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Biomedical subjects

E M Hooper

Publications and source records attributed to E M Hooper.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Healthy elderly: social bonds and locus of control.

An investigation into social relationships and their connection to health was integrated into a 5-year prospective study of nutrition and immunobiology in 300 healthy elderly persons. The data were collected from a subsample of 40 individuals by interview, using the Interview Schedule for Social Interaction (ISSI), the Rotter I-E Locus of Control Scale, and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC). This group did not differ from the general population in terms of their social relationships. The mean locus of control expectancy score was 6.5 +/- 3.3, indicating an internal group. There was a statistically significant relationship between internality and availability of social integration, but no differences based upon sex or age for the ISSI or Rotter's I-E Locus of Control Scale.

Aged

Vitamins, lipids and lipoproteins in a healthy elderly population.

Vitamin status may be related to serum lipid-lipoprotein levels. We tested this hypothesis in a group of 270 healthy elderly men and women over 60 years of age. Vitamin status was determined from dietary intakes and biochemical analysis of plasma. Fasting lipid profile included triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). Correlations have been adjusted by partial correlation for age, physical activity, body mass index, and alcohol consumption. Neither vitamin E intake nor ascorbic acid intake nor ascorbic acid plasma levels correlated with any lipids measured. HDL-C levels did not correlate with any vitamin parameters. In men, vitamin A blood levels correlated with LDL-C, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels. In women, total cholesterol levels correlated inversely with thiamine and riboflavin blood status and with dietary intake of vitamins B6, D, and niacin. LDL-C plasma values were also inversely correlated with both intake and plasma vitamin D levels and intakes of riboflavin and vitamin B12 in women.

Aged

High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and diet in a healthy elderly population.

This study examined how high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) correlated with a 3-day food record of fat, protein, carbohydrate, and alcohol consumption in a group of 270 healthy subjects over age 60. HDL-C concentrations correlated with alcohol consumption (expressed as grams/day) (r = + .25, P less than .001), and inversely with total carbohydrate (r = - .18, P less than .01) and refined carbohydrate (r = - .17, P less than .01) ingestion (expressed as a percent of total caloric intake). Subjects consuming diets low in either total carbohydrate or refined carbohydrate had 10 to 20% higher HDL-C levels than did those consuming diets high in these food substances. The relationships between HDL-C levels and alcohol and carbohydrate ingestion were independent of other variables which correlated with HDL-C levels. Dietary fat (total fat, saturated fat, unsaturated fat, and cholesterol) did not correlate with HDL-C. LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not correlate with any dietary variable measured.

Aged

Nutritional status in a healthy elderly population: dietary and supplemental intakes.

Dietary and supplemental intakes were assessed from 3-day food records collected from 270 free-living, middle income and healthy men and women over 60 yr of age residing in the Albuquerque, NM vicinity. The 1980 Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) were used to assess adequacy of intake. Energy intake, as percentage of the RDA, was 90 +/- 23 (mean +/- SD) for men (n = 125) and 87 +/- 22 for women (n = 145). Mean daily protein intake was 83 g for men and 67 g for women and only 11% of men and 14% of women failed to receive at least 100% of the RDA for protein. Frequency and amount of vitamin and mineral supplementation was substantial. Approximately 60% of both men and women ingested one or more supplements; vitamins C and E were the most popular. In general, dietary intakes in this population appear to be adequate with the possible exception of vitamin D and calcium intakes in women.

Aged

Physician behaviors that correlate with patient satisfaction.

The behavior of 15 internal medicine residents, each with 10 patients, was observed through a one-way mirror. Ratings by the patients of satisfaction with their physicians were also obtained. Patient satisfaction correlated strongly with ratings for physician courtesy and information-giving, Nonverbal behaviors such as eye contact, bodily positioning, and physical contact did not correlate with patient satisfaction. The correlations between physician behavior and patient satisfaction did not hold for the four women physicians studied.

Adult

Patient characteristics that influence physician behavior.

We examined whether four patient characteristics (age, ethnicity, sex and appearance) influenced five physician behaviors with the patient (interviewing, nonverbal attention, courtesy, information giving and empathy). Ten physician-patient interactions were observed through a one-way mirror for each of 15 physicians. Physicians were rated higher on information giving (p = 0.002) and empathic skills (p = 0.02) when they were with female patients; on interviewing (p = 0.02) and empathy (p = 0.0007) with Anglo-American compared with Spanish-American patients; on interviewing (p = 0.01), nonverbal attention (p = 0.001) and courtesy (p = 0.02) when with the best groomed patients; and on courtesy (p = 0.03) with elderly patients. In addition, there were fewer physician-initiated interruptions with female patients (p = 0.03) and with well-groomed patients (p = 0.02). Each of the four patient characteristics studied acted independently in influencing physician behavior. The recognition that patient characteristics influence physician behavior should stimulate physicians to examine their reactions in order to insure that all types of patients receive thorough, courteous and empathic care.

Adult

Iron stores in blood donors.

A high frequency of donations by some blood donors has prompted concern about iron depletion. Five hundred sixteen female and 505 male donors were examined by measurements of hemoglobin, hematocrit, plasma iron, total iron-binding capacity, and ferritin values and detailed histories of iron ingestion, pregnancy and menstrual status, and past blood donations. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum iron studies, unlike ferritin values, were not sensitive indicators of body iron depletion. Reduced iron stores were found in 8% of male and 23% of female donors. Menstruation significantly lowered iron stores in women. The total number of lifetime donations was not as predictive of decreased iron stores as frequency of donations per year. Even casual iron supplementation reduced the impact of donations on iron stores. Administration of iron to donors, especially menstruating women, should be studied by blood programs.

Anemia, Hypochromic