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Biomedical subjects

S Carey

Publications and source records attributed to S Carey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Secret agents: inferences about hidden causes by 10- and 12-month-old infants.

Considerable evidence indicates that preverbal infants expect that only physical contact can cause an inanimate object to move. However, very few studies have investigated infants' expectations about the source of causal power. In three experiments, we found that (a) 10- and 12-month-old infants expect a human hand, and not an inanimate object, to be the primary cause of an inanimate object's motion; (b) infants' expectations can lead them to infer a hidden causal agent without any direct perceptual evidence; and (c) infants do not infer a hidden causal agent if the moving object was previously shown to be capable of self-generated motion.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Understanding other minds: linking developmental psychology and functional neuroimaging.

Evidence from developmental psychology suggests that understanding other minds constitutes a special domain of cognition with at least two components: an early-developing system for reasoning about goals, perceptions, and emotions, and a later-developing system for representing the contents of beliefs. Neuroimaging reinforces and elaborates upon this view by providing evidence that (a) domain-specific brain regions exist for representing belief contents, (b) these regions are apparently distinct from other regions engaged in reasoning about goals and actions (suggesting that the two developmental stages reflect the emergence of two distinct systems, rather than the elaboration of a single system), and (c) these regions are distinct from brain regions engaged in inhibitory control and in syntactic processing. The clear neural distinction between these processes is evidence that belief attribution is not dependent on either inhibitory control or syntax, but is subserved by a specialized neural system for theory of mind.

Brain↗
PubMed2003

Minimal adhesions to ePTFE mesh after laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repair: reoperative findings in 65 cases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic ventral incisional hernia repair involves intraabdominal placement of a synthetic mesh, and the possibility of formation of severe visceral adhesions to the prosthesis is a principal concern. Little clinical information based on reoperative findings is available about adhesions to biomaterials placed intraabdominally. We conducted a multi-institutional study of adhesions to implanted expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) mesh at reoperation in patients who had previously undergone laparoscopic incisional hernia repair done with the same mesh implantation technique. METHODS: Nine surgeons retrospectively assessed the severity of adhesions to ePTFE mesh at reoperation in 65 patients. For each case, adhesions were assigned a score of 0 to 3, with 0 indicating no adhesions and 3 severe adhesions. RESULTS: The mean time from mesh implantation to reoperation was 420 days (range, 2-1 739 days). No adhesions were observed in 15 cases. Forty-four cases received an adhesion score of 1, and 6 cases a score of 2; no scores of 3 were assigned. Thus, 59 patients (91 %) had either no or filmy, avascular adhesions. No enterotomies occurred during adhesiolysis. CONCLUSIONS: In this large series of reoperations after laparoscopic incisional hernia repair, no or minimal formation of adhesions to implanted ePTFE mesh was observed in 91 % of cases, and no severe cohesive adhesions were found. Comparative analyses of newer materials based on clinical reoperative findings are warranted to assess the safety of intraabdominally placed meshes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

The role of object recognition in young infants' object segregation.

Needham's (2001, this issue) new results confirm that young infants draw on experientially derived representations in resolving individuation ambiguities due to shared boundaries between adjacent objects. They extend previous findings in a surprising way: The memory representations that infants draw upon have bound together information about shape, color, and pattern. Our commentary on these important results draws a distinction between two senses of "recognition" and asks in which sense object recognition contributes to object individuation in these experiments.

Child Development↗
PubMed2001

Developmental changes within the core of artifact concepts.

Three experiments addressed the relative importance of original function and current function in artifact categorization. Subjects were asked to judge whether an artifact that was made for one purpose (e.g. making tea) and was currently being used for another purpose (e.g. watering flowers) was a teapot or a watering can. Experiment 1 replicated the finding by Hall (1995) (unpublished manuscript) that adults rely on the original function of an artifact over a current function in their kind judgments. Experiments 2 and 3 revealed that whereas the kind judgments of 6-year-olds, like those of adults, patterned with the original function, those of 4-year-olds did not. Four-year-olds were influenced by the order in which the functions were mentioned in the story. Further, in their justifications 6-year-olds and adults referred to the origin of the objects, whereas 4-year-olds virtually never did. We conclude that 6-year-olds have begun to organize their understanding of artifacts around the notion of original function, and that 4-year-olds have not. The data are discussed as they bear on children's understanding of the design stance (Dennett, D. C. (1987).

