OBJECTIVE To determine prevalence of heartworm infection among healthy, client-owned cats in the lower peninsula of Michigan. DESIGN Cross-sectional prevalence study. ANIMALS 1,348 healthy cats examined at private veterinary practices throughout the lower peninsula of Michigan. PROCEDURE Sera were tested by use of an ELISA-based antigen test kit to determine infection and 2 commercially a...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The effects of questionnaire length and mode of delivery on response rates were examined in an epidemiological study of eating-disordered behavior. METHODS Short (8 pages) and long (14 pages) questionnaires were posted or hand-delivered to a community sample of 802 women. Nonrespondents who received the first questionnaire by hand delivery received a reminder letter ...

OBJECTIVE To assess associations between joint-specific hand symptoms and self-reported and performance-based functional status. METHODS Participants were from the population-based Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. Symptoms in the distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP), first carpometacarpal (CMC), and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints were assessed on a 30-joint di...

BACKGROUND Any loss or deviation in body function and structure is considered impairment, whereas limitations on activities are fundamental to the definition of disability. Although it seems intuitive that the two should be closely related, this might not be the case; there is some evidence that psychosocial factors are more important determinants of disability than are objective impairments. H...

BACKGROUND Patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome commonly complain of substantial limitations in their activities of daily living. The Radboud Skills Questionnaire measures alterations in the level of disability of patients with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, but this instrument is currently not available in German. The goals of our study were to translate the Dutch Radboud Sk...

A simplified mathematical model of a lake system indicates that, if the pollution of the Great Lakes were discontinued, the natural flow through the lower Great Lakes would be sufficient to remove about 90 per cent of the waste in about 20 years. On the other hand, hundreds of years would be required to displace the pol lution from Lake Michigan and Lake Superior.

INTRODUCTION Minimal important difference (MID) score is an important measure for surgical clinical research and impacts on treatment decisions. Our approach considered patient satisfaction as the relevant anchor criteria. The aims of this study were: determine after surgery MID for three relevant questionnaires: Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), Michigan Hand Questionnaire (MH...

OBJECTIVE Illness perceptions may influence health outcomes, including pain. The objective of the study was to investigate the illness perceptions associated with health and behaviour in a population of older adults with musculoskeletal hand problems. METHODS A two-stage cross-sectional postal survey was sent to individuals aged 50 yrs and over, registered with three general practices in Nort...

Interviews and history questionnaires are commonly used to aid in initial diagnosis of alcoholism and identification of individuals with suspected alcohol abuse. Two of the widespread measures used as questionnaires are by National Council on Alcoholism Committee and Michigan Alcoholism Sc~xing Test. These have their limitations e.g., only 13% of 104 admissions in general hospihal were identifi...