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Biomedical subjects

C K Miller

Publications and source records attributed to C K Miller.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Spindle cell lipoma of the parotid: fine-needle aspiration and histologic findings.

A 47-year-old man presented to the otolaryngologist with a 7-year history of a mass of the cheek. Fine-needle aspiration revealed foci of spindled cells admixed with abundant fat and myxoid material. A diagnosis of spindle cell lipoma was rendered on the resected specimen. The cytologic findings of spindle cell lipoma of the parotid gland as seen by fine-needle aspiration are presented along with the histologic correlates.

Adipocytes↗
PubMed2000

Pediatric laryngopharyngeal sensory testing during flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing: feasible and correlative.

Laryngopharyngeal sensory testing can predict aspiration risk in adult patients. Its feasibility and potential role in the evaluation of pediatric swallowing is undetermined. The goals of this study were to determine the feasibility of performing laryngopharyngeal sensory testing in awake pediatric patients and to assess whether the sensory testing results correlated with aspiration during a feeding assessment or correlated with a history of pneumonia. Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing with sensory testing was performed in 100 pediatric patients who were evaluated for feeding and swallowing disorders. The swallowing function parameters evaluated were pooled secretions, laryngeal penetration, and aspiration. The laryngopharyngeal sensory tests were performed by delivering a pressure-controlled and duration-controlled air pulse to the aryepiglottic fold through a flexible laryngoscope to induce the laryngeal adductor response (LAR). The air pulse stimulus ranged in intensity from 3 to 10 mm Hg. The patients tested ranged from 1 month to 24 years of age, with a median age of 2.7 years. Sensory testing was completed in 92% of patients. Patients who had an LAR at less than 4 mm Hg rarely if ever had episodes of laryngeal penetration or aspiration. Those with an LAR at 4 to 10 mm Hg had variable amounts of aspiration and laryngeal penetration. The LAR could not be elicited at the maximum level of intensity (10 mm Hg) in 22 patients, who demonstrated severe laryngeal penetration and/or aspiration. Elevated laryngopharyngeal sensory thresholds correlated positively with previous clinical diagnoses of recurrent pneumonia, neurologic disorders, and gastroesophageal reflux, and correlated positively with findings of pooled secretions, laryngeal penetration, and aspiration. Laryngopharyngeal sensory testing in children is feasible and correlative.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Evaluation of a food label nutrition intervention for women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an educational intervention about the food label designed specifically for women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: A pretest-posttest control group design. Participants received random group assignment. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Forty-three women aged 40 to 60 years with type 2 diabetes living in a rural community in Pennsylvania participated. Forty participants (93%) completed the program. INTERVENTION: Nine weekly group sessions were developed on the basis of findings from previous research among this sample. Principles from Ausubel's learning theory were also incorporated into program design and evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effectiveness of the food label education program on participants' knowledge was determined using a multiple-choice test designed to measure declarative and procedural knowledge. A skills inventory assessed participants' perceived confidence in using the food label. The validity and reliability of the instruments had been established previously. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: Analysis of variance was performed to compare groups. Paired t tests compared pretest and posttest results. RESULTS: The experimental group showed a greater gain than the control group in total knowledge (P < .001), declarative knowledge (P < .001), and procedural knowledge (P < .01) at posttest. Posttest data showed a significant increase (P < .01) in experimental participants' perceived confidence in using the food label. CONCLUSIONS: Women with diabetes need more education about the food label. This intervention is an effective outpatient education program. Participant knowledge and perceived confidence in using the food label improved significantly as a result of the intervention. Future research should assess retention of knowledge gained and the impact of the intervention on metabolic measures of diabetes management and control.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

New therapeutic options in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Although a number of compounds exist for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, euglycemia in many patients is still difficult or impossible to achieve. Many patients are insulin resistant, a condition that is not adequately remedied either by sulfonylureas or insulin, and usually worsens over time. In addition, there are patients that, although their fasting blood glucose is controlled, experience unacceptable postprandial glucose excursions. The newer compounds that are either approved or under development possess more novel mechanisms of action that may contribute to their efficacy in these patients. The agents reviewed in this article include those that attenuate postprandial glucose elevations by mechanisms such as delayed gastric emptying and enzyme inhibition, and those that directly increase insulin sensitivity.

