Central Sensitization and Catastrophism Symptoms Are Associated with Chronic Myofascial Pain in the Gastrocnemius of Athletes

Abstract Objective To compare central sensitization symptoms, presence of central sensitivity syndrome (CSS), catastrophism, rumination, magnification, and helplessness symptoms between athletes with gastrocnemius myofascial pain and healthy athletes. Furthermore, to predict central sensitization symptoms based on sociodemographic and descriptive data, catastrophism features, and presence of gastrocnemius myofascial pain in athletes. Design Case–control study. Setting Outpatient clinic. Subjects Fifty matched paired athletes were recruited and divided into patients with chronic (more than three months) gastrocnemius myofascial pain (N = 25) and healthy subjects (N = 25). Methods Central sensitization symptoms and CSS presence (≥40 points) were determined by the Central Sensitization Questionnaire (CSQ). Catastrophism symptoms and rumination, magnification, and helplessness domains were measured by the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Statistical significance was set at P < 0.01 for a 99% confidence interval. Results Statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.001) with a large effect size (d = 1.05–1.19) were shown for higher CSQ scores and PCS total and domain scores in athletes with gastrocnemius myofascial pain vs healthy athletes. Nevertheless, CSS presence (CSQ ≥ 40 points) did not show statistically significant differences (P = 0.050) between groups. A linear regression model (R2 = 0.560, P < 0.01) predicted higher CSQ scores based on PCS total score (R2 = 0.390), female sex (R2 = 0.095), and myofascial pain presence (R2 = 0.075). Conclusions Greater symptoms of central sensitization, catastrophism, rumination, magnification, and helplessness were shown in athletes with gastrocnemius myofascial pain compared with healthy athletes. Nevertheless, there was not a statistically significant presence of CSS comparing both groups. Greater central sensitization symptoms were predicted by catastrophism symptoms, female sex, and presence of gastrocnemius myofascial pain in athletes.

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SERUM PROLACTINE LEVEL IN PATIENTS OF PSORIASIS VULGARIS AND ITS CORRELATION WITH DISEASE SEVERITY: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

International Journal of Medical and Biomedical Studies ◽

10.32553/ijmbs.v3i6.303 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Pawan Kumar Saini ◽

Devendra Yadav ◽

Rozy Badyal ◽

Suresh Jain ◽

Arti Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Disease Severity ◽

Prolactin Level ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Case Control ◽

Serum Prolactin ◽

P Value ◽

Serum Prolactin Level ◽

R Value ◽

Control Study

Background: Psoriasis is an autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the skin mediated by T-lymphocytes resulting in production of cytokines which cause hyperproliferation of keratinocytes. Several factors and hormones like Prolactin have an action similar to these cytokines in promoting the multiplication of keratinocytes and other cells like lymphocytes and epithelial cells may have a role on the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis. Aim:-The aim of study is to compare the serum Prolactin levels in patients of psoriasis with a control group. Setting and study design: This is a case-control study conducted in the department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy GMC, Kota over a period of 1year from July 2017 to June 2018 Material and method: The study included 100 cases of psoriasis (60 males and 40 females) and 100 controls similar for age and sex. Serum Prolactin levels were measured by ECLIA and results were obtained. Statistical analysis: Mean and standard deviation were calculated for each variable. Statistical significance of the results was analyzed using correlation analysis (Pearson correlation coefficient) and independent samples t-test. Statistical significance was assumed at p value<0.05. Result: Serum Prolactin level was significantly higher in cases of psoriasis compared to controls (p-value <0.001). PASI score and serum Prolactin levels were found to have a positive correlation (r value = 0.337; p-value: 0.001). No significant correlation was found between serum levels of Prolactin and duration of disease r value= -0.034, P value =0.733). Serum Prolactin level was higher in male patients compared to females patients. Conclusion:- High serum Prolactin may be a biological marker of disease severity in psoriasis and may have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Further studies with large sample size are required to confirm this hypothesis.

