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Biomedical subjects

J M Peterson

Publications and source records attributed to J M Peterson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Quantitative EEG patterns during nose versus mouth inhalation of filtered room air in young adults with and without self-reported chemical odor intolerances.

Individuals who report illness (e.g. nausea, headache) from common chemical odors tend to report CNS symptoms suggestive of olfactory-limbic system involvement. This study compared the resting quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) patterns of young adult college students reporting subjectively elevated chemical odor intolerance ratings (HICI) with those of controls reporting little or no odor intolerance (LOCI). Each group was subdivided into those with higher (HIDEP) vs. lower (LODEP) ratings of concomitant depression. Nineteen channels of EEG were recorded during a single session over four separate rest periods, respectively, following baseline, cognitive, chemical exposure and olfactory identification tests. Each recording involved two 30-s, eyes-closed, filtered room air breathing conditions: (1) nose inhalation followed by mouth exhalation and (2) mouth inhalation followed by mouth exhalation. HICI showed significantly less beta 1 (beta 1) over the temporal-central region during nose than during mouth inhalation. Over some temporal and central leads, task, DEP and CI interacted to influence beta 1 as well. For theta (theta), CI differences emerged during nose inhalation after the cognitive task at Cz, after chemical exposures at C3, Cz and C4 and after the olfactory ID task at C4. CI differences emerged during mouth breathing after the olfactory ID task at Cz, C4 and T4. The T5-T6 coronal array showed significant CI differences after chemical exposures during nose breathing and during mouth breathing after the cognitive and olfactory ID tasks. The theta findings in the HICI may be related to reports of disturbed attention in CI.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

A polysomnographic study of sleep disturbance in community elderly with self-reported environmental chemical odor intolerance.

Subjective sleep complaints and food intolerances, especially to milk products, are frequent symptoms of individuals who also report intolerance for low-level odors of various environmental chemicals. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the objective nature of nocturnal sleep patterns during different diets, using polysomnography in community older adults with self-reported illness from chemical odors. Those high in chemical odor intolerance (n = 15) exhibited significantly lower sleep efficiency (p = .005) and lower rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep percent (p = .04), with a trend toward longer latency to REM sleep (p = .07), than did those low in chemical intolerance (n = 15), especially on dairy-containing as compared with nondairy (soy) diets. The arousal pattern of the chemical odor intolerant group differed from the polysomnographic features of major depression, classical organophosphate toxicity, and subjective insomnia without objective findings. The findings suggest that community elderly with moderate chemical odor intolerance and minimal sleep complaints exhibit objectively poorer sleep than do their normal peers. Individual differences in underlying brain function may help generate these observations. The data support the need for similar studies in clinical populations with chemical odor intolerance, such as multiple chemical sensitivity patients and perhaps certain veterans with "Persian Gulf Syndrome."

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Trait shyness in the elderly: evidence for an association with Parkinson's disease in family members and biochemical correlates.

The emergence of potential treatments to slow the progression of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) has increased the need for early identification of persons at risk. Although considered controversial, some prior studies indicate that PD patients may have premorbid histories of greater trait introversion or shyness as well as increased rates of disorders associated with shyness (e.g., anxiety, affective disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome). Essential features of trait shyness include (a) inhibited and avoidant behaviors and (b) physiological hyperreactivity to the novel or unfamiliar. In parallel, (a) depression in PD patients is associated with increased harm avoidance (a possible serotonergic function), and (b) PD patients have premorbid and comorbid decreases in novelty-seeking (a possible dopaminergic function). Taken together, previous research suggests the following hypotheses: (1) given evidence for marked heritability of shyness, shy elderly should report higher rates of PD in their family members than would nonshy elderly; and (2) shy elderly without PD should exhibit psychological and biologic characteristics similar to those reported in PD. Two groups, representing the top 27% (n = 37) and bottom 31% (n = 43) of scores on a standardized shyness scale, were drawn from a larger cohort of 138 older adults (ages 50-90) living in an active retirement community. Seventeen percent of the shy versus 2% of the nonshy reported PD in a family member or self (P < .05). Shy elderly were significantly more anxious (P < .01) and depressed (P < .05) than were the nonshy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Medical histories and psychological profiles of middle-aged women with and without self-reported illness from environmental chemicals.

