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Biomedical subjects

D Turner

Publications and source records attributed to D Turner.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Protein and amino acid composition of silks from the cob weaver, Latrodectus hesperus (black widow).

The silks from the cob weaving spider, Latrodectus hesperus (black widow), have been examined with the goal of expanding our understanding of the relationship between the protein structure and mechanical performance of these unique biomaterials. The scaffolding, dragline and inner egg case silks each appear to be distinct fibers based on mole percent amino acid composition and polypeptide composition. Further, we find that the amino acid composition of dragline and egg case silk are similar to the analogous silks produced by orb weaving spiders, while scaffolding silk may represent a novel silk. The black widow silks are comprised of multiple high molecular weight polypeptides, however, the egg case and scaffolding silks also contain some smaller polypeptides.

Amino Acids↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on quality of life in patients with COPD: the use of SF-36 summary scores as outcomes measures.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an accepted therapy for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), improving both exercise capacity and quality of life (QOL). Generic measures of QOL have been criticized as being insensitive to detecting the improvement in QOL after PR in contrast to disease-specific instruments. The authors looked at the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36), a generic QOL measure, to detect changes in QOL in COPD patients after completion of PR. METHODS: Patients with COPD who participated in a PR program completed the QOL questionnaire before and after completion of PR. Exercise tolerance was assessed by the 6-minute walking test. Quality of life was assessed by the SF-36; the authors calculated its eight dimensions as well as mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) component summary scores. RESULTS: The patients realized a significant improvement in exercise tolerance; 6-minute walking test distance increased from 470 +/- 104 m (mean +/- standard deviation) to 536 +/- 133 m (P = 0.0006) after PR. Quality of life also improved in nearly all dimensions and in both summary scores; PCS improved from 26.1 +/- 8.0 before PR to 30.5 +/- 9.0 after PR (P = 0.008) and MCS improved from 27.9 +/- 7.0 before PR to 34.1 +/- 5.0 after PR (P = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: The SF-36 and its summary scores are sensitive instruments to detect improvement in QOL in COPD patients after PR.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Microcomputer education for nursing: an approach to microcomputer education in a large tertiary care center.

Communication skills needed for the healthcare environment are changing. In the past, poor reading and writing skills made it difficult to use a paper chart. Current computer technology provides many new opportunities for communicating in the clinical setting. Computer literacy has become a necessary skill for efficient use of clinical computer systems. At this large tertiary care setting, a survey was developed and distributed to staff to assess learner needs. Nursing staff identified educational needs for basic computer knowledge, the ability to move between computer functions, and the skills to navigate through specific applications. Based on survey analysis, three educational classes were constructed that addressed the department's specific needs.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pituitary and testicular response to LH-RH and to a long-acting analogue (D-leu-6-LH-RH-ethylamide).

The LH, FSH and testosterone response to 50 microgram i.v. LH-RH and to 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 microgram i.m. D-Leu-6-LH-RH-ethylamide was studied in 6 subjects with normogonadotrophic, idiopathic oligozoospermia. All injections were given between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. at weekly intervals. Blood samples were collected before and 30 and 45 minutes after injection of LH-RH, and before and 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours after D-Leu-6-LH-RH-ethylamide injections. Serum levels of LH, FSH, and testosterone were measured by triplicate by R.I.A. LH and FSH responses to LH-RH showed peak values at 30 minutes, whereas following injections of D-Leu-6-LH-RH-ethylamide, maximal values were recorded between 4 and 6 hours and were higher than those obtained with LH-RH. A significant rise of serum testosterone levels was observed after all stimuli, with peak values 45 minutes after LH-RH and 4 to 6 hours after D-Leu-6-Lh-RH-ethylamide injections. The testosterone levels obtained following LH-RH and different doses of the analogue did not differ significantly from one another. The same sequence of maximal LH and FSH values was obtained after injections of LH-RH and of D-Leu-6-LH-RH-ethylamide, particularly at doses of 10.0 and 20.0 microgram. This suggests that the gonadotrophin response to these agents would be a true reflection of the individual mode of pituitary response.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor Pentoxyfylline on human sperm motility.

Tyrode fluid and Tyrode fluid plus Pentoxifylline were individually added to aliquots of semen samples obtained from 6 normal men and 6 infertile patients considered to have idiopathic normogonadotropic oligoasthenozoospermia. Pentoxifylline was added to final concentrations of 0.15, 0.30 and 0.60 mM. One aliquot with no addition served as control. Samples were incubated in 37 degrees C and observed by light microscopy at 30 minutes and at 1, 2 and 4 hours after obtaining the material. At observation time, semen quality was evaluated by determining the percentages of forwardly progressive spermatozoa, slowly progressive spermatozoa, "in situ" motile spermatozoa, live and non-motile spermatozoa and dead spermatozoa. Results reported included only the first and last category. Tyrode fluid did not affect significantly the motility and the duration of activity of spermatozoa. Ejaculated human spermatozoa both from normal and asthenozoospermic men added the Pentoxifylline at 0.30 and 0.60 mM showed a longer lasting activity than those of control semen and semen added only with Tyrode fluid.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Can telephone follow-up improve post-discharge outcomes?

