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Biomedical subjects

C Kennedy

Publications and source records attributed to C Kennedy.

At least 361 records · Page 20Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Activation of nif gene expression in Azotobacter by the nifA gene product of Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Structural similarity of nitrogenase, the enzyme responsible for biological nitrogen fixation, from various diazotrophic bacteria has been shown by intergeneric biochemical complementation of component proteins in vitro, DNA and protein sequence analysis, and DNA hybridization between nif (nitrogen fixation) structural genes from Klebsiella pneumoniae and genomic sequences from other nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Despite nitrogenase homologies, little is known about similarities among nif regulatory mechanisms although repression of nitrogenase synthesis by NH4+ and O2 occurs in most diazotrophs. In K. pneumoniae, the ntr (gln) genes concerned with regulation of nitrogen metabolism control expression of the nifLA operon whose products act as repressor (nifL) and activator (nifA) of the seven other nif transcriptional units. Here we report that the nifA gene product of K. pneumoniae can activate expression of nif genes in both Azotobacter vinelandii and Azotobacter chroococcum, organisms whose aerobic physiology contrasts with that of the facultative K. pneumoniae.

Azotobacter↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Professional practice of pediatric nurse practitioners: implications for education and training of PNPs.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of employment, the characteristics of children served, and the role functions of recent graduates of pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) programs and to compare these characteristics across programs. METHOD: A 60-item multiple-choice survey tool was sent to graduates from 1996-1998 of 6 universities across the United States. RESULTS: A total of 137 surveys were received for a return rate of 52%. Less than half of the respondents (44%) indicated that they were employed in a primary care practice. Seventy percent indicated they "often" or "sometimes" provided care to children with acute/critical conditions, and 77% reported caring for children with chronic conditions. Role functions of case management, staff development, consultation, administration, and implementation of research were performed "often" or "sometimes" by more than 50% of respondents. Findings were fairly consistent in 5 out of 6 programs surveyed. DISCUSSION: Graduates of PNP programs are increasingly called on to provide care to children with complex health care needs in non-primary care settings. Role functions beyond the traditional areas required for pediatric primary care are now common practice. Educational programs should address these dynamic changes by assessing the adequacy of their curricula and clinical residencies in preparing graduates.

Case Management↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functioning and disability associated with mental disorders: the evolution since ICIDH.

The International Mental Health Task Force participated actively from the outset of the revision of the ICIDH and development of the ICF. The Task Force was responsible for development of all aspects of functioning and disability associated with mental disorders. Building upon knowledge gained since the publication of the ICIDH, it had unique responsibility for development of the ICF chapter on mental functioning. It was also responsible to assure the ICF section on activities and participation integrated and reflected the functioning and disability associated with mental disorders without the redundancy of ICIDH. As context to the revision, the article describes the relationship of diagnostic classifications of mental disorders with disability, and analyses the mental disorder aspects of impairments and disabilities in the ICIDH. Membership in the Task Force represented diversity in geographical, cultural, professional, and personal perspectives on disabilities. This diverse acumen was focused on a range of activities that both specified the unique aspects of functioning and disability associated with mental disorders and assured inclusion of the mental health perspective on the domains of functioning and disability common to physical conditions. Finally, the article notes four current applications of the ICF that are inclusive of the mental health perspective.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functional development of the corticocortical pathway for motion analysis in the macaque monkey: a 14C-2-deoxyglucose study.

