PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C C Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to C C Johnson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Perception of family and work environments in women with premenstrual syndrome.

Seventy-three women with a prospectively confirmed diagnosis of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) were compared to 50 routine gynaecological care non-PMS controls on measures of social climate/environmental stress. Tests administered included the Family Environment Scale (FES), Work Environment Scale (WES), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The PMS group scored significantly higher on amount of conflict in their families as well as on emphasis on ethical and religious values but lower on direct emotional expressiveness within the family, intellectual-cultural orientation, and active-recreational orientation as compared to controls. Furthermore, the PMS group perceived having more work pressure, less autonomy on the job, and less variety in their work than controls. Overall, psychological distress was not associated with increased environmental stress either in the PMS or control groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

The Heart Smart cardiovascular school health promotion: behavior correlates of risk factor change.

BACKGROUND: A growing awareness of health promotion and positive lifestyle change, coupled with the knowledge that cardiovascular risk has its origins in childhood, has led to the development of health promotion programs in the elementary school. While most school-based programs target specific behaviors or enlist singular intervention modalities, the Heart Smart cardiovascular school health promotion targeted the total school environment with a multidisciplinary approach to prompt the school's varied institutions to implement changes in curriculum, school lunch, and physical education. METHODS: Components of the Heart Smart environmental intervention included: (a) a school lunch program providing cardiovascular healthful food choices, reduced in fat by 30% and in sodium and sugar by 50%; (b) a physical education program promoting personal fitness and aerobic conditioning; and (c) cardiovascular risk factor screening, measuring fasting lipids and lipoproteins, anthropometrics, and blood pressure. Changes in cardiovascular risk factor status, school lunch selections, and exercise performance were compared. RESULTS: Screening participants showed greater improvement in health knowledge than nonparticipants. School lunch choices were successfully altered, and children whose lunch choices were cardiovascular healthful evidenced the greatest cholesterol reduction. Improvements in run/walk performance were related in predicted directions to the overall cardiovascular risk profile. Increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed at intervention schools. CONCLUSION: Observations indicate a relationship between behavior change and physiologic changes achieved in a total school health promotion to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Anthropometry↗
PubMed1992

Inapparent genital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis and its potential role in the genesis of Reiters syndrome.

An infectious etiology has been suggested for Reiter's syndrome (RS) because the disease has often been observed to follow episodes of urethritis or dysentery. Despite demonstrations of bacterial antigens in the synovial tissues of RS patients, it is not clear whether viable organisms are present in the synovium in any particular stage of this disease. Furthermore, it is not clear how either viable organisms or their product(s) might reach the joints. Infection with the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, and as such this organism has emerged as a primary pathogen associated with RS. Previous work from our group has shown that synovial biopsy tissues from a majority of RS patients studied show significant levels of apparently intact chlamydial RNA, even when synovial or urethral cultures from the same patients are unequivocally negative for the organism. We show here that inapparent urethral infection with chlamydia occurs with high prevalence in men, and that inapparent cervical infection with the organism occurs at high prevalence in women. These data provide an important link in the relationship between initial chlamydial infection and possible subsequent genesis of RS, and they may give useful insight into mechanisms by which chlamydial infection can lead to development of this disease. Our data argue further that inapparent infection may be a significant factor in pathogenesis for all chlamydia-related diseases, and they suggest that, contrary to current ideas, C. trachomatis can generate disseminated infection.

Arthritis, Reactive↗
PubMed1992

Bactericidal activity of ramoplanin against antibiotic-resistant enterococci.

Ramoplanin, a new lipoglycodepsipeptide antibiotic, was uniformly active against 65 strains of enterococci, including strains highly resistant to vancomycin, penicillin G, and gentamicin. MBCs were usually within a fourfold dilution of the MICs. In time-kill studies, ramoplanin alone demonstrated dose-dependent bactericidal activity against enterococcal strains that resisted killing by vancomycin or penicillin in combination with gentamicin.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1991

Thrombolysis by rotational thrombectomy followed by tissue plasminogen activator: evaluation by angioscopy.

