PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E McClure

Publications and source records attributed to E McClure.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Characteristics of adolescent girls with depressive symptoms in a so-called "normal' sample.

OBJECTIVE: Forty-four percent of adolescent girls who had been screened for absence of psychiatric disorder reported depressive symptoms on a structured interview. Girls reporting symptoms were assigned to a depression group and compared to those who were free of depressive symptoms on behavioral and neuropsychological measures to determine if there were meaningful differences in cognition, behavior and motivation/self-perception between groups. METHOD: Adolescent girls were randomly selected from local schools to participate in a study of neuropsychological development in adolescence. Those who volunteered and whose parents reported them to be free of psychiatric disorders were enrolled and completed a battery of behavioral, neuropsychological and motivation/self-perception measures. RESULTS: The depressed group showed more behavioral problems, evaluated themselves as less competent, showed more extrinsic motivational orientation, had lower IQ and differed on a measure of visual spatial perception. CONCLUSION: The frequency of subclinical depression is high in adolescent girls, even when parents report no psychiatric/emotional problems. The increase in problem behaviors and extrinsic motivation, as well as the decrease in feelings of self-worth suggest that this group may benefit from intervention. Poorer performance on a measure of visual spatial perception needs further investigation to confirm its association with depression and understand its relationship to depressive symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Influence of depression on cognitive functioning in Fragile X females.

We sought to determine the frequency of a history of major depression in women with Fragile X syndrome. In addition, we attempted to disentangle the cognitive effects of major depression from those of Fragile X syndrome. Thirty-seven mothers of developmentally delayed children (Fragile X syndrome: n = 18; comparison group n = 19), matched for age, educational level, and socioeconomic status, were administered psychiatric and neuropsychological measures. Women with Fragile X syndrome had a higher frequency of lifetime diagnosis of major depressive disorder (78%) than the comparison group (37%). Mild impairment was seen on visuospatial construction and memory tasks in women with Fragile X syndrome, while women with depression showed subtle deficits in several aspects of visuospatial perception and learning. There was no interaction of Fragile X syndrome and depression in their influence on cognition. The results underscore the importance of considering the influence of depression on cognitive performance in studies of genetic disorders.

Adult↗

Serum albumin: a marker for morbidity in peritoneal dialysis patients.

This study was designed to determine if the serum albumin is a marker for morbidity or mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The impact of a low serum albumin on the risk of hospitalization, peritonitis, or death was examined in 71 patients. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), cholesterol, age, and the presence or absence of diabetes were also examined. In independent analyses, the serum albumin was lower (32.7 +/- 5.6 v 36.3 +/- 4.3 g/L, P < 0.01), the diagnosis of diabetes was more frequent (41% v 7%, P < 0.01), and the number of episodes of peritonitis were greater (2.0 +/- 1.6 v 0.7 +/- 1.3, P < 0.01) in the group of patients hospitalized compared with those not hospitalized. When diabetics were excluded from analysis, the serum albumin remained significantly lower in hospitalized patients. Stepwise logistic regression analysis, excluding the 10 patients hospitalized only for treatment of peritonitis, confirmed that only a low serum albumin and the diagnosis of diabetes were independent predictors of increased morbidity as evident by the increased frequency of hospitalization. Every 10 g/L decrease in the serum albumin increased the odds ratio for hospitalization by 5.2. The diagnosis of diabetes resulted in a 10-fold increase in the odds ratio. We conclude that a low serum albumin serves as a marker of morbidity in PD patients, primarily as a marker of increased risk for hospitalization. The diagnosis of diabetes also greatly increases the likelihood of hospitalization. Peritonitis is a cause for hospitalization, but not an independent risk factor.

Adult↗

A hand-held OKP chart for the screening of glaucoma: preliminary evaluation.

Oculo-kinetic perimetry (OKP) uses controlled movements of the patient's eye to position a static test stimulus in the visual field. The test chart consists of a white tangent screen with 23 numbered fixation points located eccentrically at strategic points in relation to a central black spot, which is the test stimulus. As the patient looks at each number in turn, the spot stimulates the retinal areas that are most likely to show early glaucomatous damage. The result is positive if one or more numbers make the spot disappear. Ninety-eight eyes of 54 patients attending a hospital glaucoma clinic were tested with a prototype OKP glaucoma screener and by conventional perimetry. Visual fields plotted conventionally were independently categorised as normal, equivocal and glaucomatous by the perimetrist and the ophthalmologist and these results were further categorised as normal, equivocal or glaucomatous according to whether they were considered abnormal by none, one or both of the observers respectively. The OKP test was positive in (i) 93% of 27 eyes with glaucomatous defects, (ii) 69% of 32 eyes with equivocal loss, (iii) 41% of 39 eyes without previously recognised field loss but having ocular hypertension, a suspicious disc, or contralateral glaucoma, (iv) 9% of 116 eyes from 60 age matched persons accompanying the patients to hospital. If the results were considered in terms of patients not eyes, the OKP test was positive in 85% individuals with glaucomatous field loss in their worse eye and in 12% of the controls. A hand-held OKP chart testing a small set of points and using a constantly exposed stimulus could be a useful tool for the detection of glaucoma in the community.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

