Biomedical subjects

Rebecca Smith

Publications and source records attributed to Rebecca Smith.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2003

Using memory strategies to improve 24-hour dietary recalls among older adults.

Dietitians commonly use 24-hour recall to obtain estimates of the typical food intakes for a population. This study was designed to determine whether using an encoding strategy or support at the time of retrieval improves older adults' 24-hour recall of food items and amounts consumed. The study included 17 older adults ranging from 74 to 91 years of age. Lunch was served to these individuals, and 24-hour dietary recall and recognition of food items consumed at the meal were conducted the following day. Portion sizes for five food items served at the meal, as well as memory tests for recall and recognition and a visual perceptual test, were also administered. Among older adults, use of an encoding strategy did not enhance memory of food items and amounts consumed. However, when the adults were provided support with a visual recognition aid at the time of food item recall, individuals remembered more food items but not amounts consumed. Performance on the Wechsler Memory Scale I and II, Verbal Paired Associates, was found to be a predictor of subjects' performance on 24-hour recall.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Survey of primary care physicians and home care clinicians.

CONTEXT: Providing home care in the United States is expensive, and significant geographic variation exists in the utilization of these services. However, few data exist on how well physicians and home care providers communicate and coordinate care for patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess communication and collaboration between primary care physicians (PCPs) and home care clinicians (HCCs) within 1 primary care network. DESIGN: Mail survey. SETTING: Boston. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-seven PCPs from 1 academic medical center-affiliated primary care network and 820 HCCs from 8 regional home care agencies. MEASUREMENTS: Provider responses RESULTS: Ninety percent of PCPs and 63% of HCCs responded. The majority (54%) of PCPs reported that they only "rarely" or "occasionally" read carefully the home care order forms sent to them for signature. Further, when asked to rate their prospective involvement in the decision making about home care, only 24% of PCPs and 25% of HCCs rated this as "excellent" or "very good." Although more HCCs (79%) than PCPs (47%) reported overall satisfaction with communication and collaboration, 28% of HCCs felt they provided more services to patients than clinically necessary. CONCLUSIONS: PCPs from 1 provider network and the HCCs with whom they coordinate home care were both dissatisfied with many aspects of communication and collaboration regarding home care services. Moreover, neither group felt in control of home care decision making. These findings are of concern because poor coordination of home care may adversely affect quality and contribute to inappropriate utilization of these services.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

7-hydroxystaurosporine (UCN-01) and ionizing radiation combine to inhibit the growth of Bcl-2-overexpressing U937 leukemia cells through a non-apoptotic mechanism.

A clinically relevant dose (2.0 Gy) of ionizing radiation (IR) was employed to determine if subsequent exposure to the protein kinase C (PKC) and Chk 1 inhibitor UCN-01 for 24 h could abrogate IR-induced G2/M arrest and promote apoptosis in U937 leukemic cells ectopically expressing Bcl-2 (U937/Bcl-2). To this end, empty-vector control (U937/pCEP4) and U937/Bcl-2 cells were exposed to two UCN-01 concentrations following IR: i) a 50 nM concentration, which by itself was minimally toxic to both cell lines, and ii) a 150 nM concentration, which modestly induced apoptosis (e.g., ~19%) in control cells after 24 h. The effects of UCN-01 on IR responses were examined in relation to apoptosis induction, suspension culture growth inhibition, loss of clonogenic survival, and cell cycle perturbations. IR (2 Gy) alone minimally induced apoptosis in both U937 transfectant cell lines (e.g., <5% at 24 h in each case). Although UCN-01 failed to potentiate IR-mediated apoptosis at either early (e.g., 24 h) or late (e.g., 72 h) intervals, exposure to 50 or 150 nM UCN-01 resulted in a significant, albeit modest, reduction in proliferation and colony formation in irradiated U937/pCEP4 and U937/Bcl-2 cells. Despite failing to enhance apoptosis, UCN-01 treatment abrogated IR-induced G2/M arrest in both cell lines, an event associated with enhanced activation of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (cdk1), promotion of G0/G1 arrest, and dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb). Together, these findings indicate that exposure of U937 cells ectopically-expressing Bcl-2 to the combination of UCN-01 + IR leads to a further reduction in cell proliferation, and that this phenomenon appears to involve a non-apoptotic mechanism.

Alkaloids↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Taste preference and rating of commercial and natural thickeners.

Dysphagia can negatively affect quality of life, nutritional status, and pulmonary status of individuals. The most common intervention for dysphagia is the use of thickening agents for liquids. This group study (n = 43) investigated the taste preference, taste ratings, and ranking for nectar-thick hot and cold beverages using three types of thickeners: SimplyThick, Thick-It, and noncommercially prepared natural thickeners. Results demonstrated a significant difference between the taste ratings of two commercial thickeners and between one commercial and the natural thickener for the ranking of taste with hot beverages. Every participant rated at least one of the thickener beverages as having an acceptable taste for the hot chocolate and fruit juice beverages. Exploring individual preferences is critical to selecting a beverage that increases compliance to clinical recommendations.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Genetics in occupational therapy education: a survey of professional entry-level programs.

PURPOSE: Advances in genetics indicate a need for occupational therapists to develop literacy and skills in genetics as it relates to lifestyle and occupation. The purpose of this study is to identify genetics content areas taught, instructional methods used, and the importance of teaching genetics at the entry-level in occupational therapy curricula. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to all entry-level occupational therapy educational programs (N=157). Structured mailing and follow-up were used. RESULTS: The response rate was 63.9%. Most respondents (47%) rate teaching genetics as "moderately important." Genetics content is predominately taught at the introductory or knowledge level rather than at the integration and application level. Respondents indicate a lack of time and space for genetics content and of faculty interest and expertise. DISCUSSION: As occupational therapy practice evolves to include new genetics, curriculum change will need to be implemented. Development of teaching materials and methods addressing genetics is recommended.

Curriculum↗