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Biomedical subjects

M W Ross

Publications and source records attributed to M W Ross.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

Dimensions, content and validation of the fear of AIDS schedule in health professionals.

We examined the structure of the Fear of AIDS Schedule (FAIDSS) in a sample of 134 health care workers. Factor analysis indicated that there were five discrete dimension of fear of AIDS: fears of loss of control, of sex, of HIV infection through blood and illness, of death and medical interventions, and of contact with outsiders. These dimensions had low to moderate intercorrelations. The dimensions of fear of HIV infection through blood or illness, was significantly correlated with desired personal social distance from people with AIDS, and this dimension along with fear of death and medical interventions were correlated with desired public social distance. Fear of infection through blood and illness were predictors of both desired personal social distance and public social distance from people with HIV infection. The data suggest greater discrimination of AIDS fears with greater closeness of interaction with people with HIV disease, and that these dimensions of the FAIDSS are both reliable and valid measures of AIDS fears.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Determination of health-care workers' attitudes toward people with AIDS.

One hundred and thirty-four health professionals read one of 12 fictional case histories in which the patient was diagnosed as being either HIV- or Hepatitis B-positive. For each diagnosis infection was attributed to sexual contact, IV drug use, or a transfusion of contaminated blood. Within each diagnostic category, and for each source of infection, the patient was identified as either heterosexual or homosexual. Although homophobia has been suggested as a major contributor to negative attitudes toward people with AIDS, the present results remained significant even after homophobia, as measured by Hudson and Ricketts (1980), had been controlled for statistically. Regardless of disease, patients infected through IV drug use or sexual contact were seen as equally culpable and more responsible for their condition than those infected by transfusion. HIV, but not Hepatitis B, patients infected by sex or IV drug use were perceived as having less moral integrity than those infected by transfusion. Source of infection also influenced respondents' desire for close personal interaction. Negativity toward particular patient groups based merely on information about patient lifestyles was clearly demonstrated and it is suggested that negative attitudes toward people with AIDS may be a reflection of negative attitudes toward sexuality generally, rather than homosexuality.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Relationship of AIDS education and knowledge to AIDS-related social skills in adolescents.

The AIDS Social Assertiveness Scale (ASAS) and a measure of AIDS knowledge were administered to 490 high school students from 10 South Australian schools selected across a range of public/private, rural/urban, and socioeconomic statuses. Age, grade, hours of AIDS education, and sexual experience (and condom use) also were ascertained. Data indicated the factor structure of the ASAS was similar to that obtained in a previous sample. A close association existed between both age and hours of AIDS education, and AIDS knowledge. Students from country and working class area schools were less knowledgeable about AIDS. These data suggest AIDS social assertiveness is measurable and that it is associated with AIDS knowledge, age, and previous sexual experience. AIDS knowledge in high school students differed between country and urban adolescents and between students in working and middle class areas, but AIDS education is associated with the same level of improvement in all schools sampled.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Sexually transmissible diseases in injecting drug users.

Self-reported histories of sexually transmissible diseases (STDs) and HIV serostatus were investigated as part of a study of HIV risk behaviour in a sample of 1245 Syndey injecting drug users (IDUs) (mean age 27.5 years) both in and out of treatment. A high lifetime prevalence of STDs was reported in both men and women. For male IDUs, the lowest reported lifetime prevalence of STDs was in heterosexuals, with bisexuals intermediate and homosexuals reporting the highest prevalence. HIV seroprevalence followed the same pattern. For women, bisexuals had the highest reported STD history, heterosexual women were intermediate and homosexual women reported the lowest prevalence. Over one third of the bisexual women reported having been involved in prostitution. These data indicate that over one third of IDU men and over half of IDU women reported at least one STD in their lifetime. The high lifetime prevalence of STDs in IDUs indicates that this group is at increased risk of sexual transmission of HIV, given the importance of STDs as a cofactor. Reducing the prevalence of STDs in IDUs is a possible additional strategy to diminish the spread of HIV among IDUs and from them to non-IDU sexual contacts.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Dimensions of sexual behaviour in homosexual men: replicability across time and country.

