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Biomedical subjects

M Brodie

Publications and source records attributed to M Brodie.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Corn oil ketogenic diet for children with intractable seizures.

The ketogenic diet is a well-established, but relatively infrequently used, therapy for intractable seizures in children. Currently, the standard ketogenic diet is formulated using medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil as its major caloric source. Cost, availability, and gastrointestinal side effects limit its use in some cases. We report the successful substitution of corn oil for MCT oil in six children treated with the ketogenic diet for intractable seizures. In each case, the corn oil ketogenic diet was effective, well-tolerated by the patient and parents, and free of clinical toxicity. Corn oil also has the major advantages of being much less expensive and more available that MCT oil. Its use in the ketogenic diet appears to be effective, safe, and practical.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1981

Phenoxybenzamine and bromocriptine attenuate need for REM sleep in rats.

Phenoxybenzamine (10 mg/kg, IP), an alpha-adrenoreceptor blocker, and bromocriptine (5 mg/kg, IP), a dopamine receptor stimulant, were administered to rats while the animals were being deprived of REM sleep by selective REM sleep deprivation method. We have shown recently that alpha-adrenoreceptor blockers and bromocriptine when administered to rats after the animals had been deprived of REM sleep were able to abolish REM sleep rebound and thus attenuate the need for REM sleep. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether these agents might also have the capacity to attenuate the need for REM sleep when given to animals in a situation when the need for REM sleep is being generated, i.e. during REM sleep deprivation. Our results show that administration of phenoxybenzamine or bromocriptine to rats immediately before or during the period of REM sleep deprivation also abolished appearance of subsequent REM sleep rebound. This suggests that administration of the two pharmacological agents prevented the generation of REM sleep pressure by fulfilling the need for REM sleep.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Bromocriptine, dihydroergotoxine and sleep in rats: effects of repeated administration.

Bromocriptine mesylate (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and dihydroergotoxine mesylate (DHET); 3 mg/kg, i.p.) were administered 4 times at 9-hour intervals within a 27-hour period to rats polygraphically recorded for 84 h. Administration of bromocriptine resulted in increased wakefulness and reduced slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) during the 0- to 36-hour period. Reduction of SWS or REM during this time period was not followed by a rebound of SWS or REM during the next 36- to 84-hour period. In addition, there was a significant reduction of SWS during the entire 0- to 84-hour period. Administration of DHET to rats did not significantly affect sleep although there was a tendency for wakefulness to increase and for SWS and REM to decrease. It appears that the effects of repeated administration of the two ergot compounds on the sleep-wakefulness cycle in rats may be indicative of the drugs' role in fulfillment of sleep 'need'.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Media coverage of managed care: is there a negative bias?

We conducted content analysis of media coverage (both print and broadcast) of managed care over the period 1 January 1990 to 30 June 1997, examining in detail more than 2,100 randomly selected stories. Coverage changed noticeably over the seven and a half-year period, with early years focused on managed care as a business story, and later years focused more on patient care and concerns about backlash. Coverage differed substantially depending on media source. The large majority of all media coverage of managed care was neutral in tone. However, the tone of coverage has become more critical over time and differs dramatically by source of media. The most visible media sources--television and newspaper special series--conveyed negative stories in more than half of their coverage and most often used anecdotes in telling their stories.

Communication↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Understanding the managed care backlash.

This paper examines the depth and breadth of the public backlash against managed care and the reasons for it. We conclude that the backlash is real and influenced by at least two principal factors: (1) A significant proportion of Americans report problems with managed care plans; and (2) the public perceives threatening and dramatic events in managed care that have been experienced by just a few. In addition, public concern is driven by fear that regardless of how well their plans perform today, care might not be available or paid for when they are very sick.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Does dissatisfaction with health plans stem from having no choices?

Data from a 1997 nationwide telephone survey are used to assess the relationship between choice and public opinion about managed care. We found that only a minority of the working-age population effectively control what health plan they get. Persons without choice were markedly more dissatisfied with their health plan, especially when enrolled in managed care. In multivariate analysis, how respondents rated their health plan depended as much on whether they lacked choice as on whether they were enrolled in managed care. Persons without choice also had more negative opinions about managed care in general. The results suggest that the managed care "backlash" may persist so long as consumers have little control over health insurance decisions.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health care in the upcoming 2000 election.

Health care will be one of the top issues in the year 2000 election, but voters' interest in health care is not as great as it was in 1992. There is no single unifying theme to the health care issue. Rather, there are multiple concerns: making Medicare financially sound, providing coverage for prescription medicines for seniors, covering the uninsured, and addressing patients' rights. Voters favor an incremental approach to expanding health insurance coverage rather than a major program. They express about equal levels of support for plans similar in concept to those proposed by presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health information, the Internet, and the digital divide.

Through an analysis of recent data on adults' and children's computer use and experiences, this DataWatch shows that use of computers and the Internet is widespread and that significant percentages of the public are already using the Internet to get health information. The surveys also show that the Internet is already a useful vehicle for reaching large numbers of lower-income, less-educated, and minority Americans. However, a substantial digital divide continues to characterize computer and Internet use, with lower-income blacks especially affected. Implications for the future of health communication on the Internet also are explored.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

How much does the public know about health reform?

With federal action on major health reform set to take place in 1994, a recent survey of 1,200 adults found major gaps in Americans' understanding of what the problems are or how major legislative proposals would address them. While the public is primarily concerned about how health reform will affect them personally, their current lack of knowledge heightens the impact that political advertising, media coverage, and public education campaigns will have.

Advertising↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Americans compare managed care, Medicare, and fee-for-service.

Are all health plans created equal? A recent survey of 1,000 adults queried Americans about their experiences with managed care, the Medicare program, and traditional fee-for-service medicine. Most Americans said they generally are content with their arrangements, but Medicare patients reported the highest level of satisfaction. Managed care consumers said they are generally pleased with their care, but they reported some problems with their specialist care. Overall most Americans are not looking for a completely new health care system.

Attitude to Health↗