Objective: Theoretical and empirical evidence suggests a relationship between Repetitive Thought (RT, e.g. rumination), and depression in patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). To date, cross-sectional studies indicate that rumination is associated with depression in CHD, but additional prospective longitudinal research is required to determine if rumination predicts subsequent depression. This research therefore aimed to test the hypothesis that RT, specifically rumination, is a vulnerability factor for depression over time in a CHD population. It was predicted that RT at baseline would predict depression rates at three month follow-up after controlling for baseline depression and potential confounding factors. Methods: Inpatients and outpatients with a diagnosis of CHD completed self-report questionnaires at baseline (N = 101) and at three month follow-up (N = 85). The data was analysed using a hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Baseline rumination significantly predicted depression at the three month follow-up after controlling for baseline depression and potential confounding factors. Rumination accounted for 8.3% of the variance (p< .001). Subscales of brooding and reflection were also found to be individually predictive of follow-up depression explaining 4% of the variance (p< .005) and 7% of the variance (p< .001) respectively. Conclusion: Findings are consistent with previous prospective and cross-sectional research that indicates that rumination plays a unique role in the maintenance of depression in CHD patients and is an identifiable vulnerability factor.

Introduction There has been much discussion on personalised medicine; however use of genotype in risk prediction for coronary heart disease (CHD) has not resulted in appreciable improvements over non-genetic risk factors. The primary aim was to determine whether candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified from genome-wide association studies improved prediction of CHD over conventional risk factors (CRF). The secondary aim was to determine whether the use of apolipoproteins or lipoprotein(a) improved risk prediction of CHD. Methods Analyses used the Edinburgh Heart Disease Prevention Study (EHDPS), with 1592 men aged 30-59 and follow-up after 20 years; and the Edinburgh Artery Study (EAS), with 1592 men and women aged 54-75 and 15 years of follow-up. Candidate SNPs were identified by systematic literature reviews. CHD status was evaluated as severe (myocardial infarction or coronary revascularisation), and any (severe CHD, angina or non-specified ischaemic heart disease). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate addition of candidate SNPs or lipids to models containing CRF. Results A group of genome-wide significant SNPs resulted in a non-significant improvement in C-index for severe CHD (0.038, p=0.082), and a significant improvement in C-index for any CHD (0.042, p=0.016); the associated net reclassification improvements (NRI) were 20.5% and 18.7%, respectively. Regression trees identified SNPs that were predictive of the remaining variance after adjusting for CRF; this resulted in a significant improvement in C-index for any CHD (0.031, p=0.008). The NRI were 11.0% and 9.6% for severe and any CHD, respectively. When compared with HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol, apolipoprotein AI/total cholesterol yielded a NRI of 3.3% for severe CHD. Lipoprotein(a) improved prediction of severe CHD, with a non-significant improvement in C-index (0.020, p=0.087), and NRI of 11.8%. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that a well selected group of candidate SNPs can improve risk prediction for CHD over-and-above CRF. The inclusion of lipoprotein(a), along with CRF, appeared to improve prediction of severe CHD, but not any CHD.

The aim was to determine whether the dietary glycemic index (GI) related to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and whether oxidized LDL could explain this relation. Nine prospective cohorts of GI or glycemic load (GL) associations were pooled in a meta-analysis and showed an increased risk of CHD for high GI (near significant at RR=1.13, 95%CI; 1.00-1.26) and GL diets (significant at RR=1.40, 95%CI; 1.17-1.68), both with significant evidence of heterogeneity (P<0.07). Sera from 151 type 2 diabetics who completed a 6-month trial of a low GI diet demonstrated no treatment difference in measures of oxidative damage. However, when data from both treatments were pooled, oxidized LDL as a marker of CHD risk inversely related to low GI carbohydrate intake. We conclude that GI and GL relate to CHD and oxidative damage to LDL may explain part of this association.

