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PubMed2002

The role of defensins in lung biology and therapy.

Innate host defence, involving both cellular and humoral mediators, is a prominent function of the human airways. Cellular mediators of innate immunity include dendritic cells, natural killer cells, cytotoxic T cells, macrophages and neutrophils, while humoral mediators of innate immunity consist of components of the epithelial lining fluid (ELF) covering the airways. Microbicidal substances in the ELF can selectively disrupt bacterial cell walls and membranes, sequester microbial nutrients or act as decoys for microbial attachment. Antimicrobial components of airway secretions include lysozymes, lactoferrin, secretory leukoprotease inhibitor, defensins and cathelicidins. Defensins are the most widely studied family of antimicrobial peptides present in airway fluid. Humans produce at least 10 different defensin molecules, six alpha-defensins and four beta-defensins similar in structure and function. Direct evidence that defensins have central roles in host defense has only recently become available. Some defensins and defensin-like molecules could serve as templates for the development of pulmonary pharmaceuticals. As potential therapeutics, they possess several desirable properties, including the ability to kill a broad spectrum of micro-organisms while permitting little development of microbial resistance. Many peptides can also neutralize effects of lipopolysaccharide on macrophages and other host defense cells and decrease the release of proinflammatory cytokines thereby giving protection against septic shock. Protegrin-1 is a minidefensin isolated from pig leukocytes and has proved to be an attractive template for large-scale development of antibacterials. One such protegrin analog, iseganan is in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of oral mucositis secondary to systemic chemotherapy. Other prospective uses of iseganan include control of respiratory pathogens in patients with cystic fibrosis and reduction of oral bacteria to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia. However, in order to advance the production and clinical testing of peptide-based therapeutics, technical hurdles of synthesizing large quantities of complexly folded peptides must be first overcome. Strategies to develop potent peptide-based microbicides are promising in the struggle against increasingly resistant pathogens.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Development and evaluation of an instrument to assess social difficulties in routine oncology practice.

PURPOSE: To develop and preliminarily evaluate a Social Difficulties Inventory (SDI) for use in oncology practice. METHODS: Item generation from patients (n = 96), staff (n = 49) and the literature. Questions constructed and pre-tested (n = 42) resulting in a 22-item questionnaire. Psychometric evaluation (n = 271) assessed frequency of endorsement, factor structure, summated scales and construct validity followed by randomisation to criterion validity or test-retest arms. RESULTS: Items met preset frequency of endorsement criteria. Factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure, three clearly definable, (1) Physical ability, (2) Providing for the family and (3) Contact with others, explaining 45.8% variance. Summated scales developed from these demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.7) and were used to test and confirmed construct validity. Several comparators from the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS) and Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System Short Form (CARES-SF) tested criterion validity and majority agreements were moderate to good. Test-retest reliability was good with most kappa values > 0.6. One item was eliminated resulting in a 21-item questionnaire. CONCLUSION: The SDI is relevant and easy to understand. Initial psychometric evaluation was encouraging. Ongoing work to evaluate the clinical meaning and utility of the instrument and to examine the relationships between SDI scores and clinical outcomes will provide guidance about its usefulness as an assessment tool in routine oncology practice.

Factor Analysis, Statistical↗

PubMed2003

[Characteristics of the communication in individuals with fragile X syndrome].

The aim of this study was to make a characterization of the communication in a group with fragile X syndrome (FXS), based on normal development scale. The sample has 10 boys, between 6 and 13 years and with FXS. All of them were submitted to language evaluation. The most part of them had the communication in linguistic form (80%), until 3 years old. It was considered that the data confirmed the significant delay in the acquisition and development of the communication, being necessary an early and specialized intervention.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Accuracy of visual estimates of plate waste in the determination of food consumption.

