Search results for "POPULATION"

Imaging Approach for Evaluation of Focal Liver Lesions

2009

Focal liver lesions are common in the general population. Radiology (imaging) plays a pivotal role for the diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, and follow-up of focal liver lesions. To maximize lesion detection and characterization, imaging needs to be performed with appropriate equipment by using protocols carefully designed on the basis of the underlying clinical context. In addition, the decision of an imaging modality cannot be based on the diagnostic accuracy of an imaging test solely but must also consider patient safety and cost-effectiveness.

Characteristics of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Their Correlation with the Sex and Age of Patients in the Latvian Population

2009

Characteristics of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Their Correlation with the Sex and Age of Patients in the Latvian Population Various cardiovascular risk factors (RFs) were determined in 773 out-patients (mean age 55.8 ± 14.5 years). Male individuals had a larger waist circumference (WC) than did female patients (99.1 ± 13.6 cm vs 93.3 ± 15.2 cm), higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (83.6 ± 9.6 mmHg vs 81.8 ± 9.6 mmHg), and higher levels of blood glucose (5.73 ± 1.4 mmol/L vs 5.49 ± 1.3 mmol/L) and triglycerides (TG) (1.89 ± 1.3 mmol/L vs 1.60 ± 1.0 mmol/L), but lower levels of total cholesterol (TC) (5.54 ± 1.2 mmol/L vs 5.79 ± 1.2 mmol/L) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-…

2013

A current model suggested that the somatic symptom dimension accounts for the adverse effect of depression in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). In order to test this model we sought to determine in a large population-based sample how symptom dimensions of depression are associated with CHD, biomarkers and traditional risk factors. The associations of cognitive and somatic symptom dimensions of depression with CHD, risk factors, endothelial function, and biomarkers of inflammation and myocardial stress were analyzed cross-sectionally in a sample of n=5000 Mid-Europeans aged 35–74 years from the Gutenberg Health Study (GHS). Only the somatic symptom dimension of depression was assoc…

2018

Objective Children with chronic health conditions may perform poorer at school. Associations may be confounded by numerous social factors. We aimed to estimate the effects of a chronic health condition on overall school performance in first graders with an emphasis on rigorous adjustment for potential confounders. Methods A population-based cohort study was performed in the area of Mainz-Bingen (Germany). In 2015 all preschoolers were approached and the presence of a chronic health condition was assessed by parental questionnaires and preschool health examination data. The identification of a chronic health condition was based on special health care needs and presence of a doctor’s diagnosi…

Shifting effects in randomised controlled trials of complex interventions: a new kind of performance bias?

2012

Gold C, Erkkila J, Crawford MJ. Shifting effects in randomised controlled trials of complex interventions: a new kind of performance bias? Objective:  Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) aim to provide unbiased estimates of treatment effects. However, the process of implementing trial procedures may have an impact on the performance of complex interventions that rely strongly on the intuition and confidence of therapists. We aimed to examine whether shifting effects over the recruitment period can be observed that might indicate such impact. Method:  Three RCTs investigating music therapy vs. standard care were included. The intervention was performed by experienced therapists and based on …

280 Impact of ozone air pollution on ischemic cerebral and cardiac events in Dijon, France

2011

Background There is strong evidence that short-term exposure to ozone (O3) is associated with respiratory disease and death, but the effects of short-term exposure to ozone on ischemic heart and cerebrovascular disease have not been clearly established. Methods Daily levels of urban O3 pollution, the incidence of first-ever, recurrent, fatal and non-fatal ischemic cerebro-vascular events (ICVE) and myocardial infarction (MI) were compared using a bi-directional case-crossover design analysis. We analysed 1 574 ICVE and 913 MI that occurred in Dijon, France from 2001 to 2007. Sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter with an aerodiameter of 10μg/…

Causes and place of death in Italian patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

2010

Objectives - To determine the causes and place of death in a cohort of Italian patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A better understanding of the likely causes of death in ALS might improve the palliative care at the end-of-life, whereas knowing the place of death will help to verify the need for highly specialized care services, e.g. hospice and nursing home. Patients and methods - Between 2000 and 2008, 182 ALS patients (onset: spinal, 127; bulbar, 55; M/F: 1.6) were followed in a single ALS Tertiary Centre in Palermo, Sicily, Italy until death. Medical data for each individual patient were recorded in a large database throughout the disease course. Information concerning ca…

Incidence and lifetime prevalence of Bell's palsy in two Sicilian municipalities

1996

Introduction - In a door-to-door two-phase survey of common neurologic diseases conducted in two Sicilian municipalities, we investigated the incidence and the lifetime prevalence of Bell's palsy (BP). Material & methods - During phase 1, we administered a screening instrument for facial palsy to 11,901 adult persons. During phase 2, study neurologists using specified diagnostic criteria evaluated those subjects who screened positive. Results - We found 73 subjects who had experienced BP during their life. The lifetime prevalence as of November 1, 1987, was 642.8 cases per 100,000 population age 15 years and above. The prevalence increased with age and was similar in men and women. Eighteen…

Research on neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease in Latvian population

2016

Prevalence of Parkinson's disease and other types of parkinsonism: A door-to-door survey in three Sicilian municipalities

1992

We investigated the prevalence of Parkinson's disease and other types of parkinsonism in a Sicilian population using a door-to-door two-phase approach. This design called for the administration of a brief screening instrument to all subjects who, on November 1, 1987, were residents of Terrasini (Palermo Province), Santa Teresa di Riva (Messina Province), and Riposto (Catania Province), Sicily (N = 24,496). Study neurologists using specified diagnostic criteria extensively investigated those subjects who screened positive. We found 63 subjects affected by Parkinson's disease, 21 with secondary parkinsonism, and seven with unspecified parkinsonism. The crude prevalence per 100,000 population …