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Biomedical subjects

L H Thomas

Publications and source records attributed to L H Thomas.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

A comparison of the verbal interactions of qualified nurses and nursing auxiliaries in primary, team and functional nursing wards.

The purpose of this study was to compare the differential contribution to patient care of qualified nurses and nursing auxiliaries in primary, team and functional nursing wards using a measurable qualitative indicator, nurse-patient verbal interaction. Twelve qualified nurses and 12 nursing auxiliaries were chosen randomly in each organizational type. Data were collected using non-participant observation and a computerized event recorder. Regardless of staff grade, nursing staff in wards practising primary nursing gave patients more choice, general explanations about their care and, in the afternoon, spent more time seeking verbal feedback from patients about their care. Implications of these findings for the employment of nursing auxiliaries in elderly care wards are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Pathologic findings of experimentally induced Streptococcus uberis infection in the mammary gland of cows.

Twenty-five quarters of 12 dairy cows, 3 to 8 years old, with a bacteriologic history of freedom from infection with Streptococcus uberis were inoculated via the teat canal with S uberis (23 quarters) or sterile medium (2 quarters). The cows were sent to slaughter 1, 3, or 6 days later. Acute inflammatory response involving accumulation of large numbers of polymorphonuclear, neutrophilic leukocytes (neutrophils) in the secretory acini was recognized after 24 hours in infected cows. After 6 days, the neutrophil response was still evident, but infiltration of septa by lymphocytes, septal edema, extensive vacuolation of secretory cells, focal necrosis of alveoli, small outgrowths of the secretory and ductular epithelium, and widespread hypertrophy of the ductular epithelium also were recognized. Early stages of involution and fibrosis also were evident at that stage. Streptococci were identified by immunoperoxidase labeling, free or phagocytosed, in macrophages; in the alveolar lumina, adherent to damaged secretory or ductular epithelium; in the subepithelium and septal tissue; and in lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes. The importance of the macrophage as the primary phagocytic cell is highlighted, and doubt is cast on the value of the exuberant neutrophil response by the host in defense of the gland.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Adherence and colonization by bacterial pathogens in explant cultures of bovine mammary tissue.

Explant cultures of bovine mammary tissue taken from virgin heifers were used to examine adherence, colonization and cytopathogenesis of Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in the putative target tissue. None of the five bacteria was able to adhere to healthy ductular epithelium but all showed a marked tropism for exposed connective tissue. S. aureus and E. coli induced a marked cytopathic effect in ductular epithelium after 6 hours in culture but the bacteria were not in close association with the affected tissue. No evidence could be found to support the hypothesis that adherence to epithelium might be the first stage in the pathogenesis of mastitis caused by these organisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Measuring patients' satisfaction with nursing care.

Assessing patients' satisfaction with the care they receive is assuming greater importance and satisfaction with nursing is no exception. The kinds of study in which patient satisfaction has been used as an outcome are considered and show the range of conceptualizations and the general lack of rigour in its measurement. It is argued that research methods are often flawed by using inappropriate measures and greater care is warranted in their selection. Where appropriate measures do not exist, only then is the costly process of developing new assessments warranted. Some of the necessary steps in arriving at reliable and valid measures of patient satisfaction are discussed in the context of asking particular research questions.

Humans↗
PubMed1992

Qualified nurse and nursing auxiliary perceptions of their work environment in primary, team and functional nursing wards.

The way in which nursing work is organized has major implications for the role of different staff grades. This paper describes how qualified nurses and nursing auxiliaries perceived their work in primary, team and functional nursing wards. The Work Environment Scale was distributed to 12 qualified nurses and 12 nursing auxiliaries within each organizational mode, and a response rate of 97% was achieved. While differences were found between organizational modes, there was no difference in work perceptions between qualified nurses and nursing auxiliaries within organizational mode. It is argued that this is due to cultures existing within organizational types which transcend staff grade.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1992

Ischaemic heart disease and consumption of hydrogenated marine oils in England and Wales.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine the hypothesis that hydrogenated fats, particularly those obtained from marine oils, may present a health hazard. DESIGN: Storage fat specimens obtained at necropsy were collected from several areas in England and Wales during 1975-1978. Cases (n = 136 samples) consisted of males dying of ischaemic heart disease, male deaths from unrelated causes acting as controls (n = 95 samples). The fatty acid compositions of the specimens were determined, and analysis included those acids--16:1 trans and "higher" C-20 plus C-22 (H)--highly characteristic of partially hydrogenated marine oils. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The case samples, which had been shown to be the richer in 16:1 trans (p less than 0.005), were now found to have a significantly higher value of the ratio 16:1 trans to H (p less than 0.002), arising from consumption of differing hydrogenated marine oil types. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the cases had consumed a greater amount (p less than 0.001) of hydrogenated marine oils of a certain type, ie, that manufactured from certain highly unsaturated raw oils. The process of partial hydrogenation results in conversion to a product containing large amounts of polyunsaturated acids (PUFA) which are no longer in the natural all-cis methylene interrupted configuration. Such isomeric PUFA may obstruct or compete with utilisation of natural PUFA. It is further concluded that the case excess did not rise from medical advice favouring margarine or from any difference in social class status, but rather from fortuitous selection of margarine brand.

