Biomedical subjects

James Hodges

Publications and source records attributed to James Hodges.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The association between in-service sexual harassment and post-traumatic stress disorder among Department of Veterans Affairs disability applicants.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to describe the association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and in-service sexual harassment in a nationally representative sample of Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD disability applicants. METHOD: The study was a cross-sectional survey. RESULTS: Of 4,918 eligible veterans, 3,337 (68%) returned surveys. Nonresponse bias appeared to be minimal. After adjustment for other reported traumas, women's reported in-service sexual harassment severity was significantly associated with PTSD symptom severity (p < 0.0001). The effect seen was about the same size as that seen for combat exposure among the men and for in-service sexual assault among the women. Men showed no association between in-service sexual harassment and PTSD (p = 0.33), although power was low for this test. CONCLUSION: Sexual harassment significantly contributed to female veterans' PTSD symptoms; its contribution to men's symptoms was unclear. We discuss mechanisms through which sexual harassment might affect PTSD symptom severity, including the possibility that sexual harassment sometimes meets the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, definition of a criterion A stressor.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed2005

Regional variation and other correlates of Department of Veterans Affairs Disability Awards for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder.

BACKGROUND: Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic disabling condition affecting more than 600,000 United States veterans and is the most common psychiatric condition for which veterans seek Veterans Affairs disability benefits. Receipt of such benefits enhances veterans' access to Veteran Affairs health care and reduces their chance of poverty. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether previously identified regional variations in PTSD disability awards are explained by appropriate subject characteristics (eg, differences in PTSD symptomatology or dysfunction) and to estimate the impact of veterans' PTSD symptom severity or level of dysfunction on their odds of obtaining PTSD disability benefits. RESEARCH DESIGN: We used a mailed survey linked to administrative data. SUBJECTS: Subjects included 4918 representative, eligible men and women who filed PTSD disability claims between 1994 and 1998. RESULTS: A total of 3337 veterans returned useable surveys (68%). Before adjustment, PTSD disability claims approval rates ranged from 43% to 75% across regions. After adjustment, rates ranged from 33% to 72% (P <0.0001). Severer PTSD symptoms were associated with greater odds of having PTSD disability benefits (P <0.0001). Unexpectedly, poorer functional status was associated with lower odds of having benefits (P <0.0001). On average, clinical differences between veterans who did and did not have PTSD disability benefits were small but suggested slightly greater dysfunction among those without benefits. CONCLUSIONS: An almost twofold regional difference in claims approval rates was not explained by veterans' PTSD symptom severity, level of dysfunction, or other subject-level characteristics. Veterans who did not obtain PTSD disability benefits were at least as disabled as those who did receive benefits.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Compliance of resilient denture liners immersed in effervescent denture cleansers.

PURPOSE: Six resilient denture liners (RDL) were exposed to two immersion effervescent denture cleansers to evaluate change in compliance over a simulated 1 year time interval. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten samples of each material, Molloplast B, Mollosil, MPDS-SL, Permasoft, Softline, and Sofreliner were exposed to either Fixodent or Efferdent denture cleanser. A cyclic load was applied in a squarewave fashion to derive a load displacement curve to measure compliance at 0, 7, 30, 180, and 360 simulated days. RESULTS: All 12 of the material/cleanser combinations demonstrated a significant change in compliance at each time interval relative to baseline. Mollosil had the greatest increase in flexibility from baseline, and MPDS-SL had the smallest increase in flexibility. In general, chairside materials demonstrated greater change in compliance from baseline compared to laboratory materials. Materials subjected to Fixodent cleanser, when averaged over time, were significantly more flexible than materials exposed to Efferdent cleanser. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure of resilient soft liners to two common cleansers resulted in a significant increase in flexibility. This change in flexibility depended slightly, though significantly, on the type of cleanser, and appeared to be more significant with time. In general, chairside materials seemed to change more than laboratory-processed liners. The exception was Permasoft that was fabricated as a laboratory material but behaved like a chairside material. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The initiator of the polymerization reaction rather than the mode of polymerization may be more important in predicting a change in the flexibility of RDLs. Constituents within the oral environment may be more responsible for changes in RDL flexibility than denture cleansers.

Compliance↗

PubMed2005

Mitigating effect of Department of Veterans Affairs disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder on low income.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to assess the impact of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on veterans' odds of poverty. Women and African American veterans were of special interest, because they are less likely than other groups to receive PTSD disability benefits. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of 4,918 veterans who applied for VA disability benefits for PTSD between 1994 and 1998 was performed. Responses were linked to administrative data. RESULTS: Overall, 42% reported low income (defined as household income less than or equal to 20,000 dollars per year). Men's and women's odds of reporting poverty were similar, but receipt of PTSD disability benefits mediated African American veterans' odds of poverty. Veterans' odds of impoverishment were reduced considerably if they received VA PTSD disability benefits and identified themselves as disabled. CONCLUSIONS: VA disability benefits for PTSD reduced odds of impoverishment for psychiatrically ill veterans. This effect appeared to be especially important for African American veterans and for veterans self-identifying as disabled.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Prevalence of in-service and post-service sexual assault among combat and noncombat veterans applying for Department of Veterans Affairs posttraumatic stress disorder disability benefits.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of in-service and post-service sexual assault among combat and noncombat veterans seeking Veteran's Affairs disability benefits for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 4,918 veterans. RESULTS: Surveys were returned by 3,337 veterans (effective response rate, 68%). Among men, 6.5% of combat veterans and 16.5% of noncombat veterans reported in-service or post-service sexual assault. Among women, 69% of combat veterans and 86.6% of noncombat veterans reported in-service or post-service sexual assault. CONCLUSIONS: Reported rates of sexual assault were considerably higher among veterans seeking Veteran's Affairs disability benefits for PTSD than historically reported rates for men and women in the general population. In this population, male gender and veterans' combat status should not dissuade clinicians from screening for sexual traumas.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗

PubMed2003

Gender Differences in service connection for PTSD.

