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Biomedical subjects

M J Naughton

Publications and source records attributed to M J Naughton.

33 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

A critical review of dimension-specific measures of health-related quality of life in cross-cultural research.

This article reviews six dimension-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) measures which have been used cross-culturally. The instruments reviewed are: the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI); the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ); the Center for Epidemiologic Studies--Depression (CES-D); the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS); the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ); and the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWB). These instruments primarily represent the psychological or emotional dimension of HRQL, and are scales that were developed and validated in the USA, Canada or the UK. The review of specific studies for each of the six instruments was not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to give an indication of the ways in which the instruments have been assessed or used in various countries. The focus throughout this article is on the psychometric properties (reliability, validity and responsiveness) of these scales in different cultures, as well as the processes used to translate the instruments from English into another language. Implications of the results of this review for cross-cultural use of dimension-specific HRQL instruments are drawn.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1993

HLA-DQA1 allele and suballele typing using noncoding sequence polymorphisms. Application to 4AOHW cell panel typing.

HLA-DQA1 typing of the 4AOHW cell panel is presented using a novel strategy that exploits both intron and exon polymorphisms. Intron sequences adjacent to the variable HLA-DQA1 second exon exhibit stable polymorphisms that are specific for locus alleles and certain suballelic DR/DQ haplotypes. A PCR-RFLP method has been developed that is based on amplification of a 780-bp segment extending from intron 1 through exon 2 to intron 2. Stable sequence polymorphisms provide restriction enzyme sites and confer mobility variations detected on polyacrylamide minigel electrophoresis. Direct band comparison of amplified products and restriction fragments with known standards facilitates pattern comparison, obviating the requirement for accurate molecular weight determination. This method, using only two enzymes, identifies a total of 11 allelic and suballelic groups, including all eight DQA1 alleles encoded at the second exon.

Alleles↗
PubMed1993

Strategy for definition of DR/DQ haplotypes in the 4AOHW cell panel using noncoding sequence polymorphisms.

Our previously described intron-based DQA1-typing method provides 11 allelic and suballelic groups, including the eight alleles encoded at the second exon. Concurrent testing for the presence of the DRB3, DRB4, and DRB5 loci and the Rsa I pattern of the DRw52 group simplifies the typing requirements for allele assignment at the highly polymorphic DRB1 locus. The DRB1-allele-shortlisting process relies on known DR/DQ haplotypes. In addition to reducing the testing requirements for definitive DRB1 allele assignment, this strategy allows inference of the DR/DQ haplotype and assists in recognition of novel and/or unusual associations.

Alleles↗
PubMed1992

Community trends in CPR training and use: the Minnesota Heart Survey.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine community changes in self-reported CPR training and use from 1980-82 to 1985-87 using data obtained from the Minnesota Heart Survey. A comparative investigation of CPR training among blacks and whites in 1985-86 also was completed. DESIGN: Data were obtained in 1980-81, 1981-82, 1985-86, and 1986-87 from four population-based samples drawn from the seven-county Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area. To increase sample sizes and to compare prevalences of CPR training and use in the early 1980s with prevalences in the mid-1980s, the four Minnesota Heart Survey surveys were combined into two time periods, 1980-82 and 1985-87. A separate survey of black individuals was conducted in 1985, and these data were used in the comparisons between blacks and whites in 1985-86. RESULTS: The prevalence of whites trained in CPR increased significantly between 1980-82 and 1985-87 in both nonhealth professionals (18.5% vs 30.9%) and health professionals (71.9% vs 86.8%). No significant change was observed between the two periods in the percentage of nonhealth professionals who had ever used their CPR skills (9.7% vs 10.7%), whereas use among health professionals increased significantly (40.2% vs 53.4%). Training within the prior two or three years decreased from 1980-82 to 1985-87 among nonhealth professionals, but increases in recent training were observed among health professionals. There were no significant differences between black and white nonhealth professionals in the prevalence of CPR training. Black trainees, however, reported a higher percentage of ever using CPR skills than white trainees (15.4% vs 9.8%, respectively). Black trainees also had higher rates of recent CPR training than white trainees. No differences were observed between black and white health professionals regarding CPR training and use, or recency of certification. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the percentage of individuals trained in CPR is increasing. Improvement is needed, however, in the rates of recent certification among nonhealth professionals.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Thoracoscopic vagectomy for recurrent peptic ulcer disease.

Duodenal and marginal jejunal ulcers respond promptly to vagus section. When a prior gastric drainage procedure has been done, the approach of choice for these ulcers is vagectomy through the left chest. This report describes four patients who were subjected to thoracoscopic vagectomy and had prompt early benefit. A description of our technique is presented.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The accuracy of portable cholesterol analyzers in public screening programs.

To determine the accuracy of portable cholesterol analyzers in public settings, four screening organizations were accompanied to cholesterol screenings where consenting participants completed the finger-stick procedure and provided a blood sample by venipuncture. The finger-stick values were compared later with the participants' blood cholesterol values obtained in a reference laboratory. The results indicated that only one of the organizations produced cholesterol measurements entirely within the acceptable range (+/- 14.2%), while the accuracy of the other three organizations ranged from 76.5% to 96.4%. Those finger-stick values that did not fall within the acceptable range tended to underestimate the laboratory cholesterol values. Additionally, classification of the persons screened based on the National Cholesterol Education Program risk categories indicated that the finger-stick values primarily tended to produce false-negative results. The variability of the results across organizations was caused partially by insufficient operator training. However, inadequate quality-control procedures for field settings and dilution of capillary blood by tissue fluid also may have contributed to the inaccurate finger-stick results.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Community programs to enhance in-school anti-tobacco efforts.

