Biomedical subjects

James C Torner

Publications and source records attributed to James C Torner.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Fatness, physical activity, and television viewing in children during the adiposity rebound period: the Iowa Bone Development Study.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the determinants of adiposity in young children may be particularly critical for preventing adult obesity since the age at which body fatness reaches a postinfancy low point (typically 4-6 years) is inversely associated with obesity later in life. METHODS; We examined cross-sectional associations among fatness, leanness, and physical activity in 467 children (range 4-6 years). Activity was measured using accelerometry and parental report of children's television (TV) viewing. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to quantify body composition. RESULTS: Minutes spent in vigorous activity and TV viewing were the variables most consistently and most highly associated with adiposity. Children in the lowest quartile for vigorous activity had on average (absolute) body fat percentages that were 4% greater than those children in the highest quartile for vigorous activity. Body fat percentages for children in the highest category for TV viewing were on average 3% greater than those children who watched the least amount of TV. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of vigorous physical activity and high levels of TV viewing are associated with fatness in young children during the adiposity rebound period. This suggests that increasing children's active play may be important in preventing obesity later in life.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2002

Epidemiologic association between prostatitis and prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the relationship between prostatitis and prostate cancer by pooling previous epidemiologic studies of this association. METHODS: A comprehensive search for articles published through 2000 was performed, blinded reviews of each study were conducted, data were abstracted, and all such studies were pooled. RESULTS: In this meta-analysis, an increased risk was seen among men with a history of prostatitis (odds ratio = 1.6), particularly with population-based case-control studies (odds ratio = 1.8). Increased relative risk estimates were also seen among men with a history of syphilis and a history of gonorrhea. CONCLUSIONS: These associations with prostate cancer suggest that infections may represent one mechanism through which prostate cancer develops. However, causality is unclear, because recall bias and detection bias cannot be ruled out. Future cohort studies of prostate cancer should examine sexually transmitted infections, as well as other infections, as potential risk factors.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Methodologic issues in a population-based health survey of Gulf War veterans.

This report describes the principal methods used in the development, conduct, and analysis of the research study "Health Assessment of Persian Gulf War Veterans from Iowa" (Iowa Gulf War Study). The methods presented include an outline of the organizational structure, study timeline, hypotheses, outcome definitions, and study design. Adhering to a strict timeline, the study protocol and instruments were developed, and a stratified sample of 3,695 military personnel (76% participation) was located and surveyed by structured telephone interview. The study tracked personnel from all service branches residing nationally and internationally, including those discharged from service. This study required development and implementation of methods appropriate to analysis of data collected in a complex sampling framework and methodological procedures to ensure scientific rigor in a highly public and politicized environment. Statistical analyses were conducted on a priori health outcomes and required development of methods to compute Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel adjusted rate differences. This environment facilitated rapid implementation, critique by scientific and public advisors, a high participation rate, and rapid publication.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

In vitro biomechanical studies of an anterior thoracolumbar implant.

After L1 corpectomy in T11-L3 human cadaveric spine, anterior thoracolumbar instrumentation with strut grafting restores spinal stability. T12-L2 angular rotation was measured in response to moments of 0.0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 Nm in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation, respectively. The spines were tested: 1) intact; 2) after partial L1 corpectomy, grafting, and instrumentation (Profile plate, DePuy-AcroMed, Raynham, MA), with the wooden dowel graft screwed to the plate; 3) without graft screw fixation; and 4) after flexion-extension cyclic fatiguing for 5000 cycles at a load of +/-3.0 Nm. Before and after fatiguing, the instrumented spine was significantly (p <or= 0.05) stiffer than the intact spine in flexion, extension, and right and left lateral bending but not in axial rotation. There were no significant differences between the constructs with or without graft-to-plate fixation before or after fatigue. The instrumented spines were more rigid in bending away from the implant than bending toward the implant. Anterior spinal instrumentation with the Profile implant augments stiffness in the sagittal and coronal planes but not in the axial plane. Although graft-to-plate fixation may prevent graft migration into the canal, it does not contribute to spinal rigidity.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

PubMed2002

Fractures of the thoracolumbar spine complicating ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECT: In this clinical review of ankylosing spondylitis, the authors emphasize the fragility of the spine and the degree of neurological deficit that can result from minor injury. The management of thoracolumbar fractures complicating ankylosing spondylitis is discussed. METHODS: Six thoracic and five lumbar fractures were identified in a review of patients in whom ankylosing spondylitis had been diagnosed. Nine fractures were associated with an extension deformity. The mechanism of injury was regarded as major in three and minor in eight. The mean age in patients suffering fractures after minor traumatic injury was 59.6 +/- 14.5 years (+/- standard deviation), whereas the mean age in patients suffering fractures after major traumatic injury was 49.3 +/- 10.1 years. Two patients were treated with bedrest and brace therapy, and nine underwent instrument-assisted fusion. Postinjury neurological deficits were demonstrated in six patients, in three of whom neurological improvement was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ankylosing spondylitis are at risk of injury, particularly extension fractures of the thoracic and lumbar spine. The incidence of trauma-induced neurological deficit is by no means negligible. Management consists of surgery in patients with vertebral instability and neural compression, and recumbency in those with stable fractures.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characteristics of twice-transferred, rural trauma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Undertriage has seldom been evaluated in the trauma population. In rural states patients often go to the nearest hospital first, where they are evaluated and, if necessary, transferred to another hospital. If they are undertriaged when transferred to the second hospital, they will require a second transfer to a higher-level trauma center. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of all trauma patients at a level I trauma center from 1996 to 1999 who were seen at two acute care facilities because of a single acute traumatic event before reaching the trauma center. Ninety-three patient charts were analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of the patients were victims of a motor vehicle crash. Patients were mostly transferred to the level I trauma center for non-spine orthopedic injuries (28%), followed by spine injuries (14%) and head injuries (13%). These patients were stable, as manifested by an average trauma score of 11.6. However, there was a significant positive interaction between injury severity score and time to definitive care. CONCLUSIONS: The authors infer from the data analysis that more serious or complex injuries took longer to evaluate. Since these patients were physiologically stable, reducing the number of twice-transferred trauma patients will involve refining transfer protocols concerning the need for specialty care.

Emergency Medical Services↗