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Biomedical subjects

J S Boyle

Publications and source records attributed to J S Boyle.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Patterns of resistance: African American mothers and adult children with HIV illness.

Although the research on caregiving and caregivers has been extensive, there have been few studies on the cultural context and meaning of African American caregiving in relation to HIV illness. Many Black feminists have argued that African American women experience a world different from those who are not Black and that failure to take account of race, class, and gender is paramount in an attempt to authentically portray the lives of African American women. This study argues that rural African American culture and experiences of racism and discrimination in the rural South shaped the responses of mothers when their adult children developed HIV illness. The study employed the ethnographic techniques of participant observation and in-depth interviews with 14 rural, poor, African American mothers who cared for adult children with HIV illness. Analysis of the data identified patterns of resistance that mothers employed throughout the caregiving experience. Mothers resisted labels and other controlling images that they believed marginalized them and negated what was happening to their children. Mothers used culturally patterned behaviors to protect their families and resist the stigma of HIV/AIDS.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Enhanced responses to a DNA vaccine encoding a fusion antigen that is directed to sites of immune induction.

Viral infection and vaccination with DNA both induce similar immune responses to encoded antigens that are produced by the host. The availability of antigens in lymphoid organs is important in generating an immune response to viral challenge. Antigen availability may also be important in the response to DNA vaccines, because immune responses are stronger when antigen is secreted from DNA-transfected cells. We directed antigen to lymphoid organs by vaccination with DNA encoding antigen-ligand fusion proteins. The two ligands examined bind to receptors that are present on high endothelial venule cells of lymph nodes or on antigen-presenting cells. Here we show that both the humoral and the cellular immune responses to a model DNA vaccine were enhanced using either antigen-targeting strategy. Moreover, directing antigen to antigen-presenting cells speeded up, and altered the form of, the immune response. Directing antigen to sites of immune-response induction may represent a generic means of tailoring a potent and effective immune response to a DNA vaccine.

Abatacept↗
PubMed1998

Inhibitory effect of lipopolysaccharide on immune response after DNA immunization is route dependent.

The DNA prepared from E. coli contained high levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). When antigen-encoding DNA was injected into mice, toxicity and increased IgM responses were observed. A method for purifying high yields of DNA (up to 12 mg/L of broth culture) with very low levels of LPS (0.05 ng/mg) was developed. When this purified DNA was used for immunization studies, the toxicity and increased IgM responses were abrogated. Thus, LPS was added to DNA in order to examine its influence on the IgG and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response after intramuscular (i.m.) or intradermal (i.d.) DNA immunization. The IgG response to DNA-encoded antigen was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the i.d., but not the i.m., route of immunization. Surprisingly, no effect on the CTL response was observed. Therefore, the ability to produce high yields of plasmid DNA with very low levels of endotoxin contamination is advantageous for DNA immunization studies, not only for toxicologic but also for immunologic considerations. Furthermore, these results provide further evidence that immune induction occurs via different mechanisms after i.m. and i.d. DNA immunization.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Horsemen of the Apocalypse: lessons from the Gulf War.

War is a major global threat to human health, not only in the immediate effects of death and injury to the people, but also in the damage to infrastructures such as food, water, and power supplies and to social structures that support families, economies, and governments. Iraq's devastating aftershocks from the Gulf War include the physical and psychologic effects of displacement, poverty, famine, disease, and environmental destruction. Early nursing leaders vocally opposed World War I, and contemporary nurses should consider becoming activists in the primary and secondary prevention of this major global health problem.

Global Health↗
PubMed1997

DNA immunization: induction of higher avidity antibody and effect of route on T cell cytotoxicity.

