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Biomedical subjects

S Case

Publications and source records attributed to S Case.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

The impact of a gluten-free diet on adults with coeliac disease: results of a national survey.

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE We sought to evaluate the impact of the gluten-free diet on the 5,240 members of the Canadian Celiac Association (CCA). Data are presented on 2,681 adults (>or=16 years) with biopsy-proven celiac disease (CD). METHODS: A mail-out survey was used. Quality of life was evaluated using the 'SF12', and celiac-specific questions. RESULTS: Mean age was 56 years, mean age at diagnosis was 45 years, and 75% were female. The 'SF12' summary scores were similar to normative Canadian data, but were significantly lower for females and newly diagnosed patients. Respondents reported: following a gluten-free (GF) diet (90%), improvement on the diet (83%), and difficulties following the diet (44%), which included: determining if foods were GF (85%), finding GF foods in stores (83%), avoiding restaurants (79%), and avoiding travel (38%). Most common reactions to consumed gluten (among 73%) included pain, diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, nausea, and headache. Excellent information on CD and its treatment was provided by the CCA (64%), gastroenterologists (28%), dietitians (26%) and family doctor (12%). CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life in those with CD could be increased with early diagnosis, increased availability of gluten-free foods, improved food labelling, and better dietary instruction. Education of physicians and dietitians about CD and its treatment is essential.

Canada↗

Search for a 33.9 MeV/c(2) neutral particle in pion decay

The E815 (NuTeV) neutrino experiment has performed a search for a 33. 9 MeV/c(2) weakly interacting neutral particle produced in pion decay. Such a particle may be responsible for an anomaly in the timing distribution of neutrino interactions in the KARMEN experiment. E815 has searched for this particle's decays in an instrumented decay region; no evidence for this particle was found. The search is sensitive to pion branching ratios as low as 10(-13).

Journal Article↗

PPD skin reactivity and anergy in HIV-infected patients in Hawaii.

This study was a prospective screening study for PPD and anergy skin test reactivity in 304 HIV-positive individuals. A PPD positivity rate of 4.1% and an anergy rate of 50.5% were observed. The Hawaii HIV population has a relatively low prevalence of latent TB compared with the high prevalence of TB in the Hawaii population at large.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Effects of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race on serum thyroid hormones and body composition.

Cold exposure, activity and energy deficit have been associated with changes in body composition and/or changes in serum thyroid hormones. Because these conditions are present during the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, 10 volunteer participants were studied before and after the race. Body composition, total thyroxine (TT4), free thyroxine (FT4), total triiodothyronine (TT3), and free triiodothyronine (FT) levels were determined. There was a significant decrease in body weight (p < 0.05) and a decrease in body fat (p < 0.01). There were no significant changes in TT4, FT4, TT3 or FT3. On the basis of this study, it can be concluded that the strenuous activity of the Iditarod mitigates against the classic perturbation in thyroid axis brought on by the hypocaloric state.

Body Composition↗

An assessment of the clinical skills of fourth-year students at four New England medical schools.

This paper describes a collaborative effort among five New England medical schools to assess important clinical skills of fourth-year medical students graduating in the class of 1988; results are presented from the four schools that provided sufficient data. Faculty from each school developed 36 patient cases representing a variety of common ambulatory-care problems. Over the course of a day, each student, on average, interacted with 16 different standardized patients, who were nonphysicians trained to accurately and consistently portray a patient in a simulated clinical setting. The students obtained focused histories, performed relevant physical examinations, and provided the patients with education and counseling. At each school, the performance of a small number of the students fell below standards set by the faculty. These deficiencies were not detected with the evaluation strategies currently being used. Although the use of standardized patients should not substitute for the process of faculty observing students as they interact with real patients, it appears that standardized patients can provide faculty with important information, not readily available from other sources, about students' performances of essential clinical activities and the levels of their clinical skills.

Ambulatory Care↗

Physical and physiological characteristics of elite women volleyball players.

