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C Johnson

Publications and source records attributed to C Johnson.

629 records · Page 35Linked to original sources
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Accentuate the positive.

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Adaptation, Psychological↗
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[Quality of life assessment in pancreatic carcinoma: results of an European multicentric study].

Quality of life (Qol) assessment is a mandatory endpoint of cancer clinical trials. Little research has been conducted on pancreatic cancer (Pc) and no disease specific Qol questionnaire exists. We report on the development of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Pc Qol module to supplement the core cancer module (QLQ-C30). Literature research and qualitative interviews with 6 specialists and 34 patients in the UK were followed by construction of a questionnaire, a peer review by international specialists and EORTC. Administration of the QLQ-C 30, a provisional Pc module and a qualitative debriefing interview was performed on 78 patients in 8 countries stratified into groups by disease stage and treatment intention. Pretesting identified that 23/26 questions had an adequate internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha > 0.7) and construct validity (Pearson's r 0.4-0.6). The median time of completion was 12 mins. Qualitative analysis indicates that the module is easy to complete and cross culturally applicable. The EORTC QLO-PAN 26 includes 26 items covering symptoms, body image, sexuality and the emotional and social consequences of Pc. It is intended for use in patients undergoing clinical trials for pancreatic cancer including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and will allow the detection of small but clinically meaningful differences in clinical trials for Pc.

Adult↗
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Stability of long-term renal function in heart transplant patients treated with induction therapy and low-dose cyclosporine.

Long-term renal function was evaluated in heart transplant recipients who were treated with antilymphocyte globulin induction therapy and low-dose cyclosporine therapy. Although an initial 16% drop in the glomerular filtration rate occurred, long-term follow-up revealed stability of renal function. Four-year patient survival was 77.6%. Use of induction therapy with low-dose cyclosporine may preserve renal function without compromising long-term patient survival.

Antilymphocyte Serum↗
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Comparison of onset time between 0.5% bupivacaine and 3% 2-chloroprocaine with and without 75 micrograms fentanyl.

We tested the hypothesis that the addition of 75 micrograms fentanyl to 0.5% bupivacaine would reduce the onset time of surgical anesthesia for cesarean delivery to equal the onset time of 3% 2-chloroprocaine and would have no effect when added to 3% 2-chloroprocaine. Fentanyl was found to reduce the onset time of bupivacaine to equal the onset time of 2-chloroprocaine and have no effect when added to 2-chloroprocaine.

Anesthesia, Epidural↗
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Detection of brain metastases: comparison of contrast-enhanced MR with unenhanced MR and enhanced CT.

Contrast-enhanced MR studies were compared with noncontrast MR and contrast-enhanced CT scans in the evaluation of intraparenchymal brain metastases. Fifty consecutive inpatients were studied with short and long repetition time (TR) sequences before and after the administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine. In addition, a delayed short TR sequence was performed. The contrast CT, noncontrast MR, immediate postcontrast short TR sequence, postcontrast long TR sequence, and delayed postcontrast short TR sequence were each read blindly and independently by two neuroradiologists. These results were then compared with a final interpretation, reached by all the neuroradiologists in the study, using all the clinical information and imaging findings. Postcontrast short TR scans proved to be superior to other sequences. They were particularly useful in the detection of metastases in the posterior fossa and cortex. The delayed postcontrast short TR scan held no definite advantage over the immediate postcontrast short TR scan, although metastases were sometimes seen slightly better after the delay. While long TR sequences were not always sensitive or specific, they often did provide ancillary information and were particularly useful in cases of hemorrhagic metastases. Because of these findings, we recommend that the evaluation of intraparenchymal metastases consist of a single postcontrast long TR scan followed by a single postcontrast short TR scan. While these sequences should be very accurate in the detection of metastases, we also generally perform a single precontrast short TR scan as well, since the question of hemorrhage or bone lesion may be clinically relevant.

Adolescent↗
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The role of epidural anesthesia in trial of labor.

