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Biomedical subjects

Jodi Lapidus

Publications and source records attributed to Jodi Lapidus.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Psychiatric disorders in a sample of repeat impaired-driving offenders.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess alcohol- and drug-use disorders and other psychiatric disorders in a sample of repeat driving under the influence (DUI) offenders. METHOD: We interviewed offenders to estimate lifetime and 12-month prevalence of psychiatric disorders as designated by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (alcohol and drug abuse and dependence, major depressive or dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder, post- traumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and obsessive-compulsive disorder). The offenders interviewed (385 men, 74 women) were those who had been adjudicated in the Multnomah County, OR, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants Intensive Supervision Program. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: The majority of respondents (53.8%) were alcohol dependent. Sixty-five percent of men and 79.7% of women had at least one lifetime disorder comorbid with alcohol abuse or dependence. The most prevalent lifetime non-substance-use disorder was major depressive or dysthymic disorder (30.9%) followed by PTSD (15.3%). Approximately 40% of subjects reported meeting criteria for lifetime nonalcohol drug abuse for at least one drug type, and 30% were drug dependent for at least one drug type; overall, 54% of all offenders had drug abuse or dependence disorders. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment and treatment services for repeat alcohol-impaired driving offenders should be sufficiently comprehensive to provide care for drug-use disorders and other psychiatric problems.

Adult↗

Stages of smoking acquisition versus susceptibility as predictors of smoking initiation in adolescents in primary care.

We evaluated whether susceptibility, the stages of smoking acquisition, and socio-environmental factors can identify adolescents who will become smokers. Our data came from a randomized controlled trial of an intervention to prevent adolescent smoking. Subjects were adolescents (n=1955) ages 14-17 being seen for routine medical care. The dependent variable was 30-day smoking status at 2-year follow-up (89.6% response rate). Independent variables included susceptibility, the stages of acquisition, and socio-environmental factors. Susceptible adolescents were two to three times more likely to be smokers than non-susceptible adolescents. Compared to acquisition precontemplators, acquisition contemplators were three to five times more likely, and acquisition preparers were five to eight times more likely, to be smokers. When combined into a single measure, susceptible precontemplators were two times, contemplators were six times, and preparers were nine times more likely to be smokers than non-susceptible precontemplators. Our findings suggest that acquisition stage and susceptibility can independently predict smoking onset. They may be used together to target teens for smoking prevention efforts in the clinical setting.

Adolescent↗

Developing a reliable Senior Walking Environmental Assessment Tool.

BACKGROUND: Research of the effects of the built environment on physical activity often excludes certain segments of the population. The senior population, one segment perhaps most influenced by the physical features of an environment, has been understudied. Developing reliable measures of the environment is important to increase our understanding of the environmental effects on physical activity among seniors. METHODS: A review of urban planning and health literature helped identify important concepts and theories that were used to inform the development of the Senior Walking Environmental Assessment Tool (SWEAT). Urban planning and health research professionals were consulted and provided feedback on the tool. A total of 355 neighborhood segments were assessed using SWEAT. Thirty-six neighborhood segments were assessed for inter-rater reliability. RESULTS: Overall, raters exhibited good-to-excellent agreement on most items included in SWEAT. Items assessing buildings and destinations were less reliable than other categories. CONCLUSIONS: The development of a reliable senior-specific environmental measurement of detailed street level environmental features that may influence walking among seniors is important to advance this research and engage communities to consider simple environmental changes that encourage walking among seniors.

Aged↗

GABAergic system gene expression predicts clinical outcome in patients with neuroblastoma.

PURPOSE: Neuroblastoma (NB) is a common childhood malignancy characterized by heterogeneous clinical behavior. The purpose of this study was to identify potential NB biomarkers that may improve outcome prediction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique was used to identify the genes differentially expressed between NB and control tissue. RNA isolated from 235 primary NB tumor samples obtained from the Children's Cancer Group was evaluated for expression of the candidate markers using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (Taqman assays). The association between the mRNA expression levels in the identified candidate genes and clinical outcome was evaluated. RESULTS: SSH analysis identified differential expression of members of the GABAergic gene family in NB. Lower levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) gene expression predict decreased survival among all patients. GABA(A) delta receptor subunit gene expression was predictive of a poor outcome among Evans stage IV-S patients. An index of five coexpressed GABA(A) receptor subunits was identified (GABA(A) profile [GAP score]). Patients with a higher GAP score (> -1) had a survival advantage. Multivariate analysis showed that GABARAP and GABA(A) alpha2 receptor subunit gene expression levels and GAP score remained predictors of clinical outcome after accounting for current prognostic indicators. CONCLUSION: Dysregulation of the GABAergic system may constitute a fundamental event in the development of NB, and assessment of GABAergic system gene expression could provide improved patient stratification and potential new therapies.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

Interdisciplinary leadership training outcomes of Maternal and Child Health-funded pediatric pulmonary centers.

