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Biomedical subjects

E Ross

Publications and source records attributed to E Ross.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Mammography-related beliefs of older women. A survey of an HMO population.

Although breast cancer risk increases with age, most studies show that mammography use decreases. A 15-minute telephone survey of 548 women health maintenance organization (HMO) members aged 65 to 74 who had not obtained a mammogram within the past year was undertaken to identify sociodemographic factors as well as knowledge, belief, and attitudinal characteristics associated with mammography history. Women who had never had a mammogram were less likely to have received a physician's recommendation and more likely to express negative attitudes about mammography, such as having a mammogram means "looking for trouble" and "makes me nervous." In addition, they expressed doubts about their need to have a mammogram and reported that "other problems" prevented them from having a mammogram. These results suggest that women who have never had a mammogram may require more intensive interventions to encourage them to obtain mammograms. In addition to receiving a mammography recommendation from their physicians, they might benefit from individual or small group educational sessions where negative attitudes about mammography could be explored and modified.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1993

Exposure of the orthopaedic surgeon to radiation.

A prospective study of sixty-five orthopaedic procedures performed with fluoroscopic assistance was undertaken to determine the risk to the primary orthopaedic surgeon with regard to radiation. Radiation was monitored with the use of a universal film badge placed outside the collar of a lead apron, and a gas-sterilized thermoluminescent dosimeter ring worn on each hand. The rings were changed with every operation, but the same film badge was transferred from surgeon to surgeon. The hand dominance of the surgeon, the duration of the operative procedure, the type of operation, and the total time that fluoroscopy had been used were noted. The study was conducted during twenty-one intramedullary nailing procedures (thirteen involving distal locking), forty open reductions with internal fixation (plates and screws), and four external-fixation procedures. All of the badges and rings were submitted for a report regarding radiation exposure. No relationship was found between a ring with a positive reading for exposure to radiation and the duration of the operation. Similarly, there was no correlation between a positive reading and the surgeon's hand dominance. The mean duration of the fluoroscopy was 2.3 minutes for the group for which the rings did not show a positive reading and 4.7 minutes for the group for which the rings did show a positive reading. This was a significant difference (p < 0.0001). There was no positive reading for exposure to radiation from any ring that had been worn during a procedure in which the fluoroscope had been used for less than 1.7 minutes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bone Nails↗
PubMed1993

Burnout: a smouldering problem amongst South African speech-language pathologists and audiologists?

The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of burnout occurring within the profession of speech-language pathology and audiology and to examine possible work situation factors unique to the profession, that may be correlated with burnout. A cross-sectional postal survey research design was used, including a standardised measure of burnout as well as a questionnaire inquiring about demographic and work situation variables. Subjects were randomly drawn from names obtained from the South African Medical and Dental Council. Results were analysed statistically using Pearsons correlations, Multivariate Analysis as well as Bonferroni T-tests. The main finding that emerged was that, as a group speech-language pathologists (SPLP's) and audiologists in South Africa are experiencing moderate levels of emotional exhaustion, low levels of depersonalisation as well as high levels of personal accomplishment. Therapists working in hospitals, mainly treating peripheral hearing disorders, working either as audiologists only or speech-language therapists and audiologists, with heavy caseloads and extensive paperwork, and perceiving themselves to be under large amounts of work pressure, appear to be the most susceptible to burnout.

Audiology↗
PubMed1992

Pattern of 6-mercaptopurine urinary excretion in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: urinary assays as a measure of drug compliance.

A method for the measurement of 6-mercaptopurine (6MP) in urine using high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Urinary excretion of 6MP was measured in 46 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The proportion of unchanged drug excreted after oral dosage in the morning was greater than after an evening dose (5.6 +/- 3.3% vs. 3.3 +/- 2.4%). Possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed. In all children receiving 6MP in the morning, the drug was detected in urine at 2 and 4 h after ingestion. At 6 h, 6MP was still detectable in 77% of patients, at 8 h in 54%, at 10 h in 12%, and at 12 h in 8%. The reliability of urinary 6MP determination as a measure of drug compliance was assessed in 39 children accustomed to receiving their medication in the evening. 6MP was detected in 81% of first morning urine samples, indicating compliance with medication the preceding evening. The absence of 6MP in first morning urine samples did not necessarily indicate poor compliance because of the variability in 6MP excretion and unpredictable pattern of night voiding in children. The method was therefore a reliable measure of good short-term compliance. It also directed attention toward possible noncompliance in children with negative samples.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Effect of in vivo interleukin-1 on adhesion molecule expression in normal human skin.