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Infants' knowledge of objects: beyond object files and object tracking.

Two independent research communities have produced large bodies of data concerning object representations: the community concerned with the infant's object concept and the community concerned with adult object-based attention. We marshal evidence in support of the hypothesis that both communities have been studying the same natural kind. The discovery that the object representations of young infants are the same as the object files of mid-level visual cognition has implications for both fields.

Attention↗
PubMed2001

Data mining for indicators of early mortality in a database of clinical records.

This paper describes the analysis of a database of diabetic patients' clinical records and death certificates. The objective of the study was to find rules that describe associations between observations made of patients at their first visit to the hospital and early mortality.Pre-processing was carried out and a knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) package, developed by the Lanner Group and the University of East Anglia, was used for rule induction using simulated annealing.The most significant discovered rules describe an association that was not generally known or accepted by the medical community, however, recent independent studies confirm their validity.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Spontaneous representation of number in cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus).

The "violation of expectancy" looking-time methodology has proven a powerful tool for exploring prelinguistic mental representations in human infants as well as in nonhuman primates. Four studies applying this methodology to the question of spontaneous number representations in cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus) are reported here. Monkeys were shown 1 + 1 events in which objects were placed behind a screen, 1 by 1. The screen was removed, revealing consistent (2 objects) and inconsistent (1, 3, or 1 large object twice the mass of original object) outcomes. In all studies, monkeys looked longer at the inconsistent than at the consistent outcome. When the monkeys view a 1 + 1 operation, they expect exactly 2 objects. It is likely that these numerical representations are spontaneously available to a variety of primate species and could provide a foundation on which humans' number sense was constructed over evolution and development.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Determinants of physical performance in ambulatory patients on hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Physical performance measures, particularly gait speed, have been useful as predictors of loss of independence, institutionalization, and mortality in older nonuremic individuals. Gait speed has not been evaluated as a predictor of these important outcomes in patients on hemodialysis, nor have the determinants of gait speed in the dialysis population been studied. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional analysis to determine whether demographic, clinical, or nutritional status variables were related to physical performance in a group of 46 hemodialysis patients treated at three University of California San Francisco-affiliated dialysis units. Three physical performance measures were examined, including gait speed, time to climb stairs, and time to rise from a chair five times in succession. Forward stepwise linear-regression analysis was performed with each physical performance measure as the dependent variable and the following candidate predictor variables: age, gender, body mass index, dialysis vintage, Kt/V, albumin, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, hematocrit, lean body mass, phase angle, ferritin, and the following comorbidities: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease. RESULTS: Subjects included 31 men and 15 women aged 22 to 87 years (mean +/- SD, 52 +/- 17). The mean gait speed for the group was 113.1 +/- 34.5 cm/s (low compared with norms established for persons of similar age). Results of multivariable regression showed that age, albumin, and Kt/V were important determinants of gait speed in this population. Overall, the model explained 52% of the variability in gait speed (r = 0.72, P < 0.0001). Qualitatively similar results were obtained using stair-climbing time or chair-rising time as the dependent variables, except that comorbidity was more important than age for stair climbing. The addition of physical activity level to the models did not eliminate the associations of albumin or Kt/V with physical performance. CONCLUSIONS: Physical performance is significantly impaired in ambulatory hemodialysis patients and is related to age, serum albumin, and dialysis dose. Prospective studies are needed to determine whether modification of dialysis dose or nutritional interventions can improve physical performance in patients on hemodialysis.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Validation of questionnaires to estimate physical activity and functioning in end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients on dialysis are less physically active than sedentary persons with normal kidney function. To assess the consequences of inactivity and the results of efforts to increase activity in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population, valid instruments to measure physical activity and physical functioning in this group are needed. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study to establish the validity in ESRD of several questionnaires designed to measure physical activity or physical functioning in the general population. Questionnaires studied included the Stanford 7-day Physical Activity Recall questionnaire (PAR), the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), the Human Activity Profile (HAP), and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Physical activity was measured using three-dimensional activity monitors (accelerometers) over a seven-day period (the "gold standard"). Patients also underwent physical performance tests, including measurement of gait speed, stair climbing time, and chair rising time. Study questionnaires were administered, and questionnaire results were compared with each other and with activity monitor and physical performance test results. RESULTS: Thirty-nine maintenance hemodialysis patients participated in the study. Dialysis patients scored worse than previously published healthy norms on all tests. All questionnaires correlated with seven-day accelerometry and with at least one measure of physical performance. The HAP correlated best with accelerometry (r = 0.78, P < 0.0001). Seventy-five percent of the variability in physical activity measured by accelerometry could be explained by a model that combined information from the HAP and the PASE. The HAP and the physical functioning scale of the SF-36 were about equally well correlated with physical performance measures. CONCLUSIONS: These questionnaires are valid in patients on hemodialysis and should be used to study the physical activity and rehabilitation efforts in this population further.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2000

