Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Sarah Woods

Publications and source records attributed to Sarah Woods.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

The association between bullying behaviour, arousal levels and behaviour problems.

Research into bullying behaviour has identified two main categories of bullying behaviour, direct bullying and relational bullying, within which different profiles are evident, namely 'pure' bullies, 'pure' victims, bully/victims and neutral children. The current study examined the relationship between direct and relational bullying profiles, arousal levels, and behaviour problems. 242 (males: 121, females: 121) Secondary school pupils (mean age 13.5 years) completed three questionnaires; the Arousal Predisposition Scale (APS) (Behav. Res. Therapy 26 (1988) 415); the School Relationships Questionnaire (SRQ) (detailed in J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 41(8) (2000) 989; Br. J. Psychol. 92 (2001) 673); the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry 38(5) (1997) 581). Results revealed that the bully/victim profile for direct and relational bullying had the highest levels of arousal compared to other bullying profiles. Conversely, direct 'pure' bullies had low levels of arousal. Clinical behaviour problems as measured by the SDQ were associated with high levels of arousal. Clinically low arousal was not related to either bullying profiles, or behaviour problems. These findings were largely consistent with the arousal theory of behaviour (Crime and personality, 1964), which indicates that arousal levels are differentially associated with distinct behaviour patterns. The results provide implications for bullying intervention strategies, and methods to manage the school environment in relation to arousal levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Validation of magnetic resonance imaging for measurement of equine articular cartilage and subchondral bone thickness.

OBJECTIVE: To validate use of magnetic resonance images (MRIs) for measurement of equine articular cartilage and subchondral bone thickness by comparison with measurements in histologic specimens. SAMPLE POPULATION: 32 cadaveric carpal joints from 16 horses. PROCEDURE: Magnetic resonance imaging was performed by use of 3-dimensional fast spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) and T2* 3-dimensional fast gradient echo (GRE) pulse sequences with and without fat saturation. Standard sites on the medial and lateral facets of the intermediate, radial, and third carpal bones were used for subchondral bone and articular cartilage thickness measurements. Digital image analysis software was used for MRI measurements 10 mm from the dorsal extent and perpendicular to the articular surface. Histomorphometric measurements of hyaline, calcified cartilage, and subchondral bone thickness were obtained at selected sites. Comparisons between histomorphometric and MRI measurements and between magnetic resonance pulse sequences were evaluated. RESULTS: There were significant correlations between GRE and SPGR and SPGR and histologic measurements of articular cartilage, with no significant difference between measurements and good agreement. When calcified cartilage was excluded from the histologic measurement, MRI measurements were significantly greater than histologic measurements. For subchondral bone thickness, there was significant correlation between GRE and SPGR but GRE was significantly greater than SPGR measurements. Histomorphometric and MRI measurements were strongly correlated and not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Magnetic resonance imaging provides a good representation of cartilage and subchondral bone thickness, supporting its use in the study and clinical diagnosis of osteochondral structure and alteration.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Persistent infant crying and hyperactivity problems in middle childhood.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether persistent infant crying is associated with an increased risk for externalizing behavior problems in childhood. METHODS: Sixty-four infants who were referred for persistent crying in infancy (PC; mean age: 3.8 +/- 1.3 months) were reassessed at 8 to 10 years of age and compared with 64 classroom controls (CC). The major outcome measure was pervasive hyperactivity or conduct problems defined as parent, child, and teacher ratings that across informants were within the borderline/clinical range according to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Ratings of other behavior problems, parent ratings of temperament, and teacher assessment of academic achievement were also obtained. RESULTS: Ten (18.9%) of 53 PC had pervasive hyperactivity problems (child, parent, and teacher reported) compared with 1 (18.9%) of 62 CC (odds ratio: 14.19 [1.75-114.96]). Parents (29 [45.3%] of 64 vs 11 [17.2%] of 64; 4.00 [1.77-9.01]) and children (30 [46.9%] of 64 vs 17 [26.6%] of 64; 2.44 [1.16-5.12]) but not the teachers reported more conduct problems. Parents of PC rated the temperament of their children to be more negative in emotionality (PC mean: 3.0 +/- 1.0; CC: 2.4 +/- 1.0; effect size: 0.6) and difficult-demanding (PC mean: 5.2 +/- 1.3; CC: 6.3 +/- 0.9; effect size: 1.0). Academic achievement was reported by teachers to be significantly lower for PC than CC, in particular for those children with pervasive hyperactivity problems. CONCLUSIONS: Infants who are referred for PC problems and associated sleeping or feeding problems are at increased risk for hyperactivity problems and academic difficulties in childhood.

Achievement↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychological impact of the Lidcombe Program of early stuttering intervention.

The Lidcombe Program is an operant treatment for stuttering in preschool children for which favourable outcome and social validity data have been published. The treatment involves parental praise for stutter-free speech in children's everyday speaking environments, and occasional correction of stuttered speech. Theoretical perspectives on the origins of stuttering have prompted suggestions that the Lidcombe Program may have an adverse psychological impact on children. The present preliminary investigation sought to identify any evidence of such a systematic, pernicious trend, which might justify statistically powerful investigations of the issue with large subject numbers. Subjects were eight preschool children who were successfully treated with the Lidcombe Program. The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) detected any post-treatment behavioural markers of changes in children such as anxiety, aggression, withdrawal or depression. The Attachment Q-Set (AQS) measured any changes in the quality of the attachment relationship between child and mother over the course of treatment. These case studies revealed no evidence of a systematic trend in either. In fact, CBCL data suggested improvements in the children after treatment. It is concluded that there is no reason to doubt that the Lidcombe Program is a safe treatment.

Child Behavior↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Magnetic resonance imaging of the equine digit with chronic laminitis.

Chronic laminitis is a severe disease affecting the equine digit. It was hypothesized that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging would improve visualization of structures within the foot and pathology associated with chronic laminitis. This study aimed to describe the MR imaging findings in chronic laminitis, compare different pulse sequences for visualization of pathology, and to compare MR imaging with standard radiography. Twenty (10 forelimb, 10 hindlimb) cadaver limbs from 10 horses clinically diagnosed with chronic laminitis (group L) and 10 limbs without laminitis (group N) were used. Lateromedial radiographs and sagittal and transverse MR images of the foot were obtained. Radiographs and MR images were evaluated for anatomic definition and evidence of pathology. Dorsal hoof wall thickness and angle of rotation and displacement distance of the distal phalanx were measured. Comparisons were made between group L and N, forelimb and hindlimb within each horse, and MR imaging and radiography. Features consistently noted with MR images in group L, but not detected using radiography, included laminar disruption, circumscribed areas of laminar gas, laminar fluid, and bone medullary fluid. Other findings seen only on MR images included increased size and number of vascular channels, alterations in the corium coronae, and distal interphalangeal joint distension. Magnetic resonance imaging allowed better definition of laminar gas lines and P3 surface irregularity observed on radiographs. Based on measurements, group L had a greater angle of rotation, distal displacement, and dorsal hoof wall thickness than group N; forelimb hoof wall thickness was greater than hindlimb; and distal displacement and hoof wall thickness measurements were smaller using MR imaging than radiography, but had a similar pattern. It is concluded that there are features of chronic laminitis consistently observed using MR imaging and that these may be additional to features observed radiographically.

Animals↗