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Biomedical subjects

A M Lindsey

Publications and source records attributed to A M Lindsey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Bone mineral density in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: The overall purpose of this longitudinal 18-month study was to test the feasibility and effectiveness of a multicomponent intervention for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The purpose of this article is to describe the baseline bone mineral density (BMD) findings for 30 postmenopausal women and to compare these BMD findings to time since menopause, body mass index, and tamoxifen use. DATA SOURCES: Baseline data of BMD findings for 30 postmenopausal women, who have had a variety of treatments including surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and or tamoxifen, and are enrolled in the 18-month longitudinal study. A demographic questionnaire and a three day dietary record were used to collect baseline data. CONCLUSIONS: Eighty percent of the women with breast cancer history had abnormal BMDs at baseline (t-scores below -1.00 SD). Thinner women showed a greater risk for accelerated trabecular bone loss at the spine and hip. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings suggest the need for early BMD assessments and for aggressive health promotion intervention strategies that include a multifaceted protocol of drug therapy for bone remodeling, 1500 mg of daily calcium, 400 IU vitamin D and a strength weight training program that is implemented immediately following chemotherapy treatment and menopause in this high risk population of women.

Adult↗

Weight change and lung cancer: relationships with symptom distress, functional status, and smoking.

The pattern of weight change (at five 6-week intervals beginning 2 months after diagnosis of advanced disease) is described in adults with progressive lung cancer (N = 60). Weight loss of 10% or more at study entry occurred in 35% of subjects; 37% lost weight at three or more intervals; and 25% lost weight at only one interval. Pre-illness weight loss was moderately correlated with subsequent decreased functional status (Enforced Social Dependency Scale) at Times 1, 2, and 3 (r = -.49, r = -.43, r = -.48, p < .001). Weight loss correlated with subsequent increased symptom distress (Symptom Distress Scale, SDS) at three times (Times 2, 4, and 5: r = -.34, r = -.30, r = -.43, p < .05). Chemotherapy (50% of subjects) and smoking (25% at study entry) predicted weight loss from Time 1 to 5, explaining 28% of the variance.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Continuous insulin infusions in neonates: pharmacologic availability of insulin in intravenous solutions.

Continuous insulin infusion is sometimes used in very low birth weight infants with glucose intolerance. We studied the availability of insulin to the neonate by means of a laboratory-simulated clinical infusion under both flushed and non-flushed conditions. Although loss of insulin was noted with both solutions (0.5 U/ml), under the nonflushed condition only 55.9% of the prescribed dose for the first 2 hours was delivered before the delivery rate of the flushed system, 71.4%, was approached. These findings have implications for neonatal insulin administration.

Adsorption↗

Comorbidity, nutritional intake, social support, weight, and functional status over time in older cancer patients receiving radiotherapy.

It is essential that nurses gain insight about the responses of older adults to standard anticancer therapies because there is ongoing concern about whether the elderly are affected adversely by the prescribed therapy. The purpose of this longitudinal prospective study was to describe selected outcomes and their relationships in a sample of 45 elderly (mean age 69.8 years; range 61-86) patients receiving radiotherapy for either breast (42%) or lung (58%) cancer. The outcome variables were weight and multidimensional functional status; moderator variables were co-morbidity, nutritional intake, estimated adequacy of intake, radiation dose, side effects, and social support. Data were collected at the beginning of radiation (T1), the middle of therapy (T2), the conclusion of therapy (T3), and three months post radiation (T4). Although 81.4% had some concurrent condition, those with a comorbid condition did not respond significantly differently from those without a comorbid condition on any of the major variables at any of the four times. At none of the four times was the caloric intake adequate to meet the estimated energy requirements for usual activity (range 67.9-71.5%). However, caloric intake was not significantly related to weight at any of the four times. There was a significant weight decrease from beginning of therapy to the middle of therapy and from the beginning of therapy to conclusion of therapy. The percentage of calories contributed by protein was significantly correlated with weight during radiotherapy, and protein calories consumed at the previous time were correlated with weight at T2 and T3. In contrast, the percentage of calories contributed by carbohydrate intake was significantly negatively correlated with two of the four functional status measures at each time, but was not related to weight. In addition carbohydrate calories consumed at the previous time also were related to one or more functional status measures at succeeding time points. Almost no relationships were found between social support and the outcome measures of weight and functional status. Scores on three of the four functional status measures suggest improvement over time from initiation of radiation to 3 months after therapy. Scores on the fourth measure, Overall Health Rating, suggest a slight decline; however, the average score reflects good overall health. These findings provide evidence that this group of elderly, the great majority of whom had at least one comorbid condition, tolerated the course of radiation with less than adequate intake for usual activity, a slight decrease in mean weight, but without major disruptions in functional status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Activities of Daily Living↗

