Approach to development of tentacle affinity matrices.
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Adsorption↗
Biomedical subjects
A Plant
Publications and source records attributed to A Plant.
Hickman catheters: left-sided insertion, male gender, and obesity are associated with an increased risk of complications.
BACKGROUND: Semipermanent tunnelled silicone rubber Hickman catheters are widely used to provide durable central venous access for patients with cancer or haematological disease. AIMS: To document the frequency and severity of Hickman catheter related adverse events and to identify predisposing factors. METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of 153 sequential Hickman catheters inserted into patients receiving treatment for cancer or haematological disease. All Hickman catheters were inserted percutaneously in a radiology department under local anaesthesia and fluoroscopic control. The exact position of the catheter tip was determined by reviewing post-insertion radiographs. RESULTS: The median duration of catheter use was 55 days (range one-650). Complications led to the removal of 32% of catheters. Exit site infection complicated 22% of catheters, septicaemia 7%, migration or dislodgment 7%, and venous thrombosis 8%. Complications were more common in male patients (exit site infection and catheter loss), in patients with acute leukaemia (septicaemia) and in obese patients (catheter migration). Left sided catheters caused more venous thrombosis and were more likely to malfunction or block. Left sided catheters required removal more frequently than right sided catheters. Termination of the Hickman catheter within the high superior vena cava (SVC) resulted in loss of function earlier when compared to termination with the low SVC or right atrium (RA). CONCLUSIONS: Right-sided Hickman catheters terminating in the low SVC/RA offer the best chance of durable function. The use of subcutaneously tunnelled catheters in obese patients poses unique problems with catheter migration. Vigilance in the placement and care of Hickman catheters remains essential.
Catheterization, Central Venous↗
Intracellular calcium measurements in individual human sperm demonstrate that the majority can respond to progesterone.
OBJECTIVE: To determine if human spermatozoa could be immobilized and intracellular calcium measurements made on individual cells to measure what proportion can respond to P. DESIGN: Spermatozoa were loaded with Fura 2 (Sigma Chemical Co., Poole, Dorest, United Kingdom) and suspended in 10% gelatin at 37 degrees C. A thin layer of the suspension was cooled to room temperature (20 degrees C to 25 degrees C) and [Ca2+]i was measured with a fluorescence microscope equipped with dual wavelength excitation and an image analysis system. SETTING: University-based laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Semen was obtained from four fertile donors to a donor insemination program. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: [Ca2+]i was calculated from the ratio of Fura 2 fluorescence excited at 340 nm and that excited at 366 nm. RESULTS: One hundred six of 114 sperm examined (93%) demonstrated a significant response to P but the size and duration of the response was variable. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that most sperm can respond to P.
Calcium↗
Immunisation.
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Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine↗
Cancer of the uterine cervix and screening of Aboriginal women.
Carcinoma of the cervix has not been widely reported as an important health problem for Aboriginal women. From four sources, we have studied cervical cancer death rates, abnormalities detected by cervical cytology screening, and the proportion of women who had been screened. First, from the Northern Territory for the years 1979-1983, we present a relative risk of 6.3 (95% confidence interval, 3.0-11.6) for cervical cancer deaths in Aboriginal women compared with all Australian women. Second, the screening and disease rates in Aboriginal women were profiled within a large laboratory in Victoria. Since 1984, a fourfold increase in the number of smears taken at Aboriginal health services is apparent. In women attending these services, a high rate of significantly abnormal smears is evident. Third, to study the extent of screening, we interviewed Aboriginal women in a Victorian country setting and fourth, we examined a random sample of medical records from an Aboriginal Health Service. The proportion screened at least once rose from 5/47 (11%) among women whose most recent consultation with the Health Service was during the years 1974-1980 to 51/170 (31%) women who attended from 1981-1987 (p less than 0.01). Aboriginal communities may interpret these trends favourably as they encourage their women to be screened regularly to reduce cervical cancer mortality.
Adolescent↗