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Biomedical subjects

B Parker

Publications and source records attributed to B Parker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Effect of pramlintide on satiety and food intake in obese subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Long-term trials in insulin-treated subjects with type 2 diabetes have shown that adjunctive treatment with the amylin analogue pramlintide reduces HbA(1)c levels and elicits weight loss. While amylin reduces food intake in rodents, pramlintide's effect on satiety and food intake in humans has not yet been assessed. METHODS: In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, 11 insulin-treated men with type 2 diabetes (age 60+/-9 years, BMI 28.9+/-4.8 kg/m(2)) and 15 non-diabetic obese men (age 41+/-21 years, BMI 34.4+/-4.5 kg/m(2)) underwent two standardised meal tests. After fasting overnight, subjects received single subcutaneous injections of either pramlintide (120 microg) or placebo, followed by a preload meal. After 1 h, subjects ate an ad libitum buffet meal. Energy intake and meal duration were measured, as were hunger ratings (using visual analogue scales), and plasma cholecystokinin, glucagon-like peptide-1 and peptide YY concentrations over time. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, pramlintide reduced energy intake in both the type 2 diabetes (Delta-202+/-64 kcal, -23+/-8%, p<0.01) and obese (Delta-170+/-68 kcal, -16+/-6%, p<0.02) groups, without affecting meal duration. Hunger and hormonal analyte profiles provided evidence that pramlintide may exert a primary satiogenic effect, independently of other anorexigenic gut peptides. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The results indicate that enhanced satiety and reduced food intake may explain the weight loss observed in long-term pramlintide trials.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The Biomolecular Interaction Network Database and related tools 2005 update.

The Biomolecular Interaction Network Database (BIND) (http://bind.ca) archives biomolecular interaction, reaction, complex and pathway information. Our aim is to curate the details about molecular interactions that arise from published experimental research and to provide this information, as well as tools to enable data analysis, freely to researchers worldwide. BIND data are curated into a comprehensive machine-readable archive of computable information and provides users with methods to discover interactions and molecular mechanisms. BIND has worked to develop new methods for visualization that amplify the underlying annotation of genes and proteins to facilitate the study of molecular interaction networks. BIND has maintained an open database policy since its inception in 1999. Data growth has proceeded at a tremendous rate, approaching over 100 000 records. New services provided include a new BIND Query and Submission interface, a Standard Object Access Protocol service and the Small Molecule Interaction Database (http://smid.blueprint.org) that allows users to determine probable small molecule binding sites of new sequences and examine conserved binding residues.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

A randomised controlled trial of empowerment training for Chinese abused pregnant women in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of an empowerment intervention in reducing intimate partner violence (IPV) and improving health status. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Antenatal clinic in a public hospital in Hong Kong. SAMPLE: One hundred and ten Chinese pregnant women with a history of abuse by their intimate partners. METHODS: Women were randomised to the experimental or control group. Experimental group women received empowerment training specially designed for Chinese abused pregnant women while the control group women received standard care for abused women. Data were collected at study entry and six weeks postnatal. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: IPV [on the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS)], health-related quality of life (SF-36) and postnatal depression [Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)]. RESULTS: Following the training, the experimental group had significantly higher physical functioning and had significantly improved role limitation due to physical problems and emotional problems. They also reported less psychological (but not sexual) abuse, minor (but not severe) physical violence and had significantly lower postnatal depression scores. However, they reported more bodily pain. CONCLUSION: An empowerment intervention specially designed for Chinese abused pregnant women was effective in reducing IPV and improving the health status of the women.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Remote hot spots mediate protein substrate recognition for the Cdc25 phosphatase.

