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PubMedDate not supplied

[Aggression and group dependence in asthmatic children and a control group].

We studied a group of 60 boys and girls, 30 were asthmatics and 30 were controls in order to know more about factors that influenced the psychodynamics of the asthmatic and non asthmatic child. Both groups received the child's Thematic Aperception Test. Human version (CAT-H) and its supplement (CAT-S). No significant statistical differences were observed in relation to aggression but there was a significant difference in dependence (p.05). There results suggest us that the asthmatic child has lack of self confidence and has to look for support in other people.

Aggression↗

PubMed2006

Epstein-Barr virus serostatus: no difference despite aberrant patterns in athletes and control group.

PURPOSE: To investigate the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serostatus in an athletic endurance population, especially the prevalence of complex aberrant EBV antibody patterns. In addition, the purpose was to determine whether serology in athletes is more complex than in the general population. METHODS: The study protocol included serological testing of 202 advanced endurance athletes (biathlon, cycling, nordic skiing (state to international level); mean age 19 +/- 4) and 200 control subjects (mean age 23 +/- 2). Twenty-microliter serum samples were examined using a strip immunoassay with antigens produced by recombinant techniques for detection of EBV IgG antibodies: anti-EBNA-1 (anti-EBV nuclear antigen-1), anti-p18, anti-p23, anti-p138, anti-p54, and anti-BZLF-1. Avidity determination was used to differentiate further between acute, recent, and past infections. RESULTS: Athletes showed 35 negative (17%), 6 unresolvable (3%), 1 acute (0.5%), 11 recent (5%), 122 past (61%), and 27 aberrant past (mainly anti-EBNA-1 negative) (13.5%) cases. The control group showed 31 negative (16%), 4 unresolvable (2%), 1 acute (0.5%), 1 recent (0.5%), 135 past (68%), and 28 (14.0%) aberrant past cases. Although endurance athletes included more recent infections (several months since acute infection), there was no significant difference (P = 0.144) in the total constellation of EBV serostatus between the groups. CONCLUSION: No evidence was found for the assumption that endurance athletes are more susceptible to EBV infections than the general population. In addition, no differences were found with respect to serological classical and aberrant complicated patterns between athletes and the control group. Those cases that may lead to false diagnoses of acute EBV infection in previously used test systems because of a negative anti-EBNA-1 are common in both groups but were unambiguously resolved by the Recomline EBV IgG test applied here.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2004

FMRI brain activation in a finnish family with specific language impairment compared with a normal control group.

The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in brain activation in a family with SLI as compared to intact individuals with normally developed language during processing of language stimuli. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to monitor changes in neuronal activation in temporal and frontal lobe areas in 5 Finnish family members with specific language impairment (SLI) and 6 individuals in an intact control group. Magnetic resonance (MR) image acquisitions were made while the participants listened to series of isolated vowel sounds, pseudowords, and real words. The stimuli were digitized single Finnish vowel sounds, 3-phoneme pseudowords, and 3- and 4-phoneme real words. MR scanning was made with a 1.5 T Siemens Vision Plus scanner, and the auditory stimuli were presented according to an event-related fMRI design. The results showed significant differences between the family with SLI and the intact control group with regard to brain activation in areas in the temporal and frontal lobes. Temporal lobe activation differences were most pronounced in the middle temporal gyrus bordering the superior temporal sulcus. The control participants also activated an area in the inferior frontal lobe in BA 44. It is concluded that individuals with SLI showed reduced activation in brain areas that are critical for speech processing and phonological awareness. The present functional brain imaging data fit well with other recent imaging data that also showed structural abnormalities in the same and neighboring areas.

Acoustic Stimulation↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Mexican American, nurse practitioner, and lay control group beliefs about cause and treatment of chest pain.

This study compared the health beliefs of Mexican Americans concerning the specific symptom of chest pain to beliefs of a group of predominant culture nurse practitioners and a lay predominant culture control group. Two hypotheses were examined; The health beliefs of groups differ significantly with culture and the health beliefs of groups differ significantly with professional education. A 43-item structured questionnaire was developed, based on literature review and unstructured interviews with Mexican American respondents. the questionnaire was administered to three nonprobability samples of 30 subjects each: Mexican Americans, nurse practitioners, and lay controls. Significant differences were found between Mexican Americans and the predominant culture groups of nurse practitioners and lay controls on folk beliefs regarding chest pain. On some items significant differences between nurse practitioners and the lay groups of Mexican Americans and predominant culture controls were based on professional education.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

[Quality of life one year after laparoscopic fundoplication is close to that of a control group: prospective study].

