scholarly journals Does Two-Year Stability for Scale Scores of Psychosocial Factors Differ by Socioeconomic Position?

2009 ◽  
Vol 105 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1009-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Lundberg ◽  
Nadine Karlsson ◽  
Margareta Kristenson

Previous longitudinal studies have demonstrated the importance of measuring stability of risk factors over time to correct for attenuation bias. The present aim was to assess the stability of scores for eight psychometric scales over a 2-yr. period and whether stability differed by socioeconomic position. Baseline data were collected during 2003–2004 from 1,007 men and women ages 45 to 69 years. Follow-up data were collected in 2006 from a total of 795 men and women. Analysis showed that stability over 2 yr. was moderate and tended to be lower in groups of low socioeconomic position. It is suggested that correction of attenuation bias is relevant in longitudinal studies for psychosocial factors, especially for groups of low socioeconomic position.

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Rose ◽  
Mark Harris ◽  
Maria Theresa Ho

Little is known about general practitioners? (GP) capacity to effectively manage diabetes among patients of low socioeconomic position (SEP), despite the high burden of type 2 diabetes in this group. Nine GPs involved in a diabetes program and practising in an area of socioeconomic disadvantage participated in a focus group on low-SEP patient barriers to diabetes management, GP problems in managing diabetes among this group, and strategies for improving diabetes management with low-SEP patients. GPs perceived that low health literacy, poverty and psychosocial issues, and negative attitudes towards health were barriers to diabetes management among low-SEP patients. Difficulties in providing care to low-SEP patients were related to the availability of allied health services and GP perceptions of increased stress in providing care to this group. Suggestions for improvements in diabetes management were focussed on providing educational materials to low-SEP patients that matched literacy levels, and initiating patient financial incentive schemes to assist diabetes management and attendance at follow-up consultations.


Author(s):  
Ute Ritterfeld ◽  
Timo Lüke

Abstract. Audio stories offer a unique blend of narrative entertainment with language learning opportunities as a user’s enjoyment is dependent on their processing of the linguistic content. A total of 138 third- and fourth-graders from low socioeconomic status and migrant families recruited from a metropolitan area in Germany participated in a randomized pre–post follow-up intervention study with a control group. Children listened to a tailored crime story of approximately 90 min over a period of 3 days within the classroom setting. Entertainment value for the age group was established in a pilot study. Outcome variables included semantic and grammatical skills in German and were administered before (pretest), shortly after intervention (posttest), and 2 weeks later (follow-up). We used nonverbal intelligence, reading, comprehension skills, age and sex as control variables. Results indicate a strong positive effect of media reception on language skills. The effectiveness of the intervention is discussed with reference to different linguistic domains, entertainment value, and compensatory effects in populations at risk of language learning deficits.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Wawan Mulyawan ◽  
Yudi Yuwono Wiwoho ◽  
Syaiful Ichwan

Background: Following surgical treatments for low back pain, lower extremity pain or neurologic symptoms would last or recur, this is defined as failed sack surgery syndrome (FBSS). FBSS usually occurs in 5-40% of these surgical patients. The most common cause is an epidural scar adhesion. Percutaneous epidural neuroplasty is the non-mechanical treatment for this condition. Previously, the use of hyaluronidase and hypertonic saline separately is commonly used for epidurolysis but the combination of hyaluronidase and hypertonic saline 3% has not been explored.Objective: To investigate the two-year outcomes of percutaneous epidural neuroplasty using a combination of hyaluronidase and hypertonic saline 3% in patients with FBSS.Methods: Twelve patients who experience low back pain, with or without radiculopathy, who have underwent lumbar spine surgery previously were assigned to the study. Parameters, such as the visual analogue scale scores for the back (VAS-B) and legs (VAS-L), and the Oswestry disability index (ODI), were recorded and compared between pretreatment, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year and 2 years follow-up.Results: For all 12 patients, the postoperative VAS-B, VAS-L, and ODI were significantly different from the preoperative values in all follow-up periods: 1 month, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years.Conclusion: Based off this study group, percutaneous epidural neuroplasty using a combination of hyaluronidase and hypertonic saline 3% has a favourable outcome in the 2 years follow-up


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 232-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emanuela Onesti ◽  
Vittorio Frasca ◽  
Marco Ceccanti ◽  
Giorgio Tartaglia ◽  
Maria Cristina Gori ◽  
...  

Background: The cannabinoid system may be involved in the humoral mechanisms at the neuromuscular junction. Ultramicronized-palmitoylethanolamide (μm-PEA) has recently been shown to reduce the desensitization of Acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked currents in denervated patients modifying the stability of ACh receptor (AChR) function. <p> Objective: To analyze the possible beneficial effects of μm-PEA in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) on muscular fatigue and neurophysiological changes. <p> Method: The duration of this open pilot study, which included an intra-individual control, was three weeks. Each patient was assigned to a 1-week treatment period with μm-PEA 600 mg twice a day. A neurophysiological examination based on repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS) of the masseteric and the axillary nerves was performed, and the quantitative MG (QMG) score was calculated in 22 MG patients every week in a three-week follow-up period. AChR antibody titer was investigated to analyze a possible immunomodulatory effect of PEA in MG patients. <p> Results: PEA had a significant effect on the QMG score (p=0.03418) and on RNS of the masseteric nerve (p=0.01763), thus indicating that PEA reduces the level of disability and decremental muscle response. Antibody titers did not change significantly after treatment. <p> Conclusion: According to our observations, μm-PEA as an add-on therapy could improve muscular response to fatigue in MG. The possible modulation of AChR currents as a means of eliciting a direct effect from PEA on the conformation of ACh receptors should be investigated. The co-role of cytokines also warrants an analysis. Given the rapidity and reversibility of the response, we suppose that PEA acts directly on AChR, though further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.


2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 713-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung-Hwan Choi ◽  
Kyung-Keun Shi ◽  
Jung-Yul Cha ◽  
Young-Chel Park ◽  
Kee-Joon Lee

ABSTRACT Objective:  To evaluate the stability of nonsurgical miniscrew-assisted rapid maxillary expansion (MARME) in young adults with a transverse maxillary deficiency. Materials and Methods:  From a total of 69 adult patients who underwent MARME followed by orthodontic treatment with a straight-wire appliance, 20 patients (mean age, 20.9 ± 2.9 years) with follow-up records (mean, 30.2 ± 13.2 months) after debonding were selected. Posteroanterior cephalometric records and dental casts were obtained at the initial examination (T0), immediately after MARME removal (T1), immediately after debonding (T2), and at posttreatment follow-up (T3). Results:  Suture separation was observed in 86.96% of subjects (60/69). An increase in the maxillary width (J-J; 1.92 mm) accounted for 43.34% of the total expansion with regard to the intermolar width (IMW) increase (4.43 mm; P &lt; .001) at T2. The amounts of J-J and IMW posttreatment changes were −0.07 mm (P &gt; .05) and −0.42 mm (P  =  .01), respectively, during retention. The postexpansion change in middle alveolus width increased with age (P &lt; .05). The postexpansion change of interpremolar width (IPMW) was positively correlated with the amount of IPMW expansion (P &lt; .05) but not with IMW. The changes of the clinical crown heights in the maxillary canines, first premolars, and first molars were not significant at each time point. Conclusions:  Nonsurgical MARME can be a clinically acceptable and stable treatment modality for young adults with a transverse maxillary deficiency.


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