Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J Millard

Publications and source records attributed to J Millard.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Suicide and suicide attempts in the lesbian and gay community.

The most common suicide theories share a widely recognized set of social factors that contribute to suicide and suicide attempts. This paper discusses additional suicide risk factors that affect the gay and lesbian community such as: discrimination, gay adolescence, coming out, establishment of a gay identity, HIV/AIDS, intrapersonal stressors, drugs and alcohol, racial/ethnic factors and limited support structures. Poor awareness of these additional risks, both within mainstream society and within the gay and lesbian community, is also discussed. A review of the literature is conducted that examines the impact of these risk factors and the implications of these issues to mental health nursing.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Zidovudine in persons with asymptomatic HIV infection and CD4+ cell counts greater than 400 per cubic millimeter. The European-Australian Collaborative Group.

BACKGROUND: Zidovudine therapy is of benefit in the treatment of symptomatic and asymptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in persons with CD4+ cell counts of less than 500 per cubic millimeter. The efficacy, safety, and duration of benefit of zidovudine in those with 500 or more CD4+ cells per cubic millimeter are uncertain. METHODS: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 993 patients with asymptomatic HIV infection and CD4+ cell counts above 400 per cubic millimeter were randomly assigned to receive zidovudine (500 mg twice daily) or placebo for three years. The primary end point was progression of disease, as defined by the development of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) group IV disease (including recurrent oral candidiasis, hairy leukoplakia, or progressive diarrhea) or two CD4+ cell counts below 350 per cubic millimeter. This outcome measure was changed from the original end point of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or advanced AIDS-related complex to reflect changes in recommendations for management. The study was terminated after the first interim analysis. RESULTS: Disease progression was significantly less frequent in the zidovudine group (relative risk, 0.56; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.75; P < 0.001 by the log-rank test). The probability of disease progression at two years was 0.19 with zidovudine, as compared with 0.34 with placebo (95 percent confidence interval for the difference, -0.21 to -0.08). Progression to CDC group IV disease was reduced by half in the zidovudine recipients (relative risk, 0.49; P = 0.049) and decline in CD4+ cell counts to below 350 per cubic millimeter was reduced by 40 percent (relative risk, 0.60; P < 0.001). The inclusion of early HIV disease events (oral candidiasis, oral hairy leukoplakia, and herpes zoster) as end points confirmed the effects of zidovudine on the progression of clinical disease (relative risk, 0.55; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.37 to 0.84; P = 0.004). The median duration of treatment was 94 weeks. Severe hematologic or clinical side effects were rare. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with zidovudine benefits HIV-infected persons with CD4+ cell counts above 400 per cubic millimeter. Despite the use of doses larger than those now generally prescribed, zidovudine was well tolerated for up to three years by most of our patients.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1989

H2-antagonist inhibition of human neutrophil superoxide anion synthesis.

In the mmol/L concentration range, cimetidine and ranitidine suppress superoxide anion generation by isolated intact human neutrophils. However, at normal pharmacologic concentrations in the mumol/L range, even prolonged exposure of neutrophils to these agents has no demonstrable effect on toxic oxygen species synthesis. In vitro inhibition does not involve neutrophil activation-densensitization or neutrophil cytotoxicity and is reversible to a great extent by drug washout. In the examination of possible free-radical scavenging action of these drugs, it was demonstrated that both drugs inhibit superoxide anion production by xanthine oxidase but not by chelated iron. This raises the possibility that these agents may bear structural similarities to oxypyrazolopyrimidines such as allopurinol.

Cimetidine↗
PubMed1988

How hospital ward members treat learner nurses: an investigation of learners' perceptions in a British hospital.

Twenty-five learner nurses who had just completed their first two wards were questionned about the behaviour of other ward members towards them. Although many ward sisters' and charge nurses' behaviour was positive towards learners, just under 50% of learners' responses indicated that the ward sister/charge nurse was sometimes rude and did not make them feel 'at home'. The ward sister/charge nurse's behaviour was, on average, more negative than another liked qualified staff, whose behaviour was more negative than a more experienced student on the ward. The ward sister/charge nurse's behaviour was the major determinant of ward preference by the learner. However, the behaviour of ward members tended to correlate, providing evidence of a 'ward atmosphere'. There is a need for leadership and educational training for ward sisters and charge nurses.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1987

Studies on heat inactivation of hepatitis A virus with special reference to shellfish. Part 1. Procedures for infection and recovery of virus from laboratory-maintained cockles.

