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Biomedical subjects

K West

Publications and source records attributed to K West.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Effect of storage time and temperature on folacin and vitamin C levels in term and preterm human milk.

A survey of infant feeding practices indicated that 40% of the mothers who breast-fed their infants frequently expressed and stored their milk in the home refrigerator/freezer prior to feeding. Effects of different lengths of storage time on the levels of folacin and vitamin C in both term (T) and preterm (PT) human milk were examined. Folacin and vitamin C intakes of most mothers were such that the levels of these vitamins in milk appeared to have reached saturation. Folacin levels in T and PT milk were similar but were lower in both after three months of freezer storage compared to one week of storage. Vitamin C content in PT milk was significantly higher than that in T milk and did not change after three months of freezer storage, whereas the vitamin C level in T milk decreased significantly. After 24 hr refrigeration of T milk, vitamin C content was lower but the folacin level was similar to that observed prior to refrigeration. The findings indicated that T or PT human milk, stored for 3 months in the freezer, would provide the recommended allowance of vitamin C but not of folacin for infants.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1985

Vitamin B6, vitamin C and folacin levels in milk from mothers of term and preterm infants during the neonatal period.

Studies of the composition of milk from mothers who deliver prematurely have focused primarily on macronutrients and trace elements while its vitamin composition has received little attention. This study focused on vitamin B6, vitamin C and folacin in preterm (PT) and term (T) milk which are critical to early growth and development. Fifteen PT and twelve T mothers were studied for five 24-h periods during the first month of lactation. Vitamin C levels were higher in PT milk during the first week of lactation whereas folacin levels were similar to T milk. Vitamin B6 levels in PT milk were lower than in T milk throughout the first month postpartum. These findings suggested that the use of PT milk as the sole source of these nutrients is open to question and that during the neonatal period PT infants need supplements of certain micronutrients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Factors affecting visitation of sick newborns.

A study of visiting patterns to an intensive care nursery over a 6-month period was undertaken. Data on visits were obtained from 167 admissions, 99 of which were from infants transferred from other towns. In addition, the parents were interviewed to determine factors precluding visiting. Inborn (Group A) and out-of-town (Group B) data were analyzed. For Group A, the mean number of weekly visits was 6.59 (range, 1.7-16.5) and the total cost of visiting during hospitalization was $135.00 (range, 5.76-649.36); for Group B, the figures were 3.6 (range, 0.1-12.4) and $328.00 (range, 12.96-1523.36), respectively. Parents in Group B visited less often, made fewer telephone inquiries, and earned a lower salary than parents in Group A. Frequency of visits was correlated to social class. The most commonly identified factors limiting visiting were care of siblings, demands of work, cost of the trip, and distance.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1985

Early lung dysfunction after major burns: role of edema and vasoactive mediators.

We determined the effect of a body burn on pulmonary function. Full-thickness burns varying in size from 25 to 70% of total body surface (TBS), were produced in sheep. Resuscitation was performed with lactated Ringer's. We noted an increase in lung transvascular fluid flux as measured by lymph flow, Q1, during the resuscitation period, varying from one- to threefold over baseline with the degree of increase directly proportional to the burn size. The increase in QL could be totally explained by the degree of hypoproteinemia which was also proportional to burn size. Transient pulmonary hypertension 20 +/- 4 to 26 +/- 5 mm Hg and a decrease in PaO2 from 90 +/- 5 to 83 +/- 6 torr occurred in the 50 and 70% burns as well as a significant decrease in lung compliance. These alterations were not due to pulmonary edema as there was no increase in measured lung water. Also, the increase in QL could be prevented by using a combination of Dextran and protein for resuscitation but this had no effect on the hypertension or hypoxia. Burn lymph and venous plasma thromboxane levels were increased during this period of lung dysfunction. Ibuprofen 12.5 mg/kg preburn and 12.5 mg/kg every 2 hours postburn decreased the degree of dysfunction suggesting a cause and effect relationship.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte regulation of lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation.

The polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) regulates in vivo and in vitro immune responses. We report that the immunoenhancing properties of PMN culture supernatants from PMN recruited by the bacterium Actinomyces viscosus (AV) show its exclusive effects on the T cell lymphocyte population. A study of the effect of PMN supernatants on normal Balb/c splenocytes to T and B cell mitogens showed enhancing effects on T cell mitogens, but no effect on B cell mitogen responses when compared to a control. Adherent cells (macrophages) were not required for the enhancing effect, indicating that the supernatant worked directly on the T cell. Proliferation of El-4, a Lyt-1.2 positive lymphoma helper cell, was directly affected by these supernatants. Functionally, T cell-dependent plaque-forming cell responses to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were enhanced. The polyclonal, T cell-independent plaque-forming cell response was unaffected when generated with LPS as assayed with Protein-A-SRBC. These results indicate that PMN supernatants from cells recruited by AV act on a helper T cell population to enhance both proliferation and differentiation in lymphocyte populations. These interactions provide insight into local inflammatory responses of PMN-lymphocyte infiltration with altered cell-mediated immunity.

Actinomyces↗
PubMed1982

Performance of a level II nursery in a neonatal regional program: part I. Patient population and role of the general pediatrician.

