Biomedical subjects

Paul Succop

Publications and source records attributed to Paul Succop.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

The night float paradigm to decrease sleep deprivation: good solution or a new problem?

In the late 1980s physician residency training programs developed the night float rotation, characterized by a sequence of 5 - 15 days of night work without any daytime duties, thereby involving an abrupt reversal of the wake - sleep schedule. We examined the effect of the night float rotation on sleep, mood and performance of pediatric residents. Residents completed sleep diaries daily, and tests of mood (Profile of Mood States) and attention (Conner's Continuous Performance Test) three times a week during the two-week night float rotation, and during equivalent blocks of time of their daytime rotations. Results show that, despite having ample opportunity to sleep during the day, while on night float rotation residents slept less than during the nights of their normal daytime rotations, 6.3 h +/- 2.5 h and 7.2 h +/- 1.7 h, respectively, p < 0.0001. Also, during night float compared to daytime rotations residents had increased fatigue-inertia scores, 8.7 +/- 4.1 and 4.8 +/- 2.4, respectively, p < 0.0001, and decreased vigor-activity scores 10.7 +/- 5.4 and 14.8 +/- 5.3, respectively, p = 0.02. The scores for attention were not significantly different between night float and daytime rotations. The correlation coefficients of fatigue with measures of attention were not statistically significant for daytime rotations. However, for night float fatigue correlated with omission errors, r = 0.51, p = 0.001 and with attentiveness r = - 0.36, p = 0.03. Training programs that adopt the night float rotation must be aware of potential deleterious effects of the night float rotation as they may lead to serious consequences on residents' performance and patients' safety.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2003

Relationships of stressors, strain, and anger to caregiver assaults.

Nursing assistants (NAs) working in nursing homes are at risk for nonfatal workplace violence. The aims of this study were to describe the context in which assaults occur and to identify characteristics of the NAs related to the incidence of assaults. One hundred and thirty eight subjects participated. NAs completed a demographic and employment survey, the Occupational Stress Inventory and the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2, and recorded information on an Assault Log for 80 hours of work. The mean number of assaults per NA was 4.69 (range 0-67). Significant relationships were found among incidence of assaults and staffing ratios, age, occupational strain, occupational role stressors, and anger. Results provide new and useful information when planning violence prevention programs for caregivers in nursing homes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Reduction of a 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene DNA adduct in rat mammary tissue in vivo when pretreated with tamoxifen.

Tamoxifen (TAM), an antiestrogenic compound, has been approved for the treatment of breast cancer in high risk women. TAM has been shown to be an effective agent for prevention of breast cancer in women of varying degrees of risk and has been proposed to be used prophylactically in women whose genetic background suggests a high risk for breast cancer. However, it is not known whether TAM given prophylactically will alter the response of women to carcinogens from common environmental exposures such as tobacco smoke. Therefore, we studied the effects of TAM pretreatment on mammary DNA adducts of the model carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), in the female rats to assess whether TAM would alter the adduct pattern of DMBA. TAM (0.3 mg/day) was given for 7 days prior to a single 20 mg DMBA gavage treatment that is considered a carcinogenic dose in the rat. At 7 days post-DMBA, there was a reduction in the major DMBA-DNA adduct and a significant reduction in the minor DMBA-DNA adduct in mammary glands (P=0.002) of TAM pretreated rats compared to control rats. These data indicate that TAM may alter either metabolic steps in the formation of DNA binding species and/or enhance adduct removal. These data suggest that TAM given to women prior to the development of breast cancer may modulate the impact of environmental exposures, for example, tobacco smoke. Furthermore, research is needed to determine if modulation will be positive, or negative as in the current study.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

PubMed2002

Relationship between lead levels on painted surfaces and percent lead in the particles aerosolized during lead abatement.

