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Biomedical subjects

J J Gibson

Publications and source records attributed to J J Gibson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Children with a TV in their bedroom at higher risk for being overweight.

OBJECTIVE: We examined having a TV in the bedroom as a risk factor for child overweight. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: School- and telephone-based surveys in New Hampshire and Vermont between 2002 and 2004. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand three hundred and forty-three children enrolled in public schools, aged 9-12 years, and one of their parents. MAIN EXPOSURES: The child having a TV in the bedroom. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Age- and gender-standardized child body mass index (zBMI). Overweight was defined as equal to or above the 95th percentile for zBMI. RESULTS: Overall, 22.3% (N=523) of the children were overweight, and almost half of all children (48.2%, N=1130) had a TV in their bedroom. Children with a TV in their bedroom had a higher zBMI and were significantly more likely to be overweight compared to those without a TV in their bedroom (27.3 versus 17.7%, respectively; P<0.05). After controlling for sociodemographics, physical activity, frequency of TV or movie watching and internet use, children with a TV in their bedroom who watched at least one session of TV or movies per day were more likely to be overweight compared to those without a TV in their bedroom (odds ratio=1.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.03, 1.70). CONCLUSIONS: Having a TV in the bedroom is a risk factor for child overweight, independent of reported physical activity, participation in team sports, TV or movie watching time and internet use at home. Further study is needed to fully understand the mechanism by which having a TV in the bedroom increases children's risk for overweight.

Body Mass Index↗
PubMed2006

Climate change, flow regulation and land-use effects on the hydrology of the Peace-Athabasca-Slave System; findings from the Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative.

The Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative (NREI) was established in the late 1990s to address important science questions resulting from previous studies undertaken by the Northern Rivers Basin Study (NRBS). This manuscript summarizes the results from a number of reports on hydrologic research conducted on the Peace-Athabasca-Slave river and lake systems. Specific concerns expressed by the NRBS and subsequent NREI focused on how these systems were being affected by climate change, flow regulation and land-use changes. Issues addressed in this report include: the fate of aquatic perched basins within the Peace-Athabasca Delta under historical and future climate trends; the sources of major floods that replenish these basins and how the frequency, magnitude and source areas of such events have changed over time; the synoptic weather patterns and atmospheric teleconnections that are responsible for the generation of major snowmelt runoff that drive major floods; the potential effect that climate and land-use changes might have on basin runoff and delta lake levels; the specific hydro-climatic conditions required to produce major ice-jam floods on the Peace River and how these may be altered by climate change; remote-sensing methods to document delta flooding and vegetation change; and the dual effect of climate and flow regulation on the water levels of Great Slave Lake and how these may affect other nearshore processes, particularly wind seiches, that influence flooding of the Slave River Delta. A review of the major findings and recommendations for future research concludes the report.

Canada↗
PubMed2005

A groundwater separation study in boreal wetland terrain: the WATFLOOD hydrological model compared with stable isotope tracers.

Monitoring of stable water isotopes (18O and 2H) in precipitation and surface waters in the Mackenzie River basin of northern Canada has created new opportunities for researchers to study the complex hydrology and hydroclimatology of this remote region. A number of prior studies have used stable isotope data to investigate aspects of the hydrological regime of the wetland-dominated terrain near Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada. The present paper compares estimates of groundwater contributions to streamflow derived using the WATFLOOD distributed hydrological model, equipped with a new water isotope tracer module, with the results of conventional isotope hydrograph separation for five wetland-dominated catchments along the lower Liard River. The comparison reveals highly promising agreement, verifying that the hydrological model is simulating groundwater flow contributions to total streamflow with reasonable fidelity, especially during the crucial snowmelt period. Sensitivity analysis of the WATFLOOD simulations also reveals intriguing features about runoff generation from channelized fens, which may contribute less to streamflow than previously thought.

Canada↗
PubMed2001

Characteristics of persons with syphilis in areas of persisting syphilis in the United States: sustained transmission associated with concurrent partnerships.

BACKGROUND AND GOAL: In areas with persistent syphilis, to characterize persons at higher risk for transmitting syphilis. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. Structured interviews of persons with early syphilis from four research centers were linked to outcomes of partner tracing. RESULTS: Of 743 persons with syphilis, 229 (31%) reported two or more partners in the previous month, and 57 (8%) received money or drugs for sex in the previous three months. Persons with at least one partner at an earlier stage of syphilis than themselves were defined as transmitters; 63 (8.5%) of persons with early syphilis met this definition. Having concurrent partners (two or more in one week in the last month) was independently associated with being a transmitter. CONCLUSION: Sexual network/behavioral characteristics of syphilis patients and their partners, such as concurrency, can help identify persons at higher risk for transmitting syphilis who should receive emphasis in disease prevention activities.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Effect of hyperoxia on vascular endothelial growth factor levels in a wound model.

