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1.
Phys Rev Lett ; 131(26): 262501, 2023 Dec 29.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38215380

ABSTRACT

The excited states of unstable ^{20}O were investigated via γ-ray spectroscopy following the ^{19}O(d,p)^{20}O reaction at 8 AMeV. By exploiting the Doppler shift attenuation method, the lifetimes of the 2_{2}^{+} and 3_{1}^{+} states were firmly established. From the γ-ray branching and E2/M1 mixing ratios for transitions deexciting the 2_{2}^{+} and 3_{1}^{+} states, the B(E2) and B(M1) were determined. Various chiral effective field theory Hamiltonians, describing the nuclear properties beyond ground states, along with a standard USDB interaction, were compared with the experimentally obtained data. Such a comparison for a large set of γ-ray transition probabilities with the valence space in medium similarity renormalization group ab initio calculations was performed for the first time in a nucleus far from stability. It was shown that the ab initio approaches using chiral effective field theory forces are challenged by detailed high-precision spectroscopic properties of nuclei. The reduced transition probabilities were found to be a very constraining test of the performance of the ab initio models.

2.
Rev. chil. urol ; 77(2): 141-145, 2012. tab
Article in Spanish | LILACS | ID: lil-783401

ABSTRACT

El score de Gleason (SG) es el sistema más utilizado en la etapificación del cáncer prostático (CP). La correlación entre el SG de la biopsia prostática por punción (BP) y el obtenido en la prostatectomía radical (PR) no es exacta. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar el SG de la BP con el obtenido en la pieza quirúrgica de la PR en nuestro hospital. Creemos que existe un nivel moderado de concordancia entre ambas muestras. Se incluyeron los pacientes sometidos a PR entre 1993 y 2010 en el Hospital Militar de Santiago (HOSMIL). Se estableció como SG sobreestimado cuando el SG de la biopsia por punción era mayor al de la PR, y SG subestimado cuando el SG obtenido en la biopsia era menor al obtenido en la PR. Se utilizó la medida estadística Kappa (K) para determinar su nivel de concordancia. El estudio incluyó 534 pacientes. Se encontró una concordancia de 62 por ciento. La sobreestimación fue de 6,7 por ciento y la subestimación fue 31,2 por ciento. El valor del índice de concordancia Kappa (K) fue de 0,3186. Se encontró un índice de concordancia débil. Esto se podría explicar por la escasa muestra disponible en la biopsia, comparada con la pieza completa de la PR, entre otros factores. Se asemeja a resultados internacionales, que afirman que la subestimación es la situación más frecuente...


Gleason Score (SG) is the most frequently used system for prostate cancer (CP) staging. The correspondence between the SG of the prostate biopsy and the radical prostatectomy is not exact. The purpose of this study was to compare the SG of the biopsy with that obtained at radical surgery in our hospital. We relieve that there is a moderate level of correspondence between both specimens. We included all patients who underwent Radical Prostatectomy between 1993 and 2010 in the Hospital Militar de Santiago (HOSMIL). We defined overestimation when the SG in the biopsy was higher than in the Radical Prostatectomy; and underestimated when lower. The statistical measurement Kappa (K) was used for the analysis. 534 patients where studied. The correspondence was 62 percent. Overestimation was 6,7 percent and underestimation was 31.2 percent. Kappa (K) was 0.3186 and this is considered weak. This could be explained in part due to the small size of the tissue sample, when compared to the complete prostate after surgery. Our experience is similar to International reports, where underestimation is also frequent...


Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adult , Biopsy , Prostatic Neoplasms/surgery , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Prostatectomy , Neoplasm Staging , Sensitivity and Specificity , Predictive Value of Tests
3.
Stud Health Technol Inform ; 84(Pt 2): 1033-7, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11604888

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: As efforts continue to narrow the digital divide between the North and South, a new biomedical and health informatics training effort has been launched in Peru. This report describes the first year of work on this collaborative effort between the University of Washington (Seattle) Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and Universidad Nacional de San Marcos (Peru) OBJECTIVES: To describe activities in the first year of a new International Research and Training Program in Biomedical and Health Informatics. METHODS: Descriptive analysis of key activities including an assessment of electronic environment through observation and survey, an in country short course with quantitative evaluation, and first round of recruitment of Peruvian scholars for long-term training in Seattle. RESULTS: A two-week short course on informatics was held in the country. Participants' success in learning was demonstrated through pretest/posttest. A systematic assessment of electronic environment in Peru was carried out and two scholars for long-term training were enrolled at the University of Washington, Seattle. DISCUSSION: Initial activity in the collaborative training effort has been high. Of particular importance in this environment is orchestration of efforts among interested parties with similar goals in Peru, and integration of informatics skills into ongoing large-scale research projects in country.