This article presents theoretical bases for the development of community-wide anti-tobacco programs to reinforce school-based programs, discusses the problems involved in translating these theoretical bases into practice, and suggests means for minimizing those problems. Spiral of silence theory, diffusion theory, and expectancy value theory are covered. Special attention is given to the importance of a community program based in and "belonging" to the community, the need for high visibility, maximum participation by community individuals and organizations, mechanisms for program self-perpetuation, and explicit and visible ties to school-based anti-tobacco programs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Demography of penetrating cardiac trauma.

All cases of penetrating cardiac trauma in 1985 and 1986 in Jefferson County, Alabama, where patients dying of penetrating trauma received autopsies, were retrospectively reviewed. All hospitals in the county plus the single coroner's office provided the records of the 72 patients comprising this study. Incidents occurred most often in the home or residence (70%) by a known assailant (83%) due to domestic/social disputes (73%). Frequency was greatest in the evening hours (73% between 6:00 PM and 3:00 AM), on weekends in spring and summer. Victims tended to be male (86%), black (72%), married (46%), blue collar workers (62%). There were 41 (57%) gunshot wounds, 3 (4%) shotgun wounds, and 28 (39%) stab wounds with an associated mortality rate of 97%, 100%, and 68%, respectively. Prehospital mortality rate (dead at the scene) was 54.2% (39/72), and death on arrival was 26.4% (19/72), for a combined pretreatment mortality rate of 80.6%. All patients who arrived with no vital signs died. Mortality appeared to be related to mechanism of injury, age, race, sex, vital signs on arrival, number and specific cardiac chambers injured, associated major vascular injury, hematocrit, and mode of transportation. Mortality was not related to caliber of weapon, ethanol level, transport time, time from arrival to operation, or transfusion requirements. There were only ten survivors (1 gunshot wound and 9 stab wounds), all of whom had ventricular injuries and no associated major vascular injuries. The ten survivors represented a 71.4% (10/14) salvage rate for those victims arriving with vital signs. Complications occurred in three patients. Hospitalization averaged 7.3 days in the survivors. Penetrating cardiac trauma remains a serious, socially linked disease with a high rate of mortality. Rapid transport, aggressive resuscitation and cardiorrhaphy remain the best treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

The short-term effects of competition and rewards in an adolescent smoking prevention program.

This study evaluated whether interventions involving competition and rewards would enhance a school-based educational curriculum on tobacco use. Written pre- and post-tests were used to assess the relevant knowledge of 1068 seventh grade students in three comparable communities. The students' smoking beliefs, intentions, and behavior were assessed by questionnaires before and after the educational unit. Students in two communities participated in interventions designed to enhance knowledge acquisition, social activism, and non-use of tobacco; students in one community served as controls. Students in competitive and control communities did not differ prior to intervention. The interventions influenced respondents' concern about their health and the health of their family and friends and increased the likelihood that they would associate smoking with maturity and short-term bad effects, regardless of their pre-intervention smoking behavior. Experimenters' and regular smokers' knowledge about smoking and its consequences, and concern about the amount of substance use in their town were increased by the competitions. The competitions were also more likely to reduce their intentions to smoke. The interventions did not affect smoking behavior. Fortunately, competition losers and winners were not differentially affected by the interventions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Social disaffection, friendship patterns and adolescent cigarette use: the Muscatine Study.

This study was undertaken to determine if adolescent social disaffection with school and family not only would be a significant predictor of cigarette use but would explain a significant amount of the association with friends who smoke. Eleven hundred and eighty ninth-12th grade students in Muscatine, Iowa, were surveyed in Spring 1984. Multiple regression analyses indicated several social disaffection variables were significant predictors of association with friends who smoke, explaining 20% of the variance. The combination of association with friends who smoke and social disaffection variables explained 48% of the variance in adolescent cigarette smoking. Variables related to adolescents' participation in school and related activities suggest prevention programs should recognize the impact of social disaffection on adolescents cigarette use.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Modification of activity level through biofeedback and operant conditioning.

The biomotometer, an electronic device that simultaneously measures activity and provides auditory feedback to the subject, was used in combination with material reinforcers in two experiments attempting to modify activity level in children. In the first study the activity level of an 11-year-old highly active boy was decreased below mean baseline during conditioning in a classroom setting. His level of activity returned to baseline when feedback was withdrawn. In the second study, activity level of a 10-year-old hypoactive boy was increased over mean baseline level during conditioning in a free-play setting, and returned to slightly below baseline during five extinction trials. Results of these studies indicate that the biomotometer is a useful instrument for modification of activity level.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1976

Prenatal effects of Ochratoxin A in hamsters.

Pregnant golden hamsters were injected ip with 2.5-20 mg/kg ochratoxin A on one of gestation days 7-10. The largest dosages when given on day 7,8, or 9 increased prenatal mortality and on day 9 diminished fetal growth. Malformations, such as micrognathia, hydrocephalus, short tail, oligodactyly, syndactyly, cleft lip, micromelia, and heart defects occurred, but no skeletal malformations were noted. These results add to the prenatal effects of ochratoxin A previously reported in mouse, rat, and chicken embryos.

Abnormalities, Drug-Induced↗