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Biomedical subjects

M C Weinrich

Publications and source records attributed to M C Weinrich.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

The effect of massage on pain in cancer patients.

Evaluating the effectiveness of nursing interventions in decreasing pain is a top priority for clinical research. Unfortunately, most of the research on cancer pain relief has been limited to treatment studies involving the administration of analgesics. Research is needed to determine which nonanalgesic methods of pain control are effective and under what conditions. Consequently, an experimental study was designed to test the effectiveness of massage as an intervention for cancer pain. Twenty-eight patients were randomly assigned to a massage or control group. The patients in the massage group were given a 10 minute massage to the back; the patients in the control group were visited for 10 minutes. For males, there was a significant decrease in pain level immediately after the massage. For females, there was not a significant decrease in pain level immediately after the massage. There were no significant differences between pain 1 hour and 2 hours after the massage in comparison with the initial pain for males or females. Massage was shown to be an effective short-term nursing intervention for pain in males in this sample.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Major clinical diagnoses found among patients with Raynaud phenomenon from the general population.

This study of 62 individuals with Raynaud phenomenon (RP) drawn from the general population of South Carolina shows a profile of associated diseases that is different from the one reported from hospital based studies. We found that connective tissue diseases affect a much smaller fraction of patients with RP than previously reported. Compared to RP negative controls, our RP positive group was found to suffer more frequently from a variety of diseases, both RP related and not RP related.

Connective Tissue Diseases↗
PubMed1989

Prevalence of scleroderma spectrum disorders in the general population of South Carolina.

The prevalence of scleroderma spectrum disorders (including systemic sclerosis [SSc] meeting the American Rheumatism Association criteria and the less typical disorders meeting only our study criteria) was determined in a random sample of 6,998 subjects from the general population of South Carolina. The results suggest that the prevalence of these disorders may range from 67 to 265 per 100,000, which is 4.9 to 19.2 times higher than previously reported for definite SSc. The ratio of nondefinite cases to definite cases of SSc (those meeting American Rheumatism Association criteria) was 2.5. Most of the nondefinite cases were unrecognized prior to our study, which suggests the need for improved early diagnosis of scleroderma spectrum disorders. Brief histories of the 7 patients with scleroderma spectrum disorders whose cases formed the basis for our calculation of prevalence rates are included in this report.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Changing patterns of acute myocardial infarction: decline in period prevalence and delay in onset.

The rural Pee Dee area of South Carolina has had the highest mortality rate in the nation for coronary heart disease. Community surveillance shows a 22.7% (p = 0.0008) decline in fatal and nonfatal acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rates during the period 1978 to 1985 in the Pee Dee area. Rates for white men decreased 32% (p = 0.001), whereas in other race-sex groups changes were not significant, although there was a downward trend (p = 0.18) among black men. Among white men decreases in the AMI rates occurred in each of the decades of age 35 to 64 years. In all race-sex groups there was a sharp increase in rates between 1978 and 1985 for those 65 to 74 years of age, suggesting that the incidence of AMI was delayed to a later age. Out-of-hospital AMI death rates declined markedly in all race-sex groups: 63% for white men, 62% for white women, 49% for black men, and 39% for black women. Overall case fatality rates declined from 14% (27 of 193) to 10% (23 of 232), but the decrease was not statistically significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Incidence and prevalence of cleft lip and palate: what we think we know.

The descriptive epidemiology of the spectrum of orofacial cleft disorders has many methodologic problems, including (1) casefinding using data sources such as birth certificates, fetal death certificates, and hospital records that often produce ascertainment bias, selection bias, or both and (2) the multiple comparisons problem (i.e., the chance occurrence of statistically significant findings). The resultant incidence and prevalence rates from studies with inadequate designs or inadequate data are limited and may be misleading. A variety of reasons is advanced to explain the wide discrepancies in reported statistics on orofacial clefting from different geographic areas, ethnic groups, and time periods. Specific recommendations are offered for producing better epidemiologic data. An example of how higher quality descriptive statistics can be used for future hypothesis testing is also provided.

