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Biomedical subjects

P Boyce

Publications and source records attributed to P Boyce.

66 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Development of a scale to measure interpersonal sensitivity.

We describe the development of a self-report measure (the Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure or IPSM). The IPSM generates a total score as well as five sub-scale scores: interpersonal awareness, need for approval, separation anxiety, timidity and fragile inner-self. Its reliability is demonstrated by high internal consistency in two separate groups, and by stability in scores over time in a non-clinical group. Studies of a clinical group of depressives showed change in scale scores following improvement in the depressive state, suggesting some sensitivity of the measure to mood state. The IPSM appears related to measures of neuroticism and to low self-esteem but not to a modified concept of neuroticism, emotional arousability. The constructs contributing to interpersonal sensitivity and their relevance to depression are considered. Some preliminary findings of higher scores in depressives compared to non-depressives are reported.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Seasonal affective disorder in the southern hemisphere.

To determine whether seasonal affective disorder exists in the southern hemisphere and whether there is any seasonal specificity in phenomenology, the authors compared 23 subjects who reported a winter/autumn affective disorder, consistent with earlier definitions of the syndrome, with 22 subjects who reported a spring/summer affective disorder. The subjects with winter/autumn onset were characterized by increased appetite, carbohydrate craving, and increased sleep; those with spring/summer onset reported decreased sleep and decreased appetite. Hypotheses concerning the etiology of seasonal affective disorder are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effects of light on melatonin production.

A study was carried out to determine the intensity of light necessary to suppress melatonin. Ten normal subjects were exposed to four light intensities of 1000, 1500, 2000, and 2500 lux for 2 hr on different occasions, and melatonin levels were measured during exposure. All light intensities suppressed melatonin significantly, but none do daytime levels, with 2500 lux appearing to be the most "potent."

Adult↗
PubMed1987

The establishment of a mood disorders unit.

The establishment within a general hospital psychiatry ward of a mood disorders unit (MDU), a specialised facility for the assessment and treatment of patients with affective disorders, is described. The aims include provision of a clinical service, a teaching resource for affective disorders and the development of a research centre. Details are provided of the organisation of the MDU, the development of programs for management of patients and the difficulties encountered. In the first year, 164 patients were assessed, of whom 36 were judged not to have a primary mood disorder. For the remainder, the most common DSM-III diagnosis was major depressive episode (n = 68), with about half having the melancholic sub-type. It is argued that a specialised diagnosis-related facility is feasible within a general hospital psychiatry service with area health commitments.

Affective Disorders, Psychotic↗
PubMed1985

Neuroticism as a predictor of outcome in depression.

Low levels of neuroticism have variably been associated with a better outcome of depressive disorders but the interpretation of this phenomenon is clouded by the knowledge that severity of depression may itself confound ratings of neuroticism. To clarify any relationship between neuroticism and outcome, the authors assessed the predictability of neuroticism (as assessed by questionnaire, psychiatrist rating, and subject self-report) in separate groups of psychiatric patients and symptomatic volunteers with nonmelancholic depression. Depressives' judgments of their own neuroticism correlated with neuroticism scores on the Eysenck Personality Inventory (EPI), but neither of these measures predicted improvement at 6 nor 20 weeks. Judgments of neuroticism made by psychiatrists, which did not correlate with EPI neuroticism scores, did predict improvement. The study suggests that differences in defining neuroticism contribute to its variable association with outcome and further suggests the relevance of clinically assessing neuroticism as a personality variable.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1982

Genetics of Standardbred stallion reproductive performance.

Reproductive performance of 10 Standardbred stallions was related to the probability that the embryo resulting from a given mating would be heterozygous for transferrin or plasma esterase. Fertility, measured by foaling rate per insemination or by foaling rate per year, showed a highly significant regression on the probability of offspring heterozygosity for transferrin and, to lesser extent, for esterase. Substantial differences between stallions in the slope of the regression line and no deficiency of foals homozygous for either protein suggests that the relationship to fertility is indirect, probably a reflection of the amount of outcrossing between lines within the breed. An example of the potential impact of maximizing the probability of foal transferrin heterozygosity on the productivity of an actual farm is presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Relationship between the chest radiograph, regional lung function studies, exercise tolerance, and clinical condition in cystic fibrosis.

