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Biomedical subjects

J Connolly

Publications and source records attributed to J Connolly.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

High dependency care: impact of lack of facilities for high-risk surgical patients.

BACKGROUND: The difference between the level of care available on general ward areas and intensive care units (ICUs) has resulted in the development of high dependency units (HDUs). AIMS: This study examined the current perioperative management techniques and clinical care settings of high-risk surgical patients in a hospital without a HDU. METHODS: A prospective audit of high-risk surgical patients was performed over an eight-week period. Using a pre-operative questionnaire, the anaesthetist categorised patient suitability for one of three post-operative care areas. In addition, desired and actual post-operative monitoring, pain management and organ support were indicated. RESULTS: Seven (25%) of 28 patients admitted to ICU were rated HDU suitable indicating inappropriate use of resources, while 27 (75%) of 36 patients admitted to the general ward were categorised as fulfilling HDU admission criteria. A total of 21/27 (78%) and 12/27 (44%) of this latter group had alteration of idealised post-operative pain management and haemodynamic invasive monitoring plans respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of an intermediate care area facility in a tertiary hospital without an acute pain team impacts on the type of perioperative care provided to patients and the optimal use of resources.

General Surgery↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Orienting, habituation, sensitisation, and dishabituation in the electrodermal system of consecutive, drug free, admissions for schizophrenia.

Thirty-three consecutive admissions for schizophrenia with PSE diagnoses and free of neuroleptics were compared with 31 hospital staff for distinguishing features of bilateral electrodermal activity to a sequence of mild tones followed by a sequence of conspicuous tones with variation of temporal parameters. To mild tones most patients were either non-responders or non-habituators whereas most controls were habituators or non-habituators. To conspicuous tones patients as a group were more responsive but without the features of sensitisation to a test stimulus shown by controls. Patients as a group had more non-specific response and higher levels of skin conductance which showed less adaptation than controls. To a large extent previously reported difference in response latencies, rise-times and half-recovery times would appear to be a function of habituation rate. Patient -control differences may reflect anxiety and stress in patients, though lateral asymmetries in activity have a deeper salience for the nature of schizophrenia.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of peers in the emergence of heterosexual romantic relationships in adolescence.

Adolescents' peer structures and the quality of their friendships were explored as antecedents of romantic relationships. Longitudinal data were gathered in a sample of 180 high school students over a 3-year period from grade 9 to grade 11. Consistent with Dunphy (1963), small groups of close friends were predictive of other-sex peer networks which were, in turn predictive of the emergence of future romantic relationships. Indirect effects were found for same-sex groups of close friends and same-sex networks. Consistent with Furman and Wehner (1994), the qualitative features of relationships with both friends and romantic partners were predictive of the qualitative features of subsequent romantic experiences. These linkages suggest ways in which peer relationships may support romantic development at this stage of the life cycle.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Medial collateral ligament knee sprains in college football. Brace wear preferences and injury risk.

In this prospective, multiinstitutional analysis of medial collateral ligament sprains in college football players, we categorized 987 previously uninjured study subjects according to frequency of wearing preventive knee braces, studied the patterns by which 47 of 100 injuries occurred to unbraced knees, and identified several extrinsic, sport-specific risk factors shared for both braced and unbraced knees. The attendance, brace wear choice, position, string, and session of each participant were recorded daily; medial collateral ligament sprains were reported whenever tissue damage was confirmed. Both the likelihood of wearing braces and risk of injury without them was highly dependent on session (games/practices), position group (line, linebacker/tight end, skill), and string group (players/nonplayers). Subjects wearing braces often faced a high injury risk to their unbraced knees, a finding compatible with the opinion that braces were a necessary evil, best worn when concern over danger of injury outweighed desire for speed and agility. It is concluded that to avoid misinterpretations due to the confounding influence of brace wear selection bias, accurate investigation of daily brace wear patterns is required. Then, before considing the impact of preventive knee braces, a repartitioning of the data base is essential to assure that only similar groups will be compared.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Medial collateral ligament knee sprains in college football. Effectiveness of preventive braces.

This is the second of 2 articles on a 3-year investigation of medial collateral ligament sprains of the knee to assess the effectiveness of prophylactic knee braces in NCAA Division I college football players. Position, string, type of session, and daily brace wear were recorded. The injury rates for braced and unbraced knees were used to create an incidence density ratio. The data were stratified and simultaneously controlled for position, string, and session and evaluated for their statistical significance. The 987 Big Ten players generated 155,772 knee exposures over the study period (50% braced). Noticeable differences existed in the rates of injury for the braced and unbraced knees in almost every position during practices, depending on player or nonplayer status. When the influential factors of position, string, and session are considered, there is a consistent but not statistically significant tendency for the players wearing preventive knee braces to experience a lower injury rate than for their unbraced counterparts. For starters and substitutes in the line positions, as well as the linebackers and tight ends, there was a consistent trend toward a lower injury rate in both practices and games. The braced players in the skill positions (backs/kickers), at least during games, exhibited a higher injury rate.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

What do nurses want from social workers?

This study is based on a series of interviews with 45 senior nurses and outlines their perceptions about, and expectations of, social workers. The study found that nurses want social workers to provide a range of practical services for patients and to act as a bridge with the community, making use of their unique position to move between health and social services. They want a mutually satisfying professional working relationship with social workers based on trust, confidence and reliability. And they want them to fulfill their statutory responsibilities with expertise.

Counseling↗
PubMedDate not supplied

149 consecutive thyroid operations--indications, technique and outcome.

One hundred and forty nine patients underwent thyroid and parathyroid surgery over a nine year period. The most common indications for surgery were the presence of a solitary thyroid nodule (56%) or the onset of pressure symptoms (30%). Carcinoma was found in 7.4% of cases. Wound complications occurred in 5%. The permanent nerve injury rate was 0.67%. The incidence of permanent hypothyroidism after surgery was 4%. No patients developed permanent hypoparathyroidism.

Adolescent↗