Coronary Disease↗
PubMed1991

Outcomes of nursing care: the case of primary nursing.

Using primary nursing as a 'case study', this paper reviews research literature which attempts to measure the effectiveness of a mode of nursing using outcome measures. Previous research, it is argued, is hampered by a lack of conceptualization of structure and process and inadequate research design, with consequent uncertain findings. A shift in emphasis is suggested from an evaluation of global concepts, such as primary nursing, to an identification of the features of structures and processes of nursing care which interrelate with patient and nurse outcomes. For this purpose, multivariate research design and investment in methodological research are recommended.

Humans↗
PubMed1991

Effects of recombinant human alpha A interferon in gnotobiotic calves challenged with respiratory syncytial virus.

The effects of recombinant human alpha A interferon were studied in gnotobiotic calves challenged with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Gnotobiotic calves given doses of interferon by intramuscular injection over five days showed a marked, dose-related, rise in rectal temperature and depression of circulating leucocytes. Differential counts showed decreases in both lymphocytes and neutrophils. No significant pathological differences were found between treated and untreated calves, nor could any difference be demonstrated in the pattern of RSV infection.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Issues in measuring outcomes of nursing.

The upsurge in interest in measuring patient outcomes of nursing, it is argued, has been occasioned firstly by management changes and secondly by the professionalizing thrust of the nursing profession. Within this overall context, however, the objectives of individual patient outcome studies vary considerably. The current status of outcome measurement in nursing is outlined through a description of the use of different outcome measures to suit different purposes. Ascertaining whether nursing care makes a difference by using outcome measures raises methodological as well as professional issues, for example that of separating nursing from the inputs of other professional groups and incorporating individual patients' perspectives. While these challenges are complex and measuring the effectiveness of nursing in terms of patient outcomes is in its infancy, it is argued that, in this, nursing is no different from other professional groups. The paper goes on to suggest ways of moving forward in the measurement of outcomes of nursing for patients.

Humans↗
PubMed1990

Towards defining the organization of nursing care in hospital wards: an empirical study.

The method of organizing nursing care known as 'primary nursing' is increasingly being introduced into hospital wards on the assumption that it will have beneficial effects for both patients and staff. Operational definitions of primary nursing, essential to provide replicable research into the organization of nursing care, are, however, lacking in available research literature. This study describes the development of a questionnaire intended to identify and discriminate between three methods of organizing nursing staff and nursing work: task allocation or functional nursing, team nursing and primary nursing. The questionnaire was distributed to 36 ward sisters on 27 acute and rehabilitation care of the elderly wards. Questionnaires were returned from 17 wards, a response rate of 63%. Findings indicate that few wards meet five or more criteria for classification as a particular method of nursing organization. The findings illustrate the difficulties in matching and discriminating between wards in order to conduct research in which organizational modality is an independent variable.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1989

Increased severity of calf pneumonia associated with the appearance of Mycoplasma bovis in a rearing herd.

An increase in deaths in calves from respiratory disease from an average of 9.7 per year to 36.5 per year corresponded with the isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from the lungs. It is suggested that this mycoplasma enhanced the severity of the disease which was normally present on the farm. The characteristic microscopic lesion and demonstration of M bovis by immunoperoxidase labelling could be useful aids to diagnosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Evidence that blood-borne infection is involved in the pathogenesis of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis.

Five calves were inoculated intravenously with 10(8) colony forming units (cfu) of Pasteurella haemolytica A1; the mean score for pneumonic consolidation 3 days post-inoculation was 28%, and the mean clinical score was 7.8. Five calves inoculated intratracheally with 10(9) cfu of the same strain of P. haemolytica had comparable scores (34% and 8.8). Histological lesions of fibrinous pneumonia were similar in all calves. P. haemolytica was recovered from all but one of the affected lungs. From one calf killed in extremis 3 hours after intravenous inoculation, numbers of bacteria recovered from lung were 1,000-fold greater than from liver and spleen. A similar difference in bacterial numbers was also obtained from a gnotobiotic calf killed in extremis, 12 hours after intravenous inoculation of 10(8) cfu P. haemolytica. Evidence from these experiments supports the hypothesis that the blood-borne route is important in the pathogenesis of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of a new macrolide antibiotic (tilmicosin) on pneumonia experimentally induced in calves by Mycoplasma bovis and Pasteurella haemolytica.

