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Biomedical subjects

R Burke

Publications and source records attributed to R Burke.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Hair follicle discrimination dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.

A method was developed of assessing somatosensory deficits quantitatively using hair follicle displacement as a stimulus within a psychophysical signal detection task paradigm. Multiple sclerosis patients with and without somatosensory disturbances could be differentiated and compared with normal subjects. This method may distinguish patients with somatosensory dysfunction, and dorsal funiculus neuropathology may underlie this distinction.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Self-instructional teaching of biostatistics for medical students.

A growing body of literature deals with the use of self-instructional methods for teaching biostatistics to medical students. The University of Tennessee Department of Community Medicine tested the hypothesis that, in controlled, randomized situations, learning of statistical material by self-instruction is equivalent to learning identical material by the lecture method. An analysis of student performance, in terms of the grades obtained on two separate examinations, showed that students learning by self-instruction did as well or better than their colleagues taking lectures. On the basis of these results, self-instructional biostatistics for medical students at the University of Tennessee has been selected as the major teaching method of that subject.

Education, Medical↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Neurobehavioral test strategies for environmental exposures in pediatric populations.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry convened a workshop in Atlanta, GA, that evaluated approaches and methods to ascertain whether there are neurobehavioral sequelae to children and adults exposed to hazardous substances in the environment. This article, developed from that workshop, addresses the feasibility of employing extant neurobehavioral tests to screen pediatric populations. A matrix lists basic functions to be assessed during eight developmental periods ranging from birth to high school. The best of these neurobehavioral tests for pediatric populations and the types of assessment tools that are still needed are discussed. We make 10 specific recommendations to establish a hazardous substances neurobehavioral screen for pediatric populations, including appointing a review panel, developing a structured questionnaire, convening a conference on design and analysis, addressing minority and socially disadvantaged populations, coordinating adult and child assessment methods, information sharing among Federal agencies, baseline data, methodology research, research associated with hazardous worksites, and establishment of a pediatric databank.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

CD95 antigen mutations in hematopoietic malignancies.

The CD95 receptor, also known as Fas/Apo-1, is a member of the Tumor Necrosis Factor receptor (TNF-R) family of death receptors. Apoptosis mediated by CD95 plays a central role in maintaining homeostasis of the immune system. Dysregulation of the CD95 apoptotic pathway has been proposed as a mechanism of oncogenesis by providing a survival advantage to potentially malignant cells. This extended lifespan could allow the accumulation of further mutations leading to malignant transformation. Several mechanisms of resistance to CD95 mediated apoptosis have been identified, including reduced surface expression of the receptor, overexpression of anti-apoptotic molecules, and loss of function mutations. This review will focus on the potential role of the CD95-CD95 ligand system in the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies, with particular emphasis on recent work from our laboratory examining the expression of CD95 in B cell lymphomas. We demonstrate that CD95 mutations occur at low frequency in NHL tumors, however, surface expression of the CD95 protein varies with the subtype of lymphoma. Loss of surface CD95 is more likely to occur in lymphomas of aggressive histology, and is unrelated to the detection of CD95 mutations.

Apoptosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychosocial and demographic correlates of television viewing.

PURPOSE: The present study was grounded in the notion that previously identified physical activity determinants were associated in reverse with television viewing. Identifying demographic and psychosocial correlates and other potential determinants of television viewing may allow for the development and conceptualization of models and interventions to reduce sedentary behavior. DESIGN: Cross-sectional data from self-report measures were analyzed using multiple hierarchical regression. SETTING: Data were collected from 1995 to 1996 on seniors attending a large public university in southern California. SAMPLE: Subjects were 321 female and 255 male university seniors attending a public university in southern California. The sample's ethnic distribution was 53.8% European-American, 16.3% Latino, 16.6% Asian/Pacific Islander, 16.1% African-American, and 4.3% other. MEASURES: Typical television viewing practices on weekdays and weekends were assessed using self-report items. Physical activity determinants were assessed using self-report measures derived from social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model of behavior change. RESULTS: The variables explaining a significant amount of variance after controlling for ethnicity and employment status in females were barriers to physical activity (p < .05), body image dissatisfaction (p < .01), and processes of change (p < .02). The entire model for females captured 16% of the variance, with the psychosocial variables accounting for 8% of the variance. The significant variables in the male model were quality of life (p < .01) and grade point average (p < .03). The full model accounted for 15% of the variance, with nondemographic variables accounting for 5% of the variance in television viewing. CONCLUSIONS: Relationships between television viewing and potential determinants were found. However, additional variables that may influence the amount of television viewing need to be conceptualized and investigated.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Lessons learned in implementing a staff education program in pain management in the acute care setting.

With the release of Acute Pain and Cancer Pain Guidelines from the federal government, many healthcare agencies will be instituting programs to improve pain management. The authors describe a pilot project in acute pain management that did not yield desired results. On the basis of this experience and through a review of the literature, information is provided to staff development educators about problems and issues in planning and executing a program in pain management using structure, process, and outcome as a framework.

Acute Disease↗