AIM OF THE STUDY: Prospective evaluation of the quality of life of patients after laparoscopic fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The quality of life of 30 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication was evaluated using the GIQLI (gastrointestinal quality of life index) questionnaire, which included 36 items in five different areas: digestive symptoms, physical condition, emotional reaction, social integration and medical treatment. Seventeen men and 13 women (mean age: 50.2 +/- 17 years (32-68) were included with a follow-up of at least 1 year and with complete data available. The quality of life was evaluated before surgery, and at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery with a 100% follow-up. Thirty healthy volunteers representing an identical population (with respect to age, sex, BMI, profession, smoking, etc.) anonymously filled in the same questionnaire. The pre- and postoperative GIQLI scores of patients operated for GERD were compared with the GIQLI score of the control group. RESULTS: Preoperatively, the GIQLI score (87 +/- 9.5) was much lower than that of the control group (123.4 +/- 13.6) (p < 0.001). This score significantly improved 3 months and 1 year after surgery and was comparable to that of the healthy population (115.3 +/- 9.6 vs 123.4 +/- 13.6 [ns]). Improvements were reported mainly with respect to digestive symptoms and physical condition. Social integration was slightly modified. CONCLUSION: The quality of life of patients after laparoscopic antireflux surgery was greatly improved and was close to the level expected in an healthy population. However, the study demonstrated the possible presence of postoperative functional digestive disorders, although these symptoms were not considered as being uncomfortable, since the level of satisfaction was 96.6% (n = 29).

Adult↗

PubMed1999

[Activated protein C resistance in patients with central retinal vein occlusion in comparison to patients with a history of deep-vein thrombosis and a healthy control group].

BACKGROUND: The recently described "APC resistance" caused by a mutant form of factor V (factor V Leiden) is the most frequent cause of hereditary thrombosis. This study was carried out to investigate the association between activated protein C resistance and central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). We evaluated the prevalence of APC resistance in patients with CRVO, patients with a history of deep-vein thrombosis, and a healthy control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 107 patients with CRVO, 112 patients with deep-vein thrombosis and 70 healthy individuals. The test performed was a modified APC-resistance assay using factor V-deficient plasma. RESULTS: We identified APC resistance in 5.6 % of patients with CRVO and in 5.7 % of the control group. All carriers were heterozygous. In the deep-vein thrombosis group 23.2 % tested positive for APC resistance. Four patients were homozygous and 22 were heterozygous carriers. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that APC resistance has no major role in the pathogenesis of CRVO. Routine testing for the presence of factor V Leiden mutant in CRVO is not necessary.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Comparison of survival of amiodarone-treated patients with coronary artery disease and malignant ventricular arrhythmias with that of a control group with coronary artery disease.

Although amiodarone is effective in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, it is associated with serious toxic effects. In addition, the prognosis of patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias and coronary artery disease treated with amiodarone remains poor. The survival of 54 consecutive patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease and symptomatic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation treated with amiodarone was compared with that of 5,125 medically treated patients with coronary artery disease. The amiodarone group was older, with worse left ventricular function and more peripheral and cerebrovascular disease. The 1 year survival probability was 0.73 for the amiodarone group and 0.94 for the control coronary artery disease group. At 2 years of follow-up, the survival probabilities were 0.60 and 0.90 for the amiodarone and the control group, respectively. When the survival curves were adjusted for group differences in baseline prognostic characteristics (integrated as a previously published hazard score), there was no difference in the prognosis of the two groups. These findings suggest that treatment with amiodarone of malignant ventricular arrhythmias associated with coronary artery disease maintains patients on an underlying survival curve determined by the degree of myocardial dysfunction, clinical characteristics and coronary anatomy, and that amiodarone does not have a deleterious effect on survival.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

