Biomedical subjects

Charles D Smith

Publications and source records attributed to Charles D Smith.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Serial MRI findings in a case of primary lateral sclerosis.

A patient with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) underwent MRI 3 times over 8.5 years. These images demonstrate progressive atrophy of the premotor, parietal, and primary sensorimotor cortex, with sparing of the temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and cerebellum. The pattern of cerebral atrophy was clearly restricted but was more extensive than expected from sensorimotor cortex pyramidal cell loss described in literature autopsy reports of PLS. Cortical motor system degeneration in PLS, whether primary or secondary, may be more extensive than previously believed.

Atrophy↗

PubMed2002

Sydenham's chorea in the age of MRI: a case report and review.

A 9-year-old female with acute chorea was found to have multiple areas of abnormal signal on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain consistent with vasculitis. The child's serology and clinical course were indicative of Sydenham's chorea, and other causes of vasculopathy were excluded. Although magnetic resonance imaging findings similar to those observed in this patient have been rarely reported in Sydenham's chorea; their presence alone should not prompt a search for an alternative diagnosis.

Acute Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The characteristics of dementia caregiving onset.

This study examined the characteristics of entry into the caregiving role for family and friends of older adults suffering from dementia. Using data from a large community survey of informal caregivers of patients who visited the University of Kentucky's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (n = 1055), respondents were classified into one of four onset sequences: recognition-diagnosis, care provision, recognition-care, and diagnosis dependent. A multinomial logistic regression identified several characteristics (i.e., caregiver income, time since onset, care recipient gender, care recipient living status, and primary caregiver identification) that were significantly associated with various caregiving onset patterns. The findings describe the complexity of the entry process and its potential association with health-related transitions in the caregiving career.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Secondary dementia caregiving and its consequences.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain variations between primary and "secondary" caregivers (those who play a more supplemental role in the care of a relative). Survey data were collected from a sample of dementia caregivers recruited from the University of Kentucky Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (N = 1,016). Bivariate analyses found that primary and secondary caregivers varied on a number of background characteristics, and regression models indicated that primary caregivers provided a wider range of assistance with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), but not help with activities of daily living (ADLs). Primary and secondary caregivers did not differ significantly in reports of subjective health. The findings suggest that future research and interventions should be inclusive of primary and secondary caregivers.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The emotional ramifications of unmet need in dementia caregiving.

Using a unique measure of unmet need that taps into several dimensions of informal long-term care, the present study included data from 694 informal caregivers of persons suffering from dementia at different times in the caregiving career (e.g., at home, following institutionalization, following the death of the care recipient). Multivariate regression models found that unmet need for either confidante or formal support had key implications for caregivers' emotional distress in each of the care situations. The findings suggest that conceptual models should incorporate unmet need as a viable predictor of caregiving outcomes and that assessment of unmet need may provide guidance in the development of more refined psychosocial and community-based intervention protocols.

Activities of Daily Living↗