Biomedical subjects

O Manor

Publications and source records attributed to O Manor.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: is methylphenidate safe and effective?

OBJECTIVE: To study the safety and efficacy of methylphenidate in children with the dual diagnosis of epilepsy and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). STUDY DESIGN: Thirty children, aged 6.4 to 16.4 years, with epilepsy and ADHD were studied during a 4-month period. During the initial 2 months of the study, the children were treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) only, and for the remaining 2 months, methylphenidate was added at a morning dose of 0.3 mg/kg. They underwent neurologic assessment, brain computed tomography, IQ testing, and assessment with the Childhood Behavior Checklist at baseline before methylphenidate therapy. Electroencephalography, AED determinations, and the continuous-performance task (CPT) test were done at baseline and after 2 months of methylphenidate therapy. A double-blind, crossover design was used to compare the effects of methylphenidate versus placebo on an electroencephalogram, AED levels, and the CPT. On the 2 days of testing, the child received AEDs and a capsule containing either placebo or methylphenidate. RESULTS: None of the 25 children of this sample who were seizure free had attacks while taking methylphenidate. Of the 5 children with seizures, 3 had an increase in attacks, whereas the other 2 showed no change or a reduction. There were no significant changes in AED levels or electroencephalographic findings. Methylphenidate benefited 70% of children according to parental report; methylphenidate also enhanced performance on the CPT. Side effects of methylphenidate were mild and transient. CONCLUSION: Methylphenidate is effective in treating children with epilepsy and ADHD and safe in children who are seizure free. Caution is warranted for those still having seizures while receiving AED therapy.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Comparing measures of health inequality.

Several methods are available to measure social inequalities in health. This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches, in particular the odds ratio, the slope and alpha. These methods are illustrated using data from subjects in the 1958 British birth cohort. The inequality measures are compared using health status at ages 23 and 33. Six health indicators are examined, including self-rated health, limiting long-standing illness, psychological health, respiratory symptoms, asthma and obesity. Two social indicators are compared, namely class at birth and educational qualifications. Conclusions do not differ substantially using the three methods for measuring inequality. However, consistent differences were evident between the measures of social position, with greater inequalities apparent for educational qualifications. Choice of social indicator therefore appears to be of primary importance in measuring health inequality.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Social differences in health: life-cycle effects between ages 23 and 33 in the 1958 British birth cohort.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether social differences in health persist or widen during early adulthood. METHODS: A longitudinal follow-up of the 1958 British birth cohort was investigated, using social class at birth and six health measures at ages 23 and 33. A slope of inequality was estimated to represent social differences in health. RESULTS: Social gradients in health were evident by age 23: the prevalence of poor health increased with decreasing social position. This was observed for several but not all health indicators. Social gradients persisted to age 33. The slope of inequality was greatest for malaise (odds ratio [OR] = 3.37 for men, 3.21 for women) and obesity (OR = 4.80 for men and 2.84 for women), both at age 23, and for self-rated health in women at age 23 (OR = 2.94) and age 33 (OR = 3.22). Inequality increased significantly between ages 23 and 33 for limiting illness in men, and lessened, although not significantly, for malaise, overweight, and obesity; social gradients remained constant for self-rated health, respiratory symptoms, and asthma or wheezing. CONCLUSIONS: Social gradients in health evident in this sample by age 23 persisted to age 33. Inequalities did not appear to widen consistently, but variable findings for several health measures suggest that inequalities reproduce through different pathways.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

The Israel Longitudinal Mortality Study--differential mortality in Israel 1983-1992: objectives, materials, methods and preliminary results.

