Showing papers by "University of Vermont published in 2003"
Harvard University1, George Washington University2, University of Tennessee Health Science Center3, National Institutes of Health4, Brown University5, Rutgers University6, University at Buffalo7, Rush University Medical Center8, University of Washington9, University of California, Los Angeles10, Emory University11, University of California, Irvine12, Wake Forest University13, University of Vermont14
TL;DR: Estrogen plus progestin does not confer cardiac protection and may increase the risk of CHD among generally healthy postmenopausal women, especially during the first year after the initiation of hormone use.
Abstract: Background Recent randomized clinical trials have suggested that estrogen plus progestin does not confer cardiac protection and may increase the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). In this report, we provide the final results with regard to estrogen plus progestin and CHD from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). Methods The WHI included a randomized primary-prevention trial of estrogen plus progestin in 16,608 postmenopausal women who were 50 to 79 years of age at base line. Participants were randomly assigned to receive conjugated equine estrogens (0.625 mg per day) plus medroxyprogesterone acetate (2.5 mg per day) or placebo. The primary efficacy outcome of the trial was CHD (nonfatal myocardial infarction or death due to CHD). Results After a mean follow-up of 5.2 years (planned duration, 8.5 years), the data and safety monitoring board recommended terminating the estrogen-plus-progestin trial because the overall risks exceeded the benefits. Combined hormone therapy was associated with a hazard ratio for CHD of 1.24 (nominal 95 percent confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.54; 95 percent confidence interval after adjustment for sequential monitoring, 0.97 to 1.60). The elevation in risk was most apparent at one year (hazard ratio, 1.81 [95 percent confidence interval, 1.09 to 3.01]). Although higher base-line levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were associated with an excess risk of CHD among women who received hormone therapy, higher base-line levels of C-reactive protein, other biomarkers, and other clinical characteristics did not significantly modify the treatment-related risk of CHD. Conclusions Estrogen plus progestin does not confer cardiac protection and may increase the risk of CHD among generally healthy postmenopausal women, especially during the first year after the initiation of hormone use. This treatment should not be prescribed for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
1,980 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that CD occurs frequently not only in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, but also in first- and second-degree relatives and patients with numerous common disorders even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Abstract: Background Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathic condition triggered in genetically susceptible individuals by the ingestion of gluten. Although common in Europe, CD is thought to be rare in the United States, where there are no large epidemiologic studies of its prevalence. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CD in at-risk and not-at-risk groups in the United States. Methods Serum antigliadin antibodies and anti–endomysial antibodies (EMA) were measured. In EMA-positive subjects, human tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies and CD-associated human leukocyte antigen DQ2/DQ8 haplotypes were determined. Intestinal biopsy was recommended and performed whenever possible for all EMA-positive subjects. A total of 13 145 subjects were screened: 4508 first-degree and 1275 second-degree relatives of patients with biopsy-proven CD, 3236 symptomatic patients (with either gastrointestinal symptoms or a disorder associated with CD), and 4126 not-at-risk individuals. Results In at-risk groups, the prevalence of CD was 1:22 in first-degree relatives, 1:39 in second-degree relatives, and 1:56 in symptomatic patients. The overall prevalence of CD in not-at-risk groups was 1:133. All the EMA-positive subjects who underwent intestinal biopsy had lesions consistent with CD. Conclusions Our results suggest that CD occurs frequently not only in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, but also in first- and second-degree relatives and patients with numerous common disorders even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms. The prevalence of CD in symptomatic patients and not-at-risk subjects was similar to that reported in Europe. Celiac disease appears to be a more common but neglected disorder than has generally been recognized in the United States.
1,682 citations
TL;DR: As compared with placebo, letrozole therapy after the completion of standard tamoxifen treatment significantly improves disease-free survival.
