Search results for "Modeling"

Does gender really matter? A structural equation model to explain risky and positive cycling behaviors

2018

Abstract Introduction While the use of bicycles as mean of transport is growing worldwide, the increasing rates of traffic crashes involving cyclists have turned into a relevant scientific, public health, and road safety concern. According to several studies, and despite the fact that some countries are taking part in preventive actions, the data indicate that the problem of cycling injuries implies high costs for the community welfare, for the economy, and for healthcare systems, thus proving a clear need for solutions. In this regard, and considering the available empirical evidence, risky and positive riding behaviors have gained significant weight in terms of explaining, intervening in,…

The value of nuclear medicine for the diagnosis of spine diseases.

1993

Nuclear medicine examinations hold an important position in the diagnosis of diseases of the spine. During the last decade, decisive progress has been made in the field of instrumentation and radiopharmaceutical techniques: the use of high resolution collimators and the introduction of emission computer tomography as examples of improved instrumentation as well as 99m-Technetium red blood cell labelling as a new radiopharmaceutical technique. These present some of the developments responsible for the growing importance of scintigraphical diagnosis. Inflammatory processes of the vertebrae and the surrounding soft tissues can be detected or excluded with high reliability by the use of radionu…

ST2 and left ventricular remodeling after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: A cardiac magnetic resonance study.

2018

Background: The association of soluble interleukin-1 receptor-like 1 (ST2) with left ventricular (LV) remodeling is unclear in patients with a first ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The objective of this work was to assess the relationship between ST2, a marker of inflammation, and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging-derived LV remodeling after a first STEMI. Methods: We prospectively evaluated 109 patients with a first STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention who had ST2 assessed 24 h post-reperfusion. All patients underwent CMR imaging 1 week and 6 months after STEMI. The independent associations between ST2, LV diastolic and systolic volume in…

Bone Resorption in Kidney Transplant Recipients

2009

Early diagnosis of persistent hyperparathyroidism (HP) following kidney transplantation may prevent worsening of osteodystrophy and potential damage to the graft. We evaluated the utility of collagen pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) urinary cross-links beyond the common HP markers to evaluate 70 selected stable recipients between 1997 and 2006 who were divided into 2 group depending on the immunosuppressive protocol. All patients showed elevated levels of urinary cross-links even though calcemia and phosphoremia values were normal. Their mean creatinine level was slightly increased. Data were assessed as mean values +/- SD. All variables underwent a correlation matrix analysis…

Left ventricular hypertrophy in chronic kidney disease: A diagnostic criteria comparison.

2020

Background and aims: CKD patients have a high prevalence of LVH and this leads to an increase of cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and left ventricular geometry in a group of 293 hypertensive patients with stage 2–5 chronic kidney disease (CKD), compared with 289 essential hypertensive patients with normal renal function. Methods and results: All patients underwent echocardiographic examination. Patients on stage 1 CKD, dialysis treatment, or with cardiovascular diseases were excluded. LVH was observed in 62.8% of patients with CKD and in 51.9% of essential hypertensive patients (P < 0.0001). We found increasingl…

Mechanics of pericardial effusion: A simulation study

2015

Pericardial effusion is a pathological accumulation of fluid within pericardial cavity, which may compress heart chambers with hemodynamic impairment. We sought to determine the mechanics underlying the physiology of the hemodynamic impairment due to pericardial effusion using patient-specific computational modeling. Computational models of left ventricle and right ventricle were based on magnetic resonance images obtained from patients with pericardial effusion and controls. Myocardial material parameters were adjusted, so that volumes of ventricular chambers and pericardial effusion agreed with magnetic resonance imaging data. End-diastolic and end-systolic pressure–volume relationships …

A confirmatory factor analytic validation of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory

2015

Abstract Objective Because the postulated three-factor structure of the internationally widely used Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) has not been confirmed yet by a confirmatory factor analytic approach this was the central aim of the current study. Methods From a clinical setting, N  = 373 patients with chronic tinnitus completed the THI and further questionnaires assessing tinnitus-related and psychological variables. In order to analyze the psychometric properties of the THI, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and correlational analyses were conducted. Results CFA provided a statistically significant support for a better fit of the data to the hypothesized three-factor structure ( RMSEA…

Quantitative computed tomography-assisted osteodensitometry of the pelvis after press-fit cup fixation: a prospective ten-year follow-up.

2011

Background: As a follow-up of a previously reported three-year study, we analyzed the periprosthetic acetabular cortical and cancellous bone density changes at ten years after implantation of a press-fit cup. Methods: Prospective clinical, radiographic, and quantitative computed tomography examinations were performed within ten days and at mean periods of one, three, and ten years after total hip arthroplasty with a press-fit cup, a femoral stem with a tapered design, and alumina-alumina pairing. Periacetabular cortical and cancellous bone density (mg CaHA/mL) in the cranial, ventral, and dorsal regions about the cup were measured for twenty-four hips in vivo. Results: All acetabular cups s…

Systematic retrospective study of 64 patients with anti-Mi2 dermatomyositis: A classic skin rash with a necrotizing myositis and high risk of maligna…

2020

Association of simvastatin and hyperlipidemia with periodontal status and bone metabolism markers.

2014

Background: The objective of this study is to determine whether simvastatin consumption and hyperlipidemia are associated with a worse periodontal condition and specific bone activity biomarkers. Methods: This cross-sectional and analytic study includes 73 patients divided into three groups: 1) simvastatin-treated patients with hyperlipidemia (n = 29); 2) patients with hyperlipidemia treated by diet alone (n = 28); and 3) normolipidemic patients (controls, n = 16). The periodontal clinical variables of all participants were gathered, a blood sample was drawn from each to determine the lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein), se…