The aim was to determine whether the dietary glycemic index (GI) related to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and whether oxidized LDL could explain this relation. Nine prospective cohorts of GI or glycemic load (GL) associations were pooled in a meta-analysis and showed an increased risk of CHD for high GI (near significant at RR=1.13, 95%CI; 1.00-1.26) and GL diets (significant at RR=1.40, 95%CI; 1.17-1.68), both with significant evidence of heterogeneity (P<0.07). Sera from 151 type 2 diabetics who completed a 6-month trial of a low GI diet demonstrated no treatment difference in measures of oxidative damage. However, when data from both treatments were pooled, oxidized LDL as a marker of CHD risk inversely related to low GI carbohydrate intake. We conclude that GI and GL relate to CHD and oxidative damage to LDL may explain part of this association.

Objectives: In this pilot study, our intention was to ascertain what formulation of a carbohydrate-derived fulvic acid (CHD-FA) topical applicator was optimal for patients to use during a larger study where the efficacy of fulvic acid (CHD-FA) in treating moderate acne vulgaris will be investigated. Methods: 15 individuals with inflammatory acne with an acne grade of III or lower were asked to volunteer for the study. They were split into 3 groups. Each group was asked to use a different formulation (a cream base, gel base and wet applicator formulation) each week. After each week, the individuals returned to fill out a questionnaire evaluating the formulation they used that week. They were also examined by the clinician for any possible side effects, and given the next formulation to use for the following week. The trial was 3 weeks long, and after using all 3 formulations the individuals were asked to fill out a final questionnaire evaluating all 3 formulations. The clinician was also asked to fill out a questionnaire giving his/her opinion on the formulations. Results: The results did not give conclusive evidence of one particular formulation being favored above all the others. All the formulations performed more or less equally as well. According to the final questionnaire, 6 out of the 15 individuals were most satisfied with the wet applicator, 4 out of 15 preferred the cream base and 5 out of 15 preferred the gel base. 5 out of 15 individuals were least satisfied with the wet applicator, 3 out of 15 with the cream base, and 7 out of 15 were least satisfied with the gel. While there was no conclusive indication for one particular formulation, there were some common complaints or observations by individuals about each formulation. Most individuals said the wet applicator had an initial burning sensation to the skin upon application, but it disappeared a few seconds after application. Many individuals said they felt the cream base was oily and made the skin appear oily after application. The gel base was said to smell the worst, along with the wet applicator, while the cream smelt the least. A few individuals complained that the gel left a residue on the skin. Conclusion: While the study did not give a clear indication of one particular formulation that was preferred by individuals, it did produce interesting results that can be used to make some of the formulations more favourable. In the main trial, further investigation will be done to optimize the formulation. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Pharmacology / unrestricted

No description available.