Abstract: background In hormone-dependent breast cancer, five years of postoperative tamoxifen therapy — but not tamoxifen therapy of longer duration — prolongs disease-free and overall survival. The aromatase inhibitor letrozole, by suppressing estrogen production, might improve the outcome after the discontinuation of tamoxifen therapy. methods We conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test the effectiveness of five years of letrozole therapy in postmenopausal women with breast cancer who have completed five years of tamoxifen therapy. The primary end point was disease-free survival. results A total of 5187 women were enrolled (median follow-up, 2.4 years). At the first interim analysis, there were 207 local or metastatic recurrences of breast cancer or new primary cancers in the contralateral breast — 75 in the letrozole group and 132 in the placebo group — with estimated four-year disease-free survival rates of 93 percent and 87 percent, respectively, in the two groups (P ≤ 0.001 for the comparison of disease-free survival). A total of 42 women in the placebo group and 31 women in the letrozole group died (P=0.25 for the comparison of overall survival). Low-grade hot flashes, arthritis, arthralgia, and myalgia were more frequent in the letrozole group, but vaginal bleeding was less frequent. There were new diagnoses of osteoporosis in 5.8 percent of the women in the letrozole group and 4.5 percent of the women in the placebo group (P=0.07); the rates of fracture were similar. After the first interim analysis, the independent data and safety monitoring committee recommended termination of the trial and prompt communication of the results to the participants. conclusions As compared with placebo, letrozole therapy after the completion of standard tamoxifen treatment significantly improves disease-free survival.
1,538 citations
TL;DR: CRP is not only associated with the presence of AF but may also predict patients at increased risk for future development of AF.
Abstract: Background— The presence of systemic inflammation determined by elevations in C-reactive protein (CRP) has been associated with persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The relationship between CRP and prediction of AF has not been studied in a large population-based cohort. Methods and Results— CRP measurement and cardiovascular assessment were performed at baseline in 5806 subjects enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Study. Patients were followed up for a mean of 6.9±1.6 (median 7.8) years. AF was identified by self-reported history and ECGs at baseline and by ECGs and hospital discharge diagnoses at follow-up. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess CRP as a predictor of baseline and future development of AF. At baseline, 315 subjects (5%) had AF. Compared with subjects in the first CRP quartile ( 3.41 mg/L) had more AF (7.4% versus 3.7%, adjusted OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.5; P=0.002). Of 5491 subjects without AF at baseline, 897 (16%) deve...
1,309 citations
TL;DR: A workgroup formed by the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco reviewed the literature on abstinence measures used in trials of smoking cessation interventions and recommended that trials report multiple measures of abstinence.
Abstract: A workgroup formed by the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco reviewed the literature on abstinence measures used in trials of smoking cessation interventions. We recommend that trials report multiple measures of abstinence. However, at a minimum we recommend that trial: (a) report prolonged abstinence (i.e., sustained abstinence after an initial period in which smoking is not counted as a failure) as the preferred measure, plus point prevalence as a secondary measure; (b) use 7 consecutive days of smoking or smoking on > or = 1 day of 2 consecutive weeks to define treatment failure; (c) include non-cigarette tobacco use, but not nicotine medications in definitions of failure; and (d) report results from survival analysis to describe outcomes more fully. Trials of smokers willing to set a quit date should tie all follow-ups to the quit date and report 6- and/or 12-month abstinence rates. For these trials, we recommend an initial 2-week grace period for prolonged abstinence definitions; however, the period may vary, depending on the presumed mechanism of the treatment. Trials of smokers who may not be currently trying to quit should tie follow-up to the initiation of the intervention and should report a prolonged abstinence measure of > or = 6-month duration and point prevalence rates at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. The grace period for these trials will depend on the time necessary for treatment dissemination, which will vary depending on the treatment, setting, and population. Trials that use short-term follow-ups ( or = 4 weeks. We again recommend a 2-week grace period; however, that period can vary.
1,059 citations
TL;DR: A systematic evaluation on the effect of noise in machine learning separates noise into two categories: class noise and attribute noise, and investigates the relationship between attribute noise and classification accuracy, the impact of noise at different attributes, and possible solutions in handling attribute noise.
