PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

S Hartman

Publications and source records attributed to S Hartman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Comparison of plasma uric acid levels in five varieties of the domestic turkey, Meleagris gallopavo.

Plasma uric acid (PUA) is a consensus physiological biomarker for many phenotypes in vertebrates because it is a reliable indicator for processes such as oxidative stress and tubular function. In birds, it is considered a major antioxidant and is also the primary endproduct of nitrogen metabolism. Despite this importance, knowledge of baseline levels of PUA in physiologically normal birds, including the turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, is limited. Here, we compared PUA levels in a total of 106 apparently normal male and female birds at 8 and 32 wk of age from 5 strains of the domestic turkey, including Bourbon Red, Narragansett, Blue Slate, Royal Palm, and Spanish Black. Though differences in PUA were not significant at 8 and 32 wk of age, BW, variety, and sex effects were highly significant. When adjusted for BW, female birds had, on average, a higher PUA per kilogram of BW than male birds. When adjusted for both sex and BW, Royal Palm birds had the lowest average PUA, and Blue Slate had the highest PUA. Results of these investigations represent the first comparative analysis of PUA in physiologically normal turkey varieties. They suggest that differences in basal plasma levels of uric acid in physiologically normal turkeys are influenced by sex, weight, and genetic background but may be independent of age.

Aging↗
PubMed2002

Hemoptysis following blunt trauma: case report.

A 9-year-old boy developed significant hemoptysis and pulmonary parenchymal injury following blunt trauma. There was delayed development of hemoptysis following chest injury, and the trauma did not produce any evidence of external body injury.

Child↗
PubMed2001

Parity measurements of nuclear levels using a free-electron-laser generated gamma-ray beam.

The quality and intensity of gamma rays at the High Intensity gamma-ray Source are shown to make nuclear resonance fluorescence studies possible at a new level of precision and efficiency. First experiments have been carried out using an intense (10(7) gamma/s) beam of 100% linearly polarized, nearly monoenergetic, gamma rays on the semimagic nucleus (138)Ba. Negative parity quantum numbers have been assigned to 18 dipole excitations of (138)Ba between 5.5 MeV and 6.5 MeV from azimuthal gamma-intensity asymmetries.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination among Native American elders in a primary care practice.

BACKGROUND: More than 2 million Native Americans (ie, Native Americans and Native Alaskans) live in the United States; 60% reside in cities. This population, especially its elders, is especially susceptible to respiratory diseases; yet, adherence to guidelines for influenza and pneumococcal immunizations is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate how frequently older and high-risk adults received vaccinations for influenza and pneumococcal infection and to identify patient characteristics associated with adherence to published recommendations. METHODS: Retrospective medical record review of 550 Native American elders seen in an urban primary care practice defined using a culturally appropriate age threshold (> or =50 years) and standard criteria (> or =65 years). Univariate analyses examined demographic and clinical information by vaccination status. Logistic regressions identified factors associated with adherence to immunization guidelines. RESULTS: Among patients aged 50 years and older with any indication according to published recommendations, rates were low for influenza (31%) and pneumococcal (21%) immunizations. Likewise, few subjects at least 65 years of age had been immunized appropriately against influenza (38%) or pneumococcus (32%). Younger age and alcohol use were significantly associated with less frequent immunization; Medicare insurance, depression, and more health problems and taking more medications predicted significantly higher immunization rates. Aged 65 years or older and having cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus were specific indications significantly correlated with receipt of influenza and pneumococcal vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of age or risk, inadequate vaccination rates were observed in elderly Native Americans. Our findings suggest the need to identify obstacles to immunization and to conduct prospective and elderly intervention studies in Native American populations.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Coping strategies in twins with chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Individuals with chronic fatigue and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) face debilitating symptoms as well as stressful life situations that may result from their condition. The goal of this study was to examine the coping strategies used by fatigue-discordant twin pairs. METHODS: We utilized a co-twin design to assess how twin pairs discordant for chronic fatigue and CFS cope with stress. All twin pairs were administered the Revised Ways of Coping Checklist. RESULTS: Overall, the pattern of coping strategies was similar for fatigued and non-fatigued twins. However, twins with chronic fatigue or CFS utilized more avoidance strategies than their non-fatigued counterparts; those with chronic fatigue also used more avoidance relative to problem-focused coping than their co-twins. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that while fatigue-discordant twins generally exhibit similar behavior patterns in order to cope with stress, there may be an association between fatigue and avoidance coping. Future research should focus on the role of avoidance and its relationship to fatiguing illnesses.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2000

Physical abuse of urban Native Americans.

