Total Group Of Subjects Research Articles

Исследование макро- и микроэлементного статуса у пациентов с аутоиммунным тиреоидитом среди жителей пострадавших после Чернобыльськой аварии районов Киевской области

Актуальность. Аутоиммунный тиреоидит (АИТ) — комплексное полигенное органоспецифическое заболевание. Уровень заболеваемости АИТ имеет тенденцию к росту во всем мире. Наблюдается тенденция к росту заболеваемости в младших возрастных группах. Циркулирующие антитела к тиреоидной пероксидазе (ТПО) находят у 10–15 % практически здоровых лиц, которые находятся в состоянии эутиреоза. Цель: установить макро­ и микроэлементный статус у пациентов с АИТ среди жителей пострадавших после Чернобыльской аварии районов Киевской области. Материалы и методы. Обследован 61 житель пострадавших после Чернобыльской аварии районов Киевской области: из них 45 — без тиреоидной патологии (контрольная группа) и 16 — с АИТ (опытная группа). Все обследованные с дозой облучения щитовидной железы (ЩЖ) < 0,3 Гр — ≥ 1 Гр являются участниками когортных исследований украинско­белорусско­американского проекта. Исследование микро­элементов и макро­элементов проводили методом атомно­эмиссионной спектрометрии с индуктивно­связанной плазмой («Джерело­2003») на приборе Optima 2100 DV фирмы Perkin Elmer (США). Результаты. При исследовании показателей тиреоидного статуса группа пациентов с АИТ отличалась от конт­роля увеличенным тиреоидным объемом, повышенным уровнем антител к ТПО и увеличенным уровнем тиреотропного гормона. Медиана экскреции йода с мочой в исследованных группах достоверно не отличалась, ее показатель в контрольной группе составлял 65,0 мкг/л, в опытной группе — 80,6 мкг/л, что указывало на наличие йодного дефицита слабой степени тяжести. У обследованных пациентов с АИТ установлено более низкое (p < 0,01) содержание магния в сыворотке крови (медианное значение 18,59 мг/л) по сравнению с соответствующим показателем контрольной группы. Проведена оценка шансов связи установленного диагноза АИТ со сниженным менее медианного значения уровнем магния (20,6 мг/л) в общей группе обследованных: отношение шансов (ОШ) составляет 6,63 (95% доверительный интервал (ДИ) [1,73; 24,8]; р < 0,01). Выводы. Имеющейся диагноз АИТ достоверно значимый у пациентов, у которых показатель дозового облучения ЩЖ выше медианного значения (0,12 Гр), в общей группе обследованных в Киевской области: ОШ = 4,1 (95% ДИ [1,2; 13,9]; р < 0,05). Наибольший показатель ОШ был при сочетании сниженного содержания магния и высоких значений дозового облучения ЩЖ: ОШ = 25 (95% ДИ [3,16; 179,0]; р = 0,002).

Liver Fibrosis Indices for the Prediction of Mortality in Korean Subjects: A 16-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

ContextNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its progression to liver fibrosis are related to higher mortality.ObjectiveWe investigated whether noninvasive indices of NAFLD and liver fibrosis could predict mortality in a Korean prospective cohort study.MethodsWe followed 4163 subjects from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study biannually over 16 years. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) of NAFLD or liver fibrosis indices in the total group of subjects and subgroups according to body mass index (BMI) and glucose metabolism status.ResultsThe mean age (± SD) of the subjects was 55.7 ± 8.7 years and 39.2% were men. During a median follow-up period of 15.6 years, 643 subjects (15.4%) died. The Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4), NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), and aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index were consistently higher in deceased subjects regardless of baseline glucose metabolism status. The FIB-4 and NFS displayed acceptable discrimination power for mortality, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values of 0.686 and 0.666, respectively. The adjusted HRs for FIB-4 and NFS were 1.41 (95% CI, 1.18-1.68) and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.21-1.68), respectively. Both FIB-4 and NFS were significantly associated with liver-specific mortality but not cardiovascular mortality. The association between mortality with fibrosis indices were more prominent in subjects with a lower BMI (<25 kg/m2).ConclusionNoninvasive indices of liver fibrosis might be a significant predictor of all-cause and liver-specific mortality in Korean subjects.

