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Biomedical subjects

T Woods

Publications and source records attributed to T Woods.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Neuroticism and conscientiousness as predictors of emotional, external, and restrained eating behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the extent to which different forms of eating behavior as assessed by the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire are related to facets of the Big Five personality domains. METHOD: Respondents were 167 psychology students (126 females and 41 males) who volunteered for the study. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) and gender had significant main effects on eating behaviors. These results were moderated by a significant BMI x Gender interaction on emotional eating. Eating behaviors were significantly related to the personality facets associated with Neuroticism and Conscientiousness. DISCUSSION: The results are discussed with reference to previous research on eating behaviors and the nature of Neuroticism and Conscientiousness.

Adolescent↗

Enrasentan improves survival, limits left ventricular remodeling, and preserves myocardial performance in hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction.

Evidence suggests that endothelin receptor antagonists may have therapeutic potential for the chronic treatment of heart failure. In the current study, the effects of an orally active mixed endothelin-A/endothelin-B (ETA /ETB ) receptor antagonist (enrasentan) were assessed in a model of cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction (spontaneously hypertensive stroke prone rats) maintained on a high-salt/high-fat diet. Echocardiography was used to quantify cardiac performance and left ventricular dimensions. Enrasentan (1,200 and 2,400 parts per million in the high-salt/high-fat diet) had no significant effects on body weight and systolic blood pressure. However, increases in heart rate were not observed in the enrasentan-treated groups at 12 weeks (p < 0.05). Enrasentan-treated groups exhibited significantly improved survival (90-95% vs. 30% [control rats] at 18 weeks; p < 0.001). Enrasentan treatments also increased stroke volume (at 8, 12, and 16 weeks) and cardiac index (at 8 and 16 weeks) 33-50% and 45-63%, respectively. Enrasentan treatments reduced the relative wall thickness (14-27% at 8 and 12 weeks), ratio of left ventricular mass to body weight (20% at 12 weeks), and ratio of terminal heart weight to body weight (16-23%, p < 0.05). Finally, circulating aldosterone concentration (54-57%) and proANF fragment (33%) were reduced in enrasentan-treated groups (54-57% and 33%, respectively). Mixed ETA /ETB receptor antagonism improves cardiac performance and attenuates ventricular remodeling and premature mortality in an aggressive hypertension model.

Aldosterone↗

Prevalence of mutations associated with reduced antiretroviral drug susceptibility among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 seroconverters in the United States, 1993-1998.

To assess the prevalence of mutations associated with decreased antiretroviral drug susceptibility, specimens were tested from persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during 1993-1998. Subjects were drug naive and were attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in 6 US cities. All were enrolled consecutively and had tested negative for HIV during the 2 years before enrollment. Plasma specimens from patients having >/=1 reverse transcriptase (RT) or primary protease mutation were tested phenotypically with a recombinant virus assay. Of 99 patients, 6 (6%) had mutations associated with zidovudine resistance, 2 (2%) had mutations associated with nonnucleoside RT inhibitor resistance, and 1 (1%) had a primary protease mutation. Overall, the prevalence of resistance-associated primary mutations was 5%, although high levels of decreased drug susceptibility (IC(50)s >/=10 times that of a reference virus) were observed in just 1%. These findings confirm the transmission of these mutations to drug-naive persons.

Adolescent↗

Sonographic evaluation of a leiomyoma of the broad ligament of the uterus.

Leiomyomas of the uterus generally have a characteristic ultrasound appearance. We present a case of leiomyoma of the broad ligament of the uterus. A 46-year-old woman who had previously undergone a hysterectomy had a pelvic mass with a whorled appearance and acoustic shadowing suggestive of a leiomyoma on sonography. Based on the sonographic appearance, a preoperative diagnosis of a leiomyoma was made despite the unusual location. Histologic examination of the excised mass revealed leiomyoma originating from the broad ligament.

Diagnosis, Differential↗

Transient effusive-constrictive pericarditis due to chemotherapy.

