Biomedical subjects

L B Ellis

Publications and source records attributed to L B Ellis.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

Identification of the three-dimensional thioredoxin motif: related structure in the ORF3 protein of the Staphylococcus aureus mer operon.

We have developed a computerized search pattern for recognition of the three-dimensional redox site of thioredoxins based on primary and predicted secondary structure. This pattern, developed in the ARIADNE protein expert system, is used to search for thioredoxin-like tertiary structural motif among proteins for which the only structural information is the primary sequence. The pattern was trained on 102 protein sequences (25 functionals and 77 controls); it matches all 25 members of the functional set under cutoff conditions that include only 2 members of the control set, for a sensitivity of 1.0 and a specificity of 0.97. The pattern matches only one of the two thioredoxin-like domains in protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs) and their analogues, suggesting that the C-terminal domain is more structurally similar to thioredoxin than the N-terminal domain. The Escherichia coli DsbA protein, a possible PDI analogue, appears to be more structurally similar to the N-terminal thioredoxin-like domain of PDIs. Thioredoxin-like redox functionality has been proposed for lutropin and follitropin, in part on the basis of their having -Cys-X-Pro-Cys- sequences. None match our pattern; all lack a predicted alpha-helix pattern element immediately after the active site. Hypothetical proteins in the National Biomedical Research Foundation Protein Identification Resource database were searched for matches to the pattern. The most interesting match was a hypothetical protein (161 residues) from the third open reading frame in the Staphylococcus aureus mer operon, which is involved in mercury detoxification. The match to our pattern and the hydrophobicity distribution in aligned elements of secondary structure not in our pattern strongly suggest that it has thioredoxin-like structure.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Knowledge gains from a computer-based health risk appraisal.

During 1990, 83 patients seen for a general physical examination at a family practice clinic completed a computer-based health risk appraisal in one of two formats, batch or interactive. They also completed a written questionnaire on their health risks and knowledge before taking the appraisal, and 65 of them completed another health risk appraisal and questionnaire three months later. No difference in user evaluation of the appraisal regarding its helpfulness, their intent to change behavior based on the appraisal, or amount learned from the appraisal was found between batch and interactive formats. About half (48%) of the individuals correctly estimated their overall health risks before taking the health risk appraisal. Among those who initially misjudged their health risks, few women adjusted their health risk rating at followup. Men showed a tendency to adjust their rating to more closely agree with the health risk appraisal estimates although the differences are not statistically significant. Eighty percent of the men and 55% of the women accurately rated their overall risk at followup. Knowledge of specific causes of death did not improve at followup.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Use of a computer-based health risk appraisal by older adults.

BACKGROUND: A health risk appraisal (HRA) is a tool for health promotion. Conversational microcomputer-based HRAs may be more cost effective than other HRA formats. The acceptability of conversational HRAs, however, has not been demonstrated for older adults. METHODS: We studied the acceptability of a conversational microcomputer-based HRA in a sample of 247 adults at the Minnesota State Fair and the Senior Options Exposition. All users were offered the appraisal via mouse or keyboard interface. Acceptability was measured in terms of user-reported helpfulness, intent to change, time of use, and willingness to view HRA health recommendations. Data on completion time and willingness to view HRA recommendations were collected for Senior Exposition users only. Regression analyses were used to examine the combined impact of interface (mouse or keyboard), location (State Fair or Senior Exposition), age, and sex on user acceptability. Results. Interface and location had no effect on helpfulness or change ratings. Older users rated the appraisal more helpful (P less than .007). Both older and female users reported more intent to change behavior (P = .016, both). Time to use the appraisal was related to interface, age, and sex. Mouse users (P less than .0001), older users (P less than .0001) and female users (P less than .05) took significantly longer to use the appraisal. Significantly more mouse users declined to see recommendations (P less than .02). CONCLUSIONS: Older users can derive as much or more value from conversational health risk appraisals as younger users; however, a mouse interface may be less effective for this age group.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Echocardiographic dimensions in trained and untrained 12-year-old boys and girls.

The purpose of this study was to compare echocardiographically measured left ventricular (LV) dimensions of 85 trained 11-12-year-old athletes with 106 untrained children matched for skeletal age and fat-free mass. Training status for each group applied to the 3 years prior to the measurements. It was found that 12 min and 100 m runs demonstrated the superior athletic ability of the trained children, but there were no significant differences in LV internal diameters at diastole and systole, in LV posterior wall thickness, or in LV end-diastolic volume and LV mass. These data indicate that little difference occurs in LV size between moderately trained and untrained 11-12-year olds or between boys and girls matched for fat-free mass and skeletal age. It is also evident that consistent but moderate training during late pre-adolescence has little effect on LV development.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1986

Computers as learning resources in the health sciences: impact and issues.

Starting with two computer terminals in 1972, the Health Sciences Learning Resources Center of the University of Minnesota Bio-Medical Library expanded its instructional facilities to ten terminals and thirty-five microcomputers by 1985. Computer use accounted for 28% of total center circulation. The impact of these resources on health sciences curricula is described and issues related to use, support, and planning are raised and discussed. Judged by their acceptance and educational value, computers are successful health sciences learning resources at the University of Minnesota.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗

PubMed1985

Computer-based patient education.

The increased exposure of health professionals to computers and the decreased cost of this technology make computer-based instruction an increasingly attractive alternative for patient education. This article presents an overview of the present status of computer-based patient education and suggests guidelines for the development and use of such educational materials. It emphasizes general techniques applicable to a wide range of patients and conditions and includes a list of resources available to the interested health professional.

Computer-Assisted Instruction↗

PubMed1975

Differential posteclosion housing experiences and reproduction in Drosophila.

Differential housing following eclosion was found to affect the mating behaviour of both sexes of Drosophila melanogaster. Flies housed in isolation showed higher mating frequencies and shorter latencies than did group-housed flies. Given a choice of an isolated or group-housed male, females tended to mate with males with similar housing experiences as themselves. Given a choice of an isolated or group-housed female, males strongly preferred the former. The possibility is advanced that these effects are mediated by olfactory stimuli.

Animals↗

PubMed1974