Studies support safety of fiberglass.
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Construction Materials↗
Biomedical subjects
J Johnson
Publications and source records attributed to J Johnson.
Characteristics and diagnoses of cockroach-sensitive bronchial asthma.
Bronchial asthma with cockroach hypersensitivity is prevalent among urban asthmatic populations. To elucidate characteristics of cockroach asthma, we analyzed 592 consecutive urban Chicago asthmatic patients retrospectively. Allergy skin testing (AST) with common inhalants, serum total IgE, and cockroach-specific IgE (IgE-CR) antibodies were measured. Some cockroach asthmatics were studied further for bronchial reactivity in vivo and histamine releasability (HR) in vitro against cockroach allergen (CRa), and diagnostic accuracy for asthma was analyzed. Clinical characteristics were evaluated and compared with those of ragweed asthmatics and asthmatics in general. Two hundred eighty-three (196 women, 87 men) were reactive to CRa by AST. The average age and duration of cockroach asthma were 30.4 and 15.1 years, respectively. Steroid dependency of the cockroach asthma was higher (32%) than those of general asthmatics (P less than .05) and ragweed asthma (P less than .05). IgE level was elevated (geometric mean 413.2 IU/mL), higher than that of general asthmatics (P less than .001), and 87% showed IgE level higher than 100 IU/mL. IgE-CR and BPT-CR were positive in 61% (175 tested) and in 87% (166 tested), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of skin test were 99% and 40%, while those of IgE-CR were 91% and 58%, respectively. IgE-CR increased probability of cockroach asthma from 87% to 91%. BPT with CRa was correlated well with the HR of leukocytes (P less than .0001). Thus, cockroach asthma is a severe allergic asthma and can be diagnosed accurately by skin test plus BPT or skin test plus HR.
Adolescent↗
Changing medical students' attitudes about AIDS.
Medical students may have negative attitudes about persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as well as concerns about occupational infection with human immunodeficiency virus. We conducted a brief intervention to assess and modify attitudes of first-year students. The intervention was presented to small groups of students by peers, faculty, and a person with AIDS. Assessments of attitudes and knowledge were conducted one week prior to the intervention (pretest), and one (posttest 1) and 47 weeks (posttest 2) afterwards. Females had more positive attitudes about AIDS on pretest and posttest 1. Attitude scores improved significantly from pretest to posttest 1 but returned close to baseline by posttest 2. Knowledge scores were high on pretest and did not change significantly. Attitude scores were significantly correlated with knowledge, and with students' opinions regarding obligation to care for AIDS patients. Acquaintance with a homosexual was highly correlated with both scores. This intervention may serve as a model in improving students' attitudes about AIDS.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
The five key areas of administration.
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Humans↗
Mupirocin resistance.
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Drug Resistance, Microbial↗
Panic attacks in the community. Social morbidity and health care utilization.
This article focuses on social morbidity and health care utilization in persons with panic attacks not meeting full diagnostic criteria for panic disorder. The findings are based on data from a random sample of over 18,000 adults drawn from five US communities. Panic attacks not meeting full criteria for panic disorder have a relatively high lifetime prevalence (3.6% of the adult population). Persons with panic attacks had impairment in perceived physical and emotional health, and in occupational and financial functioning, increased use of health care facilities, emergency departments, and psychoactive drugs. Persons with panic attacks were intermediate in severity between those with panic disorder and those with other psychiatric disorders. The findings could not be explained by comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders. We conclude that panic attacks have clinical significance and are associated with substantial morbidity.
Adolescent↗
The validity of major depression with psychotic features based on a community study.
This article reports on the evidence for the validity of psychotic major depression as a distinct subtype based on cross-sectional and 1-year prospective data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study. Consistent with findings from previous clinical studies, only about 14% of major depressions were accompanied by psychotic features. Psychotic as compared with nonpsychotic depression had a more severe course, as reflected in increased risk of relapse, persistence over 1 year, suicide attempts, hospitalization, comorbidity, and financial dependency. These differences could not be explained by differences in demographic characteristics or by symptom severity, as assessed by symptom profile or number of symptoms. The boundary problem with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder that is seen in clinical studies was also found in this sample. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the validity of psychotic depression in a community sample; the findings are consistent with those from clinical samples. They support the clinical significance of psychotic depression and the continuation of its inclusion as a distinct subtype in DSM-IV.
Adult↗
Digoxin pharmacokinetics and spirapril, a new ace inhibitor.