Connaître le sexe d’un oiseau est important pour divers domaines notamment pour les vétérinaires, les écologistes ainsi que pour les éleveurs d’oiseaux qui veulent former des couples qui serviront à la reproduction. Plusieurs espèces d’oiseaux, juvéniles et adultes, n’ont pas de dimorphisme sexuel. L’utilisation de l’ADN est une façon rapide de déterminer le sexe à partir d’un échantillon de sang, de muscle, de plumes ou de fèces. Par contre, la méthode devrait être validée pour chaque espèce et idéalement, standardisée. Le premier objectif de cette étude est de développer une méthode de sexage par séquençage des oiseaux à partir des séquences du gène CHD, en utilisant les oiseaux de proie et les perroquets vus en clinique au Québec. Un deuxième objectif est de faire l’identification de l’espèce à sexer, à partir du gène mitochondrial COX-1 et aussi à partir des séquences CHD-Z et CHD-W, utilisés pour le sexage. Un troisième objectif est d’évaluer les séquences sorties (CHD-Z, CHD-W et COX-1) en vue d’une étude phylogénique. Une extraction d’ADN a été effectuée chez 27 espèces de perroquets, 34 espèces d’oiseaux de proie, une corneille (Corvus brachyrhynchos) et un poulet (Gallus gallus). Une amplification par PCR a été exécutée pour les exons partiels 23 et 24 du gène CHD. Le séquençage de cet amplicon permettait de savoir s’il s’agissait d’un mâle (séquence simple CHD-Z) ou d’une femelle (séquences CHD-Z et CHD-W qui se chevauchent). Afin d’avoir des séquences CHD-W distinctes, un sous-clonage a été fait chez les femelles de chaque espèce. De cette manière, les séquences partielles du gène CHD, Z et W, ont été trouvées pour les espèces échantillonnées. Une étude phylogénique a été effectuée avec les séquences de COX-1, CHD-Z et CHD-W grâce au site « Clustal-Omega ». La méthode de sexage des oiseaux par séquençage du gène CHD est standard et efficace. Le gène COX-1 permet une meilleure identification des espèces parentes et le gène CHD-Z est le plus utile pour étudier la phylogénie profonde. / Knowing the sex of a bird is important for many disciplines, notably for veterinary, ecological and evolutionary studies, not to mention for bird breeders who need to form pairs for reproduction. For many species of birds, juveniles and adults do not display a sexual dimorphism. The use of DNA, derived from a sample of blood, muscle, feathers or feces, is a rapid method to determine a bird’s sex. However, this method must be validated for each species, and ideally, standardised. The first objective of this work was to develop a method of sexing birds by sequencing portions of their CHD gene, for birds of prey and parrots seen in veterinary clinics in Quebec. A second objective was to identify the species being sexed, first of all using the mitochondrial gene COX-1, and second of all using the CHD-Z and CHD-W sequences used for sexing. The third objective of these studies was to evaluate the sequences obtained (CHD-Z, CHD-W and COX-1) for performing phylogenetic studies. DNA was extracted from 27 species of parrots, 34 species of birds of prey, from one species of crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and from the chicken (Gallus gallus). A PCR amplification was performed for partial exons 23 and 24 of the CHD gene. Sequencing this amplicon resulted in simple CHD-Z sequences for a male and overlapping CHD-Z and CHD-W sequences for a female, allowing sexing of the bird. In order to obtain distinct CHD-W sequences, a sub-cloning was performed for females of each species. In this fashion, partial sequences of the CHD gene, both -Z and –W, were generated for the species studied. A phylogenetic study was performed using COX-1, CHD-Z and CHD-W sequences and the site “Clustal-Omega”. The method of sexing birds by sequencing was found to be standard and efficient. The COX-1 gene permitted a better resolution of closely related species, while the CHD-Z gene was the most useful for estimating deep phylogenetic relationships.

