Search results for "Case-Control Studies"
showing 10 items of 1567 documents
Surface electrical stimulation of the quadriceps femoris in patients affected by haemophilia A.
2006
Eighteen sessions of surface electrical stimulation was applied to the quadriceps femoris of the left leg of ten male subjects affected by severe haemophilia A, while ten healthy subjects constituted the control group. The isometric strength, the electromyographic activity and the diameter of the rectus femoris were measured in both legs before and after a six-week treatment period. After the treatment, the people affected by haemophilia showed a gain in strength by 13.8% in the stimulated leg and by 17.1% in the non-stimulated one. No changes were detected in the electromyographic activity. On the contrary, the diameter of the rectus femoris of the stimulated leg increased in 24.34%, while…
Salivary cortisol and immunoglobulin A: responses to stress as predictors of health complaints reported by caregivers of offspring with autistic spec…
2012
In the caregiving model of chronic stress, few studies have been conducted with young middle-aged samples and no data exists about acute stress response in this population. To extend knowledge in this issue, health complaints and psychological, endocrine, and immunological responses to stress have been assessed in a cross-sectional sample of 41 parents of offspring with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) in comparison with 37 non-caregiver parents. Salivary cortisol and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels were measured before, during, and after a mental psychosocial stressor, while mood and state anxiety were evaluated before and after the stress. Health complaints, personality traits, socio-econom…
Prenatal adversity: a risk factor in borderline personality disorder?
2012
BackgroundPatients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) show a high prevalence of early adversity, such as childhood trauma. It has also been reported that prenatal adverse conditions, such as prenatal maternal stress, drug taking, tobacco smoking or medical complications, may be associated with an increased risk of mental disorders in the offspring. Prenatal adversity is investigated here for the first time as a potential risk factor in the diagnosis of BPD.MethodA total of 100 patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of BPD and 100 matched healthy controls underwent semi-structured interviews about the course of pregnancy, maternal stressors, birth complications and childhood trauma. Furthe…
Effectiveness of the 2010–2011 seasonal influenza vaccine in preventing confirmed influenza hospitalizations in adults: A case–case comparison, case-…
2012
Highlights ► We perform a case–case comparison as an improvement of the test-negative design. ► We report IVE estimates with a low probability of bias. ► Influenza vaccination halved the risk of confirmed influenza hospitalization. ► This effect was consistent regardless of age over 60. ► The measured effect was specific for confirmed influenza hospitalizations.
Effectiveness of vaccination with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in preventing hospitalization with laboratory confirmed influenza dur…
2013
Background: Since influenza predisposes to bacterial pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, studies have suggested that pneumococcal vaccination might reduce its occurrence during pandemics. We assessed the effectiveness of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination alone and in combination with influenza vaccination in preventing influenza hospitalization during the 2009–2010 pandemic wave and 2010–2011 influenza epidemic. Methods: We conducted a multicenter case-control study in 36 Spanish hospitals. We selected patients aged ≥ 18 y hospitalized with confirmed influenza and two hospitalized controls per case, matched according to age, date of hospitalization and province of residence.…
Association between polymorphisms of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS3) and left posterior wall thickness (LPWT) of the heart in Fabry dis…
2008
Fabry disease is an X-chromosomal storage disorder due to loss-of-function mutations of the GLA gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A. Accumulating glycosphingolipid deposits disturb the function of various cells, in particular that of myocytes, arterial smooth-muscle cells, and vascular endothelium. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, for example measured by left posterior wall thickness (LPWT) of the heart, represents a major component of Fabry disease morbidity in adult patients. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (eNO), produced by eNO synthase (eNOS), is a key regulator of vessel wall function and cardiovascular homeostasis. We analysed the effect of the polymorphisms c.894G > T …
Handling forces for the use of different inhaler devices.
2019
Abstract Age and comorbidities can impact on the success of handling an inhaler. In this pilot study, we assessed finger strength in 62 participants (aged 5–17 years [n = 20], 18–65 years [n = 22] and > 65 years [n = 20]) by using different types of inhalers with integrated sensors (Respimat®, Breezhaler®, Aerolizer®, Genuair®, Diskus®, Ellipta®, HandiHaler®, Turbohaler® and a pressurized metered-dose inhaler [Atrovent®]). Parameters under investigation included the spontaneous and maximum achievable force and torque required to operate devices. Satisfaction with individual inhalers, and the relationship between satisfaction and strength, were also assessed. There was a marked difference in…
Inefficient arterial hypertension control in patients with metabolic syndrome and its link to renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system polymorphisms.
2011
There is evidence that uncontrolled arterial hypertension (AHT) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) increases cardiovascular risks. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and its polymorphisms apparently confer a genetic risk for uncontrolled AHT. This study aims to investigate the influence of RAAS polymorphisms on AHT control in patients diagnosed with MS. This is a two-stage population-based nested case-control pilot study (n=1514). We differentiated between MS-diagnosed patients and non-MS patients (ATP-III criteria) and selected those individuals diagnosed with AHT from each group (n=161 and n=156, respectively). Those who successfully controlled their AHT (controls) and …
How ineffective hypertension control in subjects treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors is related to polymorphisms in the renin-angio…
2009
Abstract Purpose To investigate how genetic polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) influence hypertension (HT) control with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor drugs (ACEI). Methods A case–control, cross-sectional population-based nested study (n = 1514) included hypertensive patients treated with ACEI drugs, either alone or with other antihypertensive drugs. We differentiated between those who did not control their HT (cases) with those who did (controls). Each group's characteristics were compared to determine the risk of non-controlled HT associated with RAAS polymorphisms by adjusting for different variables. Results rs11571074 obtained an ORa of 5.26 for T…
Temporomandibular disorders : a case-control study
2012
Objective: To compare the risk factors and clinical manifestations of patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) diagnosed according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) (axis I) versus an age and gender matched control group. Study Design: A total of 162 patients explored according to the RDC/TMD (mean age 40.6±18.8 years, range 7-90; 11.1% males and 88.9% females) were compared with 119 controls, measuring differences in TMD risk factors (sleep disturbances, stress, psychoactive medication, parafunctions, loss of posterior support, ligament hyperlaxity) and clinical variables (joint sounds, painful muscle and joint palpation, maximum aperture…