gallbladder contraction — following an orally administered fatty meal and the spontaneous refilling of the empty gallbladder — was quantitatively examined. The formula of a rotation ellipsoid, which has been proven to be adequately accurate in in vitro studies, was used for calculating the gallbladder volume. In the gestagen phase (21st or 22nd day) the intraindividual studies showed greater fasting volumes, higher residual volumes after contraction, slower gallbladder emptying, and retarded refilling of the empty gallbladder as compared to the estrogen phase (12th or 13th day). The hormonall…
Changes in neural drive to calf muscles during steady submaximal contractions after repeated static stretches
2021
Key points: Repeated static-stretching interventions consistently increase the range of motion about a joint and decrease total joint stiffness, but findings on the changes in muscle and connective-tissue properties are mixed. The influence of these stretch-induced changes on muscle function at submaximal forces is unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, the changes in neural drive to the plantar flexor muscles after a static-stretch intervention were estimated. Neural drive to the plantar flexor muscles during a low-force contraction increased after repeated static stretches. These findings suggest that adjustments in motor unit activity are necessary at low forces to accommodate reduct…
Human corticotropin-releasing hormone and thyrotropin-releasing hormone modulate the hypercapnic ventilatory response in humans
1996
Human corticotropin-releasing hormone (hCRH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) are known to stimulate ventilation after i.v. administration in humans. In a placebo-controlled, single-blind study we aimed to clarify if both peptides act by altering central chemosensitivity. Two subsequent CO2-rebreathing tests were performed in healthy young volunteers. During the first test 0.9% NaCl was given i.v.; during the second test 200 micrograms of hCRH (n = 12) or 400 micrograms of TRH (n = 6) was administered i.v. Nine subjects received 0.9% NaCl i.v. during both rebreathing manoeuvres. The CO2-response curves for the two tests were compared within the same subject. In the hCRH group a marke…
0057 : Preoperative Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF15) as a novel biomarker of acute kidney injury after cardiac bypass surgery
2015
ObjectivePreviously, we demonstrated that preoperative plasma GDF15 levels significantly improved the prognostic value of the EuroSCORE for mortality after cardiac surgery. Despite the strong correlation between GDF15 and renal function, no data are available regarding the potential interest of preoperative GDF15 levels to improve the prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Design134 patients operated on for CABG of whom 50 underwent offpump surgery at our university hospital were included in this prospective, observational study. Exclusion criteria were age 80 years, previous atrial fibrillation/flutter, previous severe renal failure (estimated …
The spectrum of risk factors for contrast induced nephropathy in patients undergoing coronary angiography or intervention
2014
Abstract Introduction Contrast induced nephropathy is an unfavorable acute event which can complicate the clinical course of patients undergoing coronary angiography. Clinical characteristics predisposing to its occurrence are still rather obscure. Methods We enrolled 591 patients (mean age 64.2 ± 10.98; 449 male and 142 female) who underwent emergency or elective Coronary angiography/Angioplastic in our Cardiologic Division between 10/2006 and 06/2008, paying attention to their Cardiovascular risk factors, dose and type of contrast medium, type and number of affected coronary arteries, pharmacological therapies, baseline renal function and extracoronary atherosclerosis. We performed a univ…