Cdc25B is a phosphatase that catalyzes the dephosphorylation and activation of the cyclin-dependent kinases, thus driving cell cycle progression. We have identified two residues, R488 and Y497, located >20 A from the active site, that mediate protein substrate recognition without affecting activity toward small-molecule substrates. Injection of Cdc25B wild-type but not the R488L or Y497A variants induces germinal vesicle breakdown and cyclin-dependent kinase activation in Xenopus oocytes. The conditional knockout of the cdc25 homolog (mih1) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be complemented by the wild type but not by the hot spot variants, indicating that protein substrate recognition by the Cdc25 phosphatases is an essential and evolutionarily conserved feature.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Long-term effects of advice to consume a high-protein, low-fat diet, rather than a conventional weight-loss diet, in obese adults with type 2 diabetes: one-year follow-up of a randomised trial.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: This study compared the long-term weight loss and health outcomes at 1-year follow-up, after a 12-week intensive intervention consisting of two low-fat, weight-loss diets, which differed in protein content. METHODS: We randomly assigned 66 obese patients (BMI: 27-40 kg/m2) with type 2 diabetes to either a low-protein (15% protein, 55% carbohydrate) or high-protein diet (30% protein, 40% carbohydrate) for 8 weeks of energy restriction (approximately 6.7 MJ/day) and 4 weeks of energy balance. Subjects were asked to maintain the same dietary pattern for a further 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS: The study was completed by 38 of the subjects, with equal dropouts in each group. At Week 64, weight reductions against baseline were -2.2+/-1.1 kg (low protein) and -3.7+/-1.0 kg (high protein), p<0.01, with no diet effect. Fat mass was not different from baseline in either group. At Week 12, both diets reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 6 and 3 mm Hg respectively, but blood pressure increased more with weight regain during follow-up in the low-protein group (p< or =0.04). At Week 64, both diets significantly increased HDL cholesterol and lowered C-reactive protein concentrations. There was no difference in the urinary urea : creatinine ratio at baseline between the two groups, but this ratio increased at Week 12 (in the high-protein group only, p<0.001, diet effect), remaining stable during follow-up in both diets. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: A high-protein weight-reduction diet may in the long term have a more favourable cardiovascular risk profile than a low-protein diet with similar weight reduction in people with type 2 diabetes.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2003

An integrated treatment delivery system for CSRS and CSRT and clinical applications.

An integrated treatment delivery system for conformal stereotactic radiosurgery (CSRS) and radiotherapy (CSRT) has been developed through a collaboration involving Siemens Medical Systems, Inc., Tyco/Radionics, Inc., and The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The system consists of a 6-MV linear accelerator (LINAC) equipped with a Tyco/Radionics miniature multileaf collimator (mMLC). For the conventional SRS treatment, the circular collimator housing can be attached to the opening window of the mMLC. The treatment delivery system is integrated with a radiotherapy treatment planning system and a record-and-verify system. The purpose of this study is to report the characteristics, performance, benefits, and the clinical applications of this delivery system. The technical specifications of the LINAC and mMLC were tested, and all the specifications were met. The 80% to 20% penumbral width for each mMLC leaf is approximately 3 mm and is nearly independent of the off-axis positions of a leaf. The maximum interleaf leakage is 1.4% (1.1% on average) and the maximum intra-leaf leakage is 1.0% (0.9% on average). The leaf position precision is better than 0.5 mm for all the leaves. The integration of the SRS/SRT treatment planning system, mMLC, and LINAC has been evaluated successfully for transferring the patient treatment data file through radiotherapy treatment planning system to the patient information and treatment record-and-verify server and the mMLC controller. Subsequently, the auto-sequential treatment delivery for SRS, CSRS/CSRT, and the step-and-shoot intensity-modulated radiotherapy has also been tested successfully. The accuracy of dose delivery was evaluated for a 2-cm spherical target in a Radiological Physics Center SRS head phantom with GAFChromic films and TLD. Five non-coplanar arcs, using a 2-cm diameter circular collimator, were used for this simulation treatment. The accuracy to aim the center of the spherical target was within 0.5 mm and the deviation of dose delivery to the isocenter of the target was within 2% of the calculated dose. For the irregularly shaped tumor, a tissue-equivalent head phantom was used to evaluate the accuracy of dose delivery for using either geometric conformal treatment or IMRT. The accuracy of dose delivery to the isocenter was within 2% and 3% of the calculated dose, respectively. From October 26, 1999 to September 30, 2002, we treated over 400 SRS patients and 70 SRT patients. Four representative cases are presented to illustrate the capabilities of this dedicated unit in performing conventional SRS, CSRS, and CSRT. For all the cases, the geometric conformal-plan dose distributions showed a high degree of conformity to the target shape. The degree of conformity can be evaluated using the target-volume-ratio (TVR). Our preferred TVR values for highly conformed dose distributions range from 1.6 to 2.0. The patient setup reproducibility for the Gill-Thomas-Cosman (GTC) noninvasive head frame ranges from 0.5 to 1 mm, and the head and neck noninvasive frame is within 2 mm. The integrated treatment delivery system offers excellent conformation for complicated planning target volumes with the stereotactic setup approach, ensuring that dose delivery can be achieved within the specified accuracy. In addition, the treatment time is comparable with that of single isocenter multiple-arc treatments.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