This study evaluated the accuracy of the interpretation of the chest film in delineating localised abnormalities of ventilation and perfusion, as well as the overall severity of airways obstruction, exercise tolerance, and clinical condition in children with cystic fibrosis. Radiographic findings in various regions of the chest film were compared with the functional values obtained with regional lung function tests which evaluated the arrival and disappearance of boluses of radioactive nitrogen given by inhalation and infusion. While the more severely affected areas on the chest radiograph were found to correlate with similar regions on the lung function tests, as did overall scores, errors occurred in some cases if the x-ray film alone was used as a judge of regional physiological derangement. In addition the degree of airways obstruction, the exercise tolerance on a cycle ergometer, and clinical grading, each correlated significantly with the radiographic score. We conclude that the chest radiograph is a good indicator of the overall severity of the lung disease and that it correlates well with exercise tolerance and clinical condition in cystic fibrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

The role of nutritional status, airway obstruction, hypoxia, and abnormalities in serum lipid composition in limiting exercise tolerance in children with cystic fibrosis.

Previous work has shown that impaired exercise tolerance in children with cystic fibrosis (C.F.) is related to the severity of airway obstruction without elucidating the possible roles of hypoxia or malnutrition. It has been suggested that poor nutrition leads to abnormalities in serum fatty acids composition, which may lead to tissue hypoxia. We investigated the roles of hypoxia, pulmonary mechanics, nutritional status, and serum fatty acid composition in limiting exercise tolerance in C.F. In 20 children with C.F., exercise tolerance, while breathing air and while breathing oxygen, was evaluated on a cycle ergometer and compared to pulmonary function tests, anthropometric data, serum lipid compostition, and clinical condition. The mean percent work expected from height (Wmax) was 75, and was unchanged by O2. Wmax correlated significantly with the degree of respiratory impairement, the discrepancy between height and weight, and the clinical score but not serum fatty acid composition. Where measured, no child at any time had an elevated end tidal CO2(PetCO2). We conclude that nutritional status and airway obstruction are closely correlated with exercise tolerance in C.F. and that, unlike the case in adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, exercise-limiting dyspnea occurs in the presence of a normal PetCO2.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Role of arachidonic acid in the regulation of the inflammatory response in TNF-alpha-treated rats.

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether adding arachidonic acid (AA) to a fish oil diet would alter certain of the anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil in response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) infusion in rats. METHODS: AA was given at 0.08 wt% of diet for 6 weeks. The total fat in each diet provided 20% of dietary energy. Four groups were pair-fed sunflower oil (S), S+AA, fish oil (F), or F+AA for 6 weeks. At the end of feeding, each animal received TNF-alpha (20 microg/kg) infusion for 3 hours. After 1 hour of TNF infusion, a euglycemic and hyperinsulinemic clamp (10 mU/min per kilogram of insulin) was used to determine the actions of insulin. The insulin-stimulated glucose utilization in liver, muscle, and fat was determined by using 14C-deoxyglucose. The plasma glucose, insulin, and corticosterone levels were determined at basal, 60 minutes, and the end of the experiment (180 minutes). The fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids also was determined. RESULTS: Fish oil significantly increased omega-3 fatty acids in phospholipids in both F and F+AA and decreased AA in F, compared with S. AA significantly restored the level of AA and reduced the increase of omega-3 fatty acids in phospholipids in F+AA compared with F, but had no impact on fatty acid composition when added to S. Corticosterone level was significantly lower with fish oil feeding but higher in both F and S containing AA compared with F and S, respectively. The highest glucose uptake in tissues was in F, followed by F+AA, and then S and S+AA. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that fish oil is anti-inflammatory principally through a reduction in the AA content of phospholipids.

Adipose Tissue↗