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Biomedical subjects

G King

Publications and source records attributed to G King.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Interleukin 1 upregulates ovarian prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase-2 expression: evidence for prostaglandin-dependent/ceramide-independent transcriptional stimulation and for message stabilization.

We have recently documented a marked dependence of ovarian prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGS)-2 transcripts, proteins, and activity on interleukin (IL) 1, a putative intermediary in the ovulatory cascade. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of IL-1beta to upregulate the steady-state levels of ovarian transcripts corresponding to PGS-2. Results of studies designed to enrich or deplete nitric oxide strongly suggest that the stimulatory effect of IL-1beta on ovarian PGS-2 expression is independent of nitric oxide. Utilization of a series of agents designed to simulate or enhance transduction via the sphingomyelin ceramide cycle suggests that the long-term stimulatory effect of IL-1beta on ovarian PGS-2 gene expression is independent of ceramide. In contrast, inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis with a series of distinct inhibitors suggests that the ability of IL-1beta to upregulate ovarian PGS-2 transcripts is due, if only in part, to the generation of endogenous prostaglandin estradiol-17beta (E(2)). Inhibition of protein biosynthesis suggested that the IL-1beta-induced PGS-2 gene expression required de novo protein biosynthesis. Our findings revealed substantial IL-1beta-mediated stabilization of PGS-2 transcripts, as assessed by a threefold increase in the half-life of the message. We have also observed the ability of IL-1beta to upregulate the transcription of PGS-2 promoter constructs subjected to transient transfection into whole-ovarian dispersates (twofold increase as assessed by activation of the luciferase reporter gene). Taken together, these findings suggest that the stimulatory effect of IL-1beta on PGS-2 expression is 1) independent of nitric oxide as well as ceramide, 2) dependent on prostaglandin E(2), 3) contingent on de novo protein biosynthesis, and 4) accounted for by both increased transcription and message stabilization. These observations provide indirect support for the hypothesis that IL-1beta, acting in part through PGS-2 (an obligatory ovulatory principal), may constitute a key intermediary in the ovulatory cascade.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Aids knowledge and risk behaviors among Midwest migrant farm workers.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the AIDS/HIV knowledge of Latino adolescent and adult migrant farm workers in Michigan, to determine risk behaviors related to HIV, and to determine differences in generational norms regarding sexual activity. For the most part, the Latino migrant population seemed knowledgeable about sexual modes of HIV transmission, although casual contact, through kissing and going to school or work with an infected individual, was also seen as a possible route of transmission for some. Several condom beliefs were identified that may be barriers to use, including the beliefs that condoms are only for use with prostitutes (35 % agreed) and that condoms are only for gay men (54% agreed). Only a small proportion (10%) agreed that condoms were good protection from AIDS. Most respondents knew what condoms were, although only 51% of the sample knew friends who used them. Adolescent females in the camps generally disapproved of premarital sex, while males and older females were more accepting. All these factors make it pertinent to implement HIV/AIDS education programs that are culturally sensitive, gender-specific, and effective in both generations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Smoking in Maywood: the unhealthy southern migrant hypothesis among African Americans.

OBJECTIVES: This paper examines the "unhealthy Southern migrant" hypothesis with regard to cigarette smoking among African Americans. METHODS: Using data collected in 1992 from a sample of 1,518 African Americans in Maywood, Illinois, as part of the International Collaborative Study of Hypertension in Blacks, logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine and compare smoking behavior and sociodemographic characteristics of Southern and Midwestern-born respondents. RESULTS: African Americans born in the South were less likely (OR = .69, CI = 95%, 0.53, 0.90) to be smokers than those born in the Midwest, after controlling for other sociodemographic variables, prior smoking status, and age of arrival to Maywood. CONCLUSIONS: The results do not support the "unhealthy Southern migrant" hypothesis, with regard to cigarette smoking, and indicate the need to identify factors that protect Southern-born African-American migrants from smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The perceived effects of parent-led support groups for parents of children with disabilities.

Parent-led support groups for parents who have children with disabilities are voluntary organizations with goals to provide social support and information and to foster advocacy. The purpose of this study was to explore parents' perceptions of the effect of parent-led support groups in providing parents with support and knowledge and in improving parents' ability to deal with childhood disability issues. Qualitative methods were used to examine the experiences of members of nine parent-run support groups. From these groups, 20 parents were interviewed about the benefits and limitations of participation in support group. Information was also collected by observing support group meetings and reviewing group documents. Interview, observation, and document data were analysed to identify emerging themes. Results of the study indicated that the effects of belonging to a parent-led parent support group were substantial. Through these groups, parents gain increased skills, an increased sense of power and a sense of belonging. Participants are able to connect with each other and provide support and skills to deal with the day-to-day issues of raising a child with disabilities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Oestrogen receptor alpha in female fetal, infant, and child mammary tissue.

Oestrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha) expression was studied in female mammary tissue from a series of 35 samples obtained post-mortem, ranging from fetuses of 13 weeks' gestation to prepubertal children of 12 years. Immunocytochemistry was performed on formalin-fixed tissue after microwave antigen retrieval. ER alpha was present in epithelial cell nuclei from the 30th week of gestation onwards and was markedly up-regulated shortly after birth. For up to 3 months thereafter, progesterone receptor was also expressed, indicative that the ER alpha was functional. During this period, ER alpha was also present in epithelial cell cytoplasm. From this perspective of the developing breast, it is suggested that an early postnatal component should be added to the prenatal oestrogen hypothesis; further, the significance of ER alpha cytoplasmic staining in the adult breast also merits review.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Expression of CD44v6 but not E-cadherin or beta-catenin influences prognosis in primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma was studied, looking for relationships between the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) E-cadherin, beta-catenin and CD44v6, and clinicopathological tumour parameters and patient post-operative survival. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 120 primary lung adenocarcinomas, including 23 poorly differentiated tumours, 17 of probable bronchial origin, and 29 with a prominent bronchioloalveolar pattern, together with nodal metastatic tumour from 34 of these patients was stained using monoclonal antibodies and immunohistochemistry. Sections were scored either high level (>10% cells positive) or low level (<10% positive). High level expression of CD44v6 was retained in 28.4% (34/120) of tumours, while high levels of E-cadherin (57.5%, 69/120) and beta-catenin (80. 8%, 97/120) were more frequent. For all CAMs, staining levels did not correlate with nodal status, stage or tumour type. The apical or basal staining seen in normal bronchial and alveolar epithelium was often seen in papillary, glandular, and bronchioloalveolar areas of tumour, while solid invasive tumour more often showed pericellular staining. When the staining for each CAM in 34 nodal metastases was compared with that in the corresponding primary tumour, a high degree of concordance was found, with no tendency for metastases to show less staining than the primary tumour. Expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin in the primary tumour had no influence on post-operative survival, but patients whose tumours had low level CD44v6 expression had a poorer post-operative survival than those with high levels of CD44v6 (p=0.0014 for all patients, p=0.0012 for stage I patients only). In primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the levels of expression of E-cadherin, beta-catenin, and CD44v6 are not associated with lymph node metastases or tumour stage but the staining pattern is associated with tumour morphology. Low levels of CD44v6 expression predict a poor post-operative survival, independently of stage, while there is no such relationship with the expression of E-cadherin or beta-catenin.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed2000

Opinions among mandated reporters toward child maltreatment reporting policies.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the opinions of social workers, pediatricians, and physician assistants in their support for the existing child maltreatment mandated reporting policy and an alternative reporting policy. Differences in professional training, age, gender, reporting behavior, attitudes towards reporting, and level of certainty needed to report were considered in determining which group of mandated reporters was most likely to support either the existing or an alternative policy. METHOD: A total of 382 social workers, pediatricians, and physician assistants in Connecticut and Massachusetts completed a self-report questionnaire. This sample represented an overall adjusted response rate of 76%. RESULTS: There was slightly more support for the existing reporting policy compared to the alternative policy. After controlling for age, attitudinal variables, and reporting behavior, social workers were significantly more likely to favor an alternative child maltreatment reporting policy than pediatricians or physician assistants. Also, those mandated reporters who had not consistently reported all suspected cases of maltreatment were significantly more likely to favor the alternative policy than consistent reporters. CONCLUSIONS: Because the majority of mandated reporters do not consistently report all suspected cases of maltreatment and support for an alternative reporting policy varies among different groups, consideration of alternative strategies and policies that address the concerns of different types of professionals may be appropriate.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Immune cell infiltrates and prognosis in primary carcinoma of the lung.

The prognostic significance of immune cell infiltrates in surgically resected human lung cancer was investigated in 710 patients. Lymphoid infiltrates were quantified on both standard H&E stained sections and, in a subset of 95 cases, using immunohistochemistry and antibodies to CD3, CD8, CD57, CD68, CD79a and S100 to identify various immune cell types. Subjective grading (low, moderate, high) of lymphoid cell infiltrates on H&E sections of tumour and measurement, using image analysis, of overall level of tumour infiltration by any of the immunohistochemically labelled specific immune cell types of the stained sections showed no prognostic significance. However, when a distinction between peritumoural and intratumoural infiltration by particular cell types was made, intratumoural infiltration by high levels of CD3+ and S100+ cells was associated with longer post-operative survival (P = 0.02 and P = 0.045, respectively). In lung cancer, subjective assessment of tumour lymphoid infiltration and overall levels of infiltration by particular immune cell types carries no prognostic significance. Intratumoural infiltration by relatively high numbers of CD3+ T-lymphocytes and Langerhans cells (S100+) is associated with a better patient outcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Exaggerated activation of nuclear factor-kappaB and altered IkappaB-beta processing in cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial cells.

