Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D G Day.
Agglutinability by concanavalin A was measured with HeLa65 cells grown with prednisolone or sodium butyrate, 2 compounds that increase the activity of the carcinoplacental form of alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme localized in membranes. Prednisolone enhanced concanavalin A agglutination approximately 3-fold while sodium butyrate had no effect.
Non-toxigenic clostridia, Clostridium butyricum but occasionally C. paraputrificum, were isolated from mainly extra-alimentary sites of 28 babies in maternity hospital over a period of 40 weeks. During that time, C. butyricum was isolated from the blood of two babies who died of necrotising enterocolitis and of two babies without referable symptoms. Otherwise these organisms appeared to be of no pathogenic significance.
A survey was made of group B streptococcal carriage at various sites in 100 women attending a clinic for the insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD). Twenty-three women carried streptococci at one or more sites at the preinsertion visit, the vaginal carriage rate being 16%. Six months after insertion changes in carrier status were noted and there was evidence of a change of strain in four patients. Twenty-nine women were carriers at one or more sites at some stage of the study. There was no evidence that symptoms attributable to infection in patients fitted with an IUD were caused by group B streptococci.
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PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of bimatoprost given every evening versus the dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination (DTFC) given twice daily in open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients. METHODS: A double-masked, three-center, prospective, randomized, crossover comparison with two 8-week treatment periods following a 4-week medicine free washout period. Diurnal curve intraocular pressures (IOPs) were taken at 08:00 (trough) and 10:00 and 16:00 hours. RESULTS: A total of 35 patients were enrolled and 32 completed all evaluations. The diurnal untreated baseline intraocular pressures was 24.8 +/- 2.4 mmHg. On the last day of treatment the mean diurnal intraocular pressures was 17.4 +/- 2.9 for bimatoprost and 18.1 +/- 2.8 mmHg for DTFC (p = 0.35). The individual time points for intraocular pressures were not statistically different between groups. Both groups statistically reduced the intraocular pressures from baseline for each time point and for the diurnal curve (p < 0.05). Regarding ocular safety and tolerability, there was more conjunctival hyperemia with bimatoprost (n = 15) than with DTFC (n = 7, p = 0.013) and more burning and stinging with DTFC (n = 12) than with bimatoprost (n = 0, p = 0.0005). Few systemic adverse events were recorded and there was no statistical difference between groups for any individual event (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that the intraocular pressures are lowered to a statistically similar amount with DTFC compared to bimatoprost in open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients.
Northern Initiative for Social Action (NISA) is a consumer-run, occupation-based, nonprofit organization located in northeastern Ontario, Canada. The NISA organization has grown in response to research revealing few opportunities for participation in personally meaningful and socially valued occupation for persons with mental illness living in the community of study. This article describes a mixed-design research study conducted by the ParNorth Research Unit of NISA and an occupational therapist. The study purposes were to (a) better understand the emerging characteristics of the NISA program and identify which the participants found helpful; (b) evaluate whether participation in NISA improved members' quality of life; and (c) ascertain whether participation reduced members' need for more traditional and costly methods of care (e.g., hospitalization, crisis services). Focus groups, daily participant observation, a quality of life interview, a consumer member survey and objective review of hospitalization data were used for data collection. Qualitative results indicated that NISA helped to meet participants' being, belonging, and becoming needs. Quantitative data indicated that overall, NISA members perceive an improvement in their subjective quality of life and sense of well-being. Their perceptions are supported by minimal use of crisis services and hospitalization, improved socioeconomic status, and several members' success in obtaining paid employment either within or outside NISA. Future challenges include the need to clearly describe the evolving NISA model and to ensure that the growth of this new organization does not exceed secured human or fiscal resources.