Ralph B. D'Agostino

Bio: Ralph B. D'Agostino is an academic researcher from Wake Forest University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Framingham Heart Study & Framingham Risk Score. The author has an hindex of 226, co-authored 1287 publications receiving 229636 citations. Previous affiliations of Ralph B. D'Agostino include VA Boston Healthcare System & University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Dietary Patterns of Men and Women Suggest Targets for Health Promotion: The Framingham Nutrition Studies:

Abstract: Purpose. The goal of the study was to characterize the dietary patterns of adult men and women. Design. The study used a cross-sectional analysis of food consumption behaviors and nutrient intake measured from 1984 through 1988. Setting. The Framingham Offspring/Spouse Study, Framingham, Massachusetts. Subjects. The population-based sample comprised 1831 men and 1828 women between 20 and 70 years of age. Measures. Dietary patterns were defined by cluster analyses, which used the estimates of usual daily food intake from food frequency questionnaires, and the patterns were compared with Food Guide Pyramid recommendations. Nutrient intakes were independently estimated from 24-hour recalls and compared with Year 2000 nutrition recommendations. Results. Cluster analyses identified five groups of men and five groups of women with distinctive dietary patterns. Men differed on intakes of all food groups except vegetables and snacks plus sweetened beverages. Specific dietary behaviors, including low inta...

Novel Approach to Early Detection of Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity by Gadolinium-Enhanced Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in an Experimental Model

Abstract: Background— We sought to determine whether cardiovascular magnetic resonance measures of gadolinium (Gd) signal intensity (SI) within the left ventricular myocardium are associated with future changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after receipt of doxorubicin (DOX). Methods and Results— Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups scheduled to receive weekly intravenous doses of normal saline (n=7), 1.5 mg/kg DOX (n=19), or 2.5 mg/kg DOX (n=14). Magnetic resonance determinations of LVEF and myocardial Gd-SI were performed before and at 2, 4, 7, and 10 weeks after DOX initiation. During treatment, animals were euthanized at different time points so that histopathologic assessments of the left ventricular myocardium could be obtained. Within-group analyses were performed to examine time-dependent relations between Gd-SI and primary events (deterioration in LVEF or an unanticipated death). Six of 19 animals receiving 1.5 mg/kg DOX and 10 of 14 animals receiving 2.5 mg/kg DOX experienced a primary event; no normal saline animals experienced a primary event. In animals with a primary event, histopathologic evidence of myocellular vacuolization occurred ( P =0.04), and the Gd-SI was elevated relative to baseline at the time of the event ( P <0.0001) and during the measurement period before the event ( P =0.0001). In all animals (including normal saline) without an event, measures of Gd-SI did not differ from baseline. Conclusions— After DOX, low serial measures of Gd-SI predict an absence of an LVEF drop or unanticipated death. An increase in Gd-SI after DOX forecasts a subsequent drop in LVEF as well as histopathologic evidence of intracellular vacuolization consistent with DOX cardiotoxicity.

Carotid MR angiography: phase II study of safety and efficacy for MS-325.

Abstract: PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of MS-325 in patients suspected of having carotid arterial disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty carotid arteries in 26 patients were imaged with three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled-echo magnetic resonance (MR) angiography at 5 and 50 minutes after injection of MS-325. MS-325 was administered intravenously as a single dose of 0.01, 0.03, or 0.05 mmol per kilogram of body weight as determined with a dose randomization scheme for four, nine, and 13 patients, respectively. Safety, including clinical laboratory changes and electrocardiographic monitoring, was assessed until approximately 3 days after injection. Conventional contrast agent–enhanced angiography was used as the standard of reference. Independent readers blinded to the dose interpreted the MR angiographic and conventional images. Images were assessed for location and extent of carotid arterial stenosis. RESULTS: There were no severe or serious adverse events. For the determination of clinically...

Relation of systemic blood pressure, left ventricular mass, insulin sensitivity, and coronary artery disease to QT interval duration in nondiabetic and type 2 diabetic subjects.

Abstract: A prolonged QT interval has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, knowledge about etiologic factors is limited. We studied determinants of QT interval duration in the Insulin Resistance Atherosclerosis Study, a large, triethnic population (n = 1,577) with varying degrees of glucose tolerance. In particular, we sought to investigate the relation of QT interval with blood pressure (BP), left ventricular (LV) mass, estimated using electrocardiographic criteria, and insulin sensitivity, directly measured by a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. QT interval was measured electronically on electrocardiograms at rest and corrected for heart rate using standard equations. The QT interval was related to various components of the insulin resistance syndrome, including BP and insulin sensitivity. Multivariate analyses showed that BP and LV mass were the main determinants of the QT interval in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. Additionally, prevalent coronary artery disease was related to the QT interval in subjects with newly diagnosed diabetes. In conclusion, we found that BP and LV mass were the strongest and most consistent determinants of the QT interval in nondiabetic and diabetic subjects. Additional factors potentially contributing to QT interval prolongation in diabetic patients include insulin sensitivity and prevalent coronary artery disease.

