Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Friends”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Restriction of Friend virus-induced erythroid cell proliferation by CD4+ T-lymphocytes that recognize a single gp70 epitope.

Friend murine retrovirus complex induces acute and fatal erythroleukemia when inoculated into immunocompetent adult mice. The development of leukemia after inoculation of Friend virus complex is controlled by several host genes. Some of the host genes influence immune responses against the viral antigens. Both CD4-positive T helper cells and CD8-positive cytotoxic T-lymphocytes specific for Friend viral antigens are required for spontaneous resistance against the virally induced leukemia. We have identified two separate T helper cell epitopes in the gp70 envelope glycoprotein encoded by the helper component of Friend virus complex. Immunization of mice with a synthetic peptide that represented one of the two T helper cell epitopes by a single injection with an adjuvant induced potent protective immunity against Friend virus-induced leukemia, even in the absence of CD8-positive T lymphocytes. In the immunized mice, virus-infected erythroid progenitor cells were rapidly eliminated from the spleen within two weeks after inoculation of the Friend virus. These data indicate unexpected importance and efficacy of CD4-positive T helper cells in immunity against retrovirus infections.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Lipid composition of Friend leukemia cells following induction of erythroid differentiation by dimethyl sulfoxide.

The effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced differentiation of Friend leukemia cells in vitro on the lipid composition of these cells have been examined. DMSO had no early effect on the incorporation of either [14C]glycerol or [3H]methyl choline chloride into the total lipids or individual phospholipids of Friend cells up to 240 min after addition of the inducer. Examination of DMSO-differentiated Friend cell phospholipids revealed a percentage composition which was similar to control cells, with phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in both uninduced and differentiated cells accounting for over 75% of the total phospholipid. Sphingomyelin levels were significantly lower in Friend cells than in normal adult mouse erythrocytes, and differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells resulted in a further lowering of this phospholipid. In contrast, a significant increase in the level of phosphatidylethanolamine occurred as a result of maturation. Fatty acid analysis of major lipid classes of differentiated Friend cells showed significant reduction in saturation, but no alteration in chain length in comparison to undifferentiated cells. A pronounced decrease in the cellular content of both free and esterified cholesterol, which resulted in a 45% decrease in the ratio of cholesterol/phospholipids, occurred in cells differentiated by the polar solvent. The findings indicate that erythrodifferentiation induced by DMSO results in a variety of changes in the lipid composition of the membranes of Friend leukemia cells.

Animals↗

Dexamethasone-sensitive and -insensitive responses during in vitro differentiation of Friend erythroleukemia cells.

We have investigated the mechanism(s) by which dexamethasone inhibit DMSO-induced Friend erythroleukemia cell differentiation in vitro. In particular, we examined the effects of dexamethasone on (a) the early events of differentiation such as cell volume alterations and 'memory response' and (b) the onset of biochemical events associated with terminal erythroid cell differentiation. By analysing kinetics of commitment of Friend cells to terminal erythroid differentiation on a clonal basis, we have observed that dexamethasone inhibited the completion of the latent period (time elapsed prior to commitment) and impaired "memory" (ability to inducer-treated cells to continue differentiation after a discontinuous exposure to inducer). Treatment of Friend cells with dexamethasone did not prevent the occurrence of DMSO-induced alterations in cell volume. However, dexamethasone treatment prevented a series of biochemical events associated with terminal Friend cell differentiation. These include the decrease in the rate of both cytoplasmic and nuclear RNA synthesis as well as the induction of cytidine deaminase activity and hemoglobin synthesis. These data indicate that the dexamethasone-sensitive process(es) operate during the early stages of Friend cell differentiation and that they are responsible for the inhibition of terminal erythroid maturation. These dexamethasone-sensitive processes, however, appear to be different from those regulating cell volume alterations during the early steps of DMSO-induced Friend cell differentiation.

Animals↗

Do perceptions of friends' behaviors affect age at first sex? Evidence from Cebu, Philippines.