In 1988, the American College of Obstetricians and gynecologists (ACOG) decided that vaginal delivery after a previous cesarean delivery (trial of labor, TOL) was an acceptable alternative to elective repeat cesarean delivery. ACOG stated that there appears to be no absolute contraindication to epidural anesthesia for labor during TOL. The concern is that should there be a uterine rupture, would the epidural anesthesia mask the abdominal pain? The incidence of complete rupture with trial of labor is reported to be 0.3-0.5%. In our review of 10,967 patients undergoing TOL, only 22% of complete ruptures presented with abdominal pain; 76% presented with signs of fetal distress diagnosed by continuous electronic fetal monitoring. Thus abdominal pain is an unreliable sign of complete uterine rupture. There have been no reports of epidural anesthesia delaying the diagnosis of uterine rupture. In the review of 10,967 patients undergoing TOL, there were no maternal deaths and only nine fetal deaths secondary to complete uterine rupture. The literature strongly suggests that epidural anesthesia is safe in TOL even when oxytocin is used for augmentation of labor.

Analgesia, Epidural↗
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Regional variations of northern health: the epidemic of fatal trauma in northeastern Ontario.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the causes of traumatic death in a northern region of Ontario. METHODS: Prevalence study of trauma deaths occurring within the region of Northeastern Ontario over the years 1989-1991; regional data were compared with provincial data. RESULTS: 1,027 patient records were identified over the study period (51.4 deaths per 100,000 population/year). Non-intentional trauma accounted for 70% of all trauma deaths in the region; suicide (25%; 12.8/100,000) and homicide (5%; 2.4/100,000) were less common. Motorized vehicle trauma accounted for most of the non-intentional traumatic death (39%; 20.4/100,000). Age-standardized mortality ratios were 67% above the provincial average for non-intentional trauma, 71% above the provincial average for suicides, 55% above the provincial average for homicides, and 68% higher for all forms of traumatic death. CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic death is a major health problem in northern areas; reduction of these rates depends on the development of an effective injury prevention strategy.

Accidents, Traffic↗
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Health-care and social-care boundaries.

The events following the implementation of the community care reforms in April 1993 are described in this paper. The author explores issues relating to health- and social-care decisions that have emerged and offers advice to community nurses on good practice initiatives that focus on patients and their carers. This article is based on a paper presented at the 1993 Primary Healthcare Conference. Health- and social-care boundary issues remain contentious and high on the agenda of all community nurses. While some advances have been made in recent months there is still room for action by all the key agencies involved.

Community Health Nursing↗
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Pulse oximetry in newborn infants with birth weights of 620 to 4285 grams receiving dopamine and dobutamine.

The reliability of pulse oximetry in neonates receiving inotropic drugs because of hypotension and microcirculatory perfusion failure has not been well documented. Signal loss of the pulse oximeter in adult patients receiving dopamine infusions has been reported. To evaluate the relationship between pulse oximeter oxygen saturation (SaO2) and co-oximeter directly measured oxygen saturation, we studied 30 infants in the first 4 days of life (birth weight 620 to 4285 gm, gestational age 26 to 43 weeks) receiving dopamine (30 patients) and dobutamine (10 infants). Infants had normal blood pressures at the time of the study. To minimize motion artifact a Nellcor N-200 (Nellcor Incorporated, Hayward, Calif.) oximeter with electrocardiographic synchronization was used. We compared pulse oximeter values with simultaneous arterial samples analyzed for oxygen saturation with an IL 282 co-oximeter (Instrumentation Laboratory, Inc., Lexington, Mass.). The values were corrected for spuriously elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels and fetal hemoglobin level was quantitatively measured. The partial pressure of oxygen at 90% hemoglobin saturation for each patient was calculated. The dosage of dopamine ranged from 4 to 28 micrograms/kg per minute and the dosage of dobutamine varied from 4 to 24 micrograms/kg per minute. Over a wide range of values for mean blood pressure (23 to 66 mm Hg), partial pressure of oxygen at 90% hemoglobin saturation (43.1 to 70.2 mm Hg), and oxygen saturation (SaO2 80% to 100%), linear regression analysis revealed a close correlation between pulse oximeter SaO2 and co-oximeter SaO2 values (r = 0.83, standard error of the estimate 2.2%, p < 0.0001). Our findings indicate that pulse oximetry can be used reliably for continuous oxygen monitoring in normotensive neonates with an SaO2 of 80% to 100% who are receiving dopamine and dobutamine.

Birth Weight↗