Carbohydrate metabolism during long-term growth hormone (GH) treatment and after discontinuation of GH treatment in girls with Turner syndrome participating in a randomized dose-response study. Dutch Advisory Group on Growth Hormone.

To assess possible side-effects of GH treatment with supraphysiological doses on carbohydrate (CH) metabolism in girls with Turner syndrome (TS) during long term GH treatment and after discontinuation of GH treatment, the results of oral glucose tolerance tests and hemoglobin A1c measurements were analyzed in 68 girls with TS participating in a randomized dose-response trial. These previously untreated girls, aged 2-11 yr, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 GH dosage groups: group A, 4 IU/m2 x day (-0.045 mg/kg x day); group B, first year ,4 IU/m2 day; thereafter, 6 IU/m2 x day (approximately 0.

Randomized clinical trial of adenosine 5'-triphosphate in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is involved in the regulation of a variety of biologic processes, including neurotransmission, muscle contraction, and liver glucose metabolism, via purinergic receptors. In nonrandomized studies involving patients with different tumor types including non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ATP infusion appeared to inhibit loss of weight and deterioration of quality of life (QOL) and performance status. We conducted a randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of ATP in patients with advanced NSCLC (stage IIIB or IV).

Gender differences in the incidence of AD and vascular dementia: The EURODEM Studies. EURODEM Incidence Research Group.

Objective: To study the difference in risk for dementing diseases between men and women.

Background: Previous studies suggest women have a higher risk for dementia than men. However, these studies include small sample sizes, particularly in the older age groups, when the incidence of dementia is highest.

Body proportions during long-term growth hormone treatment in girls with Turner syndrome participating in a randomized dose-response trial.

To assess body proportions in girls with Turner syndrome (TS) during long term GH treatment, height, sitting height (SH), hand (Hand) and foot (Foot) lengths, and biacromial (Biac) and biiliacal (Biil) diameters were measured in 68 girls with TS participating in a GH dose-response trial. These previously untreated girls with TS, aged 2-11 yr, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 GH dosage groups: group A, 4 IU/m2 x day; group B, first year 4 and thereafter 6 IU/m2 x day; group C, first year 4, second year 6, and thereafter 8 IU/m2 x day. Seven-year data were evaluated to assess the effect of GH treatment on body proportions during childhood.

Normalization of height in girls with Turner syndrome after long-term growth hormone treatment: results of a randomized dose-response trial.

Short stature and ovarian failure are the main features in Turner syndrome (TS). To optimize GH and estrogen treatment, we studied 68 previously untreated girls with TS, age 2-11 yr, who were randomly assigned to one of three GH dosage groups: group A, 4 IU/m2 day (approximately 0.045 mg/kg x day); group B, first yr 4, thereafter 6 IU/m2 x day (approximately 0.

[Roaming through methodology. XVI. What to do about missing data].

Medical scientific research involving multiple measurements in patients is usually complicated by missing values. In case of missing values the choice is to limit the analysis to the complete cases or to analyse all available data. Both methods may suffer from substantial bias and may only be applied in a valid way if the rather strong assumption of 'missing completely at random' holds for the missing values, i.

The effects of long-term growth hormone treatment on cardiac left ventricular dimensions and blood pressure in girls with Turner's syndrome. Dutch Working Group on Growth Hormone.

Objective: To assess the effects of long-term growth hormone (GH) treatment for short stature on left ventricular (LV) dimensions and systemic blood pressure (BP) in girls with Turner's syndrome without clinically relevant cardiac abnormalities.

Study Design: LV dimensions measured by echocardiography and systemic BP were assessed before and during 7 years of GH treatment in 68 girls with Turner's syndrome participating in a randomized dose-response study. These previously untreated girls, age 2 to 11 years, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 GH dosage groups: group A, 4 IU/m(2)/d; group B, first year 4 IU/m(2)/d, thereafter 6 IU/m(2)/d; group C, first year 4 IU/m(2)/d, second year 6 IU/m(2)/d, thereafter 8 IU/m(2)/d.

Prognostic value of p53, bcl-2, and c-erbB-2 protein expression in phaeochromocytomas.

