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Biomedical subjects

C W Linder

Publications and source records attributed to C W Linder.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Comparison of two violence prevention curricula for middle school adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of the Violence Prevention Curriculum for Adolescents to the Conflict Resolution: A Curriculum for Youth Providers among middle school students. METHODS: A sample (N = 225) of adolescents (males = 48%) representing 20% of the student population in two middle schools were administered a pretest questionnaire. Of these students, 89% were African-American, 10% were white, and 1% were Native-American and lived in public housing (40%) or in neighborhoods adjacent to public housing (60%). Each school was randomly assigned to one of the curricula. Each curriculum was administered during 10 50-min sessions held twice a week over 5 weeks. One week later, 209 students who completed the 10 sessions were tested with the same questionnaire. The data were analyzed with a repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Students who received either curriculum reported significant decreases in their self-reported use of violence in hypothetical conflict situations, frequency of use of violence in the previous 30 days, and frequency of physical fights in the previous 30 days. The conflict resolution curriculum was more effective in reducing the frequency of fights resulting in an injury requiring medical treatment in the previous 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Both curricula were successful in reducing three indicators of violence. However, the conflict resolution approach was more successful in reducing the frequency of more severe physical fights requiring medical treatment. The latter finding is of particular importance, because that physical fighting is the form of violence behavior in which young adolescents most often engage.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Calf blood pressure: clinical implications and correlations with arm blood pressure in infants and young children.

OBJECTIVE: Indirect measurement of lower extremity blood pressure is often used in the clinical setting, although normative data after the newborn period are not readily available. METHODS: Indirect blood pressure (BP) measurement was obtained in the right arms and right calves of 148 healthy infants and young children 2 weeks to 3 years of age. All measurements were made using an oscillometric device. The infants and children are quiet or asleep and in the supine position. A BP cuff of proper size was chosen. Three measurements were made in both extremities; the average of the second and third measurements was used for all analyses. RESULTS: Age correlated better with calf systolic blood pressure (SBPc) than with arm SBP (SBPa) (r = .52 vs .17). Calf diastolic blood pressure (DBPc) and calf mean blood pressure (MBPc) correlated moderately poorly with age (r = .37 and .39, respectively). There was no order effect. SBPc correlated best with height (r = .53), then age (r = .52), and, finally, weight (r = .51). The correlation between BPc and BPa was moderately low. The correlation of SBPc with SBPa was r = .46; that of DBPc with DBPa was r = .37; and that of MBPc with MBPa was r = .41. From birth to 6 months, SBPc was slightly lower than SBPa (1 to 3 mm Hg). SBPc increased linearly relative to SBPa and began to exceed SBPa at 6 months of age. The pattern of DBP and MBP was similar. Wide variability of blood pressure parameters was noted between the infants and children at all ages. CONCLUSIONS: Reference data are presented for BPc and the difference between BPc and BPa in healthy infants and children from 2 weeks to 3 years of age. BPc is not equivalent to BPa and should not be arbitrarily substituted. Because of the wide variability among healthy infants and children, SBPc measurements should be interpreted with caution when evaluating for coarctation of the aorta.

Arm↗
PubMed1994

Factors associated with the use of violence among urban black adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine social and psychological factors associated with the use and nonuse of violence among Black adolescents living in a community with a high level of violent crime. METHODS: Adolescents (n = 225, 44% male) 11 to 19 years of age living in or around nine housing projects in an urban area were administered an anonymous questionnaire. RESULTS: Self-reported use of violence was associated with exposure to violence and personal victimization, hopelessness, depression, family conflict, previous corporal punishment, purpose in life, self-assessment of the probability of being alive at age 25, and age and was higher among males. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that exposure to violence is associated with adolescents' self-reported use of violence. However, adolescents with a higher sense of purpose in life and less depression were better able to withstand the influence of exposure to violence in the home and in the community.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

The influence of oral contraceptives and habitual physical activity on serum lipids in black adolescents and young women.

The effects of oral contraceptive use and habitual physical activity on serum cholesterol and lipoproteins were studied in 37 black females ages 16 to 28 years over a 3-month period. By the third month of oral contraceptive use, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were lower and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to HDL ratio and total serum cholesterol (T Chol) to HDL ratio were significantly higher in those receiving oral contraceptive with norgestrel. The level of physical activity had no significant effect on HDL levels. The active subjects had lower T Chol and HDL levels and a lower T Chol to HDL ratio at the end of 3 months. Subjects in the active-norethindrone group had lower T Chol to HDL ratios than those taking norgestrel. The nonactive norgestrel group had a continuous increase in their T Chol to HDL ratio over the 3-month period. These effects should be considered when counseling sexually active teenagers and when recommending an oral contraceptive.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Adolescent females' readiness to participate in sports. Sex and race differences in the preparticipation athletic examination.

