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Biomedical subjects

Nancy Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to Nancy Thomas.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Ambient UV, personal sun exposure and risk of multiple primary melanomas.

OBJECTIVE: Sun exposure is the main cause of melanoma in populations of European origin. No previous study has examined the effect of sun exposure on risk of multiple primary melanomas compared with people who have one melanoma. METHODS: We identified and enrolled 2,023 people with a first primary melanoma (controls) and 1,125 with multiple primary melanomas (cases) in seven centers in four countries, recorded their residential history to assign ambient UV and interviewed them about their sun exposure. RESULTS: Risk of multiple primary melanomas increased significantly (P<0.05) to OR=2.10 for the highest exposure quarter of ambient UV irradiance at birth and 10 years of age, to OR=1.38 for lifetime recreational sun exposure, to OR=1.85 for beach and waterside activities, to OR=1.57 for vacations in a sunnier climate, to OR=1.50 for sunburns. Occupational sun exposure did not increase risk (OR=1.03 for highest exposure). Recreational exposure at any age increased risk and appeared to add to risk from ambient UV in early life. CONCLUSIONS: People who have had a melanoma can expect to reduce their risk of a further melanoma by reducing recreational sun exposure whatever their age. The same is probably true for a person who has never had a melanoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Design and synthesis of photoaffinity-labeling ligands of the L-prolyl-L-leucylglycinamide binding site involved in the allosteric modulation of the dopamine receptor.

Pro-Leu-Gly-NH(2) (PLG), in addition to its endocrine effects, possesses the ability to modulate dopamine D(2) receptors within the central nervous system. However, the precise binding site of PLG is unknown. Potential photoaffinity-labeling ligands of the PLG binding site were designed as tools to be used in the identification of the macromolecule that possesses this binding site. Six different photoaffinity-labeling ligands were designed and synthesized on the basis of the gamma-lactam PLG peptidomimetic 1. The 4-azidobenzoyl and 4-azido-2-hydroxybenzoyl photoaffinity-labeling moieties were placed at opposite ends of PLG peptidomimetic 1 to generate a series of ligands that potentially could be used to map the PLG binding site. All of the compounds that were synthesized possessed activity comparable to or better than PLG in enhancing [(3)H]-N-propylnorapomorphine agonist binding to dopamine receptors. Photoaffinity ligands that were cross-linked to the receptor preparation produced a modulatory effect that was either comparable to or greater than the increase in agonist binding produced by the respective ligands that were not cross-linked to the dopamine receptor. The results indicate that these photoaffinity-labeling agents are binding at the same allosteric site as PLG and PLG peptidomimetic 1.

Allosteric Regulation↗
PubMed2005

Polymorphisms in nucleotide excision repair genes and risk of multiple primary melanoma: the Genes Environment and Melanoma Study.

Polymorphisms in six genes involved in nucleotide excision repair of DNA were examined in a large population-based case-control study of melanoma. Genotyping was conducted for 2485 patients with a single primary melanoma (controls) and 1238 patients with second or higher order primary melanomas (cases). Patients were ascertained from nine geographic regions in Australia, Canada, Italy and the United States. Positive associations were observed for XPD 312 Asn/Asn versus Asp/Asp [odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-1.9] and XPD 751 Gln/Gln versus Lys/Lys (OR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7) genotypes and melanoma. The combined XPD Asn (A) 312 + Gln (C) 751 haplotype was significantly more frequent in cases (32%) compared with controls (29%) (P = 0.003) and risk of melanoma increased significantly with one and two copies of the haplotype (ORs 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.4, and 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.0, trend P = 0.002). No significant associations were observed for HR23B codon 249, XPG codon 1104, XPC codon 939, XPF codon 415, XPF nt 2063, ERCC6 codon 1213 or ERCC6 codon 1230. ORs for XPD and XPC genotypes were stronger for melanoma diagnosed at an early age, but tests for interaction were not statistically significant. The results provide further evidence for a role of XPD in the etiology of melanoma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Predictors of body image dissatisfaction and disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors in African American and Hispanic girls.

Disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors are widespread among girls in the United States. Because obesity is one of the leading risk factors for eating disorder development, African American and Hispanic girls may be at heightened risk due to their greater prevalence and degree of overweight. The present study examined the associations among disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors, body image dissatisfaction, weight classification, fears of negative evaluation, and coping skills among 139 African American and Hispanic girls in Grades 4 and 5 from a low-income urban area. African American girls had significantly lower body image dissatisfaction than Hispanic girls. Significant predictors of body image dissatisfaction included fear of negative evaluation and weight classification. Fear of negative evaluation was also a significant predictor of disturbed eating attitudes and behaviors. Overall, 10.1% of the African American girls and 12.7% of the Hispanic girls qualified for a diagnosis of a probable eating disorder. Girls with eating disorders had greater fears of negative evaluation and engaged in more cognitive avoidance. Both groups are at risk of eating disorder development.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

A dual diagnosis demonstration project: treatment outcomes and cost analysis.

This article presents findings from an outpatient dual diagnosis demonstration project that investigated whether integrated treatment services for severely and persistently ill patients with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders could result in improved outcomes and reduction of criminal justice and health care costs. Integrated treatment was defined as a simultaneous focus on both disorders through the provision of psychosocial rehabilitation, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic treatment, and substance abuse recovery and relapse prevention by cross-trained staff. One hundred twenty six (126) patients with multiple DSM-IV Axis I and Axis II disorders were assessed on a variety of mental health, substance abuse, and quality of life measures at baseline and at six-month intervals up to three years post entry into treatment. Criminal justice and health care costs obtained from state and local databases were compared two years before and two years after initiation of treatment to determine cost differences. The study found statistically significant improvements in psychiatric symptoms, substance abuse, and quality of life outcomes. There were also decreases in criminal justice and acute and sub-acute mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) costs and increases in outpatient mental health and physical health care costs.

Community Mental Health Centers↗