Search results for "subjects"
showing 10 items of 1268 documents
Oxyphytosterols are present in plasma of healthy human subjects
2004
The oxidised derivatives of phytosterols (oxyphytosterols) were identified in plasma samples from thirteen healthy human volunteers, using MS. All the samples contained noticeable quantities of (24R)-5b,6b-epoxy-24-ethylcholestan-3b-ol (b-epoxysitostanol) and (24R)-ethylcholestan-3b,5a,6b-triol (sitostanetriol) and also trace levels of (24R)-5a,6a-epoxy-24-ethylcholestan-3b-ol (a-epoxysitostanol), (24R)-methylcholestan-3b,5a,6b-triol (campestanetriol) and (24R)-ethylch olest-5-en-3b-ol-7-one(7-ketositosterol). The amounts of these oxyphytosterols in plasma varied from 4·8 to 57·2 ng/ml. There are two possibilities concerning the origin of these compounds. First, they could come from the sma…
Increased respiratory burst activity of monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in psoriasis.
1982
SUMMARY We studied the respiratory burst activity of peripheral blood monocytes and polymorphonu clear leukocytes (PMN) in eleven patients with psoriasis and eleven healthy controls, using zymosan particles to activate the phagocytes in vitro. The activation of the phagocytes was measured in a luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) assay. We found a significantly higher respiratory burst activity of both monocytes and PMN in patients with psoriasis compared with the control subjects. The percentages of monocytes in psoriatics did not differ from those of the controls. The higher amount of zymosan-induced CL activity generated in the patient group was unrelated to the age of the individual.…
Searching for a Gastrointestinal Subgroup Within the Somatoform Disorders
2001
The authors examined whether patients suffering from functional gastrointestinal symptoms constitute a separate group within the broader concept of the somatoform disorders. The authors compared 103 patients with a severe gastrointestinal syndrome, 220 patients with a somatization syndrome according to DSM-IV, and 250 clinical control subjects with nonsomatoform mental disorders. The gastrointestinal group showed more catastrophizing thinking, complained more about autonomic sensations, felt bodily weaker, was less tolerant towards bodily discomfort, had developed more hypochondriacal fears and behaviors, was more depressed, and was more severely disabled in different areas of psychosocial …
Effects of suppressing neutral and obsession-like thoughts in normal subjects: beyond frequency
2004
Abstract Recent cognitive-behavioral theories on obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) show that deliberate attempts to suppress intrusive and undesirable thoughts lie at the genesis of clinical obsessions. In this paper the results of an experimental study on the suppression of neutral and obsession-like thoughts in normal subjects are presented. Eighty-seven university students performed in three experimental periods: (1) base-line monitoring, (2) experimental instruction, and (3) monitoring. For each of these periods, the frequency of the occurrence of a “white bear” thought or a personally relevant intrusive thought was registered. Half of the subjects received instructions to suppress th…
Differential effect of Incobotulinumtoxin A on pain, neurogenic flare and hyperalgesia in human surrogate models of neurogenic pain
2017
Background: The effectiveness of Botulinum-neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) to treat pain in human pain models is very divergent. This study was conducted to clarify if the pain models or the route of BoNT/A application might be responsible for these divergent findings. Methods: Sixteen healthy subjects (8 males, mean age 27 ± 5 years) were included in a first set of experiments consisting of three visits: (1) Visit: Quantitative sensory testing (QST) was performed before and after intradermal capsaicin injection (CAPS, 15 μg) on one thigh and electrical current stimulation (ES, 1 Hz) on the contralateral thigh. During stimulation pain and the neurogenic flare response (laser-Doppler imaging) were ass…
Deep pain thresholds in the distal limbs of healthy human subjects.
2003
Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in distal limbs have been under-investigated despite their potential clinical importance. Therefore, we compared PPTs over nail bed, bony prominences, and muscle in distal parts of upper and lower limbs. We investigated 12 healthy subjects using three handheld devices: a spring-loaded, analogue pressure threshold meter (PTM) with two operating ranges, and an electronic Algometer. PPTs were determined with three series of ascending stimulus intensities with a ramp of about 50 kPa/s. PPTs were normally distributed in logarithmic space. PPTs over different tissues varied significantly (ANOVA, p0.001): mean thresholds and 95% confidence intervals were 615 kPa (26…
Pressure pain thresholds: Subject factors and the meaning of peak pressures.
2017
Background The assessment of pressure pain has become an integral part in pain research. The distribution of pressure under a plunger can be uneven. However, measurements based on conventional devices show the applied force or mean pressure, failing to take local pressure peaks into account. Our main question was whether peak pressures under the probe are responsible for pain onset. Methods A force-controlled algometer was fitted with a newly developed pressure-indicating film. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of 100 healthy subjects (57 men, age 18-66 years) were assessed at 29 sites across the body. Each site was measured three times, nonconsecutively and presented in randomized order. For…
Anatomical evaluation of oral microcirculation: capillary characteristics associated with sex or age group.
2009
Abstract Background There are various types of oral mucosa specific to different parts of the mouth and each of these has a unique histological structure. The variations in the epithelial structure are consistently related to observable differences in the underlying microcirculation: i.e. differences in the course, conformation, and density of capillaries. The aim of this research has been to investigate oral microcirculatory differences between men and women as well as between various age groups, in order to map the oral mucosa, and to highlight changes occurring during aging. Methods A total of 45 healthy subjects were enrolled for this study (12 men and 33 women; mean age 60.37; range 30…
Hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra in healthy controls is related to MRI changes and to neuronal loss as determined by F-Dopa PET
2009
Abstract Transcranial ultrasound (TCS) has been shown to reveal hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra (SN) in Parkinsonian patients and in about 10% of healthy controls. It is hypothesized that SN hyperechogenicity in healthy subjects is a vulnerability marker for idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD). Although there is strong evidence that the echomarker results from increased local iron content, the exact pathophysiological mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Thus, prognostic impact can only be estimated. We examined 14 subjects with SN hyperechogenicity (SN+) (7 IPD patients and 7 controls) and 7 healthy controls without the echomarker (SN−) by a magnetic resonance imaging meth…
Feasibility, reproducibility, and reliability for the T*2 iron evaluation at 3 T in comparison with 1.5 T
2012
This study aimed to determine the feasibility, reproducibility, and reliability of the multiecho T * 2 Magnetic resonance imaging technique at 3 T for myocardial and liver iron burden quantification and the relationship between T * 2 values at 3 and 1.5 T. Thirty-eight transfusion-dependent patients and 20 healthy subjects were studied. Cardiac segmental and global T * 2 values were calculated after developing a correction map to compensate the artifactual T * 2 variations. The hepatic T * 2 value was determined over a region of interest. The intraoperator and interoperator reproducibility for T * 2 measurements at 3 T was good. A linear relationship was found between patients' R (1000/T * …