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Biomedical subjects

A Cooke

Publications and source records attributed to A Cooke.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

Specific monoclonal IgM is a potent adjuvant in murine malaria vaccination.

Recent experiments in the murine system have indicated that the passive acquisition by offspring of maternal anti-malarial IgG antibodies while conferring some degree of immunity against a primary infection, paradoxically prevents the generation of acquired immunity through vaccination. Therefore, in view of earlier findings concerning the competitive effects of specific IgM and IgG antibodies, we investigated whether specific monoclonal IgM antibodies could be used to potentiate the response to a blood-stage murine malaria vaccine. We now report that small amounts of purified monoclonal anti-parasite IgM can specifically potentiate both priming and memory cell generation in response to vaccination as evidenced by survival after infection, and that the magnitude of this effect is greater than that found with a more conventional nonspecific adjuvant (Bordetella pertussis). Additionally, in offspring of immune mothers, where vaccination is ineffective for up to 8 weeks due to the presence of maternal IgG, we have found that IgM when administered with the vaccine can completely overcome this inhibition by its adjuvant effect.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

A survey of risk factors for burns in the elderly and prevention strategies.

Elderly burn patients suffer from greater morbidity and mortality than younger patients with similar burn extents. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for burn injuries in the elderly to develop an effective preventive program. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 20 elderly (> or =65 years of age) burn survivors on the circumstances surrounding their burn injury and on burn prevention. A control group of 20 nonburned elderly completed a similar survey only on burn prevention. The majority of burned subjects believed that their injury was preventable (85%). The home was the commonest location for burn injury (70%), and scalds (50%) and flame burns (25%) were the most common etiologies. Most subjects felt that a burn prevention program would be useful (95%) and television, news, and posters were the preferred sources of prevention information. Compared with the burn group, the control group had more risk factors for burn injury. However, the control group also took more active preventive measures. Burn prevention campaigns for elderly should focus on reducing flame and scald burns that occur in the home, preferably using television, news, and poster media.

Aged↗

Attendance allowance at age 16: time for review.

At the age of 16 years, young disabled people receiving attendance allowance are required to reapply for the benefit to establish their entitlement. As a consequence a substantial minority lose the benefit altogether or have it reduced. If this happens they can ask for a review of the decision and about two-thirds of those who do so are successful in having the allowance restored. This paper is concerned with the reassessment and review of attendance allowance at 16 years and is based on a study of a sample of young disabled people who had recently experienced the process. It concludes that inconsistency in the assessment process represents an unnecessary risk to the entitlement of recipients.

Adolescent↗

The doctor in society.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude to Health↗

Increasing nurse first-line leader (manager) positions to improve nurse retention and quality of patient care.

Nurses' job action during the spring and summer 2001 taught us much in British Columbia. Post job action de-briefing with non-contract staff confirmed for the Capital Health Region in Victoria that the workload of patient care managers, along with their scope of responsibility was contributing to dissatisfaction, both on the part of patient care managers as well as nursing staff who they are intended to serve. Further, it was becoming increasingly apparent that the success of most of the organizational initiatives depended greatly on the presence, availability and support of patient care managers. Supported by the senior leadership team, the Chief Nursing Officer for the Capital Health Region agreed to have a look at unit based leadership--see what was being discussed across the country and in the literature and draw on her own experience in three provinces. The result would be a discussion paper that would circulate broadly throughout the organization and would provide the organization with broad input to help it decide collectively "What do we need to do? Where do we need to go from here? And how will we get there?" This article is an adaptation of that discussion paper.

Humans↗

Quality of health and medical information on the Internet.

This article examines some of the problems associated with health and medical information available via the Internet. An overview is provided of gateway services that seek to provide access to high quality materials. Quality principles for health and medical Internet-based materials are highlighted and suggestions are offered for evaluating sources of information retrieved via the Internet. The article concludes that, although there is undeniably a vast quantity of useful material available via the Internet, the principles of basing health care on the best available evidence still apply and potential users need to critically appraise any information they wish to use.

Internet↗