Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Boyd

Publications and source records attributed to J Boyd.

280 records · Page 16Linked to original sources

Self-reported cardiac risk factors in emergency department nurses and paramedics.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the prevalence of cardiac risk factors in a sample of urban paramedics and emergency department (ED) nurses. METHODS: We asked 175 paramedics and ED nurses working at a busy, urban ED to complete a cardiovascular risk assessment. The survey asked subjects to report smoking history, diet, exercise habits, weight, stress levels, medication use, history of hypertension or cardiac disease, family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cholesterol level (if known). RESULTS: 129 of 175 surveys were returned (74% return rate) by 85 paramedics and 44 nurses. The percentages of paramedics and nurses at high or very high risk for cardiac disease were 48% and 41%, respectively. Forty-one percent of female respondents and 46% of male respondents were at high or very high risk. Cigarette smoking was reported in 19% of the paramedics and 14% of the nurses. The percentages of paramedics and nurses who reported hypertension were 13% and 11%, respectively. High cholesterol was reported in 31% of paramedics and 16% of nurses. CONCLUSIONS: Forty-eight percent of paramedics and 41% of ED nurses at this center are at high or very high risk for cardiovascular disease, by self-report. Efforts should be made to better educate and intervene in this population of health-care providers in order to reduce their cardiac risk.

Adult↗

Al+++ binding studies and metallic cation effects on bioprosthetic heart valve calcification in the rat subdermal model.

Al+++ preincubation has been shown to inhibit calcification of glutaraldehyde pretreated bovine pericardium calcification in the rat subdermal model. This study was designed to assess in vitro the Al+++ (10(-1) M, 10(-2) M, 10(-3) M preincubations) binding characteristics of glutaraldehyde pretreated bovine pericardium. In vivo studies assessed the ability of AlCl3 (10(-1) M, 10(-2) M, 10(-3) M) preincubations to inhibit calcification after 21 and 60 days in the rat subdermal model. Other in vivo studies investigated the ability of other metallic cations (Fe+++, La+++, and Ga+++) used as a pretreatment to inhibit glutaraldehyde pretreated bovine pericardium calcification after a 21 day rat subdermal implant. Lyophylized glutaraldehyde pretreated bovine pericardium samples were analyzed for Al+++ by neutron activation. In vitro results showed the greatest glutaraldehyde pretreated bovine pericardium Al+++ uptake in specimens incubated in 0.1M AlCl3. Maximal Al+++ uptake occurred by 1 hour. Glutaraldehyde pretreated bovine pericardium Al+++ levels after incubation in 10(-1) M, 10(-2) M, and 10(-3) M AlCl3 for 1 hour were 351.4 +/- 15.8 nM/mg, 96.4 +/- 17.4 nM/mg, and 24.6 +/- 4.9 nM/mg, respectively versus 394.5 +/- 48.0 nM/mg, 105.3 +/- 2.3 nM/mg, 40.0 +/- 8.8 nM/mg, respectively for 3 days. In vivo 21 day rat (50-60 g, male, Sprague-Dawley) subdermal implants of 0.1 M AlCl3, FeCl3, FeCl3 plus citrate, LaCl3, and GaNO3 pretreated glutaraldehyde pretreated bovine pericardium showed calcification inhibition by Al+++, Fe+++, and Fe+++ plus citrate (Ca++ = 5.5 +/- 0.2 micrograms/mg, 13.6 +/- 4.6 micrograms/mg, 5.9 +/- 1.7 micrograms/mg, respectively) compared to control (Ca++ = 63.6 +/- 5.7 micrograms/mg).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aluminum↗