Subject(s)
International Cooperation , Medical Informatics/education , Peru , Program Evaluation , United States , Washington
4.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil ; 82(10): 1367-74, 2001 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11588739

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To develop classification models for risk of hospital readmission 80 to 180 days after discharge based the demographic and functional characteristics of persons discharged from acute inpatient rehabilitation after stroke. DESIGN: Retrospective, using information from US facilities subscribing to the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDS(MR)). SETTING: Information submitted to the UDS(MR) from 1994 through 1996 by 167 hospital and rehabilitation facilities from 40 states was examined. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 15,992 records of patients (mean age +/- standard deviation, 70.97 +/- 12.19yr) with a diagnosis of stroke were included in the final sample. The sample included 52.7% women and was 80% non-Hispanic white with an average length of stay (LOS) of 25.31 +/- 14.72 days. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Six subscales of the FIM instrument (self-care, sphincter control, transfers, locomotion, communication, social cognition), total FIM, and other predictor variables for regression analysis (gender, age, ethnicity, marital status, prehospital living setting, LOS, primary payer source, level of function-related group). RESULTS: A logistic regression model included the following statistically significant variables (p <.05): ethnicity, sphincter control, self-care ability, gender, and LOS. The greatest variability occurred among men. Exactly 18.1% of non-Hispanic white men and 17.9% of African-American men were rehospitalized. In contrast, only 10.1% of Hispanic men and 11.4% of Asian men were rehospitalized. The odds of rehospitalization were lowest for Hispanic men. CONCLUSION: As prospective payment systems are introduced for postacute care, it is important that the relationship among functional abilities, demographic characteristics, and incidence of hospital readmission following medical rehabilitation be examined.


Subject(s)
Patient Readmission/statistics & numerical data , Stroke Rehabilitation , Aged , Female , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Risk Factors
5.
Neurobiol Dis ; 8(3): 405-18, 2001 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11442350

ABSTRACT

Huntington's disease (HD) and Dentatorubral and pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) are autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disorders caused by the expansion of polyglutamine tracts in their respective proteins, huntingtin and atrophin-1. We have previously generated mouse models of these disorders, using transgenes expressed via the prion protein promoter. Here, we report the first direct comparison of abnormalities in these models. The HD mice show abbreviated lifespans (4-6 months), hypoactivity, and mild impairment of motor skills. The DRPLA mice show severe tremors, are hyperactive, and are profoundly uncoordinated. Neuropathological analyses reveal that the distribution of diffuse nuclear immunolabeling and neuronal intranuclear inclusions (NII's), in the CNS of both models, was remarkably similar. Cytoplasmic aggregates of huntingtin were the major distinguishing neuropathological feature of the HD mice; mutant atrophin-1 accumulated/aggregated only in the nucleus. We suggest that the distinct behavioral and neuropathological phenotypes in these mice reflect differences in the way these mutant proteins perturb neuronal function.


Subject(s)
Behavior, Animal/physiology , Brain/abnormalities , Brain/physiopathology , Huntington Disease/physiopathology , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Nuclear Proteins/genetics , Aggression , Animals , Brain Chemistry , Disease Models, Animal , Dopamine/analysis , Huntingtin Protein , Huntington Disease/pathology , Hyperkinesis/pathology , Hyperkinesis/physiopathology , Male , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Phenotype , Serotonin/analysis
6.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil ; 80(2): 141-6, 2001 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11212015