BACKGROUND: Cacosmia, which is a predictor of cognitive deficits in industrial samples, is a core symptom of several controversial syndromes. Previous studies of cacosmic populations have considered only psychiatric but not medical or family histories of identified patients. METHOD: This questionnaire survey study examined subjective characteristics of illness from chemical odors, sensitivity to chemicals, psychological and stress profiles, and medical, psychiatric, and family health histories of 28 middle-aged women with cacosmia in self-reported poor health attributed to chemicals (MCS), 17 controls with cacosmia in good health, and 20 normal controls without cacosmia in good health. RESULTS: Those with MCS rated themselves in significantly poorer overall health with higher Pennebaker symptom scores, a larger number of chemical triggers, and greater frequency of illness from chemicals than the other two groups, even after controlling for variables on which the groups differed (i.e., education, Symptom Checklist-90 [revised] somatization, obsessive-compulsiveness, depression, anxiety, phobic anxiety, psychoticism, Barsky Somatic Symptom Amplification, and Cheek-Buss shyness). Despite increased levels of affective distress, those with MCS reported the greatest intolerance for alcohol and the lowest alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that women with MCS report increased disability, multiple medical diagnoses including inflammatory and gynecologic dysfunctions, and psychological distress. The data are consistent descriptively with the phenomenology of somatization disorder. However, the persisting significance of group health rating differences after controlling for psychological variables, the lack of differences in life stress ratings between those with MCS and healthy cacosmics, the later age at onset (60% after age 30 years), and the lack of excess family psychiatric histories in this sample of women with MCS suggest a potential role for an organic factor in the evolution of poor health in certain cacosmics.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Sensitization to early life stress and response to chemical odors in older adults.

This study examined the hypothesis that older persons who currently report illness from environmental chemical odors (cacosmia) may have experienced higher levels of stress early in life than did noncacosmic controls. The hypothesis derives from a time-dependent sensitization (TDS) model for cacosmia (Bell et al 1992) that predicts a relative interchangeability of stress and chemicals in inducing and eliciting sensitized responses in vulnerable individuals. Subjects were selected from those in the top 24% (cacosmic) and bottom 27% (noncacosmic) of a sample of 192 older adults (mean age 73.8 years) for self-reported frequency of illness form the odors of pesticide, car exhaust, paint, perfume, and new carpet. As in previous investigations, cacosmics were younger, more depressed, and more shy; cacosmics also included a higher proportion of women (83% versus 61%). As predicted, cacosmics rated themselves higher in stress for the first four decades of their lives, but not the recent past or present, even after controlling for depression, anxiety, hostility, shyness, age, and gender. Cacosmics reported increased prevalence of physician-diagnosed nasal allergies, breast cysts, hypothyroidism, sinusitis, food sensitivities, irritable bowel, and migraine headache. Only 4% of the overall sample (including 9% of the cacosmics) acknowledged the controversial physician diagnosis of "chemical sensitivity." The replicated observation of greater shyness in cacosmics is consistent with the ability of hyperreactivity to novelty to predict enhanced susceptibility to TDS from low levels of pharmacological agents in animals. The findings support a TDS model for cacosmia and suggest that cacosmia as a symptom identifies a large subset of the nonindustrial population with significant psychophysiological health problems that merit further objective examination.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Circulating levels of cytokines that modulate bone resorption: effects of age and menopause in women.

Interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are cytokines with potent bone-resorbing effects; some of these biologic effects are opposed by interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra). In vitro and animal model studies suggest that these cytokines are paracrine mediators of the increased bone resorption associated with estrogen deficiency, and increases in their production also could contribute to age-related bone loss. Therefore, we measured serum concentrations of these cytokines in 80 normal women who were 24-87 years old. IL-6 concentration correlated highly with age (p < 0.001) and increased three-fold during life. However, multiple-regression analysis showed no significant correlation between serum IL-6 levels and menopausal status, serum estradiol concentration, or markers for bone turnover (serum bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, carboxyl-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen, or 24 h urinary free pyridinoline excretion). Serum IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, or IL-1ra level did not change with age and, by multiple-regression analysis, did not correlate with markers of bone turnover, except IL-1ra weakly with ICTP. We found no relationship between bone-resorbing cytokines and ovarian function. Although the large age-related increase in serum IL-6 concentration could contribute to age-related bone loss, the lack of correlation with markers for bone turnover argues against this. However, based on the strong evidence in experimental animals that these cytokines are involved in estrogen action on bone, further studies in humans are warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Psychological characteristics and subjective intolerance for xenobiotic agents of normal young adults with trait shyness and defensiveness. A parkinsonian-like personality type?