Abstract: Real-world data is never perfect and can often suffer from corruptions (noise) that may impact interpretations of the data, models created from the data and decisions made based on the data. Noise can reduce system performance in terms of classification accuracy, time in building a classifier and the size of the classifier. Accordingly, most existing learning algorithms have integrated various approaches to enhance their learning abilities from noisy environments, but the existence of noise can still introduce serious negative impacts. A more reasonable solution might be to employ some preprocessing mechanisms to handle noisy instances before a learner is formed. Unfortunately, rare research has been conducted to systematically explore the impact of noise, especially from the noise handling point of view. This has made various noise processing techniques less significant, specifically when dealing with noise that is introduced in attributes. In this paper, we present a systematic evaluation on the effect of noise in machine learning. Instead of taking any unified theory of noise to evaluate the noise impacts, we differentiate noise into two categories: class noise and attribute noise, and analyze their impacts on the system performance separately. Because class noise has been widely addressed in existing research efforts, we concentrate on attribute noise. We investigate the relationship between attribute noise and classification accuracy, the impact of noise at different attributes, and possible solutions in handling attribute noise. Our conclusions can be used to guide interested readers to enhance data quality by designing various noise handling mechanisms.
786 citations
TL;DR: Long-term, low-intensity warfarin therapy is a highly effective method of preventing recurrent venous thromboembolism.
Abstract: Background Standard therapy to prevent recurrent venous thromboembolism includes 3 to 12 months of treatment with full-dose warfarin with a target international normalized ratio (INR) between 2.0 and 3.0. However, for long-term management, no therapeutic agent has shown an acceptable benefit-to-risk ratio. Methods Patients with idiopathic venous thromboembolism who had received full-dose anticoagulation therapy for a median of 6.5 months were randomly assigned to placebo or low-intensity warfarin (target INR, 1.5 to 2.0). Participants were followed for recurrent venous thromboembolism, major hemorrhage, and death. Results The trial was terminated early after 508 patients had undergone randomization and had been followed for up to 4.3 years (mean, 2.1). Of 253 patients assigned to placebo, 37 had recurrent venous thromboembolism (7.2 per 100 person-years), as compared with 14 of 255 patients assigned to low-intensity warfarin (2.6 per 100 person-years), a risk reduction of 64 percent (hazard ratio, 0.36 [9...
779 citations
TL;DR: Future prospective studies are needed using sufficient sample sizes of males and females, including collection of exposure data, and using established methods for identifying and classifying injury severity to conclusively determine addtional risk factors for lower extremity injury.
Abstract: Prospective studies on risk factors for lower extremity injury are reviewed. Many intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors have been implicated; however, there is little agreement with respect to the findings. Future prospective studies are needed using sufficient sample sizes of males and females, including collection of exposure data, and using established methods for identifying and classifying injury severity to conclusively determine addtional risk factors for lower extremity injury.
726 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used the standardized 6-min walk test (6MWT) to measure the impact of multiple comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, lung disease, arthritis, diabetes and cognitive dysfunction and depression, on exercise capacity and endurance in older adults.
695 citations
TL;DR: The human connexin 43 gene, or GJA1, is located at human chromosome 6q22-q23 within the candidate region for the oculodentodigital dysplasia locus as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Gap junctions are assemblies of intercellular channels that regulate a variety of physiologic and developmental processes through the exchange of small ions and signaling molecules. These channels consist of connexin family proteins that allow for diversity of channel composition and conductance properties. The human connexin 43 gene, or GJA1, is located at human chromosome 6q22-q23 within the candidate region for the oculodentodigital dysplasia locus. This autosomal dominant syndrome presents with craniofacial (ocular, nasal, and dental) and limb dysmorphisms, spastic paraplegia, and neurodegeneration. Syndactyly type III and conductive deafness can occur in some cases, and cardiac abnormalities are observed in rare instances. We found mutations in the GJA1 gene in all 17 families with oculodentodigital dysplasia that we screened. Sixteen different missense mutations and one codon duplication were detected. These mutations may cause misassembly of channels or alter channel conduction properties. Expression patterns and phenotypic features of gja1 animal mutants, reported elsewhere, are compatible with the pleiotropic clinical presentation of oculodentodigital dysplasia.
589 citations
TL;DR: Quantified, normed DSM-oriented and empirically based scales scored from the same instruments can facilitate assessment of individuals, statistical analyses for research purposes, and integration of top-down and bottom-up approaches to deriving constructs for psychopathology.