Many studies have tried to discriminate malignant from benign phaeochromocytomas, but until now no widely accepted histological, immunohistochemical, or molecular methods have been available. In this study of 29 malignant and 85 benign phaeochromocytomas from 102 patients, immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies to the tumour suppressor gene product p53 and the proto-oncogene products bcl-2 and c-erbB-2, using the avidin-biotin complex method. Malignant phaeochromocytomas showed a statistically significant higher frequency of p53 (p=0.

Measurement of sacroiliac joint stiffness in peripartum pelvic pain patients with Doppler imaging of vibrations (DIV).

Objectives: The research question of the present study was: are sacroiliac joint stiffness levels of peripartum pelvic pain patients different from those of healthy subjects?

Study Design: A cross-sectional comparative sacroiliac joint stiffness analysis of peripartum pelvic pain patients with healthy subjects. In previous studies we introduced a new technique, Doppler imaging of vibrations (DIV), to assess sacroiliac joint stiffness using colour Doppler imaging and vibrations. The measurements were performed on a group of peripartum pelvic pain patients (n=56) and on a control group (n=52).

Apolipoprotein E genotype and progression of Alzheimer's disease: the Rotterdam Study.

The APOE*4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but whether it also affects the course of the disease is controversial. However, all studies on this issue until now have been based on patients at various stages of disease. In the present population-based study, 97 patients were included at a similar stage, i.

Final height in girls with Turner's syndrome treated with once or twice daily growth hormone injections. Dutch Advisory Group on Growth Hormone.

Objectives: To study final height in girls with Turner's syndrome treated with once or twice daily injections of growth hormone (GH) in combination with low dose ethinyl oestradiol.

Design: Until final height was reached, the effect of fractionated subcutaneous injections given twice daily was compared with once daily injections of a total GH dose of 6 IU/m2/day. Twice daily injections were given as one third in the morning and two thirds at bedtime.

Plaque area increase and vascular remodeling contribute to lumen area change after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the femoropopliteal artery: an intravascular ultrasound study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the change in lumen area (LA), plaque area (PLA), and vessel area (VA) after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the femoropopliteal artery.

Methods: This was a prospective study. Twenty patients were studied with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) immediately after PTA and at follow-up examination.

Associations between behavioural and emotional problems in adolescence and maladjustment in young adulthood.

This study was designed to investigate associations between emotional and behavioural problems in adolescence and psychopathology in young adulthood. Seven hundred and six 11- to 16-year-olds from the Dutch general population were followed across a period of 8 years and 8 months. Subjects were initially assessed using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL).

Rates and risk factors for dementia and Alzheimer's disease: results from EURODEM pooled analyses. EURODEM Incidence Research Group and Work Groups. European Studies of Dementia.

Objective: To investigate the risk of AD associated with a family history of dementia, female gender, low levels of education, smoking, and head trauma.

Background: These putative factors have been identified in cross-sectional studies. However, those studies are prone to bias due to systematic differences between patients and control subjects regarding survival and how risk factors are recalled.

Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism during various growth hormone dosing regimens in girls with Turner syndrome. Dutch Working Group on Growth Hormone.

To analyze the effects of supraphysiological dosages of growth hormone (GH) on carbohydrate (CH) and lipid metabolism, we investigated 87 girls with Turner syndrome (TS) in two studies: (1) a 4-year GH dose-response (DR) study comparing three groups with stepwise GH dosage increases up to 8 IU/m2/d in girls aged 2 to 11 years, and (2) a 2-year GH administration frequency-response (FR) study in girls aged 11 to 17 years, comparing once-daily (OD) and twice-daily (BID) injections of a total GH dose of 6 IU/m2/d in combination with low-dose ethinyl estradiol (50 ng/kg/d orally). At baseline, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was present in 6% of the girls, and at the end of the studies, in 5%. In the DR study, the area under the curve for time-concentration (AUCab) for glucose after an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) showed no change over time and no significant difference between any of the study groups.

Eosinophil and mast cell parameters in children with stable moderate asthma.

Unlabelled: Mast cells and eosinophils are important cells that contribute to the process of inflammation in asthma either by activating other cells or by secreting products which are potentially toxic to the respiratory epithelium. The influx of these cells in the airways and the secretion of toxic products by these cells is abrogated by inhaled corticosteroids.

