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Biomedical subjects

C J Martin

Publications and source records attributed to C J Martin.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Monitoring maternity services by postal questionnaire: congruity between mothers' reports and their obstetric records.

The validity of information obtained from women about the medical aspects of their childbearing experiences has been assessed by comparing the responses of 223 mothers on a postal questionnaire with information extracted from their medical records. When discrepancies between the two sources were found, it was not assumed that the hospital records were correct. Instead, attempts were made to ascertain why the data might be inconsistent by re-checking the records and by contacting the mothers again. There appeared to be five main reasons for discrepancies: mothers' limited knowledge or understanding of certain procedures; problems of interpretation and definition; occasionally inaccurate or missing information in the medical records; under-reporting of sensitive information by mothers and, finally, questions which were misunderstood or misinterpreted by the mothers. For most items, however, good agreement between the mothers and hospitals was obtained, and the results indicate that valid information over a range of events can be obtained using postal surveys of mothers.

England↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psycho-social stress and puerperal depression.

This study assessed the role of psycho-social stress in the development of psychiatric disorder during pregnancy and after childbirth. The samples were a consecutive series of women admitted to a psychiatric Mother and Baby Unit with a depressive illness and a random sample of women who had recently given birth. Whereas prepartum-onset disturbances were found to be overwhelmingly stress-related, women with a postpartum onset of depression were considerably less likely to have experienced a recent stress event or difficulty before onset. The relative lack of psycho-social antecedents among women who became ill within 2-3 weeks of giving birth strengthens the argument that puerperal depression may have a distinct, possibly biological aetiology.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Observations of ultrasound-induced effects in the fish Xiphophorous maculatus.

Tails of the fish Xiphophorous maculatus have been studied by transmission light microscopy during irradiation with continuous wave ultrasound (frequencies 0.78-3 MHz, spatial average intensities 0.01-3 Wcm-2). Blood flow started to increase a few minutes after the start of an irradiation, reaching a maximum after 5-10 min. Periodic variations in blood flow rate were often seen, and the response varied considerably among individual specimens. Acoustic microstreaming, which resulted in rapid rotation of clusters of cells, was observed in blood vessels adjacent to cartilaginous rods in the tail. The threshold average spatial intensities to initiate this were a few hundred mW cm-2 at 0.78, 1.5 and 3 MHz. The microstreaming resembled that occurring around ultrasonically stimulated microbubbles, but no evidence of any association was found. Microbubbles, possibly originating in water, were sometimes seen in the tissue of the fish following treatment with ultrasound.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measurement of ultrasound energy density distributions in vivo.

Thermocouple junctions coated with absorbing material have been used for measurement of ultrasound energy density distribution in vivo. The response of this type of probe has been measured in tumours implanted in rats, in ox liver, and in a water bath, using 1 and 3 MHz focussed ultrasound, and these measurements are reported in this paper. The initial rapid rate of temperature rise during the first 60 ms after the ultrasound is switched on provides a reliable index of ultrasound energy density. The coating material increases the magnitude of the temperature rise and reduces variations caused by differences in tissue properties and changes in blood flow. The response is a linear function of ultrasound energy density over the range of interest for therapeutic applications. Thus probes calibrated in known ultrasound fields in water tanks can be used to estimate energy densities in tissue directly.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Instrument for scanning the angular variation of irradiance in ultraviolet phototherapy cabinets.

An instrument is described that measures irradiance and the angular distribution of the intensity of ultraviolet radiation sources inside phototherapy cabinets. Failed lamps and lamps with higher or lower outputs are readily identified. The measurements are controlled from outside the cabinet, thus reducing the risk to staff from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Calibration↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of posture on transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation and gastro-oesophageal reflux in the dog.

The hypothesis that suppression of transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation (TLOSR) in recumbent postures in the dog is dependent upon the sensing of a gastric pool of liquid in proximity to the lower oesophageal sphincter was examined. Constant gastric insufflation with air (80 ml/min) was used to evoke TLOSR in unsedated, fasting animals. Oesophageal motility was monitored with a perfused manometric sleeve catheter assembly. Gastrooesophageal flow was recognized manometrically and by oesophageal pH recording. TLOSR occurred significantly less frequently in three recumbent positions (right lateral, left lateral and supine) than when the dog stood on four legs, but was more likely to be associated with acid reflux when they occurred in recumbent positions. Aspiration of the gastric pool was found to have no effect on triggering of TLOSR although it reduced the frequency with which acid reflux was associated with TLOSR. It is concluded that the low rate of occurrence of TLOSR in recumbent positions is unlikely to be explained by the presence of a gastric pool of liquid in proximity to the lower oesophageal sphincter.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Measurement and prediction of recovery after myocardial infarction.

Psychological tests were completed by myocardial infarct (MI) patients during their initial hospitalization, and further tests and a structured home interview occurred seven months later (N = 28). Self-reported health, symptoms, sexual activity, and psychosocial changes were found to form an inter-related cluster of outcome measures. Poor recovery was predicted by self-reports of high trait anxiety while in hospital, and by manual occupation. Poor recovery was also associated with in-hospital reports of dissatisfaction with work and few confiding relationships. The development of a brief pencil and paper screening instrument for MI patients in need of special rehabilitation support is discussed.

Depressive Disorder↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Psychiatric and biochemical correlates of respiratory decompensation in a terminal and non-terminal chronic pulmonary disease patient.

A psychiatric and biochemical study was undertaken at the request of two patients who were thought to be terminally ill by the medical staff. One patient accepted dying and expired from her disease. The other patient wished to continue living and did not die. The dying patient exhibited abnormally high levels of catecholamine excretion which were not associated with verbal reports of anxiety or discomfort and did not seem upset or uncomfortable to the physician and nurses caring for her. The patient who lived had relatively low levels of catecholamine excretion and was anxious, irritable and uncomfortable. The behavior of these two patients differed during the period of acute respiratory failure. The dying patient had given up and felt that she was engaging in goal-directed activity which she would or could not shut off. The patient who lived was frightened of dying and felt that she would overcome her current difficulties and that she was not ready or willing to die. The major cardiovascular differences were those of a significantly lower blood pressure and higher heart rate in the patient who died.

17-Ketosteroids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Optimization of patient radiation dose through development of specifications for purchase of X-ray equipment.

X-ray equipment characteristics and performance have an important influence on radiation doses to patients. In order that these factors can be taken into consideration when X-ray equipment is purchased, dose related requirements need to be included in specifications and additional dose information requested from manufacturers. Dose factors include techniques that directly reduce exposure; use of low attenuation materials; provision of flexibility in choice of exposure parameters; and availability of data for dose assessment. If a standard format can be developed, this should enable manufacturers to supply this information. Specifications for different types of X-ray equipment and lists of dose information to be requested from manufacturers have been prepared by the Scottish Radiation Protection Advisers' Group for use in hospitals throughout Scotland. It is hoped that this will allow patient dose to be taken into account when X-ray equipment is purchased.

Clinical Protocols↗