Publishing Nutrition Research: A Review of Epidemiologic Methods

The use of epidemiologic research designs and analytical methods is common in dietetics research. Food and nutrition professionals who seek to perform evidence-based practice or participate in research design, analysis, and communication need skills in the essentials of epidemiology. This is one of a series of monographs on research methodology that addresses these needs and supports the goals of the Board of Editors of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association to further enhance competency and skills. This monograph focuses on statistical approaches for univariate analyses used with the primary observational study designs associated with epidemiology. Tables illustrating the presentation and interpretation of these results are included.     

The psychophysiological action of beta-erythroidin hydrochloride

Summary The psychophysiological action of beta-erythroidin hydrochloride has been presented together with a brief survey of the development of the drug and its therapeutic utilization in the modification of the metrazol convulsion. The problem of idiosyncrasy to this drug has been discussed and the use of prostigmin as an antidote described. The writers wish to stress the fact that the use of this drug, with the above facts well in mind, can be considered a safe procedure.Supplies of the drug were prepared and obtained through the cooperation of Merck and Company, Rahway, N. J.     

Comparing learning of cooking in home and clinic for people with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare learning of a functional living skill in two contexts for individuals with long-term schizophrenia. METHOD: Forty-four people with schizophrenia were matched on cognitive level. One of each pair was randomly designated to either a clinic or home cooking group, with the other assigned to the remaining group. Cooking skill was assessed using the Kitchen Task Assessment-Modified (KTA-M) both before and after the intervention. Learning for each group was analyzed using t tests. A multiple regression analysis to control for baseline differences was used to compare the learning of the two groups. RESULTS: Participants in both groups scored significantly higher on the KTA-M after cooking lessons (t = 5.57, df = 21, p < .0001--clinic; t = 7.81. df = 21, p < .0002--home) reflecting learning of cooking skill; there was no statistically significant difference in scores on the KTA-M between the two groups based on where the learning took place (beta = -1.8, df = 42, p < 0.23). Qualitative differences between the learning environments provide suggestions for teaching functional living skills to this population. CONCLUSIONS: Learning new skills in the home was not better than learning in the clinic for people with schizophrenia in this study. Further research on the effect of context on learning for people with cognitive dysfunction and schizophrenia is recommended.     

Comparison of survival by allocation to medical therapy, surgery, or heart transplantation for ischemic advanced heart failure.

BACKGROUND: To ascertain survival of ischemic advanced heart failure patients by treatment allocation, we examined the outcome of transplant assessment patients allocated to medical therapy, high-risk conventional surgery, or transplantation. METHODS: Patients were identified from the Papworth transplant database and excluded if primary etiology was not ischemic. Grouping was undertaken according to treatment allocation at initial assessment, and analysis was performed by intention to treat. Survival was computed from the time of assessment and Cox regression used to stratify patients according risk with the Heart Failure Survival Score. RESULTS: From May 1993 to September 2001, a total of 755 patients were admitted for transplant assessment, with 348 (46.1%) identified as having heart failure of ischemic origin. Variables required for calculation of the Heart Failure Survival Score was available in 273 patients (78.4%), and 20 patients (7.3%) were lost to follow-up. Of the remaining 253 patients, 89 (35.2%) were allocated to medical therapy, 32 (12.6%) to surgery, and 132 (52.2%) to transplantation. The relative risk (95% confidence limit) of death compared with medical therapy was 0.62 (0.28, 1.40) for surgery and 0.38 (0.24, 0.61) for transplantation in medium- to high-risk patients. For low-risk patients, the relative risks for death compared with medical therapy were 1.87 (0.63, 5.60) for surgery and 1.97 (0.79, 4.96) for transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Transplantation improved survival of medium- and high-risk patients compared with medical therapy. In the low-risk group, this was not evident. However, repeated assessment of risk is required because the hazard for death rises steadily after the third year in these patients.     

Increasing muscle strength as a treatment for strabismus: sustained release of insulin-like growth factor-1 in rabbit extraocular muscle.

PURPOSE: Currently, no drug treatment is available for strengthening underacting extraocular muscles (EOM) in strabismus. We showed previously that single injections of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) result in significant but short-term increases in muscle force generation. This study examined the effects of sustained release of IGF-1 on force generation in rabbit superior rectus muscles. METHODS: In adult rabbits, slow-release pellets containing IGF-1 were implanted on the global side of one superior rectus muscle. After 1 week, or 1, 2, 3, or 6 months, treated and control muscles were examined for force generation using an in vitro physiology apparatus. All muscles were prepared for histology and mean myofiber cross-sectional areas were determined. RESULTS: One and 3 months after pellet implantation, treated muscles generated significantly greater force than contralateral control muscles, whereas at 2 months, no significant difference was found. Force per cross-sectional area (mN/cm(2)) at 3 months also increased significantly in the treated muscles. Mean muscle cross-sectional area increased significantly after 1, 2, and 3 months of sustained exposure to IGF-1 compared with controls. After an additional 3 months without IGF-1 exposure, mean cross-sectional areas were significantly greater than controls but significantly reduced compared with areas at 1, 2, and 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: IGF-1 appears to be highly effective in increasing muscle force generation. Because slow release of IGF-1 results in sustained increases in EOM force generation, it may be a potentially useful alternative to surgical resection procedures because it avoids many of the potential long-term biomechanical hazards of resection surgery.     

Effect of naloxone on detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in the chronic spinal cat

Naloxone, an opioid peptide antagonist, has been reported to facilitate voiding in neurologic bladder disorders, but its effects on the neural micturition reflex arc are poorly understood. We studied the effect of naloxone in 34 male adult cats, spinalized at C5-C6 level 7 to 119 days previously. Each cat served as its own control. The following tests were performed: Urethral pressure profiles, cystosphincterograms with the urethro-vesical junction opened and closed and mechanograms of the detrusor, and the circular and longitudinal urethral muscles. The study included (1) the effects of anesthesia of the bladder and pelvic nerve, as well as that of the urethral and pudendal nerves; (2) the action of naloxone; and (3) the action of oxymorphone. Our results demonstrated that naloxone (1) increased somatic (osteotendinous and nociceptive) reflexes and aggravated spasticity; (2) increased vegetative micturitional and sexual reflexes, in particular the urethra-urethral contraction reflex, aggravating the spasmodic contractions of the external sphincter; and (3) increased the frequency and intensity of the mass reflex. In consequence, we suggest that naloxone is contraindicated in cases of spinal cord lesions with detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia syndrome.     

Carcinoma of the gallbladder

Gallbladder carcinoma is the fourth commonest gastrointestinal malignancy. Its growth is insidious and the majority of cases are advanced at the time of diagnosis. The recognized radiological features occur only in those with advanced disease. Cholecystectomy may be curative when carcinoma is confined to the gallbladder but the place of extensive surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is unproven.