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Biomedical subjects

G Ainsworth

Publications and source records attributed to G Ainsworth.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Eyetrack (ET) vs the conventional paper record (CPR): a study comparing the accuracy and speed of data retrieval from glaucoma patient records.

PURPOSE: To compare patient data retrieval between electronic patient record systems (Eyetrack) and conventional paper records (CPRs). METHODS: A total of 20 long term glaucoma patient records held on Eyetrack were randomised into two collections with 10 CPRs and 10 Eyetrack records in each collection. The Eyetrack records of one collection were the CPRs of the other collection and vice versa. Four doctors, as two groups, were assessed on a separate collection of records. The time taken to answer 10 questions and the accuracy were assessed. Comparison was made of the answers between the two formats. A month later each group was assessed on the 10 CPRs of the other collection. An expert Eyetrack user was assessed on only the 20 Eyetrack notes. Comparison was made between the 20 CPRs the doctors were assessed on and the 20 eyetrack records. RESULTS: In the first comparison, the mean time for all the doctors to answer the questions on a CPR was 324.4(+/-106.0) s compared to 104.8(+/-34.0) s for Eyetrack(Mann-Whitney, P<0.01). Mean accuracy for a CPR was 84.0%(+/-13.0%) compared to 98.0%(+/-4.0%) for Eyetrack(Mann-Whitney, P<0.01). Comparing the expert Eyetrack user with the CPR showed a mean time for Eyetrack of 96.6(+/-34.8) s compared with 283.7(+/-63.9) s for CPR(Mann-Whitney, P<0.0001). Mean accuracy for Eyetrack was 97.5%(+/-7.2%) compared to 82.0%(+/-8.7%) for CPRs(Mann-Whitney, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: An improvement of 3 min 40 s per record was observed with Eyetrack. Accuracy was also improved. Similar results were also found comparing an expert Eyetrack user with CPRs.

Glaucoma↗
PubMed2006

A novel use of amniotic membrane in the management of tube exposure following glaucoma tube shunt surgery.

AIM: To report a novel technique using amniotic membrane to cover exposed glaucoma tube shunts. METHODS: A consecutive series of three cases that underwent drainage tube shunt surgery with the Ahmed valve for intractable glaucoma. All three patients developed exposure of the tube secondary to necrosis of the overlying bovine pericardial patch and conjunctiva. Repair of the defect was carried out with a double layer of amniotic membrane, the inner one acting as a graft and the outer as a patch. Autologous serum was used to promote epithelial growth. RESULTS: Successful lasting closure of the conjunctival defect was achieved in all cases. CONCLUSION: Erosion of the drainage tube following shunt surgery is a potentially serious problem. It can be successfully managed using a double layer of amniotic membrane.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Assessing soil biodiversity across Great Britain: national trends in the occurrence of heterotrophic bacteria and invertebrates in soil.

An assessment of the biodiversity of soils was a component of the Countryside Survey 2000 (CS2000). This was the first integrated survey of soil biota and chemical properties at a national scale. A total of 1052 soil samples were collected across Great Britain during CS2000 and analysed for a range of soil microbial and invertebrate characteristics resulting in the production of a series of robust datasets. A principal objective was to use these datasets to investigate relationships between soil biota and environmental factors such as geographical location, vegetation, land use, land cover, soil type and pollutant levels as first stages in characterising the inherent biodiversity of British soils and investigating the potential of soil biodiversity as indicators of soil health at a regional or national scale. Preliminary results for culturable heterotrophic, invertebrate taxa, Acari, Collembola and Oribatid mites are presented here to illustrate the nature of the data collected and the patterns of soil biodiversity in relation to large-scale regional, vegetation and soil characteristics across the British countryside.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Phytochelatins are involved in differential arsenate tolerance in Holcus lanatus.

Arsenate tolerance is conferred by suppression of the high-affinity phosphate/arsenate uptake system, which greatly reduces arsenate influx in a number of higher plant species. Despite this suppressed uptake, arsenate-tolerant plants can still accumulate high levels of As over their lifetime, suggesting that constitutive detoxification mechanisms may be required. Phytochelatins are thiol-rich peptides, whose production is induced by a range of metals and metalloids including arsenate. This study provides evidence for the role of phytochelatins in the detoxification of arsenate in arsenate-tolerant Holcus lanatus. Elevated levels of phytochelatin were measured in plants with a range of tolerance to arsenate at equivalent levels of arsenate stress, measured as inhibition of root growth. The results suggest that arsenate tolerance in H. lanatus requires both adaptive suppression of the high-affinity phosphate uptake system and constitutive phytochelatin production.

Adaptation, Physiological↗