Initial Results of Tests Using GSR Biofeedback as a New Neurorehabilitation Technology Complementing Pharmacological Treatment of Patients with Schizophrenia.

Galvanic skin response (GSR) Biofeedback uses training to reduce tension and anxiety and improve concentration and self-regulation. The study was aimed to evaluate this method as a form of rehabilitation and quantify the outcomes achieved by patients undergoing training using this technique. Six schizophrenic patients were enrolled in the study and underwent training based on the relaxation training module (CENTER), concentration training module (BALANCE), and self-regulation training module (INSECTS). Training sessions were held twice a week for 6 weeks. From the total group of subjects involved in the study, two patients had a statistically significant increase in measured values after the CENTER exercise, indicating that relaxation was achieved. Four patients showed a statistically significant decrease in measured values after the BALANCE exercise, which was reflective of an improvement in concentration. Three patients had a statistically significant decrease in measured values after the INSECTS exercise, which indicated an improvement in self-regulation. GSR Biofeedback may be used to complement the pharmacological treatment of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Informing Strategy to Ensure Detection: Perceptions of Coronavirus Testing in a Southeastern U.S. Urban Homeless Population.

Attitudes of those in the homeless population toward testing, particularly during a pandemic, are critical to understand, so that they and their communities may be safely triaged and protected. Homeless persons are more likely to be exposed during viral epidemics, and have greater vulnerability for more severe viral illness, due to greater medical comorbidities. The literature reflects a dearth of published papers describing the perceptions, interest, and motivations of homeless people to seek or receive viral testing, despite their status as a high-risk population. A quality improvement project consisting of a cross-sectional survey took place at 8 SARS-CoV-2 infection testing sites (local shelters and drop-in sites) within Duval County, Jacksonville, FL. The vast majority of homeless individuals approached for testing completed demographic data and a checklist of beliefs and attitudes about testing (N=764) and underwent COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab testing (n=679). Mean age was 48; 66% were male, and the predominant race was Black (51%) with 89% of non-Hispanic ethnicity. Of the total participants, 59.2% wanted testing and 4.6% declined testing. Attitudes toward testing varied by site and by wanting vs. not wanting to be tested. Top reasons in those wanting testing included curiosity; a belief that faith would protect them from the virus; and having shelter encouragement to be tested. Top attitudes among those not wanting to be tested were: shelter encouraged me; curiosity; and receiving a gift card. For the total group of subjects, being offered a $10 gift card did not affect their desire to be tested. Those who were not faith-influenced were less likely to want testing. Findings from selected literature and this quality improvement study support the use of a variety of strategies to encourage participation in testing events with large numbers of homeless individuals, including education, gift cards, shelter staff encouragement, involvement of local faith leaders and more broad support by the community. An additional qualitative study would complement these findings, as populations appear to differ in beliefs and attitudes depending on their location and other demographics. Motivational strategies to influence testing rates can be fine-tuned if beliefs, perceptions and attitudes are better understood.

MiRNA expression and polymorphism of miRNA genes in the myocardial infarction

Strong evidence implicates intracellular signaling cascades dysfunction in the pathophysiology of Bipolar Disorder (BD). Regulation of AKT/mTOR pathway is a critical signaling pathway in synaptic neurotransmission and plasticity, also modulating cell proliferation and migration.Gene expression of the AKT/mTOR pathway was assessed in 25 BD (DSM-IV-TR criteria) unmedicated depressed individuals at baseline and after 6 weeks of lithium therapy and 31 matched healthy controls. Decreases in blood AKT1 and mTOR mRNA expression, as well as in BAD/BCL-2 expression ratio were observed in short-term BD patients during depressive episodes in comparison to healthy controls. There was no significant change in the expression of AKT1, mTOR, BCL-2, BAD and NDUFA6 after lithium therapy in the total group of BD subjects. However, the changes in AKT1 expression after lithium treatment were positively correlated with depression improvement. An integrated activity within this pathway was observed at both baseline and post-treatment. The present results support an integrated AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activity in a similar fashion to the described in previous human postmortem and rodents brain studies. Overall, the results reinforce a role for AKT1 and mTOR in the pathophysiology of BD and support the relevance of blood mRNA expression as a valid surrogate biological source to study brain intracellular signaling cascades changes and convergent molecular pathways in psychiatric disorders.

