Anaemia and marrow fibrosis in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism before and after curative parathyroidectomy.

Objective: To determine the relationship between anaemia and myelofibrosis in patients with symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and to assess the effect of curative parathyroidectomy on anaemia and marrow fibrosis.

Design And Methods: In this prospective follow-up study of 28 consecutive patients with symptomatic PHPT from January 2005 to June 2006, 15 patients were diagnosed with anaemia (haemoglobin < 130 g/l in males and < 120 g/l in females), eight (53%) of whom were finally recruited for the study. Complete blood cell count, serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, intact PTH and 25-hydroxyvitamin D and bone marrow examination were performed both before and after parathyroidectomy in all (n = 8) patients, but bone marrow examination after surgery was performed only in those who had marrow fibrosis at baseline (n = 6).

Smoking-related weight control expectancies among African American light smokers enrolled in a smoking cessation trial.

Concern about weight gain following smoking cessation has been frequently described in the literature. However, little is known about smoking-related weight expectancies among African American, light smokers (defined as < or = 10 cigarettes per day [CPD] for > 25 of last 30 days). Given the high rate of obesity among African Americans, concern about weight gain may be a significant barrier to cessation.

Spectrum of pure red cell aplasia in adult population of north-west India.

Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) is a rare haematological disorder characterised by selective inhibition of red cell precursors in the bone marrow. We conducted a retrospective analysis of nine cases of PRCA seen in our adult haematology clinic from January 2000 to December 2003. All patients had baseline hemogram, bone marrow examination, CT scan of chest, autoimmune and infectious disease markers.

Motivational interviewing fails to improve outcomes of a behavioral weight loss program for obese African American women: a pilot randomized trial.

Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, African American (AA) women are more likely to be obese but less likely to participate in weight loss interventions or to successfully lose weight. Sustained motivation for weight loss may be especially difficult for AA women due to socioeconomic and cultural factors. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the addition of motivational interviewing (MI) to a culturally-targeted behavioral weight loss program for AA women improved adherence to the program, diet and physical activity behaviors, and weight loss outcomes.

The impact of perceived treatment assignment on smoking cessation outcomes among African-American smokers.

Background: The double-blind placebo-controlled design is commonly considered the gold standard in research methodology; however, subject expectation bias could subvert blinding.

Objective: The primary aim of this study was to examine the impact of expectation bias. Specifically, we examined perceived treatment assignment on smoking cessation outcome rates among participants enrolled in a clinical trial of bupropion (150 mg SR, BID).

Comparison of body perceptions between obese primary care patients and physicians: implications for practice.

Objective: To compare the body image and weight perceptions of primary care patients and their physicians as a first step toward identifying a potential tool to aid physician-patient communication.

Methods: Patients with a body mass index (BMI)> or =30 (n=456, 66% female) completed body image and weight status measures after office visits; physicians (n=29) rated the body figures and weight status of these same patients after office visits.

Results: Controlling for BMI, female patients and their physicians showed little or no difference in body figure selection or weight status classification, whereas male patients were significantly less likely than their physicians to self-identify with larger body figures (z=3.

The RealU online cessation intervention for college smokers: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of providing online cessation intervention for college smokers.

Methods: This is a two-group randomized controlled trial. The intervention group received $10 weekly incentives to visit an online college life magazine that provided personalized smoking cessation messages and peer email support.

Menthol cigarettes and smoking cessation during an aided quit attempt.

Menthol may make cigarettes more addictive and rates of menthol cigarette smoking are disproportionately higher among Black. However, few studies have examined the association between menthol cigarette smoking and cessation, and the studies to date have produced conflicting findings. The present study examines the effect of menthol cigarette smoking on cessation among a multi-ethnic sample of smokers making a pharmacotherapy-aided quit attempt.

Discussing weight with obese primary care patients: physician and patient perceptions.

Objective: To evaluate patient-provider agreement on whether weight and related behaviors were discussed during routine visits.

Design: Post-visit survey assessments of patients and providers.

Participants: Obese patients make up the majority of all patients seen in primary care (PC).

Sickle-β(+) thalassemia with splenic calcification and bone marrow infarction: a case report.

We came across an unusual case of a 20 years old male from north India who presented with repeated episodes of pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO) and history of chronic hemolytic anemia. On investigation he was detected to have Sickle-β(+) Thalassemia and subtle features of hyposplenism. Radiological investigations revealed extensive splenic calcification and bone marrow examination to evaluate for PUO showed extensive bone marrow infarction and fibrosis.

Characterisation of electron currents generated by the human neutrophil NADPH oxidase.

