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Biomedical subjects

M Grey

Publications and source records attributed to M Grey.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Trends in work-related musculoskeletal disorder reports by year, type, and industrial sector: a capture-recapture analysis.

BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are thought to be declining based on Bureau of Labor Statistics survey data, but there is also evidence of MSD under-reporting, raising the possibility of contrary trends. The magnitude of MSD under-reporting over time, and its industry distribution have not been adequately described. METHODS: Capture-recapture analysis of 7 years of Connecticut MSD (1995-2001), utilizing Workers' Compensation and physician reporting data was performed. RESULTS: Only 5.5%-7.9% of MSD cases appear to be reported to Workers Compensation annually. The capture-recapture estimated average annual rate for upper-extremity MSD was 133.1 per 10,000 employed persons, far above BLS rates. By industry, Manufacturing, State Government, and the Finance/Insurance/Real Estate sectors all had significantly higher MSD rates than Wholesale/Retail Trade. CONCLUSIONS: Upper-extremity MSD appears to be significantly under-reported, and rates are not decreasing over time. Capture-recapture methods provide an improved surveillance method for monitoring temporal trends in injury rates.

Adult↗

Constant vigilance: mothers' work parenting young children with type 1 diabetes.

Little is known about the experiences of mothers raising young children with type 1 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to describe the day-to-day experiences of mothers (N = 28) raising young children under 4 years of age with type 1 diabetes. Descriptive, naturalistic inquiry principles were used to interview subjects, as well as to manage and analyze the data. The mothers reported using the management behavior of constant vigilance. Their concerns about hypoglycemia and providing competent care reflected the interplay between their fears and profound sense of responsibility for managing the disease. Mothers reported having to learn the management behaviors and to occasionally adjust the day-to-day management when either severe hypoglycemia or developmental milestones occurred. Although mothers initially had feelings of incompetence with the care they provided, with time, they became very skilled. There were also reports of limited access to babysitting, child care, or respite services. The intensity of their constant vigilance associated with their concerns, responsibility, and lack of supports resulted in some mothers having physical and/or emotional problems. The findings of the study highlight the importance of identifying family and/or community resources that may provide mothers with support that could reduce some of the tremendous stress and burden of responsibility experienced after diagnosis of diabetes.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Thermoconditional modulation of the pleiotropic sensitivity phenotype by the Saccharomyces cerevisiae PRP19 mutant allele pso4-1.

The conditionally-lethal pso4-1 mutant allele of the spliceosomal-associated PRP19 gene allowed us to study this gene's influence on pre-mRNA processing, DNA repair and sporulation. Phenotypes related to intron-containing genes were correlated to temperature. Splicing reporter systems and RT-PCR showed splicing efficiency in pso4-1 to be inversely correlated to growth temperature. A single amino acid substitution, replacing leucine with serine, was identified within the N-terminal region of the pso4-1 allele and was shown to affect the interacting properties of Pso4-1p. Amongst 24 interacting clones isolated in a two-hybrid screening, seven could be identified as parts of the RAD2, RLF2 and DBR1 genes. RAD2 encodes an endonuclease indispensable for nucleotide excision repair (NER), RLF2 encodes the major subunit of the chromatin assembly factor I, whose deletion results in sensitivity to UVC radiation, while DBR1 encodes the lariat RNA splicing debranching enzyme, which degrades intron lariat structures during splicing. Characterization of mutagen-sensitive phenotypes of rad2Delta, rlf2Delta and pso4-1 single and double mutant strains showed enhanced sensitivity for the rad2Delta pso4-1 and rlf2Delta pso4-1 double mutants, suggesting a functional interference of these proteins in DNA repair processes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Alleles↗

Mutant pso8-1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sensitive to photoactivated psoralens, UV radiation, and chemical mutagens, contains a rad6 missense mutant allele.

A novel mutant isolate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sensitive to photoactivated mono- and bi-functional psoralens, to UV at 254 nm (UVC), and to nitrosoguanidine, was found to complement the photoactivated psoralen-sensitivity phenotype conferred by the pso1- pso7 mutations and was therefore named pso8-1. A constructed pso8-1 rad4-4 double mutant was super-sensitive to UVC, thus indicating a synergistic interaction of the two mutant alleles. Molecular cloning via complementation of the pso8 mutant's sensitivity phenotype and genetic studies revealed that pso8 is allelic to RAD6. While a pso8-1 mutant had low mutagen-induced mutability, homoallelic diploids showed nearly wild-type sporulation. Sequence analysis of the mutant allele showed pso8-1 to contain a novel, hitherto undescribed T-->C transition in nucleotide position 191, leading to a substitution by leucine of a highly conserved proline at position 64, Rad6-[P64L], which may have severe consequences for the tertiary structure (and hence binding to Rad18p) of the mutant protein.

