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Biomedical subjects

P R Gross

Publications and source records attributed to P R Gross.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Is pain sensitivity associated with occupational fears in police recruits?

Gross (Behaviour Research and Therapy, 30, 7-13, 1992a) showed that the fear of pain (pain sensitivity) could be distinguished from dental fears and health concerns. Furthermore, the Pain Sensitivity Index (PSI) correlated significantly with pain expectations, and pain expectations correlated significantly with dental avoidance behaviour. However, Gross noted that the psychometric properties of the PSI had not been fully determined. The present study examined the factor structure of an expanded version of the PSI with a sample of 212 police recruits. A single factor accounted for 52.1% of the variance and the reliability coefficient (alpha = 0.89) indicates that the PSI possesses a high degree of internal reliability. Subsequently, it was hypothesized that pain sensitivity correlates positively with fears relating to police tasks which are characterized by pain expectancies, such as the fear of being assaulted during operational police work. In support of the hypothesis, pain sensitivity correlated highest with situations involving pain. The pain sensitivity construct may help to explain individual differences in fear reactions to situations where pain could be experienced, such as operational police duties or dental attendances.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Is pain sensitivity associated with dental avoidance?

The present investigation examined whether pain sensitivity is associated with dental avoidance. Whereas the aim of the first study was to determine whether pain sensitivity can be distinguished from dental fears and health concerns, the aim of the second study was to examine the structure of cognitive aspects of pain sensitivity, and the aim of the third study was to examine the relationships of pain sensitivity to anxiety sensitivity, fear, pain, and avoidance. In the first study (n = 222), a factor analysis performed with items from the Dental Phobia and Pain Sensitivity Inventory distinguished a pain sensitivity factor from factors relating to dental phobia and health concerns. The factor structure of the Pain Sensitivity Index was examined in the second study (n = 181), and similarly, a pain sensitivity factor was interpreted in the data. The third study (n = 65) found that although pain sensitivity correlated significantly with anxiety sensitivity, these constructs are not identical to each other. For instance, pain sensitivity but not anxiety sensitivity correlated significantly with blood-injury phobia. Pain sensitivity should be taken into account in future studies of dental phobia as pain sensitivity was found to be predictive of pain intensity, and pain intensity was found to be predictive of dental avoidance.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Color Doppler sonography of benign and malignant ovarian masses.

The use of transvaginal and transabdominal color Doppler sonography for the assessment of ovarian tumor vascularity was investigated in 62 cases of surgically excised and histologically examined ovarian masses. The modality was used to differentiate tumor neovascularity from normal arterioles (which contain smooth muscle in their media) on the basis of differences in the pulsatility observed in Doppler waveforms. Of the 25 malignant tumors in the series, 20 had low-impedance flow (pulsatility index of less than 1.0), and none had the diastolic notch seen in vessels in normal tissue. Three benign lesions, including two dermoid cysts and one tubo-ovarian abscess, also had low-impedance flow. The negative predictive value of color Doppler sonography was 98%, whereas the positive predictive value was 83%. Color Doppler sonography seems to be accurate for excluding malignancy, but some misdiagnosis may occur in cases of inflammatory and metabolically active benign masses.

Female↗
PubMed1991

Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis: a case report and review of the literature.

A case of neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis is presented, with a review of the literature. Although the histologic appearance of this disorder is distinct and infrequently reported, the clinical presentation is common. Neutrophilic eccrine hidradenitis may be an under-reported benign drug reaction in patients with white blood cell disorders.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Components of generalized anxiety: the role of intrusive thoughts vs worry.

This study explored possible mechanisms involved with the maintenance of generalized anxiety. While several general anxiety-related variables were investigated, the relationship between worry and intrusive thoughts was of primary interest. We postulated that anxious persons continue to worry in order to avoid recollections of distressing life events. Accordingly, we hypothesized that worry can be distinguished from intrusive thoughts and that the experience of worry would be preferred to intrusive thoughts. Results of a factor analysis indicated that worry and intrusive thought items loaded on separate factors, which supports the hypothesis that worry can be distinguished from intrusive thoughts. The study also examined whether different patterns of worry and intrusive thoughts distinguish between high-anxious, panic, and low-anxious persons and how anxiety sensitivity and self-consciousness are related to generalized anxiety and panic. Finally, we discussed the implications of our results for understanding the psychopathology base of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Phobic disorders and anxiety states: how do they differ?

