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Biomedical subjects

M Jordan

Publications and source records attributed to M Jordan.

180 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
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The Nuer Nutrition Education Program: breaking down cultural barriers.

Very little is known about the Nuer culture, partly because of its widely misunderstood language and because of the mixture of its people with the other tribes in Africa, according to Evans-Pritchard). However, it is known that the Nuer women's roles in the family seem to be centered around cooking duties. In the Nuer culture, no work is considered degrading, and the women know and accept their domestic duties. During the summer of 1996, a pilot project was conducted as an attempt to help Nuer refugee women of Des Moines, Iowa, incorporate nutritional concepts and American food preparation techniques into their existing methods of food preparation. The barriers faced involved the Nuer women's unfamiliarity with American foods and household items and their inability to read and understand English. Cultural issues and barriers were overcome when the health educator was willing to take the time to gain the trust and respect of the Nuer people. Structured interviews indicated an increase in knowledge of American foods and cooking skills. This education program in no way meant to replace traditional Nuer cooking methods; rather, it acted as a way to adjust to life in the United States.

Acculturation↗
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Variations in elemental distribution in human spermatozoa.

Morphologically normal spermatozoa from groups of men attending the infertility clinic with normal density and motility had subcellular elemental composition measurements from various parts of the spermatozoa compared with anatomically similar spermatozoa from semen with marked oligo- or asthenozoospermia. In the two groups of semen the mean % value of the elements was similar in the acrosome, nucleus, mid-piece and tail regions excepting sodium and potassium which were significantly lower in the abnormal semen. Although a similar elemental distribution was found in each group the observed trend towards higher total values in the abnormal semen did not reach significance. Highest levels were found in the nuclear and mid-pieces of all spermatozoa suggesting future diagnostic possibilities for such measurements in determining spermatozoal procreative potential.

Elements↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Normalization of pancreatic exocrine enzymes by islet transplantation in diabetic rats.

In an effort to evaluate the effectiveness of islet transplantation in correcting exocrine dysfunction, young male Lewis rats were made diabetic by i.v. streptozotocin injection. Diabetes status was confirmed by decrease in insulin and increase in blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Pancreatic islets were isolated from age-matched control syngeneic rats by collagenase digestion followed by purification through a Ficoll gradient. Islets (approximately 1200) were grafted to the liver by intraportal injection to animals at 8 weeks after diabetes was established. Transplanted rats were sacrificed 4 weeks after correction of hyperglycemia. Diabetes resulted in decrease in body weight. Transplantation reversed the body weight loss and led to a body weight gain. Diabetes resulted in a decrease in pancreatic amylase (1.4 +/- 0.4 U/mg protein compared with a control value of 121.9 +/- 3.2 U/mg protein) and a slight increase in lipase (87.3 +/- 5.5 U/mg protein compared with a control value of 69 +/- 4.7 U/mg protein). Transplantation completely normalized amylase (132.2 +/- 25.0 U/mg protein) and lipase (56.3 +/- 3.9 U/mg protein) in spite of an imperfect correction of blood insulin, glucose, and glycosylated haemoglobin levels in these rats. These data demonstrated that islet transplantation is very effective in correcting the exocrine enzyme changes resulting from diabetes. Evaluation of steady-state levels of amylase mRNA in these groups of animals by Northern blots showed a decrease in the amylase mRNA level in diabetes and a return to that of control in transplanted rats, indicating that the control of amylase expression is most likely at the pretranslational level.

Amylases↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of eye accommodation in the depth perception of common toads.

Distance estimation in prey catching was as exact in monocular toads (Bufo bufo (L.)) as in binocular ones. Application of Atropine or Miotic had no significant effect on binocular animals, whereas in monocular toads it made accurate distance estimation impossible. The accommodative state of the eye is decisive for depth estimation of monocular, but not of binocular toads.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
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Just right for the job!

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Educational Measurement↗
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Safe selection.

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Humans↗
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Use of preventive interventions by persons infected with type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1). The Pulmonary Complications of HIV Study Group.

Measures aimed at preventing complications and slowing progression of type-1 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) can potentially reduce morbidity. Although little is known about the use of such measures, such data are critical for program planning. This study was performed to quantify the frequency and patterns of use for such interventions. We enrolled 1,171 persons infected with HIV, but without an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining diagnosis, in a multicenter prospective study of the pulmonary complications of HIV infection. Participants were homosexual/bisexual men, injection drug users (IDUs), or female sexual contacts of HIV-infected men. Centers were university-based and geographically dispersed across the United States. Standardized questionnaires were administered on entry and at three-month or six-month intervals; we correlated use of general and HIV-related preventive measures before entry and during the first three years in study with clinical/epidemiologic characteristics. Overall use of preventive interventions was low; only one third of study entrants had used such measures. Use was greatest among those with advanced HIV infection, but only half used preventive measures on entry; IDUs were less likely than homosexuals to use these services. Although use of interventions such as anti-Pneumocystis and antiretroviral agents increased during study participation, general measures such as pneumococcal vaccine and tuberculosis prophylaxis were used by less than 30% of those eligible for use. Among IDUs, cumulative use of these measures remained below 20% during the first three years of this study. We conclude that HIV-infected persons underuse preventive interventions, particularly general measures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Use of seat belts in a Dublin area.

This study examines public compliance with seat belt regulations. Two busy suburbs in north Dublin were studied. Of the 2,139 vehicles surveyed 1,160 (54.2%) drivers wore a seat belt. Young female drivers were most likely to comply with the regulations (70.1%). Only 344 (46.1%) front seat passengers wore their seat belt. 188 children who appeared to be under 10 years of age were observed in the front seat of vehicles and of those just 9 babies were appropriately restrained. Of the back seat passengers 108 (19.2%) wore seat belts; 99 (21.8%) children and 9 (9.8%) adults. Despite on-going publicity and progression in the regulations our use of seat belts is grossly disappointing. Road traffic accidents exert an unacceptably high toll on health in Ireland. Seat belts are known to be effective in preventing serious injury. A much greater emphasis on enforcement of legislation is now urgently needed to encourage responsible behaviour among vehicle users and to reduce the needless suffering due to road traffic accidents.

Adolescent↗