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Biomedical subjects

M R Larson

Publications and source records attributed to M R Larson.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

A presurgical psychosocial intervention for breast cancer patients. psychological distress and the immune response.

OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the feasibility and potential immunological benefit of a presurgical intervention for breast cancer patients. METHODS: Forty-one newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were randomized into control (standard care) and intervention groups. In addition to standard care, intervention group members received a two-session psychosocial intervention. Blood was drawn at three timepoints: (1) at preintervention; (2) at postintervention/presurgery; and (3) at postsurgery. RESULTS: Examination of the immunological data revealed evidence of suppression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the control group over time, but not in the intervention group. Secondary findings related to psychological assessment generally paralleled the IFN-gamma results. CONCLUSION: The relevance and applicability of these findings to future breast cancer intervention research is detailed.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Social desirability and self-reported weight and height.

The present study examines the relationship between the desire to conform to perceived societal norms and the misreporting of weight and height. Self-reported and measured weights and heights for 56 young, healthy non-obese volunteers were assessed and compared to scores on the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS). Discrepancies between actual and self-reported weights for females were directly related to actual weight (r = 0.66, P<0.0001). The same was not true for males (r = 0.03). Height was significantly overreported, regardless of gender (P<0.004). Most importantly, for females, MCSDS scores were significantly correlated with the discrepancy between actual and self-reported weights after statistically adjusting for differences in actual weight (r = 0.51, P<0.0001). Results suggest that the misreporting of weight among young, non-obese women may be directly influenced by the desire to conform to perceived societal norms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Photoscreening for amblyogenic factors by public health personnel: the Eyecor Camera System.

OBJECTIVES: This pilot study was designed to assess the ability of a photoscreening camera to detect amblyogenic factors such as high refractive error, anisometropia, media opacities and strabismus in children, compared to the standard vision screening techniques employed by the local state public health screening personnel. METHODS: Public health personnel in Illinois used the Eyecor prototype to the current commercially available MTI PS-100 photoscreening camera (manufactured by Medical Technology Inc.) to screen 127 non-dilated subjects, ages 7 months to 20 years (mean age, 6 years), for amblyogenic factors. All participants were concurrently subjected to the "standard" vision screening employed routinely by state public health personnel. The study participants included a group of normal inner-city children and one group of special-needs children. The normal children came from both a public school and a private school. The special-needs children included a group of children from a state-run school for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and a separate group of children attending a multi-disciplinary Easter Seals clinic. RESULTS: In the population of normal children, the mean sensitivity and specificity for the observers using the Eyecor Camera system was 81% and 83% with a mean positive predictive value of 83%, and a mean negative predictive value of 55%. Standard vision screening techniques employed by public health service certified vision screeners had a sensitivity of 88%, a specificity of 91%, a positive predictive value of 67% and a negative predictive value of 97% in the same subjects. In the population of special-needs children with hearing impairment and developmental delay, the mean sensitivity and specificity for the observers using the Eyecor Camera system was 74% and 82% with a mean positive predictive value of 69% and a mean negative predictive value of 85%. Standard vision screening techniques employed by public health service certified vision screeners had a sensitivity of 100%, a specificity of 55%, a positive predictive value of 62% and a negative predictive value of 100% in the same subjects. (See Table 1) CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the Eyecor Photoscreening Camera is useful in screening normal children for amblyogenic factors. Photoscreening was at least as effective as standard screening methodologies performed by certified vision screeners as required by state public health policy. In addition, photoscreening is particularly useful in testing those children "unscreenable" by conventional vision screening procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Defensive hostility and anger expression: relationship to additional heart rate reactivity during active coping.

The main purpose of the present study was twofold: (a) to assess the relationship between defensive hostility (high hostility/high defensiveness) and additional heart rate reactivity during active coping and (b) to determine if the construct of anger-out might lend additional sensitivity to the predictive power of the defensive hostility model. Forty individuals were randomly assigned to complete a mental arithmetic task with or without the threat of shock. Participants also completed the Cook-Medley Hostility Inventory (Ho), the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MC), and the Spielberger Anger Expression Scale. Defensive hostile subjects (high Ho/high MC) were significantly more reactive than any other subgroup. In addition, the combination of low Ho/high anger-out scores yielded a subgroup significantly less reactive than any other subgroup. These findings clarify the complex relationship of hostility and cardiovascular reactivity.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Comprehensive vision screening program: Illinois' approach.

This article discusses a statewide vision screening program that utilizes trained and certified vision screening technicians under the auspices of the Department of Public Health. Public Act 81-174, the Child Vision and Hearing Test Act, mandates periodic vision screening of children using accepted and approved instruments and standards. The program receives consultation from the Children's Vision Services Advisory Committee, consisting of optometrists, ophthalmologists and others in health and education programs. Topics addressed include: training and certification of technicians; screening, referral and follow-up; program summary of statewide screening statistics of 1.2 million children for fiscal year 1985, etc.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Effects of localized hyper- and hypothermia on maximal isometric grip strength.

Twenty-four male college students were divided into two groups and served as subjects for a study which investigated the progressive effects of heat and cold on maximum isometric grip strength. One group of 12 subjects was exposed to a heating (40 degrees C) treatment, the other to a cooling (10 degrees C) treatment. Maximum isometric grip strength was measured prior to the application of treatments and again every two minutes until the end of the 30 minute treatment period. Cutaneous temperature of the contracting limb was also measured simultaneously with the maximum contractions. With cooling, cutaneous temperature was found to decrease 16.29 degrees C by the end of the treatment period. Maximum grip strength improved 8.29 percent immediately following the application of cold and then declined 14.05 percent by the end of treatment. Heating produced a 5.96 degrees C increase in cutaneous temperature, with maximum grip strength declining 17.93 percent during the first 22 minutes of treatment. This trend then reversed itself and maximum strength improved to within 91.93 percent of the pre-treatment value. The results suggest a neural, as well as mechanical, influence of temperature on muscular contractions.

Adult↗