Methods: In a double blind randomised, placebo controlled, study in children with stable moderate asthma (N = 34, 15 children received fluticasone propionate (FP), an inhaled corticosteroid, and 19 children used a placebo), we investigated the influence of treatment with FP 100 microg b.

Improvement of sperm count and motility after ligation of varicoceles detected with colour Doppler ultrasonography.

The debate regarding the efficacy of varicocele ligation for improvement of semen parameters and pregnancy rates is ongoing. In addition, no consensus exists as to the benefit of treatment of subclinical varicoceles. The aim of this study was to investigate, retrospectively, the effect of high ligation of both subclinical and clinical varicoceles on sperm count and motility.

Serum inhibin B as a marker of spermatogenesis.

Inhibin B is produced by Sertoli cells, provides negative feedback on FSH secretion, and may prove to be an important marker for the functioning of seminiferous tubules. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the spermatogenic function of the testis of subfertile men and the plasma concentrations of inhibin B and FSH. These parameters were estimated in a group of 218 subfertile men.

Fetal liver volume measurement by three-dimensional ultrasonography: a preliminary study.

Objective: To establish the application of three-dimensional ultrasonography in measuring fetal liver volume during the second half of normal pregnancy.

Design: A prospective cross-sectional study of normal fetal liver volume at 19-39 weeks of gestation (median 29 weeks).

Subjects: Thirty-four non-smoking women with a singleton pregnancy resulting in the delivery of a healthy infant with a birth weight between the 5th and 95th centiles according to the Kloosterman tables adjusted for maternal parity and fetal sex.

Intravascular ultrasound predictors of restenosis after balloon angioplasty of the femoropopliteal artery.

Objectives: To determine intravascular ultrasound parameters related to restenosis following percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) of the femoropopliteal artery.

Design: Prospective study.

Materials And Methods: Patients were studies with intravascular ultrasound before and after angiographic successful PTA (n = 114).

G-estimation of causal effects: isolated systolic hypertension and cardiovascular death in the Framingham Heart Study.

Time-dependent covariates are often both confounders and intermediate variables. In the presence of such covariates, standard approaches for adjustment for confounding are biased. The method of G-estimation allows for appropriate adjustment.

Involutional lower eyelid entropion: results of a combined approach.

Background And Objective: To evaluate the effect of adding horizontal eyelid tightening and the removal of orbital fat to reinsertion of the lower eyelid retractors to correct involutional entropion.

Patients And Methods: During 6 consecutive years, 266 cases (229 patients) were treated. Of these, 240 cases (207 patients) showed horizontal laxity, in which reinsertion of the lower eyelid retractors was combined with lower eyelid tightening in the lateral canthal angle.

An evaluation of a modified Macintosh laryngoscope in a manikin.

Purpose: In this manikin study a modified Macintosh blade was prospectively compared with its original focussing on the forces exerted on the maxillary incisor teeth and intubation success. The modified blade, a standard Macintosh blade with a reduced proximal flange, was intended to reduce the forces exerted on the maxillary incisors.

Methods: A manikin equipped with two sensors, to measure forces applied to the maxillary incisors in the axial and the transverse direction, was used.

Spontaneous remodeling of the spinal canal after conservative management of thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Study Design: Forty-two conservatively treated patients with a burst fracture of the thoracic, thoracolumbar, or lumbar spine with more than 25% stenosis of the spinal canal were reviewed more than 1 year after injury to investigate spontaneous remodeling of the spinal canal.

Objectives: To investigate the natural development of the changes in the spinal canal after thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Summary Of The Background Data: Surgical removal of bony fragments from the spinal canal may restore the shape of the spinal canal after burst fractures.

Energy utilization and growth in breast-fed and formula-fed infants measured prospectively during the first year of life.

This study is the first to report approximations of energy requirements for male and female breast-fed and formula-fed infants based on individual estimates of total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and energy deposition derived from total body fat (TBF) and fat-free mass (FFM) gain as determined by total-body electrical conductivity. In 46 healthy, full-term infants the effect of > or = 4 mo of exclusive breast-feeding compared with formula feeding on macronutrient and energy intake, TDEE, energy deposition, and growth were investigated prospectively. Metabolizable energy intake (MEI) was assessed from macronutrient intake by test weighing (MEI-TW) and from the sum of TDEE and energy deposition (MEI-Pred).