Biomedical subjects

Theresa Powell

Publications and source records attributed to Theresa Powell.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

An exploration of the experience of gaining awareness of deficit in people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Gaining awareness of deficits was explored in 10 people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) using a semi-structured interview and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Eight master themes emerged from the transcripts. Knowledge of deficits was acquired through personal discovery and the reactions of others, often outside the rehabilitation environment. Rehabilitation provided explanations and a normalising and supportive environment that facilitated people in acknowledging their deficits. Most participants spontaneously referred to denial and saw this as an active cognitive and behavioural process that both helped and hindered recovery. The emotional reaction to learning about deficits was described largely in terms of fear and loss and resonates with psychological models of grief.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2005

Placental phenotypes of intrauterine growth.

The placenta is essential to nutrition before birth. Recent work has shown that a range of clearly defined alterations can be found in the placentas of infants with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In the mouse, a placental specific knockout of a single imprinted gene, encoding IGF-2, results in one pattern of alterations in placenta structure and function which leads to IUGR. We speculate that the alterations in the human placenta can also be grouped into patterns, or phenotypes, that are associated with specific patterns of fetal growth. Identifying the placental phenotypes of different fetal growth patterns will improve the ability of clinicians to recognize high-risk patients, of laboratory scientists to disentangle the complexities of IUGR, and of public health teams to target interventions aimed at ameliorating the long-term adverse effects of inadequate intrauterine growth.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

A single case experimental design comparing two memory notebook formats for a man with memory problems caused by traumatic brain injury.

There is extensive literature demonstrating that restoration of memory is not a realistic goal for rehabilitation and that efforts are more effective if focused on developing compensatory strategies. This paper compares two formats of memory notebook using an ABAB single-case experimental design with a 46-year-old man with a history of head injury. Results revealed significantly better performance on a series of prospective memory tasks for the "modified" notebook. The study highlights the importance of tailoring the diary to the patient's needs and giving careful consideration to the way in which the diary is introduced.

Brain Injuries↗

PubMed2004

Threat appraisal and avoidance after traumatic brain injury: why and how often are activities avoided?

OBJECTIVE: Goldstein emphasized the anxiety-related avoidance of activities after brain injury, but such avoidance has rarely been systematically investigated. This study aimed to compile a list of specific threat appraisals that may lead to avoidance and to obtain data on the frequency with which these appraisals and consequent avoidance occur. DESIGN: Survey. METHOD: Qualitative methodology was used to obtain an account of threat appraisals. These data were then used to compile two questionnaires that asked about the experience of these appraisals and consequent avoidance. Fifty individuals with a TBI completed the questionnaires. RESULTS: A varied list of threat appraisals was obtained. Appraisals and consequent avoidance were frequent in the sample. Males and those whose TBI resulted from an assault reported more avoidance. CONCLUSIONS: A core aim of rehabilitation is to facilitate participation in valued roles and activities. Threat appraisals and avoidance deserve more attention in research and practice because they may constitute a significant obstacle to achieving this.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed2003

[Pregnancy complications can impair placental transport systems. Aberrant fetal growth, for example in diabetes, is only now beginning to be understood].

The reduced fetal growth in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) has been attributed to decreased placental blood flow whereas maternal hyperglycemia is believed to represent the primary cause of accelerated fetal growth in pregnancies complicated by diabetes. However, recent research has demonstrated specific changes in placental transport function in association to these pregnancy complications that are likely to contribute to the altered fetal growth patterns. For example, in IUGR the activity of certain key amino acid transporters is reduced in the placental barrier and accelerated fetal growth in diabetes is associated with an increased activity of placental glucose and amino acid transporters. Therefore, placental insufficiency in IUGR is not just a question of reduced placental blood flow and up-regulation of placental nutrient transporters in diabetes may explain the high incidence of accelerated fetal growth despite rigorous maternal glycemic control.

Amino Acid Transport Systems↗