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Biomedical subjects

C Johnston

Publications and source records attributed to C Johnston.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Gun safety practices of trauma center workers in a southern city.

We designed a study to assess the personal gun ownership and safety practices of trauma center workers in Birmingham, Alabama. Survey questionnaires administered to nurses, physicians, and other workers in pediatric and adult trauma centers showed that two thirds (65%) owned a gun and 56% owned a handgun. Gun owners with children were less likely to have loaded, unlocked guns in their homes than those without children (33% vs 56%). Loaded guns were carried in cars by 48% of workers. Worker title and attitude regarding handgun restrictions were the strongest predictors of unsafe gun ownership in a logistic regression model. Workers with loaded, unlocked guns in their home considered themselves and their family at no greater risk of gun injury from family-owned guns than workers without guns. We conclude that many trauma workers had unsafely stored guns and failed to recognize the associated risks.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Androgen manipulation and vasopressin binding in the rat brain and peripheral organs.

It is now widely recognized that there is a sexual dimorphism in the development of arginine vasopressin (AVP) immunoreactivity in certain parts of the brain, and that changes in brain AVP immunoreactivity change with manipulation of androgen status. The aim of this experiment was to determine specifically any AVP receptor changes in response to manipulation of androgen levels using a selective V1 antagonist radioligand. Following castration, plasma testosterone levels fell and AVP immunoreactivity was reduced in the lateral septum and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. With testosterone supplementation in castrated animals, the immunoreactivity in these regions was restored to a higher degree than in sham-operated animals. Central and peripheral V1 AVP receptor binding (as determined using the selective AVP V1 antagonist radioligand [125I](d(CH2)5,sarcosine7)AVP was not changed in any of the brain regions studied or in liver or kidney membranes from the three groups. This study demonstrates that there is no change in brain AVP receptor binding despite changes in regional AVP immunoreactivity in the brain, and excludes any confounding interaction with changes in oxytocin receptors.

Androgens↗
PubMed1994

Ethnocultural parent education in Canada: current status and directions.

The delivery of parent education services to families from ethnocultural communities in Canada is considered. Despite the increased recognition of the importance of matching programs to the needs of participants, an extensive review of the literature revealed only five published studies evaluating parent education programs within ethnocultural communities. Because it was hypothesized that ethnocultural parent education programs exist in Canada despite the paucity of published data, community and tertiary care organizations were surveyed regarding their efforts in this area. The majority of service providers that responded to the survey indicated they do employ special provisions for parents from ethnocultural communities. The most frequently endorsed provisions included: addressing cultural issues within the program curriculum, utilizing ethnocultural facilitators, and offering the program in the first language of the participants. Future directions that follow from the findings are discussed. In particular, the need for empirical evaluation regarding the utility and acceptability of these cultural provisions is stressed.

Canada↗
PubMed1994

Children in car crashes: analysis of data for injury and use of restraints.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of car restraints on motor vehicle injury rates for children aged 0 to 14 years. METHODS: A probability sample of all police-reported car crashes in the United States in 1990 and 1991 was analyzed for injury rates of passengers aged less than 15 years in relation to restraint usage, age, and seating position. RESULTS: Optimal restraint usage (defined as car seats for children 0 to 4 years old and lap shoulder belts for children 5 to 14 years old) was 40%. The use of the car seat was 76% for infants (0 to 12 months old) and 41% for toddlers (1 to 4 year olds). The non use of a restraint was highest for 10 to 14 year olds (43%). The rate of involvement in car crashes for all children was 21.4 (per 1000/yr). The highest rate was the 14 year olds with 29.6 followed by 2 year olds with 26.5. Injury rates were 4.76 (per 1000/yr) for all children. The lowest rate was 2.91 for infants but increased to 4.78 for 3 year olds. The single strongest risk factor for injury was the non use of a restraint. (Adjusted odds ratio 2.7; 95% CI 2.4 to 3.0.) The risk factor for injury for the front seat was 1.5 (95% CI 1.4 to 1.7). Use of the car seat reduced injuries by 60% for 0 to 4 year olds, whereas the lap shoulder harness was only 38% effective for 5 to 14 year olds (P < or = .001) Injury rates of unrestrained 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 year olds were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Greater involvement in car crashes and less use of car restraints explains the 64% higher rate of injury for 3 year olds than for infants. It is time to target the toddlers. Restraints designed for adults are not as effective for the school age child as car seats are for the preschool child. A better restraint for the school age child should be designed and evaluated. Meanwhile, increased usage of current restraints must be encouraged, as they substantially reduce injuries.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1993

