Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R A Hicks.
Ten years ago we reported that Type A scoring students were twice as likely as their Type B peers to report sleep problems. In an exact 1992 replication of that study, no Type A-B differences in the frequency of self-reported sleep problems were observed; however, the over-all incidence of sleep problems among the 753 college students had increased substantially.
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The relationship between arousability, as measured by the Arousal Predisposition Scale, and bruxism was computed for groups of 41 male and 75 female university undergraduates as a further test of the hypothesis that bruxism is a stress-linked disorder. Contrary to our prediction, arousability was not related to bruxism in men and the relationship between these variables for women was significant but relatively weak. When considered with other studies, these data provide a clearer focus for further study of the stress-bruxism hypothesis.
Changes in the consistency of self-reported sleep habits within two large samples of 763 and 782 college students were assessed for 1978 and 1992. Noteworthy changes over the 14-yr. period included significant decreases in the percentage of students who claimed stable (> or = 5-year) sleep-duration habits and the percentage reporting satisfaction with their sleep.
We compared the frequencies of Asian and Caucasian women who were classified by their responses to the EAT-26 scale as having eating problems. We noted that relative to their Asian peers, our sample of Caucasian women was 5.5 times more likely to score above the cut-off score for eating problems on this test. Two earlier studies which had reported opposite results for Asian and Caucasian women were discussed and reevaluated in the context of our data.
We compared the coping strategies of 39 short-sleepers and 33 longer-sleepers to the stresses associated with the October 17, 1989 San Francisco Bay Area earthquake using their responses to the eight scales of the Ways of Coping Questionnaire. Over-all, the short-sleepers scored significantly higher on this questionnaire and in general, the pattern of their responses was consistent with inferences that could be drawn from a 1972 paper by Hartmann, Baekeland, and Zwilling.
By collating and inspecting data from previously published studies (N=7,958), we noted that over a 20-year period, the median hours of sleep reported by college students had dropped by one hour.
Of 511 undergraduates responding to a questionnaire, 96 identified themselves as bruxers and reported more symptoms of stress than the nonbruxers. Stress may contribute etiologically to bruxism.
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Using several measures of sexual activity, 24 male and 30 female Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a pretreatment test and 3 posttests (immediate and Recovery Days 4 and 7) following REM sleep deprivation in a water tank. With careful controls, sexual activity was not significantly affected by the sleep treatments. Data do not support motivational hypotheses.
Of 334 undergraduates, 152 scoring greater than or equal to 8 were classified as Type A and 182 scoring less than 8 as Type B. The groups did not differ in attitudes toward leisure activity, but Type A scorers claimed to spend significantly more time weekly in leisure activities than Type B scorers. This suggests Type A people live more intensely relative to type B scorers.
While the etiology of nocturnal bruxism is unknown, three major categories of theories have been advanced to explain its cause(s), i.e., local-mechanical theories, psychological theories and systemic/neurophysiological theories. The recent report of a four-fold increase in the incidence of self-reported nocturnal bruxism in college students over the last 23-year period emphasizes the role that psychological variables may play in the development of this disorder and it is suggested that the personality traits which contribute to stress management are primary among these.
Fairly large groups of Type A and Type B college students were asked to respond to the Hassles and Uplifts Scale. The Type A students reported significantly more hassles and uplifts than their Type B peers. These data support the view that Type A people lead more intense, event-filled lives than Type B people.
Speculation and indirect evidence have suggested a relationship between habitual sleep duration and food intake. We tested this hypothesis by asking groups of short- and longer-sleeping students to keep 21-day sleep and food-intake diaries. We found no reliable evidence that sleep habits are linked to any major dietary variables as measured in this study and concluded that the differences between our results and those of an earlier study may reflect differences in the methodologies used.
To measure the relationship between Type A-B behavior and stress-linked symptoms, a group of undergraduates were asked to respond to the Glass version of the Jenkins Activity Survey and a 25-item stress-linked symptoms checklist. Data from 472 students were analyzed. As predicted, the results indicated that Type A persons experience specific stress-linked symptoms more intensely than their Type B peers.
Twenty-nine intubated pediatric patients were prospectively studied to determine whether nontypable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is associated with the development of nosocomial pneumonia. Throat cultures and tracheal Gram stains, leukocyte counts and cultures were obtained immediately following intubation, then serial studies on tracheal secretions were performed. Median patient age was 13 months. One patient had preexisting lung disease and 14 (48%) had pneumonia when intubated. There were five deaths. NTHI was recovered from the initial throat or tracheal culture in seven patients (24%); none developed a nosocomial lower respiratory tract infection. NTHI was not associated with any of three cases of nosocomial pneumonia. Three of 12 NTHI isolates were beta-lactamase producers. Tracheal leukocyte counts and Gram stains were not predictive of pneumonia, either at the time of intubation or subsequently. We conclude that NTHI in the oropharynx or trachea is not predictive of pneumonia among intubated pediatric patients.
During a 2-year period after the introduction of an intensive chemotherapeutic protocol, alpha-hemolytic streptococci accounted for 75% of all episodes of sepsis among children with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia at our institution. Only one case had occurred in the previous 8 years. Fourteen of 15 episodes of streptococcal sepsis occurred after therapy with either continuous or large dosage intermittent cytosine arabinoside. Eleven episodes occurred at two specific treatment points. Septic episodes were complicated by shock (2 of 15), encephalopathy (2 of 15), pneumonia (3 of 15) and death (1 of 15). Oral mucosal lesions may provide a portal of entry for alpha-hemolytic streptococci. These data suggest that children receiving continuous or large dosage intermittent cytosine arabinoside for treatment of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia may be at increased risk for alpha-hemolytic streptococcal sepsis. Empiric antimicrobial therapy in these children when febrile and neutropenic should include antibiotics effective against alpha-hemolytic streptococci.
Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus markers was examined in employees participating in patient care at The Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. Of 377 workers tested in 1985-86, 36 (9.6%) were seropositive for any marker. Among 285 employees who presumably have only work-related hepatitis B exposure, 14 (4.9%) were seropositive. Age 50 years and older, black race, and education no more than 12 years were associated with seropositivity among workers with work-related exposure. Employees in the clinics, laboratories, emergency room, and operating room had an increased prevalence of hepatitis B markers compared to those in other work locations (8 vs. 2%, p less than 0.05). Traditional risk factors for infection were not predictive of seropositivity. Although the risk of acquiring hepatitis B infection from employment in a children's hospital is low, this study does identify work-related risk factors. Possible reasons for this association are discussed.