Commonly used chemotherapeutic agents, specifically cytarabine and daunorubicin, can cause effusive-constrictive pericarditis. We describe a case of transient effusive-constrictive pericarditis in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia. This is the first case report of a patient with transient effusive-constrictive pericarditis due to chemotherapy.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Shatter resistance of spectacle lenses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relative strength and shatter resistance of spectacle lenses currently used in sunglasses and dress, sports, and industrial eyewear. DESIGN: Seven lenses that met the US American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z80 standards for dress glasses (made of high-index plastic, allyl resin plastic, heat tempered glass, chemically tempered glass, and polycarbonate, and with center thickness ranging from 1 mm to 2.2 mm) and 4 lenses that met ANSI Z87 standards for industrial safety eyewear (allyl resin plastic, heat-tempered glass, chemically tempered glass, and polycarbonate, all with 3.0-mm center thickness) were tested for impact resistance to 5 projectiles (air gun pellets, golf balls, tennis balls, lacrosse balls, and baseballs). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Impact energy required to shatter spectacle lenses. RESULTS: Based on 348 lens impacts, dress and industrial lenses made from glass, allyl resin plastic, and high-index plastic shattered at impact energies less than those expected to be encountered from the test projectiles during their routine use. Polycarbonate lenses demonstrated resistance to impact for all tested projectiles exceeding the impact potential expected during routine use. CONCLUSIONS: Under the test conditions of this study, polycarbonate lenses demonstrated greater impact resistance than other commonly used spectacle lenses that conform to prevailing eyewear standards. These findings suggest that current ANSI Z80 and ANSI Z87 standards should be reevaluated.

Eye Protective Devices↗

The role of germs and viruses in children's theories of AIDS (or, AIDS are not Band-Aids).

The development of knowledge of germs and viruses in relation to AIDS and flu was examined in a predominantly Mexican American sample of children aged 8-9, 10-11, and 12-13. Children progressed with age from identifying the disease agent for these diseases as a nondescript germ or something other than a germ to implicating a disease-specific germ or virus. Parallel age trends in mastery of the two diseases were observed; gender and ethnic differences were minimal. Solid command of germ and virus concepts in relation to AIDS was associated with more casually sophisticated understanding of the disease but not with more accurate knowledge of modes of HIV transmission. Grasp of flu germ/virus concepts did not contribute to greater understanding or knowledge of AIDS. Overall, children seem predisposed to construct a germ theory of an unfamiliar disease such as AIDS but need help in differentiating between one germ and another.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Physical symptoms and illness attitudes in adolescents: an epidemiological study.

A secondary school population of 805 11-16-year-olds reported lifetime prevalence of 31 physical symptoms and illness attitudes. Girls had a median of six symptoms (range 0-22) and boys five (range 0-22); 67 (8.3%) had 13 or more. Older girls reported more symptoms than younger ones. The excess of symptoms in older girls was related to reporting painful periods rather than simply to age or the menarche. High symptom scorers of both sexes had significantly higher scores on seven Illness Attitude Sub-Scales (Kellner, 1987), with more distress about illness and more treatment experience. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Adolescent↗

Mexican-American and Anglo-American children's responsiveness to a theory-centered AIDS education program.

Third, fifth, and seventh graders, most of them Mexican-American, were exposed to an empirically based and culturally sensitive AIDS curriculum designed to replace their intuitive theories with a coherent, scientific account of the causal processes that lead from risk behavior to AIDS symptomatology. Compared to students in control classes, experimental students knew more about AIDS risk factors and AIDS generally, displayed more conceptual understanding of the causes of AIDS and flu, and were more willing to interact with people who have AIDS (although not less worried about AIDS) at posttest and typically at follow-up 10-11 months later. The findings point to the potential value of adopting an intuitive theories approach in assessing and modifying children's concepts of health and illness and suggest, contrary to Piagetian formulations, that even relatively young children can, with appropriate instruction, grasp scientific theories of disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Course and outcome of IVF pregnancies and spontaneous conceptions within an IVF setting.

The study determines mortality and morbidity levels during pregnancy and the perinatal period in those conceiving through IVF in the Republic of Ireland in comparison with other parts of the world and a peer infertile group conceiving spontaneously whilst on the IVF clinic books. Six hundred and sixty couples had 187 IVF pregnancies from whom 220 babies were born to 151 deliveries. There were also 78 spontaneous conceptions which produced 78 offspring from 73 deliveries. The majority had trouble free pregnancies. The incidence of all complications was less than has been reported elsewhere. Of the IVF group, 16.5% aborted completed as did 5% of the spontaneous conceptions. A further 7% and 3.8%, respectively, aborted one sac of a multiple pregnancy. Of the IVF deliveries, 35.8% were multiple as were 6.8% of the spontaneous conceptions. Higher order multiple presence detrimentally influenced delivery mode, gestational age and birth weights in the IVF group. Of IVF patients, 55.7% were section deliveries as were 10.9% of the spontaneous conceptions. Incidence of IVF-group significant congenital abnormality was 1.8%. The perinatal mortality rate was 4.2 per 1000 births. This series suggests the final take-home baby outlook of 81% from conception by IVF is not as poor as previously portrayed. However, attention should be given to abortion, section and multiple pregnancy rates.