A six-point visual estimation scale developed by Comstock was used by qualified dietitians to rate amounts of 978 servings of 117 different food items remaining as plate waste. Consumption of the food items was estimated as the difference between the weight of a randomly selected full serving of each item and the score on the visual estimation scale, which had been expressed as a proportion of that full-serving weight. The bias of the visual estimates averaged 2.2 gm; their imprecision averaged 13.7 gm. The small amount of bias in these estimates only slightly influences the results of studies using them as a substitute for weighed data. However, the much larger amount of imprecision must be accounted for. Sample size requirements for the detection of a statistically significant difference in food consumption between two or more groups using visual estimates of plate waste will be greater than those required when exact weighing techniques are used. In addition, the accuracy of dietary self-report data will be underestimated when such visual estimates are used as criterion measures of food consumption unless statistical adjustments are made to correct for the impact of the documented imprecision.

Bias↗

PubMed1983

Reliability analyses of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery factor scales by diagnostic group: a follow-up study.

The 30 scales developed from scalewise factor analyses of the items of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery were subjected to internal consistency analyses by means of coefficient alpha for a mixed brain-damaged group and neurologically normal groups of alcoholic and schizophrenic or schizoaffective disorder patients. Thirty-seven per cent of the factor scales failed to reach a 0.70 coefficient alpha level for the mixed brain damaged group, but that figure was reduced to 23% with use of scales based on an orthogonal factor solution for the Receptive Speech scale. Further refinement of the internally consistent factor scales was recommended. Internal consistency values were too low for the factor scales with the alcoholic and psychotic samples to recommend their clinical use with these groups. Methodological issues in the derivation and application of the factor scales were discussed.

Alcoholism↗

PubMed1992

[Esthetics of face; development of a scale for the measurement of facial esthetics].

The aim of this study was to develop a measurement scale to quantify facial appearance. Four series of 36 facial photographs, boys and girls at two ages, were judged twice by three different panels by means of ratio estimation. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to determine intra- and inter-observer agreement (median r = .78 and .71 respectively) as well as inter-panel agreement (median r = .84). Cronbach's alpha coefficients were established as a measure for the homogeneity within each jury panel (median alpha = .906). The results showed that reproducibility of the ratings as well as agreement between different observers were sufficient. Therefore, a mean overall score for each photograph could be calculated. Finally, for each group a metric scale was composed, consisting of five photographs with their scores.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Empowerment in people with a mental illness: reliability and validity of the Swedish version of an empowerment scale.

Empowerment has become a widespread concept in various social policy contexts referring to different marginalized groups. Empowerment has also been focused within the mental health field although little empirical research exists. The aim of the present study was to investigate internal consistency and construct validity of the Swedish version of an empowerment scale developed for people with a mental illness, Making Decisions. Ninety-two persons were subject to an interview also comprising assessments of quality of life, needs for care, psychiatric symptoms, psychosocial functioning, aspects of the social network, rejection experiences and attitudes of devaluation/discrimination towards people with mental illness. The results showed that the overall scale and the subscales had a good internal consistency, except for the subscale power-powerlessness. A factor analysis revealed two superordinate factors, self-esteem and activism and community and power, with a satisfactory internal consistency. These two factors showed a good construct validity with expected associations to validation measures. Stigma was most markedly associated with self-esteem and activism, and a higher level of education was most strongly associated with community and power. In conclusion, the Swedish version Making Decisions may well be used in further studies of empowerment among people with a mental illness.

Follow-Up Studies↗

PubMed1986

[Somatotyping of children and adolescents].

Longitudinal observations on growth and development in children and adolescents with a usual (school) and increased (sporting) motor activity regimens have been performed for 13 years and certain metrical characteristics have been obtained. After their treatment by means of the factor and correlative analyses, they are divided into basic and auxiliary. The basic characteristics have a high correlative connection with progress in certain kinds of physical activity (sporting achievements), the auxiliary ones determine the technique of carrying out the movement. Basing on theoretical generalization of the literature data and analyzing the metrical values obtained at anthropometry, an objective scheme of somatotyping is worked out. It considers an independent variation of the signs according to spatial (clearance limit, componental and proportional) and time (variants of development) scales. Nontraditional estimation on manifestation of fatty, muscular and osseous components is elaborated, algorhythm of their estimation is suggested. Three main (micro-, meso-, macrosomatic) and two additional (micromesosomatic and mesomacrosomatic) somatic types are defined. They include manifestation of fatty, muscular and osseous masses, as well as the proportion of the body-build. The mark scale estimation of individual metrical values according to the elaborated age nomograms and scales makes the base of the typing. As demonstrates the retrospective analysis of the material, in 86% of cases the somatic type does not change in the course of ontogenesis. Estimation of the somatic type during the pubertal period should be carried out with a strict consideration of the variant of the child's development.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Copying ability of preschool children with delayed language development.