SLEEP DISTURBANCE IN MILD COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH ALTERATIONS IN THE BRAIN'S DEFAULT MODE NETWORK

This study aimed to identify Default Mode Network (DMN) functional connectivity deficits in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and sleep disturbance, relative to those with MCI and no sleep disturbance. A control group was included to aid in identifying DMN changes specific to MCI. 95 adults over the age of 65 were recruited, incorporating 38 controls and 57 meeting criteria for MCI. Participants underwent resting-state fMRI along with comprehensive neuropsychological, medical and psychiatric assessment. Self-report data were collected including sleep quality assessment via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A total score of greater than five on the PSQI was used to signify the presence of significant sleep disturbance, as per commonly used methodology. Using our PSQI criterion, 53% (n=30) of our MCI group were classified as sleep-disturbed. Whereas the total group of MCI subjects and controls demonstrated no significant differences, sleep-disturbed MCIs demonstrated increased connectivity between temporal and parietal regions, and decreased connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the temporoparietal junction relative to sleep-disturbed controls. Relative to those MCIs without sleep disturbance, sleep-disturbed MCI participants demonstrated significantly diminished DMN connectivity between temporal and parietal regions, a finding that was particularly pronounced in amnestic MCI. Subjective sleep disturbance in MCI is associated with distinct alterations in DMN functional connectivity in brain regions underpinning salient memory and sleep systems. A follow-up study currently in progress builds on these results via objective measurement of sleep parameters using actigraphy. Those with MCI and higher levels of wake after sleep onset (WASO) demonstrated DMN functional connectivity deficits across a number of brain regions, including several of those identified in MCIs with subjective sleep disturbance.

Common UCP2 variants contribute to serum urate concentrations and the risk of hyperuricemia.

Elevated serum urate, which is regulated at multiple levels including genetic variants, is a risk factor for gout and other metabolic diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between UCP2 variants and serum urate as well as hyperuricemia in a Chinese population. In total, 4332 individuals were genotyped for two common UCP2 variants, −866G/A and Ala55Val. These loci were not associated either serum urate level or with a risk of hyperuricemia in the total group of subjects. However, in females, −866G/A and Ala55Val were associated with a lower serum urate (P = 0.006 and 0.014, seperately) and played a protective role against hyperuricemia (OR = 0.80, P = 0.018; OR = 0.79, P = 0.016). These associations were not observed in the males. After further stratification, the two loci were associated with serum urate in overweight, but not underweight females. The haplotype A-T (−866G/A-Ala55Val) was a protective factor for hyperuricemia in the female subgroup (OR = 0.80, P = 0.017). This present study identified a novel gene, UCP2, that influences the serum urate concentration and the risk of hyperuricemia, and the degree of association varies with gender and BMI levels.

Sleep disturbance in mild cognitive impairment is associated with alterations in the brain's default mode network.

