Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Casey.
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Eighty-three women who perceived themselves to be at risk for ovarian cancer completed a battery of surveys. In addition to demographics, subjects were asked to complete the Brief Symptom Inventory, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, Death Anxiety Scale, Taylor Anxiety Scale, Index of Sexual Satisfaction, Impact of Event Scale, and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Overall, the respondents were more similar to normal controls than to psychiatric outpatients. A correlation was drawn between higher levels of education and lower scores on the Brief Symptom Inventory, which measures characteristics such as somatization, obsessive compulsive behaviors, interpersonal sensitivity, and anxiety. However, those who had the highest scores on the Death Anxiety Scale were less likely to comply with the recommendation for a physical/gynecological examination. Patients who were most influenced by an external locus of control or 'powerful other' were more compliant with their physicians' recommendations for testing and examination. It is the authors' belief that individualized educational efforts and the presence of a solid support system may increase women's adherence to the recommended health care practices.
BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer can be cured if detected early enough, but usually has already metastasized when diagnosed. A family history of ovarian cancer is still the strongest known risk factor. OBJECTIVE: To identify women at risk for ovarian cancer and design a program of surveillance. METHODS: Prospective registry of women with a family history of ovarian cancer. RESULT: From April 1991 to July 1993, 137 women (119 families), mean age 43, registered with the Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry. The 119 pedigrees revealed 171 cases of ovarian cancer. Only one family is undocumented by pathology. Forty of 137 registrants have more than one relative with ovarian cancer. Six percent of pelvic examinations were abnormal for potential adnexal disease. In 4% of registrants, initial CA125 concentrations were abnormal. Ultrasound examinations were abnormal in ovarian size (5%), in morphology (3%), and by resistive indices (4%). Four ultrasounds were repeated earlier than routine. Using "standard" fees, the total cost to diagnose the one case of ovarian cancer discovered was $68,848. CONCLUSIONS: This approach still cannot be considered cost-effective. We are continuing to search for genetic and molecular markers of disease in women at greatest risk and in their affected relatives.
Optimal care of leg ulcers and pressure sores does not depend simply on the choice of dressing. The cause of the wound must be investigated, and other systemic factors related to wound healing must be assessed, then the wound environment can be evaluated and the most suitable dressing applied. This article looks at these three steps to good wound care.
The management of pain in the presence of wounds is often ignored. In this article, the author reviews the physiology of the pain specific to chronic and acute wounds and reminds nurses of the considerations involved.
Nursing Standards recent Focus on Nutrition campaign raised some uncomfortable issues about nurses' knowledge of wound healing. We continue the theme here, with a review of the importance of good nutrition for effective wound healing.
Treating a child with a fever is a skilled nursing activity. This article explains the underlying physiological mechanisms of a fever and relates these to the clinical signs, symptoms and care of children.
Optimal care of leg ulcers and pressure sores does not depend simply on the choice of dressing. The cause of the wound must be investigated, and other systemic factors related to wound healing must be assessed, then the wound environment can be evaluated and the most suitable dressing applied. Georgina Casey looks at these three steps to good wound care.
Pulse oximetry is a useful way to monitor oxygen saturation in patients in a variety of clinical settings. Nurses need to understand the principles of oxygen transport and delivery to use pulse oximetry effectively in clinical practice.
Optimal care of leg ulcers and pressure sores does not depend simply on the choice of dressing. The cause of the wound must be investigated, and other systemic factors related to wound healing must be assessed, then the wound environment can be evaluated and the most suitable dressing applied. Georgina Casey looks at these three steps to good wound care.
With the wide array of wound dressings available today, it can be a difficult task to select the appropriate dressing required for a particular wound. Georgina Casey reviews the healing process and discusses the characteristics of different types of dressing.
BACKGROUND: Clinical hypothyroidism has been associated with prolonged survival in several types of malignancies, but the mechanism of this effect is unknown. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In vitro studies of thyroid hormone depletion (via culture in medium containing 5% thyroid hormone-depleted fetal bovine serum (FBS)) were carried out using a human glioblastoma cell line (WITG3) which expresses a mutant, non-functional p53. RESULTS: Thyroid hormone depletion inhibited WITG3 proliferation compared to control medium containing 5% euthyroid FBS. There was no evidence of apoptosis and viability was not compromised. Cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry indicated that thyroid hormone depletion accumulated WITG3 cells in G1, with fewer cells progressing into S than in euthyroid medium. By immunoblotting, p21 (WAF1/CIP1) was only slightly detectable in lysates from WITG3 cells grown in control euthyroid medium; however, in thyroid hormone-depleted FBS, a marked induction of p2 1 occurred which could be reversed by exogenous thyroid hormone CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that thyroid hormone depletion may cause a G, arrest in astrocytoma mediated by a p53-independent induction of p21 (WAF1/CIP1). Results suggest a mechanism which may explain the effect of hypothyroidism on suppression of tumor cell growth.