Abstract: Separately for ages 11/2 to 5 and 6 to 18, used items for rating behavioral and emotional problems to construct (a). "top-down" DSM-oriented scales from experts' ratings of the items' consistency with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV], American Psychiatric Association, 1994) categories, and (b). "bottom-up" empirically based syndromes from factor analyses of parent, caregiver, teacher, and self ratings (N = 14853). Both kinds of scales are scored from the same assessment instruments and are displayed on profiles normed on the same national samples. Psychometric properties were similar for both kinds of scales. Associations between counterpart scales were medium to strong. Quantified, normed DSM-oriented and empirically based scales scored from the same instruments can facilitate assessment of individuals, statistical analyses for research purposes, and integration of top-down and bottom-up approaches to deriving constructs for psychopathology.
TL;DR: The Balloon Analogue Risk Task was administered to a sample of 26 high school-aged adolescents to test the utility of the BART as a behavioural measure of risk-taking propensity, and data indicate that riskyness on the BART was related to self-reported engagement in real-world risk- taking behaviours.
TL;DR: It is suspicion that the performance of the entire process of thrombin generation from initiation through propagation and termination phases of the reaction are relevant with respect to both hemorrhagic and thrombotic pathology.
TL;DR: The present views regarding the tissue factor pathway by which thrombin is generated and the roles played by extrinsic and intrinsic factor Xa generating complexes in hemostasis are summarized.
Abstract: The central event of the hemostatic process is the generation of thrombin through the tissue factor pathway. This is a highly regulated, dynamic process in which thrombin itself plays many roles, positively and negatively its production and destruction. The hemostatic process is essential to normal physiology and is also the Achilles heel of our aging population. The inappropriate generation of thrombin may lead to vascular occlusion with the consequence of myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, or venous thrombosis. In this review, we summarize our present views regarding the tissue factor pathway by which thrombin is generated and the roles played by extrinsic and intrinsic factor Xa generating complexes in hemostasis and the roles of the stoichiometric and dynamic inhibitors that regulate thrombin generation.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors express the opinions of the individual evaluators regarding the strengths, weaknesses, and value of the books they review, as such the appraisals are subjective assessments and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editors or any official policy of the American Ornithologists' Union.
Abstract: Abstract The following critiques express the opinions of the individual evaluators regarding the strengths, weaknesses, and value of the books they review. As such, the appraisals are subjective assessments and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or any official policy of the American Ornithologists' Union.
TL;DR: Interventions common to effective family psychoeducation programs have been developed, including empathic engagement, education, ongoing support, clinical resources during periods of crisis, social network enhancement, and problem-solving and communication skills.
Abstract: Family psychoeduction has emerged as a treatment of choice for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and other disorders. More than 30 randomized clinical trials have demonstrated reduced relapse rates, improved recovery of patients, and improved family wellbing among participants. Intervention s common to effective family psychoeductaion programs have been developed, including empathic engagement, education, ongoing support, clinical resources during periods of crisis, social network enhancement, and problem-solving and communication skills. Application of family psychoeducation in routine settings where patients having these disorders are usually treated has been limited, reflecting attitudinal, knowledge, practical, and systemic implementation obstacles. Through consensus among patient and family advocacy organizations, clinican training, and ongoing technical consultation and supervision, this approach has been imploemented in routine clinical settings.
TL;DR: The place attachment construct has been used by leisure researchers and practitioners to refine our understanding of certain leisure behaviors for over two decades as discussed by the authors. But despite the construct's import, despite its popularity, it has not been widely used in the leisure domain.
Abstract: The place attachment construct has been used by leisure researchers and practitioners to refine our understanding of certain leisure behaviors for over two decades. Despite the construct's importan...