The present study examines the psychological characteristics and self-reported responses to xenobiotic agents such as tobacco smoke and pesticide of normal young adults with personality traits similar to those claimed for Parkinsonian patients. Previous research, though controversial, has suggested that persons with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) have premorbid personality traits that may include shyness and repressive defensiveness. Other epidemiological evidence indicates that PD patients may have premorbidly increased prevalence of anxiety, affective, and/or somatoform disorders; decreased rates of smoking and alcohol consumption; and elevated exposure to herbicides or pesticides. A total of 783 college students enrolled in an introductory psychology course completed the Cheek-Buss Scale (shyness), the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (defensiveness), Symptom Checklist 90 (revised), the Mastery Scale, a health history checklist, and rating scales for frequency of illness from alcohol and 10 common environmental chemicals. Subjects were divided into four groups on the basis of above- versus below-median scores on the Cheek-Buss and Marlowe-Crowne scales (persons high in shyness and defensiveness, those high only in shyness, those high only in defensiveness, and those low in both shyness and defensiveness). The group high in shyness but low in defensiveness had the highest, whereas the group low in shyness but high in defensiveness had the lowest, total scores on the SCL-90-R; the two shyest groups were lowest in sense of mastery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Circulating cytokine levels in osteoporotic and normal women.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 have been postulated to play roles in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis. To test this hypothesis, we measured circulating levels of IL-6, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta in 40 age-matched normal and 40 osteoporotic women with vertebral fractures and increased bone turnover. Since IL-1 activity is modulated by the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), we also measured circulating IL-1ra levels in these women. Despite having higher rates of bone turnover as assessed by bone biochemical markers, the osteoporotic women had serum levels of IL-6, IL-1 alpha, and IL-1 beta that were similar to the normal women. IL-1ra levels (mean +/- SEM) tended to be lower in the osteoporotic women (143 +/- 21 pg/mL) vs. the normal women (189 +/- 22 pg/mL; P = 0.08). The IL-1 alpha/IL-1ra ratio, an index of IL-1 alpha bioactivity, was higher in the osteoporotic women (6.4 +/- 1.1) than in the normal women (4.4 +/- 0.5; P < 0.05). There were nonsignificant trends for increased IL-1 beta/IL-1ra and (IL-1 alpha + IL-1 beta)/IL-1ra ratios in the osteoporotic vs. normal women. None of the cytokines correlated with markers of bone resorption in either group of women. In summary, although there was a trend for a higher IL-1/IL-1ra ratio in the osteoporotic women, we were unable to demonstrate unequivocal abnormalities of cytokines affecting bone resorption in peripheral serum of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. However, it is possible that increased production of these cytokines occurs in the local environment of bone or bone marrow and is not detected by analysis of peripheral serum. Thus, further studies will be required to exclude this possibility.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Bone resorption in healthy and osteoporotic postmenopausal women: comparison markers for serum carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen and urinary pyridinium cross-links.

We compared two highly specific markers for bone resorption-pyridinium cross-links (pyridinoline (PYR) and deoxypyridinoline (DPR)) in urine and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) in serum-in 63 healthy postmenopausal women and 63 women with osteoporosis characterized by more bone resorption than bone formation. The ICTP, PYR and DPR levels were all higher, by 24% (p = 0.001), 16% (p = 0.05) and 25% (p = 0.004), respectively, in the osteoporotic women. For the merged groups, there were significant correlations between serum ICTP concentration and urinary PYR (r = 0.667, p < 0.0001) and DPR (r = 0.452, p < 0.0001) excretion; for the osteoporotic and normal women separately, the r values were 0.73 (p < 0.01) and 0.45 (p < 0.01) for PYR and 0.51 (p < 0.01) and 0.22 (p = 0.08) for DPR versus ICTP respectively. Weak correlations in linear regression between ICTP and various indices of bone formation (osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen) disappeared when the correlation between ICTP and pyridinolines was accounted for by calculation of partial correlation coefficients in multiple regression analysis. Serum ICTP concentration appears to discriminate between groups of normal and osteoporotic women as well as urinary pyridinium cross-links, which is thus far the most sensitive method for assessing bone resorption.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Symptom and personality profiles of young adults from a college student population with self-reported illness from foods and chemicals.