Alleles↗

Clinical and psychosocial factors associated with achievement of treatment goals in adolescents with diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE: To examine the following questions with regard to the initiation of a new intensive management program for adolescents with Type 1 diabetes mellitus: (a) What clinical and psychosocial factors are associated with achievement of metabolic control treatment goals after 1 year? and (b) What baseline clinical and psychosocial factors are associated with improvement in the quality of life after 12 months? METHODS: Eighty-one subjects (of 83 who began; aged 14.3 +/- 2.0 years at entry; 48 females, 33 males; 95% white; diabetes duration 8.9 +/- 3.9 years) with Type 1 diabetes completed 12 months of follow-up in a study of intensified treatment of diabetes. Assessments at baseline and at 12 months used the Diabetes Quality of Life for Youth scale, the Self-efficacy for Diabetes Scale, the Children's Depression Inventory, the Issues in Coping with Diabetes Scale, and the Diabetes Family Behavior Scale. Data were analyzed using multiple and logistic regression. RESULTS: From a baseline of >9%, HbA1c levels decreased to a mean of 7.8 +/- 0.7%, with 30% of the subjects achieving our treatment goal of <or=7.2%. Logistic regression demonstrated that achievement of goal levels of HbA1c were associated with better metabolic control at study entry (p = .05), participation in coping skills training (p = .003), and more parental participation in guidance and control (p = .05). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that participation in coping skills training with lower impact of diabetes on quality of life at baseline and less depression at baseline contributed significantly to the variance (0.57) in quality of life at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Providers need to pay particular attention to adolescents with poorer metabolic control and impact of diabetes on quality of life when they intensify their treatment because they are less likely to reach treatment goals. Furthermore, behavioral interventions such as coping skills training may help teens achieve their goals.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Reinforcement of occupational history taking: a success story.

BACKGROUND: This article describes the results of a retrospective study of 3 classes of medical students who participated in a targeted occupational and environmental health curriculum at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. PURPOSE: We wanted to determine if targeted focused curricular interventions which integrated occupational and environmental health principles into routine history taking would result in increased scores on the number of questions posed during the Clinical Skills Assessment Program in the 4th year. METHODS: We analyzed Clinical Skills Assessment Program questions for 3 graduating medical school classes from 1997 to 1999. RESULTS: It appears that intense, focused training may increase the occupational and environmental questions which students ask. By revisiting the components of the history during the 3rd year, the final assessment of 4th-year students substantially and significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: Those who wish to stem the decline in history-taking skills as students enter their clinical years should consider reinforcing these skills using structured programs and practice in areas of the history that are traditionally neglected but recognized as essential in gathering comprehensive data on patients.

Analysis of Variance↗

IgA myeloma of donor origin arising 7 years after allogeneic renal transplant.

We report the case of a 38-year-old man who developed IgA myeloma of donor origin 7 years after allogeneic renal transplant. The diagnosis of multiple myeloma was unequivocal and based on positive results from serum electrophoresis, skeletal survey and bone marrow investigations. The donor origin of the myeloma cells was confirmed by DNA fingerprinting. We believe this is the first reported case of disseminated multiple myeloma of donor origin developing after allogeneic renal transplant and, as such, gives some insight into the natural history and biology of the disease.

Adult↗

Coping skills training for youth with diabetes mellitus has long-lasting effects on metabolic control and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether initial effects on metabolic control and quality of life associated with a behavioral intervention combined with intensive diabetes management (IDM) can be sustained over 1 year in youth implementing intensive therapy regimens. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-seven patients (43 females, 95% white) 12 to 20 years (mean = 14.2 +/- 1.9; duration, 8.7 +/- 3.9) electing to initiate IDM were randomly assigned to one of two groups: with or without coping skills training (CST), which consists of 6 small group sessions and monthly follow-up to help youth cope with their lives in the context of diabetes management; skills included social problem solving, cognitive behavior modification, and conflict resolution. Data were collected before the intervention and at 3, 6, and 12 months after the intervention by using the Self-Efficacy for Diabetes Scale, Children's Depression Inventory, Issues in Coping with IDDM, and the Diabetes Quality of Life: Youth scales. Clinical data (glycosylated hemoglobin level, height, weight, adverse effects) were collected monthly. RESULTS: The CST and IDM groups were comparable at baseline. CST subjects had lower glycosylated hemoglobin (P =.001) and better diabetes (P =.002) and medical (P =. 04) self-efficacy, and less impact of diabetes on their quality of life (P =.005) than youth receiving IDM alone after 1 year. In males, CST did not affect adverse outcomes of IDM hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and weight gain, but CST decreased the incidence of weight gain (P =.05) and hypoglycemia in females (P =.03). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of behavioral intervention to IDM in adolescence results in improved metabolic control and quality of life over 1 year.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Care of the child or adolescent with type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents is a complex disease requiring multifaceted care. Children are managed with a combination of insulin by injection or pump, meal planning, and blood glucose self-monitoring. Close follow-up by a pediatric diabetes treatment team is recommended for most children. Concerns related to short- and long-term complications and the complexity of day-to-day management comprise the difficulties reported by parents and their children with type 1 diabetes.

Adolescent↗

Interventions for children with diabetes and their families.