ABSTRACT

Measures of central tendency including the mean, median, and mode are commonly reported in rehabilitation research. It is believed that the relationship among the mean, median, and mode changes in a specific way when the distribution being analyzed is skewed. A number of widely used textbooks were reviewed to determine how the relationship among the mean, median, and mode is presented in the health sciences and rehabilitation literature. We report a potential misinterpretation of the relationship between measures of central tendency that was identified in several research and statistical textbooks on the subject of rehabilitation. The misinterpretation involves measures of central tendency derived from skewed unimodal sample distributions. The reviewed textbooks state or imply that in asymmetrical distributions, the median is always located between the mode and mean. An example is presented illustrating the fallacy of this assumption. The mean and median will always be to the right of the mode in a positively skewed unimodal distribution and to the left of the mode in a negatively skewed distribution; the order of the mean and median is impossible to predict or generalize. The assumption that the median always falls between the mode and mean in the calculation of coefficients of skewness has implications for the interpretation of exploratory and confirmatory data analysis in rehabilitation research.


Subject(s)
Data Interpretation, Statistical , Rehabilitation , Humans
7.
Qual Manag Health Care ; 9(2): 6-15, 2001.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14598626

ABSTRACT

Maternal substance abuse is a serious problem with significant adverse effects to mothers, fetuses, and children. The Early Start Program provides pregnant women in a managed care organization with screening and early identification of substance abuse problems, early intervention, ongoing counseling, and case management by a licensed clinical social worker located in the prenatal clinic, where she is an integral part of the prenatal team. We describe the development of the Early Start Program, its administrative history, and how it has interfaced with clinicians and administrators. We also highlight two important program characteristics: the partnership with a perinatal health services research unit and the degree to which the program could be "exported" to other managed care settings.


Subject(s)
Case Management , Managed Care Programs/organization & administration , Maternal Health Services/organization & administration , Obstetrics/organization & administration , Pregnancy Complications/diagnosis , Substance-Related Disorders/diagnosis , California , Counseling , Female , Humans , Interprofessional Relations , Obstetrics/standards , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications/therapy , Pregnancy Outcome , Program Development , Program Evaluation , Social Work, Psychiatric , Substance-Related Disorders/complications , Substance-Related Disorders/therapy
8.
Am J Phys Med Rehabil ; 80(12): 876-84, 2001 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11821665

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Overall satisfaction has important social and economic implications for patients who have received inpatient medical rehabilitation. We conducted this study to examine the overall satisfaction level at 3- to 6-mo follow-up for inpatients with cerebrovascular impairments discharged from medical rehabilitation. DESIGN: The study was retrospective using information from a national database representative of medical rehabilitation patients across the United States. Information submitted in 1997 and 1998 to the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation by 177 hospital and rehabilitation facilities from 40 states was examined. The final sample included 8,900 patient records. The main outcome measure was the level of satisfaction with medical rehabilitation at 80-180 days postdischarge follow-up. RESULTS: A logistic regression model including ten independent variables was used to predict satisfied vs. dissatisfied at follow-up. Three statistically significant variables were included in the final model and correctly classified 95.1% of the patients. Higher FIM instrument discharge scores were associated with increased satisfaction. Further analysis of the FIM instrument subscales indicated that higher ratings in transfers, social cognition, and locomotion were significantly associated with increased satisfaction. CONCLUSION: We identified several functional variables associated with increased satisfaction after medical rehabilitation in persons with stroke. The ability to objectively assess patient satisfaction is important as consumer-based outcome measures are integrated in accreditation and healthcare evaluation.


Subject(s)
Patient Satisfaction , Stroke Rehabilitation , Activities of Daily Living , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Health Status Indicators , Humans , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , ROC Curve , Retrospective Studies , Sensitivity and Specificity , Treatment Outcome
9.
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med ; 154(11): 1140-7, 2000 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-11074857

