PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Thorpe

Publications and source records attributed to K Thorpe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Healing through self-reflection.

BACKGROUND: Today, women have an enlightened view towards their life cycles, which is evidence of their healing potential. Women need to share their insights about their healing potential gained through self-reflective processes. Their voices must be heard so that we can benefit from their collective wisdom. The process of healing through self-reflection has begun as a group of nurses share their insights. Documenting the perspectives of these nurses provides the opportunity for other women to learn from and apply this knowledge to their lives. METHOD: Through purposive sampling, eight registered nurses, all women, were selected to participate in in-depth, personal, semi-structured interviews. The purposes in this paper are to describe a three-stage (i.e. awareness, critical analysis, and new perspective) reflective-thinking model and discuss the application of this model to women's expressed inner knowledge and wisdom across personal and professional life cycles. RESULTS: Three themes, signifying their ability to heal themselves, were labelled: Spirituality, Be-ing Versus Do-ing, and Eustress Versus Distress. CONCLUSIONS: Essentially, self-reflection results from both personal and professional stimuli and signifies the need for change so that healing can begin. Recommendations are offered for nurse educators and researchers.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

One frog, two frog, red frog, blue frog: factors affecting children's syntactic choices in production and comprehension.

Two experiments are reported which examine children's ability to use referential context when making syntactic choices in language production and comprehension. In a recent on-line study of auditory comprehension, Trueswell, Sekerina, Hill, and Logrip (1999) examined children's and adults' abilities to resolve temporary syntactic ambiguities involving prepositional phrases (e.g., "Put the frog on the napkin into..."). Although adults and older children used the referential context to guide their initial analysis (pursuing a destination interpretation in a one-frog context and a modifier interpretation in a two-frog context), 4 to 5-year olds' initial and ultimate analysis was one of destination, regardless of context. The present studies examined whether these differences were attributable to the comprehension process itself or to other sources, such as possible differences in how children perceive the scene and referential situation. In both experiments, children were given a language generation task designed to elicit and test children's ability to refer to a member of a set through restrictive modification. This task was immediately followed by the "put" comprehension task. The findings showed that, in response to a question about a member of a set (e.g., "Which frog went to Mrs. Squid's house?"), 4- to 5-year-olds frequently produced a definite NP with a restrictive prepositional modifier (e.g., "The one on the napkin"). These same children, however, continued to misanalyze put instructions, showing a strong avoidance of restrictive modification during comprehension. Experiment 2 showed that an increase in the salience of the platforms that distinguished the two referents increased overall performance, but still showed the strong asymmetry between production and comprehension. Eye movements were also recorded in Experiment 2, revealing on-line parsing patterns similar to Trueswell et al.: an initial preference for a destination analysis and a failure to revise early referential commitments. These experiments indicate that child-adult differences in parsing preferences arise, in part, from developmental changes in the comprehension process itself and not from a general insensitivity to referential properties of the scene. The findings are consistent with a probabilistic model for uncovering the structure of the input during comprehension, in which more reliable linguistic and discourse-related cues are learned first, followed by a gradually developing ability to take into account other more uncertain (or more difficult to learn) cues to structure.

Child↗
PubMed2000

Mutations truncating the EP300 acetylase in human cancers.

The EP300 protein is a histone acetyltransferase that regulates transcription via chromatin remodelling and is important in the processes of cell proliferation and differentiation. EP300 acetylation of TP53 in response to DNA damage regulates its DNA-binding and transcription functions. A role for EP300 in cancer has been implied by the fact that it is targeted by viral oncoproteins, it is fused to MLL in Leukaemia and two missense sequence alterations in EP300 were identified in epithelial malignancies. Nevertheless, direct demonstration of the role of EP300 in tumorigenesis by inactivating mutations in human cancers has been lacking. Here we describe EP300 mutations, which predict a truncated protein, in 6(3%) of 193 epithelial cancers analysed. Of these six mutations, two were in primary tumours (a colorectal cancer and a breast cancer) and four were in cancer cell lines (colorectal, breast and pancreatic). In addition, we identified a somatic in-frame insertion in a primary breast cancer and missense alterations in a primary colorectal cancer and two cell lines (breast and pancreatic). Inactivation of the second allele was demonstrated in five of six cases with truncating mutations and in two other cases. Our data show that EP300 is mutated in epithelial cancers and provide the first evidence that it behaves as a classical tumour-suppressor gene.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed2000

Confirmatory factor analyses of the full and short versions of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale.