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of perceptions of friends' romantic and physical behaviors on adolescent sexual behavior and the relative influence of friends' sexual behaviors and maternal attitudes on age at first sex. METHODS: Using longitudinal data collected from 1943 adolescents who have never had sex at baseline in Cebu, Philippines, logistic regression assessed whether adolescents' perceptions of friends' sexual behaviors, measured at ages 14 to 16 years, were associated with age at first intercourse. Survival analysis assessed the hazard of having first intercourse by ages 17 to 19 years. Final models adjusted for sociodemographics, mothers'/caretakers' disapproval of premarital sex, living with a caretaker, and the adolescents' own behaviors at baseline. RESULTS: Boys and girls, who at ages 14 to 16 years, perceived that their friends had ever had boyfriends/girlfriends, dated, held hands, kissed, petted or had sex were significantly more likely to have experienced that behavior by ages 17 to 19 years. For each additional behavior an adolescent perceived his or her friends to have experienced, the hazard of having sex at a younger age increased by 1.15 (p = .02) among boys and 1.19 (p < .002) among girls, after adjusting for mothers'/caretakers' disapproval of premarital sex and other factors. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the important role of peers in light of competing influences in adolescents' lives. They provide support for asking at early ages what romantic and physical behaviors adolescents think their friends have experienced. Interventions can use such information to better prepare adolescents to make responsible and informed decisions about sexuality.

Adolescent↗

The Baby-Friendly way: the best breastfeeding start.

In 1991, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund launched the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. "Baby-Friendly" is a designation that a hospital or birthing site can receive by demonstrating compliance with the "Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding." Baby-Friendly is more than a catchy name or a snappy slogan. With Baby-Friendly policies in place, breastfeeding initiation and duration rates increase and infant illness decreases. This article reviews the development of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, describes the components of the initiative, and evaluates current data that favor the universal implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative.

Breast Feeding↗

Coping strategies when an adult next-of-kin/close friend is in critical care: a grounded theory analysis.

The aim of the study was to generate a theoretical model of how relatives/close friends cope when faced with having an adult next-of-kin/close friend admitted to critical care. Using interviews, data were collected from 18 relatives/close friends of adult patients in thoracic surgical, neurosurgical, coronary, and general ICUs in south-west Sweden. The design incorporated grounded theory methodology. The results indicate the relatives/close friends tried to make the experience of their situation easier, but that the approaches used differed in accordance with the individual's internal and external resources. Four coping strategies exhibiting different characteristics were identified: the relatives/close friends alleviated, recycled, mastered, or excluded their feelings. Factors determining the choice of coping strategy were social background, previous experience of ICU-care and how the situation was apprehended. The theoretical model described in this article can contribute to expanding nurses' understanding of the coping strategies of relatives/close friends in critical care.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

An Australian study of adolescents with cystic fibrosis: perceived supportive and nonsupportive behaviors from families and friends and psychological adjustment.

PURPOSE: To identify and compare perceived supportive and nonsupportive behaviors exhibited by family members and friends toward adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF), and to examine the relationships between supportive and nonsupportive behaviors and adolescents' psychological adjustment. METHOD: Participants were 35 adolescents with CF attending the Women's and Children's Hospital in South Australia. Perceived supportive and nonsupportive behaviors were assessed using an adapted version of the Chronic Disease Support Interview. The psychological adjustment of the adolescents was assessed using the Youth Self Report Form. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were performed to compare the support provided by family members and friends. Multiple regression analyses assessed the contribution of supportive and nonsupportive behaviors for the prediction of psychological adjustment. RESULTS: Family members provided more tangible support than friends who, conversely, provided more companionship support. Overall, family members scored higher than friends on ratings for supportive behaviors. No differences were observed between family members and friends on ratings for nonsupportive behaviors. Rating of nonsupportive behaviors for family members was found to be the strongest predictor of psychological adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Family members and friends provide different types of support. Family members provide more tangible help with treatment tasks and adolescents provide more companionship. Overall, this study demonstrated the importance of addressing nonsupportive as well as supportive behaviors when investigating the impact of support on the psychological adjustment of adolescents with a chronic illness.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Family and friends' influences on the uptake of regular smoking from mid-adolescence to early adulthood.