Blood Glucose↗
PubMed1996

Trends in child support outcomes.

This paper examines trends in child support award rates, award amounts, and receipts. We investigate four hypotheses that have been proposed to explain the downward trend in these outcomes during the 1980s: (1) changes in the demographic composition of the population eligible for child support, (2) increases in mothers' income, (3) decreases in fathers' income, and (4) inflation. Our results indicate that trends in nonmarital fertility can explain much of the decline in award rates. The steady downward trend in fathers' incomes during the 1980s also explains a considerable portion of the decline in award rates, award amounts, and receipts. Our results are also consistent with the notion that persistent money illusion is responsible for the decline in real child support awards.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The influence of nonmarital childbearing on the formation of first marriages.

We document a negative association between nonmarital childbearing and the subsequent likelihood of first marriage in the United States, controlling for a variety of potentially confounding influences. Nonmarital childbearing does not appear to be driven by low expectations of future marriage. Rather, it tends to be an unexpected and unwanted event, whose effects on a woman's subsequent likelihood of first marriage are negative on balance. We find that women who bear a child outside marriage and who receive welfare have a particularly low probability of marrying subsequently, although there is no evidence that AFDC recipients have lower expectations of marriage. In addition, we find no evidence that stigma associated with nonmarital childbearing plays an important role in this process or that the demands of children significantly reduce unmarried mothers' time for marriage market activities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Transforming viruses spontaneously arise from nontransforming reticuloendotheliosis virus strain T-derived viruses as a result of increased accumulation of spliced viral RNA.

The highly oncogenic avian retrovirus reticuloendotheliosis virus strain T (Rev-T) contains a substitution of the oncogene v-rel for much of env and a deletion of gag and pol relative to the helper virus Rev-A. Replacement of gag and pol sequences in Rev-T suppresses transformation by reducing the accumulation of spliced viral mRNA and v-rel protein in infected cells (C. K. Miller and H. M. Temin, J. Virol 58:75-80, 1986). After infection of spleen cells with viruses containing gag and pol sequences, revertant viruses that are strongly transforming were found. Approximately three-fourths of the revertant viruses appeared structurally the same as the parental virus, and approximately one-fourth of the revertant viruses had large deletions (similar in size and location to the deletion in Rev-T). Two revertant viruses that appeared structurally the same as the parental virus were molecularly cloned. The regions sufficient to change the parental virus to a strongly transforming virus were determined by construction of recombinant viruses. In one revertant virus, the region sufficient for transformation contained a 327-base-pair insertion 5' of the 3' splice site used by Rev-T. In the other revertant virus, the region sufficient for transformation contained a 1-base-pair transition and a deletion of one copy of a 9-base-pair direct repeat, both 3' of the 3' splice site used by Rev-T. These differences resulted in the accumulation of increased levels of subgenomic v-rel mRNA and protein, ultimately leading to transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Insertion of several different DNAs in reticuloendotheliosis virus strain T suppresses transformation by reducing the amount of subgenomic mRNA.

The highly oncogenic retrovirus reticuloendotheliosis virus (Rev) strain T (Rev-T) has, relative to its helper virus Rev strain A, a substitution of the oncogene v-rel for most of the env gene and a large deletion of gag and pol sequences. When the helper virus sequences that are deleted in Rev-T are replaced, the recombinant virus is nontransforming (I. S. Y. Chen and H. M. Temin, Cell 31: 111-120, 1982). We show that suppression of transformation occurs when several different DNA sequences are inserted in Rev-T and that suppression is correlated with a reduction in the amount of v-rel mRNA and v-rel protein in infected cells. The reduced amount of v-rel protein is insufficient for transformation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

High-efficiency ligation and recombination of DNA fragments by vertebrate cells.