Data on sexual practices in the past two months were obtained from 176 Australian and 159 New Zealand homosexually active men. Factor analysis yielded three major underlying dimensions of homosexual behaviour in each sample, accounting for 53.4 and 54.0% of total variance at baseline and 55.1 and 62.1% at follow-up, respectively. These three dimensions represented unsafe sex involving predominantly anal activity, safe (oral and mutual masturbatory) sex without condoms, and safe anal sex with condoms and withdrawal. Comparison of the four matrices (two countries by two times), using Cattell's S index, indicated high stability of the factor structure across countries and times. These three dimensions of homosexual behaviour appear to represent consistent behavioural clusters across samples and times. They suggest that use of these dimensions in further research on homosexually active men is warranted and that homosexual activities cluster into a number of limited dimensions on which sexual behaviours are interrelated.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Ileocecal intussusception in horses: 26 cases (1981-1988).

The case records of 26 horses with ileocecal intussusception over a 7-year period were reviewed to determine clinical features of the disease and response to treatment. The median age of horses with ileocecal intussusception was 1 year and ranged from 2 weeks to 19 years. There was no apparent gender or breed predisposition to this disease. An acute form of ileocecal intussusception was diagnosed in 19 horses with signs of moderate to severe abdominal pain of less than or equal to 24 hours' duration, and a chronic form was diagnosed in 7 horses with signs of intermittent, mild to moderate abdominal pain of more than 3 days' duration. Horses with chronic ileocecal intussusception had a history of weight loss or failure to gain weight, slow growth, poor appetite, low-grade pyrexia, and postprandial signs of abdominal pain. At surgery, the involved segments of intestine (intussusceptum and intussuscipiens) in chronic cases were 2 to 10 cm long, and the ileum and much of the distal portion of the jejunum were flaccid, dilated, and thick walled. In the acute cases, the length of involved intestine ranged from 6 to 457 cm. Whereas only 1 of 7 chronic intussusceptions (14%) could be reduced, 9 of 19 (47%) acute intussusceptions were reducible. Surgical treatment included resection and jejunocecostomy (6 horses), partial resection through a cecotomy and a side-to-side jejunocecostomy (2 horses), and a side-to-side ileocecostomy or jejunocecostomy without resection (12 horses, 7 of which had chronic intussusception). Six horses with acute intussusception were euthanatized before or during surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1990

The relationship between life events and mental health in homosexual men.

In a study to determine the extent to which stigmatization influences mental health in homosexual men, 80 homosexual men were administered the General Health Questionnaire and the Gay Affect and Life Events Scale. Data indicated that there were significant associations between life events and mental health; events related to AIDS had the highest correlations. However, general life event scales that included Finances and Work also were associated significantly with mental health, as previously reported in the general population. These data suggest that the impact of life events may be amplified by stigmatization and that degree of life change is associated closely with psychological dysfunction. It is concluded that life events that are related to both stigmatization and life change and related emotional distress are significant predictors of psychology dysfunction.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

The effect of a national campaign on attitudes toward AIDS.

Following a national campaign in Australia which had shown no change in level of knowledge about AIDS (using random samples of the population over 16 years, before and 5 months after the campaign), we assessed the change of attitudes towards, and beliefs about AIDS in the same samples. Results indicated that there were changes in beliefs about how much is known about the transmission of HIV, and that people were less concerned about casual transmission. Those respondents reportedly influenced most by the campaign were those with greater fear of diseases and death. We conclude that media campaigns may have a significant effect on attitudes and beliefs toward AIDS even where there is no effect on level of knowledge, and that the attitudinal changes which may be promoted by such campaigns should also be considered as objectives in campaign design.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

Psychological determinants of increased condom use and safer sex in homosexual men: a longitudinal study.