Ninety-six 2 1/2-year-old children with delayed language development (identified by health visitors) and 100 controls were required to copy four simple items of the Griffiths Mental Development Scales, and were tested on the comprehension and expressive language scales of the Reynell Developmental Language Scales. The index children performed worse than the controls on all four copying tasks, and poor copying performance was related to both impaired language comprehension and expression. Copying by the index children was also poorer than their performance on two other non-verbal tasks. The implications for the assessment of children with delayed language development are considered, as well as theoretical implications with regard to the cognition/language debate.

Ethnicity↗

PubMed1999

Replication and extension analyzing the factor structure of Locus of Control scales for substance-abusing behaviors.

Two research questions were addressed in this study. First, what are the dimensions of the concept of control orientation with respect to substance-abusing behaviors as measured by Keyson and Janda's 1972 Drinking-related Locus of Control Scale and by an adaptation of that scale developed for users of other drugs. Second, utilizing a large sample of both male and female clients who abused both alcohol and other drugs, how does that dimensional structure differ from the one presented by Donovan and O'Leary in 1978 for male alcoholics at a VA hospital. Since the present sample was a large (N = 542) representative sample of publicly subsidized clients in Missouri, it provided an opportunity to extend earlier work across type of drug abused and sex. Like Donovan and O'Leary we used a principal components analysis with a varimax rotation to examine the dimensions of the 25-item locus of control scales. Like those authors, the analysis for male alcohol users produced a three-factor solution with interpretations resembling their "intrapersonal" and "interpersonal" factors but with a more fully developed third factor interpretable as a fate or luck dimension. These dimensions were apparent for the other groups as well, although the first two factors were reversed for male users of other drugs and the analysis for female alcohol abusers showed a more consistent sociability dimension than for males. While the derived structures are therefore similar to Donovan and O'Leary's results and consistent with the theoretical uses of control orientation in discussion of alcohol and other drug abuse, they also show some differences for type of drug abused and by sex. These are necessary but not sufficient conditions for including such measures in more specific models relating clients' motivation and propensity for change to outcomes.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

[Neuropsychiatric outcome in patients with congenital hypothyroidism precautiously treated: Risk factors analysis in a group of patients from Tuscany].

AIM: In order to avoid an excessive medical monitoring and to obtain more functional medical controls for the outcome of children with early treated congenital hypothyroidism, the results of a neurological and psychiatric follow-up performed in area Pisana since 1990 are revised. This analysis gives some indications to get over the differences of the various methodological approaches and to get better rehabilitation treatment in respect to the individual needs. METHODS: Our study group includes 52 children with early treated congenital hypothyroidism; a semiquantitative score was used to assess sociocultural level (SCL) of the family. Cognitive and language performances were evaluated by Griffiths Mental Development Scale and with Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-R). RESULTS: Study group mean total scores in cognitive tests are within the normal range, motor and language impairments have been noted, instead. These skills are significantly correlated with pretreatment serum thyroxine (T4). In addition a low SCL is a great risk factor for the occurrence of mild impairments in neuropsychological development. CONCLUSIONS: In arranging the neuropsychological follow-up in early treated congenital hypothyroidism it is recommended to keep in mind the importance of the combination of neonatal endocrinological factors (in particular, pretreatment serum thyroxine) and SCL on the cognitive, motor and language development.

Congenital Hypothyroidism↗

PubMed2001

Health locus of control beliefs among school children.

