Advocacy in action. Interview by Kathy Stodart.
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Bioethics↗
Biomedical subjects
J Elder
Publications and source records attributed to J Elder.
Identification of correlates of physical activity among Latino adults.
127 Latino adults responded to a survey concerning physical activity. Respondents over-represented well educated and middle class Latinos. Subjects reported a mean of 48 minutes/week of walking for exercise. This sample reported less than two episodes per week of vigorous physical activity, again below the recommended 3/wk needed to insure cardiovascular fitness. We expect more representative samples to engage in less physical activity. Stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted using 24 variables based on Social Learning Theory. A multiple R of 0.66 accounted for over 27% of the variance in walking for exercise (p less than 0.001). Older adults, those with a history of childhood injury, and those who reported friend support were more likely to walk for exercise. Respondents who participated in physical activity during childhood and adolescence (including formal physical education in school) and, paradoxically, those who had models for exercise in childhood were less likely to walk for exercise. A multiple R of 0.75 accounted for 43% of the variance in vigorous physical activity and reached significance (p less than 0.001). Self-efficacy, friends' support, childhood physical activity, and eating a heart healthy diet were positively related to vigorous activity. These results suggest that different correlates influence walking versus vigorous activity, and that correlates of physical activity are different for Latinos compared to Anglos. The findings emphasize the need for larger scale investigations of the determinants of activity within the Latino population.
Attitude to Health↗
Testicular self-examination by young men: an analysis of characteristics associated with practice.
This study was conducted to determine the level of testicular self-examination (TSE) awareness and practice and to identify characteristics related to TSE awareness and practice in a sample of college men. A 26-item survey was administered to 404 male college students. Forty-two percent reported they were aware of TSE, more than 41% had been taught TSE, and 22% had examined their testicles at least once in their lifetime. Approximately 8% of the study population reported practicing TSE once a month. The PRECEDE model was used to categorize the significant variables that influenced monthly TSE practice. Age and college class were significant demographic variables; predisposing factors included having heard of testicular cancer, knowing about recommended practice rates, feeling that cancer can be controlled, and awareness of the risk factors associated with testicular cancer. Having been taught TSE was the statistically significant enabling factor. A discussion of TSE in the past 6 months was the significant reinforcing factor.
Adolescent↗
Pregnancy, STDS, and AIDS prevention: evaluation of New Image Teen Theatre.
New Image Teen Theatre combines peer education and theatre in an informative and entertaining package. This study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of New Image Teen Theatre on altering teenagers' attitudes, knowledge, and intentions regarding sexual behavior. A total of 143 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 19 viewed the performance. The performance focused on the prevention of pregnancy, AIDS, and STDs and included content aimed at increasing communication. Teen participants completed pretest and posttest questionnaires. Almost half of the adolescents reported having engaged in sexual intercourse. About one third of the sexually active reported never using birth control, and only 21% reported consistent use of condoms. These results confirm adolescents' risk for pregnancy, STDs, and AIDS in particular. Following the performance, the teens reported significantly more willingness to discuss sexual issues with others, significantly greater intention to use birth control (for sexually active teens), and demonstrated significantly greater sexual knowledge. Furthermore, they indicated that they had experienced more positive emotions than negative emotions while viewing the production. Results suggest that theatre education may set the stage for more comprehensive interventions designed to prevent pregnancy, STDs, and AIDS.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
[Honduran experience with the control of acute infantile respiratory infections].
The Honduran Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, in consultation with the HEALTHCOM Project of the Academy for Educational Development, conducted a national study that examined the characteristic patterns of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in children, as well as the measures being used to control them. Following an ethnographic analysis of the entire population, a pilot intervention program was developed to teach mothers how to recognize ARI symptoms and take appropriate measures in the case of mild, moderate, and severe episodes. The intervention consisted of teaching health workers (HW) in eight rural towns the most important aspects of ARI control and instructing them in a methodology for transmitting these concepts to the community through oral presentations in local health centers. The methodology included behavior modification techniques and incentives. Three observation instruments were used to compare the effectiveness of the health workers' presentations before and after their training, as well as the knowledge acquired by those who attended the presentations and the community at large. The results indicated that the techniques used both to train the HW and by them in their presentations helped the mothers and other members of the community to respond more effectively when children came down with acute respiratory infections of varying degrees of severity.
