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Biomedical subjects

M Atkinson

Publications and source records attributed to M Atkinson.

191 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of a new emotional self-management program on stress, emotions, heart rate variability, DHEA and cortisol.

This study examined the effects on healthy adults of a new emotional self-management program, consisting of two key techniques, "Cut-Thru" and the "Heart Lock-In." These techniques are designed to eliminate negative thought loops and promote sustained positive emotional states. The hypotheses were that training and practice in these techniques would yield lowered levels of stress and negative emotion and cortisol, while resulting in increased positive emotion and DHEA levels over a one-month period. In addition, we hypothesized that increased coherence in heart rate variability patterns would be observed during the practice of the techniques. Forty-five healthy adults participated in the study, fifteen of whom acted as a comparison group for the psychological measures. Salivary DHEA/DHEAS and cortisol levels were measured, autonomic nervous system function was assessed by heart rate variability analysis, and emotions were measured using a psychological questionnaire. Individuals in the experimental group were assessed before and four weeks after receiving training in the self-management techniques. The experimental group experienced significant increases in the positive affect scales of Caring and Vigor and significant decreases in the negative affect scales of Guilt, Hostility, Burnout, Anxiety and Stress Effects, while no significant changes were seen in the comparison group. There was a mean 23 percent reduction in cortisol and a 100 percent increase in DHEA/DHEAS in the experimental group. DHEA was significantly and positively related to the affective state Warmheartedness, whereas cortisol was significantly and positively related to Stress Effects. Increased coherence in heart rate variability patterns was measured in 80 percent of the experimental group during the use of the techniques. The results suggest that techniques designed to eliminate negative thought loops can have important positive effects on stress, emotions and key physiological systems. The implications are that relatively inexpensive interventions may dramatically and positively impact individuals' health and well-being. Thus, individuals may have greater control over their minds, bodies and health than previously suspected.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of an emotional self-management skills course on psychosocial functioning and autonomic recovery to stress in middle school children.

Unmanaged emotional reactions to stress not only lead to behavior problems in young people but also create physiological conditions that inhibit learning and potentially increase the risk of disease later in life. For these reasons, the integration of emotional self-management skills training programs has become an increased priority in some schools. In this study, middle school students enrolled in a course in emotional competence skills learned techniques designed to intercept stressful responses during emotionally challenging situations. Behavioral outcomes were assessed using the Achievement Inventory Measure and autonomic function was measured by heart rate variability (HRV) analysis during and after a stressful interview. Following the program, students exhibited significant improvements in areas including stress and anger management, risky behavior, work management and focus, and relationships with family, peers and teachers. These improvements were sustained over the following six months. Students using the skills taught in the course to recover from acute emotional stress were also able to positively modulate their physiological stress responses. As compared to a control group, trained students demonstrated significantly increased HRV and more rhythmic, sine wave-like heart rhythm patterns during recovery. This response pattern reflects increased parasympathetic activity, heart rhythm coherence, and entrainment of other biological oscillatory systems to the primary heart rhythm frequency. Increased physiological coherence is associated with improved cognitive performance, emotional balance, mental clarity and health outcomes. These physiological shifts could promote the sustained psychological and behavioral improvements associated with the use of emotional management skills. It is suggested that learning emotional competence skills in childhood establishes healthier physiological response patterns which can benefit learning and long-term health. Results provide support for the integration in school curricula of courses designed to teach effective self-management skills to children.

Acute Disease↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Palliative therapy of malignant esophageal stricture with the bipolar tumor probe and prosthetic tube.

Patients with malignant esophageal stricture and dysphagia were prospectively randomized to receive palliative therapy with the bipolar tumor probe (17) or prosthetic tube insertion (13). Both treatments gave good relief of dysphagia compared with pretreatment values on a dysphagia score, the results being statistically significant (p less than 0.005). However, there was no difference in the improvement achieved by one method compared with the other. The tumor probe was not difficult to use and complication rates were comparable. In the Atkinson tube group, two patients developed complications related to the position of the prosthesis and in three others food blocked the tube. Treatment with the tumor probe needed repeating at intervals (median, 28 days; range, 2 to 86 days) in all but four individuals to maintain palliation, with each patient needing a median of two treatments (range, 1 to 8). The probe may have advantages in very high esophageal lesions and may facilitate the treatment of tumor overgrowth or undergrowth of a tube. The prosthetic tube may give long-lasting relief of dysphagia and remains the treatment of choice for bronchopulmonary fistulas.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Selective fetal malnutrition: effect of acute and chronic ethanol exposure upon rat placental Na,K-ATPase activity.

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is characteristic of the fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This IUGR is partly due to the toxic effect of ethanol upon placental function, including amino acid transport. Amino acid transport is dependent, in part, upon Na,K-ATPase; therefore, plasma membrane activity of Na,K-ATPase was measured in rat placentas following acute or chronic ethanol exposure. Acute (A) animals were chow fed and gavaged with ethanol on day 20 of gestation and killed 2 hr later; controls (A-C) received sucrose. Binge (B) animals were gavaged on gestation days 18 and 19; controls (B-C) received sucrose. Chronic animals were fed ethanol in a liquid diet containing 2% (CHR-2%) or 6% (CHR-6%) ethanol by volume and killed on day 20. Controls (CHR-2%-C or CHR-6%-C) were isocalorically pair fed. Maternal blood ethanol levels were 197.1 +/- 29.7 mg/dl (mean +/- SE) for A dams and 128.2 +/- 15.2 for B (drawn at time of death); 12.6 +/- 2.2 for CHR-2% and 195.0 +/- 26.0 for CHR-6% (drawn weekly and at time of death). Placental weight was increased and fetal weight decreased in the CHR-6% animals. A, B, and CHR-2% placental and fetal weights were unaffected. Na,K-ATPase specific activity was increased in B placentas: B = 134.7 +/- 16.5 versus B-C = 50.0 +/- 7.4 nmol of Pi/mg of protein/min (p less than 0.01). Conversely, CHR-6% treatment diminished enzyme activity: CHR-6% = 37.0 +/- 4.5 versus CHR-6%-C = 58.5 +/- 4.4 (p less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Autorhythmometry in manic-depressives.

Three manic-depressives were studied longitudinally. Several times a day, the patients measured and recorded their mood, vigor, oral temperature, finger counting, blood pressure, pulse rate, and urine volume. Then the acrophases of their circadian rhythms were computed by a least-squares fit. These patients displayed rhythm phases that were grossly abnormal. Systematic acrophase changes over time supported the hypothesis that manic-depressives have circadian rhythms that free-run faster than one cycle per 24 hrs. Lithium appeared to slow these rhythms and help the environmental synchronizer force physiological functions to coordinate better with the usual 24-h environmental cycles.

17-Hydroxycorticosteroids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

In vitro low frequency electromagnetic field effect on fast axonal transport.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a low frequency electromagnetic field on fast axonal transport for future neuroprosthetic applications. Changes in speeds and densities of retrograde fast organelle transport in rat sciatic nerve preparations were measured in vitro upon exposure to 15 and 50 Hz pulsed magnetic fields with peak intensities of 4.4 and 8.8 mT. Maximum current density of the induced eddy current was calculated to be about 40 microA/cm2. Video enhanced differential interference contrast microscopy was used to record axons supporting active organelle transport. Strong effects were observed in myelinated axons (cessation of transport in up to 10 min). Such effects may eventually be used as part of a neuroprosthesis to noninvasively modify or couple to various parts of the nervous system.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A place to be heard.

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Adaptation, Psychological↗