Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to C Sharp.
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The objective of this study was to investigate the extent to which occupational status and age influence absence rates in male and female employees. This involved collection of data for absences of one or more calendar days, including the length of absence and the location, age, occupational status and gender of the worker. This information was supplied by personnel departments on standardized forms. The study took place in three occupational groups in two organizations with equal work status for men and women, located in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In total, we studied 2561 workers (77.8% male, 22.2% female) in employment during the three months between April and July 1992. More women than men took time off work in the study period. Female absence exceeded male absence for spells of absence in ratios between 1.3:1 and 1.5:1, and for days in ratios between 1.2:1 and 1.9:1; age standardization removed the differences in spell rates (in all but one group) and total absence (days). Both men and women took fewer but longer spells of absence with increasing age. Men were more likely to take spells lasting more than one day, but women took more multiple single-day spells. Relative job status affected absence rates, with professional staff taking less absence than support staff. In this workforce controlled for occupation, significant differences in crude absence rates were observed between males and females. Age standardization explained the difference in spell rates in most groups. This suggests that there is little true difference in absence rates and highlights the importance of age standardization in such studies.
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A limited number of rare missense mutations in exons 16 and 17 of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene have been reported. They are associated with a variety of phenotypes including cerebral haemorrhage, multi-infarct dementia and Alzheimer's disease. We recently reported an alanine to valine mutation in codon 713 in a single case of chronic familial schizophrenia with cognitive deficits. Using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) we have screened a cohort of 250 chronic schizophrenics for further mutations of exons 7, 16 and 17. None were found. Nevertheless recent evidence suggests that the 713 mutation is indeed pathogenic for the clinical phenotype observed; the mechanisms involved are outlined.
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The current doctrine of informed consent in medical practice may require the provision of more information than is understandable or desired by some parents. We conducted an exploratory trial comparing: (1) detailed risk/benefit disclosure provided both verbally and in writing and (2) flexible disclosure consisting of a brief verbal description supplemented with detailed verbal and written disclosure if desired by the mother. Information about mechanical ventilation was presented to 26 mothers of newborns at risk for respiratory failure. Of the 13 mothers in the flexible disclosure group, seven (54%) desired only brief verbal disclosure. Despite poor recall of information, most mothers were satisfied with the information provided. There was no evidence that the detailed disclosure group had greater maternal satisfaction or less maternal anxiety. Flexible disclosure as evaluated in this study had no important disadvantages relative to detailed disclosure. Methods of providing information to better meet the wants and needs of parents deserve further study.
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Pancreatic acini possess a high affinity class of cholinergic receptors and a low affinity class of cholinergic receptors. Carbachol occupation of high affinity cholinergic receptors produces a reduction in binding of [3H]N-methylscopolamine. First incubating acini with carbachol caused a complete loss of high affinity cholinergic receptors with no change in the number or affinity of low affinity cholinergic receptors. Carbachol occupation of low affinity cholinergic receptors appears to produce a reduction in binding of 125I-CCK-8 and 125I-[Tyr4]bombesin. Acini possess two classes of CCK receptors. One class has a high affinity for CCK-8; the other class has a low affinity for CCK-8. First incubating acini with carbachol caused a 60% decrease in the number of high affinity CCK receptors with no change in the number of low affinity receptors or the affinities of either class of receptors for CCK-8. Acini possess a single class of bombesin receptors and first incubating acini with carbachol caused a 40% decrease in the number of bombesin receptors with no change in their affinity for bombesin.
We retrospectively reviewed several risk factors for median sternotomy dihiscence in our cardiac surgery patients for a recent 18-month period. We studied these factors by univariate and multivariate analysis with respect to sternal dehiscence. Univariate analysis showed several factors to be significant: female sex (P = .03), obesity (P = .002), diabetes (P = .01), and prolonged postoperative ventilation (P = .006). Mammary artery bypass versus saphenous vein bypass only approached significance (14% vs 3%, P = .11). Multivariate analysis showed obesity (P = .002), diabetes (P = .041), and prolonged postoperative ventilation (P = .005) to be important. We conclude that obese diabetic women are at extremely high risk for sternotomy dehiscence, and mammary artery bypass in this high-risk population may be a relative contraindication.
The authors studied bilirubin binding ability in the umbilical cord serum of 68 newborn infants ranging in gestational age from 18 to 42 weeks. There was no correlation between gestational age and the binding fraction (i.e., the ratio of the potential bilirubin binding concentration to the albumin concentration). Previous reports of the relationship between gestational age and bilirubin binding ability used bilirubin data derived from samples drawn at variable times after birth and probably reflect the unexplained effect of illness on bilirubin binding.
'Meals' consisting of several differently flavoured 'courses' result in greater consumption than meals consisting of identical courses. Experiment 1 confirmed that this effect is found in rats during the dark phase of a LD 12:12 cycle. Two subsequent experiments demonstrated that meals consisting of three or four courses in which only two flavours were alternated produced as great an enhancement of consumption as meals in which each course was differently flavoured. The implications of this result are discussed for the nature of the processes underlying the generation and reversal of this stimulus-specific aspect of satiety.