Immunizations of mice with plasmid DNAs encoding ovalbumin (OVA), human Ig, and hen egg lysozyme were compared with doses of soluble protein (without adjuvant) that induced similar IgG responses. The route of immunization influenced the magnitude of the antibody (Ab) response in that intradermal (i.d.) injection elicited higher IgG Ab levels than i.m. injection in both DNA- and protein-immunized mice. Although total IgG levels were similar to soluble protein controls, the avidity of the anti-OVA Abs generated by DNA immunization were 100- and 1,000-fold higher via the i.m. or i.d. route, respectively. However, despite the generation of high-avidity Ab in DNA-immunized mice, germinal centers could not be detected in either DNA- or protein-immunized mice. Examination of the IgG subclass response showed that IgG2a was induced by i.m. DNA immunization, coinciding with elevated interferon gamma production, whereas a dominant and elevated IgG1 response, coinciding with detectable interleukin 4 production, was generated after i.d. immunization with DNA or soluble OVA and hen egg lysozyme but not human Ig protein. As expected, cytotoxic T cell (CTL) responses could be detected only after DNA immunization. I.d. immunization produced the strongest CTL responses early (2 weeks) but was similar to i.m. later. Therefore, DNA immunization can differ from protein immunization by its ability to induce rapid CTL responses and higher avidity Ab, both of which are advantageous for vaccination.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Influence of cellular location of expressed antigen on the efficacy of DNA vaccination: cytotoxic T lymphocyte and antibody responses are suboptimal when antigen is cytoplasmic after intramuscular DNA immunization.

We examined the role of the cellular localization of antigen on the immune response after DNA immunization of mice with three forms of ovalbumin (OVA). DNA encoding OVA which was secreted (sOVA) generated 10- to 100-fold higher IgG responses with 50-and 100-fold higher levels of IgG1 than the cytoplasmic (cOVA) or membrane bound (mOVA) forms. An IgG2a predominance was seen only in cOVA and mOVA immunized mice. Although the antibody response was CD4+ T cell dependent, the differences in the antibody response could not be compensated for by provision of excess CD4+ T cell help in TCR transgenic mice. Together with our hapten-carrier studies, this would indicate that membrane or intracellular localization limits the availability of antigen for B cell priming which affects the magnitude and form of the antibody response. Surprisingly, stronger cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses were generated for sOVA or mOVA than for cOVA via intramuscular (i.m.) injection. Since a cytoplasmic antigen should have best access to the canonical class I pathway for antigen presentation, our results indicate that priming of CTL responses after i.m. DNA immunization is probably by cross-presentation of antigen by non-transfected professional antigen-presenting cells. In contrast, intradermal immunization with cOVA produced optimal CTL responses but, as with mOVA, suboptimal antibody responses. This, together with our ex vivo RT-PCR analysis showing similar mRNA levels from all three constructs 7 days post-immunization, argues against the differential CTL response for i.m. injection to be due to dose.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Going home: African-American caregiving for adult children with human immunodeficiency virus disease.

The caregiving literature has focused on European-American caregivers who are providing care to spouses or parents with Alzheimer's disease. The article reports ethnographic research exploring aspects of caregiving by rural African-American mothers for adult children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Eight African-American mothers were interviewed to elicit cultural domains of caregiving. Two major domains were a personal relationship with God and God's will. Taken together, these domains framed the context in which African-American mothers understood HIV disease, provided care, and resolved the death of their adult child.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Detection of the turkey pathogens Mycoplasma meleagridis and M. iowae by amplification of genes coding for rRNA.

PCR-based diagnostic tests using oligonucleotides specific to 16S rRNA were designed for the specific detection of the turkey pathogens Mycoplasma meleagridis and M. iowae. This method of detection was shown to be rapid, species specific, and unaffected by strain variation or the presence of other organisms. Detection of M. meleagridis in clinical samples by PCR was achieved and later confirmed by culture and growth inhibition. Definitive identification by culture and growth inhibition required up to 3 weeks, whereas positive results from PCR testing were obtained within a day and negative samples were confirmed within 4 days.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Infant relinquishment through adoption.

