Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Connor

Publications and source records attributed to C Connor.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Outpatient management of DVT using low molecular weight heparin and a hospital outreach service.

In recent years there have been several studies comparing the efficacy and safety of low molecular weight (LMW) and unfractionated heparin for the treatment of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), showing them in the clinical trial setting to be equal in these regards. LMWH has the advantage of once daily subcutaneous injection and daily monitoring of levels is not usually required. This has led many centres to develop outpatient treatment strategies for these patients but evidence for the safety of this approach is scarce. In 1997 we developed a hospital outreach service for the treatment of patients with DVT and, in a retrospective study, have compared the outcome in 172 patients treated at home with 172 age, sex and thrombotic risk factor matched inpatients treated at our institution with unfractionated heparin. Five patients in the home treatment group suffered a haemorrhagic event, compared with six patients in the hospital group. One patient in the home treatment group had a recurrent DVT within the first 3 months of treatment; in the hospital-treated group, six patients had recurrent DVTs and nine developed pulmonary emboli. At 3 months, there were three deaths in the home treatment group, compared with five deaths in the hospital group. There was no difference in re-admission rate at 3 months: 23 in the home treatment group, 24 in the hospital-treated group. Average length of hospital stay for the home-treatment group was 2.1 days and 12 days for the hospital group. Warfarin control was found to be significantly better in those patients treated at home, and only 18% of patients treated in hospital received heparin according to hospital guidelines. In conclusion, outpatient management of patients with DVT using LMWH is as safe as hospitalization and continuous infusion of unfractionated heparin. The complication rate was lower in the home treatment group and, in particular, the incidence of recurrent thrombosis was significantly less in the home treatment group. In addition, warfarin control was better when managed by specialist nurses. Patients expressed a preference for home treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Genetic testing for Alzheimer's disease.

Genetic factors are important in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Familial AD can result from rare mutations in some genes. Other genes, such as the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE), operate as risk factors for late-onset sporadic AD. On a background of advances in the genetics of AD we suggest a way in which genetic information may be used in the diagnosis of AD. If there is a positive family history of early-onset dementia and the clinical features suggest AD, patients may be tested for presenilin and amyloid precursor protein gene mutations with appropriate pretest and post-test counselling. Predictive testing should be performed under guidelines developed by the World Federation of Neurology and the Human Genetics Society of Australasia. The usefulness of APOE genotyping as an adjunct to conventional diagnostic tests is unknown; data suggest it has low sensitivity and specificity and may have little predictive value in an individual patient. APOE genotyping should not be performed in asymptomatic individuals, except as part of an ethically approved research project; this recommendation is supported by a number of international consensus statements. APOE testing should not be used as a diagnostic test without adequate pretest and post-test counselling, education and support. APOE testing should not be used as a sole diagnostic test in the work-up of patients with AD. Genetic risk factors other than APOE require validation and should not be used routinely, except as part of an ethically approved research protocol.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Ways forward for shared learning between nursing and social work students.

This paper is based on the work of Connor (1995) which examined the potential for shared learning on qualifying programmes of social work and nurse education in Wales. The research was carried out mainly by interviewing 44 providers of social work and nurse education in the 13 colleges delivering qualifying courses throughout Wales. The main findings indicate that: nursing and social work educators have a positive attitude to shared learning, provided that the focus is on sharing appropriate areas of learning and not on joint training; there are considerable areas of commonality between social work and nurse education that could be shared; obstacles to shared learning mainly concern structural and resource issues which would require the appropriate political will to implement shared learning programmes; and there are a wide variety of models that could be used to implement future shared learning. The management of this project with its commitment to collaboration between the two professional groups throughout the process of enquiry is offered as a model for further research projects.

Curriculum↗
PubMed1997

Evaluation of a recombinant yeast cell estrogen screening assay.