Much effort and time can be devoted to discharge planning, but what measures exist to systematically ensure that everything has gone according to plan, and that no unforeseen problems have occurred once the patient has returned home? One possible solution evaluated by this study was the routine follow-up of patients discharged from a medicine for the elderly ward by telephone. This method was found to be quick cheap and effective. It also had the additional benefits of offering the opportunity to give further advice, reinforce health education, and for some help to provide an emotional bridge between hospital and home.

Aftercare↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Hospital at home: the Bromsgrove experience.

The aim of this article is to share good practice with interested professionals contemplating setting up a hospital at home scheme. The authors present an overview of the relevant research literature and describe their own experiences of developing the scheme in Bromsgrove.

Caregivers↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Early intervention to remove mesiodens and avoid orthodontic therapy.

Recognition of dental anomalies is essential in determining appropriate treatment for each patient. Diagnosis and assessment of mesiodens are critical in avoiding complications such as blocking the eruption of the maxillary central incisors, cyst formation, and dilaceration of the permanent incisors. Collecting data for diagnostic criteria, utilizing diagnostic radiographs, and determining when to refer to a specialist are important steps in the treatment of mesiodens. Early diagnosis and timely intervention could reduce or eliminate the need for orthodontic treatment and prevent serious complications.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Planning change in scheduling practices: a theoretical perspective.

The dynamic nature of today's health care environment requires innovation and creativity in organizational structure and management style. Some of the most essential concerns of nursing staff today are related to quality of working life, and perhaps a central focus for most nurse employees is a scheduling system which offers the flexibility necessary for them to respond to an active personal and professional life. This paper describes the utilization of change theory in operationalizing new scheduling practices with four unique nursing groups. The self designed master rotation and a self scheduling process are two examples of innovative change implemented by four nurse managers. Each participative management approach is presented in relation to the phases of Lewin's change process. Strategies include a needs assessment survey, facilitating staff participation in the design, implementation and evaluation of a new scheduling practice and encouraging group responsibility for the process and outcome of the planned change.

Decision Making, Organizational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pleural permeability to local anesthetics--the influence of concentration, pH, and local anesthetic combinations.

The transpleural passage of lidocaine, bupivacaine-lidocaine mixtures, and of bupivacaine, with and without epinephrine, was studied in vitro using pleural from piglets. Our objective was to ascertain whether changing physical parameters of local anesthetics such as pH, concentration, and addition of epinephrine might influence the transfer. Rate of transfer is linearly related to concentration at a given pH, but raising the pH increases the rate for bupivacaine. No change in rate was detectable when the pH of lidocaine was increased or in the rate of transfer of bupivacaine when bupivacaine and lidocaine were mixed. The mixture did however facilitate lidocaine flux. Epinephrine [1:200,000] lowers the pH of the solution dramatically but does not statistically change the transpleural passage of bupivacaine. We conclude that the onset of interpleural blockade may be shortened by using more concentrated solutions of bupivacaine whose pH have been modified by the addition of alkali, by using the higher concentrations of lidocaine or by mixing lidocaine with bupivacaine.

Anesthetics, Local↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Chemonucleation and changes observed on lumbar MR scan: preliminary report.

This study examines the relation between the postchemonucleation clinical outcome and changes observed on the lumbar MR scan. Eight of 12 chemonucleated disks showed clinical improvement at the last follow-up, while the other four showed no improvement. In the cases that showed improvement there was a decrease in one or both dimensions of the defect in the thecal sac. Seven of eight showed an increase in the peridisk signal. Where there was no clinical improvement there were fewer decreases in the size of the defect, and three of four showed no increase in the peridisk signal.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Penetrating trauma of the internal carotid artery at the base of the skull.

A 42-year-old female sustained a partial transection of the internal carotid artery at the base of the skull from a stab wound of the external ear. The clinical presentation and technical aspects of the surgical treatment are presented. The lesion could not be repaired and was successfully treated by ligation. The various techniques of operative exposure of challenging and unusual high carotid injuries which can be employed to eliminate the risk of cerebral embolism, false aneurysm formation, or carotid artery thrombosis associated with conservative management are reviewed.

Adult↗