This study aimed to identify default mode network (DMN) functional connectivity deficits in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and sleep disturbance, relative to those with MCI and no sleep disturbance. A control group was included to aid in identifying DMN changes specific to MCI. A cross-sectional, single-center study was performed at the Brain and Mind Research Centre in Sydney, Australia. Participants (95 adults over the age of 65: 38 controls and 57 meeting criteria for MCI) underwent resting-state functional MRI along with comprehensive neuropsychological, medical, and psychiatric assessment. Self-report data were collected including sleep quality assessment via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. A total score of greater than 5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to signify the presence of significant sleep disturbance, as per commonly used methodology. Using this criterion, 53% (n = 30) of our MCI group were classified as sleep-disturbed. Whereas the total group of MCI subjects and controls demonstrated no significant differences, sleep-disturbed MCIs demonstrated increased connectivity between temporal and parietal regions, and decreased connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and the temporoparietal junction relative to sleep-disturbed controls. Relative to those MCIs without sleep disturbance, sleep-disturbed MCI participants demonstrated significantly diminished DMN connectivity between temporal and parietal regions, a finding that was particularly pronounced in amnestic MCI. Sleep disturbance in MCI is associated with distinct alterations in DMN functional connectivity in brain regions underpinning salient memory and sleep systems. Future studies may build on these results via experimental manipulation and objective measurement of sleep. (PsycINFO Database Record

Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGROUND:Chronic kidney disease (CKD) became a new epidemic of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Diabetic nephropathy is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal failure as a result of the diabetes epidemic worldwide.AIM:The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of CKD in the Republic of Macedonia and its association with diabetes mellitus.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study was a part of a study conducted in 2006 in terms of screening for early detection of kidney disease. It was a cross-sectional study based on a random sample of patients aged > 20, consecutively consulting their primary physician for any cause. Fifty physicians throughout the country were included in the study. A total of 2637 patients have been analyzed based on integrity data. GFR was estimated using corrected values of serum creatinine and calculating kidney function by the Cockroft & Gault formula, adjusted for body surface using the Gehan & George formula. Patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 ml/min were considered as having CKD. Blood pressure, body weight, height, serum creatinine, glucose, hemoglobin, hematocrit, urinalysis and medical history for presence of cardiovascular diseases or diabetes were also assessed.RESULTS:The mean age of the subjects was 45.97 ± 16.55 SD and 17.97% were older than 60. Regarding gender, 44.14% were males. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 13.9%. Subjects with CKD (eGFR less than 60 ml/min) were 7.53% of the total. Subjects aged 60 or above, had 20 times higher risk of having CKD (eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Out of the total group of subjects, 13.9% had diabetes mellitus and they had 3.13 times higher risk of having CKD stage 3-5 (eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) when compared to non-diabetics. The results showed that diabetes was significantly more associated with lower eGFR (less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) in younger subjects (age less than 60) compared to older ones (odds ratio 3.29 versus 1.21).CONCLUSION:Our study showed that chronic kidney disease is frequent in the Republic of Macedonia and is associated with older age and diabetes. Diabetes had a significantly stronger association with CKD at younger age.

Assesing the Knowledge, Attitudes and Eating Habits of Dietary Fibers in Tîrgu-Mureş Population

Abstract Background: The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and eating habits upon consumption of dietary fibers in a group of people from Tirgu-Mures area. Material and Method: We used a transversal descriptive study conducted on a group of 251 subjects from the urban area (76.4%), as well as from the rural area (23.6%), aged between 18 and 62 years, obtained using an online questionnaire consisting of 40 questions related to knowledge and attitude towards dietary fibers and estimated consumption of fiber from whole foods. Results: In the study group, we observed that 21.28% consumed whole cereals once per week and 18% did not consume cereals at all; regarding fruit consumption 17.44% consumed 6-8 pieces/week, and 3.4% consumed over 18 pieces/week. Frequency of fast food –meals consuming: 67.68% did not consume fast-food meals, 25.25% ate fast food once/week, and 1.1% consumed fast food between 8-10 times/week. Concerning the statement that fibers can prevent and/or treat colon cancer and obesity, 40% fully accepted the statement, 40% agreed, 14.29% were indifferent and 4.7% were against. From the total group of subjects, approximately 37.6% knew the meaning and classification of dietary fiber, 26.8% knew the recommended amount of fiber to be consumed daily, and 5.9% did not check the fiber content of foods ever. Conclusions: The inclusion of cereals and whole foods in diet is recommended in all nutrition guidelines worldwide, because of their association with a high health status, and prevention of chronic diseases. Consumers need to understand the benefits of whole foods, also to recognize and read the information about it on food labels.

