Aim To develop and do an initial validation of a new simple
tool (self-administered questionnaire) that would be sensitive
and specific enough to detect early changes in smokers
leading to future ...development of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD).
Methods 224 consecutive participants (50.9% women), with
mean ± standard deviation age of 52.3 ± 6.7 years, 37.5 ± 16.7
pack-years smoking history (85.8% active smokers), and no
prior diagnosis of COPD were recruited. The MARKO questionnaire
was self-administered twice; at the general practitioner’s
office and after 2-4 weeks at the tertiary care hospital.
Participants were assessed for COPD by a pulmonologist
after filling in a quality of life (QoL) questionnaires, historytaking,
physical examination, lung function test, 6-minute
walk test, and laboratory tests. They were divided into four
subgroups: “healthy” smokers, symptomatic smokers, and
smokers with mild and moderately severe COPD.
Results Psychometric analyses indicated that the 18-item
questionnaire had a very good internal consistency (Cronbach’s
alpha = 0.91) and test-retest reliability for a four week
period (ρc = 0.89, 95% confidence interval CI 0.85-0.92, Lin’s
concordance). A significant correlations of MARKO scores
were found with two QoL questionnaires; r = 0.69 (P < 0.001)
and r = 0.81 (P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic
curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.753
(95% CI 0.691-0.808, P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 71.83%
and specificity of 64.24% to discriminate “healthy” smokers
from other subgroups.
Conclusion Based on psychometric analyses and high convergent
validity correlation with already validated QoL questionnaires,
the newly developed MARKO questionnaire was
shown to be a reliable self-administered short health status
assessment tool.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of the study was to identify and compare morphological characteristics of 12-year-old male and female children from Imotska krajina. The structure of a set of 23 morphological space variables ...were determined in a sample of 75 male and 67 female children by use of factor analysis for each sex in separate. Factor structure showed two basic superior latent dimensions responsible for directly measurable manifestations of morphological parameters in both male and female children. One of these two dimensions behaved as a general mechanism of growth and development, whereas the other showed a bipolar pattern. Bipolarity was almost exclusively determined by adipose tissue on one pole, and by skeletal longitudinal growth on the opposite pole. Rotation of the main components to varimax position yielded two morphological dimensions that were well balanced in both sexes (slightly better in girls); besides the predominant increase in adipose tissue, one of these dimensions was also responsible for the development of muscular tissue and skeletal transverse development, whereas the other was responsible for skeletal transverse development and muscular tissue development in addition to the predominant longitudinal skeletal growth. These observations suggested two developmental processes, i.e. transverse morphological development (first factor) and longitudinal morphological development (second factor), to be almost equally involved in the morphological development of 12-year-old male and female children. These developmental processes are highly genetically determined and can only in part be explained by the intensity of kinesiologic engagement. Based on the morphological structures defined, discriminative function of the morphological space primarily differentiated two developmental processes, i.e. longitudinal skeletal development (hand length in particular) in female children relative to transverse skeletal development (knee diameter in particular) in male children, pointing to the presence of full-swing puberty in female children, while yet to be expected in male children; thereafter, the differences in the ectomesomorphic morphological characteristics would be by far more pronounced in favor of male children.
The use of immunosuppressive therapy may be associated with significant toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cyclosporine A (CsA) in murine model of experimental colitis. ...Experimental colitis was induced in NMRI mice using an enema of 0.2% solution of dinitrofluorobenzene, combined with skin sensitization. After inducing colitis, experimental groups of animals were treated with CsA (1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally (i.p.) or intracolonically (i.c.), and control groups were treated with phosphate-buffered saline intraperitoneally or intracolonically, respectively. Colonic inflammatory changes were assessed using a histopathologic score of 0-30, and pooled whole blood samples were processed with monoclonal antibodies for cyclosporine concentration. In addition, two groups of animals with experimental colitis were treated intraperitoneally or intracolonically with 3 mg/kg/day of CsA, and the colons were also taken for immunohistochemistry for CD25. CsA diminished the extent of colitis in groups treated with 3, 5, 10, or 25 mg/kg intraperitoneally or intracolonically, and in groups treated with 1 and 50 mg/kg intracolonically (P < 0.05). The effect of intracolonic application of CsA was not related to whole blood cyclosporine concentrations. In addition, the effect of CsA at 3 mg/kg, applied intraperitoneally or intracolonically was, in part, expressed in decreasing the numbers of CD25+ cells within colonic mucosa/submucosa (P < 0.05). In conclusions, the results of this study indicate the possibility of intracolonic application of cyclosporine in order to widen the therapeutic window for effective, but possibly toxic drug, such as cyclosporine.
The aim of the study was to identify and compare morphological characteristics of 12-year-old male and female children from Imotska krajina. The structure of a set of 23 morphological space variables ...were determined in a sample of 75 male and 67 female children by use of factor analysis for each sex in separate. Factor structure showed two basic superior latent dimensions responsible for directly measurable manifestations of morphological parameters in both male and female children. One of these two dimensions behaved as a general mechanism of growth and development, whereas the other showed a bipolar pattern. Bipolarity was almost exclusively determined by adipose tissue on one pole, and by skeletal longitudinal growth on the opposite pole. Rotation of the main components to varimax position yielded two morphological dimensions that were well balanced in both sexes (slightly better in girls); besides the predominant increase in adipose tissue, one of these dimensions was also responsible for the development of muscular tissue and skeletal transverse development, whereas the other was responsible for skeletal transverse development and muscular tissue development in addition to the predominant longitudinal skeletal growth. These observations suggested two developmental processes, i.e. transverse morphological development (first factor) and longitudinal morphological development (second factor), to be almost equally involved in the morphological development of 12-year-old male and female children. These developmental processes are highly genetically determined and can only in part be explained by the intensity of kinesiologic engagement. Based on the morphological structures defined, discriminative function of the morphological space primarily differentiated two developmental processes, i.e. longitudinal skeletal development (hand length in particular) in female children relative to transverse skeletal development (knee diameter in particular) in male children, pointing to the presence of full-swing puberty in female children, while yet to be expected in male children; thereafter, the differences in the ectomesomorphic morphological characteristics would be by far more pronounced in favor of male children.
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