The purpose of this review is to examine the research literature on interventions for children with type 1 diabetes and their families, with a specific focus on three types of intervention (educational and psychosocial/behavioral interventions that focus on individuals with diabetes and family interventions for families, usually parents, of individuals with diabetes). The aim of the review is to determine what interventions produce what outcomes in what populations of children and families. The review includes articles that met the following criteria: (a) empirical study reporting the impact of an intervention on such outcomes as knowledge, behavior, self-care, and metabolic control; (b) children with type 1 diabetes and/or their families as primary subjects; (c) publication between 1980 and January 1, 1999; and (d) publication in English. A total of 41 published papers were included. On the basis of this review, conclusions are as follows: (a) Educational interventions are useful in improving diabetes knowledge but not consistently helpful in improving metabolic control; (b) psychosocial interventions, especially coping skills training and peer support, assist primarily adolescents to improve adjustment and sometimes metabolic control; and (c) family interventions may be helpful in reducing parent-child conflict about diabetes management and care.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Culturing the throat to protect the heart: Dr. Milton Markowitz and the prevention of rheumatic fever.

The purpose of this article is to briefly review how the understanding of rheumatic fever has evolved over the last 50 years. Particular emphasis is given to the identification of the Group A streptococcus as the causative agent of rheumatic fever and the use of antibiotics to treat and prevent rheumatic fever. Throughout his 50-year career, Dr. Milton Markowitz, former chairman of the department of pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, has been involved in these advances as an international expert on rheumatic fever prevention. Using archival materials, including some of the earliest literature descriptions of rheumatic fever, as well as an extended interview with Dr. Markowitz, the authors present a unique personal perspective both on the history of rheumatic fever and the context within which the scientific advances that have led to contemporary treatment and prevention strategies have evolved.

Connecticut↗

Oxygen stress: a regulator of apoptosis in yeast.

Oxygen radicals are important components of metazoan apoptosis. We have found that apoptosis can be induced in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by depletion of glutathione or by low external doses of H2O2. Cycloheximide prevents apoptotic death revealing active participation of the cell. Yeast can also be triggered into apoptosis by a mutation in CDC48 or by expression of mammalian bax. In both cases, we show oxygen radicals to accumulate in the cell, whereas radical depletion or hypoxia prevents apoptosis. These results suggest that the generation of oxygen radicals is a key event in the ancestral apoptotic pathway and offer an explanation for the mechanism of bax-induced apoptosis in the absence of any established apoptotic gene in yeast.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Allelism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes PSO6, involved in survival after 3-CPs+UVA induced damage, and ERG3, encoding the enzyme sterol C-5 desaturase.

Sequencing of the yeast gene that complemented the sensitivity to the photoactivated monofunctional 3-carbethoxypsoralen of the pso6-1 mutant strain revealed that the ERG3 locus, encoding sterol C-5 desaturase involved in biosynthesis of ergosterol, is allelic to PSO6. Disruption of the ERG3 gene yielded an erg3Delta mutant viable in ergosterol-containing YEPD media with the same pleiotropic mutant phenotype known for pso6-1 and erg3 mutants, including sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide and paraquat. Thus, the erg3/pso6 yeast mutant seems to be more sensitive than the WT to 3-CPs+UVA because of the oxidative damage contributed by this treatment and not because of an impaired repair of the furocoumarin-thymine monoadducts formed in the DNA. We found a significant increase of petites amongst erg3Delta and pso6-1 yeast mutant strains grown in conditions where respiration was mandatory. Mutant pso6-1, with its lowered content of ergosterol, exhibited enhanced synthesis of chitin that was maldistributed and not confined to the bud scars. Chitin overproduction in pso6/erg3 mutants resulted in hypersensitivity to Calcofluor White.

Alleles↗

Key issues in chronic illness research: lessons from the study of children with diabetes.

Issues and controversies in chronic illness research are discussed, with data and examples from a program of research dealing with children and adolescents with diabetes. The key differences that demand consideration include prevalence, developmental issues, measurement, cultural issues, the lack of viable models, use of controls, the importance of the family, and ethical concerns.

Adolescent↗

Coping skills training for youths with diabetes on intensive therapy.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a behavioral intervention (coping skills training [CST]) combined with intensive diabetes management can improve the metabolic control and quality of life in adolescents who are implementing intensive therapy. A total of 77 youths (age range, 12.5-20 years) who were beginning intensive insulin therapy were randomly assigned to one of two groups: intensive management with CST or without CST. CST consists of a series of small group efforts designed to teach problem solving skills and communication. Data were collected preintervention and at 3 and 6 months post-intervention by using established clinical and psychosocial indicators. Randomization produced equivalent groups. After 6 months, subjects who received CST had better metabolic control (F = 3.89, p = .02) and better general self-efficacy (F = 4.54, p = 0.01). They reported less negative impact of diabetes on their quality of life (F = 4.55, p = .01) and had fewer worries about diabetes (F = 3.82, p = .02). Thus, nurses may find CST useful in assisting youths with diabetes to achieve metabolic and quality of life goals.

Adaptation, Psychological↗