AIMS: To examine the effect of family and friends' smoking on uptake of regular smoking among young people from mid-adolescence to early adulthood; whether such effects are time limited, vary by social class and gender, and the extent to which uptake precedes or follows friends' smoking. SETTING: The West of Scotland. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A longitudinal survey of 1009 15-year-olds interviewed at baseline, followed-up at 16, 18, 21 and 23 years of age, using interviews and postal questionnaires. MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported measures of smoking were used, allowing analysis of the uptake of regular smoking (1 + cigarette per day) between 15 and 23, and in the periods 15-16, 16-18 and 18-21 years. Measures of parental and sibling smoking and social class were obtained at baseline and respondents' reports of friends' smoking at 15 and 18 years. FINDINGS: Regular smoking more than doubled between 15 (14%) and 23 (36%). Adjusted for other factors, no independent effect of parental smoking on uptake in any period was observed, an effect of sibling smoking being confined to uptake between 15 and 16. Friends' smoking at 15 increased the likelihood of uptake up to 10 times over the next year, but did not extend to later years; that at 18 increased it up to three times between 18 and 21. These effects did not vary by gender or social class. Further analysis revealed a strong effect of friends' smoking at age 18 on earlier as well as later uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Contrasting with prevalent assumptions, the period from mid-adolescence to early adulthood is important for uptake of regular smoking, and in particular reveals friends' smoking to be of continuing significance, especially around school-leaving when friendship networks often change markedly.

Adolescent↗

Interactions of preschool and kindergarten friends and acquaintances.

The interactions of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old friends and acquaintances in a peer teaching and game-playing situation were examined. The sample consisted of 102 children who were divided into pairs of same-age, same-sex friends or acquaintances using sociometrics. One child in each pair was randomly chosen to be the teacher and the other the learner. The teachers taught a novel board game to the learners. The most common teaching method was a combination of explaining and demonstrating the rules before the game began; older children gave more comprehensive instructions than younger children. At all ages, teachers were more likely than learners to take the first turn, issue commands, and change the rules. Friends were rated more involved with their partners, more emotionally expressive, and more competitive than acquaintances. Teachers who taught friends were rated more domineering than teachers who taught acquaintances, and learners who were taught by friends were rated more playful and friendly than learners taught by acquaintances.

Child↗

Development of children's restrictive disclosure to friends.

Sixty preschool children, 60 peer friends, and 60 peer nonfriends (mean age = 4 years, ranging from 2 years 8 months to 6 years old) were engaged in conversations on topics varying in personal content. The findings indicate that restrictive disclosure to friends developed across the preschool period. Older preschool children (4 to 5 years old) displayed the restrictive disclosure to friend pattern; they provided more high-personal disclosures in conversations with friends than with nonfriends, while not differentially providing low-personal disclosures in conversations with the two types of peers. Younger preschool children (2 to 3 years old) displayed the opposite pattern; they provided more low-personal disclosures in conversations with friends than with nonfriends, while not differentially providing high-personal disclosures in conversations with the two types of peers. The potential causes and consequences of the development of restrictive disclosure to friends during the preschool period are discussed.

Child↗

Social support effects on cardiovascular reactivity: is a stranger as effective as a friend?

OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether the effects on cardiovascular reactivity of social support from an audience member depend only on the behavior of that person or also depend on the relationship between the audience and the actor. That is, is there any added reduction in physiological response if the person who is nodding and smiling supportively is also a friend? METHOD: Ninety subjects gave a speech to an observer. In two of the conditions, this observer was a confederate of the experimenter and a stranger to the subject. This confederate acted in either a supportive or neutral manner during the speech. In the final condition, this observer was a friend, brought by the subject, who was then trained to show support in the same manner as the supportive confederate. The comparison of the two confederate conditions tested the effect of support, holding the relationship constant. The comparison of friend and confederate supportive conditions tested the effect of the relationship, holding the supportive behaviors constant. All participants were female. RESULTS: Both supportive conditions produced significantly smaller cardiovascular increases than the confederate-neutral condition, and the friend-supportive condition produced significantly smaller systolic blood pressure increases than the confederate-supportive (friend-supportive: 7.9 mm Hg: confederate-supportive: 14.9 mm Hg; confederate-neutral: 22.9 mm Hg). Differences for diastolic pressure and heart rate were not significant, although the data followed the same pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Social support from a friend attenuated cardiovascular reactivity in a laboratory setting to a greater degree than support from a stranger. The subjects' construal of the supportive behaviors can have an effect on reactivity, over and above the effects of the actual behaviors themselves.