With the increasing number of adolescent females participating in organized athletics, there has been concern over their susceptibility to injury during participation. This study assesses whether females differ from males in the severity and frequency of abnormalities on the preparticipation athletic examination (PAE). Standardized PAEs were performed on 1259 high school athletes. Females were found to have significantly less orthopedic problems than males on both the health history and the physical examination. Females were found to have a lower percentage of abnormalities of the hips, knees, and ankles than males. Black males had a significantly higher rate of hip abnormalities than white males, and black females had a higher rate of knee abnormalities than white females. A significantly higher percentage of males than females were referred for further evaluation prior to athletic participation. Although our adolescent females had fewer physical problems on the PAE that might add to their risk of having an athletic injury, the types of problems that were found in our females suggest that they should participate in more aerobic and strength training sessions prior to the sports season.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Pediatric residents' assessment of adolescents' experiences during pelvic examination.

We compared male and female pediatric residents' perceptions of adolescent females' attitude and experience during a pelvic examination. Females (n = 112) ages 12-19 years were randomly assigned to a male of female examiner and to a supine or semisitting pelvic-examination position. Pre- and postexamination questionnaires were completed by the patients. Female physicians were more accurate in assessing patient discomfort (p less than 0.006),pain (p less than 0.0004), and embarrassment (p less than 0.0006) during the pelvic examination. The correlation between the physicians' and the patients' assessments of the completeness of the examination was stronger for the male physicians (p less than 0.003). These relationships remained constant for both positions. The female physicians' appeared to base their perceptions of the patient-physician relationship partly on the emotional responses of the patient such as embarrassment, fear, and relaxation (p less than 0.02). In contrast, male physicians' perceptions were associated with patient expressions of pain and discomfort (p less than 0.02).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Influence of position during examination, and sex of examiner on patient anxiety during pelvic examination.

It has been reported that adult women prefer the semi-sitting position over the supine position for the pelvic examination. We determined the effect of the pelvic examination position and the examiner's gender on adolescent anxiety with the pelvic examination. Adolescent girls (n = 112) aged 12 to 19 years were randomly assigned to a semi-sitting or supine position and to a male or female physician. Before and after the examination questionnaires containing the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and other scales were administered. There were no differences between the groups in pre-examination anxiety or concern. Patients in the semi-sitting group reported fewer negative responses during the examination when examined by a male physician (P less than or equal to 0.009); those in the supine group reported fewer negative responses when examined by a female physician. These findings persisted after controlling for previous pelvic examinations, frequency of sexual activity, and Tanner stage. Patients who had previously had a pelvic examination and were examined in the semi-sitting position by a male physician reported the lowest levels of post-examination anxiety (P less than or equal to 0.02). Patients who had never had a pelvic examination expressed less anxiety if they were examined in the semi-sitting position by a female physician. These data suggest that the patient's previous history of pelvic examinations and the gender of the examiner should be considered when selecting the pelvic examination position.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Differential response by adolescents to naproxen sodium therapy for spasmodic and congestive dysmenorrhea.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether adolescents with "spasmodic" dysmenorrhea (SD) versus "congestive" dysmenorrhea (CD) respond differently to naproxen sodium therapy. Forty-five females ages 12-18 years were pretested and randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to one of five treatment regimens of various dosages of naproxen sodium and placebo. Subjects were posttested at one, two, and three months. Subjects with initial Menstrual Symptom Questionnaire (MSQ) scores of greater than or equal to 76 were classified as SD (n = 28) and those with scores of less than or equal to 75 were classified as CD (n = 17). Subjects with SD had a significant (p less than or equal to 0.05) reduction in MSQ scores after the first month of naproxen sodium therapy. By the second month, the degree of reduction was associated with a loading dose of 550 mg of naproxen sodium. Subjects with CD had a dose-related (p less than or equal to 0.05) response to naproxen sodium therapy that appeared to be influenced by other factors. At the first month follow-up, greater post menarchal age and parents' education were associated with increased symptom relief following naproxen sodium therapy (p less than or equal to 0.05). At the second month, CD subjects with increased life crisis events and lower self-concepts had more severe symptoms following naproxen sodium therapy (p less than 0.05). Our subjects with SD symptoms had a greater response to naproxen sodium therapy than those with CD symptoms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Isolation of Neisseria gonorrhea from the urethra of asymptomatic adolescent males.

