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Biomedical subjects

S S Allen

Publications and source records attributed to S S Allen.

30 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Effect of early exposure to family medicine on students' attitudes toward the specialty.

In the study reported here, the authors examined the influence of clinical experiences of students on their choice of family medicine as a specialty. Attitudes toward family medicine were investigated among 172 first-year and 174 second-year students at the University of Minnesota Medical School--Minneapolis. Neither early exposure to role models in family medicine nor the order in which specialty clerkships were taken had a significant effect on the students' choice of family medicine as a specialty.

Attitude↗
PubMed1987

The effect of decreased caffeine consumption on benign proliferative breast disease: a randomized clinical trial.

A single-blind, randomized clinical trial of 56 female subjects was conducted to determine whether decreased consumption of caffeine decreases breast pain/tenderness or nodularity in patients with suspected benign proliferative breast disease. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups--a control group (no dietary restrictions), a placebo group (cholesterol-free diet), and an experimental group (caffeine-free diet). At the initial examination, the subjects reported on the presence of breast pain, the degree to which pain affects daily activities, the frequency of pain, the degree of pain associated with breast examinations, and the degree of pain associated with close-fitting clothing. Subjects were then examined and the four quadrants of each breast were rated on a scale of 0 to 3 (0 = normal, fatty tissue, 1 = little seedy bumps or fine nodularity, 2 = discrete nodules or ropy tissue, 3 = confluent areas, hard or soft masses). Subjects in all three groups returned for 2- and 4-month follow-up examinations. Total nodularity scores, degree of pain/tenderness, and compliance with dietary restrictions were analyzed. The data showed that decreased caffeine consumption did not result in a significant reduction of palpable breast nodules or in a lessening of breast pain/tenderness.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Empty sella syndrome in an adolescent.

Empty sella syndrome (ESS) is a condition in which the sella turcica is partially or completely filled with cerebrospinal fluid resulting in a displacement of the normal pituitary. The condition is more common and benign in adults, although associated endocrine abnormalities have been reported. In children and adolescents, the syndrome is rare (27 reported cases), and the clinical picture is much less benign, with an increase in familial incidence, associated skeletal disorders, and endocrine abnormalities. Definitive diagnosis can be made by CT scan of the head. Our case report is of an adolescent who appeared clinically to have growth retardation and normal endocrine function. The CT scan of the head was compatible with ESS. Further follow-up showed improved growth rate. Although our patient did not appear to have symptoms related to ESS, based on the literature we agree that this syndrome is much less benign in children and adolescents than in adults.

Brain↗
PubMed1983

A factor analytic study of personality and intellectual variables in incarcerated delinquent males and females.

A factor analysis of personality, intellectual, demographic and behavioral variables obtained from a randomly selected population (N = 200) of incarcerated delinquents produced five factors with loadings that describe five personality groupings: The white offender with good verbal skills, the older adolescent offender with good verbal skills, the older adolescent offender, the institutional disrupter, and the anxious, verbal offender rated as "a good therapy risk." Implications of the present research and suggested modifications of the screening battery utilized are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

A factor-analytic study of a group therapy screening scale for children and adolescents.

A factor analysis of a brief group psychology prediction scale administered to 200 adolescent delinquents revealed two factors: One described the "ingratiating" delinquent, a good therapy candidate, which accounted for 51% of the variance. The second factor, the first time offender, also a good therapy candidate, accounted for 8% of the variance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Death fantasies and future time perspective.

Explored death fantasies of young adults through use of life scripts and future time perspective questionnaires. Results indicated a significantly younger age of death from disease and accident as opposed to natural causes. Type of death fantasied was markedly at variance from health statistics, with most projecting a benign end for themselves (old age).

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Energy intake and energy expenditure during the menstrual cycle in short-term smoking cessation.

The effect of short-term smoking abstinence on energy intake and expenditure parameters was investigated for women in different phases of the menstrual cycle (follicular or late luteal) in a rigorous inpatient laboratory setting. Twenty-one participants were randomized to a continued smoking (n = 5) or a smoking abstinence (n = 16) group and admitted for 2 7-day inpatient periods during alternate cycle phases. The smoking abstinence group experienced 2 days of baseline smoking and 5 days of smoking abstinence. Measurements included caloric intake (kcal/24 hours), energy expenditure (by indirect calorimetry), and weight. Results of within-subject analyses indicated no smoking abstinence effect on mean daily total kilocalorie intake, sweet kilocalorie intake, or resting metabolic rate. However, a significant cycle phase effect was observed, with increased kilocalorie intake and expenditure-as well as minor weight gain-occurring during the late luteal phase when premenstrual symptoms are highest. In light of this phase effect, women smokers might benefit by attempting to quit smoking during the follicular phase of their cycle.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patient perceptions about the influence of cholesterol on heart disease.

National surveys have shown that adults need to known more about their own blood cholesterol levels and about specific methods for lowering blood cholesterol. We examine patient perceptions of cholesterol and heart disease after their participation in a cholesterol management program designed for the primary care setting. We counseled 221 patients and successfully interviewed 179 by telephone four weeks after their initial dietary counseling visit. Nine of 10 patients could report their cholesterol level, and 98% of patients could appropriately label it as borderline-high or high-risk. Ninety-seven percent of the patients could give one valid reason why cholesterol was important to their health. Many patients knew specific dietary recommendations from counselors. Patients positively reviewed counseling and the cholesterol management program. A large percentage of patients had already made changes in diet and eating habits at the time of the interview. Total cholesterol measurements showed a mean reduction of 8.5% postcounseling.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A mini-workshop to train medical students to use a patient-centered approach to smoking cessation.

Leaders in preventive medicine and medical education have called for more attention to preventive medicine in medical education curricula. This study describes the implementation of a training program designed to introduce preventive medicine skills into the medical school curriculum. The specific issue addressed was smoking cessation. A two-hour workshop on the patient-centered approach to smoking intervention was presented to medical students during the family medicine rotation of the second-year clinical medicine course sequence. Two of the four student groups in the family medicine clinical rotation received the training and were afforded practice opportunity with at least one smoking patient at the clinical site. The other two groups went through the usual rotation with no special instruction or clinical emphasis on preventive interventions. Second-year medical students expressed positive perceptions of preventive medicine as assessed by self-rating on attributes important to successful preventive practice. These positive perceptions were retained by both groups after the clinical experience. Students with the workshop training were more confident in their smoking intervention skills and performed better overall on an objective clinical evaluation of intervention skills.

Analysis of Variance↗