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate biological and health services predictors of extreme neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in a health maintenance organization. DESIGN: Nested case-control study. SETTING: Eleven Northern California Kaiser Permanente hospitals. SUBJECTS: The cohort consisted of 51,387 newborns born at 36 weeks or later weighing 2000 g or more. Cases were newborns with peak total serum bilirubin levels greater than or equal to 428 micromol/L (> or =25 mg/dL) (n = 73). Controls were a random sample of newborns from the cohort with peak bilirubin levels less than 428 micromol/L (<25 mg/dL) (n = 423). MEASUREMENTS: Review of medical records and telephone interviews. RESULTS: Early jaundice was most strongly associated with case status (odds ratio [OR] = 7.3). After excluding subjects with early jaundice, the strongest predictors of hyperbilirubinemia were family history of jaundice in a newborn (OR = 6.0), exclusive breastfeeding (OR = 5.7), bruising (OR = 4.0), Asian race (OR = 3.5), cephalhematoma (OR = 3.3), maternal age of 25 years or older (OR = 3.1), and lower gestational age (OR = 0.6/week). These variables identified 61% of newborns as very low risk (about 1/4200). However, the risk in the remaining 39% was still low (1/370). More cases (79%) than controls (59%) had newborn length-of-stay and follow-up consistent with the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines, but phototherapy use within 8 hours of the time that the guidelines recommend was uncommon in both cases (26%) and controls (33%). There were no apparent cases of kernicterus. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention of extreme hyperbilirubinemia may require closer follow-up than is currently recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and more use of phototherapy than was observed in this study. To prevent extreme hyperbilirubinemia (> or =428 micromol/L [> or =25 mg/dL]) in 1 newborn, many newborns would need to receive these interventions.


Subject(s)
Health Maintenance Organizations , Jaundice, Neonatal/prevention & control , Bilirubin/blood , Case-Control Studies , Cohort Studies , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Guidelines as Topic , Hospitalization , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Jaundice, Neonatal/diagnosis , Jaundice, Neonatal/epidemiology , Jaundice, Neonatal/therapy , Length of Stay , Male , Phototherapy/methods , Phototherapy/statistics & numerical data , Retrospective Studies
10.
Eval Health Prof ; 23(2): 123-48, 2000 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10947521

ABSTRACT

This study evaluates the effectiveness of two strategies--communication and condom skills training--for increasing condom-protected sex in a sample of 510 high-risk women ages 17 to 61. Baseline and 3- and 6-month postintervention interview data were gathered in three cities participating in a randomized trial of a six-session, group skill-building intervention. This analysis was conducted for the entire sample and for six subgroups categorized by age, single or multiple partners, and history of childhood sexual abuse. The dependent variable was the odds ratio of protected sex acts at each follow-up. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate effects for two intervention pathways. The pathway through condom skills increased the odds of protected sex for the intervention group (chi 2 difference = 35, df = 2, p < .05) as well as for all subgroups. The pathways through communication were significant for the intervention group (chi 2 difference = 23, df = 3, p < .05) but fully effective only for participants under 30 and participants who reported childhood sexual abuse. The effectiveness of both pathways diminished at 6 months. WINGS demonstrates that condom skills training can increase protected sex for a heterogeneous group of women. Further research needs to examine how such skill training translates into use of condoms by male partners. To increase the duration of intervention effects, booster sessions may need to be incorporated.


Subject(s)
Communication , Condoms , Health Promotion , Sexual Behavior , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/prevention & control , Adolescent , Adult , Baltimore , Female , Health Promotion/methods , Humans , Middle Aged , Models, Psychological , New York City , Risk Factors , Washington
12.
Article in English | WPRIM (Western Pacific) | ID: wpr-959510

ABSTRACT

1. Hemoglobin values obtained on 60 blood samples with the CuSO(4) specific gravity method showed no significant difference from parallel determinations using Ponders a of Wongs standard method2. Evelyns micro method of hemoglobin determination gave significantly higher results than those obtained by the CuSO(4) specific gravity method and the modified Wongs method3. The nomogram devised by Van Slyke et al. is applicable to the Filipino subjects in this study. (Conclusions)

13.
Am J Public Health ; 89(12): 1841-6, 1999 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10589313

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study was done to compare risk factors for HIV/STDs in women who reported having had sex with both men and women and women who reported having had sex with men only. METHODS: Female participants in a multisite, randomized HIV/STD prevention study in the Seattle area reported both having had sex with a man in the 3 months before and having at least 1 risk factor for HIV/STDs during the year before the study. Of these women, 38% who reported ever having had sex with a woman were compared with those who reported having had sex with men only. RESULTS: Women who had had sex with both men and women were more likely than women who had had sex with men only to report drug use in the 3 months before the study, a greater lifetime number of male partners, a sex partner who had had sex with a prostitute, an earlier age at sexual debut, and forced sexual contact (P < .01 for all comparisons). Women who had had sex with both men and women had a mean of 3.2 of these 5 risk factors, vs 2.1 among women who had had sex with men only (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Women who had had sex with both men and women were more likely than women who had had sex with men only to engage in multiple risk behaviors. Health workers should be aware of bisexual experience among women, since this may be a marker for multiple risk behaviors for HIV/STDs.


