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Biomedical subjects

Karen Baker

Publications and source records attributed to Karen Baker.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Quality of life and pain in premenopausal women with major depressive disorder: the POWER Study.

BACKGROUND: Whereas it is established that organic pain may induce depression, it is unclear whether pain is more common in healthy subjects with depression. We assessed the prevalence of pain in premenopausal women with major depression (MDD). Subjects were 21- to 45-year-old premenopausal women with MDD (N = 70; age: 35.4 +/- 6.6; mean +/- SD) and healthy matched controls (N = 36; age 35.4 +/- 6.4) participating in a study of bone turnover, the P.O.W.E.R. (Premenopausal, Osteopenia/Osteoporosis, Women, Alendronate, Depression) Study. METHODS: Patients received a clinical assessment by a pain specialist, which included the administration of two standardized forms for pain, the Brief Pain Inventory - Short Form, and the Initial Pain Assessment Tool, and two scales of everyday stressors, the Hassles and Uplifts Scales. In addition, a quality-of-life instrument, the SF-36, was used. The diagnosis of MDD was established by a semi-structured interview, according to the DSM-IV criteria. Substance P (SP) and calcitonin-gene-related-peptide (CGRP), neuropeptides which are known mediators of pain, were measured every hour for 24 h in a subgroup of patients (N = 17) and controls (N = 14). RESULTS: Approximately one-half of the women with depression reported pain of mild intensity. Pain intensity was significantly correlated with the severity of depression (r2 = 0.076; P = 0.04) and tended to be correlated with the severity of anxiety, (r2 = 0.065; P = 0.07), and the number of depressive episodes (r2 = 0.072; P = 0.09). Women with MDD complained of fatigue, insomnia, and memory problems and experienced everyday negative stressors more frequently than controls. Quality of life was decreased in women with depression, as indicated by lower scores in the emotional and social well-being domains of the SF-36. SP (P < 0.0003) and CGRP (P < 0.0001) were higher in depressed subjects. CONCLUSION: Women with depression experienced pain more frequently than controls, had a lower quality of life, and complained more of daily stressors. Assessment of pain may be important in the clinical evaluation of women with MDD. SP and CGRP may be useful biological markers in women with MDD.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

An overview of current techniques for tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy remains a commonly performed surgical procedure. Although common, it has complications and associated morbidity. In an era of cost containment, indications for surgery have been promulgated by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2000) to aid the healthcare practitioner in appropriate referral to the surgeon, as well as clinical indicators to help insure that surgical intervention is in the best interest of the patient. Surgical techniques are constantly evolving, with the goal of reducing complications and improving postoperative recovery and healing. Review of the literature suggests that new technologies may or may not be better than the tried-and-true surgical techniques combined with good post-operative nursing care.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Of specialty interest: the Food and Drug Administration: a partner in safe practice.

Have you ever wondered what really goes on at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)? At each meeting of the Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses (SOHN) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) the FDA is repeatedly mentioned, and not always favorably! This article discusses the process of bringing new medical devices to market and explains how ORL (or ENT) nurses can contribute to the protection of the public health by providing medical device adverse event information to FDA.

Consultants↗