Acute Disease↗
The relationship between serum cholesterol and serum thyrotropin, thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine concentrations in suspected hypothyroidism.
The relationship between serum cholesterol, thyrotropin, thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine was investigated in 1018 female patients over 40 years of age with suspected hypothyroidism. The correlation between serum thyrotropin and cholesterol (r = 0.398) and between thyroxine and cholesterol (r = -0.217) were both highly significant (P less than 0.001), but the correlation between tri-iodothyronine and cholesterol (r = -0.011) was not significant. Only in patients with a serum thyrotropin in excess of 40 mU/L was there a clinically appreciable increase in the serum cholesterol. In 139 patients treated for hypothyroidism by thyroxine replacement there was a highly significant correlation (P less than 0.001) between the decrease in serum thyrotropin and cholesterol (r = 0.593). The correlation between increase in serum thyroxine and decrease in cholesterol (r = -0.401) was also highly significant (P less than 0.001), but there was an even stronger correlation between the increase in serum tri-iodothyronine and the decrease in serum cholesterol (r = -0.529).
Aged↗
Characteristics of placebo response during long-term treatment of panic disorder.
Mixed-panic disorder patients (16/60, 27%) randomly assigned to receive blind placebo during a 40-week treatment study were defined as placebo responders based on combined criteria of Hamilton Anxiety Scale score percentage decreases below the median point (-42%), moderate to marked improvement on both clinician and patient Clinical Global Impressions scores, and panic-free at final treatment visit. These criteria applied separately also resulted in a similar clinical grouping and pattern of response. Differential patterns of response between responders and nonresponders occurred across most clinical measures of panic/anxiety. Responders experienced early improvement within the first week of double-blind treatment. This response progressed during treatment and tended to persist during taper and at followup 1 month later. Post-hoc analysis of demographic and clinical features at entrance into the study failed to characterize this stringently defined group of placebo responders.
Adult↗
How much oral rehydration solution is actually administered during home-based therapy?
In some parts of the world up to one-half of all deaths in young children are attributable to dehydration associated with diarrhoea. As a countermeasure, mothers in underdeveloped countries are being successfully taught to give oral rehydration solution at home. There are, however, serious doubts as to whether mothers give their children enough. The focus of our investigation was a methodology capable of establishing the exact quantity of fluid administered by unsupervised mothers at home. Accurate quantitative data are essential for programme planning and evaluation. In our sample of 44 cases, only two children received more than 90 ml kg-1 day-1. The mean observed value was 44 ml kg-1 day-1 (SD 28.4); well below the recommended dosage. Preliminary data were also gathered on natural consequences which may discourage use of ORS such as vomiting, increased frequency of watery stools, and distaste for the solution.
Age Factors↗
Spontaneous resolution of primary congenital glaucoma.
We report a further four cases of spontaneously resolved primary congenital glaucoma, including one case seen both prior and subsequent to the resolution. This condition is detected usually in eyes with megalocornea, which are later found to have breaks in Descemets membrane. Two other patients also had this diagnosis made, but later developed active glaucoma, requiring surgical treatment, indicating the need for continued observation of apparently abortive forms of congenital glaucoma.
Child, Preschool↗
Identification of the protein product of the c-mos proto-oncogene in mouse testes.
The mouse c-mos proto-oncogene RNA is expressed primarily in mouse gonadal tissues and embryos. Until now, the c-mos protein has not been identified. Utilizing two different site-directed affinity purified anti-peptide antibodies, we have identified a 43 kDa c-mos protein in mouse testes and in germ cell preparations derived from testes. This 43 kDa testicular protein was found to be structurally related to a bacterially expressed c-mos protein by peptide mapping. Immunoblots of whole mouse sections were employed to establish that the c-mos protein is expressed primarily in the testes.