The consumption of bi-valve molluscan shellfish has been associated with outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis and hepatitis A. Investigations were undertaken to determine the heat inactivation conditions necessary to render shellfish such as cockles safe for the consumer. Conditions for the laboratory maintenance of live cockles are described. In preliminary experiments either poliovirus (10(6) TCID50/ml seawater) or hepatitis A virus (HAV) (approx. 10(4) RFU/ml seawater) was introduced into the shellfish tank. Following 48 h filter feeding, virus was recovered from cockles using an adsorption-elution extraction procedure. Titres of virus recovered ranged from 10(4) to 10(5) TCID50/ml of shellfish extract for poliovirus and from 10(3) to 10(5) RFU/ml of shellfish extract for HAV. Active ingestion of the virus from the seawater was demonstrated by recovering virus from within cockle guts. To quantify recovered HAV, end-point dilutions and an adaptation of a radioimmunofocus assay (RIFA) were compared. The tests were of similar sensitivity but the RIFA has the advantage of being relatively rapid, shortening the time taken to complete an experiment by as much as 4 weeks.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

The assessment of human exposure to radionuclides from a uranium mill tailings release and mine dewatering effluent.

This study provides an assessment of human exposure to radiation from a river system contaminated by radionuclides of the 238U decay series released through a dam break at a uranium mill tailings pond and by the continuous discharge of dewatering effluent from 2 uranium mines. The in vivo analyses of radionuclides in 6 Navajo Indians who lived near the river indicate no detectable elevations above background concentrations. Dose estimates for inhalation of suspended river sediment indicate a maximum annual 50-yr dose commitment of 204 mrem to the endosteum. Estimates of doses (50-yr dose commitments) from the ingestion of livestock range between 1 mrem (to liver) and 79 mrem (to bone) suggest that the major contribution to human exposure is from mine dewatering effluent that has been continuously released into the river system for many years. Although the estimated exposures do not exceed existing state or federal regulations, their magnitude justifies further measurement of radionuclides in animals and in the natural environment and the consideration of strategies to reduce radiation exposure to humans and animals.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1983

Ultrastructural studies of renal stones from patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Patients on haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis due to renal failure have an unusually high incidence of kidney stones (from 5 to 51% depending on methodology). However, there is a controversy on the composition of these stones - whether they are calcium oxalate stones or matrix stones. This paper presents ultrastructural evidence that these stones are in fact heterogeneous, ranging from calcium oxalate stones with little organic matrix component, through calcium oxalate and calcium apatite stones with substantial organic matrix component, to matrix stones with little inorganic material component. The correlative analytical methodology developed in this laboratory employing analytical scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electron and x-ray diffraction, as well as biochemistry, was reported previously. For the calcium oxalate stones, scanning electron microscopy showed that numerous small crystals of 1-3 micron in size were exposed to stone surfaces, apparently in an unorganized manner. However, transmission electron microscopy sections showed orderly stacking of crystals held together by organic matrix, just like bricks held together by mortar. For the matrix stones, scanning electron microscopy showed smooth stone surfaces while transmission electron microscopy sections showed focal areas of calcium oxalate or apatite deposits as identified by selected area electron diffraction.

Apatites↗
PubMed1981

Analytical scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microdiffractometry of renal calculi using etched plastic sections.

We describe the technique and illustrate results of renal calculi analyses utilizing correlative analytical scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microdiffractometry on the same 100 micrometer Spurr embedded sections. Essential to the technique is the employment of an extremely sensitive x-ray microdiffractometer, and for morphological analysis, pretreatment of the sections with a sodium ethoxide etching solution. This technique facilitates more precise identification of crystalline constituents especially calcium apatite and magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (struvite). Further, the technique permits detection and mapping of both crystalline and amorphous constituents within calculi.

Calcium Oxalate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health visiting an elderly couple.

Health visitors play an important role in their involvement with the elderly population. As Parkinson's disease becomes increasingly prevalent among elderly people, a multidisciplinary approach to treatment and care is essential in the holistic assessment and management of the condition. The importance of the carer in the life of the elderly person with Parkinson's disease cannot be overemphasized. Effective two-way communication and involvement of both the sufferer and main carer in decisions about treatment and care are essential. Effective communication between all members of the primary healthcare team is necessary for continuity of care and support. The use of the Neuman System Model in this case demonstrates the way in which tools of assessment can influence our perception of the client, the type of information obtained and the care and support clients receive.

Aged↗