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Biomedical subjects

H Elder

Publications and source records attributed to H Elder.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Psychological influences on the perception of immune function.

BACKGROUND: Perception of deficiencies in immunity are common in a number of patient complaints. However, little is known about the way in which individuals form perceptions about the competence of their immune system. In two studies we examined the relationship between subjects' perceptions of their immune functioning, physical symptoms, mood and measures of immunity. METHODS: In Study 1, 20 healthy volunteers completed global ratings of their immune system functioning, as well as mood and symptom reports, twice a week for 5 weeks. At the same time, blood samples were taken to assess serum IgA, IgG, and IgM antibodies. In Study 2, another sample of 58 subjects completed the same measures weekly for 5 weeks and their blood was tested for concentrations of CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD16 lymphocytes. RESULTS: We found perceptions of immune functioning to be unrelated to the concentrations of serum antibodies or blood lymphocytes. Immune perceptions were strongly related to mood and in particular, feelings of fatigue and vigour. The experience of recent physical symptoms, while not as strong as mood variables, was also important in perceptions of immune functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Mood seems to be an important determinant in the perception of immune function, and complaints about immune dysfunction in clinical situation should be investigated with this possibility in mind.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Spinal bone density in women using depot medroxyprogesterone contraception.

OBJECTIVE: To determine factors possibly associated with reduced bone density in women using the injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, bone mineral density of the lumbar spine was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry in 200 current users of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate who had used this method of contraception for 2-26 years and compared with 350 control subjects. Bone density results are expressed as standard deviation scores (z score). RESULTS: The bone density was significantly lower in depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users (mean z score: -0.65, 95% confidence intervals [CI] -0.80, -0.49, P < .001). Bone density was significantly reduced in nonsmokers and smokers, and there was no significant difference in mean z score between smokers and nonsmokers (mean -0.75 versus -0.58, P=.30). Women who had started depot medroxyprogesterone acetate after the age of 20 years and who had used it for 15 or fewer years had a significantly higher bone density than the remainder of the cohort (mean -0.45 [95% CI -0.62, -0.27] versus -1.02 [95% CI -1.32, -0.73], P < .005). Bone density in depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users was not related to current age, parity, body mass index, calcium intake, or exercise. CONCLUSION: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use is associated with a significant reduction in bone density, and although a high proportion of depot medroxyprogesterone users do smoke, the reduction in bone density cannot be explained by smoking. Women who use it for a long time and those who start it before peak bone mass is attained may be at highest risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Nosocomial infections in HIV-infected patients: preliminary results from a multicenter surveillance system (1989-1995).

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of and trends in nosocomial infection among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. DESIGN: Multicenter prospective cohort study. SETTING/PATIENTS: HIV-infected patients were enrolled at time of first inpatient admission at five Veterans' Administration Medical Centers (VAMCs). RESULTS: As of March 1995, 2,541 patients with 6,625 inpatient admissions had been monitored in the five VAMCs. A total of 530 nosocomial infections were detected using standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions. Overall distribution by infection site was 31% for primary bloodstream infections (BSIs), 28% for urinary tract infections, 15% for pneumonia, and 26% for all other sites. Of BSIs, 63% were central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABs). The rate of CLABs per 1,000 central line days was 6.5 (range, 2.3-8.3) for all patients from participating hospitals, similar to the median CLAB rate of 6.0 for patients in medical intensive-care units (ICUs) of National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) System hospitals from January 1990 through September 1994. For ICU-specific CLABs, the rate from hospitals reporting at least one ICU CLAB was 12.7 (range, 12.1-13.1), comparable to the 90th percentile of NNIS hospital medical ICUs (13.1). Staphylococcus aureus, associated with 35% of BSIs, was the most common nosocomial BSI pathogen. Our data demonstrated the following: 13 (10%) of 134 patients with CD4 counts > or = 200 cells/mm3 had a CLAB, compared with 61 (6%) of 1,011 patients with CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3, P = .08; the per-day risk of CLABs did not change with increased duration of catheterization (P = .4); and the per-day risk of a temporary (ie, short-term) CLAB was greater than that of a permanent CLAB (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that HIV-infected patients were at higher risk of acquiring a BSI than were patients in the NNIS population; patients with CD4 counts > or = 200 cell/mm3 and temporary central lines were at increased risk for BSI, perhaps reflecting widespread prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole among patients with CD4 counts < 200 cells/mm3, and, in contrast to most studies, S aureus, not coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, was the most common BSI pathogen.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