Subject(s)
Bisexuality/statistics & numerical data , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Heterosexuality/statistics & numerical data , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology , Substance-Related Disorders/complications , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Condoms , Female , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Humans , Risk , Risk-Taking , Sexual Partners , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/prevention & control , Substance Abuse, Intravenous , United States/epidemiology
14.
Pediatrics ; 104(5 Pt 2): 1198-203, 1999 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10545573

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and interhospital variation of bilirubin testing and identified hyperbilirubinemia in a large health maintenance organization. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Eleven Northern California Kaiser Permanente hospitals. SUBJECTS: A total of 51,387 infants born in 1995-1996 at >/= 36 weeks' gestation and >/= 2000 g. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Bilirubin tests and maximum bilirubin levels recorded in the first month after birth. RESULTS: The proportion of infants receiving >/= 1 bilirubin test varied across hospitals from 17% to 52%. The frequency of bilirubin levels >/= 20 mg/dL (342 micromol/L) varied from .9% to 3.4% (mean: 2.0%), but was not associated with the frequency of bilirubin testing (R(2) = .02). Maximum bilirubin levels >/= 25 mg/dL (428 micromol/L) were identified in.15% of infants and levels >/= 30 mg/dL (513 micromol/L) in .01%. CONCLUSIONS: Significant interhospital differences exist in bilirubin testing and frequency of identified hyperbilirubinemia. Bilirubin levels >/=20 mg/dL were commonly identified, but levels >/= 25 mg/dL were not.


Subject(s)
Hyperbilirubinemia/epidemiology , Hyperbilirubinemia/prevention & control , Mass Screening/statistics & numerical data , California/epidemiology , Ethnicity , Female , Health Maintenance Organizations , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Retrospective Studies
15.
Neuron ; 24(1): 275-86, 1999 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10677044

ABSTRACT

Dentatorubral and pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is a member of a family of progressive neurodegenerative diseases caused by polyglutamine repeat expansion. Transgenic mice expressing full-length human atrophin-1 with 65 consecutive glutamines exhibit ataxia, tremors, abnormal movements, seizures, and premature death. These mice accumulate atrophin-1 immunoreactivity and inclusion bodies in the nuclei of multiple populations of neurons. Subcellular fractionation revealed 120 kDa nuclear fragments of mutant atrophin-1, whose abundance increased with age and phenotypic severity. Brains of DRPLA patients contained apparently identical 120 kDa nuclear fragments. By contrast, mice overexpressing atrophin-1 with 26 glutamines were phenotypically normal and did not accumulate the 120 kDa fragments. We conclude that the evolution of neuropathology in DRPLA involves proteolytic processing of mutant atrophin-1 and nuclear accumulation of truncated fragments.


Subject(s)
Cell Nucleus/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Multiple System Atrophy/metabolism , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Neurodegenerative Diseases/metabolism , Peptide Fragments/metabolism , Adolescent , Animals , Ataxia , Brain/pathology , Child , Chorea , Female , Humans , Male , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Multiple System Atrophy/genetics , Multiple System Atrophy/pathology , Neurodegenerative Diseases/genetics , Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid , Tremor
16.
Women Health ; 30(1): 15-34, 1999.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10813265