Nutritional intake, weight change, symptom distress, and functional status over time in adults with lung cancer.

The purpose of this descriptive longitudinal study was to describe the relationship of nutritional intake to weight change, symptom distress, and functional status over a six-month period in 28 subjects with progressive lung cancer. The majority of the subjects had non-small cell lung cancer and had lost less than 10% of their body weight at the time of study entry. Body weight, hunger, symptom distress, and functional status were measured every six weeks, beginning two months after diagnosis, for a six-month period. Three-day diet records, which were completed immediately prior to each time point, were averaged to obtain nutrient intake data. Average weight change and nutritional intake showed little variation over time, but the ranges were large. Lower intake of kilocalories was moderately related to functional status at Times 1 and 5 (r = -0.56; r = -0.66, respectively). Kilocalorie intake at a previous time was related to subsequent functional decline at two of the six-week data points (r = -0.71; r = -0.75). Weight change was not directly related to kilocalorie intake. Percentage of weight loss over time was greater in subjects younger than 65 years of age, in those with small cell lung cancer, and in those who received chemotherapy. Symptom distress and symptoms of hunger, nausea, and appetite disturbance showed subtle fluctuations over the six-month period and had inconsistent relationships with food intake over time. Further study is needed to describe nutritional changes that follow a diagnosis of lung cancer and to identify areas for nursing intervention.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Influence of age on problems experienced by patients with lung cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

The purpose of this prospective, longitudinal study was to determine if patients with lung cancer who are 65 years of age or older experience problems differently than do patients younger than age 65 during and following radiation treatment. The moderator and outcome variables selected for study were recognized attendant problems that may develop during lung cancer treatment and that may influence the treatment regimen and response. No statistically significant differences were found between patients age 65 or older and those younger than age 65 on caloric intake, adequacy of energy intake, total radiation dose, concurrent illnesses, and social support at any of four data-collection periods. Similarly, there were no significant differences on weight, body mass index, and multidimensional functional status. The relationship between the social support subscales and functional status measures for the 65-or-older group suggested that those subjects with lower social support perceived themselves to have better functional status. There was no relationship between social support and two functional status measures for the under-65 group. The significant relationships between social support and the overall health rating were in opposite directions for the two age groups. The results suggest that chronologic age alone may not be a sufficient criterion to determine therapeutic regimen or to suggest that unique problems may result.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Fatigue mechanisms in patients with cancer: effects of tumor necrosis factor and exercise on skeletal muscle.

Fatigue is a common adverse effect of cancer and its therapy. However, the specific mechanisms underlying cancer fatigue are unclear. One physiologic mechanism may involve changes in skeletal muscle protein stores or metabolite concentration. A reduction in skeletal muscle protein stores may result from endogenous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) or from TNF administered as antineoplastic therapy. This muscle wasting would require patients to exert an unusually high amount of effort to generate adequate contractile force during exercise performance or during extended periods of sitting or standing. This additional effort could result in the onset of fatigue. Additionally, cancer fatigue may develop or become exacerbated during exercise as a consequence of changes in the concentration of skeletal muscle metabolites. These biochemical alterations may interfere with force that is produced by the muscle contractile proteins. These physiologic changes may play a role in the decision to include exercise in the rehabilitation plans of patients with cancer. They also may affect ideas about fatigue.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗

Emotionally triggered asthma as a predictor of airway response to suggestion.

