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Biomedical subjects

D Burnette

Publications and source records attributed to D Burnette.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Polyglycylation of tubulin is essential and affects cell motility and division in Tetrahymena thermophila.

We analyzed the role of tubulin polyglycylation in Tetrahymena thermophila using in vivo mutagenesis and immunochemical analysis with modification-specific antibodies. Three and five polyglycylation sites were identified at glutamic acids near the COOH termini of alpha- and beta-tubulin, respectively. Mutants lacking all polyglycylation sites on alpha-tubulin have normal phenotype, whereas similar sites on beta-tubulin are essential. A viable mutant with three mutated sites in beta-tubulin showed reduced tubulin glycylation, slow growth and motility, and defects in cytokinesis. Cells in which all five polyglycylation sites on beta-tubulin were mutated were viable if they were cotransformed with an alpha-tubulin gene whose COOH terminus was replaced by the wild-type COOH terminus of beta-tubulin. In this double mutant, beta-tubulin lacked detectable polyglycylation, while the alpha-beta tubulin chimera was hyperglycylated compared with alpha-tubulin in wild-type cells. Thus, the essential function of polyglycylation of the COOH terminus of beta-tubulin can be transferred to alpha-tubulin, indicating it is the total amount of polyglycylation on both alpha- and beta-tubulin that is essential for survival.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Physical and emotional well-being of custodial grandparents in Latino families.

This study of 74 Latino grandparents rearing their grandchildren in New York City, found poverty rates to be roughly three times those of grandparent caregivers nationwide and rates of self-reported poor health and depression to be twice as high. Correlates of depression included young age, poor health, greater life stress, few informal supports, and rearing grandchildren with special needs. Intervention needs and directions for future research are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Social relationships of Latino grandparent caregivers: a role theory perspective.

This article uses a role theory perspective to examine the social relationships of 74 Latinos, mostly middle-aged and older Puerto Rican and Dominican women, rearing their grandchildren in New York City. Fully 81% of households were below poverty level. Most grandparents had large families and were socially connected, but two thirds of households were skipped-generational and many grandparents lacked reliable help with child rearing. Most relied on a focal secondary caregiver, usually an adult daughter, and extrafamilial supports. These and other sources of strain and support for the grandparent caregiver role in Latino families are discussed, as is the impact of this role on their social relationships.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Custodial grandparents in Latino families: patterns of service use and predictors of unmet needs

This article examines patterns of service use and predictors of unmet needs among a purposive sample of 74 Latino grandparent caregivers in New York City. Study participants tended to be unmarried, middle-aged, and older women who were monolingual Spanish speaking and had very low levels of educational attainment and income. Nearly all respondents were connected to the formal service system, yet they still reported substantial unmet needs. Lack of knowledge was the major barrier to service use, and predictors of unmet needs included low education, poor health, high levels of life stress, and lack of reliable help with child rearing. Implications for policy and practice strategies that focus on role-related needs of Latino custodial grandparents are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Physician utilization by Hispanic elderly persons: national perspective.

BACKGROUND: The number of elderly Hispanic Americans is projected to more than double by 2010 and account for 16% of all elders by 2050. The complex health needs and diversity of that growing population poses challenges for planning and delivery of health services. OBJECTIVES: The behavioral model of health services utilization was used to examine predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with physician use by Hispanic elders and to assess whether Mexican American, Cuban American, and Puerto Rican elders differ in their likelihood of use. RESEARCH DESIGN: Data are from the 1988 National Survey of Hispanic Elderly People, which is a nationally representative sample of Hispanic elders living within telephone exchanges with at least 30% concentration of Hispanics. SUBJECTS: There were 2,299 completed interviews. Analyses are based on a subsample of 773 Mexican Americans, 714 Cuban Americans, and 368 Puerto Ricans. MEASURES: The dependent variable, physician utilization, was self-reported number of visits in the previous year. It was dichotomized because of skewness. Independent variables include predisposing, enabling, and need factors. RESULTS: Using hierarchical logistic regression, all three sets of factors contributed to the likelihood of a visit. Enabling factors, especially insurance coverage and adult children, had the greatest impact. Cuban Americans and Puerto Ricans were 2.3 and 2.6 times more likely, respectively, to have seen a physician than were Mexican Americans. CONCLUSIONS: In seeking to improve access and use of physician services, health care providers and policy makers should consider the role of social and economic factors and national origin group.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Living alone with Alzheimer's disease: effects on health and social service utilization patterns.

Subjects with possible or probable Alzheimer's disease who live alone are more likely to be women, and more likely to be poor than those living with others. They are also older and have milder cognitive impairments and a shorter disease duration. Living arrangement is a significant predictor of service utilization even with other factors held constant. Subjects living alone were less likely to use medical services such as physicians and hospitals, and more likely to use services such as homemaker chore and home-delivered meals. In addition, they were more likely to use no services than those living with others.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Long-term care service use by frail elders: is ethnicity a factor?

Using data from the 1982-84 National Long-Term Care Channeling Demonstration, this study examines factors associated with long-term care service use by African American, Hispanic, and white frail elders living in the community. Findings indicate that in addition to predisposing, enabling, and need factors, race/ethnicity is a significant predictor of each type of service use.

Black or African American↗