Biomedical subjects

V Kaspar

Publications and source records attributed to V Kaspar.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

Inhibition of type I and III IP(3)Rs by TGF-beta is associated with impaired calcium release in mesangial cells.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP(3)Rs) mediate cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](c)) signals in response to a variety of agonists that stimulate mesangial cell contraction and proliferation. In the present study, we demonstrate that mesangial cells express both type I and III IP(3)Rs and that these receptors occupy different cellular locations. Chronic treatment with transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1; 10 ng/ml, 24 h) leads to downregulation of both type I and III IP(3)Rs as measured by immunoblot and confocal analysis. TGF-beta1 treatment does not affect IP(3) levels, and downregulation of type I IP(3)R is not due to enhanced degradation of the protein, as the half-life of type I IP(3)R is unchanged in the presence or absence of TGF-beta1. Functional effects of TGF-beta1-induced downregulation of the IP(3)Rs were evaluated by measuring [Ca(2+)](c) changes in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) in intact cells and sensitivity of [Ca(2+)](c) release to IP(3) in permeabilized cells. TGF-beta1 pretreatment led to a significant decrease of [Ca(2+)](c) release induced by EGF in intact cells and by submaximal IP(3) (400 nm) in permeabilized cells. Total IP(3)-sensitive [Ca(2+)](c) stores were not changed, as assessed by stimulation with maximal doses of IP(3) (10.5 microm) and thapsigargin-mediated calcium release in permeabilized cells. We conclude that prolonged exposure to TGF-beta1 leads to downregulation of both type I and III IP(3)Rs in mesangial cells and this is associated with impaired sensitivity to IP(3).

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Perceived racial discrimination, depression, and coping: a study of Southeast Asian refugees in Canada.

Using data obtained from personal interviews with 647 Southeast Asian refugees in Canada, this study tests hypotheses regarding both the association between perceived racial discrimination and depression, and the roles of coping and ethnic identity in conditioning the nature of the discrimination-depression relation. Refugees who reported that they had experienced racial discrimination had higher depression levels than their counterparts who reported no such experiences. Responding to discrimination through confrontation was not significantly associated with depression. Study findings support the effectiveness of forbearance in diminishing the strength of the association between discrimination and depression. The moderating effect of forbearance was conditioned by the level of ethnic identity: The beneficial effect of forbearance was significantly greater among those holding stronger ethnic identification. Cultural and situational interpretations of the findings are presented.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1994

Measuring perceived self-efficacy in occupational therapy.

OBJECTIVES: Occupational therapists sometimes observe an alarming discrepancy between the occupational performance skills developed in the clinical setting and the degree to which the client willingly puts these skills to use outside the clinical environment. The literature strongly suggests that perceived self-efficacy partially explains this discrepancy; however, an understanding of perceived self-efficacy has not yet been integrated into the practice of occupational therapy. Both a lack of awareness of the construct and a lack of ability to assess perceived self-efficacy within the occupational performance domain are responsible for this lack of integration into practice. This article presents the development, reliability, and validity testing of a measure of perceived self-efficacy developed particularly for use by occupational therapists, the Self-Efficacy Gauge. METHOD: Reliability and validity testing was performed through use of a mailed survey (n = 126). Test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and alternate form reliability were examined. In addition, the subjects' scores on the Gauge were compared to actual performance and a hopelessness scale. RESULTS: The Self-Efficacy Gauge has a reasonable degree of reliability when used on a clinical sample whose perceived self-efficacy for occupational performance activities is unlikely to change. The results also provide preliminary support for the validity of the instrument. CONCLUSION: It is recognized that without a gold standard for comparison, validity testing will be an ongoing need.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1992

Depression in Korean immigrants in Canada. I. Method of the study and prevalence of depression.

This study reports the prevalence and risk factors of depression in a large representative community sample of adult Korean immigrants in Toronto, Canada. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale was used to measure depression by applying DSM-III criteria. Results in general suggest few differences between the immigrant community and the larger communities in Canada and the United States. Depressive syndrome was present in 4.5% of the sample, a prevalence similar to rates reported by the Epidemiologic Catchment Area studies. The risk factors associated with depression in larger populations were also found to be related to depression in this sample. Gender, marital status, intention to re-migrate, and social support were the most powerful correlates of depressive syndrome. In summary, Korean immigrants in Toronto are not exceptionally vulnerable to depression, and the social support from informal ethnic networks at the time of arrival has long-lasting effects on their mental health. Future research should focus on how the informal social supports available at the time of arrival are maintained by immigrants and the precise ways in which they exert long-term protective effects.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Depression in Korean immigrants in Canada. II. Correlates of gender, work, and marriage.

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale was used to measure depression by applying DSM-III criteria to a community sample of 860 adult Korean immigrants residing in Toronto, Canada. A total of 2.6% of men (95% confidence interval, 1.1% to 4.1%) and 6.7% of women (95% confidence interval, 4.3% to 9.1%) manifested depressive syndrome, rates not substantially different from those reported in North American community populations. The study also identified the subgroups in which the gender differences in depression were the greatest. Both the role demand (or double burden) and power explanations of gender differences might be supported. The mental health implications of social roles, including gender role, may be better understood from cross-cultural or multicultural perspectives.

Adult↗