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Biomedical subjects

J A Hall

Publications and source records attributed to J A Hall.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Physicians' liking for their patients: more evidence for the role of affect in medical care.

Correlates of physicians' liking for their patients were examined among 17 internists at a health maintenance organization and 530 of their patients 70 years of age and older. Analyses were conducted for the entire sample as well as for individual physicians, whose results were combined by meta-analysis. Both kinds of analysis showed that patients were more liked when they were in better health (based on psychometric measures of social, emotional, functional, and overall self-rated health) and when they were more satisfied with their care. In addition, male patients were liked more than female patients, and physicians who were female and less experienced liked their patients more.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Adolescent substance use during pregnancy.

Substance use during pregnancy may be a key mediator of the association between adolescent childbearing and poor newborn outcome. Substance use during pregnancy was evaluated for 50 teens who were consecutive patients at an inner-city university clinic. Although teens reported typical lifetime rates of substance use, self-reports and two urine assays indicated minimal substance use throughout pregnancy. Findings suggest that the adolescents exercised judicious decision making in light of the known health risks of substance use during pregnancy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Influence of ovarian steroids on relaxin-induced distensibility and compositional changes in the porcine cervix.

A study was conducted to examine the influence of ovarian steroids on relaxin-induced changes in distensibility and composition of the uterine cervix in gilts. Ovariectomized, prepubertal gilts received (i.m.) either 1) 0.5 ml corn oil (CO) for 16 days; 2) 0.5 ml CO for 16 days and estradiol benzoate (EB; 200 micrograms) twice daily on Days 13-14; 3) EB on Days 0-1 followed by CO on Days 3-16 (EB + CO); 4) EB on Days 0-1 followed by CO on Day 2 and twice daily injections of 100 mg progesterone (P) on Days 3-16 (EB + P); or 5) EB on Days 0-1 followed by CO on Day 2 and P on Days 3-16 with additional EB treatment on Days 13-14 (EB + P + EB). One half of each group also received (i.m.) 0.5 ml 0.1 M PBS or 0.5 mg relaxin (RLX) every 6 h for 54 h coinciding with the final 2 days of the experimental period. Administration of RLX increased (p < 0.05) cervical distensibility compared to PBS treatment, with the response being greater (p < 0.05) in EB-, EB + CO-, and EB + P + EB-treated gilts compared to CO- or EB + P-treated gilts. Water content of cervical tissue was greater (p < 0.05) in EB-, EB+P- and EB + P + EB-treated gilts compared to CO- or EB + CO-treated gilt: and in all treatments, RLX enhanced (p < 0.05) imbibition of water by cervical tissues compared to that in PBS-treated gilts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1993

A causal model of health status and satisfaction with medical care.

Patients with better health status have often been shown to be more satisfied with their medical care, but the causal factors in this relation have not been determined. In this study, a longitudinal assessment of these two constructs was undertaken in which older patients in a health maintenance organization were interviewed at baseline (N = 590) and again 1 year later (N = 526) about their health status and satisfaction with their medical care. Structural equation modeling using LISREL procedures revealed that the predominant direction of causation went from earlier self-perceived overall health and functional ability to later levels of satisfaction. There was no evidence for causal paths going from satisfaction to later health. In addition, a test of spuriousness indicated that for self-perceived overall health, the significant longitudinal path was unlikely to be explained by unmeasured confounding variables.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Consequences of retaliatory aggression against siblings and peers: urban minority children's expectations.

Expectations about the outcomes of retaliation against siblings were compared to those about peers in a group of 10-14-year-old, mostly African-American or Hispanic youth. Boys believed that parents would disapprove more of retaliation against siblings than friends, while girls believed parents would equally disapprove of retaliation against either target. Participants of both genders expected that retaliation would deter additional aggressive actions of friends more than of siblings. Participants expected younger siblings, especially brothers, to feel worse than older siblings following retaliation, and girls expected to feel worse retaliating against younger siblings. Siblings close in age expect fewer negative consequences of retaliation. Children's expectations seem to promote more aggression toward friends than siblings and to promote aggression toward siblings closer in age. No ethnic differences emerged in expectations about conflict. The findings are discussed in relation to research on expectations as a mediator of behavior.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1993

Beta adrenoreceptor subtype cross regulation in the human heart.

