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Biomedical subjects

J D Cunningham

Publications and source records attributed to J D Cunningham.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Experiences of Australian mothers who gave birth either at home, at a birth centre, or in hospital labour wards.

In order to compare their antenatal education levels, reasons for choosing the birthplace, experiences during labor and childbirth, analgesia, satisfaction with birth attendants and others present, and related attitudes 395 Sydney-area mothers were recruited within one year of giving birth. Five sources were used to obtain mail-questionnaire responses from 239 who gave birth in a hospital labor ward, 35 at a birth centre, and 121 who chose to give birth at home. Homebirth mothers were older, more educated, more feminist, more willing to accept responsibility for maintaining their own health, better read on childbirth, more likely to be multiparous, and gave higher rating of their midwives than labour-ward mothers, with birth-centre mothers generally scoring between the other two groups. As well, homebirth and birth-centre mothers were more likely to feel the birthplace affected the bonding process and were less likely to regard birth as a medical condition than labour-ward mothers. In regression analysis birth venue (among other variables) significantly predicted satisfaction with doctor, if present during labour and delivery, and five variables correlated with birth venue significantly predicted satisfaction with midwife, husband/partner, and other support person. Findings are discussed in the light of the current struggle between medical and 'natural' models of childbirth.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Transfer characteristics of radiocaesium from soils to permanent pasture.

Depth profile measurements of 137Cs and 134Cs were carried out in 11 permanent pastures that had been exposed to fallout from the Chernobyl accident. In addition to gamma-ray spectrometric analysis, the selected pastures were characterized by several soil parameters, the influence of which on transfer was investigated. Sampling of soil and pasture grass was undertaken during a period extending from the Spring of 1987 to the Autumn of 1988. The results show that there has been limited downward migration of Chernobyl-derived caesium. In October 1988 more than 88% of the 137Cs attributable to Chernobyl was mainly confined to the top 10 cm of undisturbed soil, with 79% on average in the top 5 cm. The distribution of pre-Chernobyl caesium at the 11 sites was also evaluated. In an investigation of the influence of soil parameters on transfer to grass, a negative correlation with pH was observed in 1987. In April 1987 concentration ratios for 137Cs in grass ranged from 0.03 to 0.49. In general, comparison of the concentration ratio values showed a decreasing trend over the 18 months.

Accidents↗
PubMed1991

Erythrocyte deformation in ischemic acute tubular necrosis and amelioration by splenectomy in the dog.

Bilateral renal artery occlusion (RAO) for 120 minutes in dogs results in acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and peritubular capillary (PTC) congestion with rapidly deteriorating renal function. We have shown that prior splenectomy minimizes RAO-induced renal functional and histopathologic changes. The purpose of this study was to examine whether this renal protection is due to prevention of red blood cell echinocyte formation and resultant renal PTC congestion. Echinocytes (burr cells) are poorly deformable, impart high viscosity to the blood, and may hinder reperfusion by increasing resistance to renal capillary blood flow. Splenectomized (SPLX) or sham-SPLX dogs were treated with bilateral RAO for 120 minutes. After RAO, renal function and renal blood flow were monitored, and peripheral blood red blood cells were examined at 1 hour and at 24-hour intervals for 96 hours. Renal biopsies were taken 1 hour after RAO and the kidneys removed 96 hours after RAO. The RBCs and renal tissues were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Renal function was assessed by endogenous creatinine clearance. Sham-SPLX animals showed a marked and sustained decrease in creatinine clearance, consistently elevated serum creatinine levels and fractional excretion of sodium, and diffuse ATN and PTC congestion with echinocytes. These animals had a peak in circulating echinocytes 1 hour after RAO (p less than 0.05), which showed an excellent negative correlation with creatinine clearance (r = -0.999; p less than 0.001). On the contrary, SPLX animals had essentially no change in serum creatinine or fractional excretion of sodium, minimal tubular changes, no PTC congestion, and no rise in circulating echinocytes during the 96-hour observation. In vitro treatment of the postischemic red blood cells from sham animals with adenosine-inosine or fresh postischemic plasma from the SPLX animals showed almost complete reversal to discocytes (normal red blood cells), whereas in vitro treatment of postischemic red blood cells from the SPLX animals with fresh postischemic plasma from the sham animals resulted in a marked echinocytic response. We conclude that 1) a marked echinocyte response in the immediate postischemic period is an important mechanism in initiating ischemic ATN, 2) an echinocyte inducing factor may reside in the plasma of spleen-intact animals, and 3) mitigation of ATN and PTC congestion by splenectomy is, at least in part, consequential to attenuated echinocytic response in the immediate postischemic period.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Differential fructose effect in Pachysolen tannophilus and Pichia stipitis.

