Effect of metabolic control on recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in patients with premature coronary artery disease: Results of the Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death around the world, and its rate of presentation is increasing at young ages. Despite the evidence that secondary prevention in CAD reduces the risk of recurrent major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), no studies have analyzed the composite control of blood pressure, lipids, and glucose control in premature CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a real-world prospective cohort study of patients with premature CAD. The composite control in blood pressure <140/80 mmHg, LDL-C <70 mg/dL, non-HDL-C <100 mg/dL, and Hemoglobin A1c <8% was considered as metabolic control. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of non-fatal and fatal MACE. The data included 1042 patients with premature CAD. The mean age of the patients was 54.1 ± 8.1 years, 18.5% were women, and had a median follow-up of 59.1 ± 11.8 months. Of them, 7% had non-fatal MACE, and 4% had a fatal MACE. Overall, 21.3% achieved metabolic control, and 3.0% did not achieve any target. Cox regression analysis showed that percutaneous coronary intervention (Hazzard ratio = 1.883 [95% CI, 1.131-3.136]), C-reactive protein (1.046 [1.020-1.073]), blood pressure >140/90 mmHg (2.686 [1.506-4.791]), fibrates (2.032 [1.160-3.562]), calcium channel blockers (2.082 [1.158-3.744]) had greater risk to present a recurrent non-fatal MACE; whereas familial history of premature CAD (2.419 [1.240-4.721]), heart failure (2.139 [1.032-4.433]), LDL-C >70 mg/dL (4.594 [1.401-15.069]), and diuretics (3.328 [1.677-6.605]) were associated with cardiovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The composite goal achievement in lipids, blood pressure and glucose, reduced the risk for recurrent MACE in 80%.

Speech rate in Parkinson's disease: A controlled study. / Estudio controlado del ritmo del habla en la enfermedad de Parkinson.

INTRODUCTION: Speech disturbances will affect most patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) over the course of the disease. The origin and severity of these symptoms are of clinical and diagnostic interest. PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical pattern of speech impairment in PD patients and identify significant differences in speech rate and articulation compared to control subjects. Speech rate and articulation in a reading task were measured using an automatic analytical method. PATIENTS: A total of 39 PD patients in the 'on' state and 45 age-and sex-matched asymptomatic controls participated in the study. None of the patients experienced dyskinesias or motor fluctuations during the test. RESULTS: The patients with PD displayed a significant reduction in speech and articulation rates; there were no significant correlations between the studied speech parameters and patient characteristics such as L-dopa dose, duration of the disorder, age, and UPDRS III scores and Hoehn & Yahr scales. CONCLUSION: Patients with PD show a characteristic pattern of declining speech rate. These results suggest that in PD, disfluencies are the result of the movement disorder affecting the physiology of speech production systems.

The effects of intermittent hypoxia training on hematological and aerobic performance in triathletes.

The aim of the present research was to analyze modifications on hematological and aerobic performance parameters after a 7-week intermittent hypoxia training (IHT) program. Eighteen male trained triathletes were divided in two groups: an intermittent hypoxia training group (IHTG: n: 9; 26.0 ± 6.7 years; 173.3 ± 5.9 cm; 66.4 ± 5.9 kg; VO2max: 59.5 ± 5.0 ml/kg/min) that conducted a normoxic training plus an IHT and a control group (CG: n: 9; 29.3 ± 6.8 years; 174.9 ± 4.6 cm; 59.7 ± 6.8 kg; VO2max: 58.9 ± 4.5 ml/kg/min) that performed only a normoxic training. Training process was standardized across the two groups. The IHT program consisted of two 60-min sessions per week at intensities over the anaerobic threshold and atmospheric conditions between 14.5 and 15% FiO2. Before and after the 7-week training, aerobic performance in an incremental running test and hematological parameters were analyzed. After this training program, the IHTG showed higher hemoglobin and erythrocytes (p < 0.05) values than in the CG. In terms of physiological and performance variables, between the two groups no changes were found. The addition of an IHT program to normoxic training caused an improvement in hematological parameters but aerobic performance and physiological variables compared to similar training under normoxic conditions did not increase.

Oral reading fluency analysis in patients with Alzheimer disease and asymptomatic control subjects.