The corticocortical pathway for motion analysis transmits visual information from striate cortex (V1) via V2, V3d, superior temporal sulcal areas MT, MST, and FST to motion-sensitive areas in the floor and upper bank of the anterior part of the superior temporal sulcus (AST). We studied the functional development of this pathway by applying the 14C-2-deoxyglucose method to rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) ranging in age from 2 d to 3-4 years. A comparison of local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) in an intact and a visually deafferented hemisphere in each animal across the age range revealed that this pathway, immature at birth, reaches adult-like levels at 3 months of age. This developmental time course is reflected both in absolute LCGU and in the interhemispheric LCGU differences in all the areas of the pathway. At all ages, the interhemispheric difference in LCGU is largest in V1 and gradually declines along the pathway until a minimum is reached in AST. This decline likely reflects an increasing proportion of nonvisual inputs to the higher-order areas of the pathway. Measurements like those above taken in areas of inferior parietal cortex indicate that they mature at the same rate as those in the motion analysis pathway. However, comparison with findings on the functional development of the temporal areas of the occipitotemporal pathway for object vision (Bachevalier et al., 1991) suggests that areas along the motion analysis pathway and those in parietal cortex mature about 1 month earlier.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of moderate level x-radiation to brain on cerebral glucose utilization.

The effect of x-radiation in doses used in treatment of brain malignancies has previously been established largely by histologic examination of the tissue or by observation of a deficit in function. At moderate dose levels such effects are usually delayed and are vascular in origin. We have used the 2-[14C]deoxyglucose method for the quantitative measurement of local cerebral glucose utilization to learn whether x-radiation administered to rat brain in a dose below that which is known to result in any histologic change may nevertheless affect the brain's local rates of glucose utilization. Measurements were made 4 days and 4 weeks after exposure of groups of rats to 1,500 rad. Rates of glucose utilization in 54 gray and eight white matter structures in both groups were compared with rates in sham-irradiated controls. Statistically significantly lower rates were found in 16 structures in rats 4 days after radiation and in 25 structures 4 weeks after radiation exposure. A weighted average rate for the brain as a whole was approximately 15% below that of the controls for both radiated groups, but this difference was short of being of statistical significance. It is clear from this study that the metabolic rates of some brain structures are reduced following moderate doses of x-radiation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Methodological considerations in children's focus groups.

Focus groups are a well-known qualitative approach to gathering data in health science research. The literature on focus groups, however, primarily discusses adults as subjects. Unfortunately, the scant reports of studies using children as participants in focus groups have not described their methods in detail. This article discusses the use of children (age 6-12) in focus groups, and highlights methodological considerations in this approach, with particular attention to the integration of developmental principles. Focus groups with children can capture their perspectives, original ideas, and insights, which are often neglected in more traditional pediatric research. Focus groups can also serve as an innovative approach to understanding children's experiences from a developmental perspective. Further, focus groups free children and investigator from the data-gathering limitations placed by literacy/reading levels that plague quantitative methods using self-report. By using relatively homogeneous groups, common cultural, emotional, and cognitive processes and responses are revealed that normally would not come to light in structured data collection. Focus groups offer a rich, interactive and developmentally effective approach to planning, content and evaluation in research with children.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

District nurses' knowledge and practice of wound assessment: 1.

Nurses are expected to implement knowledge gained through research into their practice to ensure the delivery of high quality and effective care. As district nurses spend a significant proportion of their time on wound care, a sound knowledge base is essential. The first part of this two-part article reports a study that examined the wound assessment practices of 20 district nurses in one healthcare trust. The most common method of assessing wounds was found to be a combination of observation and experience. Assessment using observation or experience without documentation may be subjective, variable between practitioners and unreliable or inaccurate. The second part of this article, to be published in the next issue, will describe the subsequent establishment of a forum to develop a research-based wound assessment tool.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMedDate not supplied

District nurses' knowledge and practice of wound assessment: 2.

The first article in this series reported a study that examined the wound assessment practices of 20 district nurses in one healthcare trust. The most common method of assessing wounds was found to be a combination of observation and experience (Vol 7(7): 380-6). This article, the second part, describes the subsequent establishment of a forum to develop a research-based wound assessment tool. The issues surrounding changing practice are complex. It is clear that the process of basing practice on evidence is the responsibility of all those who are involved in healthcare. However, there is an urgent need to bring the practice, research and education agenda closer with organizational and managerial commitment to change. This work suggests that a short-term increase in resources will result in possible long-term benefits for patient care.

Clinical Nursing Research↗