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Biomedical subjects

L C Parsons

Publications and source records attributed to L C Parsons.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

Cost of health care: impact on poor elders in America.

Despite the enormity of the challenges encountered in providing health care, Tennessee ranks near the top nationally for receiving federal and state money spent on caring for elderly and disabled persons in their own homes according to the Tennessee Health Care Association. Citizens and health care professionals are in a unique position to share the advantages of keeping the persons in their homes for as long as possible from both a personal and fiscal standpoint.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Longitudinal sleep EEG power spectral analysis studies in adolescents with minor head injury.

Power spectral analysis (PSA) was used to evaluate the longitudinal overnight electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep recordings of eight subjects, between the ages of 15 and 19 years, who had sustained a minor head injury (MHI). Recordings occurred within 72 h, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks following MHI. A conditioning night preceded the first study night during which EEG electrodes were in place and subjects slept at least 7.5 h with a mean sleep efficiency of 91%. PSA was performed on four channels of EEG data recorded from fronto-temporal (F3-T3, F4-T4), and temporal (T3-T5, T4-T6) electrodes. The three waveforms associated with sleep, Delta, Theta, and Alpha-1 were all significantly elevated within 72 h post-MHI. Over time all wave forms decreased in mean log power. Theta in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep Cycle 1 decreased significantly within 6 weeks postinjury. The greatest number of significant changes, over the 12-week period were recorded during the non-REM (NREM) sleep. Changes included (1) significant decreases in mean log power of Theta and Alpha-1 in Cycle 1 from fronto-temporal leads; (2) significant decreases in Delta, Theta, and Alpha-1 in Cycle 2 from fronto-temporal leads, and (3) significant decreases in Delta and Theta for consistency during Cycle 2 from temporal leads. The intrusion of Theta into the first REM cycle within 6 weeks and its subsequent decrease within 6 weeks suggested the initiation of recovery toward baseline values. This was followed by decreased levels of Theta power during NREM Cycles 1 and 2, and Delta power in Cycle 2, both of which approached their lowest levels within 12 wks. The decrease in Alpha-1 power occurred last. Alpha-1 remained elevated through both Cycles 1 and 2 of the 6th week and then showed a precipitous decrease between the sixth and twelfth week. These findings suggested that following MHI, the brain has a specific sequence of recovery as illustrated by Delta, Theta, and Alpha-1 powers requiring different time frames to reach their lowest levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Delegation decision making. Evaluation of a teaching strategy.

Delegation and coordination of patient care is an important role for registered nurses practicing in hospitals. Educational programs and clinical experience have not prepared most registered nursing function in the delegation decision-making role. The author describes how the use of the Nursing Assessment Decision Grid increased the knowledge base in delegation decision-making skills for medical surgical nurses practicing in a 282-bed tertiary hospital in central Alabama.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Haitian Americans: implications for nursing care.

Each year a number of Haitians enter the United States and may become part of the U.S. health care system. Nurses need to be sensitive to cultural differences and should assess clients for special needs that may arise because of cultural diversity. This article provides strategies for interacting with the Haitian American client in a clinical setting to ensure success in providing nursing care.

Emigration and Immigration↗
PubMed1994

Examination of the activities of 43 chemotherapeutic agents against Neospora caninum tachyzoites in cultured cells.

Neospora caninum causes serious disease in dogs, and it, or a similar parasite, is a major cause of abortion in cattle. Little is known about the susceptibility of this protozoan to antimicrobial agents. We studied several antimicrobial agents to determine which classes might have activity against this parasite. We also determined whether activity of such agents was coccidiocidal or coccidiostatic. A 2-day of treatment, monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay and a 5-day of treatment, cell culture flask (CCF), lesion-based assay were developed to examine the ability of test agents to inhibit tachyzoite multiplication. Seven sulfonamides were examined, with the following activities observed: sulfathiazole > or = sulfamethoxazole > sulfadiazine > sulfaquinoxaline > or = sulfamethazine > sulfadimethoxine > sulfamerazine. Dapsone, a sulfone, had little activity. Six dihydrofolate reductase/thymidylate synthase inhibitors were examined, with the following activities observed: piritrexim > pyrimethamine > ormetoprim > trimethoprim = diaveridine > methotrexate. Six ionophorous antibiotics were examined; lasalocid, maduramicin, monensin, narasin, and salinomycin had equivalent activities, but alborixin was toxic for host cells at the lowest concentration examined. Three macrolide antibiotics--azithromycin, clarithromycin, and erythromycin--were examined and had equivalent activities. Two tetracycline antibiotics, doxycycline and minocycline, were examined and had equivalent activities. Three lincosamide antibiotics were examined, with the following activities observed: clindamycin hydrochloride > clindamycin phosphate > lincomycin hydrochloride. Pentamidine and 6 of its analogs were examined, and only hexamidine and 1,4-Di[4-(2-imidazolinyl)-2-methoxy-phenoxy]butane had activity. Eight miscellaneous antiprotozoal agents were examined for activity. Amprolium, metronidazole, paromomycin, and roxarsone had little activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Cerebrovascular response of closed head-injured patients to a standardized endotracheal tube suctioning and manual hyperventilation procedure.