The main objective of this study was to investigate mortality differentials in the Israeli population, aged 40 years and above, with regard to major demographic and socio-economic characteristics, in the nine-and-a-half years following the census of 1983. The method of data collection consisted of a linkage of records from the 20% sample of the census with the records of deaths occurring until the end of 1992. The linked file contains the socio-economic and demographic data from the census, and dates and causes of death taken from the death records. This paper focuses on a systematic evaluation of the quality of the linked file, and includes a description of the characteristics of the file. Methods of verification are presented and sources of possible errors are discussed. Results of bivariate analyses of mortality differentials in relation to marital status, ethnic origin, level of education, employment, occupation and income are presented.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Inequalities in self rated health in the 1958 birth cohort: lifetime social circumstances or social mobility?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate explanations for social inequalities in health with respect to health related social mobility and cumulative socioeconomic circumstances over the first three decades of life. DESIGN: Longitudinal follow up. SETTING: Great Britain. SUBJECTS: Data from the 1958 birth cohort study (all children born in England, Wales, and Scotland during 3-9 March 1958) were used, from the original birth survey and from sweeps at 16, 23, and 33 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects' own ratings of their health; social differences in self rated health at age 33. RESULTS: Social mobility varied by health status, with those reporting poor health at age 23 having higher odds of downward mobility than of staying in same social class. Men with poor health were also less likely to be upwardly mobile. Prevalence of poor health at age 33 increased with decreasing social class: from 8.5% in classes I and II to 17.7% in classes IV and V among men, and from 9.4% to 18.8% among women. These social differences remained significant after adjustment for effects of social mobility. Health inequalities attenuated when adjusted for social class at birth, at age 16, or at 23 or for self rated health at age 23. When adjusted for all these variables simultaneously, social differences in self rated health at age 33 were substantially reduced and no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: Lifetime socioeconomic circumstances accounted for inequalities in self reported health at age 33, while social mobility did not have a major effect on health inequalities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

A comparative study of four methods for analysing repeated measures data.

This paper compares four alternative statistical methods for the analysis of repeated measures data. The data set involves fatty acid composition of red blood cell membrane examined after acute MI and is characterized by a moderate sample size, unbalanced repeated measures and high within-individual correlations. Two methods are based on individual curve fitting and two on the random effects model. Results yielded by the four methods differed. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods are discussed. Assumptions required for the valid application of these methods are tested.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1996

Efficacy of iontophoresis in the rat cornea.

BACKGROUND: Iontophoresis can enhance penetration of drugs into tissues. We examined the extent of penetration of gentamicin into the cornea of rats during iontophoresis and the effect of varying the concentrations of gentamicin, the duration of iontophoresis and the current densities during iontophoresis. METHODS: Eight groups of rats underwent corneal iontophoresis using gentamicin dissolved in agar. Low and high concentrations of gentamicin were used, as well as low and high current densities and long and short durations of iontophoresis. Control groups received topical or subconjunctival gentamicin, topical saline solution and mock iontophoresis with the agar-gentamicin mixture. The Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Highly bactericidal concentrations of gentamicin were obtained in all the iontophoresis-treated corneas. The high concentration compared to the low concentration of gentamicin in agar significantly increased the concentration of gentamicin in the corneas, as did the longer duration of iontophoresis. However, higher current intensity did not significantly enhance the drug concentration in the cornea. CONCLUSION: Iontophoresis with a concentrated gentamicin-agar mixture may provide a rapid increase of gentamicin levels in the cornea.

Absorption↗

PubMed1996

Acceleration of retarded growth in children with Gaucher disease after treatment with alglucerase.

OBJECTIVES: The incidence and severity of growth retardation in children with type 1 Gaucher disease and the response to enzyme replacement therapy with alglucerase were studied. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of growth in 99 children and adolescents with type 1 Gaucher disease before treatment, and in 54 of those subjects during treatment, was done. Growth was compared with gender, age, and dosage of replacement enzyme. RESULTS: Linear growth was normal in the first 1 to 2 years of life and then decelerated. Height was at or below the 5th percentile in 50% of all subjects immediately before treatment. The mean z score was -1.49 (95% confidence interval, -1.83 to -1.16), corresponding to the 6.8th percentile for height. Seventy-two percent were below the 50th percentile and 50% were at or below the 5th percentile for mid-parental height (p <0.001). One and one-half years after treatment was started, the estimated mean z score for all subjects was -1.01, which corresponds to the 16th percentile for height. Normal growth was achieved within 4 to 30 months in eight of nine subjects who were at or below the 5th percentile. It occurred only in those receiving higher doses (60 to 120 U/kg per 4-week period) of alglucerase. There was a significant association between z scores for height before treatment and liver enlargement (r= 0.57; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Half of the subjects who manifest type 1 Gaucher disease in childhood have growth retardation. Treatment with adequate amounts of modified enzyme replacement was effective in normalizing linear growth.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Developmental dyscalculia: prevalence and demographic features.