Wiley Encyclopedia of Clinical Trials

Abstract: This monumental reference on all facets of clinical trials provides comprehensive coverage and emphasis on clearly stated and defined concepts, methodologies, and applications. With more than 450entries, from 350 of the world's leading experts in the field in academic and corporate settings, Encyclopedia of Clinical Trials is a world-class and one-of-a-kind compendia of basic concepts, methodologies, and applications in clinical trials. It includes coverage of: overview and basic statistical concepts; concepts of design and analysis of clinical trials; and methodologies and issues for clinical data analysis.

G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences

Abstract: G*Power (Erdfelder, Faul, & Buchner, 1996) was designed as a general stand-alone power analysis program for statistical tests commonly used in social and behavioral research. G*Power 3 is a major extension of, and improvement over, the previous versions. It runs on widely used computer platforms (i.e., Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac OS X 10.4) and covers many different statistical tests of thet, F, and χ2 test families. In addition, it includes power analyses forz tests and some exact tests. G*Power 3 provides improved effect size calculators and graphic options, supports both distribution-based and design-based input modes, and offers all types of power analyses in which users might be interested. Like its predecessors, G*Power 3 is free.

The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure: the JNC 7 report.

Abstract: "The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure" provides a new guideline for hypertension prevention and management. The following are the key messages(1) In persons older than 50 years, systolic blood pressure (BP) of more than 140 mm Hg is a much more important cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor than diastolic BP; (2) The risk of CVD, beginning at 115/75 mm Hg, doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg; individuals who are normotensive at 55 years of age have a 90% lifetime risk for developing hypertension; (3) Individuals with a systolic BP of 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic BP of 80 to 89 mm Hg should be considered as prehypertensive and require health-promoting lifestyle modifications to prevent CVD; (4) Thiazide-type diuretics should be used in drug treatment for most patients with uncomplicated hypertension, either alone or combined with drugs from other classes. Certain high-risk conditions are compelling indications for the initial use of other antihypertensive drug classes (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers); (5) Most patients with hypertension will require 2 or more antihypertensive medications to achieve goal BP (<140/90 mm Hg, or <130/80 mm Hg for patients with diabetes or chronic kidney disease); (6) If BP is more than 20/10 mm Hg above goal BP, consideration should be given to initiating therapy with 2 agents, 1 of which usually should be a thiazide-type diuretic; and (7) The most effective therapy prescribed by the most careful clinician will control hypertension only if patients are motivated. Motivation improves when patients have positive experiences with and trust in the clinician. Empathy builds trust and is a potent motivator. Finally, in presenting these guidelines, the committee recognizes that the responsible physician's judgment remains paramount.

疟原虫var基因转换速率变化导致抗原变异[英]／Paul H, Robert P, Christodoulou Z, et al//Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Abstract: 抗原变异可使得多种致病微生物易于逃避宿主免疫应答。表达在感染红细胞表面的恶性疟原虫红细胞表面蛋白1（PfPMP1）与感染红细胞、内皮细胞、树突状细胞以及胎盘的单个或多个受体作用，在黏附及免疫逃避中起关键的作用。每个单倍体基因组var基因家族编码约60种成员，通过启动转录不同的var基因变异体为抗原变异提供了分子基础。

Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure

Abstract: The National High Blood Pressure Education Program presents the complete Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Like its predecessors, the purpose is to provide an evidence-based approach to the prevention and management of hypertension. The key messages of this report are these: in those older than age 50, systolic blood pressure (BP) of greater than 140 mm Hg is a more important cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor than diastolic BP; beginning at 115/75 mm Hg, CVD risk doubles for each increment of 20/10 mm Hg; those who are normotensive at 55 years of age will have a 90% lifetime risk of developing hypertension; prehypertensive individuals (systolic BP 120-139 mm Hg or diastolic BP 80-89 mm Hg) require health-promoting lifestyle modifications to prevent the progressive rise in blood pressure and CVD; for uncomplicated hypertension, thiazide diuretic should be used in drug treatment for most, either alone or combined with drugs from other classes; this report delineates specific high-risk conditions that are compelling indications for the use of other antihypertensive drug classes (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers); two or more antihypertensive medications will be required to achieve goal BP (<140/90 mm Hg, or <130/80 mm Hg) for patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease; for patients whose BP is more than 20 mm Hg above the systolic BP goal or more than 10 mm Hg above the diastolic BP goal, initiation of therapy using two agents, one of which usually will be a thiazide diuretic, should be considered; regardless of therapy or care, hypertension will be controlled only if patients are motivated to stay on their treatment plan. Positive experiences, trust in the clinician, and empathy improve patient motivation and satisfaction. This report serves as a guide, and the committee continues to recognize that the responsible physician's judgment remains paramount.