BACKGROUND: The usual method of assessing the variability of a measure such as the ankle brachial index (ABI) as a function of different observer groups is to obtain repeated measurements. Because the number of possible observer-subject combinations is impractically large, only a few small studies on inter- and intraobserver variability ...

The morbidity and mortality of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are related principally to its cardiovascular complications. Metabolic syndrome (MBS) is recognized as raising the risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we analysied the diagnostic value of MBS to predict the diagnosis of severe OSA. Eight-seven subjects (54 males and ...

Intensive care unit (ICU) patients often suffer from subcutaneous oedema, due to administration of large fluid volumes and the underlying pathophysiological condition. It is unknown whether the presence of subcutaneous oedema impairs the absorption of dalteparin, a low molecular weight heparin, when it is given by subcutaneous administration for venous ...

In recent years more studies are using nonlinear dynamics to describe cardiovascular control. Because of the large dispersion of physiological data, it is important to have large studies with both male and female participants to establish a range of physiological healthy values. This study investigated the effect of gender and ...

PURPOSE: To examine the association of ankle-brachial blood pressure index (ABI) with prevalence of age-related maculopathy (ARM). DESIGN: A cross-sectional cohort study. METHODS: ABI was measured in 2447 subjects aged 53 to 97 years. ARM was determined from 30-degree color stereoscopic fundus photographs. RESULTS: Low ABI (< or =0.9) was ...

OBJECTIVES: We examined the ability of ankle brachial index, C-reactive protein and central augmentation index to identify individuals in the general population with severe atherosclerosis, diagnosed as those with ischaemic cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined 4159 randomly sampled individuals from the Danish general population, of which 250 had ...

In this study, we compare the in vivo wear performance of electron beam-irradiated, postirradiation-melted, highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) and traditional UHMWPE via the Martell method. Seventy hips with HXLPE performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital had 138 radiograph pairs for wear analysis and a 31.2-month average follow-up (range, 24-44 months). ...

Nailfold videocapillaroscopy was performed in 21 controls (C) and 21 patients (P) with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) classified according to the American College of Rheumatology, with, at least, 1 year of diagnosed disease and having low activity (MEX-SLEDAI) and sequel (SLICC) indexes at the time of the examination, paired by ...

The aim of this research was to identify a small set of indicators of an individual's deprivation that is appropriate for all ethnic groups and can be combined into a single and simple index of individual socioeconomic deprivation in New Zealand. The NZiDep index of socioeconomic deprivation was derived using ...

PURPOSE: To determine the normal relative length, girth, and nail width of the pediatric thumb with respect to the index finger in children ages 1 through 18 years. METHODS: Measurements of relative thumb length, girth, and nail width were performed on 546 hands in 273 volunteers ages 1 through 18 ...

BACKGROUND: The concept of a frailty index, developed in Canadian elderly populations as an indicator of biological age as opposed to chronological age, was tested in an elderly Chinese population to determine whether it is applicable in a different ethnic and cultural setting. METHODS: A data set including 62 physical, ...

Little is known about the effects of ageing on cerebral autoregulation (CA). To examine the relationship between age and CA in adults, we conducted a prospective study using a non-invasive protocol without external stimuli. We studied 32 subjects, aged 23-68 years. They were assigned to a young group (28+/-5 years) ...

In adults, calculation of left ventricular mass (LVM) has been shown to give higher values when based on M-mode measurements obtained by the second-harmonic imaging (SHI) technique than with the older fundamental imaging (FI) technique. No information is available in paediatric subjects. This study, therefore, compares LVM calculated from measurements ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevention of edema during long-haul flights with an oral, anti-edema and antithrombotic agent (Pycnogenol, Horphag, Research Management SA, Geneva, Switzerland) in asymptomatic subjects. The assessment of edema was performed by evaluating an analogue scale, the rate of ankle swelling by strain-gauge ...

OBJECTIVE: The efficacy of a topical application of hyaluronic acid (HA) was tested for treating gingivitis. Method and materials: Sixty nonsmoking outpatients in good general condition, with clinical signs of gingivitis, were included in the study. Forty patients (HA group, 20 men, 20 women; age: 32.8 +/- 11.3 years) used ...

BACKGROUND: Anthropometric variation can be fruitfully utilized to investigate microevolutionary processes. Anthropometric variations in the Indian subcontinent based on stature and three indices (Cephalic Index, Nasal Index, and Total Facial Index) are highly variable and discriminative among populations across geographical regions. AIMS: Anthropometric variation in stature, Cephalic Index (CI), Nasal ...

