Biomedical subjects

D Lanuza

Publications and source records attributed to D Lanuza.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Obesity in adults and children: a call for action.

Obesity/overweight in adults and children is a worldwide health problem associated with substantial economic burden as measured by paid sick leave, life and disability insurance rates, and obesity-related physician visits and hospital stays. Overweight/obese people experience hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes and suffer more joint and mobility problems than people within the normal weight for height range. While there is need to understand individual behaviors that can be modified to promote weight loss and weight maintenance, there is as great a need to consider contextual factors at the societal level that can impede or even sabotage weight control efforts. In every country with improved living standards people will continue to eat too much and engage in too little physical activity. The call for action is for all modernized societies to alter environments and attitudes to support, rather than hinder, healthy dietary intake and being physically active.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed2001

Characteristics of the trauma recidivist: an exploratory descriptive study.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics and perceptions of trauma recidivists. Information obtained from this study will help health care professionals better understand trauma patients and design more effective trauma prevention programs. METHODS: An exploratory descriptive, correlational design was used. A convenience sample of 100 trauma patients entering a midwestern university medical center were studied. A demographic chart review and a personal interview consisting of 29 questions were conducted for each subject. The interview questions sought information regarding high-risk behavior, risk-taking personality traits, safety precautions used, and social, psychological, and environmental factors surrounding the patient's traumatic event. RESULTS: Thirty-six percent of trauma patients studied were recidivists. The recidivist was more likely to be male, younger than 45 years, a member of a racial minority, single, uninsured, and have less than 12 years of education. Behavioral characteristics common to most recidivists included a history of past arrests, illegal drug use, and having witnessed past violent injuries. DISCUSSION: Trauma remains one of the most devastating diseases facing americans. Characteristics of trauma recidivists have been identified, and further research is needed to test possible interventions to curb the unnecessary trauma injuries that occur every day.

Age Distribution↗

PubMed2000

Perimenopause and the quality of life.

The purposes of this study are to describe the frequency and distress of symptoms associated with perimenopause, to examine the changes in the quality of life (QOL) related to perimenopause, and to examine the relationships between symptoms associated with perimenopause and the QOL. A cross-sectional, correlational design was employed. Two hundred fourteen perimenopausal women completed the Women's Health Assessment Scale (WHAS) and the Quality of Life Scale. It was found that vasomotor symptoms were not central to the list of symptoms associated with perimenopause. More women reported psychosomatic complaints as opposed to vasomotor complaints. Compared to the premenopausal period, women during perimenopause experienced slightly, yet significantly decreased, levels of QOL. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the psychosomatic symptom category was the sole predictor of the QOL during perimenopause. In summary, psychosomatic symptoms occur most frequently and are most distressful for perimenopausal women in this study. It may be important to manage psychosomatic symptoms to improve the QOL for perimenopausal women.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Lung transplantation at Loyola University Medical Center.

The Loyola Lung Transplant Program shows a long record of offering transplants to suitable recipients, with good clinical results. The overall one-year survival rate was 84% for 53 lung transplant recipients in 1998-99. Our local perception on donor management appears to be successful at increasing donor organ availability. In addition, continuous evolution in posttransplant care and willingness to utilize newer immunosuppressive agents has reduced our incidence of acute rejection episodes to 23% during the past 2 years. Time will tell if there is also a measurable reduction in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Finally, longitudinal research on QOL after lung transplantation continues to buoy our spirits based on patient acceptance and satisfaction with results. We continue to be strong advocates for transplantation and organ donation.

Communicable Diseases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Perimenopause: the transition into menopause.

With an ever-accumulating body of knowledge about menopause has come the realization that the transition into menopause, specifically the perimenopausal period, is a process occurring over a period of years. We now know that the majority of women do not move from a time of regular menses to an abrupt cessation of menses. Rather, they experience perimenopause, a time of menstrual irregularity defined by changes in the length of the menstrual cycle and/or changes in level of discomfort associated with menses. We also know now that hormonal levels during the perimenopausal period may fluctuate more intensely, precipitating vasomotor and other symptoms. There is a tremendous need to educate women and their health care providers about the stages of the menopausal process. Such education will foster understanding of when women can expect the onset of perimenopausal symptoms. Health care providers should assist women with their questions and concerns as they move through this time of transition.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The relationship between physical activity and perimenopause.

Our purpose in conducting this study was to examine the relationship between physical activity and symptoms associated with perimenopause. A group of 214 perimenopausal women aged 40-55 years (mean = 47 years) completed the Women's Health Assessment Scale (assesses symptoms associated with perimenopause: vasomotor, psychosomatic, menstrual, and sexual symptoms) and the physical activity questionnaire. These women were categorized into three groups based on their levels of physical activity: inactive, relatively active, and active. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant differences between groups in frequency and distress of overall symptoms associated with perimenopause (F = 8.86, p = .00, F = 6.25, p = .00, respectively). Further analyses indicated that relatively active and active women had significantly fewer and less distressful psychosomatic symptoms (F = 8.05, p = .00, F = 5.80, p = .00, respectively), such as irritability, forgetfulness, and headache as well as fewer and less distressful sexual symptoms (F = 3.42, p = .03, F = 3.73, p = .03, respectively), such as vaginal dryness and decreased sexual desire than inactive women. No significant differences were found among groups on vasomotor and menstrual symptoms. In conclusion, physical activity may be an important alternative/adjunct to hormone therapy particularly for psychosomatic and sexual symptom management at perimenopause.

Adaptation, Psychological↗