The purposes of this research were to assess the cerebrovascular response of closed head-injured patients to a standardized endotracheal tube suctioning/manual hyperventilation (ETTS/MH) procedure and determine if a 5-minute rest period, following the ETTS/MH procedure, was sufficient in length to allow cerebrovascular parameters to return to pre-intervention levels. The sample consisted of 49 head-injured patients, 18 with a baseline mean intracranial pressure (MICP) of 7.1 mm Hg, standard error (SE) .6, and 31 with a baseline MICP of 9.3 mm Hg, SE .6. A total of 145 ETTS/MH procedures were completed, 51 within the lower baseline MICP group and 94 within the higher baseline MICP group. All data were collected within 72 hours of injury using a bedside component of the Hewlett-Packard Patient Monitoring System (H-P PMS). Computer programs written specifically for this research recorded physiologic data at specified points during baseline, throughout the ETTS/MH procedure and during the recovery period. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to examine whether significant differences occurred over time during the baseline, intervention and recovery periods for each dependent variable. Significant F statistics were followed by nonorthogonal, multivariate planned comparisons using the Bonferroni posthoc test to identify significant differences between baseline and each 15 second measurement of all physiologic variables during the ETTS/MH procedure and at the end of each recovery minute over a 5-minute period. Independent t tests were used to assess between group differences at each data point throughout the procedure. Findings indicated those patients whose baseline MICP was most elevated demonstrated significantly (p less than .05) lower mean arterial blood pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and heart rate in response to the ETTS/MH procedure when compared to those patients with a lower baseline MICP. Additionally, 60 seconds of MH was required in both patient groups following the second and third suctioning catheter pass in order to reverse a step-wise increase in MICP. Finally, at least 2 full minutes of recovery time following the completion of the ETTS/MH procedure were required to allow all measured physiologic variables to return to baseline.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Clinical neurologic assessment tool: development and testing of an instrument to index neurologic status.

The clinical neurologic assessment tool (CNA) is a 21-item instrument assessing response to verbal and tactile stimulation, ability to follow commands, muscle tone, body position, movement, chewing, and yawning in the patient with head trauma. The CNA was developed to detect subtle changes in the patients' neurologic status that may indicate transitions in the comatose state. The CNA has been extensively pilot tested. Reliability determined by using Cronbach's alpha revealed an internal consistency of 0.96. Concurrent validity testing with the Glasgow Coma Scale indicated a strong positive correlation, r = 0.94. Construct validity was assessed with factor analysis using 0.50 for a loading criterion. Three factors were demonstrated: general level of consciousness, muscle tone and resistance, and chewing or yawning. Discriminant function analysis revealed that the CNA scores correctly classified 95.1% of the patient observations into their respective Glasgow Coma Scale categories. The CNA is reliable, valid, convenient, and easily scored and captures the subtle changes in the patient with head trauma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

The effects of hygiene interventions on the cerebrovascular status of severe closed head injured persons.

The cerebrovascular status of 19 severe closed head injured patients was assessed during oral, body, and indwelling catheter care. Heart rates, mean arterial blood pressures, mean intracranial pressures, and cerebral perfusion pressures were recorded at baseline, peak nursing intervention, and 1-minute recovery times. Significant increases (p less than or equal to .05) in the dependent variables were noted at peak intervention; by recovery time these elevated values had returned to baseline levels. Physiologic responses that did not prove clinically significant are discussed to account for the observed changes. Since cerebral perfusion pressures never fell below 50 mm Hg, the three hygiene interventions are procedures considered safe and beneficial to the patient with closed head injury.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1984

The effects of the endotracheal tube suctioning/manual hyperventilation procedure on patients with severe closed head injuries.

The findings of this clinical study suggest that the ETTS/MH procedure could be safely performed upon patients with severe closed head injuries whose baseline measurements of MICP were within the range of 0 to 20 mm Hg, provided the CPP was maintained at 50 mm Hg or greater. The advantages of performing the ETTS/MH procedure upon intubated patients far outweigh the possible disadvantages. The removal of pulmonary mucus plugs and secretions, which subsequently prevents hypercarbia and hypoxemia, is very important to the patient's recovery. In most situations, stimulation of the cough reflex through ETTS or even MH can help prevent atelectasis, a frequent pulmonary complication of neurologically depressed patients. Atelectasis can result in hypoxia that may adversely affect the cerebrovascular status. In addition, the results of this study suggest that multiple MHs after the third and subsequent ETTSs should be extended to a longer time interval, perhaps 60 seconds, in order that the physiologic measurements of MABP, MICP, CPP, and HR more closely approach the baseline levels. Also it is suggested that nurses performing the ETTS/MH procedure delay initiation of levels of physiologic function used to assess cerebrovascular status are reached.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Nerve fiber degeneration following a single experimental cerebral concussion in the rat.

This study has demonstrated widespread nerve fiber degeneration (nfd) following experimental cerebral concussion (ECC) in the rat by use of the Fink-Heimer modification of the Nauta--Gygax silver staining method for impregnation of degenerating axons. Beginning approximately 1 mm rostral to the optic chiasm and progressing caudally to the level of the cervical spinal cord and sampling at 600 micrometers intervals, 60 of the most prominent neuronal structures showing nfd have been identified and tend to be associated with 3 sites of injury; the coup, the contrecoup and the craniocervical junction. The duration of ECC was compared to the extent of nfd observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1973

Inhibition of transformation in group H streptococci by lysogeny.

Group H streptococcal strains Challis and WE4 were lysogenized with a bacteriophage isolated from strain Channon, after which their capacity for transformation to streptomycin and rifampin resistance was reduced by three orders of magnitude. The probable reason is the inability of the lysogenized strains to bind deoxyribonucleic acid irreversibly, even though they exhibit earlier stages of competence development during a competence regimen.

Autolysis↗