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Biomedical subjects

D Burton

Publications and source records attributed to D Burton.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Wantedness of pregnancy and prenatal health behaviors.

This study examined the relationships between wantedness of pregnancy and the initiation of prenatal care as well as smoking and drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Three hundred and eighty post-partum women were interviewed in a randomly selected sample of Chicago area hospitals. Approximately half of the women said that they had wanted their recently completed pregnancy. Unadjusted analyses revealed that women who wanted their pregnancies were more likely to begin prenatal care in the first trimester and were less likely to smoke while there was no relationship between wantedness and alcohol use during pregnancy. After adjustment for sociodemographic variables, women who wanted their pregnancies were less likely to have smoked cigarettes or drunk alcohol during pregnancy, but were not more likely to have initiated prenatal care in the first trimester. These results suggest that positive health behaviors during pregnancy are influenced by wantedness of pregnancy as well as sociodemographic characteristics. Therefore, efforts to reduce unwanted pregnancies are an important strategy to improve the health of women and children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Predictors of misreporting cigarette smoking initiation among adolescents.

This study examines the prevalence of invalid reports of cigarette smoking initiation among adolescents (i.e., reporting cigarette smoking at one time point and denying ever trying cigarettes at a subsequent time point) and the association of misreports with scores on other problem-prone variables. Misreports did not vary as a function of item complexity and did not reflect careless responding. In the seventh grade, misreporters' scores on the problem-prone variables were higher than those of nonsmokers and lower than those of smokers. In contrast, when measured in the eighth grade, misreporters' scores did not differ from those of nonsmokers. Misreporters did show a greater decrease in intentions to smoke, alcohol use, and number of friends who smoke compared to nonsmokers and consistent smokers. Explanations for these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Two-year behavior outcomes of project towards no tobacco use.

The article presents 2-year follow-up data from a school-based tobacco use prevention project designed to test the effectiveness of 3 primary components in social influence programs. The components either teach refusal skills, awareness of social value misperceptions, or physical consequences. Curricula were tested with a randomized experiment involving 48 junior high schools. These data suggested that (a) a physical-consequences curriculum is successful at attenuating increases in adolescent smokeless tobacco use, (b) cigarette experimentation may be attenuated by various approaches, and (c) a comprehensive program with all 3 components was necessary to attenuate increases in weekly use of both forms of tobacco. These results also indicate that school-based tobacco use interventions can be effective at least 2 years postprogram, after students make their transition to high school.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Psychosocial predictors of health risk factors in adolescents.

Previous research has confirmed the role of problem-behavior theory constructs as predictors of nonconventional behaviors such as adolescent drug abuse. No prospective study, however, has examined this theory's relevance to less extreme nonconventional adolescent behaviors, such as poor health practices. In the present study, an attempt was made to predict an index composed of seven health risk factor items measured in 8th grade from numerous variables measured in 7th grade selected to reflect personality, perceived environment, and behavior systems of problem-behavior theory. In addition, problem-behavior theory was compared in predictive efficacy to a wellness notion. Factor analysis did not support the construct validity of the three systems as measured herein. Instead, resulting empirically derived factors reflected domains labeled "wellness," "subjective distress," and "problem behavior." In addition, linear regression results indicated that constituents of wellness, subjective distress, and problem-behavior domains, as well as the demographic variable of lower socioeconomic status, and taking less care of one's own physical health in 7th grade, were predictors of taking less care of one's physical health the next year. One interpretation of these results is that lack of a sense of wellness may lead one to yield to problem behavior-related social environment influences including participation in poor health practices.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Cognitive style and personality in 12-year-old children.

Three hundred and eighty 12-year-old children were asked to rate the pupils in their class on seven personality characteristics (Humorous, Shy, Outgoing, Patient, Quiet, Lively, and Serious; part of the sample also rated two additional characteristics, Helpful and Sensible). They were also given the Cognitive Styles Analysis (CSA) (Riding, 1991a) which measures an individual's position on two fundamental cognitive style dimensions; Verbal-Imagery and Wholist-Analytic. A factor analysis indicated that the seven personality characteristics could be viewed as three variables; and these were labelled as Active, Modest and Responsible. Personality characteristic ratings varied significantly as a function of Verbal-Imagery Cognitive Style. Verbalisers were more Active than Imagers, the intermediate position of Bimodal were most Modest and the Imagers were more Responsible than the Verbalisers. There was also a significant gender difference with the girls being more Modest and Responsible and the boys more Active. For the subsample, the only significant effect that was observed related to gender with the girls being rated as more Helpful and more Sensible than the boys.

Child↗
PubMed1994

The relationship between traumatic exposure, family dysfunction, and post-traumatic stress symptoms in male juvenile offenders.