Thrombus removal using percutaneous rotational thrombectomy (PRT), followed by tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), was studied by contrast angiography and fiberoptic angioscopy in a canine femoral artery model of thrombosis. After thrombus induction and following each treatment, comparisons were made between angioscopy and angiography for the detection of thrombus and subintimal dissection. Angioscopic images were scored in a blinded fashion for lining, protruding, or occlusive thrombus (class 1,2, or 3) as well as estimated wall coverage by thrombus. Angiograms were studied for percent diameter stenosis and the presence of flaps. Following external forceps crush injury of 18 arteries, two hour occlusion, and injection of thrombin, mean angiographic stenosis was 66%, thrombus coverage by angioscopy was 81%, and mean angioscopy class was 2.5. Following PRT, stenosis decreased to 27% (p less than 0.008), thrombus coverage was reduced to 49% (p less than 0.02), and angioscopy class dropped to 2.0 (p less than 0.07). After t-PA treatment, these values were further reduced to 25% (p = NS), 26% (p less than 0.02), and 1.3 (p less than 0.008), respectively. In comparison to angiography, subintimal dissection (seen as flaps) and thrombus (lining, protruding, or occlusive) were present significantly more often by angioscopy (p less than 0.001). It is concluded that PRT results in significant thrombolysis, apparent by angiography and angioscopy. Follow-up t-PA can produce additional, incremental thrombolysis, apparent only by angioscopy. A beneficial role for t-PA following mechanical thrombolysis is suggested by this model. The superior sensitivity of angioscopy for detection of flaps and thrombus is underscored by this study.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Maternal smoking does not influence cord serum IgE or IgD concentrations.

Increased cord blood IgE concentrations have been related to atopic risk in children, and a previous study reported increased cord blood IgE concentrations in smoking mothers. These associations suggest a relationship between maternal smoking during pregnancy and atopic risk. To evaluate this question, we prospectively studied parental smoking and cord blood IgE and IgD concentrations in a geographically defined group of women belonging to a health maintenance organization. Cord blood samples were obtained from 847 infants born to these women. Cotinine concentrations were measured in 114 cord blood samples to evaluate the veracity of the maternal smoking histories. Smoking during the prenatal period was reported by 144 mothers (17%) and 204 fathers (25%). Decreased birth weight and length were associated with maternal smoking (p less than 0.001 for both), confirming previous studies. Neither maternal nor paternal smoking was found to be associated with IgE level in univariate or multivariate analyses. Maternal and paternal smoking was associated with IgD (p = 0.03 and p = 0.06, respectively) in univariate analysis. In multiple regression analysis controlling for potentially confounding variables, the association between paternal, but not maternal, smoking and IgD was sustained (p = 0.05 and p greater than 0.20, respectively). Our data do not demonstrate that maternal or paternal smoking increases cord blood IgE.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Definitions, classification, and clinical presentation of urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infections encompass a spectrum of clinical and pathologic conditions involving various parts of the urinary tract. Each syndrome has its own unique epidemiology, natural history, and clinical manifestations. Basic terminology used in describing urinary tract infections is defined in this article. A classification of these infections and their clinical features is presented.

Bacterial Infections↗
PubMed1991

Synergistic bactericidal activity of rat serum with vancomycin against enterococci.

Animal models of infectious diseases may not predict clinical efficacy when species-related factors come into play. Recently, unexpected bactericidal activity of vancomycin alone against enterococci was observed in a rat model of endocarditis. A factor or factors in rat serum, but not rabbit or human serum, enhanced in vitro killing by vancomycin in four of five clinical isolates of enterococci. Bactericidal activity was maintained on dilution of rat serum to 5.0% and after exposure of serum to 56 degrees C for 30 min. Activity was lost by heating at 60 degrees C for 2 h, ultrafiltration, or absorption with bentonite or heat-killed bacteria. Rat serum appears to contain a factor or factors that contribute bactericidal activity to vancomycin, a drug normally bacteriostatic for these enterococci. The mechanism by which this factor enhances killing of enterococci by vancomycin is unknown.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Cardiovascular intervention for high-risk families: the Heart Smart Program.

The Heart Smart Family Health Promotion Program is a multidisciplinary, school-based program for cardiovascular risk reduction among high-risk children and their families. As a program that includes young adults at high risk, it is adaptable to a clinical practice. Nineteen fourth and fifth graders were selected as probands for elevated risk factors after a general screening to identify families for an intervention program. Twenty-three parents participated in a 12-week program focused on eating, exercise, and smoking behavior changes enhanced by behavicral support strategies. Weekly sessions were held in the auditorium/cafeteria of the elementary school and consisted of orientation and presentations, cardiovascular (CV) screening with medical feedback, activities, self-monitoring, counseling, and contingency contracting. Information gathered before and after the program included medical history, CV health knowledge and relevant behavior, blood pressure, serum lipid and lipoprotein values, anthropometric measurements, and urine electrolyte excretion. Both children and parents showed positive changes in eating habits and physical activity and significant changes in knowledge and blood pressure levels, while the children halted their weight gain. We believe this multidisciplinary, behavior-oriented, school-based program can be an effective cardiovascular risk intervention adaptable for a clinical office practice.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Cardiovascular health promotion for elementary school children. The Heart Smart Program.