We examined the performance of a level II nursery in a regional neonatal program during a 30-month period. Of 3,851 live-born infants, 527 (13.7%) were admitted to the special care nursery and 70 (1.8%) were transferred to a level III nursery. There were 23 neonatal deaths, ten of them in the level II facility; the other 13 infants had been transferred to a level III center and died there. Three hundred eleven (59%) of the admissions to the special care nursery were infants whose birth weights exceeded 2,500 gm, and 241 (46%) were of more than 37 weeks' gestation. There were 262 infants admitted with respiratory distress. In an additional 55 infants, respiratory distress was part of their clinical presentation. Procedures done by the professional staff reflected these needs. A total of 3,476 days of care were provided in the special care nursery, with a mean duration of 6.6 +/- 5.91 days (+/- 1 SD). Physician time required in the special care unit was 2,317.3 hours, an average of 4.4 hours per admission. These data support the contention that general pediatricians operating level II nurseries within a regionalized program can provide care of the majority of newborns, including care of the majority of ill neonates.

Georgia↗
PubMed1977

Importance of initiation factor preparations in the translation of reovirus and globin mRNAs lacking a 5'-terminal 7-methylguanosine.

Reovirus and globin mRNAs which lack a 5'-terminal 7-methylguanosine are translated in a fractionated cell-free protein-synthesizing system. Efficient translation occurs only at optimal concentrations of reticulocyte initiation factor preparations and does not occur at optimal concentrations of ascites initiation factor preparations or at suboptimal concentrations of reticulocyte initiation factor preparations. The translation of "uncapped" mRNA in vitro, therefore, appears to be related to the efficiency of initiation of protein synthesis. At optimal concentrations of reticulocyte initiation factors, mRNA containing a 5'-terminal 7-methylguanosine is preferentially translated in the presence of mRNA which lacks a "cap." These results indicate that the 5'-terminal 7-methylguanosine on mRNA has a facilitatory rather than obligatory role in translation.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Is emergency laryngectomy a waste of time?

INTRODUCTION: Patients who present with airway obstruction due to carcinoma of the larynx may be managed by tracheotomy followed by definitive tumor surgery at a later date. An alternative is emergency laryngectomy, defined as total laryngectomy performed within 24 hours, for a previously untreated and undiagnosed malignancy. In this study, we compare and contrast the outcome of 13 patients managed by tracheotomy and delayed laryngectomy to another group of patients, previously reported, managed by emergency laryngectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stridor due to malignant laryngeal neoplasm was treated by tracheotomy and delayed definitive laryngectomy in 13 patients. In every case, the tracheostomy site was removed with a surgical specimen. A comparison of the survival data was performed with earlier reported series of 13 emergency laryngectomies using the Wilcoxon log rank method. RESULTS: All patients were followed for a minimum of 24 months. Seven patients underwent postoperative radiotherapy. Two of these patients (15%) developed peristomal recurrence at 6 and 22 months respectively. Both died of disease. Six patients from each group survived disease free for a minimum of 24 months. No significant correlation was found between the time delay of definitive surgery and survival (P > .5). DISCUSSION: This series suggests that emergency laryngectomy offers patients no survival advantage. Emergency laryngectomy does, however, have several disadvantages. These include the necessity to rely on frozen section analysis, the difficulty in obtaining expert anesthetic support, and the inability to provide thorough and complete nutritional and metabolic work up before major surgery. Finally, the psychologic aspects of radical surgery for patient and family cannot be adequately addressed. We conclude that stomal recurrence is as much a function of extensive disease at presentation as of preliminary tracheotomy. Emergency laryngectomy is not a superior treatment modality and offers no particular survival advantage.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Rapid turnover transport proteins, plasma albumin, and growth in low birth weight infants.

The purpose of this investigation was to establish normative data and to determine the value of measuring rapid plasma turnover proteins in low birth weight infants during the neonatal period. Forty-three premature, adequate for gestational age infants were divided in three groups according to their birth weight: group A less than 1000 g, group B 1001 to 1500 g, group C 1501 to 2000 g. Weekly anthropometric measurements and biochemical determinations were obtained. Anthropometric measurements included weight, crown heel length, midtricipital skinfold thickness, and midarm circumference. Biochemical studies in plasma included total proteins, albumin, prealbumin, and retinol-binding protein. A significant increase in prealbumin concentration preceded weight gain. The elevation in prealbumin concentration was statistically significant (p less than 0.02) for the combined data from all groups and for infants included in group B and C (p less than 0.05). No concomitant changes were demonstrated in plasma retinol-binding protein, or total proteins. The transient rise in prealbumin plasma concentrations remains unexplained, but may be related to the infant's nutritional status.

Anthropometry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Personal, protective and cost-effective infection control: an overview for hospice facilities.

This article has presented some tips for developing an exposure control/infection control program that is practical, protective and cost-effective. OSHA state that "employers may create the most protective and cost-effective programs possible." We do not jeopardize employee safety by using science to create a cost-effective program. In order for staff to understand this issue, proper education and training must be provided. Often times agencies look for the "quick fix", and that may come back to haunt you. Send time conducting a proper assessment of risk and needs and develop a program that is a "win-win" for both staff and management.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