Despite much debate over a presumptively somatic vs psychological etiology of nonatopic food and chemical sensitivities, little systematic research has addressed the issues. The present study investigated self-reported illness from several common foods (wheat, dairy, eggs) and chemicals (pesticide, car exhaust, paint, perfume, new carpet), symptom patterns, and psychological profiles of a sample of young adult college students (n = 490, age 19.4 +/- 2.4, 52% female/48% male). Subjects were divided into 4 groups on the basis of sample medians for frequency of illness from the foods (FI) and chemicals (CI); high FI with high CI (FI/CI), high FI alone, high CI alone, and NOILL (low FI and CI). FI was associated with more defensiveness (denial of negativity) while CI was linked with more shyness (avoidance of novelty). Women outnumbered men in all groups (FI/CI: 61%; FI: 80% CI: 55%) except the NOILL (40% women). Nevertheless, the FI/CI, FI, and/or CI groups still had significantly higher total symptom scores as well as more indigestion, headache, and memory trouble than did the NOILL group, even after depression, anxiety, shyness, defensiveness, and gender were covaried. The illness groups reported significantly more limitation of foods that mobilize endogenous opioids or generate exogenous opioids (sweets, fats, bread) as well as more illness from opiate drugs, small amounts of beverage alcohol, and late meals. Nasal symptoms from pollens or animals were more common in the FI/CI (42%) and CI (42%) than in FI (26%) or NOILL (28%) groups. Premenstrual tension syndrome and irritable bowel were also more common in the FI/CI group. The findings indicate that young adults outside the clinical setting who are relatively higher in FI and/or CI have distinctive symptom and psychological patterns. Covariate analyses suggest that important symptoms in FI and CI individuals such as indigestion, headache, and memory problems may occur in addition to rather than as simply part of emotional distress. The data are consistent with a previously hypothesized role of olfactory-limbic and hypothalamic pathways and with a time-dependent sensitization model for illness from foods and chemicals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Utility of type I procollagen propeptide assays for assessing abnormalities in metabolic bone diseases.

We measured type I procollagen carboxyl-terminal propeptide (PICP) by a commercial radioimmunoassay and amino-terminal propeptide (PINP) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) developed in our laboratory in serum from 75 normal women, 10 growing girls, 84 normal men, and 197 patients with various metabolic bone diseases. The molar concentrations of serum PINP were 100-fold higher than those of PICP, suggesting differences in the metabolism of PICP and PINP. In normal women, serum PICP values correlated positively with age and serum PINP values correlated negatively with age (r = 0.28 and -0.32, respectively; P = 0.02). In normal men, however, PICP correlated negatively with age (r = -0.32, P = 0.003) whereas PINP did not change. As assessed by Z scores (SD from age- and sex-specific predicted normal mean), changes in serum PICP and PINP values were concordant in hypoparathyroidism (mean Z scores for PICP and PINP, -0.63 and -1.48, respectively) and Cushing's syndrome (0.50 and 0.40) but were discordant in acromegaly (0.78 and -0.68), hyperthyroidism (1.33 and -0.66), untreated postmenopausal osteoporosis (-0.11 and 0.40), fluoride-treated postmenopausal osteoporosis (-0.61 and 1.08), Paget's disease (4.05 and -0.20), and chronic renal failure (1.45 and -0.50). With either assay, deviations from normal were less pronounced than the deviations of concurrently measured serum osteocalcin and bone alkaline phosphatase values. The deviations in these latter two values agreed better with those of PICP than with those of PINP, except in untreated or fluoride-treated osteoporotic patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Focus group interviews with seniors.

The focus group interview technique provides in-depth information on a specific topic in a group discussion setting and can be effectively used with older adults. Successful focus group interviews include careful question preparation and participant recruitment as well as securing a capable moderator and comfortable setting. The technique is used as a preliminary research step to elicit feelings, attitudes and perceptions about a topic. However, results should not be generalized without further quantitative research.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Assessing beliefs of older rural Americans about nutrition education: use of the focus group approach.