BACKGROUND: Mentally ill female veterans obtain a smaller proportion of their care from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities than mentally ill male veterans do, possibly because women are less likely than men to be service connected for psychiatric disabilities. "Service connected" veterans have documented, compensative conditions related to or aggravated by military service, and they receive priority for enrollment into the VA healthcare system. OBJECTIVES: To see if there are gender discrepancies in rates of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and, if so, to see if these discrepancies could be attributed to appropriate subject characteristics (eg, differences in symptom severity or impairment). RESEARCH DESIGN: Mailed survey linked to administrative data. Claims audits were conducted on 11% of the sample. SUBJECTS: Randomly selected veterans seeking VA disability benefits for PTSD. Women were oversampled to achieve a gender ratio of 1:1. RESULTS: A total of 3337 veterans returned usable surveys (effective response rate, 68%). Men's unadjusted rate of service connection for PTSD was 71%; women's, 52% (P < 0.0001). Adjustment for veterans' PTSD symptom severity or functional impairment did not appreciably reduce this discrepancy, but adjustment for dissimilar rates of combat exposure did. Estimated rates of service connection were 53% for men and 56% for women after adjusting for combat exposure. This combat preference could not be explained by more severe PTSD symptoms or greater functional impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Instead of a gender bias in awards for PTSD service connection, we found evidence of a combat advantage that disproportionately favored men. The appropriateness of this apparent advantage is unclear and needs further investigation.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Racial disparities in VA service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder disability.

BACKGROUND: "Service connected" veterans are those with documented, compensative conditions related to or aggravated by military service, and they receive priority for enrollment into the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. For some veterans, service connection represents the difference between access to VA health care facilities and no access. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there are racial discrepancies in the granting of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by the Department of Veterans Affairs and, if so, to determine whether these discrepancies could be attributed to appropriate subject characteristics, such as differences in PTSD symptom severity or functional status. RESEARCH DESIGN: Mailed survey linked to administrative data. Claims audits were conducted on 11% of the sample. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: The study comprised 2700 men and 2700 women randomly selected from all veterans filing PTSD disability claims between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1998. RESULTS: A total of 3337 veterans returned usable surveys, of which 17% were black. Only 16% of respondents carried private health insurance, and 44% reported incomes of 20,000 US dollars or less. After adjusting for respondents' sociodemographic characteristics, symptom severity, functional status, and trauma histories, black persons' rate of service connection for PTSD was 43% compared with 56% for other respondents (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Black persons' rates of service connection for PTSD were substantially lower than other veterans even after adjusting for differences in PTSD severity and functional status.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Effect of finishing and polishing procedures on the gap width between a denture base resin and two long-term, resilient denture liners.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The junction between a long-term, resilient denture liner and the denture base is difficult to finish and polish due to differences in the hardness of the materials. Gaps tend to form during finishing and polishing procedures. PURPOSE: This study measured the junctional gap between 2 long-term, resilient denture liners and a denture base material after different finishing and polishing procedures were performed. The surface smoothness of the 2 liner materials also was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Molloplast-B and an experimental, heat-polymerized methyl siloxane-resin-based denture liner were processed (according to the manufacturer's instructions) against Lucitone 199 acrylic resin. Control specimens (n = 20) were 2 mm thick and flat. Experimental specimens (n = 64) were fabricated with a raised center section: a 3- x 5- x 15-mm half-cylindrical ridge with a junction at the top of the cylinder between the liner material and acrylic resin. The specimens were finished with 1 of 6 types of burs and polished with different combinations of rubber-impregnated acrylic polishers, pumice, and tin oxide. The finished specimens were examined and photographed with a scanning electron microscope, and the largest gap along the liner/denture base junction on each specimen was measured. Three-way analysis of variance without replication (P<.05) and post-hoc t tests were used to analyze the data and compare groups. RESULTS; Averaged across finishing and polishing techniques, a larger gap was recorded for the experimental liner material (22 microm) than for Molloplast-B (14 microm) (P<.00005). Qualitative evaluation suggested that the experimental liner material polished better than Molloplast-B. The smoothest surfaces were obtained when specimens were finished with fine-tooth cross-cut carbide burs and polished with both pumice and tin oxide. A comparison between polished and unpolished specimens, averaged over materials and finishing techniques, revealed that polishing reduced gap size (P=.015). CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of this study, the 2 denture liners tested behaved similarly. The results suggest that the size of the gap at the liner/denture base junction may be affected by finishing and polishing techniques and vary among materials.

Acrylic Resins↗