HYPOTHESIS: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy increases vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels in wounds. DESIGN: Wounds were monitored for oxygen delivery during HBO treatment, and wound fluids were analyzed for VEGF and lactate on days 2, 5, and 10 following wounding. SETTING: Experimental animal model. INTERVENTIONS: Rats were randomized to HBO therapy and control groups. The HBO therapy was administered for 90 minutes, twice daily with 100% oxygen at 2.1 atmospheres absolute. Treatment was administered for 7 days following wounding. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Vascular endothelial growth factor, PO(2), and lactate levels in wound fluid were measured on days 2, 5, and 10. RESULTS: Wound oxygen rises with HBO from nearly 0 mm Hg to as high as 600 mm Hg. The peak level occurs at the end of the 90-minute treatment, and hyperoxia of lessening degree persists for approximately 1 hour. The VEGF levels significantly increase with HBO by approximately 40% 5 days following wounding and decrease to control levels 3 days after exposures are stopped. Wound lactate levels remain unchanged with HBO treatment (range, 2.0-10.5 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: Increased VEGF production seems to explain in part the angiogenic action of HBO. This supports other data that hypoxia is not necessarily a requirement for wound VEGF production.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A viral gastroenteritis outbreak associated with person-to-person spread among hospital staff.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the etiologic agent and risk factors associated with a hospital ward outbreak of gastroenteritis. SETTING: A regional referral hospital in upstate South Carolina. METHODS: We reviewed patient charts, surveyed staff, and tested stool from acutely ill persons. A case was defined as diarrhea and vomiting in a staff member or patient from January 5 to 13, 1996. RESULTS: The initial case occurred on January 5 in a staff nurse who subsequently was hospitalized on the ward and visited by many staff colleagues. The staff were at a significantly greater risk for gastroenteritis than were patients (28/89 [31%] vs 10/91 [11%]; relative risk [RR], 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI95], 1.5-5.5). All 10 case-patients had been exposed to case-nurses (assigned nurses who were primary caretakers), and eight had documented exposure to case-nurses 1 to 2 days before their illness. Patients exposed to case-nurses had a significantly increased risk of illness (8/57 [14%] vs 0/32; RR, >4.5; CI95, undefined). Neither staff nor patients had significantly increased risk from food, water, ice, or exposure to case-patients. Electron microscopy identified small round-structured viruses (SRSVs) in nine of nine stool samples. CONCLUSION: This nosocomial outbreak of gastroenteritis was likely caused by SRSVs introduced by a staff member and spread via person-to-person transmission from and among staff. The potential for spread of SRSV-associated gastroenteritis from and among staff should be considered in developing strategies to prevent similar outbreaks in hospital settings.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Allergic contact dermatitis to bisphenol-A-glycidyldimethacrylate (BIS-GMA) dental resin associated with sensitivity to epoxy resin.

A patient presented with recurrent facial dermatitis associated with dental work. Dermatology referral identified the cause as allergic contact dermatitis to the epoxy acrylate BIS-GMA. Occupationally-induced allergic contact dermatitis to epoxy resin was also demonstrated. A structurally distinct aliphatic acrylate was successfully substituted. Contact sensitivity to BIS-GMA is reviewed and the potential for epoxy sensitive patients to cross-react to BIS-GMA is discussed.

Bisphenol A-Glycidyl Methacrylate↗
PubMed1990

A cross-sectional study of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 in college students: occurrence and determinants of infection.

Occurrence rates and determinants of infection with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) were measured in first- and fourth-year undergraduate students at a state university. This cross-sectional multistage probability sample survey included sociodemographic characteristics, sexual behavior patterns, disease history, and HSV type-specific antibody status. The prevalence of HSV-1 antibody was 37.2% in freshmen and 46.1% in fourth-year students; that for HSV-2 antibody was 0.4% and 4.3%, respectively. A history of cold sores was obtained in 25.6% of the freshmen; none had a history of manifest genital herpes. A history of cold sores was obtained in 28% and a history of genital herpes in 1.1% of the fourth-year students. The case-weighted prevalence of HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies was found to be significantly elevated for a number of student characteristics. However, multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the significant predictors of HSV-1 antibodies in this population were female gender, black race, first intercourse at age less than or equal to 15 years, total years of sexual activity, history of a partner with oral sores, and a personal history of a non-HSV sexually transmitted disease (STD). Predictors of HSV-2 antibody were black race, duration of sexual activity, and history of a non-HSV STD.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Quality control of BCG vaccine by WHO: a review of factors that may influence vaccine effectiveness and safety.

