Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Brigham

Publications and source records attributed to C Brigham.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Learning to care for clients in their world, not mine.

Current literature and trends support the need to incorporate concepts for culturally focused nursing care and experiences with diverse cultures into nursing curricula. The purposes of this qualitative research were to describe the phenomena of being immersed in a different culture and to generate a conceptual map depicting process and outcomes of the immersion experience. From analysis of stories told by practicing nurses (n=9) who had an immersion experience during a baccalaureate program, a dimensional matrix emerged. The core dimension was learning to care. Situational predetermining factors included educational setting, personal characteristics, and demographic factors. Characteristics of the immersion context were site conditions. Transitional factors included strategies for "learning to care" such as social support, coping responses, and openness to adapt communication patterns. Outcomes included personal and professional growth in values, communication, and nursing practice. The matrix can guide nurse educators in incorporating immersion experiences into nursing curricula.

Acculturation↗

Modified method for determining carcinoembryonic antigen in the presence of human anti-murine antibodies.

The increasing use of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for disease diagnosis and therapy has created a class of patients at risk for systematic error in clinical testing due to interference by human anti-murine antibodies (HAMA). HAMA interference is often difficult to detect and can cause either an increase or a decrease in apparent concentrations of antigen present. We undertook a clinical study to test a HAMA-resistant enzyme immunoassay (EIA) format for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) determination. Using the Food and Drug Administration-approved CEA-EIA Monoclonal One-Step Assay (Abbott) with the addition of an acid/heat extraction of patients' specimens, we found that the resulting CEA values accurately reflected the patients' status. We demonstrated that the acid/heat-extracted specimens yield linear dilution curves and show analytical recoveries of added CEA in the range of 76-123% in HAMA-positive specimens and 86-103% in HAMA-negative specimens. The correlation of CEA values in extracted vs unextracted specimens from 184 patients and control subjects was 0.9963. The CEA detection limit of the assay was 1.6 micrograms/L for the extracted samples.

Animals↗

Human antibody response to the intravenous and intraperitoneal administration of the F(ab')2 fragment of the OC125 murine monoclonal antibody.

We have characterized the human immune response against murine monoclonal antibodies (HAMA) in 18 patients following administration of the F(ab')2 fragment of the murine monoclonal antibody OC125. OC125 is directed against the CA125 antigen, present on the surface of many human ovarian cancers. An affinity matrix was used to separate serum into immunoglobulin-containing and immunoglobulin-free fractions. HAMA titer was determined on the immunoglobulin fraction with an OC125 sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All patients developed an HAMA response, despite the use of F(ab')2 fragments and small amounts (1-4 mg) of antibody. It may be that the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route provides a more marked HAMA response. Enzyme-linked sandwich immunoassays were also used to determine anti-isotype and anti-idiotype titers. Anti-isotype titers were analyzed with antigen irrelevant, isotype-matched murine antibodies and OC125-HRPO. Anti-idiotypes titers were assessed in a sandwich assay that utilized F(ab')2 and F(ab') fragments of OC125. The anti-isotype response tended to be of low titer and short duration, while the anti-idiotype response was of high titer and remarkably persistent. HAMA interfered in an unpredictable manner with the correct measurement of serum levels of CA125 in an enzyme immunoassay using OC125. Corrected values of CA125 could be obtained by measurement of antigen in the immunoglobulin-free fraction of serum. The response of one patient, who developed a markedly elevated anti-idiotype titer after serial i.v./i.p. injections, was further characterized and found to contain an antibody consistent with an anti-anti-idiotype to the CA125 antigen.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cross-cultural nursing. A report of faculty collaboration through regional networking.

Healthcare environments increasingly are becoming culturally diverse. A project to incorporate multicultural issues in curricula, identify cross-cultural student learning opportunities, and increase faculty skills in teaching transcultural concepts is described. Through regional networking, faculty members identified barriers to teaching cross-cultural concepts and strategies to address those barriers. Recommendations call for proactive approaches for sharing resources to strengthen cultural dimensions in schools of nursing, particularly in rural areas that lack cultural diversity.

Cooperative Behavior↗

The athletic polydrug abuse phenomenon. A case report.

A case of a power weight lifter who is ingesting large doses of anabolic steroids plus other drugs to counteract their short-term side effects is presented. This type of polydrug abuse phenomenon which is unique to the competitive athlete is widespread despite the lack of convincing evidence that anabolic steroids increase muscular strength. The vast extent of this drug abuse problem is poorly appreciated by the general medical community. The potential complications of the long-term usage of these drugs such as liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, and peliosis hepatitis make these drugs extremely dangerous.

Adult↗

Continuing professional education and interacting variables affecting behavioral change in practice: instrument development and administration.

BACKGROUND: Instruments were developed to measure variables identified by Cervero that evaluate the complex processes and effectiveness of continuing professional education. METHOD: Content validity was established with a panel of experts. Four studies were conducted to determine reliability. Data were merged to conduct factor analysis. RESULTS: Reliability was confirmed across studies using Cronbach's alpha. Stability was confirmed in a test-retest study. Factor analysis confirmed instrument items measure the concepts of Cervero's Model. CONCLUSION: The reliable and valid instruments may be useful for continuing education and staff development nurses to measure the effectiveness of education on behavioral change in practice.

Education, Nursing, Continuing↗