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Biomedical subjects

M Russell

Publications and source records attributed to M Russell.

178 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

The prediction of "shows" and "no-shows" to a crisis center: a replication.

The relationship between measures of worker effectiveness in a therapeutic telephone intervention and whether a caller shows for a scheduled appointment can be used to assess the variables that contribute to "successful" telephone counseling. This study replicated the findings of a previous investigation in showing that the motivation of a caller in response to the question of a referral was positively correlated with "showing" for the appointment. Futher, the identification of a specific problem related negatively to the caller's response to the referral. However, the concreteness of the phone worker was not correlated with whither the scheduled appointment was kept by the caller.

Appointments and Schedules↗
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Regional variations in the consumption of alcohol in the U.S.A.

Data was analyzed from 13 214 cases of the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a large survey of the U.S. general population conducted in 1971 - 1973. Regional differences in alcohol consumption were shown, with the South having the largest portion of abstainers (51.1%) and the Northeast the largest portion of heavy drinkers (17.3%). A log-linear model was used to search for explanatory variables. It was found that when urbanization, ancestry and education are held constant, the regional differences disappear.

Alcohol Drinking↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Social network drinking and adult alcohol involvement: a longitudinal exploration of the direction of influence.

Past research shows consistent associations between individuals' drinking patterns and the drinking patterns of their social network members. This association has usually been attributed to the influence of social networks on individual behavior. Recent studies concerning adolescent drinking behavior suggest that such associations may be due, in part, to selection effects in which individuals form social ties with those who have drinking habits similar to their own. The present study used longitudinal data and structural equation modeling to compare the selection and influence effects among a large representative sample of adults. Results suggested that both selection and influence affect the association between individual and network drinking patterns among adults, but that social selection effects are substantially stronger than social influence effects. A cross-lagged structural equation model with a normed fit index of .975, showed that the path indicating peer influence had a coefficient of .069 (P<.01), whereas the path indicating network selection had a coefficient of .193 (P<.01). Comparisons across age, race, sex, and marital status groups revealed similar results, with stronger selection than influence effects for all groups.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Skin colour, measures of socioeconomic status, and blood pressure among blacks in Erie County, NY.

This study examined (1) the construct validity of an observational skin colour measure and (2) the interrelationships of skin colour, measures of socioeconomic status (SES), and blood pressure (BP) in a random survey of black male (n = 354) and black female (n = 641) household residents aged 18-86 in Erie County, NY. Significant associations between lighter skin colour and older age (p < 0.05), and being female (p < 0.01) were observed, confirming known findings. Lighter skin colour was also marginally associated with higher SES (p = 0.06) in females only. Darker skin colour was associated with higher diastolic BP (p < 0.05). The association of skin colour and BP may be explained by considering skin colour as: (1) a marker for socioenvironmental events (i.e. discrimination) and its consequences (i.e. impact on self-esteem), (2) a marker for genes of West African origin, or (3) related directly to BP through a biochemical pathway as yet unknown.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Anger-coping styles and blood pressure in black and white males: Buffalo, New York.

Data from a random survey of household residents in the urban area of Buffalo, stratified by race and education, showed relations between anger-coping styles and age-weight adjusted blood pressure (BP) among males (N = 720). Findings show that older black males with a high reflective mode of anger (constrain anger and try to solve the problem) had significantly lower blood pressure than those with low scores on this mode. In contrast, older black males with a high Anger-out mode (impulsive anger strongly expressed) had significantly higher blood pressure than those low on this mode. This Anger-out pattern was also found for older white men; but for younger whites, only higher alcohol and lower education were significantly related to higher BP levels. An Anger-in mode (impulsive anger not expressed) was not significantly related to blood pressure. The limitations of the Anger-in measures are examined. and a concept of a resentful anger style is discussed and presented for further research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the penumbra between focused and nondivergent blocks--implications for multileaf collimators.

The penumbra from a 10-MV x-ray beam has been measured using various field-shaping blocks located in the normal blocking tray position and compared to the penumbra of the adjustable photon jaws of the machine. The results showed that the penumbra was substantially degraded by these blocks only for field sizes greater than 15 x 15 cm2 and at the depth of maximum dose, dmax. At depths of 11 cm or greater, there was a significant difference only for the same range of field sizes in the 80% to 50% dose region. There was no significant difference at these depths for either the 95%-50% or the 90%-50% dose regions. No significant difference was observed between the use of lead and tungsten blocks and also between lead blocks with a straight edge and those with either an 0.5-mm or a 1-mm step in the face. Since the width of the 95% dose relative to the 50% dose is of greatest interest clinically, straight-edged blocks are as effective as divergent blocks in most situations. These results imply that the design and complexity of a multileaf collimator can be greatly simplified from a double focusing device to one that is single focusing in the plane orthogonal to the leaves.

Mathematics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Home care of the prostate cryosurgery patient.

1. Through the use of the pathway process, variation in home care of the prostate cryosurgery patient is reduced in caregiver technique and efficiency of care delivery is improved. More importantly, patient outcomes are closely monitored and multidisciplinary continuity of care is promoted. The pathway helps ensure that appropriate resources are initiated and used in appropriate timeframes. 2. A patient version of the critical pathway, written in lay terminology, is given to patients to define their responsibilities in the care process. This method encourages patient participation in care. 3. The purpose of home care is to educate the patient about his disease process and treatment regimen, and encourage him to participate in his treatment and recovery. The prostatic cryosurgery pathway gives him an opportunity to be active in his care.

Cryosurgery↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Osteogenesis imperfecta type II: microvascular changes in the CNS.

Osteogenesis imperfecta, type II is a rare hereditary disease of connective tissue with abnormalities of type I collagen. It is invariably fatal in the neonatal period. We report 2 cases with abnormal cerebral cortical white matter consisting of abundant, perivenous microcalcifications, proliferated vascular endothelium and focal aggregates of germ cells. Histochemically, microcalcifications lie within nodules composed of a PAS-positive, carbohydrate-rich matrix. This matrix also stains with alcian blue suggestive of a proteoglycan component. Immunoperoxidase staining reveals that some of these nodules are surrounded by type I collagen. Adjacent vessels show endothelial proliferation associated with markedly redundant basement membranes as confirmed by reactivity with anti-type IV collagen. Although the cerebral cortex has a normal neuronal cytoarchitecture, the areas that appear externally dysplastic overlie nests of germ cells within the underlying white matter suggestive of impaired migration. These changes most likely occurred during the third trimester and may involve abnormal interactions of proteoglycans and the extracellular matrix with collagen.

Brain↗