ABSTRACT

Over the past three decades, the influence and importance of social support has been well documented and the findings have suggested a beneficial effect on stress-related situations, mental and physical health, and social functioning. More recently, small group/skills training behavioral interventions have demonstrated success in changing behaviors which affect the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV among populations at risk for these diseases. Studies of support groups to date have been conducted exclusively in research settings where women are offered financial incentives for participation. Little is known about the willingness of women to participate in ongoing support groups after successfully completing a skills training intervention. The present study examines the factors that may influence participation among women in a weekly support group after completing a structured, six session HIV/STD intervention. Both quantitative and qualitative data are collected from 265 women in the intervention arm of a multi-site randomized controlled behavioral intervention trial. Results reveal that less than a quarter (22%) of women participated in at least one support group. Participation varied significantly by site, ranging from 34% to 15% (p = .008). Participation was also strongly linked to recent use of domestic violence services. Qualitative data indicated that although monetary incentives play some role in the woman's decision to participate, other factors are also important. These include program outreach, support group size, salience of the group content, consistency of group leadership from the intervention to the support group, and use of peer leaders along with professional facilitators. Implications for design of post-intervention support groups programs are discussed.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/psychology , Health Education/statistics & numerical data , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Self-Help Groups/statistics & numerical data , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/psychology , Women/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Baltimore , District of Columbia , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Motivation , Multicenter Studies as Topic , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Washington , Women/education
17.
J Womens Health ; 7(5): 587-96, 1998 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9650160

ABSTRACT

Few studies have addressed recruitment and retention of participants in preventive interventions directed at human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and these generally have not focused on women. In this study, part of the Women in Group Support (WINGS) project, we examine the experience of three sites in recruiting 444 high-risk women for a small group intervention to reduce risky sexual behavior. The intervention included six structured sessions, followed by a continuing series of client-focused, drop-in sessions. Incentives for participants included child care, food, and transportation tokens. Attendees at each structured session also received a cash incentive of $10-$20. Forty-six percent of the women were recruited from community sources, 35% from clinics, and 19% from drug programs. Across all recruitment sources, almost a third of the women reported having had a sexually transmitted disease (STD) in the past year, 88%-94% reported a risky male partner (who, they believed, had sex with other partners or with sex workers, was an injecting drug user, or was HIV positive), and 10%-36% reported trading sex for money or drugs. During 18 months of recruitment, each site averaged 34 screening interviews monthly to secure 8 eligible women a month who completed baseline interviews and reported for randomization. The average number of paid sessions attended by participants was five of six (83%). Average attendance at unpaid sessions was 1 of 12 (8%). Key facilitators to recruitment and retention included linkages with community agencies and monetary incentives. Our findings suggest that researchers and community service providers need to explore alternative strategies to paying women for attending group sessions (e.g., incorporating group interventions into existing program requirements) and balance these against the costs and recruitment effectiveness.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/prevention & control , Health Education , Motivation , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Sexual Behavior , Sexual Partners , Time Factors , United States , Urban Health
18.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol ; 18(2): 136-44, 1998 Jun 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9637578

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the acceptability, practicality, and short-term efficacy of a health education program to improve disease self-management in patients with symptomatic HIV/AIDS. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial, baseline and 3-month follow-up questionnaire assessments. SETTING: San Francisco Bay communities. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-one men with symptomatic HIV or AIDS were randomly assigned to a seven-session group educational intervention (N=34) or a usual-care control group (N=37). INTERVENTION: Interactive health education groups were used to teach wide-ranging disease self-management skills and information: symptom assessment and management, medication use, physical exercise, relaxation, doctor-patient communication, and nutrition. Each group was led by two trained peer-leaders (one of whom was HIV-positive) recruited from the community. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome of interest was symptom status. Secondary outcomes were self-efficacy and health behaviors. Analysis of covariance was used to compare experimental and control group mean outcomes, adjusting for baseline value differences. RESULTS: The symptom severity index (number of symptoms moderate or greater severity) decreased in the experimental, and increased in the control group (-0.9 versus +0.5; p < .03). Pain, fatigue, and psychological symptoms were not significantly different between groups. Self-efficacy for controlling symptoms improved in the experimental, and decreased in the control group (+4 versus -7; p < .02). Changes in stress/relaxation exercises and HIV/AIDS knowledge were not different between groups. A trend was shown toward more frequent physical exercise in the experimental group compared with less in the control group (+1.3 versus -0.5 times/week; p=.06). CONCLUSIONS: Health education emphasizing self-management skills for HIV/AIDS patients can be implemented and evaluated and was accepted by patients, peer-leaders, and health care providers. Whether this educational program can lead to prolonged improvement in HIV symptoms and behaviors can be adequately addressed only by a larger trial of longer duration.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/therapy , Patient Education as Topic , Self Care/methods , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/therapy , California , HIV Infections/psychology , Health Behavior , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Physician-Patient Relations , Pilot Projects , Severity of Illness Index , Surveys and Questionnaires
19.
Neuron ; 19(4): 939-45, 1997 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9354339