King's College London1, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center2, Pasteur Institute3, Monell Chemical Senses Center4, Oregon Health & Science University5, University of Colorado Boulder6, Drexel University7, Pennsylvania State University8, Wadsworth Center9, Leibniz Association10, Health Canada11, University of Tennessee Health Science Center12, Washington University in St. Louis13, University of Memphis14, University of Massachusetts Medical School15, Hebrew University of Jerusalem16, University of Groningen17, Roswell Park Cancer Institute18, Purdue University19, University of California, Davis20, University of Oxford21, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center22, International Livestock Research Institute23, Max Planck Society24, University of Alabama at Birmingham25, National Institutes of Health26, Charité27, RWTH Aachen University28, University of California, Los Angeles29, McGill University30, Royal Melbourne Hospital31, Rutgers University32, Stanford University33, Columbia University34, Princeton University35, University of Nebraska–Lincoln36, Harvard University37, University of Toronto38, Vanderbilt University39, Northwestern University40, Shriners Hospitals for Children41, University of Colorado Denver42, Thomas Jefferson University43, University of Vermont44, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill45, Southern Illinois University Carbondale46, Medical Research Council47, New York University48, University of Kentucky49
TL;DR: This white paper by eighty members of the Complex Trait Consortium presents a community's view on the approaches and statistical analyses that are needed for the identification of genetic loci that determine quantitative traits.
Abstract: This white paper by eighty members of the Complex Trait Consortium presents a community's view on the approaches and statistical analyses that are needed for the identification of genetic loci that determine quantitative traits. Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) can be identified in several ways, but is there a definitive test of whether a candidate locus actually corresponds to a specific QTL?
TL;DR: The Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale was administered to clinic patients with OCD, 43 of whom had checking compulsions, and 14 nonanxious controls, and the implications for increasing tolerance via cognitive-behavioral therapy are discussed.
TL;DR: The impacts of year-to-year and decade-todecade climatic variations on some of the Pacific Northwest's key natural resources can be quantified to estimate sensitivity to regional climatic changes expected as part of anthropogenic global climatic change as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The impacts of year-to-year and decade-to-decade climatic variations on some of the Pacific Northwest's key natural resources can be quantified to estimate sensitivity to regional climatic changes expected as part of anthropogenic global climatic change Warmer, drier years, often associated with El Nino events and/or the warm phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, tend to be associated with below-average snowpack, streamflow, and flood risk, below-average salmon survival, below-average forest growth, and above-average risk of forest fire During the 20th century, the region experienced a warming of 08 °C Using output from eight climate models, we project a further warming of 05–25 °C (central estimate 15 °C) by the 2020s, 15–32°C (23 °C) by the 2040s, and an increase in precipitation except in summer The foremost impact of a warming climate will be the reduction of regional snowpack, which presently supplies water for ecosystems and human uses during the dry summers Our understanding of past climate also illustrates the responses of human management systems to climatic stresses, and suggests that a warming of the rate projected would pose significant challenges to the management of natural resources Resource managers and planners currently have few plans for adapting to or mitigating the ecological and economic effects of climatic change
TL;DR: Progress has been made in developing valid and useful measures of mouse lung function, and these advances are likely to lead to important insights into the mechanisms of lung disease.
Abstract: Measurement of the effects of drugs, mediators and infectious agents on various models of lung disease, as well as assessment of lung function in the intact mouse has the potential for significantly advancing our knowledge of lung disease. However, the small size of the mouse presents significant challenges for the assessment of lung function. Because of compromises made between precision and noninvasiveness, data obtained may have an uncertain bearing on the mechanical response of the lung. Nevertheless, considerable recent progress has been made in developing valid and useful measures of mouse lung function. These advances, resulting in our current ability to measure sophisticated indices of lung function in laboratory animals, are likely to lead to important insights into the mechanisms of lung disease.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined associations of fish consumption with ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk among older adults or how different types of fish meals relate to IHD risk.
Abstract: Background— Few studies have examined associations of fish consumption with ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk among older adults or how different types of fish meals relate to IHD risk. Methods and Results— In a population-based prospective cohort study, usual fish consumption was ascertained at baseline among 3910 adults aged ≥65 years and free of known cardiovascular disease in 1989 and 1990. Consumption of tuna and other broiled or baked fish correlated with plasma phospholipid long-chain n-3 fatty acids, whereas consumption of fried fish or fish sandwiches (fish burgers) did not. Over 9.3 years’ mean follow-up, there were 247 IHD deaths (including 148 arrhythmic deaths) and 363 incident nonfatal myocardial infarctions (MIs). After adjustment for potential confounders, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish was associated with lower risk of total IHD death (P for trend=0.001) and arrhythmic IHD death (P=0.001) but not nonfatal MI (P=0.44), with 49% lower risk of total IHD death and 58% lowe...