Tuberculosis among patients with AIDS and a control group in an inner-city community.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis, the largest single cause of death of any infectious disease worldwide, has undergone a startling resurgence in the United States, partially related to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic. METHODS: To compare the clinical, roentgenographic, and bacteriologic characteristics of patients with AIDS and the general population, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of all patients with tuberculosis in an inner-city population over a 4-year period. Forty-six patients with AIDS (including 38 injecting drug users [83%]) were identified and matched with a control group of 46 patients with tuberculosis who did not have AIDS. RESULTS: Forty-one patients with AIDS (89%) had pulmonary tuberculosis; 10 (22%) had disseminated disease and 13 (28%) had concurrent extrapulmonary disease. Among the patients without AIDS, two (4%) had disseminated disease and four (9%) had extrapulmonary disease. Patients with AIDS were far more likely to be black. Thirty-seven patients with AIDS (80%) had negative purified protein derivative skin test results compared with eight controls (17%). Seventeen (41%) of 41 patients with AIDS presented with classic post-primary upper-lobe disease compared with 32 (73%) of 44 patients in the control group. Primary tuberculosis features occurred predominantly in the AIDS group. Four (10%) of 41 patients with AIDS presented with clear chest films despite positive smears and cultures. Nine patients with AIDS (20%) were drug-resistant compared with three controls (7%). Seven patients with AIDS with drug resistance were born in the United States (78%), while all controls with drug resistance were foreign-born. CONCLUSIONS: We found vast differences in the clinical, roentgenographic, and drug susceptibility characteristics of patients with tuberculosis who did and did not have AIDS.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

PubMed2002

Energy expenditure and blood flows in thermoregulatory organs during microgravity simulation in rat. Emphasis on the importance of the control group.

Rat tail suspension is commonly used to mimic human physiology in space. However, energy metabolism adaptation and related autonomic responses are unknown. To give new insights in energy homeostasis, we determined total energy expenditure (TEE) and blood flow redistribution in thermoregulatory organs during suspension using two control groups of animals widely accepted in the literature: the individually housed (isolated) and restraint rats (horizontally attached to the suspension device). Rats (n=33) were randomly assigned during 14-days to three experimental groups: isolated, suspended, or attached. TEE was assessed by a doubly labeled water method throughout the 14 days, and regional blood flow by radiolabeled microsphere procedure at the end of the protocol. Attachment vs. suspension resulted in a significant decrease in TEE (25%), skin (54%), adrenal (55%) and kidney (42%) blood flows, cardiac index (33%), and plasma corticosterone (50%), whereas total peripheral resistances increased (50%). Isolation vs. attachment triggered an inverse response, of similar amplitude, for all above variables. By comparing isolation and suspension, no overall effect was observed. The striking conclusion of this study is that no clear conclusion can be drawn. The choice of the isolated or attached animals as control profoundly influences the outcome results regarding the effects of simulated weightlessness. Further studies are needed but we favor the attached group as the true control since, from a theoretical point of view, a suspended rat is attached plus suspended. In such conditions, TEE decreases to the same extent in rat and humans during simulated microgravity. When reviewing published experiments, we recommend special attention to the control group used rather than on the effects of suspension as compared to an undefined control.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Differences between human figure drawings of child molesters and control groups.

The present research attempted to identify differences between human figure drawings of adult and juvenile child molesters and adult and juvenile control groups, based on ratings obtained for various psychodiagnostic signs (N = 75). Eleven reliable signs were identified. Results of significance tests on each of the 11 signs revealed that adult molesters drew the female larger than the male. Also, molesters as a group produced drawings of poorer gender differentiation than did the controls as a group and drew the male figures with blank or missing eyes. The overall quality of the molesters' drawings was rated as significantly poorer than that of the control's drawings. Results of a factor analysis for the 11 signs revealed, for the molesters, a first factor of overall quality with a component of gender identity confusion, a second factor of figure-size only, a third factor of fingers only, and a fourth factor of hidden eyes/hidden hands.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

A psychometric evaluation of a residential treatment facility: an illustration of an interpretable research design without a control group.

