scholarly journals The serum homocysteine level in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) after thrombolysis and its relationship with clinical outcomes

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 438-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling-Cong ◽  
Hong-Zhao ◽  
Yu-Wang ◽  
Yu-Li ◽  
Xin-Sui
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Thrombolytic Treatment ◽  
Neurological Outcomes ◽  
High Level Group ◽  
Serum Homocysteine ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Level Group

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE The present study aims to investigate whether hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) affects the outcomes of the thrombolytic treatment for patients with AIS. METHODS A sample of 120 AIS patients were recruited and grouped according to their serum homocysteine (Hcy) levels. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was obtained before treatment and 7 days after it to evaluate neurological outcomes; modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was obtained 12 weeks later to assess functional outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to demonstrate the relationship between serum Hcy level and the outcomes after tPA treatment. RESULTS The serum Hcy level of 120 patients was of 27.57±20.17μmol/L. The NIHSS scores of the patients in the low Hcy level group were remarkably lower compared to those in the high-level group (p<0.05), after 7 days of treatment. In addition, the mRS scores of the patients in the low Hcy level group, after 12 weeks, were remarkably lower compared to those in the high-level group (p<0.01). ROC demonstrated that the serum Hcy level is related to the clinical outcomes of thrombolytic treatment with moderate specificity (80.3%) and sensitivity (58.2%). CONCLUSION In conclusion, higher serum Hcy levels can indicate poorer clinical outcomes of thrombolytic treatment in patients with AIS.

Associations between dietary patterns and physical fitness among Chinese elderly

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yan Lyu ◽  
Xiao Yu ◽  
Huacai Yuan ◽  
Xiangren Yi ◽  
Xiaosheng Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
High Level Group ◽  
Older Chinese ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Level Group ◽  
Fourth Quartile

Abstract Objective: To explore the relationship between dietary patterns and physical fitness among older Chinese (≥60 years) individuals. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Dietary data were collected by a simplified semi-quantitative FFQ. The 30-s Chair Stand test (30sCST), 30-s Arm Curl test (30sACT), 8-foot Time Up-and-Go test (8fTUAGT) and 6-min Walking test (6mWT) were used to assess physical fitness. Dietary patterns were obtained by factor analysis. The association between dietary patterns and physical fitness was explored by multiple logistic regression. Setting: Six communities (villages) of three districts in Liaocheng City (Shandong Province, China). Participants: A total of 596 residents were recruited from April to May 2017. Results: Among 556 residents who were finally enrolled, 196 were men (35 %) and 360 were women (65 %). Three dietary patterns were identified: ‘Western’, ‘Vegetarian’ and ‘Modern’. The 30sACT revealed that men in the fourth quartile of the Western pattern were less likely to be classified in the ‘high-level’ group, but men in the fourth quartile of the Vegetarian pattern were classified in the high-level group. The 6mWT revealed that men in the fourth quartile of the Modern pattern were classified in the high-level group. These associations were independent of confounding factors. Conclusions: Adherence to the Vegetarian pattern and Modern pattern may be protective factors for maintaining good physical fitness in older Chinese individuals. The Western pattern may lead to poor physical fitness in this population.

The value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a marker of renal damage in patients with H-type hypertension

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen-Ni Chen ◽  
Yi-Ran Huang ◽  
Xing Chen ◽  
Kun Liu ◽  
Si-Jin Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Regression Analysis ◽  
Renal Damage ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Linear Regression Analysis ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Neutrophil To Lymphocyte Ratio ◽  
Lymphocyte Ratio ◽  
The Relationship

Aim: To explore the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and renal damage in patients with H-type hypertension. Materials & methods: A total of 618 patients between 2017 and 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: NLR was significantly correlated with renal damage in hypertension patients. Appropriate cut-off value for NLR (2.247) was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve; linear regression analysis showed that NLR and estimated glomerular filtration rate, blood urea nitrogen/creatinine has a significant negative correlation in H-type hypertension group (p < 0.05); logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of renal damage increased by 10% for each 1 umol/l increase of homocysteine, and 51% for each 1.0 increase of NLR in H-type hypertension patients. Conclusion: NLR worth popularizing in prediction of renal damage in patients with H-type hypertension.