INTRODUCTION: Many studies highlight that an impaired ability to communicate is one of the key clinical features of Alzheimer disease (AD). OBJECTIVE: To study temporal organisation of speech in an oral reading task in patients with AD and in matched healthy controls using a semi-automatic method, and evaluate that method's ability to discriminate between the 2 groups. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A test with an oral reading task was administered to 70 subjects, comprising 35 AD patients and 35 controls. Before speech samples were recorded, participants completed a battery of neuropsychological tests. There were no differences between groups with regard to age, sex, or educational level. RESULTS: All of the study variables showed impairment in the AD group. According to the results, AD patients' oral reading was marked by reduced speech and articulation rates, low effectiveness of phonation time, and increases in the number and proportion of pauses. Signal processing algorithms applied to reading fluency recordings were shown to be capable of differentiating between AD patients and controls with an accuracy of 80% (specificity 74.2%, sensitivity 77.1%) based on speech rate. CONCLUSION: Analysis of oral reading fluency may be useful as a tool for the objective study and quantification of speech deficits in AD.

[Cognitive biases in an experimental task of focalized selective attention in eating disorders]. / Sesgos cognitivos en una tarea experimental de atención selectiva focalizada en los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria.

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive processing differences based on attentional biases of words pertaining to eating disorders were investigated. We performed a computerized Stroop color-naming task in which the subjects named the colors of four word groups (food-related, eating disorders behaviours-related, emotional and neutral) to measure differences in the processing of these stimuli. METHOD: Participants were 144 females with eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, or a combination of both) and 172 female controls. RESULTS: In agreement with predictions, the three eating disorder groups were significantly slower than the controls in identifying the color of all word groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate the existence of biases in stimuli processing related with eating behavior disorders.

[Spanish version of the Gardner body image validation scale in patients with eating behavior disorders]. / Adaptación española de la escala de evaluación de la imagen corporal de Gardner en pacientes con trastornos de la conducta alimentaria.

This study reports the Spanish version of a new scale for the assessment of body image, developed by Gardner, Stark, Jackson and Friedman (1999). A silhouette method was used as a self-evaluation measure of schematic ideal body size within three groups of women: anorexia nervosa (n= 57), bulimia nervosa (n=57) and normal control (n=168). The results showed that, considering the body mass index as covariant of the results, the clinical groups formed by anorexic and bulimic patients judged their current body size as significantly greater than the control group. In the same way, the clinical groups judged their ideal body size significantly thinner than that considered by the control group. We can conclude that this scale for assessment is a sensitive psychometrical measure of the body image.

Arsenic species: effects on and accumulation by tomato plants.

The uptake of arsenic (As) species by Lycopersicum esculentum, growing under soilless culture conditions, was studied. A 4 x 3 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted with four As species (arsenite, arsenate, methylarsonate, and dimethylarsinate), three As concentrations (1, 2, and 5 mg L(-)(1)) and two tomato cultivars (Marmande and Muchamiel). The phytoavailability and phytotoxicity were primarily determined by the As species. The concentrations of As in plant increased significantly with increasing As concentration in solution. Both MA and DMA showed a higher upward translocation than arsenite and arsenate, and treatments with MA and DMA clearly reduced plant growth and fruit yield. The As concentration in tomatoes treated with arsenite or arsenate were within the range considered normal in food crops; however, the As concentration in tomatoes treated with MA and DMA were close to or even above the maximum limit. When tomato plants are exposed to high concentrations of As in nutrient solutions, they may uptake As to concentrations unacceptable for human food.

Arsenic toxicity and accumulation in radish as affected by arsenic chemical speciation.

Arsenic (As) uptake by Rhapanus sativus L. (radish), cv. Nueva Orleans, growing in soil-less culture conditions was studied in relation to the chemical form and concentration of As. A 4 x 3 factorial experiment was conducted with treatments consisting of four As chemical forms [As(III), As(V), MMAA, DMAA] and three As concentrations (1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 mg As L-1). None of the As treatments were clearly phytotoxic to this radish cultivar. Arsenic phytoavailability was primarily determined by the As chemical form present in the nutrient solution and followed the trend DMAA < or = As(V) < or = As(III) << MMAA. Root and shoot As concentrations significantly increased with increasing As application rates. Monomethyl arsonic acid treatments caused the highest As accumulation in both roots and shoots, and this organic arsenical showed a higher uptake rate than the other As compounds. Inner root As concentrations were, in general, within the normal range for As contents in food crops but root skin As levels were close or above the maximum threshold set for As content in edible fruit, crops and vegetables. The statement that toxicity limits plant As uptake to safe levels was not confirmed in our study. If radish plants are exposed to a large pulse of As, as growth on contaminated nutrient solutions, they may accumulate residues which are unacceptable for animal and human consumption without exhibiting symptoms of phytotoxicity.

Arsenic toxicity and accumulation in turnip as affected by arsenic chemical speciation.