Adult↗

Mother-to-child transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type II.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of mother-to-child transmission of human T-lymphotropic virus type II (HTLV-II) and to explore its association with breast-feeding. DESIGN: Prospective study of children born to a cohort of HTLV-II-infected pregnant women and a cross-sectional study of older siblings of these children. METHODS: Maternal sera were screened with an HTLV-I enzyme immunoassay that detects antibody to both HTLV-I and HTLV-II. Confirmatory serologic testing and viral typing were performed by Western blot, radioimmunoprecipitation assay, enzyme immunoassay with HTLV type-specific proteins, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The presence of HTLV was evaluated in children by serial serologic and PCR testing. Molecular analysis of PCR products from infected mother-child pairs was performed by means of restriction fragment length polymorphism of HTLV-II long-terminal repeated sequences. RESULTS: Twenty-nine HTLV-II-infected women were identified, and these 29 women had 30 pregnancies during the study. Of 28 live infants born to infected women, 19 were examined and none was infected with HTLV-II. Sixteen older children less than 10 years of age who were born previously to the infected women were also examined; two were infected with HTLV-II. One infected child was breast fed for 2 months and the second was not breast fed. The viral patterns of restriction fragment length polymorphism in the two infected children were distinct, but the viral pattern in each child was identical to that of her mother's virus, suggesting mother-to-child transmission. Overall, among examined children, 1 of 7 breast-fed children (14%; 95% confidence interval: 0, 40) and 1 of 28 children who were not breast fed (3.6%; 95% confidence interval: 0, 10) were infected with HTLV-II. CONCLUSION: Mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-II occurs both with and without breast-feeding and at rates similar to those of HTLV-I. We believe that this is the first demonstration of mother-to-child transmission of HTLV-II in the absence of breast-feeding.

Blotting, Western↗

Parents' contributions to children's knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDS: another look.

Attempted to determine, using a sample of students in Grades 3, 5, and 7, whether parent-child communication about AIDS and parent knowledge of AIDS predict children's knowledge, social attitudes, and worry regarding AIDS, partially replicating tests by Sigelman, Derenowski, Mullaney, and Siders (1993) of main effects, interaction, and potentiation models of parent-child socialization. Most parents had talked to their children about AIDS but many were susceptible to myths about HIV transmission. Child age was the strongest predictor of accurate knowledge and positive attitudes, but gender, ethnicity, and parent education also made modest contributions. Consistent with the potentiation model, parent knowledge of common transmission myths predicted child knowledge of those same myths (and willingness to interact with individuals who have AIDS as well) only when parent-child communication about AIDS was relatively extensively (and only when child rather than parent reported it). Findings suggest that both the quantity and quality of parental messages must be considered by socialization researchers but that parents may not be the primary socializers of knowledge and attitudes regarding AIDS and other health issues.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Congenital constriction band syndrome.

There are many theories regarding the etiology of this rare syndrome. However, the current thinking is that these bands result from rupture of the amnion that causes permanent constrictions of extremities or amputations in utero. This clinically resembles temporary strangulation of an appendage by hair or thread, and must be distinguished. A historical overview as to the etiology of constriction bands will be presented, as well as case studies.

Adult↗

Investigation of retroviral involvement in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Within the last few years significant efforts have been made to identify objective reliable diagnostic markers from individuals with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We report the absence of a previously described retroviral marker (HTLV-II gag) in a blinded study of CFS cases. Even with excellent reproducible sensitivities, this marker failed in repeated attempts to distinguish cases from controls. In addition, four other retroviruses (simian T cell leukaemia virus, human spumavirus, bovine leukaemia virus and simian retrovirus) were examined for their presence in these CFS cases and found to be absent. Our findings suggest that these agents, at least as markers, are non-distinguishing for CFS and that other factors may be confounding the resolution of an aetiology to this syndrome.

Biomarkers↗

The search for human infection with simian type D retroviruses.

Evidence has recently been presented for an infection with a simian type D retrovirus in a patient with AIDS and lymphoma. We tested for simian type D infection in three groups of subjects: 375 patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (255 non-Hodgkin's, 88 Hodgkin's, and 32 chronic lymphoproliferative disease), of whom 75 were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected; seven persons with unexplained low CD4 lymphocyte counts with clinical conditions; and 45 blood donors, of whom 37 were human T-lymphocyte virus (HTLV)-I/II seroindeterminate and eight were HTLV-I/II and HIV-1 seronegative. Serum samples were screened for antibodies against simian type D retroviruses by an enzyme immunoassay, and reactive samples were analyzed by Western blotting. None of the samples were seropositive, but eight (five from non-Hodgkin's and three from Hodgkin's lymphoma patients) were seroindeterminate. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of genomic DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes of all eight of these patients was carried out using simian type D gag generic primers with generic internal oligoprobing. All samples were negative. We conclude that simian type D infection is rare among HIV-infected and noninfected lymphoma patients, persons with unexplained low CD4 counts, and persons with HTLV-seroindeterminate test results.

Adult↗