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Biomedical subjects

D Burton

Publications and source records attributed to D Burton.

106 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Demonstration by immunoperoxidase histochemistry of calcitonin in the anterior lobe of the rat pituitary.

We have demonstrated by a specific immunoperoxidase procedure the presence of calcitonin-containing cells in the rat pituitary gland. These cells are widely distributed throughout the anterior lobe and seem to constitute the entire population of cells of the intermediate lobe. No such cells were seen in the posterior lobe. The presence of calcitonin-containing cells in the pituitary provides novel implications about the physiological significance of this hormone.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Preliminary observations on an intervention program for heavy smokers.

Each of 571 smokers selected one of three methods of smoking cessation: group therapy, individual counseling, and hypnosis. One-year results suggest little difference between the three methods in producing ex-smokers. All methods produced an average success rate of approximately 20%. It should be noted, however, that with all types of verbal or verbally related therapy it is not known precisely how these techniques work or whether the outcomes are really a function of what is put into the therapy by the treatment agent and/or the recipient. It was generally found that younger, more educated smokers chose hypnosis; older, more educated smokers chose group therapy; and older, less-formally educated smokers chose individual counseling while the youngest and generally less educated smokers chose to become nonattenders and not take part in therapy. These results have important implications for designing optimal treatment programs which will be acceptable and effective for the greatest number of smokers.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Self-initiated quitting among adolescent smokers.

OBJECTIVES: This paper reviews the literature regarding predictors of adolescent self-initiated smoking cessation and investigates self-initiated smoking cessation among a large sample of alternative high school youth in southern California. Youth transfer to alternative schools because of academic or behavioral problems, and they are at relatively high risk for cigarette smoking. METHODS: Several demographic (e.g., gender), behavioral (e.g., level of smoking), and psychosocial (e.g., risk-taking) predictors of adolescent smoking cessation were investigated. The alternative high school cohort provided a sufficient sample size of quitters (defined as no use in the past 30 days, measured after a 1-year period) to permit a prospective examination of adolescent smoking cessation. RESULTS: Although nine demographic, behavioral, or psychosocial variables discriminated among quitters and nonquitters in univariate analyses, only level of baseline smoking, smoking intention, and perceived stress were predictors in a final multivariable model. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the literature review and findings among the cohort, smoking cessation programs for adolescents should include counteraction of problem-prone attitudes, support of wellness attitudes, provision of motivation to quit strategies, and assistance with overcoming withdrawal symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Demographic, psychosocial and behavioral differences in samples of actively and passively consented adolescents.

Requiring active consent from parents leads to different self-reports by adolescents than when it is not required. The present study compares self-reported demographic, psychosocial, and behavior variables between those students from whom active consent was and was not obtained. As found in previous studies, fewer minorities, fewer persons who were dissatisfied with school, fewer persons whose parents were of lower educational levels, and fewer cigarette smokers were represented in the sample recruited by active parental consent. Extending on previous work, we found those students whose parents failed to respond to the consent procedure were less likely to live with both parents, were more likely to be latch-key children, placed a lower priority on health, and were higher in risk-taking, lower in self-esteem, and lower in assertiveness than those whose parents had responded. These data further support the suggestion that those children who are omitted from a research study because of lack of action on the part of the parent are at higher risk for a number of health and social problems. These children need to be included in evaluation samples in order to accurately assess the effectiveness of prevention programming. Future studies should employ a passive consent procedure as a means of recruiting a representative subject pool in school-based prevention research.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Correlates of exclusive or combined use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco among male adolescents.

Past studies which examined correlates of smokeless tobacco or cigarette use have investigated use of one tobacco product regardless of use of the other product. Thus, the etiology of exclusive use of the two tobacco products is not clear. The present study investigated the relationship of problem-prone-related variables to exclusive versus overlapping use of smokeless tobacco and cigarettes. Two samples of southern California male students (eighth-grade and high school) were divided into groups according to their tobacco use status: neither product, cigarettes only, smokeless tobacco only, or both tobacco products. Generally, triers and monthly users of both tobacco products reported a higher risk-taking preference, greater susceptibility to peer social influence to use tobacco products, and greater likelihood to have tried marijuana and alcohol than did subjects who were not users of either tobacco product. Adolescents who used either product, but not both, reported similar scores on most of the variables examined, which fell in between combined or nonuse categories. These results suggest that the number of tobacco products used, not the specific product, is associated with problem-prone attributes.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effects and use of maintenance newsletters in a smoking cessation intervention.