We have examined the expression of three endothelial adhesion molecules (intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 [ELAM-1], and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1]) in normal human skin following intradermal injection of stratum corneum-derived interleukin-1 alpha (SCIL-1 alpha). In control skin, constitutive expression of ICAM-1 was found on endothelial cells and at low levels on dermal dendritic cells but not on keratinocytes. ELAM-1 and VCAM-1 were present in low levels on endothelium and perivascular dendritic cells, respectively. SCIL-1 alpha injection produced marked endothelial ELAM-1 upregulation. Double staining with neutrophil elastase demonstrated that many ELAM-1-positive vessels contained marginating neutrophils and that interstitial neutrophils were clustered around ELAM-1-positive vessels. An increase in dermal dendritic cell ICAM-1 expression occurred and in two of three biopsies there was keratinocyte expression of ICAM-1 in the SCIL-1 alpha-injected tissue. Also, there was upregulation of VCAM-1 on vascular endothelium and an increase in the dermal dendritic cell expression of this molecule. These results give in vivo confirmation that SCIL-1 alpha modulated endothelial and dermal dendritic cell adhesion molecule expression, and show that endothelial VCAM-1 is regulated in vivo by SCIL-1 alpha, thus providing a regulatable ICAM-1-independent means of mononuclear cell recruitment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Characterization of inhibition of Mycobacterium avium replication in macrophages by normal human serum.

Serum from some AIDS patients permits the rapid multiplication of Mycobacterium avium in cultured human macrophages. Serum from human immunodeficiency virus-negative individuals inhibits replication. The characteristics of the serum-induced inhibition were examined here. M. avium 7497 serovar 4 grew exponentially in macrophages when they were cultured in serumless medium. Growth was measured by determining the CFU after infected macrophages were lysed at 0 to 7 days after infection. Normal AB serum (5 to 10%) added to infected macrophages resulted in an initial 4-day lag of bacterial growth followed by rapid replication from 4 to 7 days. Serum also inhibited bacterial replication in medium without macrophages. This inhibition was not biphasic but was sustained over 7 days. Macrophage-associated M. avium became less responsive to serum inhibitor within 24 h after infection of macrophages. Within 2 days of culture, M. avium no longer responded to inhibitor. Replication of macrophage-derived M. avium (Vi) was in some instances serum inhibitable and at other times was enhanced by serum, when it was used to infect fresh macrophages. The Vi phenotype remained serum inhibitable without macrophages. Preinfection of macrophages with heat-killed M. avium did not alter serum-induced bacterial inhibition or escape from inhibition.

Blood Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1992

The impact of mailing psychoeducational materials to women with abnormal mammograms.

A randomized trial was conducted to evaluate the impact of mailed psychoeducational materials on adherence to subsequent annual mammography among women with prior abnormal mammograms. The results showed a 13% increment in adherence among women who received this intervention. This effect was independent of all sociodemographic and medical variables examined. We conclude that mailed psychoeducational materials may be an effective mechanism to improve adherence among women with abnormal mammogram results.

Aged↗
PubMed1992

Effects of dietary aluminum and niacin on chick tibiae.

Effects of dietary aluminum chloride and niacin on bone mineral content and bone structural measurements were studied using young male Leghorn chicks. Standard chick rations containing .8% Ca and .4 or .5% available P were fed as control diets in three experiments. Experimental diets contained .05, .1, or .3% Al, or 1.0 or 1.5% niacin, or both and were fed for 2 wk. Tibia weights were decreased by 1.5% niacin, .3% Al, and by .1% Al plus 1.5% niacin (P less than .05). Breaking strength of tibiae was decreased (P less than .05) by 1.5% niacin, .1% Al, and .1% Al plus 1.5% niacin. Ultimate stress, which is force per unit area, was decreased by .3% Al and .05% Al plus 1.5% niacin (P less than .05). Niacin had no significant effect on bone mineral content. In Experiment 3, .3% Al decreased P, Ca, Mg, and Zn content of the tibiae (P less than .05). These findings indicate that feeding high levels of supplemental niacin results in decreased bone strength in chicks with no change in mineral content of the tibiae. Aluminum fed at levels of .3% of the diet causes a decrease in bone strength with concomitant changes in bone mineral content.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1992

Older women's participation in breast screening.