To ascertain the extent of, and risk factors for, physical abuse among older urban American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), we conducted a chart review of 550 urban AI/AN primary care patients >/=50 years old seen during 1 year. Mistreatment was documented in 10%. A logistic regression found younger age (P <.001), female gender (P <.001), current depression (P <.001), and dependence on others for food (P <.05) to be significant correlates of physical abuse. In only 31% of instances of definite abuse were the authorities notified. We conclude that providers should be alert to the possibility of physical mistreatment among older urban AI/ANs. Improvements in detection and management are sorely needed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Gross defects in the vpr and vpu genes of HIV type 1 cannot explain the differences in RNA copy number between long-term asymptomatics and progressors.

Disease progression in HIV-1-infected individuals is strongly associated with persistent and high numbers of HIV-1 RNA copies. We previously reported a markedly lower viral RNA load in eight long-term asymptomatics (LTAs) compared to seven matched progressors (at 1 year after seroconversion or entry in the study, p < 0.001) (Hogervorst E, et al.: J Infect Dis 1995;171:811-821). Here we extend our study to examine whether a difference in viral load can be attributed to infection by viruses having distinct vpr and vpu genes. Sequencing of vpr and vpu genes from serum samples collected at seroconversion from both long-term asymptomatics and progressors showed full-length and intact open reading frames of both genes in all subjects. At the protein level, no difference was discerned in domains of putative functional importance within Vpr and Vpu between the two groups. Phylogenetic analysis showed no clustering of LTA sequences, which interdigitated with sequences from progressors. We therefore concluded that nonprogression is not likely to be explained by deletion of vpr and vpu, or by gross sequence abnormality in these genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

A family survives genocide.

This is a case study of a family that survived genocide and a discussion of families and massive psychic trauma. This family, like many others from Bosnia-Herzegovina, was driven from their home by Serb forces-"ethnically cleansed"-then eventually escaped to Croatia, and was later resettled in the United States. They were referred to us, a group of mental health professionals who established the Bosnian Refugee Trauma Program at the Yale Psychiatric Institute (YPI). We have done clinical, testimony, and research work with the refugee families from Bosnia who resettled in our region, described in part in prior reports (Weine, Becker et al. 1995a, 1995b; Weine and Laub 1995).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Genetic similarity among Mycobacterium avium isolates from blood, stool, and sputum of persons with AIDS.

Large-restriction-fragment pattern comparison of Mycobacterium avium from 85 blood, stool, and respiratory specimens from 25 human immunodeficiency virus-infected San Francisco patients revealed 4 strains that infected multiple people (3 groups of 2 patients and 1 group of 3 patients). Most patients harbored a single M. avium strain, but 2 strains were recovered from 8 patients. The significance of recovering 2 strains is not clear, since the second strain was seldom recovered more than once. The strain recovered from blood was recovered from stool of 4 patients and respiratory secretions of 6 patients >4 weeks before detection of bacteremia, indicating that the intestinal and respiratory tracts are entry portals from which M. avium can disseminate. M. avium from 21 cities outside of California served as controls. Thus, a single M. avium strain can cause disseminated infection in multiple patients. This may represent infection from a common environmental source or person-to-person spread.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

Consistent risk group-associated differences in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 vpr, vpu and V3 sequences despite independent evolution.