Adolescent↗

Public attitudes toward kidney donation by friends and altruistic strangers in the United States.

BACKGROUND: A severe shortage of organs is one of the major barriers facing transplantation today. One promising approach to this serious problem is to increase the use of genetically unrelated living kidney donors. Because of excellent results and favorable ethical considerations, spousal donation has become a widely accepted practice in the United States. The majority of U.S. transplant centers are now also willing to consider friends as donors, but they seem to be less comfortable about this donor source and most centers are opposed to using strangers. This study was designed to see what the public thinks about these issues. METHODS: A telephone survey of 1009 randomly selected adults living in the U.S. was conducted by the Gallup Organization. The survey asked about the acceptability of kidney donation by close friends and altruistic strangers and the willingness of respondents to make such donations themselves. RESULTS: Over 90% of respondents believe that kidney donation by close friends is acceptable and 80% feel the same way about kidney donation by altruistic strangers. Most respondents (76%) would probably donate a kidney to a close friend with renal failure and 24% said they would even donate a kidney to a stranger for free. CONCLUSION: It seems that the vast majority of American adults believe that living kidney donation by friends and altruistic strangers is an acceptable practice and many would consider making such donations themselves. When considered along with excellent results and favorable ethical arguments, these data suggest that kidney donation by friends and altruistic strangers should be considered as acceptable as is donation by spouses.

Altruism↗

Children's perceptions of relationships with siblings, friends, and mothers: compensatory processes and links with adjustment.

Links between children's psychological adjustment and individual differences in their perceptions of relationships with siblings, mothers, and friends were studied in a sample of 85 second-graders. Results indicated that characteristics of these relationships were significantly correlated with children's loneliness, depressive mood, self-esteem, and behavioral conduct. There were some links among children's perceptions of their relationships with siblings, friends, and mothers. A compensatory model of associations among adjustment and warmth in children's relationships with friends and mothers was supported. Children who reported that their relationships with either mothers, friends, or mothers and friends were characterized by high levels of warmth had significantly better adjustment outcomes than children who reported low levels of warmth in relationships with both friends and mothers. The importance of the network of children's relationships for their mental health is discussed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and breast feeding rates in Scotland.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on breast feeding rates in Scotland. DESIGN: Observational study using an annual survey of progress towards the WHO/UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and routinely collected breast feeding rates gathered on the Guthrie Inborn Errors Screening card at 7 days of postnatal age. SETTING: Scotland, UK, population 5.1 million, with about 53 000 births a year. PARTICIPANTS: All 33 maternity units with over 50 births per annum and 464,246 infants born in Scotland between 1995 and 2002. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Baby Friendly status of each maternity unit at the time of an infant's birth: certificate of commitment, UK standard award, and breast feeding at 7 days postnatal age. RESULTS: Babies born in a hospital with the UK Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative standard award were 28% (p<0.001) more likely to be exclusively breast fed at 7 days of postnatal age than those born in other maternity units after adjustment for mother's age, deprivation, hospital size, and year of birth. From 1995, breast feeding rates had increased significantly faster in hospitals with Baby Friendly status by 2002: 11.39% (95% confidence interval 10.35 to 12.43) v 7.97% (95% confidence interval 7.21 to 8.73). CONCLUSION: Being born in a hospital that held the award increased the chance of being breast fed. All maternity units should be encouraged to undertake the significant strategic and practical changes required to achieve UK Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative standard status.

Accreditation↗

Relatives and friends group in a psychiatric ward.

