Role of Ethnicity on Weight Loss and Attrition After Bariatric Surgery.

Ethnicity has been shown to affect weight loss outcome and attrition after bariatric surgery. We analyze data from a multiethnic urban cohort of patients (n = 570) followed up to 12 months after either gastric bypass (RYGB) or gastric banding (AGB) surgery. Percent total weight loss was greater at 1 year after RYGB (35%) compared with that of AGB (13%), regardless of ethnicity. Hispanics were more likely to undergo RYGB (77.3% vs. 61.2% of African-Americans and 50.4% of Caucasians). Ethnicity had no effect on attrition after RYGB, but Hispanics had better follow-up rate after AGB. Our data do not support an effect of ethnicity on surgical weight loss at 1 year.

A high efficiency all glass sampling and concentration device for adsorptive semivolatile organics.

A low-volume, inert sampling and enrichment device for semivolatile organic vapors is described. The device consists of two concentric fused silica capillaries. A small portion of the inter-capillary volume, cooled with a burst of compressed carbon dioxide, serves as a trap for the semivolatile organics. The low mass of the trap permits rapid sampling and desorption cycles suitable for applications requiring fast monitoring of semivolatile chemicals. The device is devoid of switching valves in the sampling train and consequently does not suffer from analyte loss due to irreversible adsorption or interference resulting from cross contamination. The device was successfully used for sampling low concentrations of highly adsorptive nitroaromatic compounds and is applicable for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Correlation of functional independence measure (FIM) and SPECT Iofetamine (I-123) as a predictor of functional return in stroke.

Function following stroke is often measured using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). Independence occurs when the patient achieves certain levels of functions. SPECT imaging assesses the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). Is it possible to correlate the FIM scores with SPECT imaging and predict functional return? We evaluated total of 69 stroke patients with SPECT imaging using Iofetamine (I-123). Patients were scanned within 14-21 days post-stroke. CT scans were evaluated and correlated with the SPECT images. This information was compared with the admission and discharge FIM scores. The rCBF reperfusion changes and region of stroke were evaluated and correlated with discharge functional status. The right parietal areas demonstrated a strong correlation with SPECT and FIM changes as predictors of return of functional living status (p-value = 0.0438). The right parietal area demonstrated an improvement in ambulation (p-value = 0.0578); the right brain correlated with overall improvement in FIM scores and change in SPECT imaging (p-value = 0.0833); the left brain did not exhibit significant values. Our conclusion was that there were trends seen with the predictive value of stroke recovery using SPECT imaging. The current sample number was not large enough to provide an adequate study, especially for the left brain; a larger study is needed. This information could be useful to help determine patient placement for rehabilitation.

The comparability of the WRAT-R reading test and NAART as estimates of premorbid intelligence in neurologically impaired patients.

A study by Wiens, Bryan, and Crossen (1993) suggests the Wide Range Achievement Test-Revised (WRAT-R) Reading subtest and North American Adult Reading Test (NAART) are adequate predictors of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) IQ scores for a normal population. Although it is common practice to use reading scores to estimate premorbid IQ in clinical populations, the WRAT-R and NAART have not been compared using individuals with brain dysfunction. The current study cross-validated the Wiens et al. (1993) study using neurologically impaired populations: traumatic brain injury (n = 118), dementia (n = 37), and other neurologic impairments (n = 77). The results were generally consistent across all three groups: (a) the WRAT-R and NAART were equivalent and accurate estimates of average VIQ levels; (b) the WRAT-R and NAART were equivalent but underestimates of higher intelligence ranges; and (c) the WRAT-R is a more accurate estimate for lower VIQ ranges, although both are overestimates. This third finding is in contrast to Wiens et al.'s (1993) results that suggest the WRAT-R is an accurate estimate of lower IQ ranges for normals. It is concluded that the WRAT-R is the preferred measure of premorbid verbal intelligence for psychometric and clinical reasons.