Human immunodeficiency virus 1 type vpr, vpu and V3 sequences from 15 homosexual men and 19 intravenous drug users in the Amsterdam Cohort studies were analysed. Previously, we reported that V3 domains of viruses from drug users are distinguishable from those of homosexual men on the basis of two silent mutations. Phylogenetic analysis of vpr, vpu and V3 shows that differences in all three regions correlate with risk group. Two positions in both vpr and vpu were found to differ significantly between the risk groups. The distinguishing positions were confirmed for sequences from 11 Scottish and four German samples. The three regions show relatively independent evolution patterns; they resulted in different phylogenies, the only stable clustering being that based on the risk group distinction. Pairwise differences between sequences of the genes were moderately correlated (around 0.30). Surprisingly, when only silent changes are counted, the correlations dropped almost to zero, indicating that the evolution towards independence was more advanced in the silent than in the non-silent positions. This suggests that selection at the amino acid level is not the primary driving force for the independent evolutionary behaviour of the genes. Recombination, combined with restrictions on certain amino acids because of epistatic interactions between the genes, could be an alternative explanation of this phenomenon.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

TP53 mutations and breast cancer prognosis: particularly poor survival rates for cases with mutations in the zinc-binding domains.

Acquired mutations in TP53 as well as immunohistochemically detectable protein expression have been implicated as prognostic factors for breast cancer. We have evaluated the relationship between mutations detected in 119 breast tumours and various clinicohistopathological indices, stratifying the mutations according to the functional domains as defined by the recent elucidation of the crystal structure of the protein. Patients with missense mutations located in regions encoding parts of the protein involved in zinc-binding had significantly decreased disease-free and overall survival relative to patients whose tumours had mutations in other domains. These results indicate that these biochemically defined domains also have biological relevance in terms of breast cancer disease course, and suggest that some mutations in TP53, more than others, can contribute to the development of clinically more aggressive and perhaps treatment resistant breast tumours. When confirmed, this will be of potential importance in predicting the clinical behaviour of breast cancer and its responsiveness to therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Maintenance of syncytium-inducing phenotype of HIV type 1 is associated with positively charged residues in the HIV type 1 gp120 V2 domain without fixed positions, elongation, or relocated N-linked glycosylation sites.

The prevalence of HIV-1 sequences of the envelope domains V1V2 and V3 was analyzed by RT-PCR amplification. Two distinct biological phenotypes of HIV-1 have been described: the nonsyncytium-inducing (NSI) phenotype, best characterized by the inability to infect MT-2 cells, and the syncytium-inducing phenotype (SI), with the ability to infect MT-2 cells. Viral phenotype SI has been associated with HIV pathogenesis. The presence of positively charged amino acids at position 306 and 320 in the V3 domain of gp120 has been shown to be required for the support of the SI phenotype. In addition, V2 elongation and relocation of N-glycosylation sites were postulated to herald an NSI to SI phenotype switch. The present study was designed to assess the stability of an elongated V2 region with relocated N-glycosylation sites observed in SI isolates compared to NSI isolates. Eleven isolates with the SI phenotype and 19 isolates with the NSI phenotype were included in the study. Nine of the SI and 1 of the NSI isolates had a positively charged residue at position 306 or 320 (p < 0.001) in the V3 domain as assessed by direct sequencing of the viral RNA. In contrast, elongation and/or relocation of N-glycosylation sites of the V2 variable region were not found to be a consistent genetic feature of the SI phenotype. However, SI isolates had more positively charged amino acid residues in the hypervariable V2 region compared with NSI isolates. In one of the two SI isolates lacking positively charged amino acids at positions 306 or 320 in the V3 loop an elongation of 26 amino acids with 4 additional N-linked glycosylation sites was observed in the V2 region. This is consistent with the theory that elongation of V2 may be transiently required for SI conversion. These results suggest that maintenance of the SI phenotype requires positively charged amino acids in V3 in the majority of the virus population, but not an elongated V2 region with added or relocated N-linked glycosylation sites. Although increased charged residues in the V2 region may contribute.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Adolescent survivors of "ethnic cleansing": observations on the first year in America.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the psychiatric assessments and trauma testimonies of 12 Bosnian adolescents newly resettled in America. METHOD: Twelve Bosnian adolescents who experienced the massive psychic trauma of "ethnic cleansing" were assessed during the first year after their resettlement in the United States. Assessments consisted of systematic, trauma-focused, clinical interviews that included standard assessment scales of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, as well as the opportunity to give testimony about their experiences. RESULTS: PTSD was diagnosed in 25% of subjects and depressive disorders in 17%. Reexperiencing cluster symptoms were present in 50%, avoidance cluster symptoms in 31%, and hyperarousal cluster symptoms in 29%. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low rate of PTSD in this sample (in comparison with adult survivors of "ethnic cleansing" and with Cambodian adolescent survivors) may be attributable to normal prior development, time-limited adversity, lack of physical or sexual traumas, rejoining nuclear families, or insufficient time for the development of delayed-onset PTSD. It may also be a reflection of the resiliency of adolescence.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Preparing modern nurses for postmodern families.

