Biomedical subjects

J C Aldag

Publications and source records attributed to J C Aldag.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

A multidisciplinary approach to information management and critical appraisal instruction: a controlled study.

A study of the effectiveness of a collaborative course in teaching library and critical appraisal skills was conducted at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. A critical appraisal and library skills course was taught at the Peoria site during the third-year medical clerkship. The performance of Peoria students on a twenty-item multiple choice posttest was compared to that of third-year students in Rockford, who received no library or critical appraisal instruction during their medicine clerkship. The two groups were similar in self-perceived library skills, critical appraisal skills, and other demographic values. Peoria students scored significantly higher on library, critical appraisal, and total posttest questions. An improving trend during the year was not observed at either site, implying that students were not acquiring these skills in day-to-day clerkship activities. Results suggest that this multidisciplinary course is effective in teaching library and critical appraisal skills.

Curriculum↗

PubMed1992

Plasma tryptophan and other amino acids in primary fibromyalgia: a controlled study.

To test the hypothesis that plasma tryptophan and/or its transport ratio is decreased in primary fibromyalgia (PF), we measured plasma tryptophan and its transport ratio in 29 patients with PF and 30 healthy controls without significant pain, in a blinded manner. Twenty-one other amino acids were also similarly analyzed among these study subjects. Transport ratio of tryptophan was found to be significantly (p less than 0.01) decreased in PF compared with the control group (0.09 +/- 0.02 vs 0.10 +/- 0.02). Plasma tryptophan level was lower in PF (45 +/- 10 nmol/ml) than in healthy controls (51 +/- 15 nmol/ml), showing a trend towards significance (p less than 0.09). Additionally, plasma histidine and serine levels were found to be significantly (p less than 0.01) lower in patients with PF than in controls. Our results suggest that a decreased brain serotonin level, as possibly reflected by a decreased transport ratio of plasma tryptophan, may play a pathophysiologic role in PF.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1992

Plasma and urinary catecholamines in primary fibromyalgia: a controlled study.

Plasma and urinary catecholamines were measured in a blinded manner among 30 patients with primary fibromyalgia (PF) and 30 healthy controls without significant pain to determine possible elevations of catecholamines in PF, as well as their correlations with psychological and clinical variables in this syndrome. Results showed no significant differences between fibromyalgia and control groups in any of the catecholamines measured, nor was there a correlation between catecholamine levels and any of the clinical features or psychologic measures.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Relationship of clinical features with psychological status in primary fibromyalgia.

Clinical features and psychological status determined by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) in 103 patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) were analyzed by univariate and multivariate techniques to determine if clinical features were related to psychological status or were intrinsic to PFS per se. The central features of PFS, e.g., number of pain sites, number of tender points, fatigue, and poor sleep, were independent of psychological status. However, discriminant analysis identified 4 variables--patient-reported depression, anxiety, stress, and pain severity--which together predicted 3 MMPI subgroups with an accuracy of 55% (P less than 0.001); the only musculoskeletal feature--pain severity--alone provided an accuracy of only 34% (P greater than 0.05). These data suggest a new concept, that the central features of fibromyalgia are independent of the psychological status and are more likely related to the PFS itself. However, pain severity may be influenced by psychological factors.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

A randomized study of cancer screening in a family practice setting using a recall model.

A randomized controlled study that evaluated a recall system and patient education material by mail in 178 asymptomatic female family practice patients aged 50 to 69 years showed no effect on the proportion of patients who had cancer screening tests (P = .20) and a significant adverse effect on the mean number of tests performed (P = .05) after 4 months. In a subgroup of previous compliers (those who had one or more tests 12 months before the study), however, there was a lower proportion of patients receiving one or more tests (P = .019) with a lower mean number of tests (P = .007) than previous compliers in the control group. Recall strategies for cancer screening tests need to be more extensively studied in the United States before they are routinely adopted in family practice.

Aged↗

PubMed1975

Physical therapist assistant selection and academic success.

Assessment of a standardized test as one criterion for student admission to a physical therapist assistant program is made. Comparisons are made of ACT scores between the physical therapist assistant and associate degree nurse, and the physical therapist assistant and the practical nurse. A correlation matrix was used to analyze data with differences among the three groups determined by t test computation. This sample supports a positive correlation of ACT test scores with graduation grade point average. The means show no significant difference between the two associate degree programs and a significant difference between the associate degree programs and the practical nurse program.

Achievement↗