The detection of glaucomatous visual field defects by oculo-kinetic perimetry: which points are best for screening?

Oculo-kinetic perimetry (OKP) uses the patient's ocular movements to position a test stimulus in the visual field. By virtue of its simplicity and low cost, this test could be useful in the screening of glaucoma. The general purpose OKP chart, however, which tests 100 points in the central 25 degrees field, is too time-consuming for this purpose, taking approximately 4-7 minutes per eye. Accordingly, this study was performed to identify the points most likely to detect patients with glaucoma. Fifty-one eyes with glaucomatous visual field defects and 51 non-glaucomatous eyes of age matched individuals were tested by conventional and oculo-kinetic perimetry. At least one of only six points were missed by 82.4% of glaucomatous eyes and by 9.8% of nonglaucomatous eyes. These results, although falling short of the ideal efficiency, are comparable with data published by other research groups using computerised equipment and suggest that, with further development, a specialised OKP chart testing only a small number of points might be valuable in screening for glaucoma.

Adult↗

Comparative evaluation of oculokinetic perimetry and conventional perimetry in glaucoma.

Oculokinetic perimetry is a new method of visual field assessment in which the patient moves the eye around a central static target to look sequentially at an array of numbers. When fixation on a number is accompanied by disappearance of the central target, that number is deleted from a recording chart. Inversion of the recording chart gives a plot of the central visual field. In this study we have shown that in 64 eyes of 37 patients, with unequivocal field loss attending a glaucoma clinic, the test is efficient and reliable when compared with conventional static (Dicon 3000) and kinetic (Tübingen Oculus) field tests. The results were identical in 88% of eyes tested and approximately comparable in another 6%. Quantitative equivalent targets for the different methods are described. Oculokinetic perimetry was carried out by a previously untrained person, and it is suggested that this new method merits further study as a screening device for glaucoma in the community.

Adult↗

Colour vision of diabetics.

The Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test has been assessed as a screening test for the detection of diabetic retinopathy likely to benefit from laser photocoagulation therapy. Two hundred and thirty-two diabetic eyes of 126 patients were tested. The results were assessed both for total error score relative to age and for the presence of polarity. Although the incidence of abnormal colour discrimination was found to correlate with the severity of retinopathy, the test was not sufficiently selective to be of value as a screening test in the detection of retinopathy requiring treatment.

Aged↗

Clinical and biochemical findings in Leber's hereditary optic atrophy.

Clinical findings in Leber's hereditary optic atrophy (LHOA) are reviewed and the results given of treatment with a regimen based on the hypothesis that the disease is a manifestation of cyanide toxicity. Recent biochemical investigations confirm disturbed cyanide metabolism and suggest that zinc deficiency may be implicated.

Adolescent↗

Surveillance for dust storms and respiratory diseases in Washington State, 1991.

Southeast Washington State, which has a long history of seasonal dust storms, experienced 2 d of dust storms in October 1991, during which PM10 levels exceeded 1,000 micrograms/m3 (i.e., six times greater than the Environmental Protection Agency's 24-h PM10 standard). Three community hospitals in southeast Washington were visited for the purpose of assessing the possible effects of dust storms on respiratory health. During these visits, the number of emergency room visits for respiratory disorders for each day of 1991 were abstracted. These numbers were compared with daily PM10 levels for 1991. Also determined were the observed/expected ratios for the number of emergency room visits for each respiratory disorder category during October 1991. The maximum observed/expected ratio for the respiratory disorders was 1.2. For 1991, we found a 3.5% increase in the number of daily emergency room visits for bronchitis for each 100 micrograms/m3 increase in PM10. In addition, 2 d subsequent to those days on which the PM10 levels exceeded 150 micrograms/m3, there was a 4.5% increase in the number of emergency room visits for sinusitis for each 100 micrograms/m3 increase in PM10. Our results indicate that the naturally occurring PM10 in this setting has a small effect on the respiratory health of the population in general.

Air Pollutants↗