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Biomedical subjects

C Maxwell

Publications and source records attributed to C Maxwell.

52 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Sensitivity and accuracy of the visual analogue scale: a psycho-physical classroom experiment.

1 Twenty-seven intelligent volunteers took part in a classroom experiment on two occasions to assess subjectively, ordinally related volumes of sound (offered in random sequence), using the visual analogue scale. 2 It was simple to use and largely acceptable. Big differences were significant by parametric tests but small ones were sometimes significant only with ordinal ones. Within-subject comparisons were more accurate and more sensitive than those between-subjects. The t-test was very robust. 3 Five out of 49 results were erroneously significant; they remained so no matter how the data were handled. It was concluded that this was due to a shift in either perception, cognition or scoring between the two sessions. 4 Arcsine transformations made little difference. The mechanism of these is fully discussed. A conversion to proportional scores resulted in very much improved sensitivity. 5 It is recommended that authors using the visual analogue scale: have valid reason in their own setting for using a transformation; present the distribution, or at least the medians and ranges of their raw scores; also use a simple but different measure so as to demonstrate internal consistency between them.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

A novel adaptation of the information game for the development of a new drug.

Medical advisers in the pharmaceutical industry have an important function and place in the development and evaluation of new drugs. Although mainly involved in the human and clinical investigations, it is essential that they have the background knowledge and experience to evaluate the results of pre-clinical studies and to apply these safely and effectively to the clinical situation. It is rare nowadays for a medical adviser to obtain direct experience in all areas of drug research due to its complexity. Simulation exercises are a means of obtaining this experience without suffering the results of a wrong decision. An adaptation of the Information Game proved to be a useful and acceptable means of illustrating the decisions that need to be made in a drug development programme and at the same time provided experience in coping with the various problems that might arise in such a programme. The training objectives of the game should be clearly defined at the outset in order to concentrate on the parts of the game that really matter and cover the maximum number of teaching opportunities.

Decision Making↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A needs assessment in a refugee mental health project in north-east London: extending the counselling model to community support.

In the United Kingdom, as elsewhere, mental health services are becoming increasingly aware that existing services may not meet the needs of different minority groups. This paper outlines the model used to set up a project focusing specifically on refugee mental health needs in Waltham Forest, in north-east London. Funding was available for one sole mental health worker and careful consideration was therefore given as to how her time should be used. A thorough needs assessment of refugees living in Waltham Forest determined that the provision of therapy or counselling alone would not be the most appropriate means of addressing refugees' needs. The intervention model developed therefore included awareness raising and community mobilization, in addition to one-to-one clinical sessions. The empowerment, training and support of refugee community groups became a central part of the work, which helped to establish and then consolidate links between mainstream services and individual refugees.

Community Mental Health Services↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Applications of a hand-held computer in critical care medicine.

Hand-held computers provide a reasonable alternative to desk-top computers in critical care units because of their size and affordability. The applications described include specific examples of software to perform hemodynamic calculations, intravenous flow rate calculations, and respiratory calculations. This software has been used for several years and has been found to be very useful.

Computers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prospective cerebral MR study of HIV seropositive and seronegative men: correlation of MR findings with neurologic, neuropsychologic, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

PURPOSE: As part of a longitudinal study of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) infection, we attempted to identify early cerebral MR findings that might correlate to clinical evidence of central nervous system involvement. METHODS: We studied 65 seropositive and 40 seronegative homosexual males using cranial MR, neurologic, immunologic, and neuropsychologic examinations. RESULTS: The incidence of mildly enlarged ventricles, sulci, and punctate areas of abnormal signal in both groups was similar in both groups. Diffuse, poorly defined areas of abnormal white matter signal were difficult to consistently identify in seropositives. Enlarged adenoidal lymphoid tissue was found in 30 (46%) of seropositives and 2 (5%) of seronegatives (P = .0001). The incidence of sinus inflammatory change was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSION: MR of intracranial contents is substantially normal in a non-AIDS HIV(+) population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Immune profile of women experiencing recurrent spontaneous abortions of unknown aetiology.

Immunological and immunogenetic investigations are described in a group of 28 women with a history of unexplained recurrent (greater than or equal to 3 consecutive) spontaneous abortions (RSA). Compared with female blood donor controls, recurrent aborters had significantly elevated mean serum complement C4 (p less than 0.05), but not C3, levels. Immunoglobulin levels and T4:T8 ratios showed a similar distribution to the controls. Mixed lymphocyte reactivities to partners' lymphocytes were low in some of the patients, but hyporesponsiveness correlated well with husband-wife HLA-DR compatibility. No individual HLA specificity was significantly increased in the RSA patients, but the combination A3, B7, DR2 was common (p less than 0.02), and general HLA antigen sharing with partners was significantly increased (p less than 0.004) relative to obstetrically normal couples. RSA women who shared two or more HLA antigens with spouses had higher mean serum immunoglobulin concentrations, which for IgM reached statistical significance (p less than 0.05).

Abortion, Habitual↗