Drug and placebo side effects in methylphenidate-placebo trial for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

In a double-blind methylphenidate placebo trial for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), side effects were reported on both placebo and methylphenidate (MPH), and many side effects were similar to the symptoms of ADHD. We suggest that parents and teachers may mistake the symptoms of ADHD for side effects of MPH, and this misconstrual may contribute to the poor acceptance of and compliance with taking MPH.

Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity↗
PubMed1993

Methods of evaluating methylphenidate in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: acceptability, satisfaction, and compliance.

Compared two methods of evaluating methylphenidate (MPH) on measures of parental acceptance, satisfaction, and compliance with the treatment. Twenty-four 6- to 10-year-old children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were randomly assigned to either a blind, placebo-controlled medication trial (MT) or to a typical clinical procedures (TCP) evaluation that was nonblind and without a placebo control. Ratings of satisfaction were significantly higher in the MT condition than in the TCP condition; however, all parents became more accepting of MPH after participating in an evaluation. Both during the evaluation and at 6-week and 3-month follow-ups, approximately 20% of cases were not complying with treatment. However, rates of compliance did not differ between the MT and TCP conditions.

Attention↗
PubMed1993

Effects of drinking on thirst and vasopressin in dehydrated elderly men.

Inhibition of dehydration-induced arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion and thirst depends on removal of osmotic and hemodynamic stimuli as well as on preabsorptive oropharyngeal factors that reduce thirst and AVP secretion on drinking before correction of the water deficits. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels may also change with drinking. Therefore, the thirst and plasma responses to oral water loads (10 ml/kg) in 10 healthy old (64-76 yr) and young (20-32 yr) 24-h water-deprived men were investigated. After 24-h water deprivation plasma sodium, osmolality, and AVP were increased similarly in both groups (P < 0.001). Plasma ANP levels fell after dehydration similarly in both groups (P < 0.05) but were always higher in the older group (P < 0.05). However, although thirst increased in both groups (P < 0.05), this was significantly less in the elderly (P < 0.05). After the water load, thirst was reduced in both groups throughout the study (P < 0.05). However, plasma AVP fell immediately after drinking only in the young group and rose to postdeprivation levels after 15 min. Plasma AVP was not different from postdeprivation throughout in the old group and after 15 min in the young group presumably because the water load was insufficient to replace their water deficits. In the young group only, plasma ANP rose to 182 +/- 43% of postdeprivation levels at 3 min after drinking (P < 0.05). These results demonstrate reduced oropharyngeal inhibition of AVP secretion after drinking in healthy elderly men but maintained inhibition of thirst.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The immediate replacement of incisor teeth by cantilevered adhesive bridgework.

Adhesive bridgework is now an accepted alternative to conventional bridgework especially in teeth with minimal tooth substance loss and where occlusal forces are not excessive. Several designs have been described and these can be divided into bridges with perforated or non-perforated retainers. The perforated design was described by Rochette while the non-perforated design was pioneered by Livaditis and Thompson and became popularly known as the "Maryland bridge". It is now common practice to simply sandblast non-precious alloy retainers which are then bonded with specific chemically active adhesives.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Concerns of families in which one member has head and neck cancer.

This descriptive/exploratory study examined the concerns of families of patients with head and neck cancer. A convenience sample from a metropolitan hospital included four families. Data were collected through semistructured interviews, observations, and chart reviews over three time periods (before treatment, during treatment, and during rehabilitation) over a period of 5 months. Analysis of data showed five major types of concerns: cancer and its meaning, social relations, experience with hospitalization, treatment, and future placement. Findings showed that the types of concerns related to head and neck cancer are perceived as threatening and harmful. Concerns among patients were different from those of their family members across the different time periods. Our findings are useful in helping nurses understand the experience of head and neck cancer from the perspectives of the patient and their family members, and impact on their successful adjustment.

Adaptation, Psychological↗