Quantifying airborne lead on lead abatement work sites is critical in assessing worker lead exposures. Airborne lead levels depend on both the concentration of aerosolized particles and the percent lead in those particles. The lead level on the painted surface being abated may affect the percent lead in aerosolized particles. Experiments were performed in the University of Cincinnati Environmental Test Chamber (volume approximately 24.3 m3) using wood doors painted with lead-based paint. Three methods were used for paint removal: dry scraping, wet scraping, and dry machine sanding. Particles aerosolized during lead abatement activities were collected on filters using the Button Personal Inhalable Aerosol Samplers (SKC Inc., Eighty Four, PA) mounted in the workers' breathing zone. The filters were subsequently analyzed for percent lead in the particles. A portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) instrument (NITON-700, NITON Inc., Bedford, MA) was used to measure surface lead levels of the doors. The accuracy of the XRF instrument was verified by testing standard reference materials prepared by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and by Princeton Gamma Tech Inc. It was also verified by relating XRF results from painted door surfaces to laboratory lead analysis data obtained from paint chip samples taken from the same painted surfaces (r2 = 0.81, p < 0.001). A highly significant relationship (r2 = 0.83, p < 0.001) was found between the XRF readings and the percent lead in the particles aerosolized during dry scraping. No significant relationship was found for wet scraping (r2 = 0.09, p = 0.56) or dry machine sanding (r2 = 0.002, p = 0.92). The relationship between surface lead levels and percent lead in particles was found to be dependent on the paint removal method. This variation was attributed to the difference in water absorption property of the paint layers and the different particle aerosolization mechanisms inherent in each paint removal method.

Aerosols↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of soil abatement on blood lead levels in children living near a former smelting and milling operation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of soil abatement on children's blood lead concentrations and on environmental levels of lead and arsenic. METHODS: Two cross-sectional surveys were conducted. The first (1989) was of a random sample of 6- to 72-month-old children (n=112). The second (1998) included all 6- to 72-month-old children whose parents agreed to participate in the survey (n=215). From 1993 to 1996, soil abatement was conducted around homes with average soil lead concentration >500 parts per million (ppm). Venipuncture blood samples were taken, interviews were conducted, and samples of house dust, soil, water, and paint were tested for lead and arsenic, using identical protocols in both surveys. The expected decline in blood lead concentrations were calculated for children who lived in houses that were abated, compared with children who lived in houses that were not abated. RESULTS: Lead and arsenic in soil and interior dust in homes that underwent soil abatement declined significantly compared to unabated homes (p<.05). After adjustment for potential confounders, the blood lead concentration in children ages 6 to 72 months who lived in soil-abated housing declined 42.8% faster than children who lived in unabated housing (p=0.14). In children ages 6 to 36 months, the decline was 45.4% faster (p=0.03). The estimated reduction in blood lead for children ages 6 to 36 months was 3.5 micro g/dL for every 1,000 ppm reduction in soil lead concentration (95% confidence interval [CI]=2.4 micro g/dL, 4.6 micro g/dL). CONCLUSION: Soil abatement was associated with a significant decline in children's blood lead and indoor environmental levels of lead and arsenic.

Arsenic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Preventing assaults by nursing home residents: nursing assistants' knowledge and confidence--a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency and context of assaults against nursing assistants (NAs) from residents and to describe NAs' beliefs about their violence prevention knowledge and self-efficacy to prevent assaults from residents. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Six nursing homes. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 138 nursing assistants. MEASUREMENTS: NAs completed two investigator-developed surveys, the Demographic and Employment Questionnaire and the Knowledge and Self-Efficacy Survey. The Demographic and Employment Questionnaire included questions about race, gender, age, and education, current and previous employment, number of residents usually assigned, frequency of assaults, and training on workplace violence. On the Knowledge and Self-Efficacy Survey, the participants used a five-point Likert scale to rate their knowledge and confidence in recognizing and preventing assaults from residents. RESULTS: Assaults against nursing assistants from residents in nursing homes were common; 59% stated they were assaulted at least once a week and 16% stated they were assaulted daily. Fifty-one percent stated that they had been injured in their lifetime from an assault from a resident, and 38% of those injured received medical attention for an injury. On the Likert items, nursing assistants reported that they believed they had the most knowledge (mean = 3.76) and confidence (mean 3.81) in their ability to recognize when a resident is agitated or becoming aggressive. In comparison, NAs rated lower their knowledge (mean = 3.45) and confidence in their ability (3.50) to keep residents from becoming agitated or aggressive (mean 3.50). NAs rated lowest their knowledge (3.42) and confidence (mean = 3.47) in their ability to decrease residents' agitation and aggressiveness once they become agitated or aggressive. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide useful information that supports the need for violence prevention education and for developing violence prevention programs in nursing homes.

Journal Article↗