Over the years, researchers have developed various short versions of the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (D. P. Crowne & D. Marlowe, 1960). The authors used confirmatory factor analyses (J. L. Arbuckle, 1997) as well as item and scale analyses to evaluate the adequacy of the full version and various short versions. Overall, the results from 232 Canadian undergraduates showed (a) that all the short versions in the present study are a significant improvement in fit over the 33-item full scale and (b) that W. M. Reynolds's (1982) Forms A and B are the best fitting short versions. No gender differences were found for the full scale or any of the short versions. The results show that the full scale could be improved psychometrically and that the psychometrically sound short versions should be available because they require less administration time than the full scale.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Current use and timing of spinal surgery for management of acute spinal surgery for management of acute spinal cord injury in North America: results of a retrospective multicenter study.

OBJECT: A multicenter retrospective study was performed in 36 North American centers to examine the use and timing of surgery in patients who have sustained acute spinal cord injury (SCI). The study was performed to obtain information required for the planning of a randomized controlled trial in which early and late decompressive surgery are compared. METHODS: The records of all patients aged 16 to 75 years with acute SCI admitted to 36 centers within 24 hours of injury over a 9-month period in 1994 and 1995 were examined to obtain data on admission variables, methods of diagnosis, use of traction, and surgical variables including type and timing of surgery. A total of 585 patients with acute SCI or cauda equina injury were admitted to participating centers, although approximately half were ultimately excluded because they did not meet inclusion criteria. Common causes for exclusion were late admission, age, gunshot wound, and absence of signs of compression on imaging studies. Thus, only approximately 50% of patients with acute SCI would be eligible for inclusion in a study of acute decompressive surgery. Although all patients underwent computerized tomography (CT) scanning, only 54% underwent magnetic resonance imaging, and CT myelography was performed in only 6%. Complete neurological injuries (American Spinal Injury Association Grade A) were present in 57.8%. Traction was applied in only 47% of patients who sustained cervical injury, in whom decompressive traction was successful in only 42% of cases. Neurological deterioration occurred in 8.1% of cases after traction. Surgery was performed in 65.4% of patients. The timing of surgery varied widely: less than 24 hours postinjury in 23.5%, between 25 and 48 hours postinjury in 15.8%, between 48 and 96 hours in 19%, and more than 5 days postinjury in 41.7% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that although surgery is commonly performed in patients with acute SCI, one third of cases are managed nonoperatively, and there is very little agreement on the optimum timing of surgical treatment. The results of this study confirm the need for a randomized controlled trial to assess the optimum timing of decompressive surgery in SCI.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Parental divorce and adjustment in adulthood: findings from a community sample. The ALSPAC Study Team. Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood.

The current study examines the link between the experience of divorce in childhood and several indices of adjustment in adulthood in a large community sample of women. Results replicated previous research on the long-term correlation between parental divorce and depression and divorce in adulthood. Results further suggested that parental divorce was associated with a wide range of early risk factors, life course patterns, and several indices of adult adjustment. Regression analyses indicated that the long-term correlation between parental divorce and depression in adulthood is explained by quality of parent-child and parental marital relations (in childhood), concurrent levels of stressful life events and social support, and cohabitation. The long-term association between parental divorce and experiencing a divorce in adulthood was partly mediated through quality of parent-child relations, teenage pregnancy, leaving home before 18 years, and educational attainment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of recombination in the HLA class II region.

Studies of linkage disequilibrium across the HLA class II region have been useful in predicting where recombination is most likely to occur. The strong associations between genes within the 85-kb region from DQB1 to DRB1 are consistent with low frequency of recombination in this segment of DNA. Conversely, a lack of association between alleles of TAP1 and TAP2 (approximately 15 kb) has been observed, suggesting that recombination occurs here with relatively high frequency. Much of the HLA class II region has now been sequenced, providing the tools to undertake detailed analysis of recombination. Twenty-seven families containing one or two recombinant chromosomes within the 500-kb interval between the DPB1 and DRB1 genes were used to determine patterns of recombination across this region. SSCP analysis and microsatellite typing yielded identification of 127 novel polymorphic markers distributed throughout the class II region, allowing refinement of the site of crossover in 30 class II recombinant chromosomes. The three regions where recombination was observed most frequently are as follows: the 45-kb interval between HLA-DNA and RING3 (11 cases), the 50-kb interval between DQB3 and DQB1 (6 cases), and an 8.8-kb segment of the TAP2 gene (3 cases). Six of the 10 remaining recombinants await further characterization, pending identification of additional informative markers, while four recombinants were localized to other intervals (outliers). Analysis of association between markers flanking HLA-DNA to RING3 (45 kb), as well as TAP1 to TAP2 (15 kb), by use of independent CEPH haplotypes indicated little or no linkage disequilibrium, supporting the familial recombination data. A notable sequence motif located within a region associated with increased rates of recombination consisted of a (TGGA)12 tandem repeat within the TAP2 gene.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗
PubMed1996

Changes in depression during and following pregnancy. ALSPAC Study Team. Study of Pregnancy and Children.