The confidential nature of adoption and the stigma associated with out-of-wedlock pregnancies have limited the number of studies of infant relinquishment. Birthmothers' feelings of loss and grief have not been widely acknowledged. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of 12 women who had relinquished their infants for adoption. Data were collected using open-ended questions to describe the experiences. Type of adoption influenced the experience of infant relinquishment. Four themes represented the process of relinquishment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1994

Nominations for excellence: collegial advocacy for nurse practitioners.

This study examined physician nomination data submitted for Syntex Nurse Practitioner of the Year Awards for 1988, 1989, and 1990. The physicians identified nurse practitioner contributions to patient care, community service/outreach, and education and research. A content analysis of the text data yielded themes within four major domains that described outstanding nurse practitioners in mutual practice relationships with physicians. The domains were clinical expertise, holistic caring, patient-centered activism, and leadership. The findings in this study indicated that physicians value the contributions of nurse practitioners that enhance the quality and scope of health care for patients within a mutual practice.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1992

Women's perspectives on homelessness.

An increase in the number of individuals who are homeless since the 1980s has made homelessness a major social, economic, and political problem in the United States. The number of homeless in this country is estimated as high as 3 million, with women and children constituting the fastest growing subgroup of this population. A study of eight homeless women using a shelter in a southeastern city was conducted to explore the experience of homelessness from the women's perspectives. A modified ethnographic approach using a semistructured interview provided qualitative data. The constant comparative method of analysis identified themes of heightened awareness, guarding, identification of needs, and strategies for resolution. This study provides a new understanding of how some women experience homelessness, as well as the responses they take to solve this problem.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

Improving home health care for the Navajo.

Home health care clients on the Navajo reservation present complex nursing problems that require interventions that are culturally sensitive. A collaborative project was developed that used the skills of researchers, clinicians, and members of the Navajo culture to develop culturally appropriate nursing care. Traditional life themes, values, and beliefs of the Navajo related to health and illness are described with examples of how the project facilitated home health care for Navajo clients.

Arizona↗
PubMed1989

Constructs of health promotion and wellness in a Salvadoran population.

Theoretical frameworks are necessary to clarify concepts of health promotion in diverse groups, as nursing interventions must be shaped to fit populations' cultural and health profiles. This study explored health-promoting beliefs and practices of a group of Salvadoran refugees. Data were collected through the use of ethnographic methods, including focused and open-ended interviews as well as participant observations. Four major constructs of health promotion were derived from the literature and used to operationalize the concept of health promotion as a basis for the interview questions; these constructs were nutrition and weight control, exercise and physical fitness, stress management, and social support and help. The 53 subjects described beliefs and practices about health promotion that were relevant in their daily lives. Theoretical constructs, inductively developed from the data, suggested that complex constellations of family, supportive friends, religious affiliations, and work opportunities enhanced well-being. Personal health practices related to fresh air, sleep, and good nutritional practices were deemed important by the informants. Nurses who understand the community and can obtain access to resources and develop individual care strategies within the context of the family are likely to promote wellness and health functioning in this population.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Professional nursing in Iraq.

This paper examines professional nursing in Iraq, with emphasis on selected sociopolitical policies and the role of women. A baccalaureate program in nursing was established at the University of Baghdad in 1963, followed by a masters' program in 1986. Although modernization policies encouraged the development of nursing, the profession was influenced negatively by the restricted role and low status of women in Arab society. Shortly after the ceasefire in the Iran-Iraq war, the professional nursing program was closed by the government. The analysis suggests that nursing leaders have not had access to sources of power through a role in policy making and thus have not been able to ensure the development of the profession.

Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate↗
PubMed1987

Nursing, health, and policy within a community context.

This article describes a method of linking curriculum and the nursing role in health policy. Graduate students participated in a project to assess the impact of policy on the health of a community and the implications for nursing. The experience of this project indicates that learning about policy within a community context has merit for helping students understand the impact of policy on nursing.

Adolescent↗