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Biomedical subjects

Kathleen Kerr

Publications and source records attributed to Kathleen Kerr.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Effectiveness of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline in the treatment of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Limited data exist on the effectiveness of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline in the treatment of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all adults hospitalized for pneumonia between January 1999 and July 2001 at an academic medical center. Outcomes were compared for patients with CAP treated with ceftriaxone plus doxycycline versus other appropriate initial empiric antibiotic therapies. Outcomes were adjusted with the use of a propensity score to account for differences in patient characteristics and illness severity between groups. RESULTS: A total of 216 patients were treated with ceftriaxone plus doxycycline and 125 received other appropriate initial empiric antibiotic therapies. After adjustment, use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline was associated with reduced inpatient mortality (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.81) and 30-day mortality (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.17-0.81), but not with length of stay or readmission rates. Analysis of a subset of the sample that excluded patients admitted from nursing homes, patients admitted to the ICU, and patients diagnosed with aspiration also showed reduced inpatient mortality with the use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ceftriaxone plus doxycycline as an initial empiric therapy for patients hospitalized with CAP appears safe and effective, and its potential superiority should be evaluated prospectively.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The External RNA Controls Consortium: a progress report.

Standard controls and best practice guidelines advance acceptance of data from research, preclinical and clinical laboratories by providing a means for evaluating data quality. The External RNA Controls Consortium (ERCC) is developing commonly agreed-upon and tested controls for use in expression assays, a true industry-wide standard control.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Trunk movement in Parkinson's disease during rising from seated position.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with particular difficulties rising from a seated position. Little is known about the mechanisms of sit-to-stand in this condition. We sought to define trunk movement during sit-to-stand in a group of patients with PD. Six patients and seven normal volunteers were studied using a six camera ELITE motion analysis system (BTS, Milan, Italy), which permitted data collection in the coronal, sagittal, and transverse planes. Retroreflective markers were positioned along the spine at C7, T3, T6, T9, T12, L3, and the sacrum. Whole-trunk kinematics and the movement at the six different trunk markers were recorded during rising. PD patients have a significantly greater degree of trunk flexion than controls, showing a significant increase in angular velocity of the trunk in the sagittal plane. The total range of movement of trunk rotation was significantly smaller in the PD group, but lateral movement in the trunk was greater than normal. These data suggest that patients with early PD compensate for their difficulties rising from a chair by generating greater trunk flexion at higher angular velocity, thus developing greater forward momentum. This process results in a decrease in the duration of the unstable transitional phase of sit-to-stand, allowing PD patients to reach the upright position as easily and safely as possible. Small rotational movements are an effective way to maintain the centre of mass within the base of support during sit-to-stand. This mechanism appears to be denied to the PD patients who may use increased movements in the coronal plane as an alternative strategy.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

A pooled data analysis of injury incidence in rugby league football.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to summarise the injury rates in professional rugby league football. METHODS: Previously published studies were identified from database searches of the literature from Medline, Sports Discus and Web of Science. A total of 18 articles, which reported the prospective injury data collection for at least one playing season in professional rugby league worldwide, were included. The definition of injury adopted required an injured player to miss the subsequent game through injury. Ten studies satisfied the injury definition criteria for inclusion. A review of articles and extraction of relevant data were carried out independently by two authors. RESULTS: A total of 517 injuries were reported during 12819 hours of exposure (753 games), which resulted in an overall injury rate of 40.3 injuries per 1000 hours [95% confidence interval (CI) 36.9 to 43.8]. Most injuries were to the lower half of the body (20.7 per 1000 hours, 95% CI 17.7 to 24), with the trunk receiving the least (6.7 per 1000 hours, 95% CI 5 to 8.6). CONCLUSIONS: Injury rates in professional rugby league are higher than in some other contact sports, probably because of the large number of physical collisions that take place. This pooled data analysis provides more accurate estimates of injury incidence in the game of professional rugby league football.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Injury rates in rugby league football: impact of change in playing season.

BACKGROUND: In 1996, the professional rugby league moved its playing season from the autumn and winter months to the spring and summer. PURPOSE: To determine whether the change in playing season altered the risk of player injury. STUDY DESIGN: Prospectively collected data comparing two cohorts. METHODS: Injuries incurred by all players in one club during match play were recorded over 9 seasons: 4 winter (138 games) and 5 summer (144 games). Each injury was classified according to site, type, player position, activity at the time of injury, and number of games missed as a result of injury. RESULTS: The total exposure time during this study was 4876 player-hours (winter, 2386, summer, 2490). The relative risk of injury doubled after the move from winter to summer. Winter rugby accounted for 72 injuries, and summer rugby, for 150 injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Risk of injury to players in a professional rugby league club greatly increased as a result of changing the playing calendar, possibly as a result of environmental factors. However, other factors, such as increased conditioning levels, which have been a direct consequence of players moving to full-time professionalism, may have increased injury potential.

Adult↗