A review of the clinical literature to date has shown that the nature of the relationship between phobic disorders and anxiety states is still unclear. As a wide range of symptoms are shared by patients with all DSM-III anxiety disorder diagnoses, at this stage there is still a need to investigate the latent dimensions which distinguish the anxiety disorder subtypes. In the present study 176 patients with the DSM-III diagnoses of agoraphobia with panic attacks, social phobia, panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder completed the Fear Survey Schedule, Fear Questionnaire, Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, Maudsley Personality Inventory, and the Hamilton Anxiety and Depression Scales. Group membership was significantly predicted by a discriminant analysis which yielded a Fear Questionnaire agoraphobia function and a social phobia function. The results from discriminant analysis suggests that agoraphobia and anxiety states may be closely related. Classification errors were also determined, providing further evidence with which to refute the claim that agoraphobia has "all or none" characteristics.

Anxiety Disorders↗
PubMed1989

Preparation book for hospitalized pediatric patients: content and design.

In the past 25 years, research has indicated the need for increased education and emotional support for pediatric patients in order to lessen their stress during hospitalization. A preparatory coloring book can help meet this need by providing factual information and by allowing emotional expression. A review of the literature identifies the major fears that should be addressed and gives guidelines for effectively producing such a book.

Anxiety↗
PubMed1981

Oral vitamin A in acne vulgaris. Preliminary report.

Oral vitamin A (retinol) is generally not considered useful in the treatment of acne vulgaris. We conducted a study which showed that retinol was indeed ineffective at the usual doses of 50,000 to 100,000 IU daily. Retinol was highly efficacious in doses of 300,000 units for women and 400,000 to 500,000 units for men, toxicity was slight and limited mainly to skin (xerosis) and mucous membranes (cheilitis). The danger of hypervitaminosis A in this dosage range has been exaggerated. Retinol is a valuable drug for treating stubborn, severely inflammatory acne vulgaris. It is administered until the disease is brought under control, usually within three to four months. Then the dosage is progressively reduced relying on conventional drugs to keep the disease in abeyance.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed1977

Noncoincidence of histone and DNA synthesis in cleavage cycles of early development.

The times of histone and DNA synthesis do not coincide in early cleavage of the sea urchin embryo. In fact, the production of histones increases during the interval after DNA synthesis (G2). Enucleate merogones, parthenogenetically activated, synthesize histones encoded upon maternal histone messenger RNA. The pattern of protein synthesis changes following fertilization, in part, but not solely, due to the increasing synthesis of histones relative to other proteins. Regulation of histone synthesis and the loading of newly replicated DNA with histones must themselves undergo change at the time of transition from cleavage cycles to cycles more typical of somatic cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

The programmed switch in lysine-rich histone synthesis at gastrulation.

The pattern of histone synthesis changes during development in sea urchins. One change involves two different lysine-rich histones. In Lytechinus, the late appearing histone, H1g, begins to be synthesized at gastrulation. Preformed ("maternal") mRNA of unfertilized eggs contains sequences that direct the synthesis of a part of the histone made during the period of cleavage. During that interval a different lysine-rich hsitone, H1m, is produced. Maternal mRNA is not, however, the sole source of templates for histone synthesis. Transcription of embryonic genomes provides the major translate both maternal and embryonic messages. A cell-free system derived from wheat germ was used to test RNAs from unfertilized eggs and from post-gastrula embryos for their capacity to direct the synthesis of histones, including the H1 types in vitro. Maternal mRNA includes templates for the synthesis of H1m, but it appears to lack those for H1g, since the cell-free system yields only H1m when challenged wigh egg RNA. Since the cell-free system is capable of translating H1g mRNA when presented with it, the synthesis of H1g is probably a very early developmental event controlled at the level of transcription.

Cell-Free System↗
PubMed1976

Photoallergy induced by quinidine.

An 82-year-old woman presented with a lichenified dermatitis over light-exposed areas. The eruption cleared upon withdrawal of quinidine and recurred on re-administration of the drug. Though quinidine has not been recognized as a photo-sensitizing agent, upon review of the literature we have uncovered other cases which meet the criteria and justify including this drug among those capable of causing such reactions.

Aged↗