One hundred and forty-three 11-year-old children with development dyscalculia, from a cohort of 3029 students, were studied to determine demographic features and prevalence of this primary cognitive disorder. They were evaluated for gender, IQ, linguistic and perceptual skills, symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), socio-economic status and associated learned disabilities. The IQs of the 140 children (75 girls and 65 boys) retained in the study group (three were excluded because of low IQs) ranged from 80 to 129 (mean 98.2, SD 9.9). 26 per cent of the children had symptoms of ADHD, and 17 per cent had dyslexia. Their socio-economic status was significantly lower than that of the rest of the cohort, and 42 per cent had first-degree relatives with learning disabilities. The prevalence of dyscalculia in the original cohort was 6.5 per cent, similar to that of dyslexia and ADHD. However, unlike these other learning disabilities, dyscalculia affected the two sexes in about the same proportions.

Child↗

PubMed1996

Does religious observance promote health? mortality in secular vs religious kibbutzim in Israel.

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the association of Jewish religious observance with mortality by comparing religious and secular kibbutzim. These collectives are highly similar in social structure and economic function and are cohesive and supportive communities. METHODS: In a 16-year (1970 through 1985) historical prospective study of mortality in 11 religious and 11 matched secular kibbutzim in Israel, 268 deaths occurred among 3900 men and women 35 years of age and older during 41347 person-years of observation. RESULTS: Mortality was considerably higher in secular kibbutzim. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to adjust for age and the matched design; rate ratios were 1.67 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.17, 2.39) for men, 2.67 (95% CI=1.55, 4.60) for women, and 1.93 (95% CI=1.44, 2.59) overall. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis of birth cohorts confirmed the association. The lower mortality in religious kibbutzim was consistent for all major causes of death. CONCLUSIONS: Belonging to a religious collective was associated with a strong protective effect not attributable to confounding by sociodemographic factors. Elucidation of mechanisms mediating this effect may provide etiologic insights and leads for intervention.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Stability of red blood cell membrane fatty acid composition after acute myocardial infarction.

Questionnaire-based assessment of dietary intake may be invalidated in case-control studies by biases of recall, reporting or interviewing. Biomarkers, free of such biases, can be useful adjunct measures if they themselves are not affected by the event under investigation. Consequently, we studied the stability of the fatty acid composition of the red blood cell (RBC) membrane during a 1-week period, in 20 patients aged 40-74 years after an acute myocardial infarction (MI). Statistical analysis that accounted for a repeated measures design with missing data was undertaken for five fatty acids: C16:0, C18:1, C18:2, C20:5 and C22:6. All fatty acids showed change over the 7 day period. Individuals tended to maintain their relative ranking over time as reflected by correlations between time points of between 0.85 to 0.90, with the exception of C16:0 in which correlations were lower and inconsistent. Over the first 24 hr from admission all fatty acids except C20:5 showed evidence of a statistically significant change. However over the first 7 hr C18:1, C18:2, C20:5 and C22:6 exhibited stability whereas C16:0 altered. We conclude that the fatty acid composition of the RBC membrane appears to change soon after an acute MI. Consequently, case-control studies may be biased towards positive associations for C16:0 and inverse associations for C18:2 and C20:5, i.e. consistent with conventional predictions. However, if blood samples are drawn within 6 hr of admission, bias in estimation of C18:1, C18:2, C20:5 and C22:6 may be unimportant.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Developmental dyscalculia and brain laterality.

The correlation between arithmetic dysfunction and brain laterality was studied in 25 children with developmental dyscalculia (DD). The children were tested on a standardized arithmetic battery and underwent a neurological and neuro-psychological evaluation. A diagnosis of left hemisphere dysfunction (n = 13) was based on right side soft neurological signs, performance IQ (PIQ) > verbal IQ (VIQ), dyslexia and intact visuo-spatial functions. The criteria for right hemisphere dysfunction (n = 12) were left body signs, VIQ > PIQ, impaired visuo-spatial functions and normal language skills. The groups were similar for age, gender, and socio-economic status. Our results showed that both groups scored more than 2 SD below the mean adjusted score on the arithmetic battery, but the left group was significantly worse in 3 areas: mastery of addition/subtraction, complex multiplication and division and visuo-spatial errors (p < 0.05). The data indicate that dysfunction of either hemisphere hampers arithmetic acquisition, but arithmetic impairment is more profound with left hemisphere dysfunction.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama.

