50 research outputs found
A simple measure with complex determinants: investigation of the correlates of self-rated health in older men and women from three continents
Self-rated health is commonly employed in research studies that seek to assess the health status of
older individuals. Perceptions of health are, however, influenced by individual and societal level factors that may
differ within and between countries. This study investigates levels of self-rated health (SRH) and correlates of SRH
among older adults in Australia, United States of America (USA), Japan and South Korea.
We conclude that when examining correlates of SRH, the similarities are greater than the differences
between countries. There are however differences in levels of SRH which are not fully accounted for by the health
correlates. Broad generalizations about styles of responding are not helpful for understanding these differences,
which appear to be country- and possibly cohort-specific. When using SRH to characterize the health status of older
people, it is important to consider earlier life experiences of cohorts as well as national and individual factors in
later life. Further research is required to understand the complex societal influences on perceptions of health.The Australian data on which this research is based were drawn from several
Australian longitudinal studies including: the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ALSA), the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health
(ALSWH) and the Personality And Total Health Through Life Study (PATH).
These studies were pooled and harmonized for the Dynamic Analyses to
Optimize Ageing (DYNOPTA) project. DYNOPTA was funded by a National
Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grant (# 410215)
Botulinum toxin versus trihexyphenidyl in cervical dystoni - A prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial
Background: Botulinum toxin type A (BTA) is replacing trihexyphenidyl as the treatment of choice for idiopathic cervical dystonia (ICD), but there has never been a direct comparative study. Methods: This trial compares the effectiveness of BTA with that of trihexyphenidyl in a prospective, randomized, double-blind design. Sixty-six consecutive patients with ICD were randomized to treatment with trihexyphenidyl tablets plus placebo injection or placebo tablets plus BTA injections. Tablets were administered daily according to a fu:ed schedule. Dysport or saline was injected under EMG guidance at study entry and again after 8 weeks. Patients were assessed for efficacy at baseline and after 12 weeks by different clinical rating scales. Results: Sixty-four patients completed the study, 32 in each group. Mean dose of BTA was 292 mouse units (first session) and 262 mouse units (second session). Mean dose of trihexyphenidyl was 16.25 mg. The changes on the Disability section of the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS-Disability) (primary outcome), Tsui Scale, and the General Health Perception Subscale were significantly in favor of BTA. More patients treated with BTA had an improvement of at least three points on the TWSTRS-Disability (14 versus 6) and on the Tsui Scale (23 versus 12). Adverse effects were significantly less frequent in the BTA group. Conclusion: BTA is significantly more effective in the treatment of ICD, with less adverse effects