Rates of depression were studied in a sample of over 9000 women who were participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. Assessments of depression were made at 18 and 32 weeks gestation, and at 8 and 32 weeks postpartum. Changes in depressive status across time were modelled using latent Markov modelling methods. This analysis showed that when classification errors were taken into account there was relatively high stability in diagnostic status during pregnancy and after pregnancy. However, the transition from late pregnancy to the early postnatal period showed evidence of increased instability and remission of depression. The net effects of this were that rates of depression tended to decline following childbirth. The implications of these results for a series of issues including measurement errors in depression reports and the prevalence of depression before and after childbirth are discussed.

Bias↗
PubMed1996

Teaching and learning needs of culturally diverse post-R.N. students.

Despite the multicultural nature of our country, Canadian schools of nursing have generally attracted white middle-class females. The literature has identified many of the difficulties culturally diverse students experience in coping with and completing their program. The reasons noted for these difficulties include differences in learning styles, with culturally diverse students preferring visual learning (Crow, 1993; More, 1989); differences in language aptitude, particularly for those students whose first language is not English (Bowker, 1992; Harrison, 1992; Phillips & Hartley, 1990); differences in communication style (Wax & Thomas, 1961); lack of role models and social support within their cultural group (Bowker, 1992; Edwards, Smith, & French, 1989; Sedlacek, 1983); and a lack of understanding among faculty and other students regarding their lifestyles, backgrounds, and belief systems (Abu-Saad, Kaysar-Jones, & Gutierrez, 1981; Crow, 1993; Harrison, 1992).

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1995

Does a twin pregnancy have a greater impact on physical and emotional well-being than a singleton pregnancy?

A prospective, population-based study was conducted to assess the impact of twin pregnancy on a woman's physical and emotional well-being. It compared women's reports of their general health, experience of a range of specific symptoms, and emotional well-being during pregnancy using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The subjects were 147 women expecting twins and 11,061 women expecting a single child who completed questionnaires at both 20 and 32 weeks' gestation as part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood. Results suggested that women expecting twins experienced poorer physical well-being but not poorer emotional well-being than those expecting a single child, even though a significant association between poor health and emotional well-being was found for the population as a whole. It was suggested that the transitory nature of a twin pregnancy, the "special" status of a twin pregnancy, greater social support, and modified expectations about health may buffer the effects of poor physical health on emotional well-being in a twin pregnancy. The findings should alert those who care for women expecting twins to the greater physical stress these women may feel.

England↗
PubMed1994

Prevention of functional impairment by endarterectomy for symptomatic high-grade carotid stenosis. North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial Collaborators.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether carotid endarterectomy prevents deterioration of functional status among patients with transient ischemic attacks or nondisabling strokes and ipsilateral carotid stenosis of 70% to 99%. DESIGN: Multicentered randomized controlled trial with an average 18-month follow-up. SETTING: Fifty clinical centers in North America. PATIENTS: A total of 659 patients presenting with recent transient attacks of nondisabling stroke and ipsilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis of 70% to 99% were included. Patients were stable neurologically at the time of entry. No patient was lost to follow-up. INTERVENTION: Vascular surgeons and neurosurgeons were prescreened for low perioperative complication rates. Patients were randomly allocated to carotid endarterectomy plus continuing medical care (n = 328) or medical care alone (n = 331), including antiplatelet therapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: All patients were assessed by neurologists for the occurrence of stroke and functional status at scheduled intervals after entry. RESULTS: In addition to a previously reported risk reduction for ipsilateral stroke for patients assigned to carotid endarterectomy, there was an absolute risk reduction (and relative risk reduction [RRR]) for functional status impairment of 5.6% (RRR, 69%) for vision, 4.6% (RRR, 87%) for comprehension of language, 8.3% (RRR, 88%) for fluency of speech, 4.3% (RRR, 84%) for swallowing, 6.0% (RRR, 53%) for lower-limb function, 9.3% (RRR, 75%) for upper-limb function, 7.4% (RRR, 60%) for shopping, and 10.5% (RRR, 50%) for visiting outside usual residence (P < .05, two-tailed, for all items). CONCLUSIONS: Carotid endarterectomy reduced the risk for impairment of function among patients with recent symptomatic cerebral ischemia and ipsilateral high-grade carotid stenosis.

Carotid Artery, Internal↗
PubMed1993

Women's views of ultrasonography. A comparison of women's experiences of antenatal ultrasound screening with cerebral ultrasound of their newborn infant.