Models of health promotion directed to cardiovascular disease prevention are becoming increasingly important, based on the wealth of behavioral and physiologic data that examine the determinants, distributions, and interrelationships and trends over time of cardiovascular risk factors in children. The epidemiologic studies of children of cardiovascular risk factors and of life-styles provide the foundation to address intervention strategies beginning at the school age. Cardiovascular health promotion programs in elementary schools have tremendous potential for the prevention of adult cardiovascular diseases in our nation.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1991

Inguinal lymphadenitis associated with Capnocytophaga bacilli.

Capnocytophaga organisms are capnophilic, gram-negative bacilli that have been associated with infections deriving from the flora of the oropharynx. We report a case of inguinal adenitis caused by Capnocytophaga species that probably represents sexual transmission of the pathogen.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Time dependent uptake of (-)125I-iodocyanopindolol but not (-)125I-iodopindolol by murine splenic lymphocytes.

Time dependent uptake of (-)125I-iodocyanopindolol by intact murine splenocytes was investigated in an attempt to prevent its interference in receptor binding experiments. Four approaches were tried in an attempt to eliminate this uptake; including the use of the permeable amine chloroquine; the inclusion of catechol, chloroquine, and phentolamine into the binding assay; the addition of methylamine to the assay; and the elimination of ascorbate from the assay. None of these approaches completely eliminated the uptake of ICYP over time. Comparative studies with (-)125I-iodopindolol showed this ligand did not have time dependent uptake and may provide for less problematic intact cell receptor assays.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗
PubMed1991

Oral contraceptive use may protect against low bone mass. Henry Ford Hospital Osteoporosis Cooperative Research Group.

This cross-sectional retrospective epidemiologic study investigated risk factors for low bone mineral density (BMD) in a group of 2297 women, 76% of whom were postmenopausal. Reproductive information, history of oral contraceptive use, BMD measurements, and other data were available from women presenting to 12 osteoporosis screening centers in 1986 and 1987. Each woman was classified into a BMD category based on the range of BMD measurements at her respective center. Menopause, increasing age and years since menopause, and decreasing body mass index were associated with low BMD. A history of oral contraceptive use was protective against low BMD (odds ratio = 0.35, 95% confidence interval = 0.23 to 0.53). Multivariate analyses confirmed this result and further demonstrated that increasing duration of use was protective. These data suggest that prior use of oral contraceptive agents is associated with higher levels of BMD and that the degree of protection from lower BMD is related to duration of exposure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Hole preparation techniques for transpedicle screws. Effect on pull-out strength from human cadaveric vertebrae.

In each of eight thoracolumbar human cadaveric vertebrae, a hole was made through one pedicle into the vertebral body with a drill bit and through the contralateral pedicle with a probe. Identical metal screws were implanted into the holes to equal depths, and maximum pull-out force was determined for each screw. Using a paired Student t test, no significant difference (P = 0.87) was found in pull-out strength between the screws implanted into drilled holes and those implanted into probed holes. In fact, the average pull-out strengths for the two groups differed by less than 2%. The pedicular cortex was broken through during hole preparation in 5 of the 16 pedicles: 3 as a result of drilling and 2 secondary to probing. The average pull-out strength of the screws in these five pedicles was 11.0% less than the average pull-out strength of the screws implanted into the contralateral intact pedicles. Although this does not represent a statistically significant difference (P = 0.15), it suggests that damaging the pedicular cortex may weaken pedicle screw fixation.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Prevention of adult heart disease beginning in childhood: intervention programs.

Multiple strategies are available to affect children's cardiovascular health. From clinic-based high-risk counseling to broad-based school or community programs, intervention strategies are being developed and tested to find the most effective means of changing the risk factors of youth to assure a healthier future for our children. Since adoption of new behaviors is improved by consistent messages from multiple sources, a concerted effort is needed. The involvement of health professionals, educators, community organizations, industry, and government together will be important to support the adoption of healthy lifestyles for succeeding generations. Intervention through cardiovascular health promotion for school children may well be the future direction for preventive cardiology.

Adolescent↗