We used the focus group interview technique as a preliminary research step in developing a nutrition education intervention for rural seniors who, because of less than optimal eating habits and changing demographics, are an important target audience. Sixty-eight well, active, rural North Dakota seniors, 60 years or older, from communities of 2,500 or fewer people, participated in five focus groups conducted in late summer 1988. As a qualitative research approach, focus group interviews offer a means of obtaining in-depth information on a specific topic from representatives of a target audience in a discussion group atmosphere. Focus groups require careful preparation and structuring and should include a capable moderator, a prepared discussion guide, carefully recruited participants, and a comfortable setting. The process generated ideas that we are using to develop a health promotion nutrition intervention that will be a mailed-home approach, including use of incentives, social role models, cholesterol screening, and learning activities. The intervention relies on the interest and ability of seniors to make positive health changes. We conclude that the focus group approach is useful in developing nutrition education interventions.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Stress-induced changes in intestinal transit in the rat: a model for irritable bowel syndrome.

Stress in humans commonly results in gastrointestinal dysfunction, which is characterized by its symptomatology because the etiology is completely unknown. We developed an animal model in which to study the effects of stress on the gastrointestinal tract, and characterized the model as a stressor by evaluating endocrine and analgesic responses to mild restraint. Mild restraint (wrap restraint) elevated plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and beta-endorphin, and caused analgesia. The different regions of the gastrointestinal tract responded differently to the stress stimulus. Gastric emptying was not affected, small intestinal transit was inhibited, and large intestinal transit was stimulated by stress, and there was an associated increase in fecal excretion. Wrap-restraint stress did not result in the formation of ulcers. There was a strong correlation between stress-induced adrenocorticotropic hormone release and stress-induced intestinal dysfunction over a 24-h period that suggested a circadian influence. However, neither exogenous adrenocorticotropic hormone nor beta-endorphin had any effect on intestinal transit. Furthermore, neither adrenalectomy nor hypophysectomy prevented the response of the intestine to stress, suggesting that neither adrenal nor pituitary-derived factors are responsible for mediating the effects of stress on the gut. We conclude that wrap-restraint stress produces different effects on different regions of the intestine, suggesting that the small and large intestines are independently regulated and can respond differently to different stimuli. There were similarities between the intestinal effects of wrap-restraint stress in rats and intestinal symptoms associated with stress and irritable bowel syndrome in humans. Therefore, wrap restraint may be an appropriate animal model in which to study stress-related intestinal dysfunction. The mechanisms by which stress affects intestinal transit are still unresolved; however, the intestinal effects of stress are not mediated by either pituitary or adrenally derived factors.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1988

Demography of handedness in two samples of randomly selected adults (N = 2083).

Handedness was examined in relation to sex, race, age, education, occupation, marital status, and religious preferences for two random samples of adults drawn from an urban population. There were statistically significant differences on each variable for the total of 2083 respondents as well as for many subgroups based on combinations of sex, race, and age. The results are compared to previous findings.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Concurrent assays of circulating bone Gla-protein and bone alkaline phosphatase: effects of sex, age, and metabolic bone disease.

We measured the serum concentrations of 2 biochemical markers of bone formation, bone Gla-protein (BGP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), in 164 normal subjects and 164 patients with metabolic bone disorders. The data were reported as Z scores (deviation in SDs from the sex-specific age regression in normal subjects). Both serum BGP and BAP distinguished abnormalities well (mean Z scores for BGP and BAP, respectively) and gave concordant results in patients with hypoparathyroidism (-1.7, -1.4), hyperthyroidism (+1.1, +1.8), primary hyperparathyroidism (+3.6, +2.5), acromegaly (+1.2, +2.8), and postmenopausal osteoporosis (+0.4, +1.9). The 2 markers gave discordant results, however, in patients with glucocorticoid excess (-2.4, +0.9), Paget's disease (+1.8, +41.8), chronic renal failure (+16.3, +0.4), and osteolytic metastases (-1.4, +5.9). These discrepancies may have occurred because serum BGP and BAP concentrations reflect different aspects of osteoblast function or because there are differences in their clearance from the circulation. Consequently, more information is derived about the level of bone formation across the wide range of metabolic bone disorders when both biochemical markers are assayed.

Adult↗