WHO oversees the quality control of BCG vaccine via a system that includes regular testing of products by in vitro methods and clinical trials. Three parent strains of BCG (Glaxo-1077, Tokyo-172, and Pasteur-1173P2) account for over 90% of the vaccines currently in use worldwide. Important characteristics of the vaccine preparations are summarized here, along with their physical-chemical properties. In instances where diagnostic criteria for tuberculosis are stringent, there is no evidence that when administered to newborns different preparations of BCG vaccine exhibit different efficacies; however, the incidence of BCG-associated adverse reactions does correlate with the type of preparation. Other factors, including dose, administration technique, and recipient characteristics are also important in determining vaccine-associated reactions.

BCG Vaccine↗
PubMed1989

Characterization of an antibody-binding epitope from the 18-kDa protein on Mycobacterium leprae.

A murine mAb, designated L5, appears to be specific for an epitope on a protein from Mycobacterium leprae of restricted distribution within the mycobacteria. This protein, of Mr 18,000 (18 kDa) is of interest because monoclonal antibodies raised against it do not appear to cross-react with other mycobacterial pathogens. The L5 antibody-binding epitope has been mapped by two complementary methods; expression of gene fragments and synthesis of short peptides. This L5-binding region of the 18-kDa protein (amino acids 109 to 115) shows some homology to a region of the GroEL heat shock family of proteins. Characterization of this antibody-binding epitope may lead to a reagent of use in early diagnosis of infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Adolescent sexual activity and pregnancy in South Carolina: trends, risks, and practice implications.

Using South Carolina vital record data, we examined current trends in teenage pregnancy and the related pregnancy outcome risks for the period 1977 to 1984. A review of the eight-year trends in the pregnancy outcomes of teenaged mothers (less than 18 years old) indicated a significant decline (P less than .05) in the percentage of total South Carolina live infants born to teenaged mothers. While a significant increase in the teenage abortion ratio was detected, the proportion of total South Carolina pregnancies (estimated by the summation of live births, fetal deaths, and induced abortions) among teenagers significantly decreased. Compared to mothers 18 to 34 years old, teenaged mothers were nearly twice as likely to deliver prematurely, while one half as likely to receive adequate prenatal care. Their offspring were at increased risk of low birth weight and had increased fetal and infant death rates. Thirty percent of pregnancies in teenaged mothers were terminated by induced abortion, and 22% of the teenage pregnancies were to mothers aged 15 or younger, emphasizing the importance of not delaying discussions with teens of the issues of adolescent sexuality and contraception.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMed1985

Correlates of infant death from infectious diarrhea in the southeastern United States.

Infectious diarrhea (ID) caused 242 infant deaths in South Carolina between 1970 and 1978, and is still a significant cause of death in the southeastern United States. Therefore, using South Carolina death certificates from 1970 to 1978 and the state's linked birth/death certificate file, we sought prenatal and postnatal characteristics that might predict death from gastroenteritis in the first year of life. Accuracy of diagnoses was verified from the original death certificates and in a sample of hospital charts. Most deaths caused by ID occurred after the first 28 days of life and were significantly concentrated in the winter. Low birth weight (odds ratio 7.09), nonwhite race (7.00), inadequate prenatal care (4.35), small size of hospital (0.31), and illegitimate birth (2.35) were all significantly associated with postneonatal death. Infants with all of the three strongest predictor characteristics were 14 times as likely to die of ID, but the "predictive value" of this combination for ID death was only 0.54%. Although mothers of these high-risk infants should be given special education about prevention of dehydration, and the families would be logical candidates for a rotavirus vaccine trial, more expensive interventions should not be instituted without a cost-benefit analysis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1982

Identifying the cause of ischemic heart disease/myocardial infarction syndrome: a new approach.

Risk factor identification in the coronary heart disease/ myocardial infarction syndrome has failed to account for the epidemic pattern of increase in this century with recent decline. It is hypothesized that the true cause remains unidentified and that innovative application of traditional epidemiologic techniques, to correlate the identifiable peaks in different regions with possible agents, may prove successful.

Coronary Disease↗