Spontaneous number representation in semi-free-ranging rhesus monkeys.

Previous research has shown that animals possess considerable numerical abilities. However, this work was based on experiments involving extensive training, a small number of captive subjects and relatively artificial testing procedures. We present the results of experiments on over 200 semi-free-ranging rhesus monkeys using a task which involves no training and mimics a natural foraging problem. The subjects observed two experimenters place pieces of apple, one at a time, into each of two opaque containers. The experimenters then walked away so that the subjects could approach. The monkeys chose the container with the greater number of apple slices when the comparisons were one versus two, two versus three, three versus four and three versus five slices. They failed at four versus five, four versus six, four versus eight and three versus eight slices. Controls established that it was the representation of number which underlay their successful choices rather than the amount of time spent placing apple pieces into the box or the volume of apple placed in the box. The failures at values greater than three slices stand in striking contrast to other animal studies where training was involved and in which far superior numerical abilities were demonstrated. The range of success achieved by rhesus monkeys in this spontaneous-number task matches the range achieved by human infants and corresponds to the range encoded in the syntax of natural languages.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Large-Scale Structure of the Carina Nebula.

Observations obtained with the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite reveal for the first time the complex mid-infrared morphology of the entire Carina Nebula (NGC 3372). On the largest size scale of approximately 100 pc, the thermal infrared emission from the giant H ii region delineates one coherent structure: a (somewhat distorted) bipolar nebula with the major axis perpendicular to the Galactic plane. The Carina Nebula is usually described as an evolved H ii region that is no longer actively forming stars, clearing away the last vestiges of its natal molecular cloud. However, the MSX observations presented here reveal numerous embedded infrared sources that are good candidates for sites of current star formation. Several compact infrared sources are located at the heads of dust pillars or in dark globules behind ionization fronts. Because their morphology suggests a strong interaction with the peculiar collection of massive stars in the nebula, we speculate that these new infrared sources may be sites of triggered star formation in NGC 3372.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Virologic and serologic surveillance for human, swine and avian influenza virus infections among pigs in the north-central United States.

Influenza virus infection in pigs is both an animal health problem and a public health concern. As such, surveillance and characterization of influenza viruses in swine is important to the veterinary community and should be a part of human pandemic preparedness planning. Studies in 1976/1977 and 1988/1989 demonstrated that pigs in the U.S. were commonly infected with classical swine H1N1 viruses, whereas human H3 and avian influenza virus infections were very rare. In contrast, human H3 and avian H1 viruses have been isolated frequently from pigs in Europe and Asia over the last two decades. From September 1997 through August 1998, we isolated 26 influenza viruses from pigs in the north central United States at the point of slaughter. All 26 isolates were H1N1 viruses, and phylogenetic analyses of the hemagglutinin and nucleoprotein genes from 11 representative viruses demonstrated that these were classical swine H1 viruses. However, monoclonal antibody analyses revealed antigenic heterogeneity among the HA proteins of the 26 viruses. Serologically, 27.7% of 2,375 pigs tested had hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against classical swine H1 influenza virus. Of particular significance, however, the rates of seropositivity to avian H1 (7.6%) and human H3 (8.0%) viruses were substantially higher than in previous studies.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Computer-aided learning for the education of patients and family practice professionals in the personal care of diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus is approaching pandemic proportions across the globe. It is a disproportionately expensive condition, accounting for 5-9% of annual NHS expenditure. Family practices often play a huge role in the care of diabetic patients. Many GPs elect to play a larger role in diabetes care, but the increasing burden on the multidisciplinary secondary care team means that some of the burden has to fall to family practitioners. In order to provide a high standard of care, the practitioner requires access to continuing education regarding diabetes care. The value of patient education is undisputed. In light of this situation a computer-aided learning (CAL) system is being developed for the education of both patients and practitioners concerning diabetes and its care. The proposed system takes a two pronged approach, being aimed at both patient and practitioner. This interactive system employs multimedia technology to teach practical skills and promote and consolidate theoretical understanding. It is hoped this system will improve patient self-care, and in the long-term reduce the incidence of diabetic complications and their associated costs.