DNA-mediated gene transfer (transfection) is used to introduce specific genes into vertebrate cells. Events soon after transfection were quantitatively analyzed by determining the infectivity of the DNA from an avian retrovirus and of mixtures of subgenomic fragments of this DNA. The limiting step of transfection with two DNA molecules is the uptake by a single cell of both DNA's in a biologically active state. Transfected cells mediate ligation and recombination of physically unlinked DNA's at nearly 100 percent efficiency.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Banded chromosomes of the owl monkey, Aotus trivirgatus.

Chromosomes of the owl monkey, Aotus trivirgatus, with 2n=54, 53, or 52, have been stained to show quinacrine (Q-) and Giemsa (G-) bands, and a karyotypic arrangement has been proposed based on lengths, centrometric index, and banding pattern. C-bands were present at the centromeric region of every chromosome and over the entire short arm of certain acrocentric chromosomes; 5-methylcytosine was concentrated in the same regions. Bright Q-bands at the telomeric ends of the short arms of some chromosomes probably represent a second type of repetitive DNA. Ag-staining showed that only the chromosomes bearing a secondary constriction are nucleolus organizer chromosomes.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Knowledge and misconceptions about the food label among women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Women on restricted diets are reportedly among the most frequent readers of nutrition information on food labels. However, the specific label information that women with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) comprehend and use has not been determined. The purpose of this study was to explore the attitude toward, use, and knowledge of information on the food label among rural women with NIDDM age 40 to 60 years. Focus groups and in-depth interviews were conducted. Participants reported that they referred to the nutrition information on the label when grocery shopping and preferred the newly revised format. Yet, comprehension of the terms and percentages on the label was poor (eg, the majority of participants could not explain the difference between total carbohydrate and sugars). Misconceptions also were noted about nutrients listed on the label and the percent daily value. Further education is needed to help people with NIDDM understand and apply the nutrition information on food labels to meet their individual needs.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Remembering and interpreting informed consent: a qualitative study of drug trial participants.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Federal regulations require that research subjects provide informed consent for their participation in biomedical research. Before giving consent, subjects are presented with information about study procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives. Although investigators have assessed subjects' retention of consent material, little is known about how participants view methodologic dimensions of biomedical research, such as placebos and randomization, or the distinction between medical treatment in a research protocol versus personal health care. These issues were examined with a qualitative interview study. METHODS: Research interviews were conducted with 14 subjects who had recently completed their participation in one of two drug trial studies. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. The transcripts were analyzed and coded for thematic content. RESULTS: Participants showed a thorough understanding of important study elements, such as randomization and placebos. They described primarily altruistic motives for participating in the drug trial. There was evidence that subjects might not make a clear distinction between personal medical care and treatment in a research protocol. CONCLUSIONS: Participants viewed their involvement in research very positively. They understood most important methodologic dimensions. The findings, however, suggest that the consent process should include greater attention to the distinction between research and clinical practice.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Deaconess Informed Consent Comprehension Test: an assessment tool for clinical research subjects.

We developed an instrument to assess comprehension of informed consent information among 275 adults entering one of four ambulatory trials. At the conclusion of trial enrollment, subjects rated their understanding of the information presented and completed the Deaconess Informed Consent Comprehension Test (DICCT). Subjects completed the vocabulary subtest of the revised Weschler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-R) and the reading subtest of the revised Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT-R). The DICCT for 50 subjects was scored by 2 blinded investigators. Interrater agreement was 0.84 (df = 49, p < 0.001). To investigate the DICCT's potential validity, its scores were correlated with WAIS-R vocabulary scores (r = 0.44, df = 199, p < 0.01) and WRAT-R reading scores (r = 0.39, df = 268, p < 0.01). Understanding of consent information was rated as thorough by 70% of subjects. The mean +/- SD DICCT score was 20.4 +/- 3.9. The DICCT is a reliable instrument to assess comprehension of informed consent information. There is preliminary evidence for the scale's validity. The subjects believed that they had greater understanding of study information than was shown by the DICCT.

Adolescent↗