BACKGROUND: The International Prognostic Index (IPI), initially designed for aggressive lymphomas, is also used in follicular lymphoma (FL) and other indolent lymphomas. Two new prognostic indexes have recently been proposed for FL [the Italian Lymphoma Intergroup (ILI) Index and the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI)]. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three ...

There are indications that subjects with schizotypal personality have a lower Body Mass Index. Also schizotypal personality is linked to a higher incidence of paranormal belief. In this study we examined whether low Body Mass Index is also linked to paranormal belief. In a pilot study 48 students of psychology ...

PURPOSE: We quantified differences in somatic and visceral sensation in healthy subjects and subjects with interstitial cystitis (IC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 13 subjects with IC and 13 healthy subjects answered psychological questionnaires and underwent psychophysical testing of thermal and pressure thresholds for sensation as well as the ...

The resting peripheral volume pulse wave of 44 subjects within three age categories (30-39, 40-49, 50) has been characterized using a novel algorithm for the automated determination of a mean pulse function. The contour of this resting mean pulse has been analyzed with regard to its systolic and diastolic characteristics. ...

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with several cardiovascular diseases. However, the mechanisms are not completely understood. Recent studies have shown that OSA is associated with multiple markers of endothelial damage. We hypothesized that OSA affects functional and structural properties of large arteries, contributing to atherosclerosis progression. METHODS AND ...

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between forearm bone mineral density (BMD), body mass index (BMI), and body composition focusing on body fat percentage (BF%) in Japanese females 18 to 40 years old. Subjects were 2,280 females 18-40 years old. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and a ...

The present study tests the hypothesis that a mitral tetrahedron (MT) is a useful geometrical surrogate for assessment of chronic ischemic mitral regurgitation (CIMR). Fifty-eight subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the presence or absence of CIMR: LVEF > or ...

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults. C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, is an important predictor of future cardiovascular events. The goal of this study was to quantify the associations of SDB, sleep duration, ...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the antegonial index (AI) and the mental index (MI) in edentulous and dentate patients, in different age groups and between genders. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated 312 panoramic radiographs and grouped them into 4 10-year age groups. Gender, dentition status and age were recorded. The measurements were performed ...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The index of mean blood flow velocity (V) in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) divided by respective velocity in the ipsilateral internal carotid artery (ICA), or V(MCA)/V(ICA) index, is commonly used as a marker of vasospasm, although reference values are not established. We sought to provide reference ...

The relationships between V4 (the velocity for a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/litre) and V200 (the velocity for a heart rate of 200 bpm) and the performance indices of 223 healthy French trotters were analysed. They were divided into four age groups of three, four, five and six years ...

BACKGROUND: Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) are common diseases. Some recent studies suggest an increased prevalence of COPD among subjects with OSAS. OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to evaluate whether there is an epidemiological relationship between COPD and OSAS in a random population ...

To define differences in the skeletal components of facial structure predisposing to the obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by a comparison of the craniofacial complex between people with OSAHS and their siblings without OSAHS. Case-control study using sibling pairs. Scottish Sleep Centre. 104 patients with OSAHS living in Scotland and ...

Abundant and well-preserved radiolarians are reported from a limestone sample taken from near the town of Fojnica, southern Bosnia and Herzegovina. A late late Ladinian age is assigned to this sample based on the index species Spongoserrula fluegeli and Muelleritortis cochleata and associated radiolarian fauna. As a result of taxonomic ...

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that the systolic augmentation index (AI) in the central arteries, including the aorta and carotid arteries, changes with age. The AI can also be obtained from the peripheral arteries. The possible usefulness of AI obtained from the radial artery as an index for vascular aging ...

BACKGROUND: For outpatient colonoscopy, the time required to intubate the cecum is variable. The aim of this study was to determine factors associated with cecal intubation time. METHODS: A total of 693 consecutive outpatient colonoscopies performed from January to October 2002 at a tertiary care medical center were studied prospectively. ...

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between age and renal resistive index (RI) and to determine the normal values and ranges of RI in intrarenal arteries in healthy children. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Color duplex Doppler sonography of interlobar or arcuate arteries was performed in 115 ...

Titles are indexed alphabetically under the appropriate subject terms.