Computer Graphics↗
PubMed2000

Physical functioning and health-related quality-of-life changes with exercise training in hemodialysis patients.

The Renal Exercise Demonstration Project was designed to test the effects of two different approaches to exercise programming on the levels of physical activity, physical functioning, and self-reported health status in hemodialysis patients. Two hundred eighty-six patients were recruited for participation. Intervention patients were given individually prescribed exercise for 8 weeks of independent home exercise, followed by 8 weeks of incenter cycling during dialysis. Physical performance testing was performed at baseline and after each intervention using gait speed, sit-to-stand test, and 6-minute walk. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item (SF-36) questionnaire was used to assess self-reported health status. The intervention group showed increased participation in physical activity. There were significant differences between the intervention and nonintervention groups in change over time in normal and fast gait speed, sit-to-stand test scores, and the physical scales on the SF-36, including the physical component scale. The intervention group improved in these test results, whereas the nonintervention group either did not change or declined over the duration of the study. It is clear that improvements in physical functioning result from exercise counseling and encouragement in hemodialysis patients. Because self-reported physical functioning is highly predictive of outcomes in hemodialysis patients, more attention to patients' levels of physical activity is warranted.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2000

Physical activity levels in patients on hemodialysis and healthy sedentary controls.

BACKGROUND: Patients on dialysis have reduced exercise tolerance compared with age-matched sedentary controls. The reasons for this debility have not been fully elucidated, but physical inactivity could be a contributing factor. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether patients on hemodialysis are less active than healthy sedentary controls and to explore clinical correlates of physical activity level in a group of hemodialysis patients. METHODS: Thirty-four hemodialysis patients and 80 healthy sedentary individuals participated in the study. Physical activity was measured for seven days with a three-dimensional accelerometer and with an activity questionnaire. RESULTS: Vector magnitude values from the accelerometer for the dialysis and control subjects were 104,718 +/- 9631 and 161,255 +/- 6792 arbitrary units per day, respectively (P < 0.0001, mean +/- SEM). The estimated energy expenditure values derived from the questionnaire were 33.6 +/- 0.5 kcal/kg/day and 36.2 +/- 0.5 kcal/kg/day (P = 0.002). The difference between patients on dialysis and controls increased with advancing age. Among the dialysis subjects, some measures of nutritional status correlated with physical activity level, including serum albumin concentration (r = 0.58, P = 0.003), serum creatinine concentration (r = 0.37, P = 0. 03), and phase angle derived from bioelectrical impedance analysis (r = 0.40, P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients on hemodialysis are less active than healthy sedentary controls, and this difference is more pronounced among older individuals. There is an association between the level of physical activity and nutritional status among patients on dialysis. These findings are of great concern, given the trend toward increasing age in incident dialysis patients and the well-known association between inactivity and increased mortality in the general population.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Low-functioning hemodialysis patients improve with exercise training.

The Renal Exercise Demonstration Project provided two different approaches to exercise programming to a group of hemodialysis patients. Physical functioning and self-reported health-related quality of life were measured at baseline, after 2 months of independent exercise, and again after 2 months of in-center cycling. This study compares the responses to intervention of patients who initially scored low (<34) on the Physical Component Scale (PCS) on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 questionnaire to those who initially scored higher (>34) on the same scale. The high-PCS group scored higher on all physical function tests (normal gait speed, fast gait speed, and sit-to-stand test) at each testing time than the low-PCS group. The high-PCS group improved only on the sit-to-stand test, whereas the low-PCS group improved in all three physical function tests. There were significant differences between the groups in change over time in all the physical scales and the PCS over time, with the low-PCS group showing improvements in response to the intervention and the high-PCS group showing no change over time. No differences in change over time were noted between the groups on the mental scales in either group. We conclude that low-functioning hemodialysis patients can benefit from exercise counseling in both objective measures of physical functioning and self-reported physical functioning. The impact of such interventions seems to be more profound in the lowest functioning patients.

Analysis of Variance↗