Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Environmental Equity Is Child's Play: Mapping Public Provision Of Recreation Opportunities In Urban Neighbourhoods, Jason Gilliland, Martin Holmes, Jennifer Irwin, Patricia Tucker

Trish Tucker

This paper examines the spatial distribution of recreational opportunities for children and youth in a mid-sized Canadian city (London, Ontario), in relation to the socioeconomic status of neighbourhoods and estimated local need for publicly provided recreation spaces. Public recreation facilities (N = 537) throughout the city were identified, mapped and analysed in a geographic information system. To explore potential socio-environmental inequities, neighbourhoods (N = 22) were characterized by socioeconomic and environmental variables, an index of neighbourhood social distress, a neighbourhood play space needs index, and measures of the prevalence and density of recreational opportunities. The results of the spatial analysis …

Feasibility Of A Campus-Based "Buddy System" To Promote Physical Activity: Canadian Students' Perspectives, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin

Trish Tucker

Objective: To explore the characteristics of a university-wide buddy system that students would be receptive to using. Methods: This study targeted a heterogeneous sample of undergraduate university students age 18 to 25 y. An experienced moderator, using a semi-structured interview guide, conducted 13 focus groups (n = 65). Focus group discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Inductive content analysis was conducted independently by two researchers. Measures were incorporated throughout to ensure data trustworthiness. Results: The value of this campus-based physical activity intervention was emphasized by the vast majority of participants. Five main themes exemplified students' preferences: sign-up methods; matching …

Surveillance Of The Colorectal Cancer Disparities Among Demographic Subgroups: A Spatial Analysis, Chiehwen Hsu, Francisco Soto Mas

Francisco Soto Mas

Objective: The literature suggests that colorectal cancer mortality in Texas is distributed inhomogeneously among specific demographic subgroups and in certain geographic regions over an extended period. To understand the extent of the demographic and geographic disparities, the present study examined colorectal cancer mortality in 15 demographic groups in Texas counties between 1990 and 2001. Methods: The Spatial Scan Statistic was used to assess the standardized mortality ratio, duration and age-adjusted rates of excess mortality, and their respective p-values for testing the null hypothesis of homogeneity of geographic and temporal distribution. Results: The study confirmed the excess mortality in some Texas …

Howe V. Mgh And Hudson V. Texas Children's Hospital: Two Approaches To Resolving Family-Physician Disputes In End-Of-Life Care, Michael Moreland

Michael P. Moreland

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Bnp Testing In Heart Failure, Jenny Doust, Richard Lehman, Paul Glasziou

Jenny Doust

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels are simple and objective measures of cardiac function. These measurements can be used to diagnose heart failure, including diastolic dysfunction, and using them has been shown to save money in the emergency department setting. The high negative predictive value of BNP tests is particularly helpful for ruling out heart failure. Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers, spironolactone, and diuretics reduces BNP levels, suggesting that BNP testing may have a role in monitoring patients with heart failure. However, patients with treated chronic stable heart failure may have levels in the normal range (i.e., BNP …

Using Electronic Patient Records In Mental Healthcare To Capture Housing And Homelessness Information Of Psychiatric Consumers, Richard Booth

Richard G Booth

No abstract provided.

Obligations In Offering To Disclose Genetic Research Results, Conrad Fernandez, Charles Weijer

Charles Weijer

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Timing Of Radiotherapy After Breast-Conserving Surgery In Patients With Positive Or Close Resection Margins, Young Age, And Node-Negative Disease, With Long Term Follow-Up, Olga Vujovic, Anil Cherian, Edward Yu, A. Dar, Larry Stitt, Francisco Perera

Edward Yu

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of timing of radiotherapy after conservative breast surgery on local recurrence in women with positive resection margins and young age, treated without systemic therapy. Methods and materials: A total of 568 patients with T1 and T2, N0 breast cancer were treated with breast-conserving surgery and breast irradiation, between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 1992, at the London Regional Cancer Centre. 63 patients (11.1%) had positive/close resection margins (< 2 mm) and 48 patients (8.4%) were age < or = 40 years. For patients with positive resection margins, the time intervals from breast surgery to breast irradiation used for analysis were, 0 to 8 weeks, > 8 to 12 weeks and > 12 weeks. For patients < or = 40 years, the intervals used for analysis were 0 to 8 weeks and > 8 weeks. Results: Median follow up was 11.2 years. For patients …

