Search results for "Case-control study"
showing 10 items of 563 documents
Vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in "vestibular migraine" and Menière's disease: a sign of an electrophysiological link?
2009
Characterizations of the signs and symptoms of "vestibular migraine" and of Meniere's disease seem to overlap, suggesting that both diseases might be due to a common peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Thus, the aim of the present study was to assess vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) in both disorders to determine whether there might be an electrophysiological link between the two disorders. The amplitude and latency of VEMPs were measured from the sternocleidomastoid muscle in 63 patients with vestibular migraine (median age 47 years, range 24-70 years) and in 16 patients with Meniere's disease (median age 52 years, range 36-72 years), and compared with those of 63 sex- and age-…
The value of N-terminal fragment of brain natriuretic peptide and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 levels as predictors of cardiovascular outc…
2008
Aims We sought to determine the association between two major biomarkers, the inactive N-terminal fragment of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and long-term cardiovascular outcomes in a cohort of subjects who had a myocardial infarction or unstable angina 3–36 months previously. Methods and results Plasma NT-proBNP and TIMP-1 were measured in a nested case control study of 250 randomly matched subject pairs enrolled in the long-term intervention with pravastatin in ischaemic disease (LIPID) and LIPID extended follow-up studies. Cases ( n = 250) were defined as those who had a cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or s…
Residual urine volume after total mesorectal excision: an indicator of pelvic autonomic nerve preservation? Results of a case-control study.
2004
Objective The rate of bladder dysfunctions after total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer can be decreased by bilateral pelvic autonomic nerve preservation (PANP). However, it is not clear yet, how often partial nerve impairment may lead to bladder dysfunction. It was the aim of a case-control study, to examine the residual urine volume in patients before and after TME with and without complete PANP, in order to clarify, whether this parameter allows conclusions on the quality of PANP. Patients and methods Regarding bladder function, a case group (n = 26) without complete PANP was compared with a control group (n = 26) with complete identification and nerve preservation according…
Serum levels of interleukin-18 and s-ICAM-1 in patients affected by psoriasis: preliminary considerations.
2003
Objective To find new aspects of the systemic involvement of the Immune System in psoriasis, we determined serum levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18) (Th1-inducing factor cytokine), CD30 (Th2 marker) and sICAM-1 (adhesion molecule). In addition we evaluated the correlation between these molecules and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). Background Psoriasis is associated to an overexpression of Th1 cytokines and a relative underexpression of Th2 cytokines. IL-18 plays an important role in inducing Th1 response because it is a potent inductor of synthesis of IFN-γ, TNF and other mediators. The two major sources of IL-18 are monocytes and macrophages but also human keratinocytes constitutive…
Changes in Gut and Plasma Microbiome following Exercise Challenge in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
2015
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a disease characterized by intense and debilitating fatigue not due to physical activity that has persisted for at least 6 months, post-exertional malaise, unrefreshing sleep, and accompanied by a number of secondary symptoms, including sore throat, memory and concentration impairment, headache, and muscle/joint pain. In patients with post-exertional malaise, significant worsening of symptoms occurs following physical exertion and exercise challenge serves as a useful method for identifying biomarkers for exertion intolerance. Evidence suggests that intestinal dysbiosis and systemic responses to gut microorganisms may play a rol…
Relationship between elastase and total antioxidant status in young subjects with recent myocardial infarction
2008
In a group of young subjects with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) (68 men and 7 women; mean age 39.6 ± 5.7 years) we examined the plasma concentration of elastase, the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and the total antioxidant status (TAS) at the initial stage of AMI. In this group we found an increase of elastase (p <0.001) and TBARS (p < 0.001) and a decrease of TAS (p < 0.001). A statistical correlation was observed in the whole group of AMI patients between plasma elastase and TAS (p < 0.01) and this correlation was more statistically significant in patients with more risk factors and not in those with more involved vessels.
Association Between ABCB1 Genetic Variants and Persistent Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia in Women With Breast Cancer
2020
Importance Persistent chemotherapy-induced alopecia (pCIA) has been recently described in patients with breast cancer and in its most severe form occurs in up to 10% of these patients. Genetic risk factors associated with pCIA have not been adequately explored. Objective To identify genetic variants associated with pCIA. Design, Setting, and Participants In this genetic association study, 215 women with breast cancer treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy with a follow-up of 1.5 to 10 years after the end of the treatment were recruited retrospectively through 3 hospital oncology units across Spain between 2005 and 2018. Severe pCIA was defined as lack of scalp hair recovery (Common Termi…
Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Serum Levels in Patients with Breast Cancer
2003
The chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 is thought to be involved in breast carcinogenesis. We evaluated MCP-1 serum levels in patients with breast cancer (n = 135), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) I-III (n = 30), benign breast lesions (n = 143) and in healthy women (n = 27). We determined the value of MCP-1 serum levels as a differentiation marker between malignant, preinvasive and benign breast diseases and as a predictive marker for the biological phenotype of breast carcinoma. Median (range) MCP-1 serum levels in patients with breast cancer, DCIS I-III, benign breast lesions and healthy women were 200 (57-692) pg/ml, 194 (58-525) pg/ml, 174 (39-529) pg/ml and 175 (67-425)…
Does ovarian blood flow distinguish between ovulatory and anovulatory patients with polycystic ovary syndrome?
2003
The purpose of this study was to determine whether parameters of ovarian blood flow distinguish between women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who ovulate and those who are anovulatory.This was a prospectively enrolled trial, carried out as a cross-sectional comparison of 12 ovulatory patients with PCOS and 20 matched subjects with classic PCOS and 10 healthy control subjects. Hormonal parameters and ovarian blood flow by color flow Doppler imaging were obtained in the early follicular phase.Characteristic elevations in luteinizing hormone (LH) and androgens were found in both groups with PCOS compared with control groups. Women with anovulatory PCOS had high insulin levels and lower Q…