Postmodern insights that have occurred across the social sciences and in limited areas of nursing are focused on the field of family nursing. The article describes postmodern families against the background of cultural changes that have influenced the conditions of those families. Nurses can practice more appropriately if they have an understanding of how postmodern thought has influenced the science and subsequent theoretical explanations of families. Initial insights are offered relating postmodernism and theories of family therapy. Practice roles are described that are believed to be more appropriate and effective when nursing occurs in the context of diversity, relativity, and value plurality that characterizes postmodern families.

Family↗
PubMed1995

Differences in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 V3 sequences from patients with and without AIDS dementia complex.

Paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 10 AIDS patients with and 10 without AIDS dementia complex (ADC) were studied, in an attempt to uncover ADC-associated variation in V3 sequences. Sequences were obtained from four of the patients with and eight of those without ADC. Comparison of the sequences using a resampling technique revealed a significant ADC-associated difference occurring at several amino acid positions. Results from serum and CSF sequences were comparable. These differences may indicate that the virus found in ADC and that in non-ADC patients have different biological properties. Comparison of serum versus CSF sequences within samples from both ADC and non-ADC patients, using the same resampling technique, revealed no clear distinctions. In some patients, the sequence populations in serum and CSF were completely distinct, while in others, there was no difference in distribution. These patterns were not associated with ADC.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1995

Syncytium-inducing (SI) phenotype suppression at seroconversion after intramuscular inoculation of a non-syncytium-inducing/SI phenotypically mixed human immunodeficiency virus population.

Two distinct biological phenotypes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been described: the non-syncytium-inducing (NSI) phenotype, best characterized by the inability to infect MT-2 cells, and the syncytium-inducing (SI) phenotype, with the ability to infect MT-2 cells. The earliest virus population observed following HIV transmission is generally of the NSI phenotype, even after exposure to inocula of mixed NSI/SI phenotype. In this study, the issue of intrapatient selection of virus phenotype following transmission was addressed by studying two cases of accidental transmission. A comparison of the sequences of the V1-V2 and the V3 coding regions of the envelope gene and the p17 region of the gag gene showed that the donor-recipient pairs were tightly clustered in all gene segments, but away from local and published transmission controls. The intrasample variation of the p17 sequence was greater in the recipients and smaller in the donors than that of the V3 region sequence, indicating selection of V3 at transmission. In these transmission cases, the effects of an intravenous inoculation of a small quantity of blood containing predominantly SI V3 sequences (6 of 8 clonal sequences) were compared with those of an intramuscular inoculation of a large quantity of blood containing predominantly NSI viruses (14 of 16 clonal sequences). Both SI and NSI V3 regions were demonstrated to be phenotypic expressions of genetically related viral strains. The inoculation of the predominantly SI virus population resulted in the persistence of an SI virus population in the recipient and a rapid CD4+ T-cell decline. The inoculation of the predominantly NSI population resulted in a selective amplification of SI viruses before seroconversion, followed by a suppression of SI viruses at seroconversion and a rapid decline of CD4+ T-cell numbers. These data suggest that the suppression of SI viruses can be accomplished following the development of HIV-specific immunity and that the ability to suppress SI viruses does not prevent the development of immunodeficiency.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