Nursing Students’ Empowerment In Distance Education: Testing Kanter's Theory, Elizabeth Ledwell, Mary-Anne Andrusyszyn, Carrolll Iwasiw

Mary-Anne Andrusyszyn

This qualitative, explanatory study examined Post-RN baccalaureate nursing students’ experiences of empowerment with distance education and computer conferencing (CC) for fit with the constructs of Kanter’s (1977, 1993) Theory of Structural Power in Organizations. Seven post-RNs from Canadian distance education nursing programs were interviewed. Interview transcripts were examined using content analysis. Kanter’s theory was useful in describing empowerment structures in distance education courses. Feedback from instructors, access to library facilities, and support from employers and family are essential elements of an empowering educational experience. Students missed face-to-face contact. Two themes unrelated to Kanter’s theory—self-direction and determination to succeed—emerged. This study, …

Visual Adaptation To Masculine And Feminine Faces Influences Generalized Preferences And Perceptions Of Trustworthiness, Gavin Buckingham, Lisa Debruine, Anthony Little, Lisa Welling, Claire Conway, Bernard Tiddeman, Benedict Jones

Gavin Buckingham

Although previous studies of individual differences in preferences for masculinity in male faces have typically emphasized the importance of factors such as changes in levels of sex hormones during the menstrual cycle, other research has demonstrated that recent visual experience with faces also influences preferences for sexual dimorphism in faces. Adaptation to either masculine or feminine faces increases preferences for novel faces that are similar to those that were recently seen. Here, we replicate this effect and demonstrate that adaptation to masculine or feminine faces also influences the extent to which masculine faces are perceived as trustworthy. These adaptation effects …

Trust-Based Obligations Of The State And Physician-Researchers To Patient-Subjects, Paul Miller, Charles Weijer

Charles Weijer

When may a physician enroll a patient in clinical research? An adequate answer to this question requires clarification of trust-based obligations of the state and the physician-researcher respectively to the patient-subject. The state relies on the voluntarism of patient-subjects to advance the public interest in science. Accordingly, it is obligated to protect the agent-neutral interests of patient-subjects through promulgating standards that secure these interests. Component analysis is the only comprehensive and systematic specification of regulatory standards for benefit-harm evaluation by research ethics committees (RECs). Clinical equipoise, a standard in component analysis, ensures the treatment arms of a randomised control trial …

Surveillance Of The Colorectal Cancer Disparities Among Demographic Subgroups: A Spatial Analysis, Chiehwen Ed Hsu, Francisco Soto Mas

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Objective: The literature suggests that colorectal cancer mortality in Texas is distributed inhomogeneously among specific demographic subgroups and in certain geographic regions over an extended period. To understand the extent of the demographic and geographic disparities, the present study examined colorectal cancer mortality in 15 demographic groups in Texas counties between 1990 and 2001. Methods: The Spatial Scan Statistic was used to assess the standardized mortality ratio, duration and age-adjusted rates of excess mortality, and their respective p-values for testing the null hypothesis of homogeneity of geographic and temporal distribution. Results: The study confirmed the excess mortality in some Texas …

Age And Physical Activity Influences On Action Monitoring During Task Switching, Jason R. Themanson, Charles H. Hillman, John J. Curtin

Jason R. Themanson, Ph.D

Behavioral and neuroelectric indices of action monitoring were compared for 53 high and low physically active older (60–71 years) and younger (18–21 years) adults during a task-switching paradigm in which they performed a task repeatedly or switched between two different tasks. The error-related negativity (ERN) of a response-locked event-related brain potential (ERP) and behavioral measures of response speed and accuracy were measured during the heterogeneous condition (switching randomly between two tasks) of the switch task. Results indicated that older adults exhibited a greater relative slowing in RT during heterogeneous blocks and smaller ERN amplitude compared to younger adults. Additionally, physical …

Revisiting The Ethics Of Hiv Prevention Research In Developing Countries, Charles Weijer, Guy Leblanc

Charles Weijer

Issues: We present key aspects of our paper, commissioned by UNAIDS in 2005, entitled, “Revisiting the ethics of HIV prevention research in developing countries.” In 2004 and 2005 we witnessed the closure or suspension of three international clinical trials testing tenofovir in the prevention of HIV infection in high risk groups due to the failure to provide free treatment to those who seroconvert during the conduct of the study. We examine critically moral claims for the provision of treatment to those who seroconvert in HIV prevention trials and ask whether it is a matter of moral obligation or moral negotiation? …

