Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Holmes

Publications and source records attributed to A Holmes.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources
PubMed1975

Deposition and clearance of inhaled fibrous minerals in the rat. Studies using radioactive tracer techniques.

The deposition and clearance of various fibrous materials have been investigated in the rat using radioactive tracer techniques. The materials used include the U.I.C.C. standard reference samples and synthetic mineral fibres. Measurements of total and alveolar deposition were correlated with the AMADs of the radioactive dust samples which ranged from 1 to 2.5 micron. Although total deposition increases steeply over this range, alveolar deposition is relatively constant only increasing from about 10 to 13%. Alveolar deposition is lower than in man, but the maximum in alveolar deposition appears to occur at a similar aerodynamic diameter. Half times of alveolar clearance, measured over a period of several months following single inhalation exposures, were in the range 60-90 days and no significant difference was observed between amphibole and chrysotile asbestos. Autoradiographs of lung sections indicate that alveolar deposition is relatively uniform and occurs right up to the periphery of the lung. Over a period of several months the uniform distribution alters to one in which fibres accumulate in foci which are mainly subpleural. These foci act as centres for the development of nodular fibrosis.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Choice of health insurance by families of the mentally ill.

This paper investigates whether choice of health insurance is influenced by the perceived mental and physical health of family members among a sample of policy-holders with private health insurance. A multinomial probit model of the choice among major medical coverage only, traditional full coverage, and coverage through a health maintenance organization is estimated. Results indicate that the presence of at least one family member who rates his or her general health as poor does not affect the policy-holder's choice of health insurance. However, the presence of at least one family member considered at risk of mental illness does in some instances affect the policy-holder's choice of health insurance: We observe significant effects for policy-holders who are female, black, have some college education, work for a large firm, and live in an urban area. These findings suggest that adverse selection may arise when individuals are able to choose between health insurance policies with different degrees of coverage for mental health care and that such effects are far more pronounced for those people who consider themselves at risk for mental illness than physical illness.

Black or African American↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Corticosterone response to the plus-maze: high correlation with risk assessment in rats and mice.

Exposure to the elevated plus-maze induces behavioural and physiological effects in rodents consistent with fear/anxiety. Maze-naive animals display high levels of risk assessment towards the open arms, and explore these areas less extensively than other parts of the maze while, immediately following the test, pain latencies, skin conductance levels, and plasma corticosterone titres (CORT) are significantly elevated. Although previous research has suggested a link between the plasma CORT response and open-arm exploration, significant elevations in CORT have also been found with restricted exposure to the closed arms. The present study employed ethological measures in an attempt to further characterise the relationship between behavioural and CORT responses to this widely used animal model of anxiety. Our results confirm that, relative to home-cage controls, 5-min exposure to the plus-maze significantly increases plasma CORT levels in test-naive male Wistar rats and male Swiss-Webster mice. Furthermore, in both species, the CORT response was found to be highly correlated with measures of risk assessment (mice: rs = +0.87; rats: rs = +0.58), but not with measures of open-arm activity (entries, time), general locomotor activity, rearing, or head dipping. Findings are discussed in relation to the functional significance of risk assessment in potentially dangerous situations and the potential involvement of glucocorticoids in this process. All rights reserved.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Low-molecular-weight heparin in the emergency department treatment of venous thromboembolism.

Accepted initial therapy for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is intravenous heparin infusion, which requires hospitalization, inhibits patient ambulation, consumes nursing time, and generates laboratory cost. The effects of heparin are unpredictable, and maintaining optimal anti-coagulation requires careful laboratory monitoring. Many patients are underdosed and 5-20% of heparin-treated patients suffer hemorrhagic complications. Low-molecular-weight (LMW) heparins have a predictable anticoagulant response, require no laboratory monitoring, and can be administered once or twice daily by subcutaneous injection, thus facilitating outpatient treatment. LMW heparins are at least as safe and effective as standard intravenous heparin for the treatment of uncomplicated DVT. LMW heparin use is associated with decreased admission rates, shorter lengths of stay, decreased nursing time, better patient quality of life, and lower laboratory costs. In our emergency department, we have adopted a LMW heparin protocol for the outpatient treatment of suspected or proven DVT.

Anticoagulants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Acoustic radiation from bone vibrators.

Our purpose was to investigate the influence of acoustic radiation produced by bone vibrators at 4000 Hz on bone conduction (BC) testing. In one study, BC thresholds were obtained with a Radioear B-70A, B-71, and B-72 vibrator when the subject's ear canal was unoccluded and occluded. In another study, probe-tube microphone measurements were made just inside the entrance to the ear canal for each vibrator and for an air conduction source at comparable sensation levels. Results of both studies were interpreted to indicate that the B-70A and B-71 produced minimal acoustic radiation. However, the B-72 was found to have excessive acoustic radiation which would be sufficient to influence BC thresholds and produce an invalid high-frequency air-bone gap.

Acoustics↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Self-advocacy in learning disabilities.

This article examines the complexities of helping people with a learning disability to develop self-advocacy skills and accordingly proposes that self-advocacy should take an explicit place in the RNMH curriculum.

Curriculum↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health of the Nation for people with learning disabilities.

This article explores issues related to the health of people with learning disabilities, with particular reference to the Department of Health (1995a) document The Health of the Nation: A Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities. This publication has stimulated care staff across all agencies to take a fresh look at this client group and their health needs in the five key areas: coronary heart disease and stroke; cancers; HIV/AIDS and sexual health; accidents; and mental health.

Health Priorities↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Agricultural use of Burkholderia (Pseudomonas) cepacia: a threat to human health?

In the past 2 decades, Burkholderia cepacia has emerged as a human pathogen causing numerous outbreaks, particularly among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. One highly transmissible strain has spread across North America and Britain, and another between hospitalized CF and non-CF patients. Meanwhile, the organism has been developed as a biopesticide for protecting crops against fungal diseases and has potential as a bioremediation agent for breaking down recalcitrant herbicides and pesticides. However, B. cepacia is inherently resistant to multiple antibiotics; selection of strains "safe" for environmental application is not at present possible phenotypically or genotypically; molecular epidemiology and phylogenetic studies demonstrate that highly transmissible strains emerge randomly; and the organism has a capacity for rapid mutation and adaptation (facilitated by numerous insertion sequences), and a large, complex genome divided into separate chromosomes. Therefore, the widespread agricultural use of B. cepacia should be approached with caution.

Agriculture↗