The purpose of the present study is to measure Children Health Locus of control (CHLC) beliefs among school children using the scale developed by Abdel-Gawwad et al. (1999) to test the differences of the beliefs by children's some sociodemographic characteristics and Body Mass Index (BMI). A cross sectional study design was applied using a stratified random sample of 1500 pupils from the final two grades of primary and all grades of the preparatory schools. The scale consisted of 25 statements with a 4-point Likert format. Body mass index was also calculated. From data analysis 15% of the pupils were obese. The mean score of internality increase with increasing age also powerful others' mean score increase with increasing age till the age of 11 - < 12 years and decrease again till the age14 - < 15 years. Chance's mean score decreases with increasing age till the age 14 - < 15 years. Self blame and fate subscales showed irregular decrease with increasing age. Girls had significantly higher mean score of fate subscale than boys (F = 10.67, p < 0.01). Boys had significantly higher mean score of total CHLC scale than girls (12.68, p < 0.01). Obese pupils had significantly higher mean scores of internality and total CHLC scale than non obese pupils (t = 2.58, 2.02, p < 0.05, respectively). Obese pupils had significantly lower mean scores of powerful others, chance and self blame (t = 2.09, 16.51, 2.00, p < 0.05, 0.01, 0.05, respectively). Total CHLC mean scores increased with increasing mother's education (F = 8.99, p < 0.01). Chance mean score decreased with increasing mother's education (F = 11.43, p < 0.01). Total CHLC mean scores increased with increasing father's education (F = 7.6, p < 0.01). Powerful others mean score decreased with increasing father's education (F = 4.42, p < 0.01). Pupils from private schools had higher mean scores of chance and total CHLC (t = 7.0, 7.26, p < 0.01, respectively). They also had lower powerful others and fate mean scores (t = 4.19, 3.17, p < 0.01, respectively). Measuring CHLC beliefs to plan health education programs according CHLC scores is highly recommended.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

[Clinical characteristics and speech therapy of lingua-apical articulation disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and speech therapy of 62 children with lingua-apical articulation disorder. METHODS: Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), Gesell development scales (Gesell), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Preschool Children (WPPSI) and speech test were performed for 62 children at the ages of 3 to 8 years with lingua-apical articulation disorder. PPVT was used to measure receptive vocabulary skills. GESELL and WPPSI were utilized to represent cognitive and non-verbal ability. The speech test was adopted to assess the speech development. The children received speech therapy and auxiliary oral-motor functional training once or twice a week. Firstly the target sound was identified according to the speech development milestone, then the method of speech localization was used to clarify the correct articulation placement and manner. It was needed to change food character and administer oral-motor functional training for children with oral motor dysfunction. RESULTS: The 62 cases with the apical articulation disorder were classified into four groups. The combined pattern of the articulation disorder was the most common (40 cases, 64.5%), the next was apico-dental disorder (15 cases, 24.2%). The third was palatal disorder (4 cases, 6.5%) and the last one was the linguo-alveolar disorder (3 cases, 4.8%). The substitution errors of velar were the most common (95.2%), the next was omission errors (30.6%) and the last was absence of aspiration (12.9%). Oral motor dysfunction was found in some children with problems such as disordered joint movement of tongue and head, unstable jaw, weak tongue strength and poor coordination of tongue movement. Some children had feeding problems such as preference of eating soft food, keeping food in mouths, eating slowly, and poor chewing. After 5 to 18 times of therapy, the effective rate of speech therapy reached 82.3%. CONCLUSION: The lingua-apical articulation disorders can be classified into four groups. The combined pattern of the articulation errors is the most common one. Most of the apical sounds are replaced by velar sounds. The speech localization method is very useful in the therapy of apical articulation disorder. For children with feeding problems and oral motor dysfunction, it is needed to improve food texture and administer oral motor skill training.

