Search results for "Ink"
showing 10 items of 4279 documents
Retrobulbar adipocytes and humoral immunity in Graves' ophthalmopathy
1993
As CT and MR-imaging revealed an enlargement of retrobulbar fat tissue in patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy, the role of the retrobulbar adipocytes in the pathogenesis of this disorder remains to be elucidated. To evaluate the in vitro influence of humoral immunity on retrobulbar adipose tissue, the effects of IgG and sera from 56 euthyroid ophthalmopathy patients and 53 controls on both porcine and human (patients' and controls') retrobulbar adipocytes were measured by means of several assays: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to reveal specific binding of antibodies to the adipocytes. Metabolic activity was determined by means of a colorimetric dimethyl thiazolium-diphe…
Psychometric evaluation of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener GAD-7, based on a large German general population sample.
2017
Abstract Background The Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scales GAD-7 and GAD-2 are instruments for the assessment of anxiety. The aims of this study are to test psychometric properties of these questionnaires, to provide normative values, and to investigate associations with sociodemographic factors, quality of life, psychological variables, and behavioral factors. Methods A German community sample (n=9721) with an age range of 18–80 years was surveyed using the GAD-7 and several other questionnaires. Results Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the unidimensionality and measurement invariance of the GAD-7 across age and gender. Females were more anxious than males (mean scores: M=4.07 vs. M…
Personality disorders among the relatives of schizophrenia patients.
1994
In light of current linkage studies in schizophrenia, research on the "schizophrenia spectrum" deserves increased attention for an exact determination of the affected phenotype: Those disorders that have a much higher prevalence among biological relatives of schizophrenia patients are supposed to share common etiological factors with "core" schizophrenia. However, there is controversy over which of the DSM-III-R personality disorders should be included in the spectrum. In a controlled family study of inpatients with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 101), schizophreniform and schizoaffective disorders (n = 69), and unipolar major depression (n = 160), familial rates of personality…
Confirmation of association of the GABRA2 gene with alcohol dependence by subtype-specific analysis
2006
Objectives: Three recent studies revealed a haplotypic association of alcohol dependence with the gene encoding the {alpha}2 subunit of the {gamma}-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor (GABRA2). The present study examined whether variation of the GABRA2 gene confers susceptibility to different subtypes of alcohol dependence in the German population. Methods: A total of 257 German alcohol-dependent patients and 88 healthy population controls were genotyped for six single-nucleotide polymorphisms covering the middle part and the 3′ end of GABRA2. Allelic, genotypic and haplotypic comparisons were done for subgroups of alcohol-dependent patients with a presumed high genetic load. Results:…
C-reactive protein but not soluble CD40 ligand and homocysteine is associated to common atherosclerotic risk factors in a cohort of coronary artery d…
2009
Abstract Objectives One third to one half of the variation in vascular disease occurrence remains unexplained by traditional risk factors. Since atherosclerosis may, in part, be an inflammatory disease, circulating factors related to inflammation may be predictors of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between common atherosclerotic risk factors and markers of inflammation. Design and methods Serum levels of soluble CD40 (sCD40L), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homocysteine (Hcy) were measured in 251 patients selected from a series of 438 subjects affected by previous myocardial infarction, angina or other cardiovascular diseases. Re…
Effect of dual blockade of renin–angiotensin system on TGFβ1 and left ventricular structure and function in hypertensive patients
2007
The effects of 24 weeks losartan and ramipril treatment, both alone and in combination, on left ventricular mass (LVM), circulating transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1), procollagen type I (PIP) and III (PIIIP), have been evaluated in hypertensive (HT) patients. A total of 57 HT with stage 1 and 2 essential hypertension were included. After 4 weeks run in, a randomized double-blind, three arms, double dummy, independent trial was used. All HT patients were randomly allocated to three treatment arms consisting of losartan (50 mg/daily), ramipril (5 mg/ daily) and combined (losartan 50 mg/daily + ramipril 5 mg/daily) for 24 weeks. TGFbeta1, PIP and PIIIP, LVM, LVM/h(2.7) and other echo…
Lack of genetic association of neutral endopeptidase (NEP) with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
2010
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a condition that is characterized by severe pain and exaggerated neurogenic inflammation, which may develop after injury or surgery. Neurogenic inflammation is mediated by neuropeptides, such as calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP) that are released from nociceptors. Genetic factors may play a role in CRPS as was suggested by the occurrence of familial cases and several genetic association studies investigating mainly the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. Here we investigated the role of neutral endopeptidase (NEP), a key enzyme in neuropeptide catabolism. NEP dysfunction resulting in reduced inactivation of neuropeptides m…
A prospective study of the precursors to problem drinking in young adulthood.
1994
This study was part of the Jyvaskyla Longitudinal Study on Social Development. The subjects (196 males, 173 females) were studied at age 8, 14 and 26. Three components in drinking habits were obtained at age 26: social, problem and controlled drinking. Moderate to severe problem drinking was obtained for 26% of the men and 1% of the women, and mild problem drinking for 23% of the men and 15% of the women. Problem drinking (defined by the CAGE Questionnaire, arrest for alcohol abuse and other indicators of heavy drinking) was directly accounted for by poor school success at age 14 and, for men, by conduct problems and low anxiety. Variables at age 8 that contributed indirectly to adult probl…
The role of lifestyle behaviour on the risk of hypertension in the SUN cohort: The hypertension preventive score
2019
Lifestyles may influence the risk of hypertension. Our objective was to assess the association between a healthy-lifestyle score and the incidence of hypertension. The SUN Project is a dynamic, prospective cohort of Spanish university graduates (1999-2014). Among 14,057 participants initially free of hypertension, we assessed the influence of lifestyle-related factors based on a 10-item score that we previously reported to be associated with lower risk of major cardiovascular events. However, we focused on factors related to hypertension risk according to previous scientific evidence and international clinical guidelines and constructed a 6-item score including: no smoking, moderate-to-high…
Masseter reflex and blink reflex abnormalities in Chiari II malformation.
2001
Masseter reflex and blink reflex were evaluated in 64 patients with a myelomeningocele and Chiari II malformation. In 46 patients, no brainstem signs or symptoms were present. Brainstem dysfunction related to Chiari II malformation occurred in 18 patients. The masseter reflex was more frequently abnormal in the symptomatic than asymptomatic patients (P = 0.02). Although the blink reflex was similarly affected in the two groups of patients (P > 0.1), it was very sensitive, being abnormal in 83% of symptomatic and 65% of asymptomatic patients. Concomitant abnormality of masseter reflex and the late contralateral blink reflex component (R2c) was almost exclusively found in symptomatic patients…