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COVID-19 and Its Symptoms’ Panoply: A Case-Control Study of 919 Suspected Cases in Locked-Down Ovar, Portugal

Portuguese Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1159/000514925 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Regina Sá ◽

Tiago Pinho-Bandeira ◽

Guilherme Queiroz ◽

Joana Matos ◽

João Duarte Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Case Control ◽

Case Definition ◽

Suspected Case ◽

Risk Characteristics ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Wide Range ◽

Control Study

Background: Ovar was the first Portuguese municipality to declare active community transmission of SARS-CoV-2, with total lockdown decreed on March 17, 2020. This context provided conditions for a large-scale testing strategy, allowing a referral system considering other symptoms besides the ones that were part of the case definition (fever, cough, and dyspnea). This study aims to identify other symptoms associated with COVID-19 since it may clarify the pre-test probability of the occurrence of the disease. Methods: This case-control study uses primary care registers between March 29 and May 10, 2020 in Ovar municipality. Pre-test clinical and exposure-risk characteristics, reported by physicians, were collected through a form, and linked with their laboratory result. Results: The study population included a total of 919 patients, of whom 226 (24.6%) were COVID-19 cases and 693 were negative for SARS-CoV-2. Only 27.1% of the patients reporting contact with a confirmed or suspected case tested positive. In the multivariate analysis, statistical significance was obtained for headaches (OR 0.558), odynophagia (OR 0.273), anosmia (OR 2.360), and other symptoms (OR 2.157). The interaction of anosmia and odynophagia appeared as possibly relevant with a borderline statistically significant OR of 3.375. Conclusion: COVID-19 has a wide range of symptoms. Of the myriad described, the present study highlights anosmia itself and calls for additional studies on the interaction between anosmia and odynophagia. Headaches and odynophagia by themselves are not associated with an increased risk for the disease. These findings may help clinicians in deciding when to test, especially when other diseases with similar symptoms are more prevalent, namely in winter.

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Association of placental chorangiosis with pregnancy complication and prenatal outcome: a case-control study

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth ◽

10.1186/s12884-021-03576-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Homeira Vafaei ◽

Zinat Karimi ◽

Mojgan Akbarzadeh-Jahromi ◽

Fatemeh Asadian

Keyword(s):

Case Control Study ◽

Gestational Hypertension ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Placental Tissue ◽

Case Control ◽

Low Grade ◽

Amniotic Fluid Index ◽

Significance Level ◽

Adverse Pregnancy ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background Chorangiosis is a vascular change involving the terminal chorionic villi in the placenta. It results from longstanding, low-grade hypoxia in the placental tissue, and is associated with such conditions as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), diabetes, and gestational hypertension in pregnancy. Chorangiosis rarely occurs in normal pregnancies. However, its prevalence is 5–7% of all placentas from infants admitted to newborn intensive care units. The present study was aimed at determining the association of chorangiosis with pregnancy complications and perinatal outcomes. Methods In this case-control study, 308 chorangiosis cases were compared with 308 controls (with other diagnoses in pathology) in terms of maternal, placental, prenatal, and neonatal characteristics derived from the medical records of participants retrospectively. R and SPSS version 22 software tools were used, and the statistical significance level was considered 0.05 for all the tests. Results Preeclampsia, diabetes mellitus, maternal hemoglobin, maternal hematocrit, C/S, oligohydramnios, fetal anomaly, dead neonates, NICU admissions were significantly higher in the chorangiosis group OR = 1.6, 3.98, 1.68, 1.92, 2.1, 4.47, 4.22, 2.9, 2.46, respectively (p-value< 0.05 for all). Amniotic fluid index, birth weight, cord PH amount, 1st, and 5th Apgar score was lower in the chorangiosis group OR = 0.31, 1, 0.097, 0.83, 0.85, respectively (p-value< 0.05 for all). Moreover, fundal placenta, retro placental hemorrhage, perivillous fibrin deposition, calcification, and acute chorioamnionitis were higher in the chorangiosis group OR = 2.1, 11.8, 19.96, 4.05, and 6.38 respectively, (p-value< 0.05). There was a high agreement between the two pathologists, and the power of the study was estimated at 99%. Conclusion Although chorangiosis is an uncommon condition, it is associated with a higher incidence of perinatal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it should be considered an important clinical sign of adverse pregnancy outcomes and should be reported in the pathology evaluation.