Decreased AKT1/mTOR pathway mRNA expression in short-term bipolar disorder

Strong evidence implicates intracellular signaling cascades dysfunction in the pathophysiology of Bipolar Disorder (BD). Regulation of AKT/mTOR pathway is a critical signaling pathway in synaptic neurotransmission and plasticity, also modulating cell proliferation and migration.Gene expression of the AKT/mTOR pathway was assessed in 25 BD (DSM-IV-TR criteria) unmedicated depressed individuals at baseline and after 6 weeks of lithium therapy and 31 matched healthy controls. Decreases in blood AKT1 and mTOR mRNA expression, as well as in BAD/BCL-2 expression ratio were observed in short-term BD patients during depressive episodes in comparison to healthy controls. There was no significant change in the expression of AKT1, mTOR, BCL-2, BAD and NDUFA6 after lithium therapy in the total group of BD subjects. However, the changes in AKT1 expression after lithium treatment were positively correlated with depression improvement. An integrated activity within this pathway was observed at both baseline and post-treatment. The present results support an integrated AKT/mTOR signaling pathway activity in a similar fashion to the described in previous human postmortem and rodents brain studies. Overall, the results reinforce a role for AKT1 and mTOR in the pathophysiology of BD and support the relevance of blood mRNA expression as a valid surrogate biological source to study brain intracellular signaling cascades changes and convergent molecular pathways in psychiatric disorders.

The Association between Shift Work and the Metabolic Syndrome in Female Workers

ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine identify any association between shift work and the metabolic syndrome by comparing the prevalence rates of the metabolic syndrome in shift work groups and daytime work groups for female workers.MethodsBased on data from health examinations carried out from April to December of 2012, we selected as our subjects 254 female workers from the Daegu area Dyeing Industrial Complex. We diagnosed the metabolic syndrome using the examination results, and information about age, whether or not they did shift work, job type, smoking habits, drinking habits, exercise habits, and past medical history was collected through self-administered questionnaire surveys and face-to-face interviews. The variables found in a univariate analysis to be significant in the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome - age, drinking habits, exercise habits, and shift work - were included in a logistic regression analysis of the risk of the metabolic syndrome for female workers.ResultsThe prevalence rates of the metabolic syndrome for the total group of study subjects was 11.8%, for daytime workers was 2.8%, and for shift workers was 15.3%. A logistic regression analysis of the odds of the metabolic syndrome for female workers was conducted that included factors associated with the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome: age, drinking habits, exercise habits, and shift work. The results revealed that the odds ratio of the metabolic syndrome in the shift work group, 6.30 (95% CI 1.24-32.15), was significantly higher when compared with the daytime work group.ConclusionShift work appears to have an association with the metabolic syndrome in female workers. Accordingly, we believe that the attention of government agencies and business owners is needed together with the individual practice of health behaviors to manage the metabolic syndrome for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in female shift workers.

Plasma Osteoprotegerin Concentrations in Type 2 Diabetic Patients and its Association with Neuropathy