Syndrome Of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (Siadh) In Patients With Limited Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer, Patricia Tai, Edward Yu, Kurian Jones, Evgeny Sadikov, Shazia Mahmood, Jon Tonita

Edward Yu

A few series in the literature were published before 1987 on syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This study examines the outcome in more recent era. From 1981-1998, there were 1417 new cases of SCLC diagnosed in the provincial registry, of which 244 were of limited stage (LS). A chart review and statistical analyses were performed using Mann-Whitney test, chi-square test and Kaplan-Meier method. Fourteen LS patients (group A) had SIADH at presentation. Group B consisted of 230 LS patients without SIADH. There were more patients with poorer performance status (ECOG 2-4) in …

Antioxidant Effect Of Zinc And Zinc-Metallothionein In The Acute Cytotoxicity Of Hydrogen Peroxide In Ehrlich Ascites Tumour Cells, Zacharias Suntres, Ed Lui

Edmund M. K. Lui

This study was concerned with the role of zinc (Zn) and zinc-metallothionein (Zn-MT) in oxidative stress. Hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative injury was examined in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells isolated from control host mice, mice pretreated with 10 mg/kg ZnSO4 (i.p.) to increase cellular Zn/Zn-MT levels, and mice exposed to Zn-deficient diet to reduce the cellular Zn/Zn-MT levels. The results of the present study showed that Ehrlich cells with seven-fold differences in Zn-MT concentrations could be obtained by manipulating the Zn status of host mice and that high Zn and Zn-MT levels can make Ehrlich cells more resistant to H2O2-induced oxidative injury …

Regulation Of Contraction-Induced Fa Uptake And Oxidation By Ampk And Erk1/2 Is Intensity Dependent In Rodent Muscle, Marcella Raney, Lorraine Turcotte

Marcella Raney

Muscle contraction activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), two signaling molecules involved in the regulation of muscle metabolism. The purpose of this study was to determine whether activation of AMPK and/or ERK1/2 contributes to the regulation of muscle fatty acid (FA) uptake and oxidation in contracting muscle. Rat hindquarters were perfused during rest (R) or electrical stimulation (E) of increasing intensity by manipulating train duration (E1 = 25 ms, E2 = 50 ms, E3 = 100 ms, E4 = 200 ms). For matched FA delivery, FA uptake was significantly greater than R during E1, E2, and …

The Role Of Radiation Therapy In Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: A Systematic Review, Yee Ung, Edward Yu, Conrad Falkson, Adam Haynes, Denise Stys-Norman, William Evans

Edward Yu

Introduction: Radiation therapy may offer patients presenting with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) symptom palliation and improvements in quality of life. This systematic review will address the role of radiation therapy in the management of MPM. Methods: A thorough systematic search of the literature was conducted for published articles and conference proceedings for applicable abstracts. Relevant trials were selected and assessed. Results: Three small randomized controlled trials compared prophylactic external beam radiation therapy to no radiation therapy for patients with thoracic tracts caused by drainage tubes or diagnostic procedures. None of those trials reported any serious adverse effects. A pooled analysis …

Development And Characterization Of A Normalized Canine Retinal Cdna Library For Genomic And Expression Studies, Barbara Zangerl, Qi Sun, Jarek Pillardy, Jennifer L. Johnson, Peter A. Schweitzer, Alvaro G. Hernandez, Lei Liu, Gregory M. Acland, Gustavo D. Aguirre

Gustavo D. Aguirre, VMD, PhD

Endocrinology, Patricia Harris

Patricia Harris

A Frameshift Mutation In Rpgr Exon Orf15 Causes Photoreceptor Degeneration And Inner Retina Remodeling In A Model Of X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa, William A. Beltran, Pamela Hammond, Gregory M. Acland, Gustavo D. Aguirre

Gustavo D. Aguirre, VMD, PhD

What Does Vulnerability Mean?, Barry Hoffmaster

C. Barry Hoffmaster

No abstract provided.