ABSTRACT

Missense mutations in two related genes, termed presenilin 1 (PS1) and presenilin 2 (PS2), cause dementia in a subset of early-onset familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) pedigrees. In a variety of experimental in vitro and in vivo settings, FAD-linked presenilin variants influence the processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), leading to elevated levels of the highly fibrillogenic Abeta1-42 peptides that are preferentially deposited in the brains of Alzheimer Disease (AD) patients. In this report, we demonstrate that transgenic animals that coexpress a FAD-linked human PS1 variant (A246E) and a chimeric mouse/human APP harboring mutations linked to Swedish FAD kindreds (APP swe) develop numerous amyloid deposits much earlier than age-matched mice expressing APP swe and wild-type Hu PS1 or APP swe alone. These results provide evidence for the view that one pathogenic mechanism by which FAD-linked mutant PS1 causes AD is to accelerate the rate of beta-amyloid deposition in brain.


Subject(s)
Amyloid beta-Peptides/biosynthesis , Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor/biosynthesis , Amyloid/biosynthesis , Brain/metabolism , Membrane Proteins/biosynthesis , Aging/physiology , Alzheimer Disease/genetics , Alzheimer Disease/metabolism , Alzheimer Disease/pathology , Amyloid beta-Peptides/genetics , Animals , Brain/pathology , Family , Humans , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Pedigree , Presenilin-1 , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/biosynthesis , Sweden
20.
Fronteras med ; 5(1): 13-20, 22-4, 1997. ilus, tab, graf
Article in Spanish | LILACS | ID: lil-235986

ABSTRACT

Para determinar la curva de masa ósea normal y sus cambios con la edad, evaluamos a 147 mujeres sanas, cuyas edades fluctuaron entre 20 y 88 años, todas de raza mestiza, elegidas al azar, empleando la técnica de la radiogrametría. Con el fin de obtener los valores del espesor de la cortical, todas fueron sometidas a una radiografía de mano derecha según las técnicas estandarizadas. La medición del valor del espesor de la cortical (D-d) se realizó en el punto medio del segundo metacarpio derecho, para lo cual se restó del diámetro periosteal (D) el diámetro endosteal (d), los que se midieron mediante una lente de aumento milimetrada, por un observador debidamente instruido y entrenado en la medición de dichas placas. Los valores promedios del diámetro periosteal (D) por grupos etáreos fueron: de 20 a 34 años: 7,78 mm; de 35 a 44 años: 7,88 mm; de 45 a 54 años: 8,02 mm; de 55 a 64 años: 7,94 mm; de 65 a 74 años: 7,77 mm y de 75 a más: 8,06 mm. Los valores promedios del diámetro endosteal (d) por grupos etáreos fueron: de 20 a 34 años: 3,21 mm; de 35 a 44 años: 3,09 mm; de 45 a 54 años: 3,68 mm; de 55 a 64 años: 4,35 mm; de 65 a 74 años: 4,44 mm; y de 75 a más: 5,12 mm. Los valores promedios del espesor de la cortical (D-d) por grupos etáreos fueron: de 20 a 34 años: 4,57 mm; de 35 a 44 años: 4,79 mm; de 45 a 54 años: 4,34 mm; de 55 a 64 años: 3,58 mm; de 65 a 74 años: 3,33 mm; y de 75 a más: 2,96 mm. Un hallazgo importante fueron los cambios en los promedios encontrados en las mediciones del diámetro periosteal (D) y diámetro endosteal (d) con la edad, mientras que el diámetro periosteal se mantuvo uniforme, el endosteal se incrementó con la edad, causando la disminución progresiva del espesor de la cortical conforme se aumentaba la edad. El pico máximo de masa ósea que alcanzó nuestra población femenina limeña sana fué entre los 35 a 44 años, mientras que la menopausia se presentó como edad promedio a los 45 años, momento a partir del cual, empieza a disminuir progresivamente la masa ósea. Estos hallazgos concuerdan con los encontrados en las diferentes poblaciones estudiadas, siendo muy similares a las reportadas en la población española.


Subject(s)
Body Mass Index , Bone and Bones , Hand , Osteoporosis
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