To investigate the association of plasma osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels with diabetic neuropathy. Forty-two diabetic patients (21 female and 21 male) and twenty-four non-diabetic healthy control subjects (12 female and 12 male) were included in the study. All consecutive diabetic patients who came for routine follow-up at our outpatient clinic were invited to participate in this clinical study. We studied EMG and neuropathy symptom score in all study subjects. Fasting plasma glucose, HbA1 C, hs-CRP, OPG levels and lipid profile were measured for each subject. Serum fasting glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, triglyserid, LDL-Cholesterol, HDL-Cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein-b, hs-CRP, OPG levels, and neuropathy symptom score were statistically higher in diabetic patients than in healthy control subjects. Plasma OPG levels was statistically higher in diabetic patients than it was in nondiabetic control subjects. However, plasma OPG levels were not significantly different between diabetic patients without neuropathy and healthy control subjects. On the other hand, OPG levels were statistically higher in diabetic patients with neuropathy than in patients without neuropathy. In addition to that serum fasting glucose, HbA1c, hs-CRP, diabetes duration, neuropathy symptom score were statistically higher in diabetic patients with neuropathy than they were in patients without neuropathy. In total group of subjects, plasma OPG levels were correlated significantly with age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein b, hs-CRP. In diabetic patients, plasma OPG correlated significantly with age, diabetes duration, neuropathy symptom score, HbA1c, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein b levels. The major findings of this study were that the plasma OPG concentrations were higher in type 2 diabetic patients than OPG concentrations in healthy control subjects and they were positively correlated with diabetic neuropathy. This finding supports the growing concept that OPG acts as an important regulator in the development of vascular dysfunction in diabetes.

Can Consumers Self-Select for Appropriate Use of an Over-the-Counter Statin? The Self Evaluation of Lovastatin to Enhance Cholesterol Treatment Study

Access to over-the-counter (OTC) statins has the potential to improve public health by reducing cardiovascular events. The Self Evaluation of Lovastatin to Enhance Cholesterol Treatment (SELECT) Study was designed to assess consumers' ability to self-select for treatment with lovastatin in an unsupervised setting. Subjects examined proposed OTC lovastatin cartons with labels that detailed an algorithm for self-selection based on age, lipid profile, and cardiovascular risk factors. Subjects viewed a carton with either a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-based self-selection algorithm or one based on total cholesterol. Labels also contained warnings against use based on health conditions that might increase the risk of adverse events. Subjects were asked if the drug was appropriate for their use (self-assessment) and whether they would like to purchase the drug (purchase decision). A total of 1,326 consumers provided self-assessment decisions. After viewing the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-based label, 82%, 36%, and 82% of those who self-assessed that the drug was appropriate for their use were correct with respect to the age, lipid, and risk-factor criteria, respectively. Corresponding numbers for the total cholesterol algorithm were 85%, 50% and 75%. Almost 90% of women aged <55 years who evaluated the drug indicated the drug was not right for them, and women in this age group made up only 9% of the total group of subjects who believed the drug was appropriate for their use. The label was also effective in discouraging use by women who were or may become pregnant, consumers with liver disease, and those with potential drug interactions. In conclusion, SELECT showed that consumers could use an OTC drug label in an unsupervised setting to appropriately self-select for self-management of their cholesterol with lovastatin.

Implementation and Effect of Life Space Crisis Intervention in Special Schools with Residential Treatment for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD)

The increase of violence in present-day society calls for adequate crisis interventions for students with behavioral problems. Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) is a systematic and formatted response to a student's crisis, based on cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic and developmental theory. The following research article evaluates a LSCI Program with students referred to special schools with residential treatment because of severe behavioral problems. The evaluation was conducted using a quasi experimental pre-test-post-test control group design. Thirty-one match paired students were pre-tested before the interventions started and post-tested after a period of 11 months. Five standardized questionnaires were examined to assess the effectiveness of the LSCI Program. General Linear Model (GLM) with repeated measures was used to analyze all data. For the total group of subjects (n = 62) it was found that students' perception about their athletic competence decrease significantly after 11 months in residential care. A positive effect of LSCI was found on direct aggression and social desirability.

Decreased Response of Plasma Cortisol to Intravenous Metyrapone in Ocular Hypertension and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

