Search results for "TPA"
showing 10 items of 770 documents
A telemedicine platform to improve clinical parameters in paranoid schizophrenia patients: Results of a one-year randomized study
2018
Objective The study objective was to test a smartphone-based MONEO platform designed to improve the clinical condition of paranoid schizophrenia patients. Telemedicine treatment is considered to be as effective as traditional treatment in outpatient clinics. Method A total of 290 patients with paranoid schizophrenia in the symptomatic remission state were recruited to this 12-month multicenter, open-label randomized trial. A study group (n = 191) received a smartphone with the MONEO platform installed. Patients conducted cognitive training twice a week. Patients' mental state was assessed every month via teleconference. A placebo group (n = 99) received a platform with functionality limited…
Effects of long-term home-based exercise on health-related quality of life in patients with chronic neck pain: A randomized study with a 1-year follo…
2012
To evaluate whether long-term neck and upper body exercises conducted in economical community-based outpatient clinic and home-based settings could improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL)for individuals affected by chronic neck pain. The effect of baseline HRQoL and neck pain values on training adherence was also studied.Subjects (n = 101, 91 women/10 men, mean age 41.0 ± 9.5 years) with chronic non-specific neck pain were randomized to a combined strength-training and stretching-exercise group (CSSG, n = 49) or to a stretching exercise group (SG, n = 52). HRQoL was assessed at baseline and after 12 months using the RAND-36 questionnaire. Comparisons between groups were performed usi…
Smoking, diabetes, blood hypertension: possible etiologic role for Peyronie’s disease? Analysis in 279 patients with a control group in Sicily
2015
Objective: To assess the proportion of patients with Peyronie’s Disease (PD) and the possible association with its potential risk factors in the general population of the central and western Sicily in our weekly andrological outpatient clinic. Materials and methods: We recruited a sample of 279 consecutive patients consulting our andrological outpatient clinic. Two arms were created: the first one composed by PD patients (men with symptoms suggestive for PD), the second one composed by patients with other andrological diseases (control arm). For each patient we evaluated the age, cigarette smoking, diabetes, blood hypertension and erectile function. In the PD arm we administered validated q…
Gender-related differences in psychometric properties of WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0
2019
Objective of this study was to investigate the gender-related differential item function of 12-item WHODAS 2.0 amongst patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This was a cross-sectional survey study among 1,988 patients at a university Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine outpatient clinic. To assess DIF, WHODAS 2.0 items were dichotomized as `none’ rated by respondents as `0’ versus `any limitation’ rated as `1,2,3 or 4’. The item response theory analysis was used to define discrimination and difficulty parameters of a questionnaire. The probit logistic regression was used to test uniformity of DIF between gender groups. The results of DIF analysis were presented and evaluated graphica…
A genome-wide association study of monozygotic twin-pairs suggests a locus related to variability of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
2012
Serum lipid levels have been associated with cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes (Kannel et al., 1961; Miller & Miller, 1975; Pilia et al., 2006). Variation in lipids levels is highly influenced by heritable factors (Friedlander et al., 1997) and 95 loci have already been associated with levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in numerous study samples and replicated in various populations using genome-wide approaches (Aulchenko et al., 2008; Kathiresan et al., 2008; Kooner et al., 2008; Teslovich et al., 2010; Willer et al., 2008). However, the genetic associa…
Coping strategies and postpartum depressive symptoms: A structural equation modelling approach
2015
BACKGROUND: Variables such as the mother's personality, social support, coping strategies and stressful events have been described as risk factors for postpartum depression. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis was used to examine whether neuroticism, perceived social support, perceived life events, and coping strategies are associated with postpartum depressive symptoms at the 8th and 32nd weeks. METHODS: A total of 1626 pregnant women participated in a longitudinal study. Different evaluations were performed 8 and 32weeks after delivery. Several measures were used: the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies (DIGS), the Eysenck Per…
Presentation and Outcomes of Pregnancy in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis
2018
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) frequently affects women of childbearing age in whom the desire to have a family raises the question regarding the potential risks for the fetus and the mother. The information on AIH in pregnant patients is scarce.1 The aims of this study were (1) to identify the risk factors associated with flares in pregnant patients diagnosed with AIH, (2) to determine the course of AIH in patients with pregnancy-related flares, and (3) to describe the outcome of AIH diagnosed in the postpartum period.
Validation of the Spanish Version of the Beginning Breastfeeding Survey-Cumulative: A Follow-up Study
2019
Background: The Beginning Breastfeeding Survey-Cumulative (BBSC) is an instrument that assesses the overall maternal perception of breastfeeding effectiveness during the early postpartum period. Research aims: The aims of this study were to adapt and validate a Spanish version of the BBSC and provide new evidence regarding its validity. Methods: A standard forward and back-translation process was used to obtain the Spanish version of the questionnaire (BBSC-E). A sample of 793 breastfeeding mothers was used. Data were obtained from clinical records and questionnaires self-administered at discharge and at 1–4 months postpartum. The factorial structure of the BBSC-E was examined with both an …
Assessment of maximal handgrip strength: How many attempts are needed?
2017
BACKGROUND: Handgrip strength (HGS) is used to identify individuals with low muscle strength (dynapenia). The influence of the number of attempts on maximal HGS is not yet known and may differ depending on age and health status. This study aimed to assess how many attempts of HGS are required to obtain maximal HGS.METHODS: Three cohorts (939 individuals) differing in age and health status were included. HGS was assessed three times and explored as continuous and dichotomous variable. Paired t-test, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were used to test reproducibility of HGS. The number of individuals with misclassified dynapenia at attempts 1 and 2 with respe…
Free amino acids in preterm and term milk from mothers delivering appropriate- or small-for-gestational-age infants.
1989
Free amino acids were quantitated in human milk collected during the first month postpartum from mothers of appropriate preterm (26-32 and 33-36 wk gestation) and term (small or appropriate-for-gestational-age) infants. Glutamic acid and taurine were the most abundant amino acids in all four groups at all stages of lactation. The ratio of essential to nonessential amino acids was higher in colostrum than in mature milk although the total amino acid level of mature milk was double that of the colostrum. Nonprotein amino acids amount to approximately 40% of the free-amino acid pool in colostrum. Differences in the content and changes in free-amino acid levels during lactation among the groups…