This paper reports on the interim results of an evaluation study which followed a group of disordered-delinquent adolescents discharged from a long-term residential treatment program. Findings from the first cohort of adolescents tested at admission and discharge with the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS) indicate statistically significant improvement in all the areas of self-concept, significant decreases in all areas of psychopathology, and no systematic response set at either testing. The research design is unique in that, without a control group, competing interpretations of treatment effectiveness have been ruled out. Using design features, clinical observation, and common sense, four competing explanations of the favorable results have been eliminated. Both the instrument and research design are of interest to those undertaking evaluation research in underfunded settings where control groups are difficult to obtain due to financial or logistical problems.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Total knee arthroplasty in diabetic patients. Comparison to a matched control group.

Between January 1980 and July 1989, 63 total knee arthroplasties were performed on 48 patients who had a clinical history of diabetes mellitus. Six patients died prior to completing the 2-year follow-up period and two patients (3 knees) were lost, leaving 53 knees in 40 patients available for review. The patients were considered as a total group, and were also divided into two subgroups: (1) insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) (9 knees) and (2) noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) (44 knees). There were 10 men and 30 women in the series with an average age of 67. Patients were followed from 24 to 126 months (average, 54 months). The Porous Coated Anatomic total knee system (Howmedica, Rutherford, NJ) was used without cement in 30 knees and with cement in 23 knees. Diabetic patients were matched to a nondiabetic control group using a computer-generated selection process to match the following parameters: (1) age at surgery, (2) sex, (3) arthritic diagnosis, (4) length of follow-up period, (5) mode of fixation, and (6) preoperative deformity. Statistical analysis was performed using regression analysis and chi-square tests. In the diabetic group, there was an average clinical score of 85, with 43 knees (82%) rated excellent or good. Ten knees (18%) were rated fair, poor, or required revision (4 revisions, 7%). This was statistically different from the control group, which had an average clinical score of 92, with 51 knees (96%) rated excellent or good, 1 fair rating, and 1 revision (P < .001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

PubMed1993

[Comparative computerized tomography cephalometric and pharyngometric studies of patients with severe and mild sleep apnea, and in a control group].

116 males were examined. Of these, 52 belonged to a control group, whereas 40 had severe obstructive sleep apnoea (apnoea index > 20 + clinical symptoms) and 24 mild obstructive sleep apnoea (apnoea index 5-20 + clinical symptoms) (in the following, OSA signifies obstructive sleep apnoea). Cephalometry and planimetric examinations of the pharynx were performed in recumbent position with the head in neutral position and with shallow respiration. The narrowest passage of the pharynx was measured; other measured sites were the areas of the nasopharynx, oropharynx (at the level of the tip of the palatine uvula) and of the hypopharynx (at the level of the base of the tongue). The sum of all the measured cross-sections was obtained. The cephalogram was evaluated to obtain the length and thickness of the soft palate, the distance between the mandible and hyoid bone, the posterior airspace (PAS), the nuchal subcutaneous fatty tissue at the level of the spine of the second cervical vertebra (also known as axis), the thickness of the posterior pharyngeal wall at the level of the second cervical vertebra, or axis, and the angles between the sella, nasion and superior maxilla and between the sella, nasion and mandible (SNA and SNB, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Explanations for improvement in both experimental and control groups.

A true experimental design with random assignment to groups protects against false causal inferences that could be made when both the treatment and control groups change because of factors such as testing effects, reactivity, contamination, maturation, history, and other measurement effects. The occurrence of these phenomena, however, provides interesting information about factors affecting health care attitudes, knowledge, and behavior change, which can interfere with a nursing study's ability to demonstrate an experimental effect. In this article, we discuss these design threats, illustrate them with examples from recent health research, and suggest strategies for decreasing them in clinical nursing studies.

Bias↗

PubMed1984

EEG-responsiveness to eye opening and closing in mildly retarded children compared to a control group.

Changes in the ongoing EEG when repeatedly closing and opening the eyes are quantified and compared for a group of mildly retarded children and a matched control group. The most prominent changes occur for the alpha-rhythm at posterior derivations. Blocking of the alpha is faster than its restriction, but there is no group difference in this respect. Many of the amplitude changes are also quite similar for the two groups. The differences found are associated with a lowered arousal by the experimental group.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neighboring group-controlled hydrolysis: towards "designer" drug release biomaterials.