As concurrent use of digoxin with the novel ACE inhibitor spirapril should be common, potential for spirapril to affect steady-state digoxin kinetics was studied. Fifteen healthy white male volunteers aged 22-42 and weighing 135-225 lbs took digoxin tablets 0.25 mg every 12 hours for 5 weeks. In crossover design, each also received spirapril or matching placebo capsules during weeks 1 and 2, or 4 and 5. Dosage of spirapril was increased from 12 mg to 48 mg once daily. Spirapril produced no significant effect on mean (+/- SD) serum digoxin concentration in the steady state, area under curve for 12 hours, peak digoxin level, time to peak, or urinary digoxin excretion over 12 hours. No change in renal or whole body digoxin clearance was seen. Unlike some other cardiovascular drugs, spirapril does not alter steady-state digoxin kinetics in healthy adults.
Administration, Oral↗
Precision and stability of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurements.
This study was performed to determine the precision and stability of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurements, to compare bone mineral density (BMD) of subjects measured by DEXA and radionuclide dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA), and to evaluate different absorber materials for use with an external standard. Short-term precision (% coefficient of variation, CV) was determined in 6 subjects scanned six times each with repositioning, initially and 9 months later. Mean CV was 1.04% for spine and 2.13% for femoral neck BMD; for whole-body measurements in 5 subjects, mean CV was 0.64% for BMD, 2.2% for fat, and 1.05% for lean body mass. Precision of aluminum phantom measurements made over a 9-month period was 0.89% with the phantom in 15.2 cm, 0.88% in 20.3 cm, and 1.42% in 27.9 cm of water. In 51 subjects, BMD by DEXA and DPA was correlated for the spine (r = 0.98, P = 0.000) and femoral neck (r = 0.91, P = 0.000). Spine BMD was 4.5% lower and femoral neck BMD 3.1% higher by DEXA than by DPA. An aluminum phantom was scanned repeatedly, in both water and in an oil/water (30:70) mixture at thickness ranging from 15.2 through 27.9 cm. Phantom BMD was lower at 15.2 cm than at higher thicknesses of both water and oil/water (P = 0.05, ANOVA). The phantom was scanned repeatedly in 15.2, 20.3, and 27.9 cm of water over a 9 month period. In 15.2 and 20.3 cm of water, phantom BMD did not vary significantly whereas in 27.9 cm of water (equivalent to a human over 30 cm thick), phantom BMD increased 2.3% (P = 0.01) over the 9 months.
Absorptiometry, Photon↗
Measuring acute changes in adrenergic nerve activity of the heart in the living animal.
Changes in the function of the adrenergic neurons of the heart may be important indicators of the adaptations of an animal to physiologic stress and disease. Rates of loss of norepinephrine (NE) from the heart were considered to be proportional to NE secretion and to adrenergic function. In rat hearts, yohimbine induced almost identical increases in rates of loss of 3H-NE and of 125I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), a functional analog of NE. Clonidine induced decreases in rates of loss of 3H-NE that were also mimicked by those of 125I-MIBG. In the dog heart, pharmacologically-induced increases and decreases in rates of loss of 123I-MIBG could be measured externally; these values were similar to those obtained for 125I-MIBG in the rat heart. Thus acute changes in the adrenergic neuron activity can be measured in the living heart. The method is applicable to man in determining the capacity of the adrenergic system to respond to provocative challenges.
3-Iodobenzylguanidine↗
A psycho-behavioral model of genital herpes recurrence.
To develop a model of how stress and other psychosocial constructs may interact to explain recurrences of genital herpes, assessments of major and minor life stress, locus of control, arousal or stimulation seeking, and social support were given to 153 university students (33% male; 67% female) who were seropositive for genital herpes. Retrospective and concurrent indices of illness vulnerability were evaluated. Serum levels of thymosin-alpha-1, a peptide sensitive to psychosocial stress, were measured at the beginning of the study. A causal model suggested by previous research was not supported by the data. An alternate model showed that psychosocial stress did not affect herpes recurrence directly, but instead predisposed subjects to more generalized illnesses, which in turn mediated recurrences. Social support increased rather than decreased the likelihood of illness vulnerability, thus increasing the risk of recurrence. Higher levels of both arousal seeking and external locus of control increased illness vulnerability but moderated the likelihood of herpes recurrence. Higher levels of thymosin-alpha-1 were related to greater illness vulnerability but this peptide was not associated with psychosocial stress as originally predicted. Additional construct validation of the role of illness vulnerability in increasing the risk of herpes recurrence is recommended.
Adolescent↗
Reverse hysterocolposigmoidectomy (RHCS) for resection of panpelvic tumors.