To determine if there is a difference in response to metyrapone, which blocks the conversion of 11-deoxycortisol to cortisol in the adrenal gland between normals and ocular hypertensives (OH) plus primary open-angle glaucomas (POAG) without pigmented angles. Intravenous metyrapone was given to 20 normals and 15 ocular hypertensives plus primary open-angle glaucomas without pigmented angles. Blood samples were obtained at 4, 6, and 8 hours after administration of intravenous metyrapone for analyses of 11-deoxycortisol and cortisol. The ocular hypertensives plus primary open-angle glaucoma group showed significantly lower cortisol values compared with the normal group at 6 hours (P = 0.002) but not at 4 or 8 hours. There were no significant differences between the two groups for 11-deoxycortisol values at 4, 6, or 8 hours. The percent decrease of plasma cortisol from baseline was significantly greater for the ocular hypertensives plus open-angle glaucoma group compared with the normals at 4 hours (P = 0.010) and 6 hours (P = 0.0004). Significant negative correlations were observed for the total group of subjects between levels of plasma cortisol at 6 hours and intraocular pressure, worse eye (P = 0.029), percent area of cupping, worse eye (P = 0.045), pallor, worse eye (P = 0.001), and visual field loss, worse eye (P = 0.048), so that the less the plasma cortisol, the greater the abnormality of the glaucomatous parameters. Multivariate analyses with the 6-hour plasma cortisol level as the dependent variable showed that the only significant (P = 0.0004) independent variable was the percent area of pallor, worse eye, associated with a smaller level of plasma cortisol at 6 hours. Similarly, the multiple regression models using the percent change from baseline of the 6-hour plasma cortisol value showed a significant association of larger percent decreases of plasma cortisol in the ocular hypertensives plus open-angle glaucoma compared with the normals. The ocular hypertensives plus primary open-angle glaucoma subjects show greater adrenal inhibition to metyrapone in the synthesis of cortisol from 11-deoxycortisol compared with normals. This observation suggests an adrenal abnormality in the ocular hypertensive plus primary open-angle glaucoma subjects.

The Calgary Depression Rating Scale for schizophrenia in a healthy control group: Psychometric properties and reference values

Background Assessment of depression in schizophrenia is of great importance as depressive signs and symptoms and suicidality are highly prevalent in patients with schizophrenic disorders. The Calgary Depression Rating Scale (CDSS) is the standard assessment instrument for that purpose due to its proven reliability and validity. However, so far no reference values derived from an adequate healthy sample have been published. Methods The present study analyzed CDSS item scores and summary scores in 154 healthy subjects (49% female, mean age 32.8 ± 11.7 years) selected from studies as controls for schizophrenic patients. Results The total CDSS score was 2.6 ± 2.7 (range 0–12), about 1/3 of healthy subjects had scores = 0. Gender differences were observed with respect to “early awakening” and “suicidal ideation” with higher scores in females. Total CDSS scores ( r = − 0.17, P = 0.03) and single items were slightly negatively correlated with age. The psychometric properties of the CDSS scale were satisfying (corrected item-score correlations r tc = 0.33–0.61, internal consistency Cronbach's α = 0.76, one-dimensional factor structure). CDSS total scores showed a skewed distribution fitting the upper part of a normal distribution. Based on the empirical distribution of CDSS values, reference values were listed for the total group of healthy subjects, and for females and males separately. Conclusions The results corroborate the favourable psychometric properties of the CDSS found previously in clinical samples in a healthy control group. The reference values reported here can assist the clinical use and interpretation of CDSS values and emphasize the usefulness of the CDSS for a thorough assessment of depression and suicidality in schizophrenia.

Relationship Between Diet and Serum Anabolic Hormone Responses to Heavy-Resistance Exercise in Men