Twenty-nine male and female adults with asthma were tested to determine the relationship between perceived response to emotional triggers of asthma and bronchoconstrictive suggestion. Subjects were told that they were inhaling a bronchoconstricting agent in four increasingly potent concentrations, when in fact the solution the subjects inhaled was nebulized isotonic saline. Ten subjects responded to suggestion with a greater than 20% increase in specific airway resistance, but this response could not be predicted by the report of perceived emotional triggers of asthma. The finding that perception of asthmatic response to emotional arousal does not predict airway response to bronchoconstrictive suggestion may mean that suggestion is an invalid proxy variable for studying the role of psychological factors in provocation of asthma.

Adult↗

Anorexia, serum zinc, and immunologic response in small cell lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and prophylactic cranial radiotherapy.

Anorexia is a major clinical problem for patients with certain types of cancer. The specific mechanisms that result in this spontaneous decline in food intake remain unknown. In noncancer populations, zinc has been shown to play a role in maintaining normal appetite, taste acuity, and immunocompetence. One purpose of this prospective, longitudinal study of cachexia in ten males with small cell lung carcinoma was to determine if anorexia (caloric intake), perceived taste changes, zinc intake, and impaired cellular immunity were associated with serum zinc concentrations. The average daily caloric intake declined 490 kcal from time of diagnosis to seven months after diagnosis (mean caloric intake = 72% of RDA). Daily zinc intake ranged from 6.5 to 25.4 mg over the seven months. During this period, the mean serum zinc concentrations, although low (71 micrograms/dl), remained within the normal range. The average weight declined from 81.7 to 74.1 kg. There was no identifiable pattern of perceived taste changes; most of the perceived changes were recorded during the period coinciding with prophylactic cranial radiation. At the initial testing, four of nine subjects were anergic to a battery of skin test antigens (mumps, candida, tuberculin purified protein derivative). The only subject who remained responsive to two antigens throughout the study remained alive at 12 months. Caloric intake was inadequate to maintain weight. While zinc intake was low, low normal serum zinc concentrations were maintained; thus in this sample, serum zinc does not appear to be the anorexigenic factor.

Adult↗

Anorexia and weight loss: indicators of cachexia in small cell lung cancer.

A study was conducted to determine the incidence and extent to which anorexia, a decrease in spontaneous food intake, contributes to the occurrence of cancer cachexia. Data for ten male subjects with small cell carcinoma of the lung are reported for a five-month period following diagnosis. Although body weights of the subjects at the time of diagnosis averaged less than 95% of the usual weight (weight 6 months prior to diagnosis), they were greater than 109% of the mean ideal weight. At five months, the mean weight (N = 8) was 88% of the preillness weight. From the time of diagnosis, there was a mean loss of 7.2 kg (15.8 lb). The urinary creatinine excretion was below the normal range, whereas the urinary urea nitrogen values were within the normal range. At the time of diagnosis, the mean triceps skin-fold measurements were approximately 80% of the standard reference for males. During the five-month period, the mean midarm muscle circumference determinations remained greater than 90% of the reference standard. The mean serum transferrin values were 10% or more below the reported lower range of normal, whereas the great majority of the serum albumin values were 3.0 g/dl or above during the five-month period. The mean caloric intake of 2,204 kcal at the time of diagnosis was only 86% of the estimated basal energy expenditure (BEE) times a factor of 1.5 used to account for moderate activity. Four months following diagnosis, the mean caloric intake had fallen to 1,702 kcal, only 67% of the BEE X 1.5 (calculated from the weight at diagnosis). The findings provide evidence of a decline in spontaneous food intake, a small decrease in body fat, and a greater than 13% weight loss. The oral intake was less than adequate for any activity beyond the basal state. Decreased intake could account for most of the weight loss observed in the subjects.

Adult↗