Symptomatic infection with Neisseria gonorrhea (NG) has become a major health problem in the adolescent population. While sexually active adults, who carry Neisseria gonorrhea may serve as a reservoir of infection even when asymptomatic, there are few data documenting the frequency of the asymptomatic carrier state in adolescent males. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of NG isolates in a sample of asymptomatic adolescent males (ages 13-18 years). Urethral cultures and gram stains were performed on 249 males (95% black) from a lower socioeconomic background presenting to an adolescent clinic for routine health care. Of the 249 males cultured, 177 were without symptoms or signs of urethritis. NG were isolated from four (2.26%) patients (Z = 2.03, p less than or equal to 0.043). They were also isolated from 65 (90.3%) of the remaining 72 who had either symptoms or signs of urethritis. Although 26% of the patients had documented gonococcal disease, only 8% offered a genitourinary complaint at the time of initial evaluation. Our data indicate a low but statistically significant incidence of NG colonization comparable to that found in adult males in this population of asymptomatic adolescent males.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Factors influencing adolescents' responses to regimens of naproxen for dysmenorrhea.

The efficacy of different regimens of naproxen sodium for relief of dysmenorrhea in female adolescents was compared and the effect of other social/psychologic factors on the response to treatment tested. Following pretesting, 45 female adolescents were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to one of five treatment regimens and were followed up after 1, 2, and 3 months of treatment. There was a dose-related response to naproxen sodium therapy, with subjects receiving loading doses of 550 mg reporting better symptom relief than subjects receiving loading doses of 275 mg. During the first month of treatment, adolescents who reported increased life crisis events experienced greater symptom severity following naproxen therapy. Also, adolescents who reported more severe dysmenorrhea symptoms following three months of naproxen therapy had significantly lower self-concepts than adolescents who reported less symptoms following treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Riboflavin, self-report, and serum norethindrone. Comparison of their use as indicators of adolescent compliance with oral contraceptives.

The purpose of this study was to test the reliability of using the tablet marker, riboflavin, as an indicator of adolescent compliance with oral contraceptives, as compared with self-reports and more costly quantitative determinations of serum norethindrone levels. In a pilot study, a total of 31 urine samples were obtained from 11 subjects, aged 14 to 18 years. A follow-up study was conducted on 26 girls, aged 14 to 19 years, who were randomly selected from an ongoing study of oral contraceptive compliance. Subjects were given an oral contraceptive (Ortho-Novum 1/35), combined with 28 mg of riboflavin. In both studies, urinary fluorescence tests for riboflavin and self-reports were found to be significantly associated. In the follow-up study, both self-reports and urinary fluorescence tests were significantly associated with serum norethindrone levels. When the urinary fluorescence test agreed with self-report, compliance or noncompliance was confirmed by serum norethindrone levels in 90% of the cases. The findings suggest that riboflavin, combined with self-report, can be used as an accurate and cost-effective indicator of adolescent compliance with oral contraceptives.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Influence of psychosocial factors on adolescent compliance with oral contraceptives.

This paper prospectively tests the influence of a variety of sociomedical and psychosocial factors on compliance with oral contraceptives among adolescent females from a population at high risk for pregnancy. Fifty-six females aged 14-19 yr from a lower socioeconomic background received a battery of pretest measurements and were then given Ortho-Novum 1/35 combined with riboflavin during an initial visit and 1-, 2-, and 4-month follow-ups. Compliance was measured at each follow-up using a Guttman scale consisting of: (1) avoidance of pregnancy, (2) appointment adherence, (3) pill count, and (4) urinary fluorescence for riboflavin. Six factors were found to be significantly associated with noncompliance: (1) multiple sexual partners, (2) appointment being made by the adolescent, (3) low evaluation of personal health, (4) feelings of hopelessness, (5) worry about becoming pregnant, and (6) previous abortion. These findings suggest that certain indicators of sexual activity and social psychological status may help predict noncompliance in some adolescent females.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Effect of peer counselors on adolescent compliance in use of oral contraceptives.