TL;DR: The affective consequences of response inhibition during a state of anxiety-related physical stress and the significance of emotional avoidance processes during physical stress are examined, with implications for better understanding the nature of panic disorder.
TL;DR: Research on the relations between specific stressors and specific psychological outcomes among children and adolescents and the lack of theory-driven specificity research is reviewed, and directions for future research are identified.
Abstract: Research on the relations between specific stressors and specific psychological outcomes among children and adolescents is reviewed. Specificity, the notion that particular risk factors are uniquely related to particular outcomes is discussed from a theoretical perspective, and models of specificity are described. Several domains of stressors are examined from a specificity framework (e.g., exposure to violence, abuse, and divorce/marital conflict) in relation to broad-band outcomes of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Studies that tested for specificity conducted within the past 15 years are examined, and definitional problems are highlighted. Little evidence for specificity was found. Methodological problems in the literature and the lack of theory-driven specificity research are discussed, and directions for future research are identified.
TL;DR: In this paper, a unique, reproducible mouse model of localized intrauterine inflammation was presented, which showed that platelet-activating factor is a crucial mediator of both inflammation-induced preterm birth and fetal demise.
Abstract: Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite a growing body of evidence correlating inflammation with preterm birth, the signal transduction pathways responsible for the emptying of the uterus in the setting of intrauterine inflammation has not been elucidated. We now report a unique, reproducible mouse model of localized intrauterine inflammation. This model results in 100% preterm delivery with no maternal mortality. Using our model, we also show that platelet-activating factor is a crucial mediator of both inflammation-induced preterm birth and fetal demise. Using C3H/HeJ mice, we demonstrate that toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) plays a role in lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm birth but not in inflammation-induced fetal death. Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrate the presence of the platelet-activating factor receptor in both endometrial glands and smooth muscle in uterine tissues. Molecular studies demonstrate the differential expression of platelet-activating factor receptor and TLR-4 in uterine and cervical tissue throughout gestation. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed an up-regulation of TLR-4 in the fundal region of the uterus in response to intrauterine inflammation. The use of this model will increase our understanding of the significant clinical problem of inflammation-induced preterm birth and will elucidate signal transduction pathways involved in an inflammatory state.
TL;DR: The reader will note that selected treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs and antioxidants appear to have a potential in the treatment of DOMS, while other conventional approaches, such as massage, ultrasound, and stretching appear less promising.
Abstract: Eccentric exercise continues to receive attention as a productive means of exercise. Coupled with this has been the heightened study of the damage that occurs in early stages of exposure to eccentric exercise. This is commonly referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). To date, a sound and consistent treatment for DOMS has not been established. Although multiple practices exist for the treatment of DOMS, few have scientific support. Suggested treatments for DOMS are numerous and include pharmaceuticals, herbal remedies, stretching, massage, nutritional supplements, and many more. DOMS is particularly prevalent in resistance training; hence, this article may be of particular interest to the coach, trainer, or physical therapist to aid in selection of efficient treatments. First, we briefly review eccentric exercise and its characteristics and then proceed to a scientific and systematic overview and evaluation of treatments for DOMS. We have classified treatments into 3 sections, namely, pharmacological, conventional rehabilitation approaches, and a third section that collectively evaluates multiple additional practiced treatments. Literature that addresses most directly the question regarding the effectiveness of a particular treatment has been selected. The reader will note that selected treatments such as anti-inflammatory drugs and antioxidants appear to have a potential in the treatment of DOMS. Other conventional approaches, such as massage, ultrasound, and stretching appear less promising.
TL;DR: It is concluded that elevated CRP is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, independent of atherosclerosis severity as measured by carotid IMT, and the association of CRP with stroke is more apparent in the presence of a higher carotID IMT.