Effects of energy-restricted diets containing increased protein on weight loss, resting energy expenditure, and the thermic effect of feeding in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a high-protein (HP) diet compared with a low-protein (LP) diet on weight loss, resting energy expenditure (REE), and the thermic effect of food (TEF) in subjects with type 2 diabetes during moderate energy restriction. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: In this study, 26 obese subjects with type 2 diabetes consumed a HP (28% protein, 42% carbohydrate) or LP diet (16% protein, 55% carbohydrate) during 8 weeks of energy restriction (1,600 kcal/day) and 4 weeks of energy balance. Body weight and composition and REE were measured, and the TEF in response to a HP or LP meal was determined for 2 h, at weeks 0 and 12. RESULTS: The mean weight loss was 4.6 +/- 0.4 kg (P < 0.001), of which 4.5 +/- 0.4 kg was fat (P < 0.001), with no effect of diet (P = 0.6). At both weeks 0 and 12, TEF was greater after the HP than after the LP meal (0.064 vs. 0.050 kcal x kcal(-1) energy consumed x 2 h(-1), respectively; overall diet effect, P = 0.003). REE and TEF were reduced similarly with each of the diets (time effects, P = 0.02 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with type 2 diabetes, a low-fat diet with an increased protein-to-carbohydrate ratio does not significantly increase weight loss or blunt the fall in REE.

Basal Metabolism↗
PubMed2001

Olanzapine for schizophrenia refractory to typical and atypical antipsychotics: an open-label, prospective trial.

The role of olanzapine in treatment-resistant schizophrenia is still unresolved. This article presents an open-label, prospective, 14-week trial with olanzapine in patients with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder selected for unambiguous resistance to either clozapine or risperidone and to typical antipsychotics. Forty-three inpatients (mean age, 41.6 years; mean duration of illness, 21.7 years) were enrolled and treated after cross-titration from their previous antipsychotic treatment with olanzapine 10 to 40 mg daily without any concomitant antipsychotic medication. Patients were evaluated with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Clinical Global Impressions Scale, and the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale. The change with olanzapine treatment was associated with a PANSS total score improvement of 3.7 (SD = 15.6; not significant). There was a significant improvement for the PANSS cognitive and depression/anxiety factors, whereas the PANSS excitement factor worsened. The improvement rate was superior in patients receiving olanzapine doses higher than 20 mg. A total of 16.7% of patients reached response criteria set forth by a previous study. There was a significant decrease in extrapyramidal side effects (t = 2.04; p < 0.05) and statistically significant, yet modest, weight gain. These results indicate that olanzapine is only modestly effective in these severely treatment-resistant patients with schizophrenia. However, a trial with olanzapine can be recommended in these patients before moving to augmentation strategies, given the lack of proven alternatives and the observation that 16.7% of patients reached the response criteria.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Intimate partner violence against women.

Intimate partner violence against women has received considerable attention from nurse-researchers over the past 10 years. Although the amount and sophistication of both quantitative and qualitative research have changed over time, nursing research on intimate partner violence against women has not lost its perspective; nurse-researchers have continued to address women survivors' full range of human responses to violence. Research into violence during pregnancy and battered women's psychological responses to abuse have received considerable attention. Research into violence during pregnancy and battered women's psychological responses to abuse have received considerable attention. Research into violence during pregnancy accounts for fully 20% of all the reviewed nursing research. The largely qualitative research into women's psychological responses to violence is particularly rich and remarkably similar across multiple studies. International studies on intimate partner violence are beginning to appear in the literature and research that addresses the unique experience of ethnically diverse women is occurring with greater frequency. The purpose of this chapter is to review nursing research on intimate partner violence against women in the past decade. Future directions for nursing research, practice, and education are included.

Battered Women↗
PubMed2000

Reproductive health consequences of intimate partner violence. A nursing research review.

Intimate partner violence is widespread and results in significant negative mental and physical health outcomes for women. This article is a review of nursing research on intimate partner violence and women's reproductive health and focuses on studies published since 1995, building on prior reviews. We begin with research on forced sex and the resulting physical and emotional trauma as well as implications for contraception, STD/HIV prevention, and condom use negotiation. We then discuss several approaches to the study of abuse during pregnancy, including several studies of nursing interventions. We conclude with the clinical implications of these studies.

Battered Women↗
PubMed1999

Ethical ramifications of alternative means of recruiting research participants from cancer registries.