OBJECTIVES: To describe career paths, leadership accomplishments, and extent of incorporation of Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) values into professional activities of all previous long-term trainees. METHOD: In 1998 the Pediatric Pulmonary Centers (PPCs) completed a Leadership Training Outcomes Survey of all previous long-term trainees. The survey included 1) characteristics, 2) career paths, 3) current professional activities, 4) leadership roles and activities, and 5) career incorporation of MCHB values. RESULTS: There was a 63% response rate (N = 274) from 431 mailed surveys. Most respondents provided clinical care in varied health-related settings. Of the respondents, 44% (N = 120) served mothers, 87% (N = 239) served children, and 78% (N = 214) served children with special health care needs. Forty-seven percent of the mothers and children served were from racial or ethnic minority groups. Ninety-two percent (N = 252) of respondents had conducted training since graduation and 56% (N = 153) had provided technical assistance. Many provided leadership in the acquisition and dissemination of new knowledge through research publication (33%), advocacy (37%), and program administration/oversight (87%). Thirty percent of the respondents (N = 83) had received special recognition awards for professional activities. CONCLUSIONS: Most PPC graduates serve families and children as a central aspect of their career, providing or enhancing family-centered, community-based, culturally competent, comprehensive interdisciplinary care.

Career Choice↗

Apparent protective effect of increased left ventricular wall thickness in an ICD population.

BACKGROUND: Expanding indications for the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) call for further enhancement of patient selection for optimization of use. Because a subgroup of patients who receive ICDs may not receive therapies, we sought to identify clinical predictors of therapy-free survival in ICD patients. METHODS: We performed an analysis of a single-center, 13-year ICD implantation experience (1990-2002). The association between therapy-free survival and several clinical variables was evaluated. RESULTS: From a total of 562 patients included in the database, 98 patients (17%) received no shock therapies or antitachycardia pacing (group A). When compared with a randomly selected sample of 131 patients who did receive ICD therapies (group B), there were no significant differences in age, gender, frequency of coronary artery disease, or extent of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. However, left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH; increased wall thickness by echocardiography) was significantly more common in group A versus group B (30% versus 18%; Pearson's chi-square=4.69, P=.03). The odds of patients in group A having LVH were 1.98 times higher versus group B (95% confidence interval for odds ratio: 1.06-3.71). Comparisons of calculated mean LV mass between the 2 groups were not significantly different (group A 283+/-112 gm versus group B 271+/-108, P=.58). The overall mortality rate was 17% in group A and 22% in group B (P=.29). CONCLUSIONS: Increased LV wall thickness was a significant, independent predictor of therapy-free survival in this ICD population. Because LV mass was unchanged, this finding may reflect the importance of LV dilation and wall thinning (ie, eccentric remodeling) as a risk factor for recurrent ventricular arrhythmia in ICD patients.

Aged↗

Factors influencing parent reports on quality of life for children with asthma.

Children and parents often differ in their perceptions of a complex disease such as asthma. This ancillary study of children with mild to moderate asthma that was conducted at four of the eight clinics in the Childhood Asthma Management Program had two aims: (1) to relate quality of life to asthma symptoms, sociodemographic characteristics, child psychosocial adjustment and family social support and (2) to relate agreement between child- and parent-reported quality of life to child age. For this study participants completed the Caregiver's Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (C-PAQLQ), Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire, and a battery of psychosocial health outcomes questionnaires at the 12-month follow-up. The average asthma symptom score from diary cards for the 2 weeks before the visit was also collected. Parent-reported family burden was the strongest correlate of C-PAQLQ scores. Although the average asthma symptom score was not associated with parent-reported quality of life, the study had low power to detect a relationship because of the few episodes of asthma reported during the assessment period. The correlation between child and parent reported quality of life improved with increasing age of the child, suggesting increased child-parent agreement about quality of life outcomes was associated with increasing age of the child. Family characteristics, such as degree of cohesion among family members, are not associated with quality of life ratings.

Asthma↗