Eleven-Year Follow-Up Results In The Delay Of Breast Irradiation After Conservative Breast Surgery In Node-Negative Breast Cancer Patients, Olga Vujovic, Edward Yu, Anil Cherian, A. Dar, Larry Stitt, Francisco Perera

Edward Yu

Purpose: This retrospective review was conducted to determine if delay in the start of radiotherapy after conservative breast surgery had any detrimental effect on local recurrence or disease-free survival in node-negative breast cancer patients. Methods and materials: A total of 568 patients with T1 and T2, N0 breast cancer were treated with breast-conserving surgery and breast irradiation, without adjuvant systemic therapy, between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1992 at the London Regional Cancer Centre. The time intervals from definitive breast surgery to breast irradiation used for analysis were 0 to 8 weeks (201 patients), greater than 8 to 12 …

Membrane Sweeping At Initiation Of Formal Labor Induction - A Randomized Controlled Trial, Siti Zawiah Omar

Siti Zawiah Omar

OBJECTIVE: To determine the benefit of membrane rate, reduced oxytocic drug use, shortened induction to sweeping at initiation of labor induction in conjunction delivery interval, and improved patient satisfaction. with formal methods of labor induction. METHODS: Two hundred seventy-four women at term with a singleton fetus in cephalic presentation and intact membranes were randomly assigned to receive membrane sweeping or no membrane sweeping at initiation of formal labor induction with either dinoprostone pessary or amniotomy. Outcome measures included mode of delivery, induction-to-delivery interval, dinosprostone dose, any oxytocin use and duration of oxytocin use in labor, visual analog score for pain …

Linkage Mapping Of Canine Rod Cone Dysplasia Type 2 (Rcd2) To Cfa7, The Canine Orthologue Of Human 1q32, Anna Kukekova, Jacquelyn Nelson, R W. Kuchtey, Jennifer K. Lowe, Jennifer L. Johnson, Elaine A. Ostrander, Gustavo D. Aguirre, Gregory M. Acland

Gustavo D. Aguirre, VMD, PhD

Comparative Planning Evaluation Of Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Techniques For Complex Lung Cancer Cases, Slav Yartsev, Jeff Chen, Edward Yu, Tomas Kron, George Rodrigues, Terry Coad, Kristina Trenka, Eugene Wong, Glenn Bauman, Jake Van Dyk

Edward Yu

Background and purpose: Lung cancer treatment can be one of the most challenging fields in radiotherapy. The aim of the present study was to compare different modalities of radiation delivery based on a balanced scoring scheme for target coverage and normal tissue avoidance. Patients and methods: Treatment plans were developed for 15 patients with stage III inoperable non-small cell lung cancer using 3D conformal technique and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Elective nodal irradiation was included for all cases to create the most challenging scenarios with large target volumes. A 2 cm margin was used around the gross tumour volume (GTV) to …

Prooxidative Effect Of Copper-Metallothionein In The Acute Cytotoxicity Of Hydrogen Peroxide In Ehrlich Ascites Tumour Cells, Zacharias Suntres, Ed Lui

Edmund M. K. Lui

This study was concerned with the role of copper (Cu) and Cu-metallothionein (Cu-MT) in oxidative stress. Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced oxidative injury was examined in Ehrlich ascites tumour cells isolated from host mice pretreated with 0, 1 or 2mg of CuSO(4) (ip) 24h earlier. Control Ehrlich cells contained low levels of Cu and Cu treatment produced dose-related increases in cellular Cu and Cu-MT levels and corresponding increases in sensitivity to oxidative toxicity of H(2)O(2) (LC(50), cell blebbing, lipid peroxidation, GSH depletion, and increase in intracellular free [Ca(2+)](i)). Hydrogen peroxide treatment also resulted in the oxidation of MT thiolates, reduction in the …

Preschoolers’ Dietary Intake Behaviours: Parents’ Perspectives, Patricia Tucker, Jennifer Irwin, Meizi He, L Sangster Bouck, Graham Pollett

Trish Tucker

No abstract provided.

Connexin Overexpression Differentially Suppresses Glioma Growth And Contributes To The Bystander Effect Following Hsv-Thymidine Kinase Gene Therapy, T. Jiminez, W. Fox, C. Naus, J. Galipeau, Daniel Belliveau

Daniel J. Belliveau

Neoplastic transformation is frequently associated with a loss of gap junctional intercellular communication and reduced expression of connexins. The introduction of connexin genes into tumor cells reverses the proliferative characteristics of such cells. However, there is very little comparative information on the effects of different connexins on cancer cell growth. We hypothesized that Cx26, Cx32, or Cx43 would display differential growth suppression of C6 glioma cells and uniquely modulate the bystander effect following transduction of C6 cells with HSVtk followed by suicide gene therapy. The bystander phenomenon is the death of a greater number of tumor cells than are expressing …

Physician-Assisted Suicide: A Review Of The Literature Concerning Practical And Clinical Implications For Uk Doctors., M Hicks

Madelyn Hsiao-Rei Hicks

No abstract provided.