OBJECTIVES: To find out in a prospective study whether beta 1 blocker treatment causes selective beta 2 adrenoreceptor sensitisation, and to find whether such sensitisation is confined to the heart. DESIGN: A placebo controlled cross over study of two weeks of selective beta 1 blocker treatment with 10 mg of bisoprolol daily. SUBJECTS: Six healthy volunteers. OUTCOME MEASURES: Three days after stopping the 10 mg of bisoprolol or placebo, subjects underwent treadmill exercise (to measure cardiac beta 1 receptor responsiveness) and were given salbutamol injections (to measure cardiac beta 2 receptor responsiveness). Secondary end points were the responses of serum potassium, glucose, and insulin to beta 2 stimulation. RESULTS: There was no difference in exercise induced increases in heart rate, but after treatment with bisoprolol the dose of salbutamol required to increase heart rate by 40 beats/min was 1.9 micrograms/kg compared with 2.9 micrograms/kg after placebo (p < 0.005). The fall in diastolic blood pressure was not significantly different on the two occasions. Hypokalaemia induced by salbutamol, but not hyperglycaemia or hyperinsulinaemia, was enhanced after bisoprolol. CONCLUSION: This study shows that treatment with a beta 1 blocker in vivo leads to sensitisation of cardiac beta 2 adrenoreceptors but not cardiac beta 1 adrenoreceptors or vascular beta 2 receptors. This previously unrecognised form of receptor cross sensitisation in the heart may noticeably diminish the efficacy of selective beta 1 blockade in preventing arrhythmias in patients with ischaemic heart disease. These findings reopen the question of which type of beta blocker is more appropriate for such patients.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1993

Gastric myoelectric and motor activity in dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus.

Electrical and contractile properties of the stomach were assessed in six adult dogs after recovery from surgical treatment for gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), a disorder characterized by delayed gastric emptying of the solid phase. Electrodes and strain-gauge force transducers were sutured to the serosa of the antrum and pylorus at the time of surgical intervention for GDV. Ten days after implantation, electrical and mechanical activities were recorded before and after a standardized meal. The analog FM tape recordings of the electrical and mechanical signals were converted to digital time series for analysis by computer. Recordings from dogs after GDV showed increased slow wave propagation velocity in both the fasting and the fed states compared with controls. In addition, the GDV dogs had atypical fasting state phase III activity fronts. We found no difference in gastric slow wave frequency, dysrhythmia, or electromechanical coupling between the two groups. These results indicate that delayed gastric emptying in this syndrome is associated with increased gastric slow wave propagation velocity.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Influence of the corpus luteum of pregnancy on ovarian function in postpartum ewes.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of the corpus luteum (CL) of pregnancy and(or) the previously gravid uterine horn (g-UH) on the incidence and site of ovulation and the duration of luteal function in postpartum (PP) ewes. Ewes were laparotomized at d 60 to 80 of gestation and assigned to one of four groups: 1) single g-UH, CL left intact (SI, n = 35); 2) single g-UH, CL removed (SR, n = 30); 3) twin g-UH, CL on both ovaries left intact (TI, n = 21); and 4) twin g-UH, CL removed from one ovary (TR, n = 32). On d 20 PP, the number of follicles on each ovary was determined at laparoscopy, and ewes received (i.m.) 750 IU of hCG. Ovarian structures were determined at laparoscopy on d 24 PP. Blood samples were collected daily from d 20 to 40 PP and assayed for progesterone. more follicles (P < .05) were observed at laparoscopy on d 20 PP in SI/TI than in SR/TR groups (8.4 vs 6.0, respectively; SE = .4). Overall, 52% of the ewes had visible CL 4 d after hCG, and 73% of the ewes had elevated levels of progesterone by 7 d after hCG. The number of g-UH (S vs T) or status of the CL (I vs R) did not affect these responses. For SR ewes with hCG-induced CL on a single ovary, the incidence of CL formation on the ovary adjacent to g-UH was less (P < .05) than that for SI ewes (0 vs 57, respectively). Removal of the CL from S ewes, but not from T ewes, reduced follicular development and ovulation in response to hCG. Perhaps there is a positive systemic effect of the CL of pregnancy on postpartum ovarian function in ewes.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

The family relations, peer relations, and criminal activities of Caucasian and Hispanic-American gang members.

Juvenile gang members present serious problems to society, yet few empirical studies have examined their criminal activity, family relations, and peer relations in comparison with other highly antisocial youths. In a 2 (Gang Membership) x 2 (Ethnicity: Hispanic-American vs. Caucasian) design, 131 incarcerated male juvenile offenders were administered a battery assessing criminal activity, family relations, and peer relations. Results demonstrated (a) higher rates of criminal behavior (i.e., general delinquency, index offenses, school delinquency) among gang members than among offenders who did not belong to gangs, (b) higher rates of general delinquency and home delinquency among Caucasian offenders than among Hispanic-American offenders, and (c) greater aggression and less social maturity in the peer relations of gang members than in the peer relations of offenders who did not belong to gangs. In addition, gang membership mediated sociocultural differences in hard drug use. Findings are integrated with the extant literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Psychological-mindedness: a conceptual model.