A standardized elderberry extract, Sambucol (SAM), reduced hemagglutination and inhibited replication of human influenza viruses type A/Shangdong 9/93 (H3N2), A/Beijing 32/92 (H3N2), A/Texas 36/91 (H1N1), A/Singapore 6/86 (H1N1), type B/Panama 45/90, B/Yamagata 16/88, B/Ann Arbor 1/86, and of animal strains from Northern European swine and turkeys, A/Sw/Ger 2/81, A/Tur/Ger 3/91, and A/Sw/Ger 8533/91 in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. A placebo-controlled, double blind study was carried out on a group of individuals living in an agricultural community (kibbutz) during an outbreak of influenza B/Panama in 1993. Fever, feeling of improvement, and complete cure were recorded during 6 days. Sera obtained in the acute and convalescent phases were tested for the presence of antibodies to influenza A, B, respiratory syncytial, and adenoviruses. Convalescent phase serologies showed higher mean and mean geometric hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers to influenza B in the group treated with SAM than in the control group. A significant improvement of the symptoms, including fever, was seen in 93.3% of the cases in the SAM-treated group within 2 days, whereas in the control group 91.7% of the patients showed an improvement within 6 days (p < 0.001). A complete cure was achieved within 2 to 3 days in nearly 90% of the SAM-treated group and within at least 6 days in the placebo group (p < 0.001). No satisfactory medication to cure influenza type A and B is available. Considering the efficacy of the extract in vitro on all strains of influenza virus tested, the clinical results, its low cost, and absence of side-effects, this preparation could offer a possibility for safe treatment for influenza A and B.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Asthma, enuresis, and chronic illness: long term impact on height.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether common conditions in early childhood, such as asthma and psychosocial illness (mainly enuresis), affect height during later childhood and in adult life. DESIGN: Longitudinal follow up of subjects in the 1958 British Birth Cohort Study. Data from the birth survey and ages 7, 11, 16, and 23 were used. SUBJECTS: 12,537 subjects remaining in the study at age 23, representing 76% of the target population, cohort members still alive and resident in Britain. RESULTS: Heights of children with allergic, acute or psychosomatic illness, or asthma/wheezy bronchitis did not differ by age 7 from those of children without such illnesses. When asthma was graded by severity, there was a trend (not significant) for the severe group to be shorter at ages 16 and 23. Although children with a chronic illness by age 7 were on average almost 0.5 cm shorter than children without such illnesses, this difference was reduced by half and was not significant after adjusting for maternal height, birth weight, parity, and social class at birth. However, a marked and long lasting effect was found for children with psychosocial illness who at age 7 were significantly shorter, by a mean of 0.77 cm. Within this group, enuretic children with a problem at age 11 were more than 1 cm shorter in adulthood, even allowing for other height related factors. CONCLUSIONS: Common childhood illnesses do not appear to affect height, either in the short or in the long term, although exceptions include chronic illness and enuresis. The value of height as an indicator of child health status in an industrialised country such as Britain requires further reassessment.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Do spermatozoa secrete motility enhancing factor?

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether medium conditioned with human spermatozoa was capable of enhancing sperm motility and penetration ability. DESIGN: Paired aliquots of washed spermatozoa were allowed to incubate for nine different incubation periods, ranging from 15 to 240 minutes in 37 degrees C in humidified atmosphere with 5% CO2. After this, they were centrifuged at 600 x g for 6 minutes. The conditioned medium was removed from one tube of each pair and replaced with fresh medium. In the other tube of the same pair the sperm pellet was resuspended in the same medium. In a second set of experiments, conditioned medium was removed from tubes containing samples of spermatozoa after different predefined incubation periods. This was used to replace medium that had been removed from sperm cells that had been incubated for 120 minutes. Motility and penetration of zona-free hamster eggs were assessed. RESULTS: Removal of the incubation medium at times between 15 to 240 minutes resulted in sperm that showed a gradual decrease in motility and penetration ability followed by a gradual increase in motility and penetration ability, i.e., an inverted bell-shaped effect. The addition of conditioned medium obtained after different periods of incubation to spermatozoa where medium was removed after 120 minutes of incubation resulted in an increase in sperm motility and penetration ability. The longer the medium was conditioned with spermatozoa the more prominent the effect on sperm motility and penetration ability, with maximal effect observed with medium conditioned for 120 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Medium conditioned with human spermatozoa enhances sperm motility and penetration ability.

