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Biomedical subjects

Hallam Hurt

Publications and source records attributed to Hallam Hurt.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Childhood poverty: specific associations with neurocognitive development.

Growing up in poverty is associated with reduced cognitive achievement as measured by standardized intelligence tests, but little is known about the underlying neurocognitive systems responsible for this effect. We administered a battery of tasks designed to tax-specific neurocognitive systems to healthy low and middle SES children screened for medical history and matched for age, gender and ethnicity. Higher SES was associated with better performance on the tasks, as expected, but the SES disparity was significantly nonuniform across neurocognitive systems. Pronounced differences were found in Left perisylvian/Language and Medial temporal/Memory systems, along with significant differences in Lateral/Prefrontal/Working memory and Anterior cingulate/Cognitive control and smaller, nonsignificant differences in Occipitotemporal/Pattern vision and Parietal/Spatial cognition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Attentional functioning and impulse control in cocaine-exposed and control children at age ten years.

Children with gestational cocaine exposure may be at risk of difficulties in attentional functioning and impulse control. We administered the Gordon Diagnostic System and subtests of the Halstead-Reitan Battery to inner-city children with (COC) and without (CON) gestational cocaine exposure at age 10 years. Subtle differences were found between groups, with differences in Gordon Delay (Efficiency Ratio) and Gordon Distractibility (Total Commissions). With these two exceptions, children had similar performance, with both groups performing poorly. Attentional functioning and impulse control were also assessed in school. Teachers did not distinguish between COC and CON, although both groups presented behavioral problems. We conclude that gestational cocaine exposure may be associated with subtle problems in attention and impulse control, putting exposed children at higher risk of developing significant behavioral problems as cognitive demands increase.

Attention↗
PubMed2004

School performance of children with gestational cocaine exposure.

OBJECTIVE: To document school performance (pass/fail, grade point average, reading level, standardized test scores, absences) of cocaine-exposed and control children. DESIGN: A total of 135 children (62 with gestational cocaine exposure and 73 without), who were enrolled at birth, followed prospectively and have completed the fourth grade, were evaluated using report card data, standardized test results, teacher and parent report, and natal and early childhood data. Successful grade progression was defined as completing grades 1 through 4 without being retained. RESULTS: Cocaine-exposed (cocaine-exposed presented first) and control children were similar in school performance: successful grade progression (71% vs. 84%), Grade Point Average (2.4+/-0.8 vs. 2.6+/-0.7), reading below grade level (30% vs. 28%) and standardized test scores below average (reading [32% vs. 35%], math [57% vs. 44%], science [39% vs. 36%]); all p > or = 0.10. Children with successful progression, regardless of cocaine exposure, had higher Full Scale Intelligence Quotient and better home environments. CONCLUSION: In this inner-city cohort, cocaine-exposed and control children had similar poor school performance. Better home environment and higher Intelligence Quotient conferred an advantage for successful grade progression, regardless of gestational cocaine exposure.

Achievement↗
PubMed2004

Regionalized perinatal education.

Despite changes in the organization and financing of healthcare delivery, and dramatic increases in the number and distribution of perinatal facilities and professionals over the past three decades, there remains a continuing need for effective and efficient regionalized perinatal outreach education programmes. Both the organizers and the participants should be multidisciplinary and include both inpatient and outpatient providers. Content should be restricted to issues relevant to participants' practice, and include topics ranging from preconception to postpartum and early infant care. There are various effective formats, but consideration should be given to reaching as many providers as possible simultaneously within a given facility, minimizing expense and economizing on participants' time. Evaluation strategies range from assessment of immediate outcomes, which generally examine programme process, to ultimate outcomes, which measure changes in patient care and patient health.

Education, Continuing↗
PubMed2004

Extended interval dosing of gentamicin in preterm infants.

Conventional interval dosing (CID) and extended interval dosing (EID) of gentamicin were compared in preterm infants. Gentamicin peak and trough levels, serum creatinine, urine output, and hearing screens were obtained in 40 preterm infants. Results suggest that EID is safe, provides gentamicin levels in desirable ranges (peak, 5 to 12 microg/mL; trough < 2 microg/mL), and reduces dosage adjustments.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