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Biomedical subjects

A M Sherman

Publications and source records attributed to A M Sherman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

The relationship of optimism, pain and social support to well-being in older adults with osteoarthritis.

Improving the psychological well-being of individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) is an important concern because the condition is highly prevalent and has no known cure. Few studies have assessed the joint contribution of social, personality, and physical factors in relation to well-being for OA patients. In a cross-sectional sample of older adults with OA (n = 73, 73% female), we assessed the role of support perceptions, optimism and pain in depressive symptoms and life satisfaction. Greater optimism and support were significantly related to both greater life satisfaction and lower depressive symptoms. Further, optimism partially mediated the relationship of pain to life satisfaction, while support partially mediated the role of pain in depressive symptoms. The interplay of these variables in relation to well-being is discussed in the context of chronic illness and older adulthood.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

No effect of HRT on health-related quality of life in postmenopausal women with heart disease.

AIM: Previous clinical studies suggest hormone replacement therapy (HRT) alleviates menopausal symptoms and may improve health-related quality of life (HRQL). Most studies on HRT and HRQL were limited in duration (12 months or less) and scope (few and non-standard HRQL measures). The aim of this paper is to assess HRQL in the Estrogen Replacement and Atherosclerosis (ERA) trial. METHODS: A subset of women within a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled secondary prevention trial has been studied in outpatient and community settings at 5 US sites. A total of 246 postmenopausal women with angiographically documented heart disease (mean age 66 years, 83% Caucasian) were enrolled in the ERA trial. Participants received either 0.625 mg/day conjugated equine estrogen only, estrogen plus 2.5 mg/day medroxyprogesterone acetate, or placebo. HRQL was assessed using validated questionnaire instruments at baseline and follow-up (mean 3.2 years of trial). Physical and mental functioning, life satisfaction, depressive symptoms, urinary incontinence, sleep disturbance, and frequency and intensity of physical symptoms were evaluated. RESULTS: In this group of women with established coronary disease, active therapy was not significantly associated with more favorable outcomes for any HRQL. The estrogen-only group reported more urinary incontinence than the placebo group (p<0.05). Analyses restricted to adherent women (those who took > or = 80% of pills) showed a similar pattern of results, showing that the estrogen only group reported significantly higher urinary incontinence compared to placebo (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The hormone replacement regimens in the ERA trial did not improve HRQL of postmenopausal women with heart disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Dietary adherence: characteristics and interventions.

This paper reviews issues regarding dietary adherence. Issues and barriers unique to dietary adherence, in contrast to adherence to physical activity or medication regimens, are discussed. These include decision making, social and cultural contexts, perceptions and preferences, and environmental barriers. We review factors known to increase adherence in dietary interventions, including education, motivation, behavioral skills, new and modified foods, and supportive interactions. We conclude with directions for future study, such as improved measurement of diet-related behavior and longitudinal, culturally sensitive interventions. Control Clin Trials 2000;21:206S-211S

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Friendship in childhood and adulthood: lessons across the life span.

Friendship occupies an important place in the growing body of literature in child development and gerontological research. As such, it may be useful for researchers from both fields to consider what can be learned from work carried out in each tradition. Therefore, we present a selected review of topics in friendship research across the life span. Through discussion of the value of friendship, the development of friendship, challenges to friendship, the gendered nature of friendship, and the connection between friends and family, points of commonality and contrast are identified. We conclude by presenting possible avenues for future investigation for researchers interested in friendship at any point in the life span.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and correlates of category versus letter fluency discrepancies in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients typically exhibit greater category than letter fluency impairment, but the prevalence of this discrepancy has not been studied in a large group of patients. In the present study of 217 AD patients, we found that 145 subjects (66.8 %) demonstrated the expected pattern of better letter fluency (FAS test, i.e, generating as many words as possible in 1 minute beginning with "F", "A," and "S") than category fluency (animal generation). However, an unexpectedly large group of patients exhibited the opposite pattern of category fluency equal to or better than letter fluency (n = 72, 33.2%). Paired t-tests between groups revealed no significant differences on demographic variables such as age, gender, education level, or duration of illness. However, the smaller group exhibiting the unexpected fluency pattern exhibited significantly higher Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE; Folstein, Folstein, & McHugh, 1975) scores compared to the larger group. Comparisons were made between group performance on other neuropsychological tasks, using MMSE performance as a covariate, but no significant differences were found. Therefore, the present results do not offer strong support for the neuropsychological (and possibly neuroanatomical) distinctiveness of the two fluency subgroups.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Satisfaction with social networks: an examination of socioemotional selectivity theory across cohorts.

This study examines L. L. Carstensen's (1993, 1995) socioemotional selectivity theory within and across three cohorts spanning 4 decades. Socioemotional selectivity theory predicts that as individuals age, they narrow their social networks to devote more emotional resources to fewer relationships with close friends and family. Data from 3 cohorts of nationally representative samples were analyzed to determine whether respondents' satisfaction with the size of their social networks differed by age, cohort, or both. Results support socioemotional selectivity theory: More older adults than younger adults were satisfied with the current size of their social networks rather than wanting larger networks. These findings are consistent across all cohorts. Results are discussed with respect to social relationships across the life course.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An introduction to urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is most frequently associated with the elderly, particularly women, and is often thought of as inevitable. However, orthopaedic nurses encounter incontinence as a response to alterations in orthopaedic health. This article reviews the types of urinary incontinence, with emphasis on those which may most directly result from orthopaedic problems. It will also help the nurse differentiate between types of incontinence in a way that will clarify appropriate interventions.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Signaling indicator of ventricular fibrillation].

The purpose of the work was to design an appliance for reliable detection of ventricular fibrillation. Frequency-amplitude spectrum of electrocardiograms taken in dogs with normal rhythm and fibrillation, as well as the impulse ratio in normalcy, tachycardia and in fibrillation were investigated. An appliance for automatic separation of ventricular fibrillation by referring to pulse ratio is described. The designed device is shown to have a high degree of discrimination and noise-immunity.

Animals↗