Biomedical subjects

S Schieman

Publications and source records attributed to S Schieman.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Assessing comfort, safety, and patient satisfaction with three commonly used penile compression devices.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the safety, efficacy, comfort, and patient satisfaction with three penile compression devices: the Cunningham clamp, C3, and U-Tex. METHODS: The devices were tested in random order in a multiple-period, crossover study design using a Latin squares configuration. The subjects had undergone radical prostatectomy 6 months or more before the study, had no neurologic or cognitive impairment, and had not undergone radiotherapy. Baseline penile Doppler ultrasonography was followed by ultrasound scanning with each device. In random order, subjects completed a 4-hour pad test, with and without each device, and the questionnaire. RESULTS: Twelve men completed the study. The mean Mini-Mental State Examination score was 29.6 (SD 1.2, range 27 to 30). The mean urine loss at baseline was 122.8 g (SD 130.8). The mean urine loss with each device was 53.3 g (SD 65.7) with the U-Tex, 32.3 g (SD 24.3) with C3, and 17.1 g (SD 21.3) with the Cunningham clamp (P <0.05). No device had an impact on the resistive index; the C3 and U-Tex allowed good cavernosal artery flow, and the Cunningham clamp significantly lowered the distal blood flow velocity (from 12.5 to 7.3 cm/s [left systolic velocity] to 9.5 cm/s [right systolic velocity]) even at the loosest setting. The Cunningham clamp was ranked positively by 10 of 12 men; 2 of 12 men rated the C3 positively; none rated the U-Tex positively. CONCLUSIONS: The Cunningham device was the most efficacious and most acceptable to users, but also contributed to reduced systolic velocity in all men. None of the devices completely eliminated urine loss when applied at a comfortable pressure. Individualized instruction to cognitively capable men is necessary to ensure appropriate application, comfort, and fit.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Age variations in personal agency and self-esteem: the context of physical disability.

OBJECTIVES: This study examines how age patterns in health control, self-efficacy, and self-esteem are influenced by age-correlated social status, health, personality, and social integration variables. METHODS: Ordinary least squares regression documents age patterns in data from a 1985 community sample of 1,549 physically disabled and nondisabled individuals from southwestern Ontario, Canada. RESULTS: Older respondents report lower health control, self-efficacy, and self-esteem. Less education, more physical impairment, poorer global health, less empathy, and less introspectiveness explain about 43% of age's negative association with health control and more than half of its negative association with self-esteem. In addition, age is associated more negatively with self-efficacy among the disabled. Social status variables conceal the strength of the age-by-disability interaction coefficient, while health accounts for almost an equal amount. DISCUSSION: The findings describe how age-correlated personal and social factors contribute to, or statistically conceal, older adults' sense of health control, self-efficacy, and self-esteem.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2001

Looking inward: introspectiveness, physical disability, and depression across the life course.

This study investigates the interrelationships among age, physical disability, introspectiveness, and depression. Using data from a community sample of disabled and non-disabled adults (N = 1,567), this study tests: 1) if there are age variations in introspectiveness; 2) if age variations in introspectiveness differ by physical disability status; 3) if introspectiveness mediates the association between age and depression; 4) if introspectiveness and disability status have synergistic effects on depression; and if so, 5) if subjective health differences between disabled and nondisabled account for the joint impact of introspectiveness and disability status on depression. Results show that older people report less introspectiveness than younger people do--which explains part of the negative association between age and depression. Additionally, the negative association between age and introspectiveness is significantly stronger among nondisabled respondents. Adjustment for less introspectiveness among older adults accounts for about 24 percent of the negative association between age and depression. Disabled respondents experience a more positive relationship between introspectiveness and depression; however, disabled respondents' poorer global health explains most of that pattern.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Status, role, and resource explanations for age patterns in psychological distress.

Using data from the 1996 and 1998 General Social Surveys, we explore the relationships among age, age-linked personal and social qualities, and two measures of psychological distress: depression (1996) and generalized distress (1998). Our study has three aims: (1) to replicate the u-shaped age-distress relationship in two recent U.S. data sets, (2) to confirm and elaborate on the mediators of the parabolic association, and (3) to explore the possible suppressor effects. In 1996, depression decreases from young adulthood into midlife and increases among the oldest-old. Less education, lower control, and widowhood contribute to old-age upturn; however, fewer time demands and greater financial satisfaction suppress the upward curve. Conversely, greater control, less shame, and greater religious attendance contribute to the decline through midlife; however, poorer health in midlife suppress that decline. Age patterns in distress are similar in the 1998 sample. Greater satisfaction with finances and fewer religious doubts contribute to the downward slope; however, declining levels of health suppress that downturn. Less education and retired status contribute to the old-age upturn. In sum, personal and social conditions have opposing influences on the parabolic relationship between age and distress.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Estimation of completeness of AIDS case reporting in Massachusetts.

One of the most important aspects of any surveillance system is degree of completeness. We conducted a multiple source capture-recapture study using the 1994 Massachusetts Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set (UHDDS) and Medicaid claims data to evaluate the completeness of the state's AIDS registry. We used encrypted social security numbers as the primary link to ensure confidentiality. For cases that did not link in the first round owing to missing social security numbers, we linked using gender and date of birth. Staff reviewed unmatched records from the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set and Medicaid datasets to determine subjects' AIDS case status. Using the Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set, the AIDS registry was 92.6% complete (95% confidence interval (CI) = 91.6-93.5). The Medicaid claims dataset suggested the AIDS registry to be 94.5% complete (95% confidence interval = 93.7-95.3). The completeness of reporting to the state AIDS registry continues to be high, but there are differences by gender and mode of transmission of the virus. The continued assessment of completeness of reporting is important to ensure quality of the surveillance database over time.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed2000

Education and the activation, course, and management of anger.