Cleft Lip↗
PubMed1988

The John Henryism and Framingham type A scales. Measurement properties in elderly blacks and whites.

In 1984-1985, the authors interviewed 1,017 participants in the Charleston Heart Study in Charleston County, South Carolina to investigate the measurement properties of the Framingham Type A Scale in elderly blacks and whites and those of the John Henryism Scale for Active Coping, which was originally designed for use in black populations. They conclude that the Framingham Type A and John Henryism scales do in fact measure two quite different behavior patterns, and do have different correlates in elderly blacks and whites. The results are of particular interest since the Charleston Heart Study sample includes an oversampling of high socioeconomic status black males (n = 69). In this respect, it is unique among long-term cardiovascular studies and provides the opportunity to estimate separate race and socioeconomic status effects, as well as to examine their interaction.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon assisted by color charts.

A simple questionnaire, combined with color charts consisting of a 12-point color scale and a series of photographs illustrating blanching and cyanosis, has been developed to assist in the diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP). The value of the color charts alone was first tested on a group of 48 patients with RP in whom the RP attacks were witnessed by the investigators (gold standard) and on a group of 246 RP negative subjects; the results showed a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 100%. A short RP diagnostic test was then devised by combining the questionnaire and color chart responses, which increased the sensitivity to 100% in our gold standard group of RP positive subjects. Further evaluation of this RP diagnostic test on a sample of 325 subjects whose RP status was unknown demonstrated that the majority could be classified as clearly RP positive or negative with only 4 subjects in the intermediate category.

Color↗
PubMed1986

Prevalence of Raynaud phenomenon in the general population. A preliminary study by questionnaire.

A short questionnaire inquiring about cold sensitivity of the fingers was administered to 1752 randomly selected subjects in a probability sample drawn from the adult population of the state of South Carolina. The overall prevalence of reported cold sensitivity was approximately 10% and showed no sex or race difference. A female preponderance was revealed only after subjects exposed to vibrating tools were excluded, and then only in the white group. Estimates of the prevalence of Raynaud phenomenon were obtained using the following criteria: cold sensitive subjects reporting white and/or blue color changes: 4.6%; cold sensitivity leading to medical consultation: 3.0%; combination of the two criteria above: 1.9%.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Acute myocardial infarction: period prevalence, case fatality, and comparison of black and white cases in urban and rural areas of South Carolina.

Community surveillance revealed 1085 prevalent cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) during 1978 in urban metropolitan Columbia and rural Pee Dee areas of South Carolina. Six hundred fifty-eight hospitalized cases met our criteria and were classified as definite or probable. Death certificates identified 427 who died before admission to the hospital and who were classified as unvalidated. However, there is need to verify death certificate diagnosis in out-of-hospital deaths which account for approximately two thirds of total cases in blacks and about one third of white cases. Other findings were: White males had higher AMI rates in the rural Pee Dee area than in urban Columbia, while black males and black females had higher rates in Columbia than in the Pee Dee area and white females had similar rates in both areas. Rates for out-of-hospital AMI mortality were higher in blacks than in whites. Out-of-hospital AMI mortality rates in Columbia and the Pee Dee area were four times higher than in Minneapolis-St. Paul in 1978. For definite and all criteria AMI, white males had the highest rates, double the black male rate except for all criteria AMI in Columbia, where white male and black male rates were similar. Urban cases of both races experienced more anterior infarctions than rural cases.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Sodium in drinking water in South Carolina.

The potential contribution of drinking water sodium to total consumption and to blood pressure levels is explored in a South Carolina survey. Most (96 per cent) of the population was served by drinking water containing less than 100 mg/l Na (median 14.8 mg/l). For households with water sources containing greater than or equal to 100 mg/l Na, drinking water accounted for approximately 8.5 per cent of total estimated consumption. After adjustment for age, sex, race, body mass index, education, and dietary sodium, a negative association between diastolic blood pressure and drinking water sodium levels was found.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Incidence of coronary heart disease in blacks in Charleston, South Carolina.

