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Biomedical subjects

T G Zullo

Publications and source records attributed to T G Zullo.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Home-based, upper-arm exercise training for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Prior studies demonstrate the ability of upper extremity training to increase arm strength and endurance when incorporated into a pulmonary rehabilitation program. However, patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have transportation or mobility problems that make it difficult to travel to a rehabilitation site to obtain this training. This pilot study was designed to determine whether a home-based, upper-arm exercise program could increase arm strength and endurance, and decrease perceptions of breathlessness and fatigue during five activities of daily living. Twenty patients with severe COPD (FEV1 0.80 +/- 0.42) were randomized to an experimental (n = 10) or control group (n = 10). The experimental-group training included three upper arm exercises five times a week for 8 weeks, with training level incremented during weekly home visits. Control-group subjects were contacted weekly to equalize attention from health care providers. During the upper-extremity endurance test for number of rings moved, no significant differences between groups were seen for interaction or treatment. However, there was a significant interaction between treatment and time for perceived fatigue (p = 0.0012), with the experimental group perceiving less fatigue during upper arm work than did the control group. No change was seen in perceived breathlessness. Findings of this study suggest that a home-based, upper-arm exercise program can reduce perceptions of fatigue for patients with severe COPD during activities involving upper arm work. Testing in a larger sample is indicated to determine whether this training can also improve ability to perform unsupported arm work.

Arm↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hypoalgesic effect of caffeine in experimental ischemic muscle contraction pain.

It has been theorized that adenosine is a leading candidate for the metabolite responsible for ischemic muscle pain. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the non-selective adenosine receptor antagonist, caffeine, on ischemic skeletal muscle contraction pain. Seven healthy adult volunteers with no history of pain disorders, systemic disease, or habitual caffeine use, were chosen for the two-session, cross-over, double-blind study. Every subject received either 200 mg of caffeine (NoDoz, Bristol-Myers) or identical placebo 1 hour before each of the two trials. Ischemia of the forearm was achieved by inflation of a blood pressure cuff to 250 mm Hg. Forearm muscle activity was generated by performance of wrist curis using a 5-gram bar at a rate of 40 cycles per minute. Pain was rated at 15-second intervals for 1 minute using a visual analog scale (0 to 10) with verbal descriptors. Significance was determined by univariate and multivariate analyses of variance and covariance including repeated measures. Pain ratings at 15 seconds in the caffeine trial were significantly lower (P < 0.02) than those in the placebo trial. This effect continued at 30 seconds (P < 0.05). However, by 45 seconds, pain in the caffeine trial was not significantly lower (P = 0.4) than that in the placebo trial. These results show that high-dose caffeine exhibits considerable analgesic efficacy in experimental muscle pain, adding support for a role of adenosine in producing ischemic muscle contraction pain.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Smoking and attitudes toward smoking among clinical nurse specialists, critical care nurses, and medical-surgical nurses.

This study surveyed pulmonary clinical nurse specialists, oncology clinical nurse specialists, critical care nurses, and medical-surgical nurses to assess smoking prevalence, attitudes toward the educator and exemplar role, and reasons for smoking. Of the 120 questionnaires distributed, 114 (95%) were returned. Of the oncology clinical nurse specialists, 23.1% were former smokers and none reported currently smoking. Prevalence of smoking among the remaining groups was 28.5% for pulmonary clinical nurse specialists, 30% for medical-surgical nurses, and 46.7% for critical care nurses. More than 70% of respondents agreed with statements about the nurse as educator and exemplar (role model) in smoking cessation. This study provides evidence of a lower prevalence of cigarette smoking among nurses prepared as oncology clinical specialists and greater support for the educator and exemplar role than previously reported.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patient's age at the initial detection of interproximal caries.

This study set out to determine the average patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries for individual posterior tooth surfaces. Ninety-six patients between the ages of 2 and 14 years were followed longitudinally over a series of periodic oral examinations. The average patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries ranged from 6.3 years for the maxillary primary canine to 11.7 years for the mandibular permanent first molar. Peaks in patient's age at initial detection of interproximal caries occurred between ages 6 and 8 for primary teeth--peaks that should be considered in establishing the timing and frequency of bitewing radiographs for children.

Adolescent↗
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An evaluation of pit and fissure caries and caries experience as selection criteria in bitewing examinations for children.

One area of particular concern, on behalf of the pediatric dental patient, is the routine use of low doses of ionizing radiation in the form of bitewing radiographs at semi-annual examinations. Patients at high-risk for interproximal caries should receive bitewing examinations at the first clinical evidence of caries. The use of pit and fissure caries as a criterion for determining relative interproximal caries risk may not be reliable in fluoridated communities.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cephalometric study of American black children with sickle-cell disease.

The effects of sickle-cell disease on skeletal maturation are well documented. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible effects of sickle-cell disease on the growth of the dentofacial complex. The results of this study indicated that: The sickle-cell group seems to have a more protrusive maxilla and a more forward growth tendency of the mandible. The group also exhibited significantly retruded maxillary and mandibular incisors.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fatigue in women with myocardial infarction.

This study measured fatigue in women 6 weeks after myocardial infarction. Fatigue was experienced by the women as chronic, generalized, intermittent, and longstanding. More than one third of the women attributed their fatigue directly to the heart attack or hospitalization. Significant relations were found between fatigue and the physiological dimension of the Sickness Impact Sale (SIP), the Perceived Health Assessment and Risk Protection Survey (PHARPS), and the site of infarction, as well as with the psychological dimension of the SIP. There was an inverse significant relation between fatigue scores and the Psychological General Well-Being (PGWB) Index. Although not reaching statistical significance, fatigue scores for women 65 and older were higher than for younger women.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparison of two teaching simulations in preclinical operative dentistry.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a ceramic tooth would be as effective as a natural tooth in teaching preclinical operative skills. Subjects consisted of all second-year students enrolled in a preclinical inlay course. Students were classified into high- and low-dexterity groups, randomly assigned to one of the tooth simulators, taught the same four procedures, and asked to keep a log of the amount of time spent on each. All students participated in a practical examination that consisted of preparing a cavity for a gold casting using a resin tooth. There were no statistically significant differences between students who prepared natural teeth and those who prepared ceramic teeth for either the qualitative practical examination score or the amount of preparation time required. High-dexterity students achieved significantly higher scores on the practical than did low-dexterity students, whether practicing on natural or ceramic teeth. The MOD onlay required significantly more time to complete than did any of the other preparations on both natural and ceramic tooth simulators. Written evaluations of the ceramic simulators revealed that students perceived ceramic teeth to be as good or better than natural teeth because of their anatomic uniformity.

Analysis of Variance↗