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Biomedical subjects

D Warner

Publications and source records attributed to D Warner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Adult smoking intervention programmes in Massachusetts: a comprehensive approach with promising results.

This paper provides a brief overview of the history of Massachusetts' opposition to smoking. It describes the current Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program and its smoking intervention programmes; changes in public opinion, perceptions and attitudes toward smoking; and programme impact. Massachusetts has been successful in developing a comprehensive intervention that has had encouraging results in changing public attitudes about smoking and in helping smokers to quit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

EEG P300 event-related markers of hypnosis.

Barabasz, Barabasz, Jensen, Calvin, Trevisan, and Warner (1999) showed that, when subjects are stringently selected for hypnotizability and responses are time locked to events, robust markers of hypnotic responding emerge that reflect alterations in consciousness that correspond to subjects' subjective experiences of perceptual alteration. To further test the Barabasz et al. (1999) hypothesis, we obtained EEG visual P300 event-related potentials (ERPs) from 20 high- and low-hypnotizable subjects. The effects of positive obstructive and negative obliterating instructions were tested during waking and alert hypnotic conditions. High-hypnotizables showed greater ERP amplitudes in response to the negative hallucination condition and lower ERP amplitudes in response to the positive obstructive hallucination when compared to the low-hypnotizables. Contrary to socio-psychological or role play conceptualizations, the hypnotic induction resulted in specific psychophysiological responses which could not be produced by waking imagination or by the lows who were trying to mimic hypnotic responding.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Coagulation factor XIII and cardiovascular disease in UK Asian patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Possession of the coagulation factor XIII Val34Leu (FXIIIVal34Leu) polymorphism is associated with protection against myocardial infarction (MI) in Caucasians, in the absence of features of insulin resistance. The role of this polymorphism in the UK Asian population, with its high prevalence of insulin resistance and ischaemic heart disease, is unknown. We investigated the frequency of genotypes at this polymorphism, and measures of circulating FXIII in a group of UK Asians attending for coronary angiography. Genotype at the FXIIIVal34Leu polymorphism was not associated with MI. FXIII B-subunit levels correlated with waist: hip ratio (r = 0.19, p <0.005), HbA1c (r = 0.18, p <0.05), fasting triglycerides (r = 0.21, p <0.005), total cholesterol (r = 0.29, p <0.0005) and PAI-1 antigen (r = 0.24, p <0.005). An association between FXIIIVal34Leu and FXIII cross-linking activity was confirmed in these subjects (one-way ANOVA p <0.0005). This evidence does not support the hypothesis that FXIIIVal34Leu is protective against MI in the UK Asian population. FXIII B-subunit levels are strongly linked to risk factors for cardiovascular disease, suggesting an underlying association with insulin resistance.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Hypnosis and distraction differ in their effects on cold pressor pain.

On the bases of Hilgard's neodissociation theory and Spano's (1982) sociocognitive theory, volunteers stringently selected for high (N = 10) and low (N = 10) hypnotizability were exposed to a cold pressor pain test during counterbalanced conditions of waking relaxation, distraction, and hypnosis. To better discriminate between hypnosis and distraction conditions, a new distraction procedure was developed involving the memorization of a sequence of colored lights. High hypnotizables showed significantly greater pain relief for hypnosis versus distraction or waking relaxation conditions. High hypnotizables also demonstrated significantly greater pain relief than low hypnotizables in response to hypnosis. Quantitative electroencephalographic (EEG) findings showed significantly greater high theta (5.5-7.5 Hz) activity for highs as compared to lows at parietal (P3) and occipital (01) sites during both hypnosis and waking relaxation conditions. The findings fail to support the socio-cognitive conceptualization of hypnotic behavior while providing additional evidence supporting the neo-dissociation theory and state based theories of hypnosis in general.

Cold Temperature↗
PubMed2000

Development of a state wide tobacco treatment specialist training and certification programme for Massachusetts.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the research conducted to structure and develop a statewide tobacco training and certification programme for tobacco treatment specialists (TTSs) in Massachusetts. DESIGN: Qualitative research strategies were used to obtain information on certification development and opinions regarding TTS training and certification from key informants. A role definition and validation study was then conducted to determine the core competencies for TTSs. A comprehensive training programme was developed, piloted, and finalised, and a certification programme was initiated. PARTICIPANTS: Key informants included: individuals involved in the development of their professional certification programmes; tobacco treatment providers from across Massachusetts; and national tobacco treatment experts. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants' opinions about the need for and structure of a training and certification programme for individuals specialising in the provision of moderate to intensive tobacco treatment; delineation of core competencies for TTSs, using the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (now the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) clinical practice guideline as a foundation for the development of evidence based standards of practice for the treatment of nicotine dependence. RESULTS: The data support a comprehensive training and certification programme for TTSs in Massachusetts. Main concerns include the cost of obtaining certification, the potential to exclude uncertified healthcare professionals from delivering basic tobacco treatment, and the role of the TTS in the healthcare delivery system and the community. The training programme developed for Massachusetts was piloted, and the structure of a statewide training and certification programme for TTSs was finalised. CONCLUSIONS: The research provides support for the need and acceptance of a training and certification programme for TTSs in Massachusetts, and presents the challenges to be addressed. We demonstrated the feasibility of developing and implementing an evidence based training programme, and of initiating a statewide certification programme in Massachusetts. This work will add to a national dialogue on the development of a training and certification programme for tobacco treatment providers and encourage further research into the potential impact of statewide and national certification.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Brief hypnosis substitutes for alprazolam use in college students: transient experiences and quantitative EEG responses.