Abstract: Background-Increased carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) are both associated with the occurrence of stroke. We investigated whether elevated CRP is a risk factor for ischemic stroke independent of carotid IMT and studied the interaction between CRP and IMT. Methods and Results-We studied 5417 participants aged 65 years or older without preexisting stroke or chronic atrial fibrillation who were participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study. The hazard ratio of incident ischemic stroke was estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression. During 10.2 years of follow-up, 469 incident ischemic strokes occurred. The adjusted hazard ratios for ischemic stroke in the 2nd to 4th quartiles of baseline CRP, relative to the 1st quartile, were 1.19 (95% CI 0.92 to 1.53), 1.05 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.37), and 1.60 (95% CI 1.23 to 2.08), respectively. With additional adjustment for carotid IMT, there was little confounding. The association of CRP with stroke was significantly different depending on IMT (P<0.02), with no association of CRP with stroke among those in the lowest IMT tertile and a significant association among those with higher levels of IMT. Conclusions-We conclude that elevated CRP is a risk factor for ischemic stroke, independent of atherosclerosis severity as measured by carotid IMT. The association of CRP with stroke is more apparent in the presence of a higher carotid IMT. CRP and carotid IMT may each be independent integrals in determining the risk of ischemic stroke. (Circulation.
TL;DR: The findings suggest an important role for IL-6 and TNF-alpha in clinical as well as subclinical cardiovascular disease, and CRP had a weaker association with cardiovascular disease than the cytokines.
Abstract: This study investigates the association of several inflammatory markers with subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease in older men and women. Data are from the baseline assessment of 3,045 well-functioning persons aged 70 to 79 years, participating in the Health, Aging and Body Composition study. The study sample was divided into 3 groups: "cardiovascular disease" (diagnosis of congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, or stroke), "subclinical cardiovascular disease" (positive findings on the Rose questionnaire for angina or claudication, ankle-brachial index <0.9, or electrocardiographic abnormalities), and "no cardiovascular disease." Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and the soluble receptors IL-6 soluble receptor, IL-2 soluble receptor, TNF soluble receptor I, and TNF soluble receptor II were assessed. Of those with IL-6 levels in the highest compared with the lowest tertile, the odds ratio (OR) for subclinical cardiovascular disease was 1.58 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26 to 1.97) and for clinical cardiovascular disease was 2.35 (95% CI 1.79 to 3.09). A similar association was found for TNF-alpha (OR 1.48, 95% CI 1.16 to 1.88 and OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.55 to 2.72, respectively). In adjusted analyses, CRP was not significantly associated with overall subclinical or clinical cardiovascular disease, although additional analyses did find a strong specific association between CRP and congestive heart failure (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.41). Of the soluble cytokine receptors, only TNF soluble receptor I showed a significant association with clinical cardiovascular disease. Thus, our findings suggest an important role for IL-6 and TNF-alpha in clinical as well as subclinical cardiovascular disease. In this study, CRP had a weaker association with cardiovascular disease than the cytokines.
TL;DR: It is suggested that retinal microvascular abnormalities reflect processes associated with hypertension but distinct from atherosclerosis, and are common in older persons without diabetes and related to hypertension.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine how college-age Generation Y consumers respond to a cause-related marketing (CRM) offer based on four structural elements: females, social science majors, parents' annual income and previous donation activity.
Abstract: Generation Y, children born to baby‐boomers, is widely considered to be the next big generation. Businesses are therefore struggling to find ways to capture a piece of this market. Could cause‐related marketing be the answer? Employs an experimental design to examine how college‐age Generation Y consumers respond to a cause‐related marketing (CRM) offer based on four structural elements. Also examines the potential impacts of socio‐demographic characteristics of participants. The results indicate that a CRM offer is more likely to elicit a more positive response to a disaster cause than an ongoing cause when businesses use non‐transaction‐based and long‐term/frequent support. Finds that females, social science majors, parents’ annual income and previous donation activity have significant impact on the evaluation of a CRM offer. There is a positive relationship between evaluation of a CRM offer and purchase intent toward the offer.