To enable relatives and friends of psychiatric patients in a 30-bed acute admission ward to meet the staff team together a relatives and friends group was initiated. The group was intended to provide a forum for questions about the patients' illness and treatment; allow feelings, such as anger and anxiety, about the patient's illness to be expressed; and enable relatives and friends to share their experiences and offer advice and support to each other. A study was designed to assess the feasibility of the group scheme. Relatives and friends were invited to the day room of the admission ward each Wednesday evening for one hour. The visitors chose their own topics for discussion and the staff team tried to answer questions and to facilitate a free exchange of views. An account of each meeting was documented, including details of attenders, the nature of the topics raised, and a simple measurement of some of the emotions expressed by the visitors. Overall, the effect of the meetings seemed positive and productive, for they allowed relatives and friends to ask questions about many topics, to express pent-up emotions, and to gain a better understanding and tolerance of the patient's illness. The relatives and friends group has become an integral part of treatment on the wards. Now that the feasibility of such a group is established, further studies are required to evaluate its efficacy.

Communication↗

Older rural adults and the decision to stop driving: the influence of family and friends.

Sixty rural elders who had stopped driving as well as their friends and family members participated in a qualitative study to explore (a) the perceptions of older drivers regarding the influence of friends and family on their decision to stop driving, (b) the perceptions of friends and family regarding their influence on that decision, and (c) the impact that no longer driving had on the elder and his or her friends and family. Findings suggest that the support offered by friends and family played a significant role in the decision to stop driving. Increased loneliness and isolation impacted the older driver, although an enhanced sense of responsibility was evident among friends and family.

Adolescent↗

Perceived emotional support from family and friends in members of homosexual, married, and heterosexual cohabiting couples.

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influenced perceptions of emotional support from friends and family in members of gay, lesbian, married, and heterosexual cohabiting couples. Both the individual partner and the couple were used as units of analysis. Using the individual partner scores, perceived emotional support was related to Type of Couple (married perceived more emotional support from family than did gays and lesbians); Sex-Role Self-Concept (undifferentiated individuals perceived the least emotional support from both friends and family); and Source of Support (friends were perceived to provide more emotional support than family). Gays and lesbians, in particular, perceived more emotional support from friends than from family. Individuals reporting high degrees of emotional support from friends were less psychologically distressed than those reporting low degrees of emotional support from friends. Using the couple scores, the above Type of Couple and Source of Support effects were replicated. In addition, partner differences were obtained only in married couples in which wives perceived more emotional support than husbands. Results are discussed in terms of current research in the area of social support.

Adult↗

[Physiologic neonatal body weight loss in a "baby friendly hospital"].

INTRODUCTION: It has been known for centuries that mother's milk is the most optimal nutritive and energetic substance for nutrition of newborn infants. Human milk is naturally adapted to physiological possibilities of nutrition and nutritive requirements of newborn infants. Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative of WHO experts and International Children's Fund are directed to introduction of natural diet and breast feeding as long as possible and they have been accepted in our environment as well. Health workers of these Departments and Hospitals help in education of women giving birth for successful breast-feeding. Successful establishment of lactation should affect physiological body-weight loss reduction in newborn infants. The aim of this paper was to prove that babies' presence induces earlier lactation, and that is how physiological body-weight loss is reduced. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 100 newborn infants of the Baby Friendly Hospital and 100 newborn infants born at the Maternity Ward of the Hospital in Senta in 1997 who were situated in a special ward for newborns. The paper deals with vaginally delivered babies without signs of disease. The study registered as follows: sex of newborn infants, the lowest body-weight during their stay at the Department, date when the body-weight was measured, taking into consideration the parity of their mothers. RESULTS: Statistical data processing revealed that in the group of newborn infants included in the Baby Friendly Program physiological body-weight loss was less (5.32% of the body-weight at birth) than in newborn infants classically managed (5.77% of body-weight at birth). The physiological body-weight loss in the group of the Baby Friendly Program was significantly smaller when expressed in grams. DISCUSSION: According to pediatric literature a 10% physiological loss of body weight in regard to body weight at birth is considered to be normal. Investigations performed at the Maternity Wards in Zrenjanin and Novi Sad (geographically the nearest to our town) have shown results similar to ours. CONCLUSION: Results of our investigation support the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative of the WHO and International Children Fund and their recommendations for initiating breast-feeding of newborn infants as early as possible. We also consider efforts for providing conditions necessary for Baby Friendly Hospital justified because of mother-child close relationship and possibilities for breast-feeding without strict regimens.

Breast Feeding↗