We sought to determine: 1) whether a simple hypnotic induction with an alprazolam experience derived suggestion could recreate the subjective effects of alprazolam (Xanax), 2) whether the effects of alprazolam are greater than the effects of hypnosis plus this suggestion, and 3) whether the effects of hypnosis plus this suggestion were greater than the relaxation effects produced by hypnosis alone. High and low hypnotizable student volunteer subjects (Ss) ingested 1 mg of alprazolam. A hypnotic suggestion was developed on the basis of their reported reactions to alprazolam. Four days later the same Ss were exposed to hypnosis only and hypnosis plus the alprazolam experience based suggestion conditions in counterbalanced order. Ss exposed to the hypnosis plus suggestion condition demonstrated greater levels of relaxation as measured by the tension-anxiety scale of the Profile of Mood States (POMS) (Eichman & Umstead, 1971) than in the alprazolam condition or the hypnosis only condition. High hypnotizables showed significantly greater levels of relaxation than the low hypnotizables in each of the three conditions (hypnosis plus suggestion, hypnosis only, alprazolam only). EEG data showed frontal and occipital sites were specifically involved in both the alprazolam and the hypnotic suggestion conditions. The findings indicate a basis for the use of hypnosis as a substitute for sedative drug use. Limitations and implications for clinicians are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Cortical event-related potentials show the structure of hypnotic suggestions is crucial.

Electroencephalographic cortical event-related potentials (ERPs) are affected by information processing strategies and are particularly appropriate for the examination of hypnotic alterations in perception. The effects of positive obstructive and negative obliterating instructions on visual and auditory P300 ERPs were tested. Twenty participants, stringently selected for hypnotizability, were requested to perform identical tasks during waking and alert hypnotic conditions. High hypnotizables showed greater ERP amplitudes while experiencing negative hallucinations and lower ERP amplitudes while experiencing positive obstructive hallucinations, in contrast to low hypnotizables and their own waking imagination-only conditions. The data show that when participants are carefully selected for hypnotizability and responses are time locked to events, rather robust physiological markers of hypnosis emerge. These reflect alterations in consciousness that correspond to participants' subjective experiences of perceptual alteration. Accounting for suggestion type reveals remarkable consistency of findings among dozens of researchers.

Cerebral Cortex↗
PubMed1998

Hypnosis enhances recall memory: a test of forced and non-forced conditions.

Visual memory recall in hypnosis was investigated. To address criterion shift problems in previous studies, both forced and non-forced recall procedures were used. Previous methodological weaknesses with regard to hypnotizability and hypnotic depth were also addressed. Over 300 volunteers were screened for hypnotizability using the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility: Form A (Shor & Orne, 1962). Final high and low hypnotizability groups were selected using the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale: Form C (Weitzenhoffer & Hilgard, 1962). Participants in each hypnotizability group were randomly assigned to either forced or non-forced recall conditions and to hypnosis or waking conditions. Participants were shown 60 slides of line drawings and then tested immediately in 3 recall periods. Analysis of variance results showed that those exposed to hypnosis and to a forced recall procedure were significantly more confident of their responses to correct items than those exposed to a non-forced recall procedure or a waking condition. Participants exposed to hypnosis and forced recall procedures recalled more correct items than those exposed to a waking condition. The findings support the hypermnesic effects of hypnosis when participants are required to provide a fixed number of responses.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Neuropharmacological actions of cigarette smoke: brain monoamine oxidase B (MAO B) inhibition.

We measured the concentration of brain monoamine oxidase B (MAO B; EC 1.4.3.4) in 8 smokers and compared it with that in 8 non-smokers and in 4 former smokers using positron emission tomography (PET) and deuterium substituted [11C]L-deprenyl ([11C]L-deprenyl-D2) as a radiotracer for MAO B. Smokers had significantly lower brain MAO B than non-smokers as measured by the model term lambda k3 which is a function of MAO B activity. Reductions were observed in all brain regions. Low brain MAO B in the cigarette smoker appears to be a pharmacological rather than a genetic effect since former smokers did not differ from non-smokers. Brain MAO B inhibition by cigarette smoke is of relevance in light of the inverse association between smoking and Parkinson's disease and a high prevalence of smoking in psychiatric disorders and in substance abuse. Though nicotine is at the core of the neuropharmacological actions of tobacco smoke, MAO B inhibition may also be an important variable in understanding and treating tobacco smoke addiction.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy for complicated pleural effusions.

Intrapleural administration of fibrinolytic agents can be used to degrade the fibrin present in complicated pleural effusions, thus decreasing viscosity of the fluid and enhancing evacuation of the pleural space via chest tube drainage. Patients who may otherwise need surgical intervention could benefit from this treatment. As more knowledge is gained through clinical experience and research studies, patients' outcomes may show major improvement.

Critical Care↗