Electron transport by the human neutrophil NADPH oxidase is an important microbicidal weapon for phagocytes. The electron current (I(e)) generated by the neutrophil NADPH oxidase is poorly characterised due to the lack of appropriate electrophysiological data. In this study, I fully characterise the neutrophil generated I(e) when the NADPH oxidase is activated by NADPH and GTPgammaS.

How does the built environment relate to body mass index and obesity prevalence among public housing residents?

Purpose: This study examined associations of environmental variables with obesity prevalence and individual body mass index (BMI) among impoverished residents of public housing developments.

Design: Cross-sectional data were drawn from two studies in the same Midwestern metropolitan area of participants within neighborhoods.

Setting: Pathways to Health interviewed housing development residents and Understanding Neighborhood Determinants of Obesity assessed built environment factors in the surrounding neighborhoods (i.

Smoking cessation pharmacotherapy preferences in rural primary care.

Pharmacotherapy is a critical adjunct to smoking cessation therapy. Little is known about relative preferences for these agents among smokers in primary care settings. In the context of a population-based clinical trial, we identified 750 smokers in primary care practices and independent of their readiness to quit offered them a free treatment course of either bupropion or transdermal nicotine replacement (TNR).

Effect on cessation counseling of documenting smoking status as a routine vital sign: an ACORN study.

Purpose: Guidelines encourage primary care clinicians to document smoking status when obtaining patients' blood pressure, temperature, and pulse rate (vital signs), but whether this practice promotes cessation counseling is unclear. We examined whether the vital sign intervention influences patient-reported frequency and intensity of tobacco cessation counseling.

Methods: This study was a cluster-randomized, controlled trial conducted in the Virginia Ambulatory Care Outcomes Research Network (ACORN).

The impact of smoking-cessation intervention by multiple health professionals.

Background: Smokers have contact with many different types of health professionals. The impact of tobacco intervention by multiple types of heath professionals is not known.

Methods And Materials: As part of the 2003 Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey, smokers (n=1723) reported on tobacco treatment by medical doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, or other health professionals.

Early elective insulin therapy can reduce hyperglycemia and increase insulin-like growth factor-I levels in very low birth weight infants.

Objective: To investigate the use of insulin throughout the first week of life in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (birth weight <1.5 kg) to improve glucose control and increase insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels. IGF-I is the dominant hormone involved in fetal growth, and low levels have been implicated in neonatal morbidities, such as retinopathy of prematurity.

Associations between the built environment and physical activity in public housing residents.

Background: Environmental factors may influence the particularly low rates of physical activity in African American and low-income adults. This cross-sectional study investigated how measured environmental factors were related to self-reported walking and vigorous physical activity for residents of low-income public housing developments.

Methods: Physical activity data from 452 adult residents residing in 12 low-income housing developments were combined with measured environmental data that examined the neighborhood (800 m radius buffer) around each housing development.

Chloride channels activated by swell can regulate the NADPH oxidase generated membrane depolarisation in activated human neutrophils.

Chloride channels activated by swell have important functions in many physiological processes. The phagocyte NADPH oxidase is essential for host defence and it generates superoxide by transferring electrons from the donor NADPH to the acceptor O2. This electron current, induces a depolarisation of the plasma membrane.

Relationship between menthol cigarettes and smoking cessation among African American light smokers.

Aims: To determine whether African American light smokers who smoked menthol cigarettes had lower cessation when treated with nicotine replacement therapy and counseling.

Design: Data were derived from a clinical trial that assessed the efficacy of 2 mg nicotine gum (versus placebo) and counseling (motivational interviewing counseling versus Health Education) for smoking cessation among African American light smokers (smoked < or = 10 cigarettes per day).

Participants: The sample consisted of 755 African American light smokers.

Ecologic correlates of obesity in rural obese adults.

Objective: We examined relationships of individual and environmental factors with obesity and trying to lose weight in rural residents.

Methods: The joint contributions of individual and environmental factors on obesity status (obese vs. morbidly obese) and trying to lose weight (yes vs.

The clinical significance of the spectrum of interactions of CAP+1 (A-->C), a silent beta-globin gene mutation, with other beta-thalassemia mutations and globin gene modifiers in north Indians.

Objectives: To assess the clinical significance of the interactions of CAP+1 (A-->C), a silent beta-globin gene mutation, with other beta-thalassemia mutations and globin gene modifiers in north Indians.

Methods: The clinical phenotypes associated with compound heterozygosity for the CAP+1 (A-->C) mutation with other beta-thalassemia mutations, together with the potential effect of the genetic modifiers alpha-thalassemia and the Xmn-1(G)gamma C-->T polymorphism were studied in 30 patients. The frequency of the CAP+1 (A-->C) polymorphism was determined and an analysis of the red cell indices, HbA(2) levels, iron status, and alpha-globin genes was carried out in 35 heterozygotes.