We studied a cohort of 2275 blacks and whites of both sexes in Charleston County, South Carolina, during the period of 1960-1961 to 1974-1975. There were 93 prevalent cases of coronary heart disease (CHD) at intake, and 317 new cases occurred by 1975 in persons originally free of CHD. White males had the highest incidence rates for all types of CHD and acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Black males and black females had the next highest rates. The incidence of angina pectoris in black females was double the rate in white females and five times the rate in white males. The rate of sudden death in black males was two and one-half times the rate in black females, three times the rate in white males, and four times the rate in white females. One hundred and one black males who had been selected on the basis of high socioeconomic status (SES) had AMI and CHD rates half that of other black males. None of the high SES black males experienced angina pectoris, AMI death, or sudden death during the observation period.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Psychophysiological studies in schizophrenic patients selected on the basis of a "genetic marker".

Psychophysiological studies in schizophrenics have generally resulted in contradictory and inconclusive reports. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a better psychophysiological separation of schizophrenic and control subjects could be accomplished by selecting them on the basis of a biological marker: the high plexus visualization score (PVS). Finger blood flow, skin temperature and electrodermal recovery rates were studied in 64 male schizophrenics (33 high PVS and 31 low PVS) and 24 male controls (10 high PVS and 14 low PVS) matched for age. All control subjects and 30 of the schizophrenics (16 high PVS and 14 low PVS) had been drug-free for at least 1 month. They were studied in a sound attenuated, temperature controlled room under 12 experimental conditions. The results demonstrate that, as predicted, schizophrenics with high PVS have the lowest finger blood flow rates, the lowest skin temperatures and the slowest GSR recovery rates of all groups studied. The largest difference in all three variables was found between high PVS schizophrenics and high PVS controls. The blood flow rates and the skin temperature were higher and the electrodermal responses were fewer in patients taking medications than in those receiving placebos. A suggestion of a bimodal distribution into "responders" and "non-responders" was apparent only in patients receiving medications.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Hypertension in a population sample of female Punjabi Indians in Southall.

A population-based survey of female Punjabi Indians aged 11 and over now living in Southall, a district in west London, showed a steady and significant increase in blood pressure with increasing age. The crude population prevalence of hypertension, defined according to the criteria of the World Health Organisation, was 16%; for women over the age of 40 it was 62%. About two-thirds of those in the hypertensive range did not know of their high blood pressure. Among those who did know, up to 75% were receiving medical treatment for the condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Development of questionnaires to measure psychosocial influences on children's physical activity.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to develop and validate questionnaires used to measure psychosocial determinants of physical activity in preadolescent children. METHODS: Three theory-based questionnaires and a measure of after-school physical activity were administered to 422 fifth-grade students. A cross-validation design was employed for psychometric development of the scales, including factor analysis, reliability, and validation by correlating scale scores with intention to be physically active and after-school physical activity. RESULTS: The Social Influences scale contained a single factor. The Self-Efficacy scale contained three factors: support seeking, barriers, and positive alternatives. The Beliefs scale contained two factors: social outcomes and physical activity outcomes. Reliability coefficients ranged from about 0.50 to 0.78. Significant correlations were obtained between all six scales and intention in the development sample, and between five scales and intention in the validation sample. Significant correlations were obtained between social influence and self-efficacy barriers and physical activity in the development sample, and between social influences and physical activity in the validation sample. CONCLUSIONS: Three scales to measure psychosocial determinants of physical activity were refined for use with rural, predominantly African-American, preadolescent children, and shown to be both reliable and valid. Factor analysis resulted in interpretable subscales that may be used as variables. These preliminary results provide support for using the scales to measure influences on activity in children.

Attitude to Health↗