Ultrasound screening is now a routine procedure which forms part of antenatal care provision. Within this routine context ultrasound technology has been found to be generally acceptable and indeed is positively demanded by many women. This paper raises the question whether the routine presentation of ultrasound implicitly conveys the message that its use in antenatal care is both valuable and safe. It examines women's views of ultrasound technology beyond a routine context. In study designed to examine women's reactions to cerebral ultrasound on their normal term infants mothers were asked their views and knowledge of ultrasound and a comparison with their antenatal experience of ultrasound was elicited. A generalized concern about ultrasound techniques was found to underlie many of the women's comments. This raised questions concerning the current practice in the presentation of ultrasound to women attending for antenatal care.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1992

"The last egg in the basket?" elderly primiparity--a review of findings.

The recent trend of later childbearing among primiparous women is examined with attention to its possible motivations and how they might relate to maternal and infant outcomes. The influence of psychological factors is examined in the context of the inconsistencies in the obstetric literature' regarding the risk factors associated with advancing maternal age. An interplay of psychological and biologic factors in determining the outcome of pregnancy and adaptation to motherhood in elderly primiparous women is proposed in terms of the compensatory as opposed to cumulative effect of psychological factors. The adoption of a broad perspective in the study of the experience of later motherhood is recommended as the direction for future research.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Comparison of prevalence of depression in mothers of twins and mothers of singletons.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the apparent additional and exceptional stresses associated with bearing and parenting twins affect the emotional wellbeing of mothers. SETTING: Great Britain, 1970-5. DESIGN: Cohort study of 13,135 children born between 4 April and 11 April 1970. Mothers of all children, both singletons and twins, were interviewed by health visitors (providing demographic data) and completed a self report measure of emotional well-being (the Rutter malaise inventory) when the child was 5 years of age. The malaise scores of mothers of twins were compared with those of all mothers of singletons and then with those of mothers categorised by the age spacing of their children (only one child, widely spaced, or closely spaced), taking account of maternal age, social class, and whether the study child had a disability, by using logistic regression. SUBJECTS: 139 mothers of twins--122 pairs of twins and 17 twins whose cotwin had died--and 12,573 controls, who were mothers of singletons. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of mothers of twins at 5 years had malaise scores indicative of depression than mothers of singletons at the same age. Mothers who had borne twins, one of whom had subsequently died, had the highest malaise scores and were three times more likely than mothers of singletons to experience depression. Both mothers of twin pairs and mothers of singletons closely spaced in age were at significantly higher risk of experiencing depression than mothers of children widely spaced in age or mothers of only one child (p less than 0.0001). Odds ratios indicated that the risk of depression in mothers of twins was higher than that in mothers of closely spaced singletons. CONCLUSION: Mothers of twins are more likely to experience depression. This suggests a relation between the additional and exceptional stresses that twins present and the mother's emotional wellbeing.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Linkage analysis of chromosome 17 markers in British and South African families with neurofibromatosis type I.

Nine markers from the pericentromeric region of chromosome 17 were typed in 16 British and five South African families with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). The markers--p17H8, pHHH202, and EW204--were linked to NF1 at recombination fractions less than 1%. No evidence of locus heterogeneity was detected. Inspection of recombinant events in families informative for several markers suggests that the NF1 gene is located between the markers EW301 (cen-p11.2) and EW206 (cen-q12) and possibly distal to pHHH202 (q11.2-q12).

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17↗
PubMed1987

Linkage analysis of British and Indian families with Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis.

Linkage analysis has been undertaken in two British and three South African Indian families with Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis. Eleven polymorphic DNA probes were studied, including both random DNA sequences and candidate oncogenes. Although no evidence for linkage of these probes to the disease was detected, substantial exclusion regions were established on six of the chromosomes studied.

Genetic Linkage↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Social skills, expectancies, and drinking in adolescents.

Research in the field of teenage drinking behavior has shown relationships between both social skills and drinking and alcohol expectancies and drinking. The present research investigated the comparative power of both of these sets of variables in predicting teenage drinking behavior, as well as looking at the contribution of more global cognitive structures. It was hypothesised that adolescents with high alcohol involvement would be discriminated from those with low involvement on the basis of social skills, cognitive structures, and alcohol expectancies. Seven hundred thirty-two adolescents participated in the study. Results indicated that adolescent alcohol involvement was associated with social skills deficits, positive alcohol expectancies, and negative cognitive structures concerning parents and teachers. The results revealed that, although the bulk of the variance in drinking behavior was explained by the independent effects of social skills and expectancies, the interaction of the two constructs explained an additional and significant proportion of the variance. Implications for preventive and treatment programs are discussed.

Adolescent↗