Two gnotobiotic calves were treated once with tilmicosin (20 mg kg-1) six hours before they were infected by the intratracheal route with Mycoplasma bovis and Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1. This treatment prevented colonisation of the lungs by P haemolytica and considerably reduced colonisation by M bovis, and the clinical scores and the extent of pneumonic consolidation, compared with two untreated gnotobiotic calves, both of which had to be killed in extremis for humanitarian reasons within 24 hours of infection. In a second experiment, 10 conventionally reared calves were similarly exposed to infection and, at the onset of clinical disease, five were treated once with tilmicosin (20 mg kg-1). Colonisation by P haemolytica and M bovis, the clinical scores and extent of pneumonic consolidation were suppressed or greatly reduced in the treated compared with the untreated calves, one of which had to be killed in extremis two days after infection. It was concluded that tilmicosin had a beneficial effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Experimental Pasteurella multocida pneumonia in calves.

Pasteurella multocida was isolated from the lungs of calves that died on a farm in the south of England. This organism was inoculated experimentally into 13 calves by the intratracheal route: in all but two of the calves mild clinical disease resulted and at necropsy, three or four days later, pneumonic consolidation involving up to 22 per cent of the lung was observed. P multocida was isolated from all but two of the lungs. Of two calves inoculated intravenously with P multocida, one showed mild clinical disease and slight pneumonic consolidation at necropsy and the other remained normal. Control calves inoculated intratracheally and intravenously with sterile broth showed no signs of illness and no pneumonic consolidation. Histologically the lung lesions comprised a fibrinous bronchopneumonia with variable sized areas of coagulative necrosis, extensive deposition of fibrin and massive dilatation and oedema of the interlobular and pleural lymphatics. It is concluded that P multocida should receive more recognition as a primary pathogen.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of vaccination on cell populations in lung washes from calves after infection with respiratory syncytial virus.

The inflammatory response in the air-passages of the lungs of calves after intranasal inoculation with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was compared in RSV-vaccinated and control animals. Total cells recovered from lung washings remained the same; however, the fold by eight days after infection and the type of cells changed from a predominance (85 per cent) of macrophages to equal proportions of macrophages and neutrophils (45 per cent) during the course of infection. The absolute numbers of neutrophils rose by 15-fold. In contrast, when RSV-vaccinated calves were challenged, the total number of cells recovered from lung washings remained the same; however, the numbers of macrophages decreased and the numbers of neutrophils increased by fivefold. Cytological studies of the lung washings revealed no evidence of an exacerbated inflammatory response in RSV-vaccinated calves. Levels of virus replication were significantly reduced in RSV-vaccinated compared with control animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Production and characterization of bovine monoclonal antibodies to respiratory syncytial virus.

Six interspecific hybridomas (heterohybridomas) secreting bovine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against respiratory syncytial (RS) virus were produced. Four of the heterohybridomas were formed using the mouse myeloma cell line NS1 as the fusion partner, one using NS0, and the remaining heterohybridoma was formed using a bovine X murine hybridoma as the fusion partner. Five heterohybridomas secreted bovine IgG1 and one secreted IgG2. All six MAbs recognized human subtype A and B viruses as well as bovine RS virus. They were specific for the fusion glycoprotein and reacted with a 140K dimer and a 70K monomer in a Western blot of native antigen; three also bound to the 46K F1 component and its 22K cleavage product in a blot of reduced antigen. Two of these MAbs neutralized RS virus infectivity, inhibited virus-induced fusion, lysed RS virus-infected cells in the presence of complement and protected mice against RS virus challenge.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Protection against respiratory disease in calves induced by vaccines containing respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza type 3 virus, Mycoplasma bovis and M dispar.

A field trial to assess the ability of two vaccines to protect calves against respiratory disease was carried out on a large beef rearing unit in southern England over the two winters of 1983 to 1984 and 1984 to 1985. A quadrivalent vaccine containing the killed antigens of respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus type 3, Mycoplasma bovis and M dispar or a vaccine containing only the respiratory syncytial virus component were inoculated into 246 and 245 calves, respectively; 245 calves remained as unvaccinated controls. The calves were reared in seven batches and outbreaks of disease occurred in five; significant protection was achieved in the four batches in which disease was associated with respiratory syncytial virus and M bovis infection, together or independently. The death rate from pneumonia was 9 per cent in the control group, 2 per cent in the calves inoculated with the quadrivalent vaccine (P less than 0.001), a protection rate of 77 per cent, and 3 per cent in the calves inoculated with the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (P less than 0.01), a protection rate of 68 per cent. The proportion of calves receiving treatment for respiratory disease was 38 per cent in the control group, 25 per cent in the calves inoculated with the quadrivalent vaccine (P less than 0.001) and 27 per cent in the calves inoculated with the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine (P less than 0.01). The results show that protection against respiratory disease can be achieved by parenteral vaccination of calves with the appropriate inactivated microorganisms.

Animals↗