This study examined some chronic, stressful conditions and some acute, traumatic events which may place youths at risk for specific types of psychopathology. Ninety one delinquent adolescents with histories of serious and repeated crimes were assessed for their exposure to 11 different types of trauma. The subjects were also tested using measures which assess family functioning, and frequency and intensity of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Results indicated that 24% of the subjects tested met full DSM III-R criteria for PTSD. Both exposure to violence and family dysfunction were significantly associated with PTSD symptomatology. These findings suggest that juvenile offenders may constitute a high risk group for exposure to multiple types of trauma and the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms related to such exposure. This study provides a rationale for future cross-trauma research both within the juvenile offender population and between it and other identified trauma groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Group self-identification and adolescent cigarette smoking: a 1-year prospective study.

As an extension of previous work, we analyzed the longitudinal relations between group self-identification and adolescent cigarette smoking. The predictive precedence of cigarette smoking and identification with 6 different types of peer groups was examined. Results indicated that 7th-grade group self-identification predicted 8th-grade cigarette smoking, whereas 7th-grade cigarette smoking did not predict 8th-grade group self-identification. Group self-identification also was compared with 7 other psychosocial variables as predictors of smoking 1 year later. The pattern of results suggests that group self-identification is about as good a predictor of smoking as other psychosocial variables, and that group self-identification is more than a mere proxy of other psychosocial variables.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Ablation of the prion protein (PrP) gene in mice prevents scrapie and facilitates production of anti-PrP antibodies.

Mice, homozygous for prion protein (PrP) gene ablation (Prn-p0/0), develop normally and remain well > 500 days after inoculation with murine scrapie prions. In contrast, wild-type mice developed scrapie < 165 days after inoculation and most Prn-p0/+ mice, heterozygous for disruption of the PrP gene, exhibited signs of central nervous system dysfunction between 400 and 465 days after inoculation. In situ immunoblots showed widespread deposition of scrapie PrP (PrPSc) in the brains of both wild-type Prn-p+/+ and Prn-p0/+ mice, while neither cellular PrP (PrPC) nor PrPSc was detected in the brains of Prn-p0/0 mice. In contrast to Prn-p+/+ and Prn-p0/+ mice, Prn-p0/0 mice failed to propagate prion infectivity as measured by bioassays. Syrian hamster (SHa) PrP transgenes rendered Prn-p0/0 mice susceptible to prions containing SHaPrPSc. Immunization of Prn-p0/0 mice with purified, infectious mouse or SHa prions dispersed in Freund's adjuvant produced antisera that bound mouse, SHa, and human PrP on Western blots. Presumably, the lack of PrPC expression in Prn-p0/0 mice prevents them from becoming tolerant to the immunogen. The resistance of Prn-p0/0 mice to developing scrapie after inoculation with murine prions supports the hypothesis that PrPSc is essential for both transmission and pathogenesis of the prion diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Refusal assertion versus conversational skill role-play competence: relevance to prevention of tobacco use.

Conversational and refusal assertion skills of 768 seventh grade youth were assessed through ratings of global (for example, effectiveness) and non-verbal (for example, eye contact) behaviour performed in two role-play scenarios. The ratings were completed after each scenario by the subjects themselves, as well as by classmate and trained adult observers. Use of the Hays and Hayashi multitrait scaling method to interpret these data revealed two results. First, the items used to measure role-play behaviour did not achieve sufficient internal consistency to create global and non-verbal composites. Second, inter-rater agreement and discriminant validity were obtained only for ratings of the global effectiveness of each of the two social skills. Next, a series of multiple regression analyses indicated that an index of the global effectiveness of refusal assertion skill, but not of conversational skill, was predictive of intention to use tobacco. Those who were relatively unskillful at refusing offers were more likely to intend to use tobacco. Analyses exploring relations of trained observer ratings of the effectiveness of both role-play types, trained observer ratings of the other global and non-verbal items, and subjects' intention to use tobacco indicated that only a hesitant voice pattern was both negatively predictive of effective refusal assertion and positively predictive of intention to use tobacco in the future. In other words, those who are hesitant when they refuse a tobacco offer are the ones most likely to report an intention to use tobacco in the future. The consistency of this last finding in the tobacco use prevention literature is discussed.

Assertiveness↗
PubMed1993

Exercise endurance in rats: roles of type I and II corticosteroid receptors.

Intact and adrenalectomized (ADX) rats were mildly food deprived and administered dexamethasone (type II agonist), aldosterone (type I agonist), corticosterone (mixed agonist), or vehicle 24 and 2 h prior to forced exercise in a treadmill. The endurance of intact animals was unaffected by hormone treatments. Adrenalectomy greatly advanced the onset of fatigue, and aldosterone exacerbated the effect of adrenalectomy. Corticosterone improved endurance in ADX rats, and dexamethasone was even more potent in this respect. Aldosterone slowed deprivation-induced weight loss in ADXs, while corticosterone and especially dexamethasone accelerated loss. Thus, endurance was directly related to body weight loss, and presumably to the fuels released by such loss. The results extend the type I-type II functional dichotomy to the delivery of utilizable energy for metabolically active tissues.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1993

Project Towards No Tobacco Use: implementation, process and post-test knowledge evaluation.