In cystic fibrosis (CF), inflammatory mediator production by airway epithelial cells is a critical determinant of chronic airway inflammation. To determine whether altered signal transduction through the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathway occurs in CF epithelial cells and results in excessive generation of inflammatory cytokines, we evaluated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-induced production of the NF-kappaB-dependent cytokine interleukin (IL)-8 and activation of NF-kappaB in three different human bronchial epithelial cell lines: (1) BEAS cells that express wild-type CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), (2) IB3 cells with mutant CFTR, and (3) C38 cells, which are "corrected" IB3 cells complemented with wild-type CFTR. Treatment of cells with TNF-alpha (30 ng/ml) resulted in markedly elevated NF-kappaB activation and production of IL-8 by IB3 cells compared with BEAS and C38 cells. Despite the differences in NF- kappaB activation, no differences in basal levels of IkappaB-alpha or TNF-alpha- induced IkappaB-alpha processing and degradation were detected among the cell lines. In contrast, the basal level of IkappaB-beta was increased in the IB3 cells. Treatment with TNF-alpha resulted in increased formation of hypophosphorylated IkappaB-beta and increased nuclear localization of IkappaB-beta in IB3 cells compared with the other cell types. These findings provide additional evidence of a dysregulated inflammatory response in CF.

Bronchi↗
PubMed2000

Measuring the self-esteem of adolescents with mental health problems: theory meets practice.

Occupational therapists frequently address the self-esteem of young clients despite little empirical evidence that the clients have low self-esteem to begin with, and that occupational therapy intervention is effective in addressing self-esteem. This article examines the self-esteem of 39 adolescents with mental health problems referred to a pre-vocational programme in an effort to compare clinical practice with empirical findings. The Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents and the Importance Rating Scale for Adolescents are employed to compare the self-esteem of the adolescents with mental health problems with the normative sample, prior to (n = 39) and upon completion of the pre-vocational programme (n = 14). Results indicate no difference between the two groups' self-esteem and no change in self-esteem scores following participation in the pre-vocational programme. Global self-esteem is significantly correlated with physical appearance and behavioural conduct (n = 39). Competence-importance discrepancy scores are significantly related to global self-esteem (n = 14). This finding supports the theory that it is the domain of self-concept which is low and important to the adolescent which will influence his/her self-esteem. These results are consistent with previous studies. Possible explanations for the discrepancy between clinical perceptions and objective findings are discussed. Implications for practice are presented.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Organizational characteristics and issues affecting the longevity of self-help groups for parents of children with special needs.

In this article, the organizational characteristics and issues affecting the maintenance of nine self-help groups for parents of children with special needs are discussed. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with 20 parents and observation of six group meetings. For continued existence, groups must deal with the challenges of encouraging new leaders, attracting new members, obtaining funds or assistance to support their activities, and meeting the changing needs of members. Important organizational characteristics associated with longevity are committed and effective leadership, community connections that help provide needed funds or practical assistance, and the willingness of group members to change activities to meet changing needs. This information can be used by parents and service providers to plan new groups, recruit group members, and ensure the effective functioning of groups as they change over time.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Negotiating the tension between policy and reality: exploring nurses' communication about organizational wrongdoing.

This article explores the ways in which registered nurses communicate about organizational wrongdoing. Critical incidents were gathered from over 200 registered nurses. Through the phenomenological process of description, reduction, and interpretation, 5 themes emerged as central to responses of policy violations and personal ethics in the workplace: (a) perceptions of wrongdoing, (b) upholding the ideals of the profession, (c) clarity and evidence of wrongdoing, (d) consequences of reporting, and (e) workplace dynamics. The interpretative findings focus on how these themes are united by a tension that nurses face in terms of adhering to policy while attempting to manage the realities of their everyday professional lives. A discussion of these findings, including how they relate to existing and future research and practice, is offered.

Communication↗
PubMed2000

Dying at home: evaluation of a hospice rapid-response service.