The purpose of this study was to compare various physical and performance characteristics of two elite groups of athletes, the 1980 U.S. Women's National Volleyball Team and the collegiate players who composed the 1979 U.S. Women's University Games Volleyball Team. The characteristics compared were age, height, weight, body composition determined via hydrostatic weighing, vertical jumping distance, vertical jumping height, maximal oxygen consumption, heart rate max and respiratory exchange ratio. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) in age (23 +/- 2.6 yr. and 21.5 +/- 0.7 yr.), percent of body fat (11.7 +/- 3.7% and 18.3 +/- 3.4%), and vertical jumping distance (52.4 +/- 4.5 cm and 45.5 +/- 6.4 cm), between the two teams were demonstrated, with the National Team being significantly older, having a lower percentage of body fat and possessing a larger vertical jumping distance. These results indicate trainers of elite (national and international caliber) women volleyball players should consider including techniques to reduce percentage of body fat and increase vertical jumping distance.

Adult↗

Reactogenicity of a malaria merozoite antigen in Aotus monkeys compared with the effects caused by two new adjuvants, CP-20,961 and [B30]-MDP.

Six Aotus trivirgatus monkeys were included in a clinical study to compare the adverse reactions caused by a Plasmodium falciparum antigen and 2 adjuvants, a lipoidal amine, CP-20,961, and a muramyl dipeptide derivative, [B30]-MDP. Two monkeys were given 2 intramuscular injections, 3 weeks apart, of 1 of these vaccine components. Both the antigen and the two adjuvants caused local and general reactions as well as hematological and biochemical changes. Except for an up to 60% rise in leukocyte count, the antigen caused reactions least, followed by [B30]-MDP. CP-20,961 evoked more vigorous reactions and changes, but none of them reached such an extent that it would contraindicate its potential use in forthcoming vaccine studies. We conclude that both adjuvants are to be considered as relatively safe when combined with an appropriate P. falciparum antigen.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

Cell-mediated immune response to respiratory syncytial virus infection in owl monkeys.

The suitability of owl monkeys as experimental models to study the cellular immune response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection was examined. Seronegative owl monkeys inoculated intranasally with RSV shed large quantities of virus and developed clinically evident upper respiratory disease. RSV infected monkeys had significant lymphoproliferative responses to RSV antigen by 4 weeks post-infection. In contrast, no positive blastogenic responses were elicited during the acute phase of illness. An in vitro 51Cr release assay was developed to study owl monkey antibody-dependent cellular cytoxicity (ADCC) against RSV infected Hep-2 cells. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from owl monkeys in the presence of RSV specific antibody caused lysis of RSV infected target cells. The effector cell for ADCC was found to be non-adherent to plastic. The owl monkey RSV ADCC system was found to closely parallel RSV specific ADCC observed with human effector cells. In addition, it was found that heterologous matches of human effector cells with monkey sera and monkey effector cells with human sera were equally efficient in mediating RSV specific ADCC. These studies demonstrate the value of the owl monkey as a model to study the pathogenesis or RSV infections.

Animals↗

Body composition testing of athletes in the field using bioelectric impedance analysis.

Bioelectric impedance analysis was performed as part of the field testing of seventeen athletes competing in the 1990 Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The purpose was to measure initial body composition and the changes that occurred during this extended performance period under Arctic conditions. Four women and thirteen men aged 26-53 years were tested to measure changes in their lean body weight, total body water, total body fat and percent body water. Study results record average body fat losses of 2.14 kg in the male and 1.02 kg in the female racers. Total body water and lean body mass remained stable, while an increase in body water percentage (men: 4.31%, women: 2.78%) was recorded. Though questions remain, bioelectric impedance analysis demonstrates potential for use in future field research projects.

Adult↗

Dietary intakes of participants in the IditaSport Human Powered Ultra-marathon.

Because very little nutritional research has been conducted on participants in ultra marathons and none has been reported on participants in cold weather ultramarathons, this study was undertaken with the purpose of examining the nutritional intakes and urine characteristics of participants in a cold weather ultramarathon. Fourteen participants (13 males and 1 female) in the IditaSport human powered ultramarathon volunteered to be subjects in this study. Pre and post race weights, skinfolds, and urine samples were taken. In addition, a dietary recall was done for the day(s) of the race. Data analysis revealed that a mean of 30,864 (17,143) kJ of energy were consumed with 71% of the energy coming from carbohydrate sources. Despite no significant change in body fat as measured by skinfolds, there was a significant (P < 0.5) decrease in body weight. Ketonuria and proteinuria were present in 83 percent and 92 percent of the subjects. When compared with participants in endurance events taking place in warmer climates, competitors in the IditaSport races consumed more energy with carbohydrates making up a greater percentage of their diets.

Adult↗