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Potential Autonomic Risk Factors for Chronic TMD: Descriptive Data and Empirically Identified Domains from the OPPERA Case-Control Study

Journal of Pain ◽

10.1016/j.jpain.2011.09.002 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. T75-T91 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

William Maixner ◽

Joel D. Greenspan ◽

Ronald Dubner ◽

Eric Bair ◽

Flora Mulkey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Descriptive Data ◽

Control Study

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Incorrect sleeping position and eye rubbing in patients with unilateral or highly asymmetric keratoconus: a case-control study

Graefe s Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology ◽

10.1007/s00417-020-04771-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 258 (11) ◽

pp. 2431-2439

Author(s):

Adrien Mazharian ◽

Christophe Panthier ◽

Romain Courtin ◽

Camille Jung ◽

Radhika Rampat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Control Study ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Case Control ◽

Sleeping Position ◽

History Of ◽

Sleeping Habits ◽

Univariate Analyses ◽

Red Eyes ◽

Control Study

Abstract Purpose To evaluate eye rubbing and sleeping position in patients with Unilateral or Highly Asymmetric Keratoconus (UHAKC). Methods Case-control study of consecutive UHAKC patients diagnosed at the Rothschild Foundation. Controls were age- and sex-matched, randomly selected refractive surgery clinic patients. Patients self-administered questionnaires regarding their family history of keratoconus, eye rubbing, and sleeping habits. All the eyes underwent a comprehensive ocular examination. Logistic regression was used to analyze univariate and multivariate data to identify risk factors for keratoconus. Results Thirty-three UHAKC patients and 64 controls were included. Univariate analyses showed that daytime eye rubbing [OR = 172.78], in the morning [OR = 24.3], or in eyes with the steepest keratometry [OR = 21.7] were significantly different between groups. Allergy [OR = 2.94], red eyes in the morning [OR = 6.36], and sleeping on stomach/sides [OR = 14.31] or on the same side as the steepest keratometry [OR = 94.72] were also significantly different. The multivariate model also showed statistical significance for most factors including daytime eye rubbing [OR = 134.96], in the morning [OR = 24.86], in the steepest eye [OR = 27.56], and sleeping on stomach/sides [OR = 65.02] or on the steepest side [OR = 144.02]. A univariate analysis in UHAKC group, comparing the worse and better eye, showed that eye rubbing [OR = 162.14] and sleeping position [OR = 99.74] were significantly (p < 0.001) associated with the worse eye. Conclusion Our data suggests that vigorous eye rubbing and incorrect sleeping position are associated with UHAKC. This is especially true in rubbing the most afflicted eye, and contributory sleep position, including positions placing pressure on the eye with the steepest keratometry.

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Association betweenMycoplasma genitaliuminfection and HIV acquisition among female sex workers in Uganda: evidence from a nested case–control study

Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽

10.1136/sextrans-2013-051467 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 90 (7) ◽

pp. 545-549 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Judith Vandepitte ◽

Helen A Weiss ◽

Justine Bukenya ◽

Nassim Kyakuwa ◽

Etienne Muller ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Workers ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Female Sex ◽

Hiv Acquisition ◽

Nested Case Control ◽

Control Study

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Interleukin-15 (IL-15) and Anti-C1q Antibodies as Serum Biomarkers for Ectopic Pregnancy and Missed Abortion

Clinical and Developmental Immunology ◽

10.1155/2013/637513 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Alexandros Daponte ◽

Efthimios Deligeoroglou ◽

Spyros Pournaras ◽

Christos Hadjichristodoulou ◽

Antonios Garas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ectopic Pregnancy ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Case Control ◽