A Semi-Automated Term Harmonization Pipeline Applied to Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Clinical Trials

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan J. Urbanowicz ◽  
John H. Holmes ◽  
Dina Appleby ◽  
Vanamala Narasimhan ◽  
Stephen Durborow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
System Organ Class ◽  
High Level Group ◽  
Fuzzy Matching ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Group ◽  
System Organ

Abstract Objective Data harmonization is essential to integrate individual participant data from multiple sites, time periods, and trials for meta-analysis. The process of mapping terms and phrases to an ontology is complicated by typographic errors, abbreviations, truncation, and plurality. We sought to harmonize medical history (MH) and adverse events (AE) term records across 21 randomized clinical trials in pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Methods We developed and applied a semi-automated harmonization pipeline for use with domain-expert annotators to resolve ambiguous term mappings using exact and fuzzy matching. We summarized MH and AE term mapping success, including map quality measures, and imputation of a generalizing term hierarchy as defined by the applied Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA) ontology standard. Results Over 99.6% of both MH (N = 37,105) and AE (N = 58,170) records were successfully mapped to MedDRA low-level terms. Automated exact matching accounted for 74.9% of MH and 85.5% of AE mappings. Term recommendations from fuzzy matching in the pipeline facilitated annotator mapping of the remaining 24.9% of MH and 13.8% of AE records. Imputation of the generalized MedDRA term hierarchy was unambiguous in 85.2% of high-level terms, 99.4% of high-level group terms, and 99.5% of system organ class in MH, and 75% of high-level terms, 98.3% of high-level group terms, and 98.4% of system organ class in AE. Conclusion This pipeline dramatically reduced the burden of manual annotation for MH and AE term harmonization and could be adapted to other data integration efforts.

Does Age Itself Have an Adverse Effect on Survivorship of Meniscal Allograft Transplantation? A Cartilage Status and Time From Previous Meniscectomy–Matched Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1696-1701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ju-Ho Song ◽  
Seong-Il Bin ◽  
Jong-Min Kim ◽  
Bum-Sik Lee ◽  
Dong-Wook Son
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Meniscal Allograft Transplantation ◽  
Log Rank Test ◽  
Meniscal Allograft ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Operating Characteristic Curve

Background: The aging process is accompanied by several conditions that could affect the outcome of meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT). These conditions have made it difficult for clinicians to determine the effect of chronologic age on survivorship after MAT. Hypothesis: Advanced age does not have an adverse effect on survivorship of MAT when controlling for age-related factors, such as cartilage status and time from previous meniscectomy. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The records of 264 consecutive patients who underwent primary medial or lateral MAT were reviewed. To check whether there was a difference in MAT survivorship according to age, a cutoff value was calculated from a time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve. Survival rates, as well as clinical improvement as determined using the Lysholm score, were compared between groups divided by the cutoff value. Patients were matched for cartilage status and elapsed time from previous meniscectomy. Differences in survivorship and clinical outcomes were assessed between the matched groups. Results: A time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the difference in MAT survivorship was maximized with a cutoff age of 43 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significant difference in MAT survivorship between the older and younger groups (log-rank test, P = .01). However, after matching for cartilage status and time from previous meniscectomy, which left 56 patients per group, there was no significant difference in MAT survivorship (log-rank test, P = .10) between the groups. Regarding clinical outcomes, the mean Lysholm scores were not significantly different between the older and younger groups ( P = .19, before matching; P = .39, after matching). Conclusion: MAT survivorship was more affected by age-related prognostic factors, such as cartilage status and time from previous meniscectomy, than age itself. Clinical outcomes did not show differences according to age, either.

scholarly journals Winter Androgen Levels and Wattle Size in Male Common Pheasants

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 193-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Papeschi ◽  
Federica Briganti ◽  
Francesco DessÌ-Fulgheri
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Season ◽  
Phasianus Colchicus ◽  
Hormone Levels ◽  
Male Trait ◽  
High Level Group ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Group ◽  
Androgen Levels ◽  
Normally Distributed

Abstract We report the results of morphological and hormonal measurements of 101 male Common Pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) captured during winter and at the beginning of the breeding season in order to identify correlates of ornament size. Androgen levels in January were bimodally distributed with one group with low hormone levels and a second group with high levels. In February, log transformed androgen levels were normally distributed, with all males showing values similar to the high-level group in January. Wattle size was positively correlated with androgens in January but not in February, suggesting that this male trait can indicate the ability of quality males to start earlier androgen production.

Peak Flow Rate During Induced Cough: A Predictor of Successful Decannulation of a Tracheotomy Tube in Neurosurgical Patients

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 278-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Y. Y. Chan ◽  
Alice Y. M. Jones ◽  
Raymond C. K. Chung ◽  
K. N. Hung
Keyword(s):  
Flow Rate ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Peak Flow ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Peak Flow Rate ◽  
Tracheotomy Tube ◽  
Optimal Cutoff ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients ◽  
Optimal Cutoff Point ◽  
The Relationship