Various studies suggest that there is a preference among patients, professionals and the public for death to occur at home (Dunlop et al, 1989; Townsend et al, 1990; Hinton, 1994). Data indicates that some patients are denied the opportunity to exercise choice in the place of death. In areas where palliative rapid-response teams have been available more people have been able to die at home. This article presents the findings of an evaluation of a hospice rapid-response service in the Highlands of Scotland, which was designed to respond to the needs of people in crisis facing death. The study was designed to produce a rigorous and comprehensive description of a newly-operational service at the pilot stage. It reflects not only the views of the professionals involved but also focuses on the views of informal carers. Seventeen patients were referred to the rapid-response service in its first year of operation between April 1998 and March 1999. The service has shown some success in enabling patients to die at home and satisfaction with the service is high among professionals and lay carers.

Community Health Nursing↗
PubMed2000

Sexual behavior change among human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents with hemophilia. Adolescent Hemophilia Behavioral Intervention Evaluation Project Study Group.

PURPOSE: To determine the factors associated with the adoption or maintenance of consistent safer sexual behaviors among human immunodeficiency virus-positive adolescents and young adults with hemophilia. METHODS: One hundred eleven adolescents at 10 hemophilia care sites participated in an intervention program designed to increase safer sexual behaviors (abstinence, condom use, or nonpenetrative behavior). The theory-based intervention spanned 1 year. Adolescents attended individual sessions, small group activities, and an intensive group retreat. RESULTS: Patients who maintained or improved safer sexual behaviors were compared with those who relapsed or did not improve. Logistic regression analyses found that improvement and maintenance of safer sexual behavior were significantly associated with perceived peer support for outercourse (odds ratio [OR]: 5.47; confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-20.8), perceived peer support for abstinence (OR: 5.08; CI: 1.2-20.1), and decreased general emotional distress (OR: 4.65; CI: 1.04-20.6). Perceived health status and previous sexual behavior were unrelated to change in safer sexual behavior. CONCLUSIONS: These longitudinal data indicate that improvement and maintenance of safer sexual behavior among adolescents during an intervention is strongly associated with perceptions of peer support for safer sex and lesser degrees of emotional distress. Programs for human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents may require developmentally appropriate social and psychological approaches to impact peer norms and emotional well-being.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Smoking behavior and opinions of French general practitioners.

This report examines smoking prevalence, sociodemographic factors, and the opinions of French general practitioners (GPs) about tobacco control policies. Data from the CFES (Comité Français d'Education pour la Santé) national survey on general practitioners included 1013 respondents. The questionnaire was administered by telephone and a response rate of 65% was attained. Instrumentation included variables related to medical practice, sociodemographic characteristics, and opinions about health behavior. Thirty-four percent of physicians were current smokers. A higher proportion of males smoked compared to women (36.1% vs. 24.9%, p < 0.01), and they consumed on average more cigarettes per day (11.2 vs. 8 cigarettes/day, p < 0.05). Slightly more than 52% of physicians regarded their role in reducing nicotine addiction to be important. Doctors who believed that the physician's role was limited were less likely to advise pregnant women to stop smoking (odds ratio = 0.39, p < 0.001), and nonsmokers were more supportive of bans on smoking in public places. Despite the high prevalence of smoking among French physicians, they can still play an important role in reducing smoking among their patients. Medical school curriculum and continuing medical education programs focusing on prevention and cessation in France should be strengthened to help reduce smoking rates among physicians and the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Evidence of Nonlinear Elasticity of the Crust from the Mw7.6 Manyi (Tibet) Earthquake.

Satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry shows that the magnitude 7.6 Manyi earthquake of 8 November 1997 produced a 170-kilometer-long surface break with up to 7 meters of left-lateral slip, reactivating a N76 degrees E quaternary fault in western Tibet. The radar interferometric map reveals asymmetric, along-strike displacement profiles between the two sides of the surface rupture, a pattern that cannot be explained with linear elastic theory. This observation suggests that the elastic moduli of the crust in tension and in compression are different because of the presence of cracks in the crust at shallow depth. A model indicates that a ratio of 2 between compressive and tensile elastic moduli can account for the observed asymmetry, a ratio that is consistent with laboratory and borehole measurements.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Regional variation in smoking among African Americans.

BACKGROUND: The impact of geographic region and metropolitan residence on smoking prevalence among African Americans has not been adequately examined. METHODS: This study analyzed 5 years of data from the National Health Interview Survey (1990-1994) on current smoking and regional variation among 16,738 African Americans. Results. Respondents in the West had the lowest unadjusted smoking prevalence rates and Midwest residents had the highest. Current smoking was lower among African Americans living in non-central cities than in central cities even after adjusting for several sociodemographic covariates. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that black women in the South were significantly less likely to be smokers compared with any other gender/region group. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the significance of gender and regional factors such as the social history of migration, social stress and racism, exposure to tobacco advertisement, variations in cultural influences, community structures, and coping strategies in under standing African American smoking behavior.

Adolescent↗