Arsenic (As) uptake by turnip, growing under soilless culture conditions, was studied. A 4 x 3 factorial experiment was conducted with four As species [arsenite, arsenate, methylarsonic acid (MMAA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA)] and three As concentrations (1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 mg L(-)(1)). Arsenic phytoavailability and phytotoxicity were primarily determined by As speciation. Organic arsenicals, especially MMAA, were clearly phytotoxic to this turnip cultivar. Plant As concentrations significantly increased with increasing As application rates. Both organic arsenicals showed a higher upward translocation than their inorganic counterparts, contributing to the greater phytotoxicity and lower dry matter productions of these organic treatments. Both inner root and outer root skin As concentrations were above the maximum limit set for As content in food crops (1.0 mg kg(-)(1)). If turnip plants are exposed to a large pulse of As, as growth on contaminated nutrient solutions, they will accumulate residues at levels that are unacceptable for animal and human consumption.

A historic-quantitative approach to psychophysiological research: the first three decades of the journal Psychophysiology (1964-1993).

We used quantitative methodology to examine the first three decades of the journal Psychophysiology from a stand-point of historic interest. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 1,781 works published during this period. In total, 2,537 authors have published in the journal. The distribution of their productivity matches approximately what would be expected based on previous bibliometric investigations. A constant increase in the collaboration between researchers was evident (reaching an average of 2.56 authors per paper). The literature cited in these articles dates back between 4.53 and 8.12 years (M = 6.48 years). These bibliometric results show that this journal can be placed among the most experimentally oriented group within the field of psychology.

[The prevalence of headaches in a university population]. / Prevalencia de cefaleas en una población universitaria.

BACKGROUND: We have been interested in the prevalence of cephalalgias in a population of university students, as well as its intensity, frequency and duration parameters. METHODS: A group of 490 adult persons, students in the university of Murcia, was put to a questionnaire prepared for this purpose in which they were asked about the presence or absence of cephalalgia episodes during the last 12 months, as well as about their intensity, frequency and duration. They were also asked whether they knew about their headache cause or diagnosis. RESULTS: Results show a characteristic profile 91.9% of persons declare to have suffered from migraines during the last year. Out of them, 40.5% with a minimum frequency of one episode per week with a perceived intermediate intensity of (43.2%) and a duration of 1 to 4 hours (59.7%). Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found in relation with sex: women suffered from more frequent lasting migraines than men; on the contrary, no differences were found between sexes in relation with headache intensity. It is also noticed that 89.65% of persons do not know about the diagnosis or etiology of his trouble. CONCLUSIONS: Data make evident the high prevalence of headache in University students; This justifies, in our opinion, the implementation of programmes of evaluation dealing with this problem in University students populations.

[Ten years of renal transplantation in children]. / Diez años de trasplante renal en niños.

One hundred and fourteen kidney transplants (87 first and 27 second and thirds) were performed in 90 children aged 1 to 15 years during the period 1979-1988; 44% were under 10 years, 14% under 5 and 8% under 3 years of age. The renal grafts were from living related donor (LD) in 30 cases and from cadaveric donor (CD) in 84; 91 were from adult donors and 23 from pediatric ones. The actuarial survival rate of the patients at one and two years was 100% in the LD and 92 and 90% respectively in the CD group. The actuarial survival rate of the first graft at one two years was 98% and 78% in the LD and 83% and 68% in the CD group. When gathered for the receptor age the actuarial survival rate of the first graft was 78 and 67% in the 1-5 years group (n = 19) and 86 and 71% in the 6-15 years one (n = 68). Serum creatinine level was 0.9 +/- 0.4 mg/dl three months, 1.2 +/- 0.7 mg/dl at one year, an 1.8 +/- 1.2 mg/dl at two years among the 50 transplants with a follow-up over two years.

Effects of sulindac on myeloid precursors growth in vitro.

We have studied the effects of sulindac and its main active metabolites on human bone marrow progenitors. Granulocytic-macrophagic colony forming units (CFU-GM) techniques were used for assessment. As in vitro inhibitory action of this drug or its metabolites on CFU-GM growth could not be demonstrated. These results refute the clinically presumed toxicity of sulindac on human bone marrow progenitors at pharmacological doses.

Mannitol osmolar clearance in diabetes insipidus of children.

A modified technique of amnnitol-induced diuresis is described, in order to assess renal concentrating ability in infants and children. The infusion of 10% mannitol in 0.9% saline avoided the hypertonic saline overload and the fluid restriction period, both badly tolerated by infants and small children. In a control group of children aged from two months to seven years, the values of T(H2O) plotted against C(OSM) allowed to calculate the adjustment curve y=0.80x0.75, r=0.98 (p is less than 0.0001). In six patients with pituitary diabetes insipidus (PDI), the test was used in order to quantify the degree of ADH deficiency and evaluate the carbamazepine and clofibrate effect, in the renal concentrating mechanism. The test was tolerated perfectly in every case, obtaining qualitative and quantitative data and avoiding the hyponatremia and hypokalemia produced by the mannitol.