Articulation Disorders↗

PubMed2006

Evaluating the properties of a stage-specific self-efficacy scale for physical activity using classical test theory, confirmatory factor analysis and item response modeling.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a stage-specific self-efficacy scale for physical activity with classical test theory (CTT), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response modeling (IRM). Women who enrolled in the Women On The Move study completed a 20-item stage-specific self-efficacy scale developed for this study [n=226, 51.1% African-American and 48.9% Hispanic women, mean age = 49.2 (+/-7.0) years, mean body mass index = 29.7 (+/-6.4)]. Three analyses were conducted: (i) a CTT item analysis, (ii) a CFA to validate the factor structure and (iii) an IRM analysis. The CTT item analysis and the CFA results showed that the scale had high internal consistency (ranging from 0.76 to 0.93) and a strong factor structure. Results also showed that the scale could be improved by modifying or eliminating some of the existing items without significantly altering the content of the scale. The IRM results also showed that the scale had few items that targeted high self-efficacy and the stage-specific assumption underlying the scale was rejected. In addition, the IRM analyses found that the five-point response format functioned more like a four-point response format. Overall, employing multiple methods to assess the psychometric properties of the stage-specific self-efficacy scale demonstrated the complimentary nature of these methods and it highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of this scale.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

An investigation of role-taking in histrionic personalities.

Gough's theory that psychopathy stems from a deficiency in role taking, the ability to perceive and evaluate one's own behaviour as it is perceived and evaluated by others in the same culture, was tested. The Socialization scale, developed by Gough to assess role taking, was administered to a group of 20 female psychiatric patients with histrionic personality disorders, and a control group of female depressives of similar age and intelligence. Socialization scores of the histrionic personalities were significantly lower, indicating impaired role taking, and this difference was not attributable to depression of mood. The Socialization scale was a better discriminator between the groups than the scales of two other personality inventories or a test to elicit meta-impressions.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Development and validation of the Physical Appearance Related Teasing Scale.

The development and preliminary validation of the Physical Appearance Related Testing Scale (PARTS) is reported. The 18-item scale has good psychometric qualities (high internal consistency and test-retest reliabilities) and consists of two factors: Weight/Size Testing (W/ST) and General Appearance Teasing (GAT). The W/ST converges well with measures of eating disturbance, body image dissatisfaction, social comparison, depression, and self-esteem, whereas the GAT scale shows little relationship to these variables. The role of teasing history as an etiological component of body image and eating disturbance is discussed; the need for further validation work on the PARTS is addressed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Criteria for evaluating the condition of a tropical cyclone warning system.

This paper evaluates the condition (i.e. health) of a tropical cyclone warning system (TCWS) during a 'quiet period' between infrequent intense cyclones. Capacity to make pre-disaster evaluations is important--disaster warning systems need to be in sound condition before, not after, disaster. The research--part of the UK's International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction Flagship Programme--focuses upon an evaluatory method first used on flood warning systems. The Criteria-development Matrix comprises social, organisational and institutional criteria by which a TCWS may be assessed using a five-stage development scale. This method is used to evaluate Mauritius's TCWS using in-depth interview data. Ways to enhance the method and apply it to other disaster warning systems are discussed. The TCWS in Mauritius is a relatively sound one from which others can learn. Weaknesses requiring attention for Mauritius's TCWS to progress to an advanced level of development are identified.

Disaster Planning↗

PubMed2003

Relation between Machiavellianism and job satisfaction in a sample of Turkish physicians.

Job satisfaction is affected by many factors. A consistent negative correlation between Machiavellianism and Job satisfaction was shown by many previous studies. To estimate this association in a sample of Turkish people, 361 physicians were selected among the total number of 5,959 working in Ankara City Center. A self-administered questionnaire including the Mach IV scale and Job Satisfaction scale developed by Kasapoğlu was applied to the subjects. Student t test and Pearson correlation were used for analysis. The correlation of -.25 between Job Satisfaction and Machiavellianism scores was significant and consistent with the mean scores on Job Satisfaction between the Machiavellian and Nonmachiavellian groups. Although the present association is small, the inverse value is consistent for Mach IV scale scores with job satisfaction in the literature.

Adult↗