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Biomedical subjects

D Budd

Publications and source records attributed to D Budd.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Measuring central executive functioning: what's in a reading span?

Although variations of Daneman and Carpenter's (1980) Reading Span Test (RST) have seen increasing use in both cognitive and neuropsychological research, the specific mental operations involved in performing it remain unclear. We tested 80 undergraduates to examine the extent to which speed of processing, manipulation capacity, and susceptibility to interference contributed to RST performance. The results suggest that, rather than unitary central executive or processing speed functions underlying RST performance, at least two factors, manipulation capacity and susceptibility to interference, underlie the task. Further study of RST operations may lead to a better understanding of the nature of the central executive itself.

Cognition↗
PubMed2000

The effects of hair loss in European men: a survey in four countries.

Despite the high prevalence and the accepted psychological aspects of male pattern hair loss, few have characterized the effects of hair loss in representative samples of men in different countries. A representative sample of households in 4 European countries (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom) was contacted by an interviewer and resident males 18-40 years of age (n = 1,717) completed a questionnaire designed specifically to evaluate attitudes to hair loss. The questionnaire was comprised of 78 questions translated and pilot-tested using standard methodology into each local language. Questionnaires queried about self-rated hair loss, satisfaction with hair appearance, noticeability of hair loss to others, and bother, concerns and perceptions about hair loss, as well as general physical health (the SF-12 questionnaire) plus three additional questions about mental health. The self-reported degree of hair loss in men was statistically significantly associated (p < 0.001) with all hair-loss specific effects measured, except "limiting job opportunities". The impact of hair loss was generally consistent in the four countries surveyed, although less pronounced in the United Kingdom. Age was significantly correlated with hair loss (rs = 0.34, p < 0.001). Men with greater hair loss were more bothered, more concerned about looking older due to their hair loss, and less satisfied with their hair appearance. Male pattern hair loss has significant negative effects on hair-loss specific measures in men 18 to 40 years of age in France, Italy, Germany and the UK. The degree that hair loss is perceived as noticeable to others appears to be a significant contributor to these negative effects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA clone encoding a member of the Com44/Cim44 envelope components of the chloroplast protein import apparatus.

Many of the proteins in the chloroplast envelope play an important role in facilitating the biochemical and transport processes of the compartment. For the transport of proteins into the chloroplast, we have recently identified at least three different envelope proteins (Com44/Cim44, Com70, and Cim97) in close physical proximity to a partially translocated chimeric precursor protein (Wu, C., Seibert, F. S., and Ko, K. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 32264-32271). In this study we report the characterization of a cDNA clone encoding a member of the Com44/Cim44 envelope proteins. The combined data from nucleotide sequencing, and RNA and protein blot analyses indicate the existence of multiple forms of the 44-kDa envelope protein. Depending on the plant species examined, immunologically-related protein bands with molecular masses of 42 to 46 kDa were observed. Organelle subfractionation, protease treatment, and immunomicroscopic studies together provide an indication that the immunologically-related proteins may be present in both the outer and inner envelope membranes. Co-migration of the product synthesized from the cDNA insert with a 44-kDa immunoreactive band of the chloroplast envelope, and the in vitro import results, together suggest that the in vitro synthesized 44-kDa protein is targeted to the envelope membrane without any further processing.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Individual differences in working memory strategies for reading expository text.

This study investigated whether individual differences in working memory (WM) span are associated with different WM management strategies during the reading of expository text. In Experiment 1, probe questions were presented on line during reading to determine whether thematic information was maintained in WM throughout comprehension. The data indicated that readers across the range of WM span maintained thematic information in WM throughout the reading of a given passage. In Experiment 2, sentence reading times and accuracy for both topic and detail questions were measured in two conditions: when topic sentences were present and when topic sentences were absent. Subjects performed similarly across the range of WM span in the topic-present condition, but lower span subjects performed more poorly on detail questions in the topic-absent condition. In Experiment 3, the topic-present condition of the second experiment was replicated, except that subjects expected to receive questions about details only. Thematic processing and retention of topic and detail information all increased with span. Taken together, these results suggest that, for more difficult text processing tasks, high- and low-span subjects adopt different WM management strategies and these strategies influence what is learned from reading the text.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Hypocholesterolemia and acute myelogenous leukemia. Association between disease activity and plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations.

Plasma total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations were determined in 32 patients admitted with either acute nonlymphocytic leukemia or chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis. Measurements were repeated in 15 of these individuals during a leukopenic period induced by chemotherapy and in 6 of the latter group when they had achieved remission. Initial plasma total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels in 15 male (111.9 +/- 27.9; 53.7 +/- 10.4; 23.7 +/- 22.5 mg/dl) and 17 female (124.0 +/- 42.0; 68.6 +/- 32.0; 29.4 +/- 13.9 mg/dl) patients were markedly reduced compared with age and sex-matched control values (all P less than 0.01). Remission in six subjects was associated with significant increases in total cholesterol (162.0 +/- 61.0 vs. 111.5 +/- 47.9 mg/dl; P less than 0.02) and LDL cholesterol (106.8 +/- 51.2 vs. 43.5 +/- 31.3 mg/dl; P less than 0.05) compared with their baseline values. Chemotherapy-induced leukopenia was associated with inconsistant changes in plasma cholesterol levels although LDL cholesterol increased in all patients who subsequently achieved remission. LDL cholesterol levels fell dramatically in two patients who relapsed. These results indicate that LDL cholesterol concentrations may be of value in assessing disease activity in individuals with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Late failure of vasectomy after two documented analyses showing azoospermic semen.

From April 1970 to December 1980, 14 047 men underwent vasectomy for sterilisation under local anaesthetic at this clinic. In each man sterility was confirmed by two analyses of semen showing azoospermia. Allowing for a minimum follow up of three years, the wives of six of these men subsequently became pregnant between 16 months and three years after vasectomy. Analyses of semen confirmed recanalisation of the vasa deferentia in all six men. Only five similar cases initially fulfilling the same criteria for sterility have previously been reported. Full account of the rare possibility of recanalisation should be taken both when couples are counselled preoperatively and when pregnancy occurs after the male partner has been confirmed to be sterile.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Complications of vasectomy: review of 16,000 patients.

Sixteen thousand, seven hundred and ninety-six men underwent vasectomy between 1970 and December 1983 and have been reviewed. Post-operative side effects were few and significant complications were reported in 0.9%. Failure to achieve sterility occurred in 72 men, 69 of whom have been analysed. The early recanalisation rate was 0.36%. This rate was not influenced by the operative technique used, but varied markedly between individual surgeons. Experience and care with technique should result in a failure rate of 0.2% or better. There were six cases of late recanalisation in men previously thought sterile by two consecutive azoospermic analyses 4 months after vasectomy.

Humans↗