Previous definitions of psychological-mindedness are reviewed and critiqued, and a new model presented. Though the construct has broad applications for psychotherapy issues, definitions appearing in the literature have lacked precision, inconsistently specifying the inclusion of and the interrelationships between the components of interest, ability, affect, and intellect. The simple yet comprehensive model presented here separates and defines the components and specifies their interrelationships. Accurate psychological-mindedness is defined as reflectivity about psychological processes, relationships, and meanings, and is displayed by an individual to the extent that he or she displays both interest in and ability for such reflectivity, and across both affective and intellectual dimensions. Ability is contributed to and limited by interest, and intellectual psychological-mindedness is contributed to and limited by affective psychological-mindedness. Implications for measurement and research are discussed.

Affect↗
PubMed1992

Steroid regulation of the synthesis and secretion of retinol-binding protein by the uterus of the pig.

The endometrium of the pig secretes retinol-binding protein (RBP) under the influence of progesterone (P4). The objective of this study was to determine how conceptus-derived estrogen might modulate this production of RBP around days 11-13 of pregnancy when conceptuses elongate from spheres to long thread-like forms. Concentrations of retinol and RBP were low (35 +/- 7 ng/ml) in uterine flushings obtained on days 10-12 of the estrous cycle or from pregnant gilts in which conceptuses had not elongated. Concentrations of retinol and RBP increased 7- to 8-fold (P less than 0.01) in flushings where filamentous conceptuses were present. Size exclusion and ion exchange chromatography demonstrated that virtually all retinol assayed in uterine flushings was associated with RBP. Northern blot analysis with a cDNA representing uterine RBP revealed a single endometrial mRNA 1.1 kilobases in length. Expression of RBP mRNA in uterine endometrium was measured in ovariectomized prepubertal gilts after the administration of steroids according to the following regimens: I, corn oil (days 0-16; n = 10); II, estradiol benzoate (EB; days 13-14; n = 11); III, EB (days 1-2; n = 12); IV, EB (days 1-2) plus P4 (days 3-16; n = 12); and V, EB (days 1-2) plus P4 (days 3-16) plus EB (days 13-14; n = 12). EB (200 micrograms) and P4 (100 mg) were administered twice daily. Treatment IV was designed to stimulate the estrous cycle, and treatment V simulated early pregnancy. All gilts were hysterectomized on day 16, and total uterine mRNA (3 micrograms) was analyzed by Northern blotting. No RBP mRNA was detected in groups I, II, or III. In group IV, 5 of 12 gilts had detectable RBP mRNA, as measured by densitometric scanning (OD = 0.35 +/- 0.14). RNA isolated from all gilts in group V (12 of 12) gave a strong hybridization signal (OD = 1.58 +/- 0.22) for RBP. Finally, RBP mRNA was examined in the uterine endometrium of mature gilts on day 13 of the estrous cycle (n = 4), day 13 of pseudopregnancy (2.5 mg EB given on days 11-12; n = 4), or day 13 of pregnancy after conceptuses had elongated (n = 4). RBP mRNA was present in all groups, but was enhanced approximately 12-fold (P less than 0.01) in pregnant and pseudopregnant gilts compared to that in control gilts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Influence of ovarian steroids on relaxin-induced uterine growth in ovariectomized gilts.

This study examined the influence of ovarian steroids on the uterotropic actions of relaxin (RLX) in ovariectomized prepubertal gilts. Ovariectomized gilts received (im) corn oil (CO), estradiol benzoate (EB), or EB and progesterone (P) for 0-16 days. Steroid administration was patterned to approximate the plasma concentrations of endogenous ovarian steroids observed during 1) the follicular phase (EB), 2) luteal phase (EB+P), and 3) early pregnancy (EB+P+EB). Half of each group also received PBS or 0.5 mg RLX every 6 h for 54 h, coinciding with the final 2 days of the experimental period. After hysterectomy, uterine tissues were analyzed for water, dry matter, protein, DNA, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and collagen contents. Administration of EB or P increased uterine weight 5- to 6-fold, but no differences were observed between EB+P- and EB+P+EB-treated gilts. Cotreatment with RLX enhanced steroid-induced uterine growth 40-70%, and RLX stimulated growth in CO- and EB+CO control gilts 2- to 3-fold. The water content of uterine tissues was greater in EB-, EB+P-, and EB+P+EB-treated gilts than in their respective controls, and this response was augmented by RLX in all treatment groups. Administration of steroids stimulated a 4- to 5-fold increase in uterine dry weight compared to that in controls, with responses not differing between EB+P- and EB+P+EB-treated gilts. In all groups, RLX increased uterine dry weight. Protein and DNA contents of uterine tissue increased with steroid treatment, but neither variable differed between EB+P- and EB+P+EB-treated gilts. Administration of RLX, alone or in combination with steroids, increased protein and DNA contents of uterine tissues. The tissue content of GAGs increased in response to steroids, and coadministration of RLX did not alter this response. Although the uterine tissue concentration of collagen was reduced in steroid- and RLX-treated gilts, the collagen content of the uterus was not affected by the various treatments. The results of this study indicate that RLX is a potent stimulator of uterine growth under a variety of steroidal environments. RLX- or steroid-induced uterine growth was manifest by increased water, dry matter, protein, and DNA and GAG contents, but the uterine content of collagen was not affected. The overall growth-promoting effects of EB and the stimulation of DNA accretion by RLX were not observed when gilts were cotreated with P.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

Gastric emptying of nondigestible radiopaque markers after circumcostal gastropexy in clinically normal dogs and dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus.