Lateral retroperitoneal approaches to abdominopelvic masses are commonly employed; the reverse hysterocolposigmoidectomy (RCHS) in addition utilizes transabdominal entry of the vaginal and rectovaginal spaces to provide medial access to the uterosacral and cardinal ligaments as well expose a tumor-free segment of the rectosigmoid for en bloc resection of panpelvic tumors. Thirty-one patients underwent reverse hysterocolpectomy for extensive, symptomatic pelvic malignancies. All patients had complete resection of pelvic tumor, and there were no perioperative deaths. Sigmoid resection was required in 25 patients with 22 primary reanastomosis and 3 end colostomies performed. In 6 patients, vaginal entry facilitated tumor resection while sparing the rectosigmoid. Average operative blood loss was 2677 cc. Early postoperative morbidity (1-30 days) occurred in 13 patients; febrile morbidity (6 patients) was the common complication. Late morbidity (1-6 months) was seen in 10 patients, including 1 fatal pulmonary embolism at 5 months. Subsequent therapy was tolerated well. Mean survival/follow-up is 15.7 months (range, 1 to 49 months). Seventeen patients are alive, seven patients without evidence of disease (average 13.4 months), and ten patients are alive with disease (average follow-up, 28.3 months). Thirteen patients are dead of disease or complication (average survival, 13.7 months). We conclude that RHCS facilitates resection of extensive pelvic tumors with acceptable morbidity.
Adult↗
Variability in psychometric test scores: the importance of the practice effect in patient study design.
1. Practice effect was determined for six types of psychometric tests given on eight occasions. 2. No plateau occurred. Stepwise mean decrease in Choice Reaction Time, Short Term Memory Errors, and Card Sorting Time, and stepwise mean increase in Mathematical, Visual Vigilance, and Digit-Symbol Substitution scores developed progressively. 3. Pre-trial training will usually fail to prevent practice effect from confounding effect of any intervention. 4. Design of drug intervention studies must take account of the continuing practice effect.
Adult↗
Wilderness emergency medical services: the experiences at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
This article describes the National Park Service wilderness emergency medical services (EMS) system, as implemented at Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. EMS records on all 434 patients in the period from August 1, 1986, to July 31, 1987, were reviewed. Most patients had minor problems. Overall, 77% of patients contacting the EMS system were released at the scene, and base hospital contact was made in only 28% of cases. However, there were three deaths, 44 (10%) patients who received advanced life support, and 292 (67%) patients who received basic life support. Seven patients who received advanced life support were released without transport. Decisions regarding scope of practice in a low-volume, wilderness EMS system are complicated by long transport times and problems with skills maintenance. Differences between the times and problems with skills maintenance. Differences between the patients treated by a wilderness system and those seen in most urban systems may make it appropriate to release a greater portion of patients without ambulance transport. In a system with long response and transport times, use of personnel with different training than in the urban setting becomes necessary.
Adolescent↗
Transcription of full-length and truncated mRNA transcripts to study protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum.
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Biological Transport↗
Delirium in the medically ill elderly: operationalizing the DSM-III criteria.
This prospective study determined the incidence and prevalence of delirium in 235 consecutive subjects over age 70 admitted to a general medicine hospital service. The DSM-III criteria for delirium were operationalized. Using accepted screening procedures, patients were referred for evaluation by a psychiatrist who determined whether delirium was present by applying explicit operational definitions to each of the DSM-III criteria. Data on presence and severity of each of the DSM-III symptoms were recorded. Analysis of these data indicates that the DSM-III criteria describe a discrete, recognizable syndrome. However, some of the symptoms are more specific than others in identifying the syndrome in this population.
Aged↗
Nicotinamide ethers: novel inhibitors of calcium-independent phosphodiesterase and [3H]rolipram binding.
The synthesis and biological properties of a series of nicotinamide ethers are described. These compounds, structurally novel calcium-independent phosphodiesterase inhibitors, also inhibit the binding of [3H]rolipram to rat brain membranes and reverse reserpine-induced hypothermia in the mouse. Several compounds exhibited potent in vivo activity comparable to the standard agent, rolipram.
Animals↗
Synthesis and biological activity of 5-alkyl-1,7,8-trisubstituted-6-fluoroquinoline-3-carboxylic acids.
A series of 5-alkyl-1,7,8-trisubstituted-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3- quinolinecarboxylic acids was prepared and evaluated for in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity. When compared to the 5-hydrogen analogues, the presence of the 5-methyl group enhanced in vitro potency for those compounds containing a cyclopropyl moiety at N1 but decreased potency for those containing an ethyl group at N1. Replacing the 5-methyl with a 5-ethyl significantly reduced the efficacy. In general, the 5-methyl and 5-hydrogen analogues were equipotent in vivo. Several of the 5-methyl-1-cyclopropylquinolones displayed excellent in vitro and in vivo activity, warranting further development.
4-Quinolones↗