The aim of this thesis is to describe the distribution of feeding habits and dietary habits of Swedish children of different ages, to search for determinants of the observed distributions and to analyse some possible implications of those habits regarding health and growth. The present results emanate from a longitudinal study of feeding, growth and development of 312 infants and from a cross-sectional study on the dietary habits of 738 children aged 4,8 and 13 years. The dietary assessement techniques used in these epidemiological studies are evaluated (e.g. 24-hour recall, 7-day recording of food intake and dietary history technique). The infant feeding habits in three communities are described and the variation of those habits in different strata is discussed. Breastfeeding habits are analysed using multivariate techniques. The energy and nutrient intake of weaned infants aged 6 and 12 months was characterized by a good supply of most nutrients in comparison with recommended dietary allowances. The mean energy intake of the studied, normally-growing infants at 6 months was 80 per cent of the recommended intake. The growth velocity during the first three months of life for entirely breastfed infants was found to be higher than for mixed-fed or formula-fed infants. The need for a revision of present growth standards for use in breastfed populations during the first 6 months of life is discussed. An attempt was made to formulate a causal model for dental caries, including dietary factors and caries-preventive activities, and to make som quantitative interpretations from this model and the present set of data. Dietary habits associated with different short- or long-term health risks were analysed in the ages 4, 8 and 13 years. The dietary intake of iron was satisfactory and no cases of iron deficiency anaemia were found. On average 10 per cent of the daily energy intake derived from sucrose. The fat intake was characterized by a high intake of saturated fat and a low P/S ratio. Most children had a daily sodium intake above recommended levels. The prevalence of obesity differed between different social strata, especially in the oldest age group. Overweight children did not have a higher energy intake than normal-weight children. The need for a population approach to prevention in childhood of some diet-related health problems in adult life is discussed. The present dietary patterns and health of children in northern Sweden are compared with the situation 15 and 50 years ago, when nutrition surveys were performed in the same areas. / <p>[2] s., s. 1-30: sammanfattning, s. 31-103: 7 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke, but much of the research had focused on middle-aged populations with, limited prospective, population-based, longitudinal data. In this study, we examined data from an elderly population and described the distribution of CRP concentrations and the prevalence of elevated CRP levels (>3 mg/l), examined the association between CRP levels and incidence of CHD or ischemic stroke, and assessed the potential interaction of CRP with sex or race on the incidence of CHD or ischemic stroke.Methods: Baseline CRP levels were measured in a cohort of 57 13 participants 265 years of age from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) using a high-sensitivity assay. The cohort included 3859 (68%) subjects free of cardiovascular disease and 1104 (19%) with existing CVD. Data were collected from 1989-1990 or 1992- 1993 to June 30, 1997. SAS 9.10 software was used for analyses and statistical tests included t test, ANOVA, χ2 Kaplan-Meier method, Log-rank test, and Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: CRP distribution was highly skewed toward higher values, thus necessitating the use of the median and log transformation of the mean. For all participants, the median of CRP concentrations was 1.92 mg/l; the geometric mean was1.97 mg/l. Thirty percent of participants had CRP values >3 mg/l. Among subjects with prevalent CHD and those free of CHD at baseline the median CRP levels were 2.32 mg/l and 1.75 mg/l, respectively. The prevalence of elevated CRP levels was 36% in participants with baseline CHD and 26% in those free of CHD; it was higher in women than in men (32% vs. 27%, respectively), in blacks than in whites (42% vs. 28%, respectively), in subjects taking versus not taking cardiovascular medicines (35% vs. 22%, respectively). The mean CRP were similar among participants with and without initial statin uses (P = 0.3 155). For CHD participants, 37% of statin users and 36% of nonusers had elevated CRP levels. During 8 years of follow-up, 270 incident CHD events and 245 incident ischemic strokes occurred. Incidence rate of CHD and ischemic stroke was 10.7 and 9.7 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The relative risk (RR) of CHD and ischemic stroke for CRP >3 mg/l compared with P for sex-CRP interaction, 0.7638; P for race-CRP interaction, 0.4428). Similarly, no effect modification was observed by sex and race in the association of CRP with ischemic stroke (P for sex-CRP interaction, 0.1721 ; P for race-CRP interaction, 0.5486). Conclusions: CRP levels were higher among prevalent CHD subjects than among those without CHD. Women, blacks, and CV drug users had elevated CRP levels. Elevated CRP was associated with increased 8-year risk of CHD and ischemic stroke. Neither sex nor race modified the association between CRP and CHD or ischemic stroke. Future studies will be needed to explore new CRP thresholds for the elderly, and to examine if reduction of CRP levels using pharmacological agents reduces the risk of CHD or stroke.

The Continuous Helical Displacement (CHD) pile is an auger displacement pile developed by Roger Bullivant Ltd in the UK. The CHD pile is installed in-situ through the use of a drilling auger, in a similar fashion to European screw piles and as such, it has performance characteristics of both displacement and non-displacement piles Based on field experience, it is known that the load capacity performance of the CHD pile significantly exceeds the current design predictions, particularly when installed in sand. Model CHD piles were created in pluviated test beds at a range of different densities and compared to model displacement and non-displacement piles. The load tests show that the CHD piles have a similar ultimate capacity to displacement piles. Instrumentation of the model piles allowed load distribution throughout the pile length to be determined. The tests allowed design parameters to be established, with it being shown that the CHD has lower bearing capacity factors and higher earth pressure coefficients than current suggestions .The disturbance to the in-situ soil conditions caused by the installation of the CHD piles was measured using a model CPT probe. The CHD pile was found to cause significant changes in soil relative density laterally around the pile shaft while displacement piles show changes predominantly below the pile base. The CHD pile is found to cause a densification of the in situ soil for all relative densities with the greatest increase occurring in loose sand. The ultimate capacity of the CHD pile is determined from load tests carried out on field CHD piles with the aid of capacity prediction methods for piles which have not been loaded to their ultimate capacity. The results from model testing have been applied to field pile tests to allow the development of design parameters including appropriate pile diameter, bearing capacity factor Nq and the earth pressure coefficient k which are suitable for CHD piles.