Poor compliance with contraceptive regimens has been shown to be an important antecedent of adolescent pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to test prospectively the effect of a peer v nurse counseling program on adolescent compliance with the use of oral contraceptives. Fifty-seven females aged 14 to 19 years from a lower socioeconomic background were randomly assigned to a peer (n = 26) or nurse (n = 31) group. At the initial visit and at 1-, 2-, and 4-month follow-up visits, subjects received Ortho-Novum 1/35 combined with a tablet marker and were counseled by a nurse or peer. Noncompliance was measured using a Guttman scale consisting of: (1) avoidance of pregnancy, (2) appointment adherence, (3) pill count, and (4) urinary fluorescence for riboflavin. At the first and second follow-ups, the adolescents counseled by a peer had a significantly (P less than or equal to .038) lower noncompliance level than the nurse-counseled group. Adolescents with more frequent sexual activity (P less than or equal to .027), with one sexual partner (P less than .04), and who worried that they might become pregnant (P less than or equal to .01) had significantly lower levels of noncompliance when counseled by a peer than by a nurse. At the fourth month follow-up, adolescents who expressed feelings of hopelessness about the future had significantly (P less than or equal to .036) higher levels of noncompliance when counseled by a nurse than when counseled by a peer. These results suggest that incorporating a peer counselor into the health care team may be an effective method of increasing adolescent compliance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Relationship between habitual physical activity and serum lipoprotein levels in white male adolescents.

It is currently thought that increased physical activity can have a positive influence on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in adults. However, only a limited amount of research has been directed at studying the influence of physical activity on HDL-C in adolescents. This study correlated the reported levels of physical activity, exercise capacity, physical measurements, and 48-hr dietary intake of 50 white male adolescents with their levels of HDL-C, ratio of total serum cholesterol (T.Chol) to HDL-C, and ratio of low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) to HDL-C. Using multiple regression, age (r = -0.42) was the strongest predictor of HDL-C, followed in order by TV watched/night (r = -0.42) and height (r = -0.31) (R2 = 0.28). Age (r = 0.38) was the strongest predictor of the T.Chol/HDL-C ratio, followed by days jogged/week (r = -0.32), TV watched/night (r = 0.29), and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.30) (R2 = 0.30). The days jogged per week (r = -0.32) was the best predictor of the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, followed in order by hours spent reading/day (r = 0.27) and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.23) (R2 = 0.23). Maximum exercise capacity was not related to these lipoprotein components. These findings suggest that the level of habitual physical activity in white male adolescents may be associated with the level of HDL-C in relation to T.Chol and LDL-C.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1983

The relationship between physical activity and serum lipids and lipoproteins in black children and adolescents.

This study assesses the association between the serum lipid and lipoprotein levels of 62 black children and 37 black adolescents and their reported levels of habitual physical activity, 24-hour dietary intake, and physical measurements. In the children physical activity was not correlated with serum lipid and lipoprotein levels. Indicators of physical activity had a positive correlation (P less than 0.02) with high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and negative correlations (P less than 0.05) with the total serum cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ratios in the adolescents. Subjects were stratified into "low activity" and "high activity" groups. High-activity subjects had lower (P less than 0.05) total serum cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol ratios than less active subjects. Subjects that ran track had lower (P less than 0.02) total serum cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol than non-track participants. The results suggest that increased habitual physical activity may have a favorable effect on serum lipid and lipoprotein levels in black adolescents.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

The effect of physical conditioning on serum lipids and lipoproteins in white male adolescents.

This study was designed to measure the effect of physical conditioning on the serum lipid and lipoprotein levels of white male adolescents. Fifty white males, ages 11-17 yr, underwent pre-test evaluations including physical measurements, physical activity levels, nutritional intake, physical working capacity, and fasting serum lipid and lipoprotein levels. Each subject was randomly assigned to a physical conditioning group or to a control group. There were no statistically significant differences in pre-test measurements. The physical conditioning group participated in an 8-wk progressive aerobic exercise program 30 min/d for 4 d each wk. The pre-test measurements were then repeated for both groups. Based on Student's t-test, the physical conditioning group had a significantly higher physical working capacity on the post-test than the control group. An analysis of covariance test showed no differences between the groups in the post-test serum lipid and lipoprotein levels. The results suggested that although the exercise program was strenuous enough to increase significantly the physical working capacity of the exercise group, it did not alter their serum lipid and lipoprotein levels during the 8-wk period.

Adolescent↗