BACKGROUND: Children are acknowledged as the most vulnerable group to urinary schistosomiasis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the age group(s) of school children considered as the major contributor(s) to the spread of the disease. DESIGN: Observational/Prospective (concurrent) studies. SETTING: Barekuma, Aninkroma and Hiawo Besease, riparian communities in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. ...

In this study we aimed to identify the role of the body mass index (BMI), wrist index and hand anthropometric measures as risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in both genders. Based on clinical and electrophysiologic diagnostic criteria, 154 female and 44 male CTS patients, as well as 150 ...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the internipple distance and internipple index in Chinese children. METHODS: The internipple distance and chest circumference were measured in 3,290 healthy Chinese children (1,715 males and 1,575 females) aged birth to 18 years seen at the Asian Medical Centre. The internipple distance and chest circumference were obtained ...

Models of human mortality include a factor that summarises intrinsic differences in individual rates of ageing, commonly called frailty. Frailty also describes a clinical syndrome of apparent vulnerability. In a representative, cross-sectional, Canadian survey (n = 66,589) we calculated a frailty index as the mean accumulation of deficits and previously ...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between flexible flatfoot and plantar fasciitis. METHODS: Twenty-three subjects with flexible flatfoot and 23 subjects with normal arched feet were enrolled. Footprint analysis was used to evaluate the foot conditions in both groups to calculate the individual arch index. ...

PURPOSE: This paper is intended as an investigation of the relationship between preoperative findings and short-term outcome in third molar surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We assessed 153 consecutive surgical extractions of mandibular third molars performed in 140 patients between April 1998 and March 2001. RESULTS: Fifty-four (35%) of the 153 ...

BACKGROUND: While on average health declines with age, it also becomes more variable with age. As a consequence of this marked variability, it becomes more important as people age to have a means of summarizing health status, but how precisely to do so remains controversial. We developed one measure of ...

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to obtain clinical indicators of normal relative thumb length in adults. METHODS: Fifty two normal hands in 26 volunteers were analyzed. There were 10 women and 16 men. The average age was 34 years (range, 23-47 years). Eighteen of the volunteers (36 hands) were Chinese ...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of benign paroxysmal positional nystagmus in subjects undergoing treatment with potentially ototoxic medications. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective and retrospective record reviews. SETTING: Tertiary referral neurotology clinic; clinical research and technology center. SUBJECTS: Ninety-nine hospitalized subjects undergoing treatment of infectious disease or carcinoma with potentially ototoxic medications. ...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between cephalometric parameters, upper airway morphological factors and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in Chinese subjects. DESIGN: Polysomnogram (PSG) were performed and scored using standard criteria. Supine lateral cephalometric parameters and pharyngeal cross-sectional areas at the level of velopharynx (VA) and hypopharynx (HA) were measured from ...

Despite its clinical use as a sensitive measure of left ventricular performance, little is known about whether the Tei index is influenced by aging. We determined the Tei index in 141 subjects without cardiovascular disease (age 16-78 years). There were statistically significant variations in ejection time, isovolumic relaxation time, and ...

Phytohormones, which are responsible for certain age-related changes in plants, play a major role throughout maturation and ageing. Previous results dealing with this topic allowed us to describe an ageing and vigour index in Pinus radiata based on a ratio between different forms of cytokinins (Cks). The aim of the ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quantitative measurement of diaphragmatic motion in healthy subjects and to investigate the effects of different variables such as body mass index and waist circumference on the diaphragmatic motion. METHODS: The study included 164 healthy subjects. The subjects were grouped according to age, sex, body mass index, ...

PURPOSE: The Haller index is an accepted CT method for evaluating thoracic dimensions in patients with pectus excavatum. The purpose of this study is to establish age- and gender-related norms for the Haller index in childhood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 574 consecutive chest CT examinations (M=285, F=289) performed ...

A limestone block in the Shirokawa-Nomura area of western Shikoku (Japan) is interpreted to have been originated as a Panthalassan seamount, and is assigned to the northern part of the Southern Chichibu Terrane. The Late Permian foraminiferal fauna from this block is composed of 33 species, and is characterized by ...

OBJECTIVE: Anatomic narrowing of the pharyngeal airway increases the relative negative pressure generated during inspiration, thus affecting the dynamic behavior of the upper airway. The aim of this work was to measure pharyngeal area in snoring patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as categorized by polysomnography and by ...