Search results for "severity"
showing 10 items of 1287 documents
Protein kinase CK2 governs the molecular decision between encephalitogenic T H 17 cell and T reg cell development
2016
T helper 17 (TH17) cells represent a discrete TH cell subset instrumental in the immune response to extracellular bacteria and fungi. However, TH17 cells are considered to be detrimentally involved in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). In contrast to TH17 cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells were shown to be pivotal in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. Thus, the balance between Treg cells and TH17 cells determines the severity of a TH17 cell-driven disease and therefore is a promising target for treating autoimmune diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling this balance are still unclear. Here, we report that pharmacological inhibition as well as genetic ablat…
Vitamin D Insufficiency In Adult Asthma Is Associated With Asthma Severity And Control
2012
Data in asthmatic children suggest that low vitamin D levels are associated with poor asthma control, reduced lung function, and increased medication intake. To investigate the role of vitamin D insufficiency in adult asthmatics 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured in 280 adult patients with asthma (mean±SEM: 45.0±0.8 yrs., 40% male, FEV1 74.9±1.4%) and correlated with clinical parameters of asthma control. The majority of patients had severe asthma (n=155, 55%) and were uncontrolled (n=144, 51%). Serum levels of vitamin D were significantly related to asthma severity (mean±SEM: intermittent 31.1±3.2 ng/ml, mild 27.3±1.6 ng/ml, moderate 26.5±1.5, severe 24.0±0.9, p=0.046) and asthma control (co…
Cardiovascular Management Self-efficacy: Psychometric Properties of a New Scale and Its Usefulness in a Rehabilitation Context.
2015
Self-efficacy beliefs have been shown to affect various effective health-promoting behaviors in patients. Unfortunately, availability of reliable and valid measures of self-efficacy in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is still very limited. Background: Self-efficacy beliefs have been shown to affect various effective health-promoting behaviors in patients. Unfortunately, availability of reliable and valid measures of self-efficacy in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is still very limited. Purpose: The aims of this study were to present a new scale measuring self-efficacy beliefs in managing CVD and to examine its psychometric properties. Methods: The study involved 172 patients (mean age = 66.4…
Predicting depression from illness severity in cardiovascular disease patients: self-efficacy beliefs, illness perception, and perceived social suppo…
2014
Background: Many studies have investigated the relationships between cardiovascular diseases and patients' depression; nevertheless, few is still known as regard the impact of illness severity on depression and whether psychosocial variables mediate this association. Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the putative mediating role of illness representations, self-efficacy beliefs, and perceived social support on the relationship between illness severity and depression. Methods: A total of 75 consecutive patients with cardiovascular disease (80 % men; mean age=65.44, SD=10.20) were enrolled in an Italian hospital. Illness severity was measured in terms of left ventricular ejectio…
The influence of illness severity on health satisfaction in patients with cardiovascular disease: The mediating role of illness perception and self-e…
2015
The importance of psychological factors in improving conditions of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients is stressed by the guidelines for their prevention and rehabilitation, but little is known about the impact of illness severity on patients well-being, and on the psychosocial variables that may mediate this association. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of illness perception and self-efficacy beliefs on the relationship between illness severity and health satisfaction in 75 CVD patients undergoing rehabilitation (80% men; mean age = 65.44) at the St. Luca Hospital, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. Illness severity was measured in terms of left ventricular ejec…
Relationship of Illness Severity with Health and Life Satisfaction in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease: The Mediating Role of Self-efficacy Belie…
2012
Guidelines for cardiovascular rehabilitation from different countries underline the importance of psychological factors in the achievement of improved clinical conditions and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Nevertheless, little research has been performed to identify the specific factors that greatly affect or foster patients' quality of life. The aim of the current study was to investigate the contribution of illness perceptions (IP) and self-efficacy beliefs (SE) on the impact exerted by illness severity on health and life satisfaction in patients with CVD undergoing a rehabilitation program. The study had a cross-sectional design and involved 116 patients (…
The severity of steatosis influences liver stiffness measurement in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
2015
In nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the influence of severity of steatosis on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) is poorly studied and still debated. We assessed the impact of steatosis severity and its ultrasonographic (US) sign, severe bright liver echo pattern, on LSM values and on transient elastography accuracy for the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in a cohort of consecutive patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients (n = 253) were assessed by clinical, US, and histological (Kleiner score) features. Transient elastography was performed using the M probe. Among patients with low amounts of fibrosis (F0-F1 and F0-F2), median LSM values, expressed in kilopascals, were signific…
Skimager for the objective erythema estimation in atopic dogs
2020
In this study, the severity of canine skin erythema was assessed objectively for the first time. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common canine inflammatory and pruritic skin disease associated with an allergic reaction to exogenous allergens. The monitoring of skin erythema over time with lesion severity scales like the CADESI-4 is an essential diagnostic and research tool, especially for clinical trials. Currently, the erythema assessment is subjective due to visual estimation. In our study, we calculated the erythema index (EI) in 14 atopic dogs based on the analysis of multispectral skin images taken with the Skimager device. The relationship between the EI and a visual erythema estimation w…
Sleep disorders in the elderly with and without chronic airflow obstruction: the SARA study
2003
Objectives: Our objectives were to test the hypothesis that, in the geriatric population, chronic airway obstruction is associated with a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances; to identify the main correlates of sleep disturbances, and to verify whether asthma and COPD patients have different patterns of sleep disturbances. Methods: The EPESE questionnaire was administered to 734 patients aged 65 years and over with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (cases) and 1237 individuals of comparable age who were free of respiratory disease but not of other chronic conditions (controls). Four sleep disturbances were quantified: difficulty in falling asleep, nocturnal awakening, morni…
Restless legs syndrome in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
2010
We aimed to evaluate the frequency and determinants of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a group of 76 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 100 control subjects. A diagnosis of RLS was made according to the criteria of the International RLS Study Group, and severity was assessed by the RLS severity scale. RLS was significantly more frequent in patients with ALS (ALS/RLS(+)) than in control subjects (25% vs. 8%; P = 0.002). Compared with control subjects, patients with ALS/RLS(+) showed shorter history of RLS complaints and higher frequency of symptoms occurrence. Moreover, compared with those without RLS, patients with ALS/RLS(+) showed increased functional impairment and mor…