This paper describes the curricula contents, and presents data to evaluate the implementation, process and immediate post-test knowledge of Project Towards No Tobacco Use (Project TNT). Four different school-based tobacco use prevention curricula were developed to counteract the effects of three types of tobacco use acquisition variables typically addressed within a comprehensive social influences program: (1) peer approval for using tobacco (normative social influence), (2) incorrect social informational provided about tobacco use (information social influence) and (3) lack of knowledge or misperceptions about physical consequences resulting from tobacco use. Three curricula were designed to counteract the effects of single acquisition variables, whereas a fourth curriculum was designed to counteract the effects of combined social and physical consequences-related influences. These curricula were delivered to seventh grade students by trained project health educators to maximize implementation. 'Program' schools, those schools that received one of these curricula, were compared to 'control' schools that provided asystematic health education delivered by school personnel. A total of five conditions were contrasted through use of a randomized experiment involving 48 southern California junior high schools. This paper documents high levels of implementation in all program conditions. Also, favorable process ratings were obtained across the four program conditions, using multiple measures and sources of ratings (students, health educators and classroom teachers who observed curricula delivery). Finally, knowledge item sets completed by the students demonstrated discriminant validity across all five conditions. Because the program conditions were discriminable, yet were quite similar in implementation and process ratings, planned future study of behavioral outcomes can be interpreted as relatively uncontaminated by delivery or credibility confounds.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Pudendal nerve palsy after femoral intramedullary nailing.

Pudendal nerve palsy after femoral intramedullary (IM) nailing was retrospectively reviewed in 65 nailings performed on 63 patients. Ten pudendal nerve palsies (15%) were noted in eight male patients and two female patients. Three male patients had autonomic involvement affecting erections. All palsies were transient (3-173 days), and occurred in patients done in the supine position as opposed to the lateral position. A possible etiology is the smaller perineal post used in the supine position that may penetrate the pelvis deeper, compressing the pudendal nerve. Other factors may be operating time and amount of traction. As prevention, the perineal post must always be adequately padded, and the operating time and amount of traction should be minimized to decrease the incidence of pudendal nerve palsy. Because pudendal nerve palsy appears to be a common complication in femoral IM nailing, the patient must be informed of this possibility.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Project towards no tobacco use: 1-year behavior outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: We present 1-year follow-up data from a school-based tobacco use prevention project designed to test the effectiveness of three main components of social influence programs. The components teach refusal skills, awareness of social misperceptions about tobacco use, and misconceptions about physical consequences. METHODS: Four different curricula were developed and tested in a randomized experiment involving 48 junior high schools. The outcome variables examined were changes in initial and weekly cigarette and smokeless tobacco use 1 year after the intervention. RESULTS: Analyses indicated that each of the component programs were effective in decreasing both the initial and the weekly use of cigarettes except for the curriculum in which refusal skills were taught. Also, each curriculum was effective in decreasing the initial use of smokeless tobacco except for the one aimed at correcting social misperceptions. Only the combined curriculum showed an effect on the weekly use of smokeless tobacco. CONCLUSIONS: The combined intervention was the most effective overall in reducing the initial and weekly use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. This suggests that different reasons for use exist and need to be counteracted simultaneously. However, since single programs were also effective in reducing all but weekly smokeless tobacco use, any of these components may be worthwhile prevention tools.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Naturalistic observation of adolescent tobacco use.

A naturalistic observation study of adolescent tobacco use was conducted to corroborate previous studies which used self-report questionnaire or structured interview methods to study this problem behavior. Several findings converged with previous accounts of adolescent tobacco use. For example, most use occurred in small groups. However, other findings diverged somewhat from previous research in that an unexpectedly low number of offers of tobacco was observed, nonusers were present in smoking groups, and solitary smoking was common. These data suggest that direct, normative social pressure to use tobacco may not be as frequent as more subtle informational social influence, at least in high school adolescent tobacco use groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Which lesson components mediate refusal assertion skill improvement in school-based adolescent tobacco use prevention?

Any of three components of current school-based refusal assertion training might mediate improvement of seventh grade students' ability to refuse tobacco use offers: 1) teaching students knowledge of ways to say "no," 2) engaging students in the practice of refusal assertion, or 3) motivating students to perform refusal assertion in a socially skilled way. A 3-condition true field experimental "component study" of the differential effects of these three components yielded improvement in role-played behavioral skill to refuse tobacco offers that was evident in both the Knowledge and Practice conditions but not in the Motivation condition. In these same two conditions, skills training led to a significant decrease in students' intention to use smokeless tobacco in the future but not cigarettes. A focus on engaging students in Knowledge and Practice components of refusal assertion training appears warranted.

Adolescent↗