BACKGROUND: The protection of confidentiality and the extent to which voluntary and meaningful informed consent can be obtained from potential participants are critical when recruiting patients for clinical research from cancer registries. In the current study the authors describe the influence of two methods of recruitment from a cancer registry (direct contact by research staff and contact by research staff after physicians alert potential participants) on these issues. METHODS: Enrollment rates were tabulated using each recruitment method and complaints received from potential participants regarding recruitment were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 416 women approached to participate, the first 351 women were recruited by way of direct contact by research staff and the remaining 65 women were recruited by research staff after their physician had sent them an alert letter. There was no difference in the enrollment rate using the two methods. One potential participant believed that her confidentiality had been violated and another hung up the telephone when contacted directly; two potential subjects reported feeling pressure to participate because their physician sent them a letter. CONCLUSIONS: Although concerns regarding violating confidentiality clearly are justified when recruiting research participants from cancer registries, patients also may feel pressure to participate if physician notification is part of the process. It is incumbent on investigators and institutional review boards charged with overseeing this research that they respect confidentiality and avoid pressuring persons to participate in research. It also is critical that persons whose medical information will be entered into cancer registries be informed about this process as well as how the registry will be used for research.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Testing an intervention to prevent further abuse to pregnant women.

Although violence against women is recognized as a major public health problem, few interventions have been developed to reduce abuse. In this study, 132 pregnant women received three counseling sessions that were designed to reduce further abuse. A comparison group of 67 abused women were offered wallet-sized cards listing community resources for abuse. Women in both groups were followed at 6 months and 12 months post-delivery. Using repeated measures MANCOVA with entry scores as a covariate, we found significantly less violence reported by women in the intervention group than by women in the comparison group.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of two rapid latex agglutination tests for detection of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide.

The Murex Cryptococcus Test was compared with the Cryptococcal Antigen Latex Agglutination System (CALAS) for detecting cryptococcal polysaccharide in 173 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens and 117 serum samples with 99% and 97% concordance, respectively. Eighteen CSF samples and 17 serum samples were positive in both assays, and 249 were negative. The sensitivity and specificity of the Murex relative to the CALAS were 90% and 100%, respectively, for CSF, and 81% and 100%, respectively, for serum. Six discrepancies were arbitrated by retesting, using a third analytic method, review of other laboratory and clinical data, or both. The reaction in 1 CSF specimen was considered false positive by the CALAS, and the reactions in 2 serum samples were false negatives by the Murex. For 3 patients with previous cryptococcal meningitis but no active disease, only the CALAS detected antigen, suggesting that the Murex has less analytic sensitivity in this context. Titer differences dictate that direct comparisons between the 2 tests are not feasible. There were no false-positive reactions in limited testing with either method using specimens from patients with concurrent noncryptococcal infections or in rheumatoid factor-positive serum samples. Infections caused by Cryptococcus neoformans serotypes A or AD were detected equally by both assays. Based on our study, we have elected to continue to use the CALAS for routine testing for cryptococcal antigen.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Severity of abuse to pregnant women and associated gun access of the perpetrator.

To investigate the relationship between abuse to pregnant women and gun access by the abuser, an ethnically stratified cohort of 199 pregnant abused women (70 African-Americans, 63 non-Hispanic Anglo-American, and 66 Hispanic women were interviewed using: (1) The Index of Spouse Abuse, a measure of the severity of physical and nonphysical abuse; (2) The Danger Assessment Scale, a measure of potential danger of homicide; and (3) The Severity of Violence Against Women Scale, a measure of threats of violence and actual violence. There were no significant differences by ethnicity among the 41.2% of the abused women who reported that their male partner had access to a gun. Among these same women reporting gun access, 17% reported the abuser kept the gun on his body. Women reporting gun access by the abuser reported higher level of abuse on all scaled instruments (P = < 0.01). To protect women's safety and prevent further trauma and potential homicide, routine assessment for abuse and gun access is recommended. Additionally, policy initiatives to remove firearms from abuse perpetrators may reduce the severity of violence experienced by abused women.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Safer-sex education for persons with mental illness.

1. Safer-sex education is crucial for controlling the spread of HIV and this education is within the realm of nursing practice. 2. Safer-sex education for persons with mental illness must include repetitive, interactive education capitalizing on verbal, visual, written, tactile, and motor skill teaching methods to compensate for learning disabilities that have been identified in this population. 3. In this study, individual rather than a group teaching approach to the sensitive subject of safer-sex provided the most learning. The study subjects did not exhibit overt sexual behavior, increased sexual acting out, regression, or overstimulation when safer-sex education was presented.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