The yeasts Pachysolen tannophilus and Pichia stipitis differed in their ability to utilize D-xylose in the presence of D-fructose. When P. tannophilus was grown aerobically in fructose-xylose mixture, the ketohexose was utilized preferentially over the pentose. However, in P. stipitis cultures, the converse was observed. The effect was associated with the ability of D-fructose to repress the induction of xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase activities in P. tannophilus but not in P. stipitis. Both yeasts grew on D-fructose and fermented it to ethanol when it was supplied as the sole carbon source. The results suggest that there may exist some fundamental difference in the regulation of D-fructose metabolism between P. tannophilus and P. stipitis.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗
PubMed1989

The work motivations of mothers with preschool children.

This article provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the motivations for employment among a sample of 166 Sydney mothers, each of whom had at least 1 preschool-aged child. Mothers with high and moderate work attachment indicated a multiplicity of motives, of both an extrinsic (financial) and intrinsic (personal satisfaction, sense of achievement) nature. In contrast, the majority of women with low work attachment cited extreme financial need as the only possible reason that would impel them to enter the labor force. When asked which was, or would be, their most important reason for working, women with high work attachment endorsed more nonfinancial than financial reasons, women with moderate work attachment were about equally likely to give either reason, and women with low work attachment predominantly gave financial reasons. Husbands' perceptions of the reasons their wives were working, or would work, showed some, but not complete, agreement with those of their wives.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Experimental and clinical experience with a gelatin impregnated Dacron prosthesis.

Laboratory and clinical evaluation of a knitted Dacron graft impregnated with gelatin to confer zero porosity is described. Graft performance was tested by standard methods for biodegradation of the sealant and in vitro thrombogenicity. The gelatin sealant was removed after seven to nine days and there was no platelet adhesion to Gelseal compared with unsealed Dacron. Animal experiments revealed normal macroscopic appearances in the graft and histological disappearance of the gelatin impregnate between five and ten days, allowing a cellular response similar to unsealed Dacron. The first 100 patients to have Gelseal aortic bifurcation graft implanted at Glasgow Royal Infirmary are described. The graft did not require preclotting. Blood transfusion was not necessary in 74% of patients. There is 100% patency at 21 months. A knitted Dacron graft sealed with gelatin is a safe, nonporous prosthesis at implantation.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1985

Head and neck manifestations of dermatomyositis-polymyositis.

Dermatomyositis and polymyositis are rare disorders of connective tissue that manifest themselves primarily as muscular weakness. Fifty-five percent of 45 patients with this diagnosis at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital had symptoms referable to the head and neck. While dysphagia and the cutaneous manifestation predominate, such symptoms as facial swelling and oral mucosal disorders may require the treating physician to seek the advice of an otolaryngologist before the patient suffers any muscular changes. A thorough knowledge of this disease entity is essential to specialists in head and neck diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Pneumocephalus.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

An integrative approach to the electrophoresis of the reductase and dehydrogenase isozymes in respiring and fermenting yeasts.

A method is described for qualitatively monitoring changes in the starch gel electrophoresis isozyme patterns of key yeast dehydrogenase and reductase activities involved in the transition from aerobic to anaerobic conditions during batch fermentations. The hypoxic transition was accompanied by the disappearance of catalase, superoxide dismutase, mitochondrial dehydrogenases and the appearance of a novel 6-phosphogluconic acid dehydrogenase activity. Significant genetic differences were noted in the banding patterns of wine yeasts, baker's yeast and a commonly used laboratory yeast strain.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