Relationship between dietary intake and serum anabolic hormone concentrations of testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), and growth hormone were examined at rest as well as after the heavy-resistance exercise (HRE) in 8 strength athletes (SA) and 10 physically active non-athletes (NA). In the first part of the study serum basal anabolic hormone concentrations and dietary intake were examined in the total group of subjects. In the second part of the study a subgroup of 5 SA and 5 NA performed the high volume and high intensity HRE. Dietary intake was registered by dietary diaries for 4 days preceding the loading day. Significant correlations were observed between serum basal T and fat (E%: r = 0.55, p < 0.05, g/kg: r = 0.65, p < 0.01) and protein intake (E%: r = - 0.77, p < 0.001, g/kg: r = - 0.68, p < 0.01) in the total group of subjects. However, when the two groups were examined separately the significant relationships between serum basal T and dietary fat and protein could be noticed in SA only (fat g/kg: SA r = 0.77, p < 0.05; in NA r = 0.44, n.s., protein g/kg: SA r = - 0.84, p < 0.05; in NA r = 0.27, n.s.). Both serum T and FT responses to HRE were correlated with fat (E%: r = 0.85, p < 0.01 and r = 0.73, p < 0.05, g/kg: r = 0.72, p < 0.05 and r = 0.77, p < 0.01) and protein (E%: r = - 0.81, p < 0.01 and r = - 0.69, p < 0.05, g/kg: r = - 0.86, p < 0.01 and r = - 0.65, p < 0.05). The results suggest the possible role of diet leading to alterations in serum T and FT during prolonged strength training, and that diets with insufficient fat and/or excessive protein may compromise the anabolic hormonal environment over a training program.

Cognitive assessment in the elderly. Normative data of a Spanish population sample older than 70 years

To define the parameters of normal cognitive performance in an easy to administer neuropsychological battery of a Spanish population sample of elderly over 70 years. We examined 527 home dwelling elderly from the longitudinal study Envejecer en Leganés, 71 to 99 years old (mean age [SD] 79 [6.2] years, 51.8% women, 38.7% without formal education), with an extensive clinical survey, a neurological exam and the following neuropsychological battery: Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire, Mini Mental State Examination, Benton Orientation Test, Bell Test, Verbal Fluency, Clock Drawing Test, Trail Making Test, Free and Cued Figures Recall, Logic Memory, Naming, incidental Recall, Delayed Recall, Similarities, IQCODE Questionnaire Of Jorm and Depression Questionnaire CES-D. 111 cases who rejected the assessment or had sensomotor limitations were excluded. 368 non demented subjects (according to DSM-IV criteria; 88.5% of the de 416 remaining cases) were selected to establish the normative data of every test. The analyzed subsample was representative of the total sample. The normative data for every neuropsychological test were obtained in the total group of non demented subjects and in the subgroups stratified by four age levels and two cultural levels. The mean values, standard deviations, range and percentiles for every test and subgroup are presented. The normative data obtained in this population sample for a neuropsychological battery easy to administer to poorly educated elderly can be useful to rigourously apply the criteria of dementia and mild cognitive impairment in future clinical and population studies.

Prevalence of vitamin B 12 deficiency in spinal cord injury

Petchkrua W, Burns SP, Stiens SA, James JJ, Little JW. Prevalence of vitamin B 12 deficiency in spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2003;84:1675–9. Objective To assess the prevalence of vitamin B 12 deficiency in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) or disease (SCD). Design Cross-sectional study with prospective blood collection and retrospective medical record review. Setting Regional Veterans Affairs SCI service. Participants One hundred six adult men with chronic SCI or SCD and without other acute medical or surgical complications; most had SCI or SCD due to trauma or cervical spinal stenosis. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures Fasting blood samples were obtained at annual evaluation for serum B 12, folic acid, methylmalonic acid (MMA), and homocysteine. Serum levels were analyzed graphically and associated with patient variables by using statistical tests. Results The vitamin B 12 level was subnormal in 5.7% of subjects; of those, all had supranormal MMA levels, all were age 40 to 59, most had complete SCI, and 67% had symptoms suggestive of B 12 deficiency. Low-normal B 12 levels were associated with a high prevalence of supranormal MMA. Subjects with either subnormal B 12 or low normal B 12 with supranormal MMA, both suggestive of vitamin B 12 deficiency, comprised 13.3% of the total group of subjects. Conclusion Vitamin B 12 deficiency is most common in middle-aged SCI or SCD persons with complete or near-complete spinal cord involvement (ie, American Spinal Injury Association class A–C injuries). Treatment with either parenteral or oral B 12 replacement may optimize health and prevent irreversible neuropsychiatric complications in those with subnormal and low-normal B 12 levels.