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Biomedical subjects

K Cooke

Publications and source records attributed to K Cooke.

29 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

On the role of long incubation periods in the dynamics of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Part 1: Single population models.

In this study, we investigate systematically the role played by the reproductive number (the number of secondary infections generated by an infectious individual in a population of susceptibles) on single group populations models of the spread of HIV/AIDS. Our results for a single group model show that if R less than or equal to 1, the disease will die out, and strongly suggest that if R greater than 1 the disease will persist regardless of initial conditions. Our extensive (but incomplete) mathematical analysis and the numerical simulations of various research groups support the conclusion that the reproductive number R is a global bifurcation parameter. The bifurcation that takes place as R is varied is a transcritical bifurcation; in other words, when R crosses 1 there is a global transfer of stability from the infection-free state to the endemic equilibrium, and vice versa. These results do not depend on the distribution of times spent in the infectious categories (the survivorship functions). Furthermore, by keeping all the key statistics fixed, we can compare two extremes: exponential survivorship versus piecewise constant survivorship (individuals remain infectious for a fixed length of time). By choosing some realistic parameters we can see (at least in these cases) that the reproductive numbers corresponding to these two extreme cases do not differ significantly whenever the two distributions have the same mean. At any rate a formula is provided that allows us to estimate the role played by the survivorship function (and hence the incubation period) in the global dynamics of HIV. These results support the conclusion that single population models of this type are robust and hence are good building blocks for the construction of multiple group models. Our understanding of the dynamics of HIV in the context of mathematical models for multiple groups is critical to our understanding of the dynamics of HIV in a highly heterogeneous population.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1986

Child disablement, family dissolution and reconstitution.

The results of a study of a nationally representative sample of disabled children and controls are presented. The findings suggest that although, at any one time, families containing a disabled child are not no more likely to be one-parent families, disabled children do appear to be more likely to experience a spell in a one-parent family at some time in their lives. Where these spells occur, they are of longer duration than for the general population, which suggests that family reconstitution may be more difficult where a disabled child is present.

Child↗
PubMed1985

Short-term kidney preservation: to perfuse or not to perfuse with the new Belzer perfusate.

Delayed graft function is ischaemically induced and the consequence of high energy phosphate depletion. A new perfusate, described by Belzer, has been used in 43 kidney preservations, 16 of which had prolonged cold ischaemia. The overall immediate function rate was 37 of 43 kidneys or 86 per cent. Of 18 kidneys cold-stored during the same period, only nine functioned immediately. Twenty-six of these patients received cyclosporine for immunosuppression without an increase in delayed graft function or evidence of increased nephrotoxicity because of ischaemic injury or prolonged preservation.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A model for HIV in Asia.

A model is proposed in which the spread of HIV/AIDS in the community is mainly due to the sexual interaction between a core group of female prostitutes and young unmarried males. Several threshold parameters are obtained that determine persistence of endemic proportions, persistence of total population, and the persistence of infective population given the extinction of endemic proportions in a population tending to infinity. Conditions are given for the existence of multiple endemic equilibria as well as the existence of multiple stable equilibria with separatrix and their asymptotic behavior and biological significance are discussed. In all cases, global analysis is accompanied by bifurcation diagrams, and numerical examples are provided for some particular cases of interest. This model was proposed with the recent rapid growth of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Asia in mind.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Take-up of benefits by families with disabled children.

The take-up of four cash benefits by families with disabled children is assessed using a national sample drawn from the 1970 birth cohort. The four benefits are invalid care allowance, attendance allowance, mobility allowance and the Family Fund. None of the few families in the sample who were eligible for the invalid care allowance knew about it or had claimed it, but none would have been better off if they had done so. Take-up of the attendance allowance was lower than previous studies have suggested; between a half and two-thirds of those who appeared to be eligible were receiving the attendance allowance. About 80% of those children who were eligible for the mobility allowance were receiving it. About 65% of those families who met the eligibility criteria of the Family Fund had received help.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Informal support for the carers of disabled children.

This article draws on data from a nationally representative sample of disabled children to investigate the support which careers receive from spouses, relatives, friends, neighbours and voluntary organizations. The results confirm the findings of previous studies that, within families, mothers bear the major burden both of child care and housework. However, the results indicate that families with disabled children generally do not receive as much support from relatives, friends and neighbours as some previous studies of children with particular disorders have suggested, and that membership of voluntary organizations is very low.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Housing circumstances and standards of families with disabled children.

Research on the impact of a disabled child on family resources suggests that housing standards are likely to be lower for these families than for other families. This article attempts to assess the extent to which this is actually the case. The article employs data from a nationally representative sample of disabled children and compares their housing standards according to five criteria with those of a control sample. Families with disabled children were found to be significantly more likely than control families to be living in local authority housing, more likely to be living in overcrowded accommodation and less likely to have central heating and certain consumer durables in the household.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Grading severity of childhood disablement: comparing survey measures with a paediatrician's assessment.

This study investigates the relationship between a paediatrician's assessment of the overall severity of disablement in a sample of 10-year-old children and the survey data on which this assessment was based. An attempt was made to identify disabilities or combinations of disabilities which were good predictors of the paediatrician's assessment. It was possible to do this with some success with children assessed as severely disabled but it was much more difficult to do so where the degree of disablement was assessed as mild or moderate. The implications of these findings for the assessment of children with disabilities which are less than severe are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