Culture Media, Conditioned↗

PubMed1995

Developmental right-hemisphere syndrome: clinical spectrum of the nonverbal learning disability.

We report the clinical characteristics of the developmental right-hemisphere syndrome (DRHS), a nonverbal learning disability, in 20 children (9 girls and 11 boys; mean age = 9.5 years) who also manifested attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), severe graphomotor problems, and marked slowness of performance. Diagnostic criteria for this study included (a) emotional and interpersonal difficulties; (b) paralinguistic communication problems; (c) impaired visuospatial skills, verbal IQ > performance IQ, and verbal IQ > or = 85; and either (d) dyscalculia or (e) neurological signs on the left side of the body. In this group, verbal IQ was significantly higher than performance IQ (106.6 +/- 13.0 vs. 85.1 +/- 13.1, respectively, p < .01). Arithmetic was the lowest score among the verbal subtests (7.8 +/- 3.5, p < .01) and Geometrical Design was the lowest score among the performance subtests (5.8 +/- 1.7). Thirteen children had soft neurological signs on the left side of the body. ADHD was seen in all 20 children, marked slowness of performance in 16, and severe graphomotor problems in 18. The latter two features have not been previously described as part of DRHS.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Immunization of rabbits with a midgut extract of the human body louse Pediculus humanus humanus: the effect of induced resistance on the louse population.

Resistance to human body lice, Pediculus humanus humanus L, induced by feeding on rabbits immunized with an extract of louse gut was studied. The mortality of lice fed on immunized rabbits was 73%, significantly higher than that of lice fed on control rabbits (52%) (P < 0.01). The proportion of dead nymphs and female lice with ruptured guts was significantly higher in lice fed on immunized rabbits (P < 0.01). The size of the bloodmeal was 35% greater in female lice fed on control rabbits than on immunized rabbits. Lice fed on immunized rabbits laid 40% less eggs than those fed on the controls, they also demonstrated a significant decrease in the number of eggs per female over time (P < 0.01). 86% of the eggs laid by lice fed on immunized animals hatched, compared with 92% hatching of eggs laid by the lice fed on control animals (P < 0.01). With the exception of the first bloodmeal the percentage of hatched eggs which were laid between any two bloodmeals was significantly smaller (P < 0.01) in the lice fed on immunized rabbits than in the control group. The first nymphal stage of lice fed on immunized rabbits took an average of 5.2 days to moult to the second stage, compared with 4 days for those fed on control rabbits.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1994

Breast feeding in Israel: maternal factors associated with choice and duration.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of maternal characteristics on the incidence and duration of breast feeding. DESIGN: All the women who delivered in three obstetric wards within a two year period were surveyed. These three wards cover 93% of all births in the Jerusalem district. Women were interviewed on breast feeding of the previous child on the first or second day post partum by a research nurse. PARTICIPANTS: Altogether 8486 women whose previous pregnancy had resulted in a live born singleton who survived for at least one year. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Breast feeding information was linked to demographic and health information from hospital records. Using logistic regression analysis, failure to start breast feeding was best predicted (p < 0.001) by caesarean delivery, infant's birth weight, maternal smoking habits, and mother being non-immigrant. Maternal age (< 24 or > 40 years) and father being an ultraorthodox Jew were also positively (p < 0.05) associated with the decision to breast feed. Long term breast feeding (three months or more) was strongly affected (p < 0.001) by maternal education level, with both women with the fewest and the greatest number of years of schooling more likely to breast feed. A similar association was observed in all ethnic groups. Primipara and grandmultipara (parity > 4), new immigrants, ultraorthodox Jews, and non-smokers breast fed their babies for longer. CONCLUSIONS: The importance of maternal characteristics in relation to breast feeding was shown. Caesarean delivery and the infant's birth weight were strongly related to the decision to breast feed as were the demographic characteristics of mother's age and her country of birth. Education was not related to this decision but was strongly associated with the duration of breast feeding, as was parity. The behavioural characteristics of smoking and being ultraorthodox were related to both the decision to start and the duration of breast feeding. Efforts to encourage breast feeding ought to be targeted during the hospital stay and post partum period towards women identified as being at increased risk.

Adult↗