The incidence of breast cancer increases with age, but women's participation in breast screening decreases with age. National and regional surveys indicate a number of barriers. Women over age 65 are more likely to say they have never heard of mammograms, that they did not know they needed them, and that their doctors did not recommend them. In a study conducted at Fox Chase Cancer Center, in Philadelphia, participation in an HMO-sponsored breast screening program appeared to reverse the usual age-related decrease in mammography. If mammography utilization is to increase in women over age 65, physicians must offer unambiguous referrals to older women. In addition, health education interventions are needed to improve knowledge and beliefs of older women and their physicians. And, finally, strategies also are needed to enhance access. With the advent of Medicare coverage, payment will be less of a barrier. But other barriers remain.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Child health computing.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Ambulatory Care Information Systems↗
PubMed1991

Effects of psychological well-being, physical status, and social support on oxygen-dependent COPD patients' level of functioning.

Thirty oxygen-dependent patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) participated in a descriptive correlational study in which investigators examined the relationship between oxygen-dependent COPD patients' psychological well-being, physical status, social support, and level of functioning. Lazarus and Folkman's (1984) theory of psychological stress and coping was used to guide the study. Using multiple regression analysis, physical symptoms had the most predictive power in relation to the level of functioning, accounting for 44.3% of the variance. Among the symptoms, dyspnea had the greatest influence on functioning.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1991

Evidence that vesicles containing living, virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis or Mycobacterium avium in cultured human macrophages are not acidic.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium multiply in cultured human macrophages (MP) within membrane-enclosed vesicles. These vesicles are generally assumed to be acidic. The evidence most frequently cited for this assumption is that pyrazinamide, which requires an acid pH to be effective, is effective and streptomycin, which loses most of its activity at a low pH, is poorly effective against tubercle bacilli. This assumption was tested by using the two weak bases chloroquine and NH4Cl to raise the pH of acidic vesicles in MP experimentally infected with M. tuberculosis or M. avium. An immunocytochemical locator of acidic regions in the MP was used to monitor the association of intracellular bacilli with acidity. MP were infected with M. tuberculosis or M. avium and incubated with various combinations of the drugs and the weak bases. Replication of the bacteria in the MP was measured by culture counts. Intracellular associations of the mycobacteria with acidity were assessed by electron micrographs and by using the weak base 3-(2,4-dinitroanilino)-3'-amino-N-methyl dipropylamine, which was detected with colloidal gold-labeled antibodies. It was confirmed by immunocytochemistry that both chloroquine and NH4Cl raise the pH of acidic vesicles in the infected MP. However, neither caused any pH-related change in the antimycobacterial activities of pyrazinamide or streptomycin or of the pH-independent drug isoniazid. Immunochemical analyses showed acidity to be associated with killed but not living mycobacteria in the MP. These findings suggest that living M. tuberculosis and M. avium are located in human MP in vesicles which are not acidic.

Ammonium Chloride↗
PubMed1991

Effect of caffeine intake on psychotic in-patients.

Psychotic in-patients who consume caffeine may present complications in the course of their illness. Two cases are described which illustrate the clinical profile of such patients, whose caffeine-associated complications are often misdiagnosed.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Attitudes of a group of South African speech and hearing therapists towards patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The present study investigated the attitudes, knowledge and fears of a group of 31 speech-language pathologists and audiologists working in 13 hospital settings, concerning patients with AIDS/HIV. Individuals completed an anonymous, self-administered questionnaire assessing self-perceived level of knowledge, actual knowledge of modes of transmission of the AIDS virus and protection procedures, and attitudes and fears associated with treatment of AIDS/HIV patients. Qualitative data concerning responses to this epidemic were also obtained and statistical analyses were completed to determine the relationship between the above mentioned variables. Results indicate that the higher the respondents' level of actual knowledge, the more they reportedly feared the disease. No correlation was found between respondents' level of actual knowledge and their attitudes. Information needs were identified which have important implications for future education. In addition, proposed policy guidelines for speech-language pathologists and audiologists in contact with AIDS/HIV patients, based on the above results of the study are provided.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