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Biomedical subjects

L Bourque

Publications and source records attributed to L Bourque.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Risk perceptions and behavioral intentions for Hepatitis B: how do young adults fare?

Young adults are at risk for Hepatitis B infection. Little is known about their attitudes and beliefs concerning Hepatitis B, which are determinants of getting immunized. This investigation examined risk perceptions and behavioral intentions concerning Hepatitis B among a convenience sample of 1070 young adults, 18-24 years old who participated in a Hepatitis B campaign that aired a prevention-based advertisement in movies. The campaign did not produce any significant effects. Therefore, analyses presented in this paper explored whether risk perceptions and intentions vary by sociodemographic characteristics. Most young adults do not perceive themselves to be at risk for Hepatitis B, but perceive other people to be at risk. Gender and ethnic differences in behavioral intentions to seek out Hepatitis B information were also observed. This study offers insight about important factors to consider when designing Hepatitis B prevention interventions for young adults and suggests that increasing health-promotion efforts for this group, while accounting for differences in age, culture and gender, are warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Increased immunohistochemical expression of neutral metalloendopeptidase (enkephalinase; EC 3.4.24.11) in villi of the human placenta with pre-eclampsia.

The purpose of this study was to identify the presence of placental neutral metalloendopeptidase (NEP; enkephalinase; EC 3.4.24.11) in human normotensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancy. The localization of NEP in placentae from normotensive, chronic hypertensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies was carried out on fresh frozen tissues by using a monoclonal primary antibody developed against human common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia antigen (CD10) together with the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. In placentae from normotensive, chronic hypertensive and superimposed pre-eclamptic pregnancies, intense staining was found in the extravillous trophoblast, and also in fibroblasts of the chorionic plate and stem villi. Light to moderate staining was noted in the villous-associated trophoblast and in some cells from the villous core. In cases of pre-eclampsia, very intense staining was detected not only on the surface, but also in the cytoplasm of the villous-associated trophoblast. The increased expression of placental NEP in pre-eclampsia suggests that this enzyme may be involved in the regulation of the local concentration of circulating biologically active peptides at the fetomaternal interface, and thus could be implicated in the pathophysiological changes of this syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Does the public understand the differences between ophthalmologists and optometrists?

Telephone interviews utilizing random digit dialing were conducted in Los Angeles County to assess the public's knowledge of differences between ophthalmologists and optometrists and to determine factors predictive of knowledge status. Knowledge status was determined by performance on a questionnaire specifically designed for this study. Using multiple logistic regression analysis for simultaneous evaluation of potentially predictive factors, higher education, history of prior eye examination as an adult, and history of prior or present contact lens or spectacle wear were associated with scoring as knowledgeable. Predicted probabilities of being knowledgeable and not knowledgeable were presented for all combinations of these predictive variables. Such information may be helpful in guiding public education campaigns regarding eye care.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Diurnal change in refraction, corneal curvature, visual acuity, and intraocular pressure after radial keratotomy in the PERK Study.

Selected patients who complained of fluctuating visual acuity in the Prospective Evaluation of Radial Keratotomy (PERK) Study were examined before 8:00 a.m. and after 7:00 p.m. on the same day to determine diurnal change in uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, manifest refractive error, average central keratometric power, and intraocular pressure. Sixty-three operated eyes were examined at three months, while 46 operated and 40 unoperated contralateral eyes were examined at one year after radial keratotomy. One year after surgery, 42% of the operated eyes had an increase in minus power of the manifest refraction of 0.50 to 1.25 diopters, 26% of the eyes changed their uncorrected visual acuity by 2 to 4 Snellen lines, and 35% of the operated eyes showed central steepening of the cornea by 0.50 to 1.25 diopters. These changes in the operated eyes at one year were similar to the changes at three months. Minimal diurnal changes occurred in the unoperated eyes at one year. Only 11% of the unoperated eyes changed their manifest refraction by 0.50 to 1.00 diopters, none changed their uncorrected visual acuity by 2 to 4 Snellen lines, and only one of the unoperated eyes changed its central keratometric power by 0.50 diopters. This study documents that many patients who experience diurnal fluctuation of vision have steepening of the cornea and an increase in the minus power of their refraction during the day.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Contrast sensitivity under photopic conditions in the Prospective Evaluation of Radial Keratotomy (PERK) Study.

We studied the effect of radial keratotomy on contrast sensitivity in 69 individuals with one eye operated and one eye unoperated in the Prospective Evaluation of Radial Keratotomy (PERK) Study, with a mean follow-up time of 13.8 months (range 6 months to 31 months). We tested contrast sensitivity under normal daylight conditions using both photographic plates and a computer-video apparatus. On average, we found no clinically meaningful loss of contrast sensitivity in eyes after radial keratotomy. However, eyes with radial keratotomy showed a statistically significant decrease in contrast sensitivity at the higher spatial frequencies of 12 and 18 cycles per degree, although all values were within the previously established normal range. Specifically, 44% of the patients had approximately the same contrast sensitivity in both eyes; 40% of the patients had 50% less contrast sensitivity in the operated eye than in the unoperated eye; 16% of the patients had 50% more contrast sensitivity in the operated eye than in the unoperated eye. Contrast sensitivity improved gradually in operated eyes between 6 months and 2 years after surgery. Eyes with radial keratotomy, in which the diameter of the pupil was the same size as or larger than the central clear zone, had slightly decreased contrast sensitivity compared to eyes in which the pupil was smaller than the clear zone.

Adult↗