Using data from the 1996 General Social Survey, I examine education's association with the activation, course, and management of anger. I argue that education--as a source of stratification (status) and as a personal resource (human capital)--organizes the conditions that influence anger-related processes. In analyses of anger activation, education is associated with lower odds of family-related anger. The well educated have fewer children and more income--factors associated with a lower risk of family anger. Conversely, education is associated with higher odds of work-related anger, but income and personal control account for that association. In analyses of the course of anger, I document a nonlinear association between education and anger duration. Adjustment for the sense of control--which is negatively associated with anger duration--sharpens that parabolic association. Education is positively associated with perceived appropriateness of anger and negatively associated with the display of anger. In both cases, adjustment for control accounts for education's effect. The sense of control also suppresses education's significant positive effect on anger processing. In analyses of anger management, education increases the odds of cognitive flexibility and problem solving, but its effect on communication depends on the sense of control. In sum, education organizes personal and social circumstances that influence anger-related processes.

Anger↗

PubMed1999

Age, physical impairment, and symptoms of anxiety: a test of mediating and moderating factors.

This study examines the processes linking physical impairment with symptoms of anxiety. Analyses are based on a representative sample of 967 physically disabled adults (ages 20 to 90) from ten counties of southwestern Ontario, Canada Several hypotheses test the intervening role of disability characteristics, perceived health care efficacy, personal attributes, and social stratification resources. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses included sets of those intervening variables entered sequentially. Adjustment produces a significant reduction in the association between symptoms of anxiety and impairment--confirming the intervening role of healthcare efficacy and mastery. Moreover, impairment and mastery have synergistic effects such that higher mastery buffers against the anxiety associated with higher impairment. Other findings raise important questions about age, impairment, and the sense of mastery in the contest of healthcare and gender.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1999

Age and anger.

Are older people less angry? I propose that age differences in roles, personal and social circumstances, the sense of control, health, and socio-emotional outlook explain the association. I use data from a 1981 representative sample of 951 physically disabled individuals from Southwestern Ontario, Canada and a 1996 national probability sample of 1,450 U.S. respondents--the General Social Survey (GSS). Both surveys show a negative association between age and anger. In the Ontario sample older people are more likely to occupy widowhood and retirement roles, live with fewer people, have less interpersonal estrangement, and have fewer life events; these characteristics explain their lower anger. Also, were it not for their lower control and worse health older people in the Ontario sample would report even lower anger. In the GSS sample, age differences in household composition, satisfaction with family life and financial circumstances, perceived time pressures in daily life, religious involvement, and socio-emotional outlook contribute to the lower anger among older adults. Collectively, my findings show that the psychosocial and structural environment--experienced differently by age--influences the risk of anger.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Gender and AIDS-related psychosocial processes: a study of perceived susceptibility, social distance, and homophobia.

Over the past decade, researchers have accumulated evidence that suggests six main factors are associated with AIDS-related risk reduction behavior: (a) perceived susceptibility (Dolcini et al., 1995; van der Plight & Richard, 1994); (b) attitudes toward condoms (Catania et al., 1994; Maticka-Tynadale, 1991); (c) personally knowing someone with HIV/AIDS (Joseph et al., 1987); (d) perceived peer norms about risk-reduction (Maticka-Tyndale, 1991); (e) previous sexual activity (Joseph et al., 1987); and (f) self-efficacy (Aspinwall, Kemeny, Taylor, & Schneider, 1991; van der Plight & Richard, 1994). Furthermore, there is some suggestion that the epidemiology and sociocultural constructions of the disease has led to considerable gender, racial, and class differences in awareness of AIDS, perception of HIV threat, and HIV-relevant behavior (Cohan & Atwood, 1994; Dolcini et al., 1995; Gillies, 1994).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMed1998

Age, disability, and the sense of mastery.

Are there age differences in the sense of mastery, independent of physical disability? Do age and disability have joint effects on mastery? We propose that both age and disability have independent and synergistic effects on the sense of mastery or control. We analyze data from a large community sample of disabled individuals and a comparison of nondisabled respondents. Our study finds that, indeed, disabled and older respondents report lower levels of mastery. Moreover, the influence of disability on mastery is conditioned by age--and the interaction differs across age groups. In addition, our findings suggest that disabled individuals are disadvantaged in the status variables traditionally associated with greater control. When we adjust for these status variables, we reduce the strength of a quadratic age by disability interaction term considerably. The patterns we find in mastery among those individuals in their middle-years suggest to us that disabled and nondisabled individuals may live out their lives with differential opportunities for attainment and that this inequality has implications for their sense of mastery. Our findings reveal complex nonlinear and synergistic associations among age, disability, and the sense of mastery and raise provocative questions for future research.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Molecular cloning and characterization of a constitutively expressed heat-shock-cognate hsc71 gene from rainbow trout.

A rainbow trout major heat-shock-protein-like gene (hsp 70) and corresponding cDNA clones were isolated by hybridization to heterologous hsp70 probes. DNA sequencing revealed that this gene is structurally similar to a mammalian heat-shock-cognate hsc70 gene and consists of eight introns. Northern blot and primer extension analyses showed that the corresponding mRNA is constitutively abundant in different trout tissues and salmonid cell lines. Fragments of the isolated gene containing the -900 - +30 and -217 - +58 sequence were linked to a bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene and transiently transfected into salmonid cells. The expression pattern of these constructs supports our conclusion that the isolated genomic and cDNA clones correspond to a trout heat-shock-cognate hsc70 gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