Background An accurate predictor of successful decannulation in neurosurgical patients that indicates the best time for tracheotomy decannulation would minimize the risks of continued cannulation and unsuccessful decannulation. Objective To determine whether the peak flow rate during induced cough is an appropriate predictor of successful decannulation. Methods A total of 32 neurosurgical patients with a tracheotomy were enrolled. The highest peak expiratory flow rate during 3 induced coughs, the total volume of tracheal secretions collected in 6 hours, and scores on the Glasgow Coma Scale were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the relationship between these variables and successful decannulation (reintubation not required within 72 hours). Results Decannulation was attempted in 23 of 32 patients. The remaining 9 patients were considered clinically inappropriate for the procedure. Of the 23 patients decannulated, 2 required reinsertion of the tracheotomy tube. Analysis revealed that peak flow rate during induced cough (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.23) was independently associated with successful decannulation (accuracy, 75%; sensitivity, 85.7%; specificity, 54.5%). The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated an optimal cutoff point of 29 L/min. Conclusion Measurement of peak flow rate during induced cough is a simple and reproducible intervention that improves predictability of successful decannulation in patients with tracheotomy.

Minimal Residual Disease Status at Day +100 Post Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Is a Powerful Predictor for Post-Transplant Outcome In Patients with High Risk Acute Leukemia

Blood ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 116 (21) ◽  
pp. 3550-3550
Author(s):  
XiaoWen Tang ◽  
Xingwei Sun ◽  
Shengli Xue ◽  
Xiaolan Shi ◽  
Mingqing Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Post Transplant ◽  
Low Level ◽  
High Level Group ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Group

Abstract Abstract 3550 Background and Objectives Relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is still a major cause for the failure in treatment. It has been shown that there was a closely relationship between the level of minimal residual disease (MRD) and relapse in acute leukemia (AL) patients; However, the application of multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) for MRD assessment in high risk patients with AL who undergoing allo-HSCT is little concerned. We retrospectively analysed the serial results of MRD of 52 high risk patients with AL to evaluates the prognostic value of MRD pre and post transplantation. Methods 52 patients with a median age of 29 (13–55) years have been enrolled on this study in our hospital from January 2003 to September 2008.Diagnoses included AML (n=27) and ALL (n=25). The patients had been analyzed retrospectively the level of MRD pre-(day-30)and post-HSCT(day+30 and +100)using three color FCM with CD45/SSC gating and a comprehensive panel of monoclonal antibodies, at least one leukemia associated aberrant immunophenotype (LAIP) at diagnosis. According to the cutoff value 0.1%, two groups were defined based on the level of patient's MRD level< (low level group) or >= (high level group) 0.1%. Results The median follow up were 23 (range 1–60) months. 1.MRD level declines significantly (P=0.03) post transplant. 2. There were significantly difference between low level and high level group at day -30 before transplant with 3 years event free survival(EFS) and relapse free survival (RFS)(77.4% and 88.4% vs. 22.3% and 25.7%, p=0.007and p=0.001 respectively). 3. Concerning about MRD at day +100 after transplant, outcome was significantly better among patients with low level MRD group versus high group including 3 years OS,EFS and RFS(84.2%, 79.5% and 89.5% versus 22.9%, 9.5% and 11.2%).4. The median time from high level MRD detected first time to clinical relapse was 2.5 (range from 1 to 33) months in relapsed patients. 5. The patients with cGVHD had better 3 years OS and EFS than that without cGVHD(86.3% vs 12.1%, p<0.001 and 65.3% vs.14.8%, p< 0.001 respectively). 6. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that MRD on day +100 as well as chronic GVHD were independent parameters predictive for OS and EFS. Conclusions MRD monitoring pre- and post-transplant is an important tool to predict the outcome of transplantation for patients with high risk AL. The MRD check point at day +100 should be considered crucial for subsequent therapeutic decisions after allogeneic transplantation. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Stratified Threshold Values of QuantiFERON Assay for Diagnosing Tuberculosis Infection in Immunocompromised Populations

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruyuki Ariga ◽  
Hideaki Nagai ◽  
Atsuyuki Kurashima ◽  
Yoshihiko Hoshino ◽  
Syunsuke Shoji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Risk Of Progression ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Hiv Negative

Background. The detection of latent tuberculosis (TB) is essential for TB control, but T-cell assay might be influenced by degree of immunosuppression. The relationship between immunocompetence and interferon (IFN)-γ response in QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) is uncertain, especially in HIV-negative populations.Methods and Results. QFT has been performed for healthy subjects and TB suspected patients. Of 3017 patients, 727 were diagnosed as pulmonary TB by culture. The absolute number of blood lymphocyte in TB patients was significantly associated with QFT. Definitive TB patients were divided into eight groups according to lymphocyte counts. For each subgroup, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was conducted from 357 healthy control subjects. The optimal cut-off for the patient group with adequate lymphocyte counts was found, but this was reduced for lymphocytopenia.Conclusions. The lymphocyte count was positively associated with QFT. Positive criteria should be calibrated in consideration of cell-mediated immunocompetence and risk of progression to active TB.

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