A 6-month longitudinal study of psychological variables predictive of condom use and safer sex in homosexually active men was carried out in Adelaide, a city of one million, in a low prevalence area for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Return rate of follow-up questionnaires was 60%, with no significant differences between the returners and non-returners on age, sexual behaviour, condom use, or any of the subscales of the instruments used: Adjective Check List (ACL), Profile of Mood States (POMS), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and Attitudes toward Condoms scale. Variables associated with increased condom use included personality style, particularly a more assertive and forceful style, which may be important in raising the issue of condom use with partners and promoting condom use in sexual encounters. These data confirm the findings of previous cross-sectional research. Those items significantly associated with change in the Attitude toward Condoms scale are from the subscales measuring Protection from Infection, and Availability, suggesting that these attitudes are those most closely associated with increasing condom use. The variables associated with lack of change to safer sex are consistently those of dysphoric mood state and psychological maladjustment, suggesting that such individuals may need psychological support to assist them to make the change to safer sex. These data support the view that personality and psychological adjustment are important predictors of risk reduction for HIV infection in homosexually active men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Reasons for non-use of condoms by homosexually active men during anal intercourse.

Sixty-eight homosexually active men attending an STD clinic were questioned to ascertain the percentage of the time they did not use condoms during anal intercourse, and the reasons for this. Data indicated that the reasons most commonly given were being in a steady relationship (32.8%), being unprepared (19.4%), couldn't be bothered (19.4%), use of alcohol or drugs (7.5%), being bisexual (4.5%), attractiveness of partner or partner attitude toward sex, and knowing the partner (3% each). These data suggest that both trust and situational variables are barriers to consistent condom use in homosexually active men.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Myoelectric activity of the ileum, cecum, and right ventral colon in ponies during interdigestive, nonfeeding, and digestive periods.

Myoelectric activity of the ileum, cecum, and right ventral colon (RVC) was studied in 4 mature ponies. Eight Ag-AgCl bipolar recording electrodes were sutured to the seromuscular layer of the ileum (2 electrodes), cecum (4 electrodes), and RVC (2 electrodes). Myoelectric activity was studied beginning 10 days after surgery. Eight, 60-minute recording sessions were performed in each pony during the interdigestive period, which was the period 3 to 7 hours after the morning feeding. On separate days, food was withheld for 24 hours, and 90-minute recordings were obtained during the nonfeeding period. Ponies were then fed a normal ration, and recordings were continued to obtain data for the digestive (feeding) period. All phases of the migrating myoelectric complex were seen at both ileal electrodes during the interdigestive period, including the periods of no spiking activity (phase 1), irregular spiking activity (phase 2), and regular spiking activity (phase 3). Phase 2 occupied 77% of the total recording time, and the mean duration of phases 1, 2, and 3 was 3.4 +/- 0.2, 12.8 +/- 1.2, and 6.7 +/- 0.7 min, respectively. Frequency of ileal slow waves was 11.8 +/- 0.1/min, and spike burst conduction velocity was 4.7 +/- 0.3 cm/s. A complete migrating myoelectric complex was seen in 11 of 32 tracings (34%) and had a mean duration of 24.2 +/- 2.6 min. The ileal migrating action potential complex, most often seen in phase 2, had a frequency of 4.8 +/- 0.5 spike bursts/h and a conduction velocity of 13.6 +/- 0.4 cm/s.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Action Potentials↗
PubMed1989

Subchondral lucency of the third carpal bone in Standardbred racehorses: 13 cases (1982-1988).