Using radiopaque particles mixed with food, gastric emptying was assessed in healthy dogs not subjected to surgery, in healthy dogs 9 to 35 days after circumcostal gastropexy, and, in dogs 1 to 54 months after surgical treatment and recovery from gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Circumcostal gastropexy surgery did not alter the 90% gastric emptying time for radiopaque particles in healthy dogs. However, 90% gastric emptying time was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased after circumcostal gastropexy in dogs with GDV, compared with healthy dogs after the same surgical procedure and recovery period. These results imply that dogs with GDV have delayed gastric emptying of solid particles. Whether delayed gastric emptying of markers detected in affected dogs after surgical treatment and recovery was the result or the cause of GDV was not determined. Results indicate that circumcostal gastropexy could be recommended as a prophylactic procedure for GDV in large breeds with deep thorax, because delayed gastric emptying of markers secondary to the surgical procedure is unlikely.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Paradoxical effects of blood alcohol concentration charts.

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to determine the association between alcohol drinking and the possession of blood alcohol concentration charts. METHOD: A total of 30 college-age subjects participated in the study. Subjects were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. All subjects answered a short entrance questionnaire to determine their height and weight. Those assigned to the experimental group were supplied a copy of a blood alcohol concentration chart and instructed in its use. The volume of alcoholic beverages consumed was surreptitiously counted for all subjects. Prior to leaving the premises the subjects completed an exit questionnaire which asked them to estimate the amount of alcohol they had consumed, whether they had driven to the pub, and whether they intended to drive away. The time spent in the pub was noted for each subject. RESULTS: Among those in the control group there was a tendency to overestimate the volume consumed, and for those in the experimental group, a tendency to more accurately estimate their consumption. Those given blood alcohol concentration charts consumed alcohol at a significantly higher rate than did those in the control group. CONCLUSION: A likely explanation for this outcome is that the chart served as a stimulus to prompt a drinker to more quickly achieve a blood alcohol level consistent with his/her drinking expectancies.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Brachial plexus anesthesia in pediatric patients.

Between 1980 and 1988 at our institution, brachial plexus anesthesia (BPA) was used in 109 pediatric patients who underwent 142 surgical procedures on an upper extremity, including 134 axillary blocks. Most patients older than 6 years of age had their blocks and surgical procedures with moderate sedation. The success rate was high--92.4% of axillary blocks and 100% of other blocks were adequate for surgical intervention in patients who required only intravenous sedation. The postoperative course in the BPA group was compared with that in 109 age-matched control subjects who underwent 188 procedures on an upper extremity during general anesthesia (GA). Admission to the recovery room after anesthesia occurred less frequently in the BPA group than in the GA group (27.5% versus 91.0%; P less than 0.01). Furthermore, nausea and vomiting were less frequent in the BPA group than in the GA group (P less than 0.01). Outpatients in the BPA group were less likely to require narcotic analgesics before dismissal than were those in the GA group (12% versus 31%; P less than 0.05). Admission of outpatients was infrequent in both groups (2% for BPA and 9% for GA). No significant difference was noted in 24-hour postoperative narcotic requirements between the BPA and GA groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Health education theory: an application to the process of patient-provider communication.

Although the medical visit is widely acknowledged as an important event presenting unique opportunities for the modification of health beliefs and behaviors, health education theory has provided few explanatory mechanisms for understanding its communication process. The purpose of this paper is to explore a theoretical model loosely derived from social exchange and reciprocity theory for viewing the dynamics and consequences of patient-provider interaction during the medical encounter. We have elaborated this notion of reciprocity to suggest that provider behaviors within both the technical and socioemotional realm inspire parallel patient behaviors. For instance, a physician who is very informative may expect a patient to remember his instructions and comply with his recommendations. Further, a physician who is warm and friendly will inspire parallel patient attitudes in the socioemotional domain, such as friendliness and satisfaction. However, we believe that the reciprocity principle is only partially operative between domains. While an informative physician may be perceived as concerned and caring, merely being nice or caring, in the absence of indications of task performance (such as information giving), does not supply the evidence on competence that patients need to decide to attend to information or adhere to a therapeutic regimen. Our theory of reciprocal exchange in the medical visit is consistent with a consumerist perspective of patient-provider relations and with the activated patient philosophy of health education.

Communication↗