Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Marion

Publications and source records attributed to R Marion.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Detecting sincerity of effort when measuring grip strength.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether sincere and faked grip strength measurements could be distinguished from one another by the patterns of measurements obtained for the five handle (hand size) positions of the Jamar dynamometer. Healthy subjects were instructed on different trials to give a sincere, maximal effort or to fake weakness of grip. Results were that the patterns did differ for sincere and fake trials, but not as strongly as expected. The recommendation is made that further research be done using patients with upper extremity injury.

Deception↗
PubMed1985

Relationship of blood pressure response and the renin-angiotensin system to first-dose prazosin.

It has been reported that the first-dose response to prazosin is more common in patients who are salt-depleted or already receiving beta blockers. The relationship between the first-dose blood pressure and plasma renin responses to oral administration of 1 mg prazosin in 13 (seven male, six female) patients with essential hypertension (average blood pressure = 150/100 +/- 5/2 mm Hg) was studied. Eight of 13 patients experienced marked orthostatic decreases in blood pressure associated with nausea and dizziness. The degree of the orthostatic depressor response was inversely correlated with the baseline plasma renin activity (p less than 0.005). This unique sensitivity of low-renin essential hypertension to prazosin may reflect an underlying increased alpha tone and/or an attendant blunted renin reactivity in this form of human essential hypertension.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1985

The redundancy of student comments and numerical ratings in evaluations of teaching.

Student evaluation of teaching effectiveness is widely used in undergraduate institutions as one element of determining overall faculty effectiveness. The evaluation format typically consists of (1) a number of questions the student answers by indicating a numerical rating and (2) an open-ended section for written comments. Some faculty members believe that the numerical ratings are not taken seriously by the students, and that the written comments impose greater accountability on the part of students. On the other hand, numerical ratings are necessary to minimize the fear that unfavorable written comments will be taken out of context in promotion decisions. Tabulation of numerical ratings is essential if a computerized data base for faculty evaluation is to be established. This study was designed to examine the relationship between student's numerically based ratings and written comments by evaluating allied health instructors using a standard, schoolwide evaluation form. Written comments were categorized according to a five-point scale and compared to mean values obtained from numerical ratings. Twenty-two faculty and 1,311 student evaluations were included. Significant positive correlations were found between the numerical student ratings and the written comments. The highest correlations were between student comments and two items related to overall teaching effectiveness. Students who evaluated instructors at either extreme on the spectrum of effectiveness were most likely to include written comments. Based on the consistency of numerical ratings and written comments we recommend that only the numerical ratings be used as part of the promotion and tenure decision-making process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Allied Health Personnel↗
PubMed1985

Achondroplasia and obstructive sleep apnea: correction of apnea and abnormal sleep-entrained growth hormone release by tracheostomy.

Severe obstructive sleep apnea in a patient with achondroplasia syndrome was found to result in a definitive deficiency of overnight growth hormone secretion related to absence of slow-wave sleep. Resolution of the apnea by tracheostomy resulted in normalization of growth hormone release and normal growth rates postoperatively. Sleep-related growth hormone deficiency may contribute to the short stature so often seen in a variety of craniofacial syndromes. Furthermore, this short stature may be reversible.

Achondroplasia↗
PubMed1979

Experience with sonography as an adjunct to amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis of fetal genetic disorders.

This report summarized our experience with a consecutive series of 800 women referred for midtrimester amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis of a fetal genetic abnormality. The results are compared before and after introduction of sonography immediately prior to the tap as a routine adjunct of the procedure. Following use of sonography there was a statistically significant reduction in the frequency of bloody taps, and an increase in the proportion of successful and informative initial taps. Moreover, in many instances sonography provided information useful for identification of fetal abnormalities or for management of pregnancy. These findings support the recommendation that examination by sonography should be utilized routinely as an adjunct to amniocentesis, despite the uncertainities relating to possible long-term adverse effects of intrauterine exposure to ultrasound.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed1977

Testing for the Tay-Sachs gene in the Atlanta Jewish population.

In May 1975, three mass screening clinics for the asymptomatic Tay-Sachs carrier were held in Atlanta, Georgia. Ninety percent of the 2,330 adults screened were of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. One hundred seventy-six people were identified as possible carriers, 145 returned for retesting, and 74 were diagnosed as carriers. The Tay-Sachs heterozygote frequency estimated from this tested population was 0.043 or 1 in 23. Retesting of all possible carriers and assessment of their first-degree relatives were emphasized as saids in diagnosis of the carrier state. Our results indicated that the hexosaminidase A values in the white celll lysates used for the retest procedure provided a more reliable diagnosis of the carrier state than did enzyme values obtained from screening sera alone. Test results from first-degree relatives in all cases supported the assigned genotype of probands.

Europe↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Electromyographic analysis of effort in grip strength assessment.

The purpose of the present research was to investigate the use of surface EMG in assessing effort while measuring grip strength with the Jamar dynamometer. We hypothesized that sincere, maximal grip contractions could be distinguished from feigned, submaximal contractions by differences in the amplitude and frequency content of the EMG, as well as by differences in force. Healthy subjects (seven men and ten women) were instructed on different trials to give a sincere (maximal, 100%) effort or a feigned (50% of maximal) effort with the right hand. The subjects were tested at each of the five handle positions of the Jamar dynamometer. Surface EMG was obtained for the right palmaris longus/flexor carpi radialis muscles. Consistent with previous research, we found that the 50% efforts, compared to 100% efforts, showed, (1) lower peak force; (2) a slower rise to peak force; and (3) a different pattern of force measurements as a function of handle position. Feigned and sincere efforts also differed in the EMG. As hypothesized, amplitude was lower for 50% than 100% efforts. The frequency spectra of the EMG were obtained by Fourier analysis. The 50% efforts showed a higher frequency EMG than did the 100%. The results supported the hypothesis that surface EMG may provide a measure of effort in a grip strength task. Analysis of the EMG, in conjunction with force analysis, has the potential of being a valuable tool for the clinician needing to determine whether a patient is giving a sincere, maximal effort or is feigning.

Adult↗