Thirteen Standardbreds had subchondral lucency of the third carpal bone (C3), described as single or multiple central areas of C3 bone loss in the radial fossa. Sclerosis of the radial fossa was also detected. The mean age of 9 stallions, 3 mares, and 1 gelding was 4.1 years (range, 3 to 7 years). All horses had an acute moderate to severe lameness referable to the middle carpal joint. A dorsoproximal dorsodistal (skyline) radiographic projection was most useful and identified mild (3 horses), moderate (6 horses), and severe (4 horses) subchondral lucency and sclerosis of the radial fossa. The margin of C3 was intact dorsal to the lucent areas in all horses. In 12 horses, arthroscopic surgical evaluation and curettage of the lesion were performed. Of the 9 horses monitored long enough to allow racing, 8 horses (89%) returned to racing, although only 6 (75%) raced at the same degree of competition. Subchondral lucency of C3 resulted from chronic damage to C3 with subsequent osteochondral collapse or acute C3 proximal surface osteochondral fracture.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Primary teat neoplasia in two yearling heifers.

Two yearling heifers developed rapidly growing soft tissue masses attached to the base of the right hind teat. In each heifer, the solitary mass was raised, firm, and attached to the overlying skin. En bloc removal was accomplished in each by positioning the heifer in dorsal recumbency and by using local infiltration analgesia. Histologic examination revealed one of the masses to be fibroma and the other, fibrosarcoma. Neither tumor has recurred, and normal function of the teat was retained.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Use of dynamic compression plates for treatment of tibial diaphyseal fractures in foals: nine cases (1980-1987).

The medical records of 9 foals less than 4 months old, with fracture of the tibial diaphysis, were reviewed. Open reduction was accomplished by use of 3 approaches; however, a cranial approach was preferred and was used in 7 foals. Two dynamic compression plates were implanted in all foals except the first of this series. The technique of plate luting was used in 7 foals and appeared to improve the ability of implants to resist failure. Complications after surgery included partial or complete failure of fracture fixation (n = 3 foals), osteomyelitis (n = 2 foals), angular limb deformity (n = 2 foals), minor dehiscence of the surgical wound (n = 3 foals), and mild extensor deficits of the injured limb (n = 4 foals). One foal was euthanatized 12 hours after surgery because of complete loss of fracture fixation. All other foals were discharged 10 to 295 days after surgery. One or both plates were subsequently removed in 7 foals. Follow-up information was obtained 6 to 36 months after discharge. Excellent results were reported for 6 foals, and good or fair results were reported for the remaining 2 foals.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Surgical management of duodenal obstruction in an adult horse.

A 3-year-old Standardbred stallion was admitted for treatment of acute enterocolitis. The horse improved in response to empiric treatment, but subsequently developed ventral edema, scrotal abscessation, and severe laminitis. Improvement again was seen, but on day 29 of hospitalization, the horse developed rapid heart rate and signs of abdominal pain. Exploratory celiotomy revealed complete obstruction of the descending portion of the duodenum, 20 cm caudal to the duodenal sigmoidal flexure. Three-tier duodenojejunostomy and jejunojejunostomy were performed to bypass the duodenal obstruction.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The FIRO model of family therapy: implications of factor analysis.

Schutz's FIRO model contains three main elements: inclusion, control, and affection. It is used widely in mental health research and practice, but has received little empirical validation. The present study is based on factor analysis of the resources to FIRO questionnaire of 120 normal couples and 191 couples who were attending a clinic for marital/psychiatric problems. Results confirmed the validity of the FIRO model for women only. The differences between the sexes reflected a considerable degree of sex-role stereotyping, the clinical implications of which are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Effects of adequacy of gender reassignment surgery on psychological adjustment: a follow-up of fourteen male-to-female patients.

The relationship between the adequacy of surgical result and postoperative psychopathology was examined in 14 male-to-female transsexuals selected for the absence of preoperative psychopathology. Data indicated that the best predictors of postoperative psychopathology as rated on Hunt and Hampson's (1980) Standardized Rating Format were breast scarring, erectile urethral meatus, current social supports, family reaction, urinary incontinence, and need for extra surgery. Together, these accounted for 98% of the variance in postoperative psychopathology. These data suggest that factors which make it difficult for postoperative transsexuals to "pass" or which continue to remind them of their gender-reassigned status are associated with adjustment difficulties. Surgical results may be a major determinant of postoperative psychopathology.

Adaptation, Psychological↗