Search results for "Measure"
showing 10 items of 4687 documents
Pregnancy-associated diseases are characterized by the composition of the systemic regulatory T cell (Treg) pool with distinct subsets of Tregs
2011
Dysregulations concerning the composition and function of regulatory T cells (T(regs)) are assumed to be involved in the pathophysiology of complicated pregnancies. We used six-colour flow cytometric analysis to demonstrate that the total CD4(+) CD127(low+/-) CD25(+) forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3)(+) T(reg) cell pool contains four distinct T(reg) subsets: DR(high+) CD45RA(-), DR(low+) CD45RA(-), DR(-) CD45RA(-) T(regs) and naive DR(-) CD45RA(+) T(regs). During the normal course of pregnancy, the most prominent changes in the composition of the total T(reg) cell pool were observed between the 10th and 20th weeks of gestation, with a clear decrease in the percentage of DR(high+) CD45RA(-) and…
Preterm birth: incidence, risk factors and second trimester cervical length in a single center population. A two-year retrospective study
2017
To report the incidence and the major risk factors (RFs) associated with preterm birth (PTB), combining both maternal RFs and cervical length (CL), and to understand if cervical length measurement is really useful in all the patients.The study population consisted of 2048 women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital of Messina, over a 2-year period. Preterm cases represented approximately 8.64% of our total population and, exactly, 65% were late preterm, 32% were preterm, and 3% were extremely preterm.An analysis of PTB sub-categories based on gestational age showed a stronger correlation between gestational age and CL among preterm and extremely preter…
"Only Spinal Fixation" as Surgical Treatment of Cervical Myelopathy Related to Ossified Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: Review of 52 Cases.
2020
Background Ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) is a hyperostotic condition resulting in a progressive narrowing of the spinal canal and subsequent neurologic deficits. Although systemic and local factors in combination with genetic abnormality have been considered in its etiopathogenesis, OPLL remains a poorly understood pathology. Surgical management of OPLL and the choice of the most appropriate treatment are still controversial issues. Here the authors report a series of OPLL-affected patients treated by “only-fixation” technique. Methods Between June 2012 and June 2019, 52 patients having OPLL were treated by a surgical strategy involving only spinal fixation with…
Laparoscopic-ultrasonographic combined technique for the creation of a neovagina in Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome
1996
Objective To create a neovagina using a combined laparoscopic and ultrasonographic technique in Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome by modification of Vecchietti's operation. Design Case report. Setting Division of Physiopathology of Reproduction, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. Main Outcome Measure(s) The advancement of the needle from the pseudohymen, through the vesicorectal space using a triple contrast ultrasonographic technique. Result(s) The ultrasonographic scanning guides the accurate transit from external genitalia to the peritoneal cavity. Conclusion(s) This original approach allowed a safe and rapid creation of a neovagina in a case of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser s…
Does Extra Interletter Spacing Help Text Reading in Skilled Adult Readers?
2016
AbstractA number of experiments have shown that, in skilled adult readers, a small increase in interletter spacing speeds up the process of visual word recognition relative to the default settings (i.e., judge faster than judge). The goal of the present experiment was to examine whether this effect can be generalized to a more ecological scenario: text reading. Each participant read two stories (367 words each) taken from a standardized reading test. The stories were presented with the standard interletter spacing or with a small increase in interletter spacing (+1.2 points to default) in a within-subject design. An eyetracker was used to register the participants’ eye movements. Comprehens…
Harmonization of real-world studies in multiple sclerosis: Retrospective analysis from the rirems group
2020
Background: Worldwide multiple sclerosis (MS) centers have coordinated their efforts to use data acquired in clinical practice for real-world observational studies. In this retrospective study, we aim to harmonize outcome measures, and to evaluate their heterogeneity within the Rising Italian Researchers in MS (RIReMS) study group. Methods: RIReMS members filled in a structured questionnaire evaluating the use of different outcome measures in clinical practice. Thereafter, thirty-four already-published papers from RIReMS centers were used for heterogeneity analyses, using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects method to compute the between-study variance (τ2). Results: Based on questionna…
Early Lung Function Abnormalities in Acromegaly.
2014
BACKGROUND: Acromegaly is an insidious disorder caused by a pituitary growth hormone (GH)-secreting adenoma resulting in high circulating levels of GH and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Respiratory disorders are common complications in acromegaly, and can severely impact on quality of life, eventually affecting mortality. OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to explore structural and functional lung alterations of acromegalic subjects. METHODS: We enrolled 10 consecutive patients (M/F: 5/5) affected by acromegaly. In all patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed the presence of pituitary tumor. All patients underwent clinical, lung functional, biological, and radiological as…
Microdialysis-Assessed Exercised Muscle Reveals Localized and Differential IGFBP Responses to Unilateral Stretch Shortening Cycle Exercise
2020
Microdialysis allows for a preview into local muscle metabolism and can provide physiological insight that blood measurements cannot. Purpose: To examine the potential differential IGF-I system regulation in interstitial fluid during unilateral stretch shortening cycle exercise. Methods: 10 men (26 ± 7 year) performed unilateral jumping [stretch shortening cycle (SSC) exercise at 50% of optimal jump height] until volitional fatigue on a sled apparatus. Biological sampling took place using a catheter inserted into an antecubital vein (serum), and 100 kDa microdialysis probes inserted into the thigh muscle of each exercise/control leg (dialysate). Serum was drawn before (Pre; −3 h) and after …
An experimental controlled study on postural sway and therapeutic exercise in subjects with low back pain.
2000
Objectives: To describe postural sway and its associations to background factors, low back pain and functional capacity. To evaluate the changes in postural sway after three months of therapeutic exercise in the gym or at home. Design: A one-year randomized experimental trial evaluated postural sway in three study groups: intensive training, home exercise and control group. Setting: Subjects were recruited from seven local occupational health care centres in Central Finland and were examined at Central Finland Hospital by medical doctors. Measurements and therapeutic exercise programmes were carried out in the Research Laboratory of Sport and Health Sciences at Jyväskylä University. Subjec…
The Relevance of Dual Tasking for Improving Trunk Muscle Endurance After Back Surgery
2021
Abstract Objective To determine the effect of dual tasking on trunk muscle endurance in patients after lumbar diskectomy. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Rehabilitation hospital setting. Participants Individuals (N=14) undergoing primary lumbar diskectomy. Intervention Using a randomized design on 2 separate days, muscle endurance was evaluated during prone bridging and Biering-Sorensen tests. Each test was randomly performed under 2 cognitive conditions: single task without cognitive condition and self-regulated dual task (ie, mathematical task). Main Outcome Measures The primary outcomes were time to failure and pain assessed by the visual analog scale from 0 to 100 mm. The secondar…