Biomedical subjects

M A Harris

Publications and source records attributed to M A Harris.

130 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Research on social support in adolescents with IDDM: a critical review.

This article provides a review of the findings of 32 scientific studies that examined the relationship between social support and adherence/metabolic control in adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Social support included qualitative family support characteristics, communication patterns, sibling and peer relationships, and regimen-specific support behaviors. The literature was examined in the context of adolescent development. Although the results of these studies were somewhat inconsistent, some general patterns emerged that are described and discussed in detail. Methodological limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

College students with diabetes: using focus groups and interviews to determine psychosocial issues and barriers to control.

College students with diabetes are at risk for improvised diabetes care due to their age, newly acquired independence, and erratic schedules. The purpose of this study was to employ focus groups and interviews to identity factors that affect the ability of these students to engage in appropriate self-care behaviors. Focus group and interview questions were developed to address variables of the Expanded Health Belief Model. Two focus groups and fifteen interviews were conducted. Barriers to successful diabetes management were time management, stress hypoglycemic reactions, diet management constraints, and inadequate finances. Several psychosocial issues that affected successful management also were identified. These issues were grouped into three categories: (1) inconveniences of diabetes management, (2) motivators to managing diabetes, and (3) social support issues. The findings show the value of formative evaluation that can then be used to design diabetes education programs to meet clients' perceived needs.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of fine needle aspirates in the evaluation of progesterone receptor content in breast cancer.

Material obtained by fine needle aspiration (FNA) from 30 surgically removed breast carcinomas was tested for the immunocytochemical localization of progesterone receptor (PR) using a monoclonal antibody (MAb) developed against human breast cancer PR. When compared to values obtained by conventional biochemical analysis of cytosol protein in the same tissue, a semiquantitative relationship suggested that a high intensity (3+) stain in cases in which more than 30% of the cells were positive was compatible with a PR concentration of greater than 200 fmol/mg. An absence of nuclear stain was indicative of a PR concentration of less than 10 fmol/mg, while a stain of an intermediate intensity (2+) or a stain of high intensity (3+) in less than 30% of the cells correlated with a PR level of 51-200 fmol/mg. Only one case in this group showed weak staining with a PR concentration of 85.5 fmol/mg. Cases containing a low concentration of PR (less than 50 fmol/mg) demonstrated a weak nuclear stain (1+) in less than 10% of the cells. Localization of nuclear PR by MAb staining of FNA cytologic specimens affords a relatively simple, inexpensive method of obtaining potentially significant information regarding tumor response to hormonal therapy and the recurrence potential of a tumor in patients with primary breast cancer; at the same time, this technique obviates several important disadvantages of conventional biochemical analysis.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Estrogen receptor determination in fine needle aspirates of the breast. Correlation with histologic grade and comparison with biochemical analysis.

Material obtained by fine needle aspiration (FNA) of 25 surgically removed breast carcinomas was tested for the immunocytochemical localization of estrogen receptor (ER) using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method and a monoclonal antibody developed against human breast cancer ER. The results were compared to those obtained by the conventional biochemical analysis of cytosol protein. A semiquantitative relationship between the immunoperoxidase stain and the biochemical analysis suggests that cases in which greater than 70% of the cells stain and in which intense staining is present are likely to contain ER in a concentration of greater than 250 fmol/mg of cytosol. Less than 15% stained cells and an absence of intense staining is indicative of a concentration of less than 10 fmol/mg. In only one case was there a significant difference in positivity between the two methods, possibly as a result of a functional heterogeneity of the tumor cell population. Intense staining is strongly suggestive of a tumor of low histologic grade and was never seen in tumors with a high histologic grade or nuclear grade. The immunoperoxidase method of ER detection on material obtained by FNA is a semiquantitative means of selecting patients with breast cancer who are likely to respond to hormonal therapy. The method overcomes many important disadvantages of cytosol analysis and provides clinically significant information regarding the ER content and the degree of tumor differentiation.

Adult↗