To give the first demonstration of neighboring group-controlled drug delivery rates, a series of novel, polymerizable ester drug conjugates was synthesized and fully characterized. The monomers are suitable for copolymerization in biomaterials where control of drug release rate is critical to prophylaxis or obviation of infection. The incorporation of neighboring group moieties differing in nucleophilicity, geometry, and steric bulk in the conjugates allowed the rate of ester hydrolysis, and hence drug liberation, to be rationally and widely controlled. Solutions (2.5 x 10-5 mol dm-3) of ester conjugates of nalidixic acid incorporating pyridyl, amino, and phenyl neighboring groups hydrolyzed according to first-order kinetics, with rate constants between 3.00 +/- 0.12 x 10-5 s -1 (fastest) and 4.50 +/- 0.31 x 10- 6 s-1 (slowest). The hydrolysis was characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy. When copolymerized with poly(methyl methacrylate), free drug was shown to elute from the resulting materials, with the rate of release being controlled by the nature of the conjugate, as in solution. The controlled molecular architecture demonstrated by this system offers an attractive class of drug conjugate for the delivery of drugs from polymeric biomaterials such as bone cements in terms of both sustained, prolonged drug release and minimization of mechanical compromise as a result of release. We consider these results to be the rationale for the development of "designer" drug release biomaterials, where the rate of required release can be controlled by predetermined molecular architecture.

Alcohols↗

PubMed2002

Benefits of exercise training in the treatment of heart failure: study with a control group.

OBJECTIVE: Exercise training programs have been proposed as adjuncts to treatment of heart failure. The effects of a 3-month-exercise-training-program with 3 exercise sessions per week were assessed in patients with stable systolic chronic heart failure. METHODS: We studied 24 patients with final left ventricle diastolic diameter of 70+/-10mm and left ventricular ejection fraction of 37+/-4%. Mean age was 52+/-16 years. Twelve patients were assigned to an exercise training group (G1), and 12 patients were assigned to a control group (G2). Patients underwent treadmill testing, before and after exercise training, to assess distance walked, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and double product. RESULTS: In G2 group, before and after 3 months, we observed, respectively distance walked, 623+/-553 and 561+/- 460m (ns); peak heart rate, 142+/-23 and 146+/- 33b/min (ns); systolic blood pressure, 154+/-36 and 164+/-26 mmHg (ns); and double product, 22211+/- 6454 and 24293+/-7373 (ns). In G1 group, before and after exercise, we observed: distance walked, 615+/-394 and 970+/- 537m (p<0.003) peak heart rate, 143+/-24 and 143+/-29b/min (ns); systolic blood pressure, 136+/-33 and 133+/-24 mmHg (ns); and double product, 19907+/- 7323 and 19115+/-5776, respectively. Comparing the groups, a significant difference existed regarding the variation in the double product, and in distance walked. CONCLUSION: Exercise training programs in patients with heart failure can bring about an improvement in physical capacity.

Cardiac Output, Low↗

PubMed1997

Conversational assessment following traumatic brain injury: a comparison across two control groups.

Although changes in discourse are frequently referred to in the traumatic brain injury (TBI) literature, they are difficult to objectify and measure. It is not always easy, therefore, for clinicians to differentiate between discourse behaviours which may have been present premorbidly, and those which are uniquely associated with TBI. The major aim of this study was to systematically examine and describe the nature of conversational impairment following severe TBI, with particular reference to the premorbid sociolinguistic characteristics of the TBI population. A second aim of the study was to examine the relationship between discourse impairment following TBI and severity of injury. Twenty-six TBI participants were compared with 26 non-brain-injured orthopaedic patients, and 26 university students, using Damico's Clinical Discourse Analysis (CDA). As predicted, global measures derived from the CDA did not differentiate the groups. The TBI group was, however, found to differ significantly from both control groups on a modified measure (CDA-M) which removes discourse errors that occurred with similar frequency across the three groups. Performance on this measure correlated significantly with severity of injury. Further, it was found that there were quantitative and qualitative differences between two seventy subgroups in the TBI group with respect to their CDA-M profiles. While nearly all members of the TBI group made errors associated with information transfer, only the more fundamental 'rules' of conversational interaction. The results are discussed in relation to the psychosocial implications of the findings, together with issues in sampling and measuring conversational discourse in the TBI population.

Adolescent↗