A wide range of chemicals with diverse structures derived from plant and environmental origins are reported to have hormonal activity. The potential for appreciable exposure of humans to such substances prompts the need to develop sensitive screening methods to quantitate and evaluate the risk to the public. Yeast cells transformed with plasmids encoding the human estrogen receptor and an estrogen responsive promoter linked to a reporter gene were evaluated for screening compounds for estrogenic activity. Relative sensitivity to estrogens was evaluated by reference to 17 beta-estradiol (E2) calibration curves derived using the recombinant yeast cells, MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, and a prepubertal mouse uterotrophic bioassay. The recombinant yeast cell bioassay (RCBA) was approximately two and five orders of magnitude more sensitive to E2 than MCF-7 cells and the uterotrophic assay, respectively. The estrogenic potency of 53 chemicals, including steroid hormones, synthetic estrogens, environmental pollutants, and phytoestrogens, was measured using the RCBA. Potency values produced with the RCBA relative to E2 (100) included estrone (9.6), diethylstilbestrol (74.3), tamoxifen (0.0047), alpha-zearalanol (1.3), equol (0.085), 4-nonylphenol (0.005), and butylbenzyl phathalate (0.0004), which were similar to literature values but generally higher than those produced by the uterotrophic assay. Exquisite sensitivity, absence of test compound biotransformation, ease of use, and the possibility of measuring antiestrogenic activity are important attributes that argue for the suitability of the RCBA in screening for potential xenoestrogens to evaluate risk to humans, wildlife, and the environment.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Congenital mucoceles: report of two cases.

Congenital mucoceles are very rare. Only two previous cases presenting in the neonatal period have been reported. Two cases are presented here, one arising within the tongue and the other in the floor of the mouth. In both cases the mucoceles became apparent soon after birth because they interfered with mouth closure and normal feeding. The cysts were surgically excised and histopathological examination showed that they were retention cysts. The infants quickly resumed normal oral function and swallowing after surgical removal.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Parathyroid hormone-like peptide and parathyroid hormone are secreted from bovine parathyroid via different pathways.

Parathyroid hormone-like peptide is a recently discovered protein which is thought to be responsible for the hypercalcemia of malignancy. Through the use of radioimmunoassay, Northern analysis and Western blot techniques this protein has been demonstrated to occur in a variety of tumor and normal cells. Its role in normal physiology is not established nor is there knowledge regarding its synthesis, secretion, and storage. We have investigated characteristics of the secretion of parathyroid hormone-like peptide in bovine parathyroid gland slices and cells to learn whether or not this protein is secreted in a manner similar to that of parathyroid hormone. We have used radioimmunoassays specific for PTH and PTH-rP to measure the secretion of each protein and have found that, unlike PTH, PTH-rP secretion was not influenced by the medium calcium concentration. Similarly, PTH-rP secretion was not influenced by other known PTH secretagogues such as c-AMP or isoproterenol. An examination of the subcellular distribution of PTH-rP revealed that 75-90% of it occurs in the soluble fraction of cell lysates. Analysis of isolated secretory granules demonstrated the presence of PTH while PTH-rP was undetectable in these organelles. We conclude that PTH-rP is not secreted from parathyroid cells via the regulated pathway utilizing PTH secretory granules.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Health promotion in context: the effects of significant others on health behavior change.

Maintenance of health behavior change over the long-term has been routinely difficult. One of the reasons for this difficulty is that only individuals' attitudes or behavior are changed, without concomitant support from the social environment. The purpose of this study was to explore several of the ways in which significant others--family members, friends, and coworkers--may affect changes in health behavior. Eighty-four participants in a work site health promotion program were the subjects of the study. Self-reports of health behaviors were gathered at baseline and at the end of the 7-week program; in addition, subjects reported the extent to which significant others generally supported health behavior changes, encouraged them to maintain changes they had made, and made changes in their own health behaviors. Results provide support for the general hypothesis that one individual attempting to change health behavior may be positively influenced by significant others during the course of the change process. Family members were particularly helpful, and overall supportiveness was more helpful than others' change in health habits or encouragement. Behaviors most influenced by others were exercise and fat consumption. Suggestions for future theoretical development, research, and intervention are discussed.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Cross-contamination control in prosthodontic practice.

Prosthodontic patients are generally a high-risk group relative to their potential to transmit infectious diseases as well as acquire them. There has been a recent increase in awareness of the need for cross-infection control measures to protect against possible routes of transmission frequently ignored in the past. This article is essentially a literature review of cross-infection control measures especially relevant to removable prosthodontic practice. Cross-contamination control measures are considered within the following categories: patient evaluation, personal protection, instrument and equipment contamination, clinical technique, impression handling, and laboratory asepsis.

Cross Infection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

BMET of the year.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Biomedical Engineering↗