Maternal Serum ◽

Missed Abortion ◽

Interleukin 15 ◽

Immunological Factors ◽

Control Study

Given the present lack of clinically useful tests for the accurate diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (EP), there is a need to select out those immunological factors measured in the maternal serum, as potential biomarkers. Our assumption was that C1q/anti-C1q antibody complexes and serum levels of interleukin-15 (IL-15) may play a role in differentiating abortions (MAs) and EPs and normal pregnancies. We assessed whether their measurement could set the diagnosis in a case control study at 6–8 weeks consisting of 60 women with failed early pregnancy (30 EPs, 30 MAs) and 33 women with intrauterine pregnancies. Normal pregnancies contain anti-C1q antibodies more frequently compared to women with failed pregnancies, the lowest levels being found in EPs, but this lacked statistical significance and anti-C1q could not serve as a marker. However EP pregnancies had elevated IL-15 levels that could statistically significantly differentiate them from MAs and IUPs. Furthermore, when assessing IL-15 for the clinically important differentiation between IUP and EP, we found at a cut-off of 16 pg/mL a negative predictive value of 99 with a sensitivity for diagnosing an EP of 92%. According to these results, serum IL-15 is a promising marker differentiating an MA from an EP.

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Contributing factors to chronic myofascial pain: a case–control study

Pain ◽

10.1016/s0304-3959(03)00074-5 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 104 (3) ◽

pp. 491-499 ◽

Cited By ~ 122

Author(s):

Ana M Velly ◽

Mervyn Gornitsky ◽

Pierre Philippe

Keyword(s):

Case Control Study ◽

Myofascial Pain ◽

Case Control ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Control Study

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Predictors of delayed recovery following pediatric sports-related concussion: a case-control study

Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics ◽

10.3171/2015.8.peds14332 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 491-496 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

Joseph H. Miller ◽

Clarence Gill ◽

Elizabeth N. Kuhn ◽

Brandon G. Rocque ◽

Joshua Y. Menendez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Health Concern ◽

Female Sex ◽

Prolonged Recovery ◽

History Of ◽

Delayed Recovery ◽

Control Study

OBJECT Pediatric sports-related concussions are a growing public health concern. The factors that determine injury severity and time to recovery following these concussions are poorly understood. Previous studies suggest that initial symptom severity and diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are predictors of prolonged recovery (> 28 days) after pediatric sports-related concussions. Further analysis of baseline patient characteristics may allow for a more accurate prediction of which patients are at risk for delayed recovery after a sports-related concussion. METHODS The authors performed a single-center retrospective case-control study involving patients cared for at the multidisciplinary Concussion Clinic at Children's of Alabama between August 2011 and January 2013. Patient demographic data, medical history, sport concussion assessment tool 2 (SCAT2) and symptom severity scores, injury characteristics, and patient balance assessments were analyzed for each outcome group. The control group consisted of patients whose symptoms resolved within 28 days. The case group included patients whose symptoms persisted for more than 28 days. The presence or absence of the SCAT2 assessment had a modifying effect on the risk for delayed recovery; therefore, stratum-specific analyses were conducted for patients with recorded SCAT2 scores and for patients without SCAT2 scores. Unadjusted ORs and adjusted ORs (aORs) for an association of delayed recovery outcome with specific risk factors were calculated with logistic regression analysis. RESULTS A total of 294 patients met the inclusion criteria of the study. The case and control groups did not statistically significantly differ in age (p = 0.7). For the patients who had received SCAT2 assessments, a previous history of concussion (aOR 3.67, 95% CI 1.51–8.95), presenting SCAT2 score < 80 (aOR 5.58, 95% CI 2.61–11.93), and female sex (aOR 3.48, 95% CI 1.43–8.49) were all associated with a higher risk for postconcussive symptoms lasting more than 28 days. For patients without SCAT2 scores, female sex and reporting a history of ADHD significantly increased the odds of prolonged recovery (aOR 4.41, 95% CI 1.93–10.07 and aOR 3.87, 95% CI 1.13–13.24, respectively). Concussions resulting from playing a nonhelmet sport were also associated with a higher risk for prolonged symptoms in patients with and without SCAT2 scores (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.28–5.26 and OR 2.17, 95% CI 0.99–7.73, respectively). Amnesia, balance abnormalities, and a history of migraines were not associated with symptoms lasting longer than 28 days. CONCLUSIONS This case-control study suggests candidate risk factors for predicting prolonged recovery following sports-related concussion. Large prospective cohort studies of youth athletes examined and treated with standardized protocols will be needed to definitively establish these associations and confirm which children are at highest risk for delayed recovery.

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