Animals↗
Treatment of cryptorchidism with low doses of buserelin over a 6-months period.
In a collaborative study, 48 prepubertal boys with undescended testes ranging in age from 15 months to 11 years were treated with low-dose intranasal buserelin following an every-other-day programme for a period of 6 months. Urinary LH, FSH, and testosterone were not altered during the treatment period. Boys over 7 years of age experienced a slight but significant rise in testosterone at the end of treatment. Testicular descent was achieved in only 17% of boys. In the remainder, bilateral testicular biopsies were obtained during orchiopexy. Grouped analysis showed a significant increase in the number of germ cells per tubule in both unilateral and bilateral cryptorchid boys, suggesting that buserelin treatment of the testis in a cryptorchid position is capable of improving fertility potential. If time-matched controls are compared to treated boys of the same age, again a significant difference is observed indicating that buserelin treatment does increase the germ cell count.
Administration, Intranasal↗
Long-term effect of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (buserelin) on cryptorchid testes.
We studied 48 prepubertal boys with cryptorchidism between 1 year 3 months and 11 years old who were treated with buserelin every other day for 6 months. Urinary luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones, and testosterone remained unchanged during the entire treatment period. In boys older than 7 years a slight but significant increase in testosterone was noted in the first morning voided urine at the end of treatment. Testicular biopsies were obtained at orchiopexy in all patients in whom testicular descent was not complete (83 per cent). A significant increase in the number of germ cells was observed in patients with unilateral and those with bilateral cryptorchidism, indicating that 6 months of buserelin therapy improved the fertility status even when testes were in an undescended position during treatment.
Administration, Intranasal↗
Preventing a high rise in intraocular pressure after laser trabeculoplasty.
The high rise in pressure which sometimes follows laser trabeculoplasty is a serious and sight-threatening complication in patients with advanced glaucoma. In a previous study we found that patients undergoing laser trabeculoplasty were very unlikely to have a high rise in pressure if the initial pressure was less than 20 mmHg. In the present study a series of patients was given acetazolamide 500 mg immediately before laser trabeculoplasty if their pressures were greater than 20 mmHg. All patients were then monitored to see if this regime was effective in preventing a serious rise in intraocular pressure. Some of the patients with an initial pressure less than 20 mmHg still sustained a high rise in pressure after laser trabeculoplasty. A further series of patients was then given acetazolamide preoperatively and the postoperative rise in pressure was monitored two and 24 hours after trabeculoplasty. The acetazolamide prevented a high rise in pressure after laser trabeculoplasty in the majority of patients.
Acetazolamide↗
Simplified method of indwelling ureteral stent removal.
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Catheters, Indwelling↗
Dissecting the molecular anatomy of the nervous system: analysis of RNA and protein expression in whole body sections of laboratory animals.
Nucleic acid hybridization and protein blotting procedures have allowed the specific detection of both RNA and protein gene products in whole body sections of a selected host. These procedures permit efficient and reproducible screening of both endogenous and exogenous (viral) gene products, thus facilitating the study of normal differentiation, the localization of virus and the monitoring of viral diseases. Although success with RNA hybridization has thus far been limited to exogenous viral gene expression, the protein immunoblotting procedures have the sensitivity to detect endogenous protein products with high resolution. These combined procedures should prove useful for the study of protein expression in numerous developmental systems.
Animals↗
Simplified method of indwelling ureteral stent removal.
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Catheters, Indwelling↗
The blunder-rate in a clinical biochemistry service.
We describe a study undertaken to investigate the frequency and type of mistake detected in a large biochemistry laboratory. Blunders were recorded over three non-consecutive 3-week periods. The returns to the external quality assessment schemes during a 12-month period were also monitored. Despite changes in laboratory practice, the nature of the errors found has not altered substantially from those described by earlier investigators. The detected blunder rate was 0.3%.
Chemistry, Clinical↗
The marketing implications of a hospital-based smoking cessation program.
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Female↗