This article evaluates the effects and use of adjuncts to a televised smoking cessation program, based on the American Lung Association's "Freedom From Smoking in 20 Days." Subjects were randomized to maintenance and control conditions. The maintenance condition received newsletters with information and support addressing different stages in the cessation process and information about a telephone hotline. The maintenance condition did not increase cessation at any wave of interviewing, assessed by multiple point or point prevalence of abstinence. Those abstinent at 6 months and those who had made an attempt to stop smoking by that time were more likely to have used the newsletters and were more likely to have used the sections relevant to their cessation stage. Rates of use of the telephone hotline were low. The newsletters appear to be useful to smokers who are predisposed to use written materials.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective correlates of exclusive or combined adolescent use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco: a replication-extension.

This one-year prospective study provides an extension of a previous cross-sectional investigation. The previous study found that the number of tobacco products used (i.e., smokeless tobacco, cigarettes), not type of tobacco product, was associated with higher scores on problem-prone variables. In the present study, a sample of 842 southern California seventh-grade adolescents who had not tried either cigarettes or smokeless tobacco were identified and surveyed one year later. Onset of tobacco use was examined as an outcome variable predicted by scores on four psychosocial and two alcohol use variables in seventh grade. Unlike the previous study, females were included in the current study, and the potential moderating effect of gender on the pattern of predictors was examined. Overall, these findings indicate that onset of cigarette smoking or use of both tobacco products is associated with alcohol use, risk taking, and low self-esteem. This study provides modest support for the previous investigation. In addition, two of the predictor variables were found to interact with gender. Risk-taking was found to have a stronger association with initiation of tobacco use for females than males. Susceptibility to social influence to use tobacco was found to be associated with initiation of tobacco use for males only.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Analytical performance characteristics of the T4 method in the Abbott AxSYM immunoassay analyzer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the tetraiodothyronine (T4) method in the Abbott AxSYM immunoassay analyzer. DESIGN: The single-value criteria proposed by Westgard et al. were employed. Assays of control materials established random error (RE) analytical sensitivity, and linearity. Constant error (CE) was established by studying the effects of interferents on T4 quantification. The AxSYM random access immunoassay analyzer was compared with TDx batch analyzer to determine systematic error (SE). Critical concentrations of T4 are 3.0 micrograms/dL and 13.0 micrograms/dL, as these concentrations represent medical decision points. Allowable error at these critical concentrations are 1.0 and 2.6, respectively. SETTING: Peninsula Regional Medical Center Clinical Laboratories. RESULTS: Based on Health Care Financing Administration [HCFA] allowable error goals, RE, SE, and CE were acceptable for concentrations of T4 ranging from 3.0 micrograms/dL to 13 micrograms/dL. PE was virtually absent. Total error (TE) = RE + SE was acceptable at 13 micrograms/dL but exceeded allowable error at the lower critical value of 3.0 micrograms/dL. Abbott AxSYM was sensitive to T4 at a concentration of 0.34 microgram/dL. Linearity was excellent and consistent with the manufacturer's claim over a range 1.0 microgram/dL to 24 micrograms/dL. Of the interferents studied only hemoglobin caused a > 15% change in the measurement of T4. CONCLUSION: The AxSYM immunoasssay analyzer performed to manufacturer's specifications and met HCFA allowable error limits for quantifying T4.

Bias↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Physician delivery of smoking-cessation advice based on the stages-of-change model.

The purpose of this study is to assess whether a stage-based program of brief physician-delivered smoking-cessation advice changes smoking stages of readiness to quit smoking. First-year residents were trained to assess the stage of their continuity care patients who smoke, using Prochaska and DiClemente's methods, and to deliver brief messages and handouts based on the stages of precontemplation, contemplation, and action. Concurrent with the training, we administered a survey to 252 smokers, before their physician encounter. Eighty-nine smokers saw trained residents (intervention group), and 163 saw untrained residents (usual care group). A follow-up survey was administered six months later. Seventy-four percent of the subjects completed the follow-up survey. After we controlled for baseline stage, the percentage of precontemplators was lower in the intervention group (25%) than in the usual care group (36%) (P < .05, log-linear model). In the intervention group, 50% of the subjects had positive stage shifts versus 40% in the usual care group (P = .2). Subjects in the intervention group moved ahead a mean of 0.63 stage per subject, whereas subjects in the usual care group moved ahead 0.34 stage per subject (P < .05). The self-reported cessation rate was 15.5% and did not differ between the two groups. We conclude that our stage-specific brief advice program enhances short-term movement through the stages-of-change of smoking cessation. Measurement of this movement may be an important intermediary in evaluating small clinical trials of brief advice. Our findings indicate potential benefits of a staged approach for both clinicians and their patients.

Female↗